Ain't that a kick, part 1

During the fall season every year, I find myself – like many other people – stuck in front of the television watching football games.

One thing I have noticed this football season is that coaches are asking their field-goal kickers to try longer field goals than used to be the case.

Back in the day, the longest field goal in the history of the National Football League (NFL) had been one of 63 yards made by Tom Dempsey in 1970 when he was playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Dempsey was also famous because he was born with a right foot that had no toes and was much shorter than normal. He had a...