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General Hardy Boys Discussion => General Hardy Boys Discussions => Topic started by: MacGyver on March 15, 2012, 09:12:49 AM

Title: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on March 15, 2012, 09:12:49 AM
Since it came up in another thread, I thought I'd give this its own thread. We all know Frank and Joe Hardy are superb athletes who take care to keep themselves fit and in shape. They primarily do this through participating in a variety of sports. I thought it would be fun to try to list all the various sports that they have played at one time or another and all the books they show up in. (As well as sports that they have had some form of exposure to or experience with even if they did not participate in the sport themselves. For example, they got to see a number of sports at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Sabotage at Sports City [#115 in The Hardy Boys Digests], but they weren't participating in them.)
For starters, I know that Frank and Joe are both mentioned as being on the Track & Field team and the football team at Bayport High School in various volumes of the Grossett & Dunlap first 58 books. [This may be strictly revised text, but I'm thinking this was probably also true in the original text.] They play basketball in Jump Shot Detectives [#4 in The Hardy Boys Clues Brothers series] and Slam Dunk Sabotage [#140 in The Hardy Boys Digests] and they solve a mystery involving basketball in Fast Break [#107 in The Hardy Boys Casefiles- I can't recall if either Frank or Joe are seen playing bball themselves, though I think they're also on the school team in this book.]
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: Hardy Sleuth on March 15, 2012, 05:57:20 PM
I really like the clever subject title "The Hardy Boys: Good Sports", MacGyver  8) The revised text editions are the ones I know as opposed to the original ones, although I would be interested in reading them all. ;D Clue of the Broken Blade and Sea You, Sea Me - fencing;  Super Sleuths, One False Step - gymnastics; The Smoke Screen Mystery, Slip, Slide, and Slap Shot, Ice Cold Case - hockey; Height of Danger, Danger in the Extreme - snowboarding and also in Danger in the Extreme - sky-surfing and snocross; Training for Trouble - archery, judo, cross country skiing, biathlon; Board to Death - skateboarding; Motocross Madness - motocross and in The Melted Coins - Lacrosse was mentioned.  8)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on March 15, 2012, 11:42:57 PM
QuoteI really like the clever subject title "The Hardy Boys: Good Sports", MacGyver   
Thanks. :)

Yeah- this list could go on for quite a while. Radical Moves covered skateboarding too.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: SDLagent on March 17, 2012, 03:07:29 AM
In the Original series both Frank and Joe are on the high school football team. Frank is QB but I don't remember what Joe plays. By the late Digests Frank has left the team to focus on his studies.

I think The Tower Treasure mentions that Joe is also a tennis player. In the Casefiles and Digests Frank and Joe both play baseball. They're on the basketball team in one of the later Digests.

In the UB Frank is on the swim team and the track team. Joe is a sprinter on the track team and plays on a college football team in Foul Play despite at least one earlier book mentioned that Fenton didn't like his boys playing football.

So, pretty much, Frank and Joe are good at every sport!
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 17, 2012, 03:46:26 PM
In the Original texts it is mentioned that th boys converted barn, while housing their laboratory on the top floor, also had a gymnasium on the bottom floor with parallel bars, a trampoline and a few other workout machines.  If you haven't read the 1928 version of "The Missing Chums" then you are missing a very funny scene that Leslie McFarlane put into the story in the barn's gym.

Numerous texts, both Classic and Casefiles have the boys swimming.

The boys go horseback riding in a number of books, and work with F1 teams in "Collision Course", Casefiles #33 and "Out Of Control" in the SuperMystery'88 series, plus the Classic Series #112 "Demolition Mission" has the boys in a stock car derby.

"The Shattered Helmet" (Classic #52) has the boys participating in some dirt bike races (kind of like "Motocross Madness").

Plus the boys play hockey in the Classic #105 "The Smoke Screen Mystery"; the younger Hardy's play hockey (along with Joe quite literally falling for a figure skater) in he Clues Brothers book "Slip, Slide and Slapshot".

Both versions of Classic 15 feature horse racing.

The boys also play baseball in Classic 63 "The Mummy Case"; Casefiles 63 has the boys and Chet working out at a new gym in Bayport.

Classic 161 has the boys working out at an Olympic training facility.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: Hardy Sleuth on March 18, 2012, 06:48:42 PM
A  lot of great books mentioned on this thread, MacGyver, SDLagent, and Tomswift2002! 8) I've read some of them, some I want to read again, and some I'm really looking forward to reading. ;D Oh, have to add skydiving from several books, too.

Quote from: SDLagent on March 17, 2012, 03:07:29 AMIn the UB Frank is on the swim team and the track team. Joe is a sprinter on the track team and plays on a college football team in Foul Play despite at least one earlier book mentioned that Fenton didn't like his boys playing football.

Foul Play I've read and like. 8) That other book you mentioned, I haven't read it yet, and I'm wondering if the writer maybe is saying Fenton didn't want them to risk getting injured playing football because it is more important to be fighting crime. Is that how it seemed in that book? Any sport runs the risk of injury, just that was the one being talked about right then.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: Bigfootman on March 18, 2012, 08:31:52 PM
Here's a good blog article on "Foul Play", and how much things it got wrong:
http://hardyboysdigests.blogspot.ca/2008/11/foul-play-undercover-brothers-19_30.html
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on March 18, 2012, 08:46:54 PM
Hmmm-wow. Well, while it is a fictional book and the author is allowed some creative license... it's also good to at least do some research on your topic if it's not one you're readily familiar with. Oh well- hopefully the actual mystery in the story was good enough to make up for the shortcomings in the backdrop.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: Hardy Sleuth on March 18, 2012, 09:31:24 PM
I didn't take time to read the blog article. I like things to be realistic and I enjoyed the action, humor, and mystery in Foul Play, and the brothers were written well, which is very important to me and makes the book successful in my mind. Balancing all things, the book is a good one. 8)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 19, 2012, 06:51:18 PM
Oh, yeah, the boy's do some skydiving in Classic 67 "The Outlaw's Silver" and ballooning in Classic 53 "The Clue of the Hissing Serpent" and Casefiles 113 "Sky High".
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: Hardy Sleuth on March 20, 2012, 06:21:43 PM
Cool.  8)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: SDLagent on March 21, 2012, 06:49:34 PM
Quote from: Hardy Sleuth on March 18, 2012, 06:48:42 PM
A  lot of great books mentioned on this thread, MacGyver, SDLagent, and Tomswift2002! 8) I've read some of them, some I want to read again, and some I'm really looking forward to reading. ;D Oh, have to add skydiving from several books, too.

Foul Play I've read and like. 8) That other book you mentioned, I haven't read it yet, and I'm wondering if the writer maybe is saying Fenton didn't want them to risk getting injured playing football because it is more important to be fighting crime. Is that how it seemed in that book? Any sport runs the risk of injury, just that was the one being talked about right then.

Yeah, pretty much. I mean, why get hurt playing football when you can get hurt fighting crime?
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 21, 2012, 07:46:42 PM
Quote from: Dinosaur Dan on March 18, 2012, 08:31:52 PM
Here's a good blog article on "Foul Play", and how much things it got wrong:
http://hardyboysdigests.blogspot.ca/2008/11/foul-play-undercover-brothers-19_30.html

Unfortunately the author of that blog seems to be rather negative towards all the books published since 1979, so while he does point out errors, for the most part I found his reviews to be rather unfair to the books from the later-Classic series and Casefiles.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on March 21, 2012, 08:47:37 PM
Yeah- it's definitely meant to be a snarky, sarcastic look at The Hardy Boys (which can be funny at times, but also gets a bit crude for my tastes too...)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: SDLagent on March 21, 2012, 08:49:39 PM
I actually enjoyed Foul Play. That blog is pretty funny though.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: P. Walker on March 29, 2012, 12:55:51 AM
Dont forget fencing in Casefiles 117 "Blood Sport".

Off-topic but does anyone know if all of the Casefiles have the blue spine? Or did at some point between 108 and 115 they stopped with the blue spine and went with scenes from the then-current TV show? My copies of 115 and 117 both have scenes from the TV show with a greenish colored and reddish colored spine respectively. I wish they wouldnt have switched overs, it makes my collection look weird and those two books out-of-place.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: tomswift2002 on March 29, 2012, 06:00:11 AM
Starting with Casefiles #105 "Law Of The Jungle" in November 1995 and running till #121 "Absolute Zero" in March 1997 the Casefiles featured publicity photos from the 1995 TV series with a sunburst alerting people to the "New" TV series.  (The Nancy Drew Files also had covers during this time featuring photos from the 95 series as well.). Starting with I believe 115 the "New" was dropped from the sunburst.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on March 29, 2012, 07:56:50 AM
Right. And #122-127 was a completely different design for The Hardy Boys Casefiles as well.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: SkyWarp on March 29, 2012, 10:53:55 PM
Does Karate equal a sport for this discussion.  There were mentions of the Frank having a brown belt in Karate.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: Hardy Sleuth on March 29, 2012, 11:29:37 PM
Quote from: SkyWarp on March 29, 2012, 10:53:55 PM
Does Karate equal a sport for this discussion.  There were mentions of the Frank having a brown belt in Karate.

Sure! 8)

I like this quote from The Jungle Pyramid
QuoteThe boys whirled in the defensive stance of karate experts. The sound came directly toward them in the darkness! The Hardys had a strategy for such confrontations. They counted silently to three, then Frank snapped on his light.

and this favorite from Hide and Sneak
Quote"Martial Arts 101," Frank said, pushing him away. "How to deal with loudmouths waving knives."

Lol! 8) Nice one, Frank! ;D Plus many more times in the books. And there's The Karate Clue that I would like to read. :)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on March 30, 2012, 07:15:40 AM
QuoteDoes Karate equal a sport for this discussion.  There were mentions of the Frank having a brown belt in Karate.
definitely- The Shadow Killers is another great reference for this as it talks about Frank's dojo. Frank and Joe are also both mentioned as being familiar with judo in various books.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: SDLagent on March 31, 2012, 01:25:57 AM
Depending on what book you read Frank and Joe know quite a few martial arts.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on April 17, 2012, 10:34:41 AM
QuoteDont forget fencing in Casefiles 117 "Blood Sport".
Can't believe I hadn't mentioned fencing yet. Yep, Frank and Joe are both familiar with fencing, as seen both in Blood Sport [though only Frank is shown as taking lessons in that book] and way before that in one of my favorites of the Original Series- The Clue of the Broken Blade (revised version). And in that one, Frank, Joe, Chet, Biff, Phil and Tony are all taking fencing lessons. :)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on August 27, 2012, 11:53:14 AM
I don't think soccer has been mentioned at all on this thread yet and Frank and Joe have definitely had experience with this sport too. In The Hardy Boys Casefiles #101, Peak of Danger, they are both on the school soccer team. :) 8)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on August 27, 2012, 11:56:02 AM
And if chess counts, Frank in particular is shown to be pretty skilled at the game, as evidenced in The Hardy Boys Casefiles #43 Strategic Moves and #62 Final Gambit. I don't think Joe is generally quite as keen on it, but I'm pretty positive some of the Original 58 Grossett & Dunlap books have mentioned Frank and Joe playing a game of chess at some point. I think they actually showed The Hardy Boys playing a chess match in one of the episodes of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries as well. :) 8)
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on December 26, 2012, 03:23:02 PM
Have we not mentioned baseball on this thread yet? Frank and Joe definitely are seen playing this in a number of books- I do believe they are mentioned as being on the school team as well. Some good books for baseball mentions include: Foul Play #46 in The Hardy Boys Casefiles, True Thriller #100 in The Hardy Boys Casefiles, Danger on the Diamond #90 in The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories (Digests) and The Missing Mitt #2 in The Hardy Boys: Secret Files series.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on December 26, 2012, 03:24:51 PM
Frank and Joe also participate in the athletic events of Field Day at their elementary school in Sports Sabotage, #8 in The Hardy Boys: Secret Files.
Title: Re: The Hardy Boys: Good Sports
Post by: MacGyver on December 26, 2012, 03:32:34 PM
Frank and Joe also participate in a bike race in The Bicycle Thief, #6 in The Hardy Boys: Secret Files. Other books that feature them either participating in cycling or solving a mystery involving it (or both) include: Mystery of the Silver Star #86 in The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories (Digests) and Racing to Disaster #126 in The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories (Digests) and Street Spies #21 in The Hardy Boys Casefiles. They also ride bicycles in The Mystery of the Flying Express, #20 in The Hardy Boys Original Series (original text; possibly revised text as well.)