Seven Sportswriters Who

[LanceyHoward]

I saw this in a Wikipedia article.

"In 2000, Ira Berkow chose Young as one of the seven sportswriters who'd made the greatest impact on their profession, along with Red Smith, Grantland Rice, Ring Lardner, Damon Runyon, Jimmy Cannon, and Jim Murray."

In 2019 who would you take off the list? Who would you replace them with.

I think you replace Lardner and Runyon with Reilly and Simmons. I would replace Jimmy Cannon with Dan Jenkins. Part of this is because Cannon was a New York based columnist and I still ahve never read anything he ever did while Jenkins was in Sports Illustrated.

I think Murray and Smith are timeless. Young belongs because of his abilities in writing game stories. I put Simmons on the list not because of his writing abilities but because he popularized the smart ass, voice of a fan style.

 

[Azrael]

I think you make the list longer.

You don't take Cobb out of the Hall of Fame because Halladay goes in.

 

[CD Boogie]

add Portnoy and take out Grantland Rice...

 

[Rockbottom]

Gary Smith. End of thread.

rb

 

[LanceyHoward]

Gary Smith. End of thread.

rb

I thought about Smith and Frank DeFord. How in the world could anyone try to imitate those two? But as great as those guys were how much did they impact their profession? I think Jenkins had a greater impact because more people tried to emulate him, most notably Reilly.

 

[Tarheel316]

What about Furman Bisher? Another all-time great.

 

[typefitter]

W.C. Heinz helped usher in a new, less purple style. At least to my writing.

 

[swingline]

What, no love for Curry Kirkpatrick?

 

[Azrael]

If we're talking about influence on other writers and on the form, Lipsyte.

 

[CD Boogie]

If we're talking about influence on other writers and on the form, Lipsyte.

What influence did he have on the form? Not being cute, just wondering what you're referring to.

I enjoyed his memoir immensely, BTW

 

[Azrael]

What influence did he have on the form? Not being cute, just wondering what you're referring to.

I enjoyed his memoir immensely, BTW

He was one of the first to bring a skeptical eye to the politics and culture of American sports.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

What? No Lupica and Albom?

(ducking)

 

[thizzellewashington]

Bill Simmons has to be on there, however you personally feel about him or his work.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I saw this in a Wikipedia article.

"In 2000, Ira Berkow chose Young as one of the seven sportswriters who'd made the greatest impact on their profession, along with Red Smith, Grantland Rice, Ring Lardner, Damon Runyon, Jimmy Cannon, and Jim Murray."

In 2019 who would you take off the list? Who would you replace them with.

I think you replace Lardner and Runyon with Reilly and Simmons. I would replace Jimmy Cannon with Dan Jenkins. Part of this is because Cannon was a New York based columnist and I still ahve never read anything he ever did while Jenkins was in Sports Illustrated.

I think Murray and Smith are timeless. Young belongs because of his abilities in writing game stories. I put Simmons on the list not because of his writing abilities but because he popularized the smart ass, voice of a fan style.

Simmons?
But, No Scoop Jackson?
Simmons doesnt qualify as a “sportswriter.” IMO.

I would begrudgingly list Jenkins. I think he’s undeniable.
I would also add Joe Posnaski. Reilly. Heinz. Absolutley Heinz.

Whitlock would garner consdieration before Simmons.

Under no circumstances would I remove Rice. His stuff doesnt hold up well, His style and prose are oit of time, but he was the 1st big-time guy. His phrases are part of Americam lexicom (4 Horseman of Notee Dame and It’s Not Whether You Win or Lose, but How You Played the Game.”

 

[DanOregon]

Roger Angell.

 

[Pony_Express]

I read a story about Angell in a great memoir where Angell comes off like a colossal prick.

 

[Azrael]

Impact?

Ralph Wiley.

 

[Alma]

Sally Jenkins belongs on the list. DeFord. Wilbon.

 

[Azrael]

There's a difference between a sports writer Hall of Fame and the Seven Sports Writers With the "Greatest Impact" described in the OP.

Joe Posnanski into that Hall of Fame? Absolutely.

Joe Posnanski as one of the 7? Nope.

Depends how we define 'impact' of course, but I don't think it just means excellence. Nor does it necessarily mean 'influence' on other individual writers. Maybe 'influence on the form' itself.

Is Liebling one of those 7? Maybe.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Roger Angell.

There is a difference between influence and ability. Angell wrote excellent post season summaries for oen hell of a long time. But for most of that time he had unlimited space and flexible deadlines. I don't think he influenced that many sportswriters because the forum in which he wrote was so unique.