Your favorite SI story ever

There have been better-written articles than the one I'm picking in SI, that is for certain, but I am choosing this one for its journalism and social impact. The five-part series on the black athlete in 1968 (I think) was a literal mind-blower for at least one 18-year old reader, and a prime example of what journalism, all journalism, can and should do.

 

Mr G

I was going to cite it but in retrospect it sure seems like it was unfair to the Texas Western guys. Maybe for "initiative" rather than "excellence."

YHS, etc

 

Always remembered and liked this one. It's a feature from 1995 by a guy named Tim Crothers on Red Klotz, the longtime coach of the Washington Generals. Like some others' favorites, it's not the best thing ever written but the subject and the anecdotes make it a fun read.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006252/1/index.htm

 

Terrific thread. My down time over the holidays will have purpose now, re-reading or reading for the first time many of the stories mentioned.

My favorites from recent years...

Gary Smith on Agassi:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/08/30/agassi0717/index.html

Gary Smith on Randy Shannon:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/09/04/shannon0910/

I re-read both of those stories at least once a year when I'm trying to get some added inspiration ...

 

The aforementioned "Unexpected Hero" by Smith and Deford's cover story, circa 1978-79, on Bob Knight.

 

Too lazy to find a link but the SI piece that is most memorable for me was actually a Rick Reilly (I know, I know) column about a high school wrestler in Pennsylvania who shot and killed his dad after his dad shot and killed his mom. I remember reading it and just not even believing what I was reading. The kid came back to wrestling and was in the state tournament (I was working at a shop in PA at the time). I think he even got a college scholarship if I'm not mistaken. Just an unbelievable story.

 

Richard Hoffer's article after Mickey Mantle died:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006957/index.htm

If for no other reason than it included this line, which I want on my tombstone:

 

Hoffer is fantastic. Too bad I don't see his byline much anymore. And that Mantle obit is an all-timer. In addition to the portion you quote, I also love the phrase in the last paragraph, describing the kid sewing the No. 7 on the shirt over and over again: "stupid and unreformed in your idolatry." That phrase has stuck with me all these years.

A lot of my favorites have already appeared in this thread. Here's the link for Kram's story on the Thrilla in Manila, which someone earlier. I've remembered a lot from this one, too -- especially Eddie Futch's words to Frazier when he threw in the towel: "No one will ever forget what you did here today."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090341/index.htm

I'll add a few more, too, beginning with Gary Smith on the Indians' spring-training boating tragedy:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138505/index.htm

Smith on the men who'd held the world record in the mile:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005355/index.htm

Rick Reilly's attempt to see every event at the Barcelona Olympics:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004114/index.htm

Reilly's gamer on the '86 Masters:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064735/index.htm

Kenny Moore on what happened to gold-medal marathoner Mamo Wolde:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1007510/index.htm

 

Gary Smith on Richie Parker.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008297/index.htm

Brilliant.

 

Anything by George Plimpton, but this is always at the head of the class:

"The Man in the Mirror," from Nov. 23, 1970: Muhammad Ali's return to the ring and the buildup before his fight with Jerry Quarry: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084326/index.htm

" 'You're a great handicapper, Foto.' 'Thank you.' 'But sometimes you screw up.' " From Aug. 27, 1979, by Douglas S. Looney. A well-written profile on a person who was as fleeting as yesterday. If you don't have the time, just read the first nine paragraphs. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1095280/index.htm

 

Surprised no one's mentioned this yet:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086811/index.htm

 

I was just coming here to post this. Thanks.