We, the writers—a word I am using in its most primitive sense—arrived in Chicago about 10 days before the baffling, bruising, an unbelievable two minutes and six seconds at Comiskey Park. We will get to all that later. I know nothing whatever about the Sweet Science or the Cruel Profession or the Poor Boy's Game. But… Read more

We, the writers—a word I am using in its most primitive sense—arrived in Chicago about 10 days before the baffling, bruising, an unbelievable two minutes and six seconds at Comiskey Park. We will get to all that later. I know nothing whatever about the Sweet Science or the Cruel Profession or the Poor Boy's Game. But… Read more

He went with George and his friends to a night club that evening, but they never got around to discussing Acapulco. George spent most of the time at another table, talking to a promoter about a fight. Read more

Explanation here. Read more

A few of you have pointed out that Ashburn died in '97. We emailed Mark about it, and he figures he unwittingly telescoped the timeline: "I think I must have come across Ruth's address/telephone number in the spring of 1996 and was angling to do a piece independent of the 50th anniversary of the shooting. So I must… Read more

Sharply dressed and smelling of cologne, the Philadelphia players headed out for the evening in fine spirits. The win that day over the Cubs had closed the Phillies within three games of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Eddie had dinner that evening with Russ Meyer, his girl, Mary, and his parents, who had driven up from central…

JUNE 14, 1949 Mr. Waitkus — It's extremely important that I see you as soon as possible. We're not acquainted, but I have something of importance to speak to you about. I think it would be to your advantage to let me explain it to you. As I'm leaving the hotel the day after tomorrow, I'd appreciate it greatly if you…

In re the above, we emailed Charlie, "Go on ..." His reply: "Much sexytime. Much, much sexytime. Far's I'm gonna go." Read more

The good life was a perquisite of his new station. At first, liberated L.A. amazed him. "I mean, you had women with no panties. Women with women," he recalls. However, he soon lost whatever inhibitions he had brought with him, or (more likely) he simply parked them with Earvin and let Magic be Magic. The Lakers became… Read more

The good life was a perquisite of his new station. At first, liberated L.A. amazed him. "I mean, you had women with no panties. Women with women," he recalls. However, he soon lost whatever inhibitions he had brought with him, or (more likely) he simply parked them with Earvin and let Magic be Magic. The Lakers became… Read more

"No. Occasionally I get drunk, hell yeah. But not the kind of drunk I'd gotten in the past ... I enjoy drinking. But never during work. ... You've got a responsibility. You don't just represent yourself, you represent your people."