The Year's Best Sports Writing 2022

by J.A. Adande (Editor), Glenn Stout (Editor)

J.A. Adande, ESPN personality and Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, has curated an essential anthology showcasing incredible feats and diverse perspectives across the world of sports.

Selected from a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and digital publications during the previous year, these stories capture enduring moments while celebrating the craft of writing at its most sublime.

This extraordinary collection reveals the fascinating stories behind the sports we love, the competitors who push their boundaries, and the cultures they are ultimately embedded in. 

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Journalism

386 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always always love this series.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most anthologies, this one is a mixed bag. I didn't think any of the essays were bad. I just wanted a little bit more focus on the sports themselves and a couple of essays that exhibit strong prose style.

There are strong essays that use psychology and/or sociology as the framework. There is a good depiction of various cultures. I was glad to see not only essays about African Americans and women in sports but also an essay about a Muslim athlete and another about a native American athlete. I just found most essays had only a little bit about the sport itself. The one about diving and another about long distance running did a good job of depicting the psychological dimension of competing.

I'm going to use this anthology to teach a first-year composition course in the fall. I do think the students will find the essays engaging precisely because they are not too technical about any sport (except maybe the one about Curry's basketball achievements; that one gets technical).

Here are my favorites:

Brewer, Jerry "The Kentucky Derby of My Childhood Was a Fantasy. Now It Feels Raw, and Real." This was engaging because we witness Brewer respond to George Floyd's murder right after it occurred. He's trying to articulate his relationship to the place where he is from--rejecting what needs to be rejected, claiming what needs to be claimed.

Nguyen, Thuc Nhi "'Got Back to My Roots': Nia Dennis and the Groundbreaking Genius of #BlackExcellence." It was an honor to witness Dennis use several elements of Black culture (including some family traditions) to be her authentic self during a floor routine.

Jenkins, Emily. "Beneath a Terrible Smoke, A Flash of Gold." Jenkins reported on 9/11 as a journalist who was there that day and for weeks afterward--moving around the debris-ridden streets on a gold bicycle. She draws on a quote from Stephen Jay Gould to help her (and us) find a path through the horrors of that day.

Fowler, Scott "Charlotte's First and Forgotten Sports Star: Life, Death and HIs Season in the Sun." This essay highlights a local soccer player (Tony Suarez). The sports world can chew up athletes and spit them out after they are injured or age out. What happens to stars who peak early and then have trouble adjusting to life outside of sports? This essay focuses on what is probably one story replayed in various ways across various cities and states.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fantastic and definitely want to get this book every year. I love the diversity shown in every story featured, not just in what they are about but the people involved including the writers. A couple of the stories brought me to tears.

[Derek Shin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The memorable stories were:
- What Happens When Two Strangers Trust the Rides of Their Lives to the Magic of the Universe by Kim Cross
- ** The Ramshackle Garden of Affection by Ross Gay and Noah Davis (All-time favorite)
- The Confederate Flag Is Finally Gone at NASCAR Races, and I Won't Miss It for a Second by Ryan McGee
- Twelve Minutes and a Life by Mitchell S. Jackson
- Kobe Always Showed His Work. So We Have to in Remembering Him, Too by Brian Phillips
- How Kobe Bryant's Death Brought Bobby McIlvaine—an Athlete, a Scholar, the Friend I Should've Known Better—Back to Life by Mike Sielski
- Out There: On Not Finishing by Devin Kelly
- Their Son's Heart Saved His Life. So He Rode 1,426 Miles to Meet Them by A.C. Shilton

[Scott Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compilation of sports writing that stood out in 2021. Much of the writing covers more than just what happens during the games, but the back-stories, the lives and challenges that the subjects and the writers face. Likely a reader will have seen some of the articles in other venues/locations, but there are plenty of articles that a reader may not have seen until this work. A reader won't like everything about the book, but that is the advantage of a compilation. Worth the read for a sports fans.

[Ethan Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five favs:

- Living nonbinary in a binary sports world, Franke de la Cretaz/Sports Illustrated
- Courtney's Story (tw//abuse), Diana Moskovitz/Defector
- Can a boxer return to the ring after killing?, Jacob Stern/The Atlantic
- 'His name is Sang. He is a pitcher.' A family's American dream, their unbearable loss; Stephen J. Nesbitt/The Athletic
- Why Giannis Antetokounmpo chose the path of most resistance, Zach Baron/GQ

[Doug Stotland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read all 30+ volumes from this series and this is either my favorite or top 2. The selection brought in more diverse perspectives which brought new insights. Not a single dead story in the batch. I enjoyed every one of them.

[Megan Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great collection of excellent sports writing.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection, as usual. Standouts include pieces by Wright Thompson, Sally Jenkins, and Shaker Samman.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are always enjoyable for sports fans.