First published 2015
Wright Thompson opens this collection with stories that capture the raw emotion and human drama behind athletic competition. ESPN senior writer Thompson selected pieces from hundreds of publications across the country, gathering work from national outlets, regional papers, and specialty magazines. Each story stands apart in subject and style, yet all share one quality: exceptional writing that reveals the passion sports can ignite. The collection spans diverse voices and perspectives, from seasoned journalists to emerging writers. Thompson's curation brings together pieces that move beyond scores and statistics to explore what drives athletes and fans alike. These stories tap into the deeper currents that make sports matter, showing how competition reveals character and creates lasting memories. The anthology delivers twenty-five years of proven editorial excellence, continuing a tradition that has established this series as the premier showcase for sports journalism.
Genres: anthologies, sports, non-fiction, journalism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: diverse-perspectives, human-drama
Period: 2015
496 pages · Kindle Edition · Mariner Books