The Jim Murray Reader

"It's easy to bash sportswriters at newspapers, a section sometimes called The Toy Shop. Every fan thinks it would be a great lifeall those games for free! But the travel and covering bad teams can take its toll. From this collection, you get the sense that Jim Murray never minded any of that. It is nice to read the work of a true professional who loved his job." Kathleen Hennrikus, New York Journal of Books

Jim Murray (191998) was one of the founders of Sports Illustrated and a writer for Time magazine before his tenure as sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times from 1961 until 1998. Murray won the Red Smith Award, Americas most prestigious sportswriting honor, and the Pulitzer Prize. Vin Scully has been the voice of the Dodgers since 1950, which is the longest consecutive service of any current Major League broadcaster for one team.

Preface Personally SpeakingAs White as the Ku Klux KlanIt's Business as Usual"Marring" the RacesThankful, But . . .Don't Blame Little LeagueMissing: An Ocean of JoyOf Human BondageBlasting a Golf TrailWeird Site for a FightThe Terror of IndyScore It NonsenseA Matter of Blind FaithThe Hall of What?Laws of MurrayThe Same Old SongThe Joy of SeeingTranslating the QuotesIf You're Expecting One-LinersRecruiting Sales TalkOne Man's OpinionInstant CelebrityA Car to RememberAll-Time Greatest NameIt Wasn't Too BadBo, You Have CompanyWe Just Have It Too GoodIt's Seen and Not HeardIt Doesn't Suit ThemSome Nights I Stay Up through the NewsLet's Be Honest about the MastersBreeding Counts but Doesn't Add UpThe Sport That Time Leaves AloneJust Once, I'd Like to See . . . Who Let Lawyers in the Ballpark?No Bosox Tea PartyRed-Blooded RunnersTribute to AbeGolf Is to Football as Palm Springs Is to PittsburghNo Grundges in the Kumquat BowlA Transient BusinessFrom Russia with Love or . . . I'll Never Smile Again PortraitsMan without a FunnyboneIdol Whose Time Is PastCatchin' Up with SatchA Woman of the CenturyHe Earned His WayHe Dared Stand AloneDr. J Came to PlayBaseball's ShowboatThe Pirate Has HeartBaby-Face BomberThat's Shoe BizComaneci OlympicsWho Is This Guy?A Rejected LandmarkThe Cowboy's LamentAlzado Is Razor SharpFame but No HallA Salute to GilliamThe People's ChampTrouble Hits TapeLieutenant Fair-and-SquareA College GraduateA Tough Little LadyFirst Test-Tube LinebackerMaking of a ManThe One and OnlyPerfect TimingWorld Class LeprechaunThe One That CountsAnother Rocky StoryMaster of the City GameAn American LegendTrack and Field's Hottest Double FeatureYou'd Never Think She Is One of ThemCoach of the Living DeadPatching an ImageHe Needn't Take Number; It's HisAn Actor on CanvasThe Eternal Cowboy Fond FarewellsLife Finally Caught Marciano with a Sucker PunchLast of the VictoriansHe Never Grew UpDeath of an HeirloomA Portrait in CourageThe Call of a SirenHe Made a Name of Red Smith Index