Sports Fan

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Physics of Baseball,”** with Scott Paulson, professor of physics and interdisciplinary liberal studies at James Madison University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball) .] Profs and Pints is offering baseball fans an even bigger treat than Cracker Jack, an exploration of the physics underlying their beloved sport. Professor Scott Paulson, who regularly teaches introductory physics classes that make the physics behind real-world phenomena accessible to all, will discuss the forces and phenomena that come into play in baseball during pitching, batting, and fielding. He’ll toss you basic physics concepts that help explain how baseball’s routine plays got to be that way, and he’ll explain what’s going on in some situations where the laws of physics seem to be violated by what’s happening on the field. Ever wondered why curveballs curve or knuckleballs behave so strangely? You’ll learn how Newton’s laws and the Magnus force explain how pitchers get drastically different results from subtle differences in their releases. Curious about what exactly the “sweet spot” of the bat is? Ever wondered how big an advantage batters get from the thin air of Mile High Stadium? We’ll explore the physics of the batted ball, examining the phenomena of waves and analyzing the interaction of ball, bat and batter with the help of high-speed video. During one of the more exciting scenarios in a baseball game—the close play at the plate—fans often see outfielders throw to an infielder rather than directly to home. We’ll look at the pros and cons of this relay play, known as a “cut-off,” in the context of the physics of projectile motion. Finally, we will also look into high-profile cheating scandals involving corked bats and doctored balls. Dr. Paulson will present models to explain how these alterations to the equipment can benefit the batter and pitcher respectively, and he’ll discuss how much these models are backed up by data. These few hours in a brewpub will forever enhance your enjoyment of time at the ballpark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Photo by Tage Olsin / Wikimedia Commons

⚽️ FIFA World Cup 2026 Watch Party: USA 🇺🇸 vs Paraguay 🇵🇾 ⚽️ Get ready for an exciting night of football, good vibes, and great company! 📅 Match: USA vs Paraguay 🕘 Kickoff: 9:00 PM PST 📍 Location: Honor Brewing Kitchen Join us as we gather to watch the Fifa matches! We’ll be watching the match live at Honor Brewing in Fairfax — a perfect spot with plenty of space, great energy, and big screens. 🍔 Food & Drinks Available 🍻 Enjoy a wide selection of drinks and tasty bites 🎉 Fun atmosphere with fellow fans 🌯menu: [https://honorbrewing.com/honor-brewing-fairfax](https://honorbrewing.com/honor-brewing-fairfax) Bring your friends, wear your USA or Paraguay gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! see you there! 🇺🇸⚽️

Join us this Saturday at Quattro Goombas Brewery for the 2025–26 FA Cup Final watch party! They’re opening early for the 10am kickoff as Chelsea and Manchester City battle it out at Wembley Stadium in the 145th final of the world’s oldest knockout competition. Grab a pint, settle in, and catch all the action with us! Chelsea are here after battling through Charlton Athletic, Hull City, Wrexham, Port Vale, and Leeds United. The Blues have won the FA Cup 8 times and finished as runners-up 8 times. They also hold the record for losing three consecutive FA Cup finals between 2020 and 2022. Manchester City won the EFL Cup earlier in the season and are looking for their second trophy of the season. The Cityzens went through Exeter City, Salford City, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Southampton on their way to Wembley. City have won the FA Cup 7 times and finished as runners-up 8 times. They have reached the showpiece for a record-breaking fourth consecutive year. Following a victory in 2023, the club suffered three consecutive runner-up finishes in 2024, 2025, and 2026. We'll be meeting right on kick-off for this one - 10 am, to see history made in the FA Cup Final - Join Us!

RSVP or DO NOT COME OUT TO THE EVENT! Bring DARK and WHITE shirt to keep the teams even. This is a friendly game, please keep aggressive plays out of the game and keep it competitive but friendly. For safety, please wear safety gear. If you slide tackle or show aggressive behavior, you will be kicked out of the group.

Please arrive early (no later than 7:30) to stretch out and warm up. Wear a black jersey and bring a pair of shin guards.