From King Kelly to Mark McGuire, Ron Kaplan traces the Irish influence in baseball. Irish ballplayers have helped to shape baseball ever since the game took its first foundering steps on the playing fields of New York and New Jersey over 150 years ago. Their impact is still felt. While no official organ of the game keeps records of ethnicity, one only has to glance through … [Read more...] about The Sporting Life
Sports Archives
The Fighting Irish
"Irish" Mickey Ward takes on Arturo Gatti again for $1.2 million ℘℘℘ Mickey Ward is a fighter. That's the first thing to know about him. Outside the ring, he's soft spoken and likeable. Inside the squared circle, he's something else. On May 18, 2002, Ward stepped into the ring against Arturo Gatti. It was a memorable fight marked by unremitting punishment and an extraordinary … [Read more...] about The Fighting Irish
Irish Win Ryder for Europe
The European Ryder Cup Team, which included several Irish players, triumphed over the United States in the 34th Ryder Cup held at the Belfry, North Warwickshire, England, in late September. Of the twelve team players, three were Irish, one of whom, Paul McGinley, was playing in his first Ryder Cup. The Americans had been expected to win. They had five of the top10 players in … [Read more...] about Irish Win Ryder for Europe
Preparations Underway for Special Olympics — Ireland 2003
It is a logistical challenge, the likes of which Ireland has never seen before. Over a quarter of a million lunches will have to be made, 2,000 interpreters have to be found to speak more than 50 languages, accommodation has to be found for some 40,000 people, but with just over 200 days to go to the 2003 Special Olympics summer games, organizers say that preparations are … [Read more...] about Preparations Underway for Special Olympics — Ireland 2003
Still Running
Eamonn Coughlan, Ray Flynn and Marcus O'Sullivan dominated middle-distance running in the eighties and early nineties. Paul Gains catches up with the three runners today. ℘℘℘ The images remain even if the passing of two decades has dulled them somewhat -- a trio of Irish middle-distance runners racing to victory against the best competition in the world. Before sold-out crowds … [Read more...] about Still Running