Sports

President Barack Obama throws out the opening pitch in Nats jacket and White Sox cap.: Photo by William W. Cummings

"Hope springs eternal," is one of the most threadbare sayings from the well-worn quilt of baseball cliches, but 2010 is the first season that saying has been applicable for Nats fans, although their hope is for an improved, rather than championship, team.

Bicycling enthusiasts gather at the Bicycle Film Festival block party in New York City.: Photo courtesy of Andy MillerA decade ago, Brendt Barbur was hit by a bus while riding his bike in New York City. His injuries landed him in the hospital, but you won’t find him discouraging others from biking.

“I wanted to make something positive out of my experience, something fun,” Barbur says.

The accident inspired Barbur to found the Bicycle Film Festival in 2001, which celebrates bicycles through art and film. In its nine-year history, the festival has been held in 39 cities around the world, including New York, Tokyo, Chicago and London. It will come to Washington, D.C., for the first time this weekend (Dec. 4 and 5).

Washington has a “really rich” biking culture, says Barbur, because of its bike messengers, recreational cyclists and commuters.

“We had a lot of demand to go to D.C., and it just never worked out,” he says. “A lot of folks from D.C. come to the New York event. It just turned out to be something that became realistic and that seemed right to do this year.”

The author has five years of water polo experience and currently practices with the club featured in this story.

David Greenleaf stays out late Wednesday nights with his buddies. By the time he arrives home and passes out, it’s not likely he’ll sleep more than a couple hours before his alarm goes off at 4:15 a.m., when he starts getting ready for work and to send his kids off to school.

Frank Keen is one of thousands of Nats fans who come out to the park and enthusiastically support the team even though they're ending the season with the worst record in baseball. See what drives Keen and the other fans to keep coming back for more.

Many of us may remember playing pinball as a kid at the neighborhood bowling alley. But American Observer's June Kim goes to Fairfax, Va., to explore how this classic game is no longer just child's play. In fact, middle-aged men compete in local leagues and tournaments to advance their rankings on the international circuit. As avid collectors of pinball machines, many own on an average 15. They profess there's more to pinball than luck, it's a game of skill requiring hours of practice each week.

Fans had doubts about the Caps' success after their goalie left, but goaltending and a strong offense are responsible for a strong first half of the season.