alexbelth Page 62 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Under Pressure
In the summer of 1968, Jack Olson wrote a series for Sports Illustrated about race (it was later turned into a book). Here is the first piece: "The Black Athlete: A Shameful Story." ...
I'm Only Sleeping
Check out John Updike's short essay, "Never to Sleep, Always to Dream," written for Golf Digest back in 2001:...
...Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex and The San Francisco Giants
Woody's sex and baseball joke. ...
Mama Says...
Here's more from Peter Richmond, on Larry Johnson and homophobia:...
A Column Is Who You Are, And Other Lessons: A Q&A With Pete Dexter
From Pete Dexter's first novel, God's Pocket (1983):...
Grand Master
Spring brings with it a bum's rush of new sports books. This year, one of the most prized titles comes from the distinguished Library of America—American Pastimes: The Very Best of Red Smith (edited by Dan Okrent). Smith is our most venerated sports columnist and we'll have much more on him and this...
Black Magic
Here is Woody Allen's Sport magazine story about Earl "The Pearl" Monroe:...
Sympathy For the Devil
Here's a treat—Joe Flaherty's 1981 Inside Sports piece on Jake LaMotta:...
Basketball Jones
If you are of a certain age you'll recognize the paintings of Ernie Barnes either from the cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" album or the credits of the TV show "Good Times." Barnes played professional football before he became a full-time artist. He died in 2009 at the age of 70. Check out his we...
The Goon Show
It'll come as no surprise that my favorite series at Grantland is the "Director's Cut" feature curated by Michael MacCambridge. He does a beautiful job and I'm always eager to see what gift he gives us next. Here's an especially good one—"The Making of a Goon," by Johnette Howard, which originally ...
More Than Somewhat
Damon Runyon was a big shot sports writer in the 1920s and he became an even bigger deal as a chronicler of life on Broadway. Here is a good introduction to his work, including the short story, "Romance in the Roaring Forties." ...
Pete Dexter: A Writer Who Makes Writers Want To Give Up
Pete Dexter was a columnist at the Philadelphia Daily News for close to ten years, from the late Seventies through the mid-Eighties. He wasn't just any old columnist but one of the most original we've ever had. His columns often read like short stories so it's no surprise that he went on to write no...
Original Sin
Here's Glenn Stout's 2004 piece on Jackie Robinson's tryout with the Red Sox: "Tryout and Fallout: Race, Jackie Robinson and the Red Sox." ...
No Game Today
In 1928, Buster Keaton signed a contract with MGM, a move he later called "the worst mistake of my life." His first movie for the studio was also the last good one he ever made. "The Cameraman" is memorable for a few scenes, notably this one at Yankee Stadium. And just so you know, Buster was such a...