Sport began as a religious cult – as a way of controlling and changing the world.   Living in the most-arid regions of Mexico, the Zunis played games which they thought would increase the probability of rain. To ensure a good whaling season, Makah Indians of the Pacific Northwest played the first known hockey contests, using whale bones as both “pucks” and “sticks.” Some of the original tribes of India arranged tug-of-war contests to expel demons and encourage the sun to...

Coming off the  plane in Detroit, Meshack did not look like an elite runner. His David-Niven mustache suggested  suavity rather than sinew, and his gentle gaze seemed to hold very little competitive  fire. Shockingly, too, the lines on his face and the small hints of alopecia suggested that  he was a vintage athlete, perhaps the kind of fellow who was nearing the 40 mark. But he was my runner, the first  Kenyan I had brought to the states for my budding business as a...