Is it too late to make a Top 10 request? I have one but don't recall the title, which I'm sure is super helpful to everyone. It's a great essay from many years ago about Tiger Woods coming back from age-related injuries and how unlikely it would be for Tiger to beat age any more successfully than every other athlete before him. Yet despite that, everyone at the time was hoping with enthusiasm that reflects more on the hopers than on the target of that optimism.
That's a great story but when the 2022 Springsteen is charging over $1000 a ticket to see him in concert, he certainly doesn't care about the working class man any longer!
My absolute favorite story is the one from the point of view of the 12th hole at Augusta National. I was reading The Baseball 100 at my parents' house last winter, and when they asked me about the author, I sent them that story. I mean, it's not like I could lend them the book; I was in the middle of it.
My nomination for story I’d like to re-read isn’t a top 10, or even top 100, so it won’t surprise me if it doesn’t get republished. It’s Joe’s RIP for David Foster Wallace. To that point in time, I was vaguely aware of David Foster Wallace, but had never read any of his work. After Joe’s story, I dove into the DFW deep end (there is no shallow end). Having now read much of his catalogue, I’d love to re-read Joe’s take on him.
Damn, Joe! Wow! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Your sports writing is incredible, but it’s your personal stories that get me every time! I’m hoping your story about seeing Hamilton with your daughter made your top ten...
I have a sense that I’ll be an outlier with this request, but could you re-post Kendall in the Wind? It seems to have disappeared into the ether but it’s one that I truly loved.
This was excellent Joe. I always tended to skip your pieces about Springsteen (he’s never done anything for me personally) so I probably skipped it when you first wrote it, but glad I read it this time.
Haven’t seen it mentioned, but you’ve got to include the Willie Mays Hall of Fame column, right?
Please include any of the pieces about your daughters, but the one that I have in mind is the one where your daughter backs into the fence behind your garage.
OMG this was really extraordinary, Joe - I have been following Bruce Springsteen since I first saw him at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, 1 Nov 1974, and my reaction when I first heard The Promise was much like yours. Brought me to tears. A stunning song, and your story of its story greatly moved me.
Is it too late to make a Top 10 request? I have one but don't recall the title, which I'm sure is super helpful to everyone. It's a great essay from many years ago about Tiger Woods coming back from age-related injuries and how unlikely it would be for Tiger to beat age any more successfully than every other athlete before him. Yet despite that, everyone at the time was hoping with enthusiasm that reflects more on the hopers than on the target of that optimism.
That's a great story but when the 2022 Springsteen is charging over $1000 a ticket to see him in concert, he certainly doesn't care about the working class man any longer!
Please! Rerun Katie the Prefect
Katie the Prefect
"Son, what has my life been about?"
are two of your pieces that will stick with me for a long time.
My absolute favorite story is the one from the point of view of the 12th hole at Augusta National. I was reading The Baseball 100 at my parents' house last winter, and when they asked me about the author, I sent them that story. I mean, it's not like I could lend them the book; I was in the middle of it.
My nomination for story I’d like to re-read isn’t a top 10, or even top 100, so it won’t surprise me if it doesn’t get republished. It’s Joe’s RIP for David Foster Wallace. To that point in time, I was vaguely aware of David Foster Wallace, but had never read any of his work. After Joe’s story, I dove into the DFW deep end (there is no shallow end). Having now read much of his catalogue, I’d love to re-read Joe’s take on him.
I love the idea of posting these Top 10 essays, but would it also be be possible to tell us when they were originally written? Thanks!
Damn, Joe! Wow! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Your sports writing is incredible, but it’s your personal stories that get me every time! I’m hoping your story about seeing Hamilton with your daughter made your top ten...
I have a sense that I’ll be an outlier with this request, but could you re-post Kendall in the Wind? It seems to have disappeared into the ether but it’s one that I truly loved.
This was excellent Joe. I always tended to skip your pieces about Springsteen (he’s never done anything for me personally) so I probably skipped it when you first wrote it, but glad I read it this time.
Haven’t seen it mentioned, but you’ve got to include the Willie Mays Hall of Fame column, right?
Brooks Robinson, in particular the essay from your first attempt at the Baseball 100. That variation is spectacular.
Please include any of the pieces about your daughters, but the one that I have in mind is the one where your daughter backs into the fence behind your garage.
Dammit, Joe. Thank you.
Joe + Springsteen is everything I didn't know I needed in my life. This is so good. Thank you.
OMG this was really extraordinary, Joe - I have been following Bruce Springsteen since I first saw him at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, 1 Nov 1974, and my reaction when I first heard The Promise was much like yours. Brought me to tears. A stunning song, and your story of its story greatly moved me.
I love Springsteen and that is great writing Joe