Thank Holmes It's Friday - 13th June - Sherlock & Sport
It’s that time again - Thank Holmes it’s Friday! This week we treat you to a letter from no other than Sherlock Holmes himself.
Greetings, my dear Watson (or should I say, Sportson?),
As I pore over the morning's sporting gazettes – a most peculiar hobby, I admit, for a man of my intellectual pursuits, but one that occasionally yields fascinating insights into the human condition – I find myself quite struck by the current whirlwind of athletic endeavours across the globe. It's a veritable tapestry of triumphs and tribulations, much like a particularly knotty case, wouldn't you agree?
Right now, the world is practically vibrating with the thwack of tennis balls and the roar of engines. In Paris, the clay courts of the French Open have just settled down, leaving us with fresh champions and likely a few sore muscles. But fear not, for the grass season is upon us! Wimbledon, that bastion of crisp whites and strawberries and cream, is just around the corner, promising two weeks of dramatic rallies and genteel gasps from the royal box. One might even call it a grand slam of mysteries, with each point a clue to victory!
Meanwhile, across the pond, the thunderous roar of the NBA Finals is echoing, as basketball's finest battle for supremacy. And for those with a need for speed, the asphalt jungles of Montreal are buzzing with the Canadian Grand Prix, while the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans is putting both man and machine to the ultimate test of endurance. It's enough to make one wonder if the laws of physics are being bent in their pursuit of glory!
Even the quiet green fairways are witnessing intense competition, with the US Open in golf currently testing the mettle of the world's best. And for the football (soccer, for our American friends) aficionados, the FIFA Club World Cup is kicking off in the USA, a global gathering of club titans, each vying for bragging rights.
It's a dizzying array of athletic pursuits, each with its own set of rules, its own dramatis personae, and its own compelling narrative. Much like a good mystery, wouldn't you say?
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE WORLD OF SPORTS
Arthur Conan Doyle masterfully wove his own passion for sports, notably Ruby, into the very fabric of Sherlock Holmes's world! For instance, "The Adventures of the Missing Three-Quarter," was centered around a game of rugby. In "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" we learn of Watson's surprising past as a skilled wing for the prestigious Blackheath rugby team. You'll even find a chapter dedicated to a gripping rugby match commentary in "The Firm of Girdlestone" (1890).
Even beyond the rugby pitch, Holmes's cases often saw him relying on a surprising degree of physical aptitude, a complement to his sharper mental faculties. He occasionally dusted off his university boxing skills, as hinted in "The Gloria Scott" and "The Yellow Face".
Even beyond the rugby pitch, Holmes's cases often saw him relying on a surprising degree of physical aptitude, complementing his sharper mental faculties. He occasionally dusted off his university boxing skills, as hinted in "The Gloria Scott" and "The Yellow Face". You even catch him handily dealing with a bent fire poker in "The Speckled Band". There was also the encounter in "The Sign of the Four" where he found himself sparring with a prizefighter. And remarkably, he even put some knowledge of baritsu to practical use against Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls in "The Adventure of the Empty House".
At MX Publishing, our Sherlock Holmes and Sports Collection brings you cases where the game is truly afoot! Discover adventures where Holmes himself engages in athletic pursuits or investigates mysteries deeply entwined with the world of sport. And the best part - all of these titles and more are included in our site-wide 3 for 2 offer! Use promo code "everything" at checkout to unlock this deal.
"These Scattered Houses": Holmes masterfully uses bartitsu to thwart Moriarty's goons and confronts asylum guards.
"The Remarkable Power of Stimulus": Witness Holmes's exceptional fencing skills.
"Mrs Hudson in the Ring": Sherlock Holmes is goaded into a boxing match with a suspicious outcome.
"Rendevous At The Populaire": Witness a sword fight between Holmes and the Phantom of the Opera
And don't miss "Dial Square" by Martin Delay, a short story set amidst the fascinating founding of Arsenal Football Club in 1886, or Orlando Pearson's "The Baron of Wimbledon", where Holmes aids a blackmailed German tennis star.
The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories are also rich with references to sports such as boxing and fencing as well as cricket, horse racing, and cycling. Among them are:
"The Adventure of the Mortal Combat": A "fencing duel" with Britain's foremost champion.
"The King of Diamonds": Follow a "fine sportsman" on a "shooting party" and discover secrets in a "billiards-room".
"The Song of the Mudlark": Dive into a world of "bare-knuckled matches" and "horse racing" bets.
Dive into these captivating tales and more with our site-wide 3 for 2 offer! Use promo code "everything" at checkout to unlock this fantastic deal. Don't miss out—this offer ends on June 30th, 2025!
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YOUR FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD "Dial Square" by Martin Daley is the first story in the collection "Sherlock Holmes: The Selected Cases of Doctor Watson". The story begins with Dr. Watson recalling one of the few instances where Sherlock Holmes's investigations intersected with sporting activity, specifically Association Football. Enter promo code "dialingsquare" to claim your free discount.
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