Did You See That?

SI Staff | Mar 10, 2014

Did You See That? /

Did You See That?

Boxing action

Welcome to <italics>Did You See That?</italics>, the photo gallery that asks The Big Existential Questions. This week's query was inspired by challenger Buangern OnesongchaiGym (right) smelling the glove of champion Ayaka Miyao during their WBA light minimumweight title bout in Tokyo: Why is boxing called "the sweet science"? British sportswriter Pierce Egan coined the phrase in the early 1800's, calling the sport "the sweet science of bruising" -- which is closer to truth in advertising. In the 1950s, noted scribe A.J. Liebling popularized Egan's distinctive description of the sport's precise timing and utter brutality, though some pugs can be forgiven for failing to find anything sweet or scientific about being hit in the schnozz.

NHL action

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (41) and Nashville Predators forward Colin Wilson conducted their own sweet science experiment during a recent hockey game in the Music City.

Tommy Davidson, Mike Tyson

This week on <italics>The Walking Dead</italics>, the former heavyweight champeen of the world returns to chow down on an ear of actor in Beverly Hills. Horror ensues.

Sculpture By The Sea

Assembled by a skeleton crew, this bare bones tribute to cycling by artist Ken Unsworth graced the 10th annual artistic clambake at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Australia. Perhaps this is what inspired his work.

Sculpture By The Sea

Bystanders and passers-by at Perth's Cottesloe Beach seemed not quite sure about what to make of artiste Norton Flavel's "Bulk Carrier," which conjures both a comfy overstuffed pillow and a hotwater bottle.

Novak Djokovic

After a line judge sentenced him to the chair, the Serbian tennis whiz got wiggy with it during the 10th Anniversary Desert Smash at the fabulous La Quinta Resort and Club, which, in a stunning coincidence, just happens to be in La Quinta, California. You can't make this stuff up, though we try.

MotoGP Test action

Italy's Valentino Rossi got a head start on the competition during Day Three of testing at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Trans-Atlantic Pancake Race

Devon Byrne (left) leads the field en route to winning this Shrove Tuesday flapjack gallop for the third time in a record 55.61 seconds. Every year, it seems, the women of Olney buster their butts down the streets of the Buckhamshire burgh, flipping their cakes while their counterparts in the little town of Liberal, Kansas, run their own version of the race. According to culinary lore, the Olney race started in 1445 when a harried housewife arrived at church on Shrove Tuesday still clutching her frying pan with a pancake in it and an ancestor of NHLer Dustin Penner limping after her in hot pursuit. In 1950, the good folks of Liberal wondered how they'd stack up against Olney and challenged it to a friendly international competition that persists to this very day. Pass the syrup.

Formula One action

In other racing news, Sebastian Vettel's bid for a fifth consecutive Formula One championship has been greatly complicated by new rules mandating that he surrender his once-invincible V-8 engine and switch to a car that must be pushed around the track. Here the plucky driver (right, front) and his gallant crew test their new wheels at the Bahrain International Circuit while opposing drivers look on and chortle.

NASCAR Hauler Parade

140307125117-danica-patrick-hauler-parade-single-image-cut.jpg — Warren Wimmer/Icon SMI

In NASCAR news, Danica Patrick's wheels rolled along Las Vegas Boulevard prior to the Kobalt 400. Her 21st-place finish in the race was one of her better showings on the Cup circuit.

Carnival action

Just to keep you abreast of developments in Rio de Janiero, here's Drum Queen Mariana Rios of the Mocidade samba school gracing the annual celebration. Alas, another Carnival did not fare as well...(Please proceed to next slide. Thank you.)

Carnival action

Sailor suit: Passengers aboard the ironically named Carnival Lines cruise ship Triumph spelled out "HELP" as the disabled liner was hauled to Mobile Bay, Ala. About three dozen bilious seafarers filed a lawsuit in Miami, claiming to suffer from lingering medical and mental issues caused by their scurvy experience in the Gulf of Mexico. Carnival Corp., however, happens to feel that such maladies as kidney stones, post-traumatic stress disorder, scratchy throats and a jaundiced view of their company can not possibly be linked to the ship's unsavory conditions or the fire that crippled its engine.

USS George H.W. Bush

The USA's audacious entry for the 2017 America's Cup race took a little test spin in the Saronic Gulf near Athens, Greece. The 1,092 foot-long yacht is expected to blow lesser boats out of the water.

Allen Iverson's boat

In other nautical news, former Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson was feeling a little dinghy after being awarded this cutting edge craft upon his jersey retirement. As the sages say, give a former NBA star a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day whle singing tunes like this timeless classic.

Jimmy Fallon

At North Avenue Beach. the <italics>Late Night</italics> host discovered that the Chicago Polar Plunge is what it purports to be.

Joe Namath

Broadway Joe prepares to uncork a high-belt fastball prior to an exhibition game of rounders between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals in sunny Tampa.

Grapefruit League action

In one of the more arresting images from spring training, Miami Marlins centerfielder Joe Benson ran off with a woman and a ball hit by J.D. Martinez of the Houston Astros during a game in Jupter, Fla.

Mariano Rivera

Hitters rarely had a prayer against him and now that he's retired, the legendary Yankees closer is still notching saves. His latest came after he threw $3 million into a crumbling, vacant church in New Rochelle, NY. The sparkling new Refugio de Esperanza (Refuge of Hope) now houses a ministry led by his wife (not pictured).

Soccer fan

Continuing in our theological vein, Sandro the barkeep at the Nilo saloon in Naples posted a mural by the artist Maupal claiming that Pope Francis roots for SSC Napoil. We had the Pontiff pegged as a Saints fan.

LeBron James

Always one with a nose for the ball, King James adjusts the protection for his busted proboscis while his Heat grapple with the Charlotte Bobcats in Miami.

Maria Sharapova

Voncerned about the nutritional needs of her nation's urchins, the Russian tennis star launched her candy brand "Sugarpova" in Sochi. For our hard-earned rubles, that's easily the most inspired name for something sweet since <italics>Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs</italics> in the old comic strip Calvin & Hobbes.

Iditarod action

Total no-snow: This year's edition of the storied pooch sled race lacked an essential ingredient, as you can see by this aeriai shot of Finger Lake, Alaska, where Martin Buser gamely mushes his canines and incisors across the aptly-named Farewell Burn.

Iditarod inaction

Aaron Burmeister's sled dogs take a well deserved rest after reaching the end of this week's arduous gallery. You, too, should put your dogs up and kick back.

Published Mar 10, 2014

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