FSN is returning Sport Science for six new episodes beginning March 16. Here’s the rundown of the latest installments:
March 16 — Field Warriors. Host John Brenkus and his team of scientists examine the most dramatic injuries ever suffered in a sporting event and get first-person accounts of the athletes who survived the injuries that force people to look away. Testing pain, empathy, blood flow and broken bones, this episode also showcases an analysis of the horrific injury suffered by goalie Clint Malarchuk, whose jugular vein was slashed by a skate. Special guests: Malarchuk, MMA star Bas Rutten, Dolphins LB Joey Porter and Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone.
March 23 — Tricks of the Trade. One of the most popular clichés in sports is “it’s a game of inches.” It wouldn’t be so popular, if it wasn’t true. This episode analyzes the most minute details to see how the smallest tricks can have the biggest impact on the game. Special guests: Raptors guard Jason Kapono, Lakers guard Jordan Farmar, Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew and Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski.
March 30 — Gear Factor. Does protective gear actually protect? Is the equipment the professionals use really the best available for their respective sports? In “Gear Factor,” Sport Science examines how different types of gear both enhance and inhibit the performance of the world’s best athletes. Special guests: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, MMA star Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, former heavyweight boxing champion Chris Byrd, Chargers DB Quentin Jammer. [Big Ben should’ve learned a thing or two about helmets by now.]
April 6 — Degree of Difficulty. The ultimate sports question gets an answer when the playing field is leveled scientifically — what is the hardest thing to do in sports? Scientists break down all the elements that have to go right for athletes to pull off spectacular feats and compare results for more than a dozen sports. Special guests: Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, NHL legend Luc Robitaille, Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders QB Josh McCown and USA soccer star Abby Wambach.
April 13 — Bet You Couldn’t Do That Again. The ultimate “Did you see that?” plays. Sport Science takes the once-in-a-lifetime plays that fans are sure they’ll never see again and tries to re-create them to analyze the science of trajectory, the mathematical principle called the probability chain and challenge geometry. Special guests: Cardinals QB Matt Leinart, Clippers guard Cuttino Mobley, MLS players Jason Jernandez, Jesse Marsch and Preston Burpo.
Sunday, April 20 — Best of Sport Science. A look back at the best segments, most interesting experiments, most surprising results and the best reactions from the nearly 100 athletes who entered the Sport Science lab.
Well, Abby Wambach is actually a she. But I’m pretty sure she’d agree.
I can see it now.
On the “Degree of Difficulty” portion, when they ask USA soccer star Abby Wambach what the hardest thing to do in sports is, his reponse will be “Fill a stadium for a soccer game.”