Sports

Jeff Wasielewski of Willmington, Vt., has been jack jumping for 10 years. Like most jack jumps, his is homemade from a single ski, a couple of planks of wood and plenty of duct tape. He says a padded seat cushion (he found his in a dumpster) is also key.

A Crash Course In Vermont's Head-Turning, Homegrown Sport

6:08pm March 03, 2018

by Nina Keck

A reporter and longtime skier takes a whack at the wacky, DIY sport, jack jumping, which began in the 19th century. Enthusiasts of the state's pastime will compete in a world championship on Sunday.

Sports

Saturday Sports: Baseball Season Approaches

8:11am March 03, 2018

NPR's Scott Simon talks baseball with ESPN's Howard Bryant about baseball, including spring training and the MLB's attempt to appeal to younger audiences.

Sports

A Basketball Player Lets A Record Stand

8:11am March 03, 2018

At a recent game, a University of Iowa player was poised to break a school record of 34 consecutive free throws. But he missed, on purpose, to honor the player who held the record.

Jessica Diggins takes third place at the FIS Nordic World Cup on January 7.

Sports
Arts

Not My Job: Cross-Country Skier Jessie Diggins Gets Quizzed On Skee-Ball

7:31am March 03, 2018

Diggins won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, so she clearly knows how to ski. But does she know how to skee-ball? She answers three questions about the classic arcade game.

Doma Hyolmo, 15, carries skis during her first attempt at skiing in Kalinchowk, a village in the mountains of Nepal. While a few adventure tourists come to ski in Nepal, most Nepalese haven't tried the sport.

A Nation With Some Of The World's Highest Mountains Is Finally Starting To Ski

7:00am March 03, 2018

by Danielle Preiss

Despite Nepal's wealth of mountains, downhill skiing is not a popular sport. It's expensive and there's a lack of infrastructure for it. But enthusiasts are encouraging young people to try the sport.

Federal Fraud Case Could Put Several College Basketball Coaches In Prison

4:20pm March 02, 2018

This year, a cloud hangs over the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Documents from an ongoing federal probe into bribery and fraud allege a shadow-world involving big money, secret deals and marquee names from the world of college basketball. NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Yahoo Sports journalist Pete Thamel about the documents he reviewed.

News Brief: Trump Changes On Gun Policy, Opioids, USOC CEO Resigns

7:43am March 01, 2018

President Trump challenged long-standing GOP orthodoxy on gun policy in a meeting Wednesday. Also, Noam Levey of the Los Angeles Times discusses the White House's response to the opioid epidemic.

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U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Steps Down

5:02am March 01, 2018

by Alexandra Starr

The CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee has resigned, citing health reasons. His departure comes after a series of sexual abuse scandals in Olympic sports.

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A Look Back At Pioneering Sports Writer Mary Garber

5:00am March 01, 2018

by Bethany Chafin

This month WFDD will be taking a look at the stories of pioneering leaders in our series, "Her Voice: Revolutionary North Carolina Women."

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Amid Pressure From Nassar Case, USOC Chief Executive Scott Blackmun Will Step Down

9:51pm February 28, 2018

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Washington Post reporter Sally Jenkins about the resignation of U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun, who cited health problems due to prostate cancer as his reason for stepping down, but there have also been calls for his resignation for not doing enough to address the sexual abuse cases within the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team.

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