by Frank Deford
First published 1988
Frank Deford gathers his most compelling Sports Illustrated pieces from fifteen years of covering America's athletic landscape. The veteran sportswriter presents profiles of iconic athletes who shaped their sports and captured public imagination. Each article reveals the human stories behind legendary performances, from locker room conversations to career-defining moments. Deford chronicles the personalities that transcended their games, examining what drives competitors to greatness and how they handle both triumph and failure. The collection spans multiple sports and eras, offering intimate portraits of figures who became household names. These stories capture the raw emotion and unexpected drama that emerge when physical skill meets intense pressure. Deford's reporting goes beyond statistics and game summaries to explore the complex individuals behind the public personas. The book presents sports as a window into character, ambition, and the pursuit of excellence under scrutiny.
Genres: sports, non-fiction, biography-memoir, journalism
Vibes: character-driven, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, personality-driven
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
Paperback · Little Brown & Co