To celebrate our 10th anniversary I’m proud to announce a new feature called “The Banter Gold Standard.”
Three times a week we’ll reprint classic magazine and newspaper stories that you can’t find on-line. In the coming months you’ll be treated to gems from the likes of Pete Dexter, Luc Sante, Gary Cartwright, Grover Lewis, Charlie Pierce, Paul Solotaroff, Richard Ben Cramer, W.C. Heinz, John Lardner, Dan Jenkins, Pat Jordan, Peter Richmond, John Ed Bradley, Leigh Montville, Ira Berkow, Larry Merchant, Bill Nack, Richard Hoffer, Tom Boswell, Tony Kornheiser, Arnold Hano, Joe Flaherty, and Rich Cohen. And that’s just for starters.
The first piece will be up shortly.
In the meantime, dig these links to reprints we’ve already posted round here:
Richard Ben Cramer
Serious Business (Yankee Stadium)
Pete Dexter
Dying for Art’s Sake (LeRoy Neiman)
No Trespassing (Jim Brown)
The Apprenticeship of Randall Cobb (Tex Cobb)
Two for Toozday (John Matuszak)
LeeRoy, He Ain’t Here No More (LeeRoy Yarbrough)
The Old Man and the River (Norman Maclean)
W.C. Heinz
One Throw (Short Story)
The Happiest Hooligan of them All (Pepper Martin)
Speaking of Sports (Howard Cosell)
Maybe Tomorrow, Maybe the Next Day (Jeremy Vernon)
Pat Jordan
Trouble in Paradise (Steve and Cyndy Garvey)
Breaking the Wall (Burt Reynolds)
Bad (Rorion Gracie)
The Curious Childhood of an 11-Year Old Beauty Queen
The Horse Lovers (TV movie of the week)
George Kimball
Fighting and Drinking with the Rats at Yankee Stadium
Carlo Rotella
Bedtime Story (Marvin Hagler)
John Schulian
One Night Only (Levon Helm)
My Ears are Bent (Joseph Mitchell)
No Regrets: A Hard-Boiled Life (James Crumley)
The Professional (George Kimball)
Jack Mann (An Appreciation by John Schulian, Tom Callahan, and Dave McKenna)
Bet a Million (Vic Ziegel)
Robert Ward
Reggie Jackson in No-Man’s Land
[Photo Via: Creative Flourishes]
Alllllllllright! Now THIS is a PARTAY!
AB, one day you'll be known as a journalist/sports historian's best friend (if you aren't already). I've read all of the above and loved every one - even those about boxing, which I've never watched and never cared about, but man, what writing. I can't wait to see what other "lost" gems you've got to share with us!
I like the series name, bring it on!
I remember my introduction on Bronx Banter, but I don't remember the year. My, how so much has changed since then. But that's great; I love the progression. I miss some of the regulars from yesteryear (we can say that now, right?), and I luv the guys and gals who are hear today. And I encourage anyone lurking to feel free and post; we don't bite (well, not much...) free root beers on RI! >;)
Hey hey. Ten years. Congrats.I think I've been lurking around for maybe nine of them. Life has changed a lot since I found this place. Love the new feature, Alex. Great stuff.
Just read the Carlo Rotella story. Lovely little thing. Oh, by the way, currently reading Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys. Loving it. Tried Telegraph Avenue and gave up halfway through. But Chabon can write. Man, can he ever write.
4) Interesting that you didn't like the new one but you are digging "Wonder Boys." I've never read it but would like to.
All of his books have a sense of humor but Telegraph Avenue is the first one that feels light to me. The others are more soulful, somehow.