Since I started with Bleacher Report, I never really thought of sports writing as a career choice. That has changed; I recently had an interview with a local newspaper in regards to interning.
I realize I do have a lot of work to do, considering I've never taken a journalism class before. One of the things I need to work on, though, is removing myself from my writing, meaning taking my opinion out of it.
One of the recommendations for me was to study other sports writers and what better way than to buy a book with a variety of writers. The book itself is part of a series and it's called The Best American Sports Writing 2008 by William Nack.
The first story was from Sports Illustrated titled "A Death in the Baseball Family." It was written by S.L. Price about the untimely death of Mike Coolbaugh, who was struck in a head by a foul ball as a coach in the Colorado Rockies farm system.
The story recalls how Coolbaugh developed into a baseball player, as well as how his father played an active role in his career.
Another part of the story is how the man who hit the ball, Tino Sanchez, felt when it happened and how he felt once he met members of Coolbaugh's family.
He speaks with Mike Coolbaugh's sister-in-law Susan, his sister Lisa, his brother Scott, and finally Mandy Coolbaugh, Mike's wife.
The words of Coolbaugh's relatives helped ease Sanchez's guilt. They stated that whenever Tino needed help, he could call.
"G-L-O-R-Y" written by GQ's Jeanne Marie Laskas, is the next article in the book. It covers how Cincinnati Bengals cheerleaders prepare for each game.
Laskas goes over details of what it is like being a Ben-Gal as well as the fact that cheerleaders are stereotyped as bimbos, strippers, or bored pretty girls looking to get rich.
She writes: "Ben-Gals offer proof. Neither a bimbo nor a stripper nor a bored pretty girl would survive the rigorous life of a Ben-Gal. The Ben-Gals all have jobs or school, or do both.
"Two are sales reps. One is a database administrator. One works at a law firm. Another is a cancer researcher working toward her Ph.D. Finally, another one works in construction by pouring cement."
Another part to the story is the quote that Laska provides of what it looks like when the Bengals scored a touchdown.
As "Bang on the Drum" plays, Laskas notes: "The gals are screaming, laughing, howling, forgetting everything. This is a rain dance, a joy dance, a jet-propulsion explosion of cheerleader love, love to the crowd, and love from the crowd."
Mark Kram Jr. wrote the next story titled "Forgive Some Sinner." The story's premise goes over the rise, fall, and a little bit of redemption from his father, Mark Kram.
Fear, paranoia, and drinking all played a role in the downfall of Kram. As Kram got older, he eventually spoke with a psychiatrist and was put on medication to resume his brilliant work.
When Kram died, Kram Jr. says that he had a very nice obituary in the New York Times, while Sports Illustrated didn't print a thing.
"Above and Beyond" written by Tom Clynes was a backpacker's search for the largest tree on Earth. The tree's name is "Hyperion," and it's about 70 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty and the size of a 40-story building.
"Dogged," written by Steve Friedman, is an example of perseverance. The article tells of an endurance runner who has run through deserts as well as through mountains.
On this occasion, she had fallen down a steep embankment and shattered her pelvis in so many places, doctors weren't able to count.
It's a story of survival, thanks to her background in school and as well as her dog named Taz. She and Taz were later on the Today Show after she survived the ordeal, even though she thought she was going to die.
John Brant's article is a story about Terry Fox. It is titled "Following Terry Fox." Fox died in 1981 from bone cancer. Fox started out on a journey to run across Canada. He traveled 3,339 miles, but made it more than halfway through.
During that time he was raising money for cancer research. He called it "The Marathon of Hope." It lasted 143 days before Fox succumbed to the cancer that spread to his lungs. During that time, he raised more than $23 million for cancer research.
It also points out how Fox touched other Canadians' lives. It related the story of a young woman the same age as Fox who was diagnosed with the same type of cancer, instead of it being in her leg, it was in her shoulder.
Thanks to the money that was donated to cancer research, her arm did not need to be amputated.
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