by Rick Reilly
First published 1997
Rick Reilly brings his sportswriting expertise to fiction with a collection of stories that explore the human side of athletics. The characters range from small-town coaches to professional athletes, each facing moments that test more than their physical abilities. A high school football player discovers his hero has feet of clay. A veteran pitcher confronts the end of his career. A college basketball coach weighs loyalty against ambition. These stories reveal the private struggles behind public performances, where winning and losing matter less than the choices people make when no one is watching. Reilly captures the comedy and heartbreak that define sports at every level, showing how games become mirrors for larger questions about integrity, sacrifice, and what it means to compete with honor.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, contemporary, sports
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-growth, found-family
128 pages · Paperback · Fireside Books