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in ESPN
by
Wright Thompson, 29 May 2008
Cue the violins and get out your hankies, folks. Thompson's treacly love letter of a profile of the Golden Bear reads like a bad tearjerker, and actually does a disservice to its subject. Nicklaus is a compelling figure, and Thompson captures some nice anecdotes that illustrate the golf legend's competitiveness, work ethic, devotion to family, and commitment to his good name. Unfortunately, bathing every moment in a golden light only makes the story feel contrived: "Jack takes aim, as he has done for most of his life. When his family needs something, he wants to deliver." Yeesh. A few nice pictures, though, and interesting bits about Nicklaus' creative process.
Posted 2:58, 29 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Jeremy Brosowsky
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
Scoop Jackson, 5 May 2008
Basketball fans have watched Kevin Garnett give his all in the last game of every season, cry in interviews over not winning, and smile at the prospect of the playoffs this year, his best chance yet at a championship. Viewers want to cheer for the underdog and see him finally win one, but that feeling may have dissipated after the first round series between the Celtics and Hawks, in which Garnett's team eked out a game 7 win, the result of substandard play that will tarnish Garnett's all-out image. Jackson has a decent point, but executes it poorly.
Posted 12:03, 8 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Francis Merlie
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
Mary Buckheit, 24 April 2008
Buckheit shines a spotlight on a little-known kicker from Oregon State, who began his a career in 2004 as a walk-on and quickly found fame as the guy who missed three extra points in his first game, which happened to be against the BCS champion LSU Tigers. Even though the 5'6" Serna is "eighth all-time in NCAA scoring for a kicker," that 2004 game remains an overhyped blemish on his otherwise sparkling resume; he never missed another PAT. Still, ESPN draft expert Todd McShay doesn't expect the optimistic Serna to be drafted this weekend. Buckheit understandably hopes McShay's wrong.
Posted 2:25, 25 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Pinoli
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
Scoop Jackson, 24 April 2008
Comparing their resilience to Barack Obama's campaign, Jackson attempts to answer the "never-ending, forever-omnipresent complaint about the [New Orleans] Hornets' lack of experience" and makes a case for them being the team to beat in the Western Conference. Keying on a dominant run in the third quarter of Game 1 versus the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson argues that the Hornets' have answered the critics and have shown up on the biggest stage. With a team that is as talented from top to bottom, Jackson contends, the only thing that stands in their way could be losing the "us-against-the-world mentality" and tenacity.
Posted 1:28, 25 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
More than a dozen ESPN sportswriters detail the NBA playoff moments they remember the most. Surprisingly, most of the memories are from childhood or college, when their closest contact with the game was a television set. Most of the fun memories are of stunning plays that changed games, no different than the average fan's, but two stories stand out: that of a young Scoop Jackson not even getting up from watching Game 6 of the '74 finals to say goodbye to his father, who was separating from his mother, and Sam Alipour being attacked after filming a mugging during the celebrations after the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2000 championship.
Posted 3:50, 24 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Bryan Fagan
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
Scoop Jackson, 21 April 2008
Toronto Raptors T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon started the season sharing playing time at point guard and becoming friends. But when Ford went down with an arm injury, Calderon took over; when he said Ford should be the starter when he returned, he was treated like a saint, while Ford was vilified. Jackson says both men complement the other, forming the "perfect point guard," and have managed to remain friends (and level-headed) through the media's need to separate them and despite the competition for playing time. Jackson claims respect -- a too-rare commodity -- is at the heart of the two competitive players' relationship.
Posted 3:22, 24 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Bryan Fagan
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
LZ Granderson, 17 April 2008
Granderson lends perspective to the maturation process of Los Angeles Laker Andrew Bynum, who in 2005 became the youngest player ever drafted. Though he's currently sidelined due to injury as the Lakers make their way through the playoffs, this season was Bynum's break-out year after facing criticism from fans and, unfortunately, teammate Kobe Bryant. Granderson joins Bynum and some other teammates and describes how Bynum has basically traded his youth for fame and money. Granderson realizes Bynum's a lucky guy, but laboriously notes how difficult it must be growing up and attempting to build personal relationships in the public eye.
Posted 9:37, 24 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Pinoli
and edited by Brijit.
With mediocre hitters such as Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand likely to be the cornerstones of San Francisco's offense this year, the Giants simply "don't seem capable of mounting a viable offense this year." In fact, Baker is so confident in the team's impending incompetence that he places them among teams like the 1969 San Diego Padres, who hold the record for the lowest percentage of runs per game compared to the league average. Baker humorously highlights the MLB's poorest performers, explaining how each team managed to make themselves useless. While ineptitude on par with the 1992 Anaheim Angels will be difficult to achieve, Baker smartly notes that as far as the Giants are concerned, "the nadir's the limit."
Posted 9:36, 24 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
LZ Granderson, 16 April 2008
Despite helping the Atlanta Hawks end the longest-running playoff drought in the NBA, Al Horford has been playing second fiddle to Seattle's Kevin Durant all year in discussions about the top rookie. Granderson, with the words of Horford himself, seeks to change that, pleading the case that Horford was not simply as dominant as Durant, but that he also provided results. Unfortunately, the genuinely interesting moments of the conversation, including Horford's thoughts on the impossible task of guarding Yao Ming, are lost in egotistical fist-pumping and fraternal competition.
Posted 3:21, 17 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
in ESPN
by
Patrick Hruby, 16 April 2008
Hruby's hilarious piece chronicles the columnist's experience as a "shooting range target silhouette" for 22-year-old tennis ace John Isner. Currently ranked 81st in the world, Isner is known for extremes - his 6-foot-9-inch stature makes him the ATP Tour's second-tallest player, while his 140-mph serve makes him a force to be reckoned with. In an attempt to understand the predicament of Isner's opponents, Hruby dons an NHL-goalie level of protective equipment and attempts to return some of Isner's serves. While Hruby feels "utterly emasculated" by the experience, he does offer some quality insight into what makes Isner so difficult to return -- and it's not just the speed.
Posted 2:56, 17 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.