From Baseball Players to hunting Tigers, Sports is Everywhere
When you hear a story is a “sports story” you kind of have an immediate reaction and guess as to what it’s going to be like. The ESPN story “San Francisco Giants outfielder Drew Robinson’s remarkable second act” is most definitely in a category of its own. It is not only about baseball, but one of finding meaning in life, suicide, and living to tell the story. Passan does an incredible job of breaking down the story by section and using quotes to add layers to the story. His use of ethos makes the reader relate to Robinson’s feelings and thoughts. Even though most readers may not relate to the suicide, there is so much more beneath the surface of his story that pulls at the heartstrings of readers alike. It’s grounding to read stories about athletes that aren’t gloating about money, or what they do in their spare time. This story really creates a different vibe and adds realism to how athletes live and think just like normal people. Passan focussed a lot on Robinson’s relationship with his family and how that shaped his thoughts as her grew up. This also adds layers and personal attributes about what goes on behind closed doors.
When reading articles written by Kurt Streeter, Bryan Burrough, and Joshua Hammer, each story transports you to a different place. The story may not seems to be about sports in the beginning, but as the story droves on the “sports” relationship grows. Each story gives the reader a sense as to what the author is describing. These three stories all mean something more than just “sports”, they have personal attributes and connections. The reader can empathize with the renaming of the street in Richmond, Virginia to not wanting to hunt the tigress in India.
Streeter uses empathy as his biggest player in the story, and it works to build a relationship with the readers. He adds personal touches and background about pro tennis player Arthur Ashe that still relate to segregation today in the south. In Kill a Tiger, Burrough attacks all angles in his story having multiple reoccuring characters that speak out in different opinions. He focuses on the “sport” of how killing the tigress is and what goes into taking it out correctly. Hammer tells the tale first-hand of what goes into climbing Mount Everest, along with the dangers and issues that arise. He pulls the reader in and sets up the scene effortlessly to understand what’s going on. Hammer’s use of dates and times makes it realistic and adds a layer that most stories don’t have.
All three of these articles are able to be used across all platforms, depending on what the story’s focus is.
