The Thread For Excellent Sports Journalism

Grover · 04-08-2015, 01:59 PM

I'm a really big fan of sports journalism. It seems like these days we have entirely too many puff pieces that are too reliant on maybe getting that next interview with the player or head coach. Puff pieces that are just filler gap so a writer / company can keep their relationship in good graces.

Deadspin has a section of their website titled The Stacks, which has some of the best sports articles ever written housed and archived there.

However, the story that got me wanting to start this thread is that of former Oklahoma assistant coach and UTEP head coach Jason Rabedeaux.

Former UTEP coach Jason Rabedeaux's death remains a mystery

A very sad and tragic tale, but poignantly told and extremely well written. I've never been a big college basketball fan, so I had no idea who Rab was, but the article gives good insight into the man he was, wanted to be and eventually came to possess.

So with that out of the way, let's discuss some excellent sports journalism. Share your favorites as well!

Sports is fantastic and there is some fantastic sports writing out there. Hard hitting stuff, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find.

JonInMiddleGA · 04-08-2015, 02:08 PM

I read that piece earlier, had a feeling it might have been what would show up in the original post.

nol · 04-08-2015, 02:20 PM

Didn't even catch the byline when I was reading it earlier, but I knew it had to be Wright Thompson. His piece on MJ at age 50 was phenomenal: Michael Jordan has not left the building

I read this immense piece on Bill Bradley from when he played at Princeton last weekend: A sense of where you are

Grover · 04-08-2015, 02:26 PM

Wright Thompson is fantastic all the way around. I don't even care for basketball, but he brings something to his writing that piques my interest in the sport.

Grover · 04-08-2015, 02:27 PM

"It's Okay If You're A Machine": Inside Hubie Brown's Brutal Philosophy

I read this a few weeks ago. Gave me a completely new insight to Hubie Brown. Had no idea he was such a fiery personality as a coach.

Groundhog · 04-08-2015, 06:12 PM

I thought this was one of the better articles I'd read recently:

Patty Mills: Spurs point guard, Indigenous Australian and Bala - NBA - SI.com

Barkeep49 · 04-10-2015, 07:18 AM

I think this Grantland profile of Jeannie Buss was really well done.

Family Business «

Arles · 04-10-2015, 10:35 AM

What would a thread for excellent sports journalism be without the two stories I wrote for the Arizona Daily Wildcat back in 1997 when the Cats won the title

http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/90/124/01_1_m.html

http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/90/124/13_2_m.html

Grover · 04-16-2015, 11:37 AM

1990s Orlando Magic Oral History

Excellent.

Grover · 05-12-2015, 02:06 PM

The Rise and Fall of Bill Pettis, the Man With "The Biggest Arms in the World" - Los Angeles Magazine

Subby · 05-14-2015, 02:50 PM

The Ewing Theory: The first draft lottery remains a seminal â€” and, to many, controversial â€” moment in NBA history | Longform - SI.com

Grover · 05-20-2015, 10:34 AM

Lightning, Deer Musk, No World Cup: The Strange Story Of North Korea Soccer

Wrong thread for this, clearly. But very interesting nonetheless.

MartinD · 05-23-2015, 04:52 PM

The King, But For How Much Longer?

Another Grantland article, this one being about Rafael Nadal heading into this year's French Open.

Grover · 07-14-2015, 12:46 PM

Log In - The New York Times

This is the story of Frederic Weis.

04-08-2015, 02:08 PM	#2
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	I read that piece earlier, had a feeling it might have been what would show up in the original post. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

04-08-2015, 02:26 PM	#4
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	Wright Thompson is fantastic all the way around. I don't even care for basketball, but he brings something to his writing that piques my interest in the sport. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner

04-08-2015, 02:27 PM	#5
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	"It's Okay If You're A Machine": Inside Hubie Brown's Brutal Philosophy I read this a few weeks ago. Gave me a completely new insight to Hubie Brown. Had no idea he was such a fiery personality as a coach. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner

04-08-2015, 06:12 PM	#6
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	I thought this was one of the better articles I'd read recently: Patty Mills: Spurs point guard, Indigenous Australian and Bala - NBA - SI.com __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

04-10-2015, 10:35 AM	#8
Arles Grey Dog Software Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL	What would a thread for excellent sports journalism be without the two stories I wrote for the Arizona Daily Wildcat back in 1997 when the Cats won the title http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/90/124/01_1_m.html http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/90/124/13_2_m.html __________________ Developer of Bowl Bound College Football http://www.greydogsoftware.com

04-08-2015, 02:20 PM	#3
nol Banned Join Date: Oct 2003	Didn't even catch the byline when I was reading it earlier, but I knew it had to be Wright Thompson. His piece on MJ at age 50 was phenomenal: Michael Jordan has not left the building I read this immense piece on Bill Bradley from when he played at Princeton last weekend: A sense of where you are

04-10-2015, 07:18 AM	#7
Barkeep49 Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Not too far away	I think this Grantland profile of Jeannie Buss was really well done. Family Business «

04-16-2015, 11:37 AM	#9
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	1990s Orlando Magic Oral History Excellent. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner

05-12-2015, 02:06 PM	#10
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	The Rise and Fall of Bill Pettis, the Man With "The Biggest Arms in the World" - Los Angeles Magazine __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner

05-14-2015, 02:50 PM	#11
Subby lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: sans pants	The Ewing Theory: The first draft lottery remains a seminal â€” and, to many, controversial â€” moment in NBA history \| Longform - SI.com __________________ Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com

05-20-2015, 10:34 AM	#12
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	Lightning, Deer Musk, No World Cup: The Strange Story Of North Korea Soccer Wrong thread for this, clearly. But very interesting nonetheless. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner Last edited by Grover : 05-20-2015 at 10:35 AM.

05-23-2015, 04:52 PM	#13
MartinD High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: East Lothian, Scotland	The King, But For How Much Longer? Another Grantland article, this one being about Rafael Nadal heading into this year's French Open.

07-14-2015, 12:46 PM	#14
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	Log In - The New York Times This is the story of Frederic Weis. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner Last edited by Grover : 07-14-2015 at 12:47 PM.

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