Izenberg VIII

Before I started this blog, I used to print stories out all the time. I'd stuff them in an overstuffed folder on my overstuffed desk. On the 3-4 times a year I'd actually tidy up, I'd pull out that folder and flip through it marveling at the good writing. It was kind of my own "Good Reads" folder. Now I post those stories here, but from time to time I still find some worth printing. Sunday's Jerry Izenberg column, the last of his eight-part series looking back on his career just went to the printer now. He looks back on what its meant to be a sportswriter and why the job is important. It makes me want to do my job better.

Izenberg VI

Jerry Izenberg looks back on chronicling dreams.

The latest installment of Jerry Izenberg's farewell

Izenberg looks at Ali. It's really good.

Jerry Izenberg

One of the coolest things about doing this blog was finding sportswriters I didn't know about. I've read a lot more good writing because of it. I hope some of it has made my own writing better.

Anyway one of the guys I found was Jerry Izenberg of the Newark Star Ledger. I wish I had found him sooner. He's heading to retirement and is looking back.

Here's part I and part II.

It's really good.

Tulane, lacrosse, Gagne

Now that UMass is done until September. I'm planning to update this more regularly.

Richard Justice has a fine piece on the Tulane baseball program. There have been so many well-written sports stories of people affected by Hurricane Katrina that its easy for them to run together a little bit. But there's still so many great stories to be told. Not surprisingly, Justice delivers.

John Smallwood says Philadelphia served as a great host for the continuing growth of lacrosse, whose Final Four drew almost 50,000 people on Saturday. Having been there, I agree with him. Lacrosse feels likes its on the verge of breaking through on the spectator landscape.

Bill Plaschke looks at Eric Gagne, ready to be dominant again.


Ian O’Connor compares Tiger and Barry Bonds.

Jerry Izenberg looks back at Hank Aaron.

Michael Wilbon has a good piece on Alonzo Mourning.

A detour on the way to med school

The Boston Globe's Gordon Edes has a nice piece on the divergent paths of two left-handed geniuses that played baseball at Yale.


Jerry Izenberg has a Negro League column on the eve of what could be the last class of players from that era inducted to Cooperstown.

Trying to get back into rhythm

After a few long stretches of sporadic posting, I'm hoping to get back to at least four times a week...

Former Bearcats coach Bob Huggins was finally free to speak about his firing at Cincinnati and did so at length with ESPN. Speaking of Huggins, I'm guessing this rumor will grow some legs.

Michael Rosenberg said the Yzerman era could end very soon

The only racehorse whose career ever interested me is done racing. Bob Ford eulogizes.

Jerry Izenberg on Saturday's Army-Navy football game. If you ever get a chance to to see this game live. I strongly recommend going. It's an event like no other.

Mike Wilbon has Juan Dixon and Steve Blake’s return to Washington

Richard Justice hopes Clemens is coming back