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The Best American Sports Writing 2000
As its tenth birthday approaches, THE BEST AMERICAN SPORTS WRITING is at the top of its game. In the past decade, it has been hailed as “a must for any sports fan” and “a venerable institution” and has showcased promising new talents along with Pulitzer Prize winners such as David Halberstam, Richard Ford, and John McPhee. With the 2000 edition, best-selling author and Emmy Award–winning sports journalist Dick Schaap continues this tradition of excellence by bringing together the finest sports writing to appear in the past year. These pieces will delight fans of all athletic endeavors, from football to fishing, from basketball to birdwatching. From more than 350 publications, Schaap has chosen essays that reach beyond the scores to the people and emotions behind the game.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2000
About the author
Dick Schaap
53 books4 followersRichard Jay Schaap was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 1, 2008
It's unfortunate that the overinflated gasbags pontificating on TV during sporting events are the broad public voice of sports commentary. Yes, I know the Red Wings needed to "maintain focus" last night . . . I don't need some yahoo to tell me that. Oh, they're giving "110%" again? Whew! I'm glad they amped it up for the Stanley Cup finals; I was worried they were merely going to give 100%!
This collection of sports writing is everything that these talking heads and your Sunday sports section is not. I was transported to worlds and lifestyles far outside my everyday experience, and I was fascinated. Sports covered in these essays include yacht racing, cockfighting, pro wrestling, bronco busting, skatboarding, hockey, daredeviltry, action bowling, snowboarding, ultra running, poker, marathon swimming, BASE jumping and curling. There's a smattering of the obligatory pieces dealing with aspects of the NBA, MLB and NFL which are less interesting simply because of their overexposure in American media. The focus on individuals engrossed in their sporting passions opens doors to lifestyles many probably can't even imagine.
I do have to take issue with the last entry "Merv Curls Lead". As a curler myself, I know there are compelling stories out there. This particular entry not only wasn't compelling, but it was lifted from a Canadian magazine. It ignores the spirit, sportsmanship and, yes, excitement of curling, at the expense of portraying something slightly seedier. There are curling clubs throughout the USA, and much more interesting stories out there.
This collection of sports writing is everything that these talking heads and your Sunday sports section is not. I was transported to worlds and lifestyles far outside my everyday experience, and I was fascinated. Sports covered in these essays include yacht racing, cockfighting, pro wrestling, bronco busting, skatboarding, hockey, daredeviltry, action bowling, snowboarding, ultra running, poker, marathon swimming, BASE jumping and curling. There's a smattering of the obligatory pieces dealing with aspects of the NBA, MLB and NFL which are less interesting simply because of their overexposure in American media. The focus on individuals engrossed in their sporting passions opens doors to lifestyles many probably can't even imagine.
I do have to take issue with the last entry "Merv Curls Lead". As a curler myself, I know there are compelling stories out there. This particular entry not only wasn't compelling, but it was lifted from a Canadian magazine. It ignores the spirit, sportsmanship and, yes, excitement of curling, at the expense of portraying something slightly seedier. There are curling clubs throughout the USA, and much more interesting stories out there.
June 7, 2020
Not as traditional as the usual stuff in this collection. There are diverse pieces on subjects ranging from Tony Hawk, Johnny Chan, extreme marathons, gun clubs and cock fighting.
A few pieces that stood out: Storm Warning about the 54th Sydney to Hobart yacht race that has similarities to the story from The Perfect Storm. There was a short Rick Telander piece about former DePaul basketball coach Ray Meyer which sent me down memory lane for a few pages. The bull rider piece. The story about the hockey players and their unfortunate moment in time titled Less Than Murder. The curling team. White Chocolate (go look it up) Robbie Knievel. Joe DiMaggio Jr. The long distance swimmer trying to end world conflict (Swimming With Sharks). The story about the troubled kid from NY and the foster mom from NM who never misses his USC basketball games.
A few pieces that stood out: Storm Warning about the 54th Sydney to Hobart yacht race that has similarities to the story from The Perfect Storm. There was a short Rick Telander piece about former DePaul basketball coach Ray Meyer which sent me down memory lane for a few pages. The bull rider piece. The story about the hockey players and their unfortunate moment in time titled Less Than Murder. The curling team. White Chocolate (go look it up) Robbie Knievel. Joe DiMaggio Jr. The long distance swimmer trying to end world conflict (Swimming With Sharks). The story about the troubled kid from NY and the foster mom from NM who never misses his USC basketball games.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews