Solve the New York Times Sports Connections Puzzle (August 11): Hints and Answers for Puzzle #322

The game "New York Times Connections: Sports Edition" is an enjoyable mental challenge that relies on your knowledge of the sports world. This game, which officially launched after its trial phase on February 9, "Super Bowl" day, has proven widely popular, prompting The New York Times to continue publishing it through its sports platform "The Athletic". Although it is not integrated into the main "New York Times Games" app, it is now available within "The Athletic" app, and can also be played for free online.

The Goal of the Game: is to find four groups, each consisting of four items that share a common link. Below, we provide hints for the puzzle's groups, ordered from easiest (Yellow) to hardest (Purple), along with the final answers to help you solve today's puzzle.

Group Hints

Yellow Group: Recreational activities practiced outdoors.

Green Group: "Apple Cup" is one of the most famous examples.

Blue Group: Players and teams who have won many major championships.

Purple Group: Nicknamed "the happiest man on Earth".

Group Answers

Yellow Group: (Lawn Games)

• Bocce
• Cornhole
• Croquet
• Horseshoes

Green Group: (Famous College Football Rivalries)

• Backyard Brawl: Between Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
• Bedlam: Between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
• Iron Bowl: Between Alabama and Auburn.
• The Game: Between Michigan and Ohio State.

Blue Group: (Teams with the Most Super Bowl Wins)

• Dallas
• New England
• Pittsburgh
• San Francisco

Purple Group: (Elements related to Baseball Legend Lou Gehrig)

• Number 4: Lou Gehrig's jersey number, retired by the New York Yankees.
• Iron Horse: The nickname given to Gehrig due to his durability and playing 2,130 consecutive games.
• New York: The city where he played with the Yankees throughout his career.
• Wally Pipp: The Yankees' starting first baseman whom Lou Gehrig replaced on June 2, 1925, after Pipp requested a day off due to a headache, thus beginning Gehrig's legendary streak of consecutive games played that lasted 14 years, in a story that became one of the most famous tales in sports history about seizing opportunities.