Ask the average person what their favorite sport is, and you will probably get an answer like football, baseball, or hockey. Maybe soccer, or figure skating. There is, however, a whole universe of lesser-known sports and games to explore. Even the big three have their own subcultures that most people don’t notice.
Want to explore the weird world of sports? Here are a few colorful titles to dive into.
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The Savannah Bananas’ motto is “Fans First. Entertain Always.” But how did this TikTok famous, oddball exhibition baseball team come to be? Cole tells the story of the Bananas’ origins as well as his own.
The Race Across America is an ultra-cycling event that almost defies description. An open course that crosses three mountain ranges and often forces cyclists to compete with highway traffic, it’s more of a dare than a sport. Despite the fact that people have actually died during this race, Snyder decides to take a crack at it. Fortunately, she lives to tell the tale.
This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Hoopla.
A paddle sport that first became popular in the Pacific Northwest, pickleball has become a worldwide sports craze. McHugh’s colorful, illustrated guide to the game and its special rules and terminology is a fun, friendly window on the unusual sport.
This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Hoopla and in eAudio on Hoopla.
This classic coming-of-age novel features blitzball, a game invented by Finny, one of the major characters. Blitzball has rules that change at random, and its goals are unclear; it’s also a great metaphor for the senselessness of war.
This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Libby, in eAudio on Libby, and in eAudio on Hoopla.
Originally known as water ballet, this sport values grace, precision, and strength. Bean’s microhistory traces synchronized swimming from its 19th century origins to its status in the early 21st century and contains over 300 pages of facts and stories. Great for readers who like deep dives into unusual topics.
“Weird” is subjective; often it just means “Things we’re not used to.” If you’re curious about how other countries and cultures have fun, Williams’s encyclopedia of global sports and games reveals a whole world of entertainment options you’ve never heard of, from competitive ironing to zorbing.