Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'games'

Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Echo An Indian Novel

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:16:00 EST

Last week's deadly strikes in Mumbai, India, caught the world by surprise. But some of the details that have emerged might seem familiar to the readers of the 2007 novel Sacred Games. Author Vikram Chandra describes those similarities and the mood in Mumbai after the attacks.

Last Word: Musician Hears His Work In Beijing

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:11:37 EDT

The source of the American national anthem being played at the Beijing Olympics during medal ceremonies is in question. Peter Breiner wasn't watching the Games until his friends starting calling to say, "That sounds like your arrangement." It does. Especially the "Rockets Red Glare" section — an unusually soft string rendition that brought some controversy when it was used in Athens in 2004.He got paid for that rendition in 2004. Now Mr. Breiner says he's "100-percent positive" that the Chinese borrowed it from his work. In an email to The Washington Post, the Chinese insist they came up with the arrangement themselves.

Chinese Americans Split on Olympic Pride

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT

With the start of the Olympics tomorrow, much of the focus on China as host of the Games highlights the country's environmental and human rights conflicts. Helen Zia ran in the Olympic torch relay earlier this year in San Francisco. Zia is joined by Chinese American writer Sasha Gong to discuss the how Chinese Americans are thinking about the Olympic Games.

Athlete Tries Hypnotism in Quest for Olympic Gold

Tue, 27 May 2008 16:01:00 EDT

U.S. shot-putter Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, is willing to try anything — legal — to win gold at this summer's Games in Beijing. That includes sports hypnotherapy, in which he visualizes success in the shot-put circle.

X-Games Staple Goes Olympic

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:18:00 EDT

BMX cycling comes hurtling into the Olympic summer games in Beijing as a brand new event. Organizers hope it will attract interest from younger fans, the same way snowboarding did for the winter games.

Calls for Olympics Boycott Follow Tibet Protest

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EDT

China's crackdown on protesters in Tibet has left at least 10 people dead, but the International Olympic Committee is asking countries not to boycott the Beijing Olympics, saying a boycott would only hurt athletes. Former ambassador to China, James Lilley, and Sophie Richardson, director for Asia advocacy at Human Rights Watch, talk to Noah Adams about persuading China to change its ways in the run up to the Games.

Audience is Loser in Haneke's Unfunny 'Games'

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:37:00 EDT

In Michael Haneke's new film, a wealthy American family opens the door of their secluded vacation home to two strangers -- who proceed to torture them in a series of sadistic games. David Edelstein has a review.

Steelers, Seahawks Advance to Super Bowl XL

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

Steelers, Seahawks Advance to Super Bowl XL January 23, 2006 · The Seattle Seahawks will play in their first Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Detroit; the Pittsburgh Steelers will return for a shot at the franchise's fifth Super Bowl title. Both teams dominated their opponents in Sunday's conference championship games.

Turin Ready, but Reserved, Ahead of Olympics

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

The Winter Olympics in Italy are just three weeks away. Usually these major international sports events unleash a wave of national euphoria. But in sports-crazy Italy, the winter games are being largely ignored.

Winter Olympics Preview

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman talks about skating and sledding controversies, and who to watch in the upcoming Winter Olympic games.

Steelers, Seahawks Advance in NFL Playoffs

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

Steelers, Seahawks Advance in NFL Playoffs January 16, 2006 · The Pittsburgh Steelers advanced Sunday to the AFC Championship game after a 21-18 upset over the Indianapolis Colts, while the Seattle Seahawks upset the Washington Redskins in one of Saturday's playoff games.

College Football Season Builds to Climax

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

College Football Season Builds to Climax January 3, 2006 · College football's national championship will be decided Wednesday when Texas faces defending champion Southern California in the Rose Bowl. Six games on Monday offered a wild series of warmups, while in a final preliminary on Tuesday night, Penn State and Florida State meet in the Orange Bowl.

Has Hip Hop Lost Touch with Reality...

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

From music to film, clothing to video games, hip-hop continued to dominate popular culture in 2005. However, as rap music moves further in from the margins and takes over more of America's economic and cultural center, reviewer Oliver Wang wonders whether its grandiose fantasies have lost touch with reality.

Slate's Sports: Rating College TV Ads

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

Writer and Slate contributor Mike DeBonis talks about commercials for colleges and universities that run during television broadcasts of college football games.

Driven to Distraction: New Cars Get Tech Upgrades

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

New York Times technology columnist David Pogue talks about how cars are increasingly seeing high-tech packages that include satellite TV, video games and other items.

Monopoly No Preparation for Business World

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

Like all good dads, commentator Russell Roberts likes to play board games with his children. But as an economist, he feels compelled to point out that one of their favorites, Monopoly, doesn't provide a very good model of the business world.

Sports Wrap: Bowl Game Preview, Year in Review

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

Wall Street Journal sportswriter Stefan Fatsis previews the college bowl games and reviews the big sports stories of 2005.

Opening Up Language Through Tongue Twisters

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

The students in Judith Sloan's theater program in Queens, N.Y., are mostly new immigrants. Like any high school kids, they can be hard to motivate. So, Sloan turns to tongue twisters and clapping games to help them prepare for a performance.

'Serious' Video Games for Education, Activism

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

Tech guru Mario Armstrong explains an emerging genre of educational videos games known as "serious games" -- engrossing virtual worlds that help players learn how to control pain, train soldiers on how the military works, and even how to be a successful activist on a college campus.

Christmas Day NBA Games: Detroit, Miami Victorious

Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

Christmas Day NBA Games: Detroit, Miami Victorious December 26, 2005 · Sports commentator John Feinstein looks at Christmas Day NBA games. The Detroit Pistons beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, and the Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. The Miami-Los Angeles match pegged former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal against each other.

Grabbing Toys to Give to the Kids

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

Roy Kaylor of Pleasanton, Calif., is an expert at winning toys from the arcade games in which players manipulate a metal claw to try and grab stuffed toys. Kaylor has won so many toys that he's giving them away to kids for free this holiday season.

Luger Quinn Takes Another Shot at Olympics

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

Luger Quinn Takes Another Shot at Olympics December 16, 2005 · Sports agent Patrick Quinn has spent most of his adult life trying to make it to the Olympics. Friday will be a decisive moment in the 39-year-old's quest, a crucial qualifying luge race in Lake Placid. Quinn tried unsuccessfully to make the games as a speed skater in 1998 and 2002.

Playing Long-Distance Virtual War Games

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST

Military officials sampled more than 450 flight simulation and virtual combat applications from defense contractors at this year's Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Fla. Christopher Elliott reports how the system lets troops in Maryland practice war games "alongside" NATO troops in Belgium via a high-speed hookup.

Paying Real Money to Win Online Games

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST

Sometime today, millions of people will check out of this world and into the world of online games. And many of them will think nothing of pulling out real credit cards to buy virtual gold, swords -- even humans.

'The Marketplace Report:' 'Must-Have' Holiday Gadgets

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST

This holiday shopping season has kicked off with an obvious "must-have" toy or gadget. Difficulties have already been reported regarding the early contender for the "must-have" title -- Microsoft's new X-box gaming system. Hear Bob Moon of Marketplace.