The United States of America has a long and inspirational history with sporting achievement and regularly features in pole positions for international events. There are however a handful of sports synonymous with the USA and the history of the country weaves a thread of fascinating insights into a sporting passion.

Let’s take a look at some of the sports that have survived through the ages to become seasonal favorites in the land of opportunity.

1. American Football

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American Football is by far the most popular sport of the nation, in turn capturing the attention of millions of fans year in, year out. Football originated as a sport in American colleges way back in the late 19th century but since humble beginnings, it’s literally taken the world by storm. There are now eighty countries around the world who play the game, a true success story of modern American export.

2. Baseball

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America has a long-standing history with sporting prowess and Baseball harks back to the golden era of American history and had its first innings almost two hundred years ago. Baseball is an almost mythical pastime of the nation and its depiction in movies as one of the central sports of the people has cemented itself within American popular culture.

Visit https://imaginesports.com and discover a world of classic fantasy baseball at its finest and get your fill of one of the nation’s most popular pastimes.

3. Basketball

via: Minnesota Gopher Athletics

Another college favorite and high up on the list of sports fans in the USA, basketball was actually initially devised by a man who hailed from north of the border. Canadian born James Naismith, a physical education teacher, invented the sport as a winter primer for football players looking for a game less prone to causing injury and suitable for indoor play. Find out more about the history of Basketball and learn more about the man behind the game.

4. Ice Hockey

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Popular in the colder climes of the United States, Ice Hockey ranks as one of the most popular sports in the country, and for great reason. It’s a fast-paced, high-octane game played by some of the most ruthless men and women in sport.

Originating in Baltimore, where the very first artificial ice rink was built, the sport has now taken the country by storm and the NHL (National Hockey League) hosts some of the most popular sporting events in the country.

5. Soccer

via: Yale Athletics

While not as popular in the states as over in Europe, Soccer certainly is taking center stage in the USA’s sporting calendar with large crowds regularly attending important matches. There are over 240 million people around the world who play soccer too and as a hobby, it has certainly taken root.

Although there are many countries around the world who stake a claim to the beginnings of the beautiful game, it is England who started soccer as we know it today. LA Galaxy, one of the most famous teams in the USA are in fact known throughout the footballing fraternity for bringing David Beckham into their family.

Are you trying to decide between shopping for hybrid bikes for women and shopping for regular road bikes? Each type of bike has its own set of benefits, so it’s important to figure out what benefits appeal most to you. For example, is it more important for you to be able to ride on a variety of terrain types, or is speed a higher priority? If you’re looking for an alternative mode of transportation that will get you from point A to point B as quickly as possible, you’re probably wondering if road bikes are faster than hybrid bikes, and vice versa.

The simple answer is yes, but here’s what you should know about the speed of both options.

Hybrid Bike Speed

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Hybrid bikes can be speedy, but they’re designed more for their comfort and reliability. If you’re looking for hybrid bikes for sale, you’re making a great decision for your everyday riding needs. They’ll keep you from getting too sore too quickly and will help you maintain a comfortable posture.

Hybrid bikes differ from road bikes in a few key ways. The handlebars are higher, which allows you to maintain an upright position while you ride. This position also makes you less aerodynamic, which cuts back on your speed.

Another key difference is the wheel and tire size. Hybrid bikes have wider wheels, which gives you more contact with the road and more control. However, the wider tire size increases friction and further reduces your speed. While you can still ride fairly quickly with a hybrid bike, you won’t be able to reach or maintain the speed of a road bike.

Road Bike Speed

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When you compare a 21-speed road bike to a hybrid bike, you’ll immediately notice the handlebars are much lower on the road bike. This lower position forces the rider to lean forward on the bike and minimizes wind resistance. That’s how road bikes obtain their impressive speed. When you minimize wind resistance, you have the ability to go much faster than you otherwise could.

Road bikes also have narrow wheels and tires. This helps to further cut back on wind resistance. When you ride a road bike, you have to expend much less effort to go fast than you would expend if you were riding a hybrid bike. While road bikes aren’t particularly comfortable and can strain the muscles in your neck, back and arms over time, they can’t be beaten when it comes to speed. Riding padded shorts and slowly increasing the amount of time you spend on your bike can help your body become accustomed to the position you have to maintain on a road bike.

Find the Bike That’s Right for You

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Now that you know the main differences in speed between hybrid bikes for women and road bikes, it will be easier for you to decide which option is better for you. If you plan to ride long distances or become a competitive rider, a road bike is a must. If you’re just looking for a way to stay in shape or get around without driving a car, a hybrid bike may be a better match for your needs.

Featured image source: DuVine

Maria Sharapova needs no introduction at all. She is a tennis-star and will always be. Now that she is 32 years old, she is bidding goodbye to her favourite sport i.e. Tennis after winning 5-times Grand Slam titles. Now you must be thinking about the reason behind doing so. Yes, there is a reason, Maria has been dealing with shoulder problems for years. She has played only two matches this season and lost both.

She told about her decision in an essay written for Vanity Fair and Vogue

via: Kamran Jebreili/ KALW

In an essay written for Vanity Fair and Vogue about her decision to walk away from the sport, posted online Wednesday, Sharapova asks: “How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known?”

Maria Sharapova burst onto the tennis scene at 17 when she has won Wimbledon in 2004 and would go on to complete a career Grand Slam with two titles at the French Open and one each at the U.S. Open and Australian Open. The Russian moved to Florida when she was a child, she has served a 15-month ban after failing a doping test in 2016. After the suspension, she managed to reach an only major quarterfinal.

Also read: Take Some Inspiration from Para-athlete Manasi Joshi

She finally decided to give up with Tennis after having lost 4 consecutive matches at Grand Slam tournaments

via: Twitter

After getting huge success on the Tennis court and off so much time in the spotlight, Sharapova has finally decided to walk off from Tennis after having lost 4 consecutive matches at Grand Slam tournaments.

Her latest Tennis match happened last month only where she was beaten by 6-3, 6-4 by Donna Vekic. That has sent her ranking tumbling outside of the top 350. Now, she ranks on 373 numbers this week and since then she has not played even a single match.

After getting consecutive defeats in her matches, she was repeatedly asked whether it was her last appearance at Melbourne Park where she won the trophy in 2008, she said: “I don’t know”. But her shoulder injuries are becoming more of a problem now for which she has to say goodbye to Tennis.

Also read: PV Sindhu To Become The First Indian Women To Win First-ever Gold for India in Badminton World Championship

She played a total of 15 matches last season, going 8-7

via: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

“I put in all the right work. There is no guarantee that evens when you do all of those things, that you’re guaranteed victory in a first-round or the third round or the final. That’s the name of this game,” Sharapova said after what turned out to be her final match. “That’s why it’s so special to be a champion, even for one time.”

Have a look at what Maria Sharapova has to say about her retirement missive

Tennis showed me the world—and it showed me what I was made of. It’s how I tested myself and how I measured my growth. And so in whatever I might choose for my next chapter, my next mountain, I’ll still be pushing. I’ll still be climbing. I’ll still be growing. pic.twitter.com/kkOiJmXuln

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) February 26, 2020

“In giving my life to tennis, tennis gave me a life”. – Maria Sharapova

“I’ll miss it every day. I’ll miss the training and my daily routine: Waking up at dawn, lacing my left shoe before my right, and closing the court’s gate before I hit my first ball of the day. – Maria Sharapova

“I’ll miss my team, my coaches. I’ll miss the moments sitting with my father on the practice court bench. The handshakes – win or lose – and the athletes, whether they knew it or not, who pushed me to be my best. – Maria Sharapova

“Looking back now, I realize that tennis has been my mountain. My path has been filled with valleys and detours, but the views from its peak were incredible.” – Maria Sharapova

Also read: Meet Aishwarya Pissay Who Become The First Indian Women To Win The World Title in Motorsports