As American as the Forward Pass

Reported by The Atlantic · 11 June 2026

To understand the history of the nation, look to the history of its sports.

The sentry box at the royal governor’s residence in Boston was a too-inviting target for young Americans with an urge to kick, throw, or swing at something British. The regiments who occupied the city to enforce the Crown’s taxation were accustomed to dodging snowballs, oyster shells, and burning co…

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