Two Writers Slinging Yang

On chronicling her late father's ALS—and the accompanying emotions; on leaving behind the world of ESPN and discovering some inner zen; on the craziness of the last-gasp Iverson 76ers.

How how his Nicaraguan culture impacts his journalism; on how to make clubhouse time useful; on the general manager who wasn't so happy to see him; on the awfulness of writing short pieces.

On how every cliche about aging is painfully true; on the brilliance of David Stern and the joy of the 1984 men's U.S. Olympic basketball trials; on the bliss of book PR

On going from anonymity to one of America's biggest authors; on finding a literary agent via Twitter; on writing in the voice of others and uncovering inspiration via real-life experiences.

On writing and reporting the saga of Drew Robinson, the Giants outfielder who attempted suicide—and lived; on knowing when to include details and when to leave details out; on having the world's sweetest first name.

On spending days and days in Schenectady, N.Y. to follow around a frustrated landlord and a frustrated tenant; on the keys to embedding and observing; on having reluctant subjects open up; on the trials of writing a screenplay based upon an article.

On taking someone else's thoughts and converting them into his written voice; on submitting (yikes) 229,000 words to a publisher; on 1970s ballplayers and the desire to be remembered.

On running a student newspaper via Zoom during a yearlong pandemic; on leaving the house to cover a white lives matter protest; on the Trump-beholden professor who made life weird.

On convincing people to talk when they have no desire to talk; on the ethical dilemma of feeling sorry for those who committed terrible acts; on how to investigate a podcast

On leaving his true love, journalism; on reporting during a pandemic; on the mystifying saga of the stranded donkey.

On whether it's OK to savage a restaurant; on discovering the best pizza crust and steak; on feuding (and making peace) with Anthony Bourdain and on the great baseball hepatitis scare.

On what it's like to have Tucker Carlson and his douche legions attack; on why we keep writing mean things about neighbors; on the rare journalist who actually (gasp) loves Twitter

On why tacos with an Astros catcher didn't sell him on a career covering sports; on the complexities and nuances of free speech; on having Talib Kweli as a sibling; on the fairness of new restrictive voting laws. 

On how sports journalists used to receive such tremendous access; on Tiger Woods' parents; on understanding Johnny Unitas via his former teammates.

On delving into his family's past and not fearing what he might find; on writing an open letter to the University of Miami and urging the school to give up football; on why Milt Wagner should have been the next Dr. J; on the sad decline of magazines.

To celebrate the 200th episode, I go back in time 26 years and reflect upon a weird, funky, amazing, cool, stressful run inside the Sports Illustrated Bullpen–where rivalries were fierce, opportunities were golden and journalism careers could be made (or broken).

On the highs and lows of first-time authorship; on trying to get a book to Jerry Seinfeld; on tracking down the catcher with the yips; on having a book release delayed and living to tell about it.

On how we, as an industry, are covering LGBTQ-related issues; on earning the trust of two teen athletes; on describing a scene without having witnessed the scene; on the importance of Sue Bird coming out.

On transitioning from a mainstream publication to starting his own shop; on why the modern athlete is willing to talk to reporters from nontraditional outlets; on his moment in the spotlight with Aaron Rodgers.

On fighting her way into locker rooms and press boxes; on flying with Denzel Washington and having Paul Newman slam the phone; on how to respond when Mickey Mantle passes a note that says, WANNA FUCK?

On tracking down the reclusive Shelly Duvall; on Pee Wee Herman and a diner; on getting celebrities to open up.

On walking the line between ownership, players and the press; on how to handle conflict with reporters; on the high of the 1986 World Series and the low of a player's death; on finding stories when a team stinks.

On rising through the ranks at Sports Illustrated; on interviewing a naked 400-pound coach in his hotel room; on the perfect cover letter and approach to landing a job in journalism.

On the dazzling experience of covering a mediocre baseball team; on why college sports demand athletes play (and for free); on leaving a newspaper after nearly two decades and landing on his feet.

On deep diving into the impact COVD is having on education; on finding ways to have parents and students open up and engage; on Texas' oft-strange approach to schooling.