Did you know ping-pong (gossima, whiff-whaff, flim-flam, ping-pang, table-tennis only when it's masquerading as a sport) started as an alternative to lawn tennis in gay 90's England? or were the 1890's only gay in the US? they used cigar box lids for rackets and champagne corks (shaved down) for balls. that's a much much heavier ball, btw.
Since table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, the Chinese have taken home 16 of the 20 gold medals.
Here's a little something about the history of US Table Tennis (info from www.usatt.org):
New York City’s Tompkins Square Boys’ Club--led by its star player and all-around athlete (swimming, basketball, the shot-put, volley ball, handball, tennis) Marcus "Mark" Schussheim--helped to bring Ping-Pong in the U.S. back into popularity. After Mark’s fame as our first National Champion, he was boyishly profiled in one of his Club’s "Poisonalities" columns:
MARCUS SCHUSSHEIM: Ping-pongist unique of the Boys’ Club. Bloomed the 5th [make that the 4th] of August, 1912. Stands 5 feet 7 inches. Sleeps on his stomach. Snores but claims it is unknown to him. Sleeps in the raw and encourages all to do likewise. Dreams constantly of the opposite sex. Slumbers alone. Drinks lemonade before retiring and upon rising. Owes his life to an ashcan. At the age of two he fell from the third story directly into the can. Two points! A scar from this ‘shot’ persists beside his left eye. Combs his hair three times daily. ... Nothing pleases his palate more than a broiled steak. Never drank coffee, or--er--beer. Likes to dunk his bread and crullers...
There's more but I'm sure you get the point that the question of whether or not ping-pong is a sport is still a question.
Olympic US Women's Bronze Match and Men's Semis are today.
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