Writer Explains The Science Of Sport : NPR

Writer Explains The Science Of Sport : NPR

Have you ever found yourself wondering whether a hockey goalie really has cat like reflexes? Or perhaps, whether a quarterback or an Olympic archer has greater accuracy? These are questions that John Brenkus, host of ESPN's show Sport Science, has pondered and answered. Host Michel Martin speaks with Brenkus and writer Buzz McClain who wrote a profile of Brenkus in a recent Washington Post Magazine.



Link

Washington Post Magazine
The 'Science' of Success: John Brenkus's hit sports show

Sport Science
Brenkus was standing on a football field behind Vernon Davis, tight end for the San Francisco 49ers. Davis, 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, was wearing a harness. Attached to the harness was a nine-foot tow rope. Attached to the tow rope was a handle.And attached to the handle were Brenkus's hands, sheathed in high-tech gloves.

The scripted experiment Brenkus was now rethinking was designed to see whether Davis was strong enough to, while sprinting, drag "the equivalent of the NFL's largest defender across the goal line for the ultimate touchdown." The 5-8, 160-pound Brenkus was standing in for the 360-pound defender. (The experiment would later be repeated with two people behind Davis.) Brenkus's crew of scientists and film technicians was ready to measure the force of Davis's power surge on takeoff.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2011/01/19/GA2011011904184.html?sid=ST2011012100168

Brenkus, who was featured in a Washington Post Magazine cover story, was online January 24 to take questions and comments.

John Brenkus: We've been really blessed to get some of the top athletes in the world into the lab. As always, we're going to aim high and get the top men and women...