Two Writers Slinging Yang

On the nightmarish joy/hell of the 1999 compilation of SI's 50th greatest athletes from every state; on how we left out George Brett (deliberately) and Evander Holyfield (accidentally); on whether print magazines are still worth reading; on how life without an office can be shockingly productive

On digging and digging and digging into a subject until there's nothing left to dig; on an eye-opening investigation into the Arizona Coyotes; on the art of the cold call; on the perils and/or advantages of interviewing someone over beers.

On how Mark's Barry Bonds book brought him glory, while my Barry Bonds brought bought me Dollar Store space; on how the entire Balco investigation commenced; on the non-joys of cold calling subjects.

On how her husband's ALS diagnosis led to catharsis via podcast; on listening to someone's pain without interruption or judgement; on why expressing one's feelings to a wide audience is so important.

On watching Allen Iverson cry and writing about it; on whether it's OK to think of a readership's makeup and cater toward it; on the hip-hop stylings of the late DMX. 

On how to conduct the perfect interview; on why Dennis Quaid was such a nightmarish pain in the ass; on Reggie Jackson and Joe Torre and having people open up when they'd rather not open up; on beginning as a New York beat writer.

On how he still finds joy and passion out of a Michigan-Michigan state football game; on how living around the world has shaped his appreciation of the job; on an angry Rick Pitino and the rise and fall of The National.

On how one creates recipes; on the potential magic of banana chicken; on selling more than 4 million (yes—4 million) books; on adjusting to Substack and not caring what people think.

On the difference between writing funny and being funny; on what goes into the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" writing process; on the confusing, dated humor of Bob Hope; on why Fred Savage was able to forgive and why Donald Trump, Jr. remains an excellent source of material.

On what it is to write about grief, and how it helps (or doesn't help) the healing process; on the best ways to help people who are grieving; on what he would like us to know about his son, Max

On what it means to cover the intersection of sports and social issues; on what to write about Trevor Bauer; on why it's OK to have a Yankee tattoo and write about the Yankees; on writing a book with another person. 

On covering a team far from home by living in his parents' Vegas-based RV; on how to report on the NFL's first openly gay player; on whether it's still possible to break news during a pandemic.

On why rhyming can be a songwriter's nightmare; on the difference between writing a good song and a great song; on whether he still owns a song once someone else records it; on his new memoir, "Stores to Tell."

On compiling a lengthy (and fantastic) book in the era of short reads; on how his obsessive mind works when it comes to reporting; on Joe Paterno strife and Robin Yount's older brother.

On how one starts a song with a killer line—then waits months for line No. 2; on writing through all the social media distractions of 2021; on why she should have worn KISS makeup while opening for Joe Cocker.

On arriving in a clubhouse, sitting on a player's chair and waiting for the confrontation; on standing up to (asshole) Kenny Lofton; on never being afraid of an athlete or manager.

On capturing Billie Jean King's voice via the written word; on weird times in the Detroit Pistons locker room with Mark Aguirre; on sexism in journalism and sustaining a long career

On her amazing, important piece on Kentucky hospitals and the awful impact of COVID; on interviewing people experiencing the worst days of their lives; on the Kentucky mistrust of the vaccine; on the amazing rabid raccoon and his tragic/non-tragic drowning.

On the blissful art of great food writing; on techniques to have people open up; on the oft-exhausting New York Times editing.

On the weird world of covering the Donald Trump White House; on why members of the administration were so willing to talk; on the pure hell of being an author during a pandemic.

On the nerves and anxiety of a first book release; of the greatest timing in the history of sports biographies; of what to do when an NBA team locks you out.

On the nerves and excitement of covering his first-ever Major League Baseball game; on deciding how to approach Joe Maddon; on laughing at the jokes of nearby writers; on failing to eat before languishing inside the Angels press box; on tie or no tie.

On making an in-his-prime Larry Bird quite angry; on the changing nature of the newspaper sports columnist; on David Oritz and PED; on covering the 1986 World Series and not caring who won.

On overhearing Barry Bonds' grand jury testimony—and debating whether he could report on it; on the wonderland of Bobby Valentine and the early-2000s New York Mets; on calling it quits at 10 pm because (yawn) we're old.

On his explosive Sunday piece exposing a football scandal at KU; on calling people who r-e-a-l-l-y don't want to hear from you; on covering year after year of brutally bad football.