and 20-plus college coaches generously shared their considerable experiences for this book, receiving nothing more than a thank-you and a chance to help others become solid journalists.
I’ve learned that a writer needs an equally dedicated team to create a large project such as this. Thanks to Earl Pingel, who encouraged me to create the initial outline; Aron Keesbury, who helped develop the initial project; Charisse Kiino, who continued to support the project; Christina Mueller for keeping everything organized; Jane Harrigan, who brought it all together by keeping me on task and vastly improving the copy; Mary Marik, who further refined the copy; and to Sarah Fell, who saw the book through production and added last-minute suggestions. Thanks also to staff that made this second edition possible: Matthew Byrnie, Terri Accomazzo, Erik Helton, Andrew Olson, Karin Rathert, and Gail Buschman, who designed the lovely new cover. I’d also like to thank the professors and journalists who provided helpful feedback during the review process: Vince Benigini, College of Charleston; Lori Ann Dickerson, Michigan State University; Martin Dobrow, Springfield College; Bill Fleischman, University of Delaware; Marie Hardin, Penn State University; Melanie Hauser, University of Texas-Austin; Marie Kaufman, University of Miami; Robert Keohan, Merrimack College; Jim Killam, Northern Illinois University; Roland Lazenby, Virginia Tech; Mead Loop, Ithaca College; Donald Markus, American University; Mike Poorman, Penn State University; Jeff Shearer, Troy University; Ron Thomas, Morehouse College.
Thanks also to my mom and dad, who encouraged me to follow my heart, even if it meant living and breathing all things sports.
Most of all, thanks to my wife, Betsy, whose encouragement and patience enabled me to keep plugging away. Apollo never had a better muse. And thanks, girls, for putting up with your papa’s crankiness during deadlines. Your grit, skills, and desire on the playing fields are more than a match for anyone trying to get in your way.
Ultimately, I’ll never forget editors like Joe Arace, Dave Renbarger, Gary Kicinski, Dick Schneider, and Nick Moschella, who took the time to help a young kid, encouraging me, befriending me, and helping me become a better sports journalist.
Contributors
Journalists
Ben Alamar, ESPN
Scott Andera, The Palm Beach Post
Erik Arneson, FOX Sports
Budd Bailey, The Buffalo News
Joshua Barnett, USA Today
Mike Beacom, Fantasy Sports Writers Association
Greg A. Bedard, Sports Illustrated
Andy Behrens, Yahoo! Sports
Doug Bernstein, Bleacher Report
Doug Binder, The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)
Bryan Black, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia)
Ryan Bloomfield, Baseball HQ.com
Chris Boghossian, Chicago Tribune
Rob Bolton, PGATour.com
Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Christine Brennan, USA Today
Robert Burghardt, TGFantasyBaseball.com
Alex Chamberlain, @RotoGraphs
Rich Chere, The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey)
Mike Clay, ESPN
Pamela Colloff, Texas Monthly
Matt Daniels, News-Gazette (Champaign, Illinois)
Matt DiFilippo, Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal (Maine)
Scott Dochterman, Landof10.com
Doug Dull, media relations, University of Maryland
Tyler Dunne, Buffalo News
Bob Dutton, The Kansas City Star
Bill Eichenberger, Bleacher Report
Cameron Eickmeyer, USAHockey.com
Dick Evans, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Jeff Evans, The Bakersfield Californian
Creig Ewing, The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky)
Bruce Feldman, FOX Sports
Doug Ferguson, Associated Press
Peter Fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle
Scott French, Major League Soccer Magazine
Jeffrey Gamza, USAFieldHockey.com
Steve Gardner, USA Today
Steve Goff, The Washington Post
Chuck Gormley, Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, New Jersey)
Merv Hendricks, director of student publications, Indiana State University
Kate Harmon, @RallyPhilly
Ron Higgins, Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
Bill Hill, MLB.com
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Phil Jasner, Philadelphia Daily News
Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle
Lee Jenkins, Sports Illustrated
Art Kabelowsky, Wisconsin State Journal
Tyler Kepner, The New York Times
George Kirschbaum, Coxguide.com
Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Warren Koziresky, SUNY-Brockport
David Lassen, Ventura County Star (California)
Will Leitch, Deadspin.com and Sports on Earth
Jim Leitner, Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa)
Jim Litke, Associated Press
Frank Litsky, The New York Times
Brian Logue, Lacrosse Magazine
Frank LoMonte, Student Press Law Center
Mary Lynly, California Bowling Writers
Jackie MacMullan, ESPN
Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine
