Underrated sports writers

Meant to start this a while ago, but I submit L. Jon Wertheim. He never gets the attention of Lake or Price, among SI staffers, on this board, but his body of work is tremendous. Recently he had a great one-two punch in consecutive issues on the Arab-Israel chill in the Olympics and international sports and then on the Georgia baseball players who were both paralyzed, one in a car accident and one in an on-the-field collision. Also, as noted in the books thread and the reason I started this thread today, he has written several well-received books.

Others?

 

Jon Wertheim : sports writing :: Pavel Datsyuk : hockey

At some point, a guy gets called underrated enough that it's not true.

 

Seconded, with the addition that Jon is also in the running as the next editor of SI.

deadspin.com/5942954

 

You know who's really good?

 

Anyone we mention could probably fall into a similar category, but I'll add Tim Brown. Loved him years ago as Lakers beat writer -- his gamers were things of beauty -- and his baseball writing.

With Wertheim, it'll be fun to see who gets the top spot. The other "bakeoffs" in SI's history always seemed really interesting, just from reading about them (MacCambridge detailed them in his book).

 

Everyone on this board, of course.

And you know who has a lot of promise for being just a couple of years in the business? Nicole Auerbach at USAT.

 

If you're gonna "underrated" I think it's a stretch to pick a guy working for some time at SI.

 

On this board, though? When are his stories ever discussed? I suspect much has to do with the fact that so much of what he writes about is tennis, which doesn't exactly inflame passions here.

 

I think it's relative. In Jon's case, it's like choosing the most underrated Yankee.

Grantland's Brian Phillips isn't talked about nearly enough.

 

Agreed 100 percent. Love his work. As I posted in the book club thread, Strokes of Genius and Sportscasting are two of my favorites. His MMA work is underappreciated, as well.

I do like Auerbach's work, but to be honest, I've seen a lot better from young writers. She's not underrated in my mind because she has a ton more exposure than most 20-somethings. Might be a bit of jealousy kicking in, but some of the classmates from her graduating class at Michigan, some of mine from Indiana, etc., have produced a lot better than I've seen from her.

 

Jason Cole.

 

Seconded.