Wright Thompson

"The story of how Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted cult Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, fought to protect his family's heritage and preserve the taste of his forebears, in a world where authenticity, like his product, is in very short supply. As a journalist said of Pappy Van Winkle, "You could call it bourbon, or you could call it a $5,000 bottle of liquified, barrel-aged unobtanium." Julian Van Winkle, the third-generation...

"Whether it be Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods or Pat Riley or Urban Meyer, Wright Thompson strips the away the self-serving myths and fantasies to reveal his characters in full. There are fascinating common denominators: it may not be the case that every single great performer or coach had a complex relationship with his father, but it can sure seem that way. And there is much marvelous local knowledge: about specific sports, and times and places,...

In 1962, the University of Mississippi erupted in violence over integration while swelling with pride over an unbeaten football team. Includes interviews with James Meredith, William Doyle, William Winter, Curtis Wilkie, Dan Rather, university alumni, and members of the 1962 Ole Miss Rebels football team.

An anthology of top-selected sports writing from the past year is culled from hundreds of national, regional, and specialty publications as well as a variety of leading sports blogs.