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Cross-Sport Thought

For decades now, baseball fans and journalists have engaged in a fierce debate about the efficacy of sliding headlong into first base in the effort to beat out a hit off an infield grounder. The majority opinion, often backed up by claims of scientific evidence, is that doing so not only carries an obvious risk of injury, but actually slows the runner down. It's quicker just to keep digging out past the bag.

Well, maybe. But in Rio last night, we were afforded visible evidence for the opposing view. Shaunae Miller won the gold medal in the 400 meter run as a result. The players who still do dive for first ought to put her picture up in their lockers.

posted by Michael Gee @ 7:37 AM