From Wired, one one-hundredth of a second faster: Mark McClusky on building better Olympic athletes. From Plus: Living Mathematics, when is a goal not a goal? John Rocker now throws political hardballs: Drummed out of baseball for interview, he's as outspoken as ever (and more). Why clutch is overrated: Sports fans shouldn't value the fourth quarter more than the second but they do. Financial Times interviews 24 living legends from every Olympic Games since 1928. Michael Kazin on why baseball is the best and least exploitative American sport. Would I lie to you: Tyler Cowen and Kevin Grier on the problem with buying sports "experiences". Ultimate Fighting vs. math: Leon Neyfakh on one man’s quest to bring statistical analysis to the chaos of mixed martial arts. Team spirit: Adam Gopnik on the Olympics and the true significance of synchronized swimming. Freedom from quant: Franklin Foer on soccer versus Moneyball. Playing for nationhood: The VIVA world cup is an obscure soccer tournament designed for often even more obscure national, ethnic and cultural entities.
