Play Ball!
A bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding.
baseball
Ben Franklin assured us that "Nothing is certain but death and" these.
taxes
Stephen Curry / Jason Tatum / Jimmer Fredette
basketball
There are this many rings in the official Olympic symbol.
five - 5
This may be played if the final score is even.
tiebreaker
In this game a penalty kick, often goes over 60 MPH--hence the goalie's fear of it.
soccer
"Blue" this day of the week in January is said to be the most depressing day of the year; none of them are my favorite.
Monday
Diana Taurasi / Breanna Stewart / Lisa Leslie
basketball
The 3 throwing events in the decathlon are the shot put, the javelin & this one.
discus
2-word term meaning to end up with the same amount of money as when you started, as in gambling or business.
break even
The Brits put "gridiron" before this sport to refer to the American version.
football
You do this when you want to stop yourself from saying something; doing it by accident can be a painful mouth injury.
biting your tongue
Willie Mays / Hank Aaron / Mickey Mantle
baseball
It's hosted 2 Olympic Games, 2 Super Bowls & one World Series; it's also home to the USC Trojans.
The (L.A.) Coliseum
This 2-word alliterative phrase means to eat with others, even if there's no loaf.
break bread
A racket sport derived from tennis but distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table.
ping-pong
The FCC suggests entering your information on this list if your phone keeps blowing up with extended warranty calls.
the Do Not Call List
Andre Agassi / Billie Jean King / Rafael Nadal
tennis
The first modern Olympic Games held in this Greek city in 1896, had only 311 competitors, all men.
Athens
In electrical circles, a fuse acts as one.
circuit breaker
The beach version of this has been an Olympic sport since 1996.
volleyball
These uninvited insects likely make you itch; the Anopheles type can transmit malaria.
mosquitoes
Mia Hamm / Hope Solo / Megan Rapinoe
This is first lit by the sun's rays at Olympia & then carried to the site of the games by runners.
the Olympic torch
A ship that opens channels in the Arctic, or a remark that opens conversation.