sports

Writers

its hard to write or make movies about the elite of the elite athletes because their narratives lack the elements that would make a great story. Its mostly just monotony and repetition from a young age. Michael Jordan, Phelps and Katie Ledecky are examples. 

Simone Biles is an exception that proves the rule cause of what happened to her in Tokyo Olympics. The Simone Biles movie would be about her winning bronze in one event after being unable to participate in the other events. Not about all the gold medals. 

There is something here about how great stories does not imply greatness or something idk

What are some interesting sports stories where the interesting part is inside the sporting performance itself (like Biles’ “twisties”) rather than life circumstances?

Eg: Dick Fosbury (invented modern high jump technique)

Stephen Curry (3 pointer tactics)

Roger Bannister? Maybe. 4m mile is arbitrary cultural milestone

Nadia Comaneci? Maybe. 10 pointer is also arbitrary.

Douglas Jardine/Harold Larwood (Bodyline bowling in cricket)

Probably Roger Federer (did he pioneer or perfect baseline game with post-wood rackets?)

Blogger at ribbonfarm.com, running summerofprotocols.com, host of /gloom ☀️

Esports has some of this. Like with Hungrybox in Smash Melee pioneering usage of Jigglypuff.

In physical sport, South Africa pioneered the 'bomb squad' in Rugby Union by using the bench as a tactic for the forward pack.

Kareem skyhook

Rick Barry underhand free throw

Tim Wakefield knuckleball

Pep Guardiola - perfect modern possession based soccer, almost all major teams after 2008 use some version of his tactics 

Wilt Chamberlain/Julius Irving - the three pointer was introduced in basketball after slam dunking was popularized in the 60s. Its an interesting history cause it coincided with the rise of black panthers and it was mostly black players who were able to do slam dunks at that time. The three pointer was introduced to balance out the game.

Football has some interesting bits, most of it is fascinatingly associated with the coaches/managers as they drove changes in playing styles through changes in formation etc