The Best American Sports Writing 2003 (The Best American Series) [Paperback]

Glenn Stout (Editor), Buzz Bissinger (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2003

Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. For each volume, a series editor reads pieces from hundreds of periodicals, then selects between fifty and a hundred outstanding works. That selection is pared down to the twenty or so very best pieces by a guest editor who is widely recognized as a leading writer in his or her field. This unique system has helped make the Best American series the most respected -- and most popular -- of its kind.

Buzz Bissinger selects the very best writing on a vast variety of competitive endeavors, from baseball to weightlifting, skating to demolition derby. Herein today's foremost journalists -- among them Gary Smith, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bill Plaschke, and Rebecca Mead -- throw revealing light on a pantheon of stars: Shaquille O'Neal, Bobby Fischer, Mike Tyson, the San Diego Chicken, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest edition in the Best American Sports Writing series features 25 pieces of cracker-jack writing from some of the country's best known sports journalists. In keeping with the tradition of the series, the new volume includes articles on some of the country's most famous athletes Barry Bonds (by David Grann), Shaquille O'Neal (by Rebecca Mead) as well as stories on little-known people one-legged marathon runner Jim MacLaren (written by Elizabeth Gilbert), golfer and Vietnam veteran Walter Donaldson (by Bill Plaschke). Many of the stories are poignant, either in describing how sports helped a person cope with a difficult situation or in relating the downfall of a celebrated personality. Among the best are David Grann's look at the softer side of Barry Bonds; Michael Leahy's piece on Michael Jordan's "love of risk"; and Terry Pluto's profile of the 275-pound autistic waterboy for the Hudson High football team. Although there are millions of words written about sports every year, Bissinger has managed to assemble stories that bring a fresh perspective to their subject; there are no often-told stories of faded glory days.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Typically this annual collection is peppered with a who's who of sports journalism. Bissinger, this year's editor, takes a less-traveled path, emphasizing fine work by writers who don't happen to be household names. For example, there is James McKean, who once played basketball for Jud Heathcote when the legendary Michigan State coach was at Washington State. What can a basketball coach have taught a young man whose career interests were poetry and teaching? Plenty, as McKean thoughtfully relates in "Playing for Jud." Also on the subject of basketball coaches, Elizabeth Kaye's Los Angeles magazine profile of Laker coach Phil Jackson is revealing, thoughtful, and wry, much like the man himself. Other highlights include Michael Agovino's cautionary but affectionate account of a childhood dominated by point spreads, in My Dad, the Bookie. For fans of great sportswriting, this annual is always much anticipated and enjoyed. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; 2003 edition (October 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618251324
• ISBN-13: 978-0618251322
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Journalism
  • #61 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Essays

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2003 Collection Might Be the Best Yet, November 22, 2003

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best American Sports Writing 2003 (The Best American Series) (Paperback)

I've read most of the "Best American Sportswriting" annual collections since the series began back in 1991. The 2003 edition might just be the strongest yet. Guest editor Buzz Bissinger has put together a strong collection of stories that probe beyond the headlines to focus on the place of sports in our society. The book starts out with the awful tale of a former triathlete turned quadroplegic ("Lucky Jim") and rarely loses intesity from there. Other highlights include a profile of the man behind The Chicken ("Fowled Away"), the Washington comeback of Michael Jordan ("Gambling Man), a profile of demolition derby racers ("Appetite for Destruction"), a recount of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre ("When the Terror Began"), and a sad biographical story ("Bobby Fisher's Pathetic Endgame). All told, there is not a clunker in the mix.

Overall, this is a great collection for anyone who loves sports or who simply loves a good story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buzz selects for me and i'm really pleased, July 13, 2008

By 

B. Lafave "parisconcert" (lakeland , fl) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Best American Sports Writing 2003 (The Best American Series) (Paperback)

this was the first collection in this ongoing series of books i read . i read it almost cover to cover . opted out of about two stories maybe . the reason i favor Buzz over a couple of the subsequent quest editors is because i really like the human interest aspect of sports and athletic endeavour . i'm not a stat guy at all . couldn't care less about the stats . i'm curious about the people who do and/or try to do difficult physical stuff . to my mind , this series will never have another guest editor on a par with Buzz because i think many of the other editors (while also very good) are trying to please their colleagues too much . see what you think . thanks Buzz .

5.0 out of 5 stars You don't need to be a sports fan to enjoy this book, January 14, 2010

By 

Sasha Alyson "sashaalyson" (Laos) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best American Sports Writing 2003 (The Best American Series) (Paperback)

I'm not a sports fan at all - and I thought this collection was terrific. Buzz Bissinger's essayists use a great variety of sports, from chess to snowmobiling as well as the more obvious choices, to explore an even wider range of topics, from autism to lawsuit-happy Americans. Sports fans with an interest in the wider world will probably enjoy Bissinger's selection even more than I did. Those interested only in sports might be disappointed.