RIP Frank Deford

For a small-town kid in the 80s, Sports Illustrated was the best sports writing, indeed some of the only available sports writing, on a national scale. And Deford was one of the bylines you knew was delivering the best stuff. I can't cite him as a direct influence but that era's SI certainly was and he was a big part of it. RIP.

 

A legend and a gentleman. (Those two descriptions don't always intersect.) I feel fortunate to have had a chance to talk to him once, back when I was first thinking about trying to get into the business.

Rest well, Mr. Deford. And thanks.

 

One of my first sportswriting heroes.

 

I just decided to look up some of Deford's writings and found this SI story on jockey Tony DeSpirito after his death in 1975. Someone else on here said Deford could make you read a story even though you really didn't care about the subject. Normally, I don't read much on horse racing, and admittedly, the headline had caught my eye first. but I read this until the end, and loved his line about how nobody ever says Thomas Jefferson had a year in 1776. RIP


The Kid Who Ran Into Doors: The life and death of Tony DeSpirito

 

The Boxer and The Blonde

 

Just saw NPR's story and got a kick out of the fact that they used the AP photo from the afternoon I interviewed him at his home in Westport for a feature back in '84. That's exactly how I remember him. He was talking to me when the picture was taken.

Frank Deford, NPR's Longtime Philosopher Of Sports, Dies At 78

 

I had the good fortune to interview him a couple of times over the years and he couldn't have been nicer. I remember being so impressed with how he treated a rube like me as an equal. RIP to one of the all timers.

 

When I was in college, Mr. Deford moderated a panel on sports and society, with Calvin Hill, Red Auerbach, and Billy Martin. He was the perfect host, and I knew then that the sporting life wouldn't get any better.

 

Never had the chance to meet him, but never heard anyone say anything but great things.

Obviously a titan of the written word. Also enjoyed his work on HBO's Real Sports.

 

Swapped emails with him a decade ago, asking how he got real teams to use in one of his novels (the Orioles, I believe) for my own work.

He sent a very detailed explanation of how he did it and took a genuine interest in offering help to me.

That and a legendary writer. I always ached when I thought of him burying his young daughter.

RIP, sir.

 

Damn.

Sports Illustrated was the bible in the '70s and '80s, showing how good writing transcends reveal to show the human element to any of our endeavors (endeavours for our Canadian friends). As over the top as Curry Kirkpatrick was, Deford was the light touch that balanced the magazine.

Deford had a gift, and he wrung all he had out of it. Would we all be so tireless.