Gladiatorial contests were held in ancient Rome for the entertainment of the masses. Gladiators were paid to fight each other, often to the death, in front of large crowds.

The pentathlon was a combination of five events: the discus throw, javelin throw, long jump, wrestling, and a foot race. It was one of the most popular sports in ancient Greece.

The EFL was founded in 1888 and is the oldest professional sports league in the world. It is responsible for organizing the Premier League, the top division of English football.

In 1921, boxer Jack Dempsey signed a contract for $1 million to fight Georges Carpentier. This was the first time an athlete had ever signed a contract for that amount of money.

The ABA was the first professional sports league to allow African American players. In 1967, the ABA signed Connie Hawkins, who became the first African American player to play in a major professional sports league.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated 3.5 billion fans worldwide. It is played in over 200 countries and is the most watched sport in the world.

The NFL is the most expensive professional sports league in the world. The average NFL team is worth $3.4 billion, and the league's total revenue is over $15 billion per year.

The NFL has the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world. The average NFL game draws over 67,000 fans, and the league's total attendance is over 17 million per year.

The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in the world. The 2023 Super Bowl drew an audience of over 112 million viewers in the United States alone.

The NHL has the most championships of any professional sports league in the world. The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, more than any other team.

MLB has the most Hall of Famers of any professional sports league in the world. There are over 300 Hall of Famers in MLB, more than any other league.

The NBA has the most international players of any professional sports league in the world. Over 25% of NBA players are from outside the United States.

The NWSL has the most female athletes of any professional sports league in the world. The league has over 200 players, all of whom are women.

The NWSL has the most LGBTQ+ athletes of any professional sports league in the world. Over 10% of NWSL players identify as LGBTQ+.