In these essays, written between 1954 and 1990, bestselling author Roger
Kahn touches on locker-room controversies and politics, while inviting
readers to share in the passion, grace, energy, and intense
concentration involved in playing sports. Kahn pays warm tribute to his
special heroes, Jackie Robinson, Roger Maris and Carl Furillo, along
with those he particularly admired in the press box, John Lardner and
Red Smith. Kahn also esteems football lineman Merlin Olsen, hockey
goalie Glenn Hall, cager Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, outfielder Mickey Mantle,
boxing promoter Don King, and last piece, "Story Without a Hero," about
Pete Rose.