Dear Kid,

Continuing on with Part III of learning about the number three, we’re on day 3 of threes (Part I and Part II). And we’re talking about Sports. Also sports.

(Huh? What’s the difference? Sports with a lower case “s” refers to things like a three-legged race. Sports with a capital “S” refers to things that don’t typically occur in one’s back yard.)

A regulation hockey puck is three inches in diameter. Also in hockey, there are three periods in regular playing time.

Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. You knew that.

In volleyball, a team can touch the ball three times before it must cross the net. You knew that too.

You can score three points in football with a field goal and in basketball by shooting behind the cleverly named three point line. Also in basketball, referees are very protective of the lane (also known as the paint which I learned from Jenelle); you’re only allowed to be in there for 3 seconds without doing anything productive.

In many sporting events (and by “many sporting events” I mostly mean the Olympics), there are three medals awarded: gold, silver, and bronze.

A hat trick refers to three goals scored in a game by a single player. The hat trick originated in cricket (bet you didn’t know that). “Toby is a dumb name for a cricket.” Three extra points for knowing that quote.

Three letters are generally used to indicate a team or country during competition.

Perhaps my favorite three in sports is from baseball: Three strikes and you’re out. Think about that—professionals getting more than one chance to get it right. Life ought to be more like that. (“What? My stock pick went down? Strike one! Let’s start again!”)

And a Preview of Threes for St. Patrick’s Day

The Shamrock, the three-leaf clover, is a symbol of Ireland. St. P used the three-leaf clover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (no word on what he did if you inadvertently picked a four-leaf clover).

If you catch a Leprechaun and set him free, he will grant you three wishes. Be sure to negotiate the wishes before you release him—leprechauns are quite sneaky that way.

There is magic associated with drinking three glasses of beer on St. Patrick’s Day. No one knows what this is because no one has ever had only three glasses of beer.

Wishing you three kinds of happy for today.

Love, Mom