To celebrate the return of The Print Edition we got dressed up and went to Chateau Royale to raise a martini to the new issue.

The theme is sports, which evoke leisure, play and childlike pleasure. Many people enjoy the triumphant thrill of victory. Not that we would know anything about that since we’re fans of the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. Maybe that’s why we have an affinity with sad fans—anybody from Buffalo is a brother in or sister in sports suffering.

Remember when Vitas Gerulaitis lost to Jimmy Connors sixteen straight matches before finally prevailing. Afterwards he famously said, “Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis seventeen times in a row.” That’s the spirit we’re celebrating here.

In the pages Simon Mills reports on England’s history of pub games (you can play a sport while holding a pint). Nathan King considers walking to be the first sport. John Brodie examines the fine social nuances of a lifetime playing squash. And Andrew Hyslop shares his wonderful photos of Kentucky horse racing.

Many thanks to IWC, J. Mueser, Citadelle Gin and our other advertisers for their support.

We try not to take sports too seriously and yet they still manage to break our hearts. After all, losing provides necessary lessons in life. Of course it does, that’s how you know the game matters.

-David & Michael

*You can buy The Print Edition at newsstands or subscribe here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.acl.news/subscribe