Two Writers Slinging Yang

On whether team chemistry is a legitimate thing—or just a phantom idea; on how Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent co-existed and how Aubrey Huff is a thing; on helping the young ballplayer understand the media.

On stepping up and speaking out when the head of Black Sports Online made unwanted sexual advances; one how women in media should respond in such moments; on the fear of placing a career on the line to do what's right.

On traveling 102 years back in time to construct a remarkable piece of sports journalism; on entering a clubhouse and seeking out the best sources; on covering Don Shula and the early-1980s Miami Dolphins; on sitting alongside a drunk Billy Martin and a potted plant.

On the nightmare of the noose/Bubba Wallace coverage; on nonstop Twitter hate; on how a kid who knew nothing about racing became a NASCAR authority; on bullying via Tony Stewart.

On becoming the youngest Sports Illustrated staff writer in magazine history; on negotiating for time with Ken Griffey, Jr.; on avoiding a fight with Phil Mickelson; on $400-per-night hotel rooms.

On how aging impacts a writer; on his comprehensive chronicling of KISS; on why being the Ethicist wasn't all he hoped; on sitting down for chats with Taylor Swift and Kobe Bryant.

On how one writes funny material; on staring down a half-empty room and having to perform; on the 100,649th person to scream, "Hey, Bob Sugar!"

On whether the United States of America survives the Trump Nightmare; on why courage in politics is so hard to find; on hope when there's little to hope for.

On winning the best mid-pandemic writing contest; on bad sushi in middle America; on tough times during an awful period in America

On writing "The Bronx Zoo" with Sparky Lyle; on finding the voice of baseball players; on the hell of a Lenny Dykstra collaboration. 

On the highs and lows of that first book; on whether a novel based on the author's life is actually fiction; on pandemic book PR and the signings that aren't.

On the 800 layers of rejection that he fought through to land a book deal; on traveling America to track down a random fleet of faded Major Leaguers; on living the dream of collaborating with the Iron Sheik—and uncovering a nightmare.

On her early days as sports editor of the Main Line Chronicle; on what it takes to pull of a great interview; on whether she would still advise aspiring journalists to enter the field.

On making the shift from covering sports to covering coronavirus; on the heaviness of his new beat; on how one mentally deals with chronicling nonstop heartache.

On his scathing takedown of Clay Travis, professional buffoon; on the lessons of working on Jeb Bush's presidential campaign; on why some so-called journalists go for clicks over quality.

On myth vs. reality of Texas high school football; on how to tell the story of the Dallas Mavs without always talking about Luka Dončić ; on whether a career in journalism matches one's dreams.

On what it is to have written an enormously popular book; on wasting away trying to find the perfect word; on the Tim O'Brien imposter who walked the earth.

On writing one of the greatest boxing books of all time; on researching a man who died a century ago; on being unable to ask questions (because everyone is dead); on the search for family members.

On having your book come out during a global pandemic; on an NBA franchise going out of its way not to help you; on the invaluable contributions of Jason Richardson's agent.

All sorts of questions about writing, reporting, researching. I turn to social media and take everything you've got.

On creating and running a newspaper in 2020; on how print can survive when print is dying; on writing a gazillion stories per week while also making sure everything gets done.

On the joys of a first Spring Training; on whether to dig into a player's alleged PED usage; on the advantages of youth when covering a young team.

On the uphill battle that was challenging Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination; on how he turned from praising the 45th president to loathing him; on putting that anger into words; on why Bernie Sanders can win.

On his comeback from the depths of journalism hell; on the toxic mix of anxiety, depression, alcohol and social media; on still loving the NHL after decades of covering it.

On the joy of chronicling the journey of a high school girls basketball team; on watching Muhammad Ali's sad fade; on confronting Bobby Knight and living for words.