Honoring the Team

For their passion, a team’s most ardent fans are often called its 12th man, their chants creating and sustaining momentum, helping build a rally for a goal, overwhelming an opponent or distracting a referee.

Almost 100 million viewers tuned in to see the Bears blow out the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. The Patriots were considered a cinderella team that year, but were soundly beaten by the Bear's revolutionary 46 defense.

If you ever want to see an entire team get pounded down, its collective will ripped out, play a tape of game 4 of the 2009 Lakers-Jazz series.

Vuvuzelas have been banned from the annual match between the Harvard and Yale football teams. Harvard worried that the exuberant horn would tarnish the experience for alumni.

flopping
Flopping is one of soccer's oldest and most universally despised tactics. Turning a small foul into a death performance can draw cards for opposing players, kill time from the clock or give one's winded teammates a breather.

mascot
Pikachu and ten other Pokemon are Japan's official mascots of the 2014 World Cup in Rio. I bet Domo and Hello Kitty are kicking themselves right now.

Many think Norway is poised to pull off one of the great triumphs in sports by winning the overall medal race and likely the most gold medals at the Sochi Olympics. They are expected to go neck and neck with the U.S. team.

rally
For their passion, a team’s most ardent fans are often called its 12th man, their chants creating and sustaining momentum, helping build a rally for a goal, overwhelming an opponent or distracting a referee.

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol spent what might have been the tandem's last few minutes of their final game together arguing in Oklahoma City, disagreeing over the best way to run a pick-and-roll play.

If you ever want to see an entire team get pounded down, its collective will ripped out, play a tape of game 4 of the 2009 Lakesr-Jazz series.