Fifty years of great writing : Sports illustrated, 1954-2004

Description

The writers at "Sports Illustrated" have developed a reputation as being among the finest in the world. Here, gathered together in a single volume, are some of the most memorable stories from the magazine's nearly 50 years of existence. Introduction / by Terry McDonell -- The players. The boxer and the blonde / by Frank Deford -- Yogi / by Roy Blount Jr. -- The last angry men / by Rick Telander -- The year, the moment and Johnny Podres /by Robert Creamer -- Gifts that God didn't give / by John Papanek -- All the rage / by Richard Hoffer -- The ring leader / by Frank Deford -- Main events. 'Lawdy, lawdy, he's great' / by Mark Kram -- There's never been an Open like it / by Dan Jenkins -- The day Bobby hit the home run / by Roger Kahn -- A pay night for Old Archie / by Budd Schulberg -- Duel of the four-minute men / by Paul O'Neil -- Sweet spots. Finally, just me and my bike / by Thomas McGuane -- You'll not do that here, laddie / by Dan Jenkins -- The university of Eighth Avenue / by A.J. Liebling -- Sons of the wind / by Kenny Moore -- Road swing / by Steve Rushin -- Wild kingdom. Mirror of my mood / by Bil Gilbert --Snakes alive! / by Jeff MacGregor -- Pure heart / by William Nack -- Grim reapers of the land's bounty / by Jim Harrison -- We are destroying our national parks / by Wallace Stegner -- Supporting players. There ain't no others like me / by Mark Kram -- Master of the joyful illusion / by William Barry Furlong -- The coach and his champion / by Alexander Wolff -- 'I managed good, but boy did they play bad' / by Gilbert Rogin -- Baseball's babbling brook / by Huston Horn -- Playing for laughs. Absolutely, positively the best article ever / by Bruce Newman -- Ring tossed / by Steve Rushin -- We all had a ball / by Roy Blount Jr. -- The curious case of Sidd Finch / by George Plimpton -- Lake Wobegon games / by Garrison Keillor -- The worst baseball team ever / by Jimmy Breslin -- On the winter tour / by Herbert Warren Wind -- Personal fouls. The case against Brian Spencer / by Pete Dexter -- Total loss weekend / by Don DeLillo -- The game of the name / by Franz Lidz -- Crime and punishment / by Gary Smith -- Broken promise / by S.L. Price -- O unlucky man / by William Nack -- Music to the ear. King of the sports page / by Rick Reilly -- Then my arm glassed up / by John Steinbeck -- The heavyweight champion of the word / by Jeff MacGregor -- Would you let this man interview you? / by Myron Cope -- Big wind in Chicago / by Ron Fimrite -- Kentucky: May: Saturday / by William Faulkner -- Examined lives. Farewell, Teddy Ballgame / by Leigh Montville -- The ripples from Little Lake Nellie / by Gary Smith -- The best years of his life / by John Ed Bradley -- He's burning to be a success / by John Underwood -- Laughing on the outside / by John Schulian -- The best there ever was / by Frank Deford.