By Sports Capital Journalism Program Staff | @SportsCapJour
July 3 Tim Keown, of ESPN’s The Undefeated, writes on Andrew McCutchen’s upbringing and the growing trend of travel baseball, which serves rich, white Americans and doesn’t promote diversity.
Women’s basketball lost one of its pioneers, Pat Summitt, on June 28 at 64 years old after her battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some of the best stories shared about her and her impact:
- July 3 Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins writes that Pat Summitt’s last great gift was sharing her fight with Alzheimer’s. Jenkins shares a letter about life that Summitt wrote to a Tennessee freshman from Nov. 22, 1982.
- July 2 Dan Fleser, of the Knoxville News Sentinel, on the mutual respect and understanding he and Pat Summitt developed for one another during his time as the Lady Vols beat writer.
- June 29 Lindsay Gibbs, of Think Progress, writes that you can’t honor Pat Summitt if you don’t respect women’s sports and women in sports.
- June 29 Kevin B. Blackistone writes at The Washington Post that fans and media alike aren’t giving women’s sports the respect that Pat Summitt helped it earn.
- June 28 Bill Plaschke, of the LA Times, opens up on his regret of marginalizing women’s sports and Pat Summitt’s greatness.
- June 28 SI media writer Richard Deitsch shares memories of the 18 hours he spent with Pat Summitt on Nov. 20, 2000.
July 3 Sports columnist Dave Hackenberg pens his farewell column after 38 years at the Toledo Blade.
July 2 Check out this excerpt from Michael Tackett’s upcoming book, “The Baseball Whisperer,” about a small-town coach who shaped big league dreams in America’s heartland.
July 1 Vanessa Barbara, writing at The New York Times, opines on Brazil’s Olympic catastrophe. Golf Digest’s Ron Sirak breaks down all of the issues surrounding the question, ‘How safe is Rio?’
July 1 Retired Chicago Tribune Bears reporter Don Pierson writes how the late Buddy Ryan certainly did things his way.
July 1 Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer Frank Fitzpatrick makes a bittersweet visit to Tilden, Nebraska, the hometown of Richie Ashburn, the late Phillies broadcaster.
June 30 Dave Sheinin, of The Washington Post, writes on how and why four-time gold medalist swimmer Matt Grevers walked away from the pool on his own terms.
June 30 Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel writes on how Oscar Robertson created NBA free agency but isn’t acknowledged by current players for the historic victory.
June 29 SI’s Grant Wahl on the story behind Copa America’s defining image: Argentina’s Lionel Messi vs. nine Chileans.
June 29 SI’s Tim Layden on how Caitlyn Jenner’s gold medal — won 40 years ago as Bruce in the decathlon — is unlike any other.
June 28 Howard Beck writes at Bleacher Report on the decline and fall of Dwight Howard as the NBA center prepared to enter free agency.
