I enjoy anthologies. The Best American Series each year publishes several books focusing on essays, short stories, science and nature, travel and of course sports. David Maraniss edits the collection, he of books such as Lombardi.
In a collections such as this not all stories will please all people. It is the editors job to have a wide, often eclectic group of stories. The articles themselves are pulled from Sports Illustrated, Espn sources, The New Yorker and many other lesser known publications.
Stories from The New Yorker are essential for any collection such as this. No magazine ever has a stable of writers as strong as this magazine. Larry Brown write about a special raccoon, Ian Frazier takes us fishing for snook and Bill Buford talks about a man besotted with turkeys.
We meet Jake Scott in retirement in Hawaii and Mark Mcgwire hiding behind the walls of a gated community. Coaches such as Bill Parcells and John Chaney are visited.
Two stories center on the after effects of 9/11, the story of Kwame James, a journeyman basketball player and his contact with The Shoe Bomber, as well as an article about a 9/11 Survivor and how his love of running and return to it signaled the beginning of his healing from the events of that day.
Expose articles on the influence of sneaker companies on AAU basketball and effect of youth baseball travel leagues offer a look at what happens when adults and money corrupt youth sports.
Some great information in some great articles. I firmly believe that some of the best writing done is done in article and essay format. This book presents a strong case that I am correct.
With the aforementioned New Yorker articles we also learn that one can not be a lover of a sport and still enjoy good writing about it. I do not see myself hunting raccoons or raising turkeys but those articles resound.
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