Two Atheltes Two Soldiers by Jack McCallum

Anyone read the story in SI this week? Beautifully written by SI senior writer Jack McCallum. Room got dusty real fast.

 

For those wishing to read it:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jack_mccallum/10/17/soldiers1022/index.html

 

'Twas excellent.

 

Haven't read it yet. I'm sure its quality stuff. But I was wondering about stories of organ-transplants, people dying tragically, basic human interest stuff creeping into sports pages. You'd think only people connected to sports donate organs or get cancer. I'm not trying to be snarky, but I see a lot of this stuff on tv and in print and I sometimes wonder if there isn't a postal carrier or supermarket clerk going through the same stuff.

 

I'm all for humanizing sports pages more. After all, the best stories are about the people, not the games they play. I understand your point that non-athletes have great stories, too, but getting those into the paper is the job of editors on the news side. Sports shouldn't dial it back on human interest; news should pick up the pace, IMO.

 

This story isn't about organ transplants.

 

I agree, but sometimes I get the impression that tragedies that befall people in sports are treated as being more tragic by the media.

And I was just speaking generally of stories in sports about off-field stuff that may not directly translate to what is happening on the field. Good stories that would still be good stories even if no mention of a sports connection was made.

 

Well, there are a lot of meetings to cover.

 

There are some great details in this story.
This was one of my favorite graphs:

Excellent example of how to tell two stories then combine them to show a common theme.

 

Well said. Pretty much sums up premise of story - 2 young athletes, 2 wars , both tragically killed at 18. Very sobering story that absolutely has a place in SI