The Best of SPORT is an anthology of the best sports writing from the heyday of SPORT magazine. SPORT, launched in 1946, preceded the debut of Sports Illustrated by eight years and was an instant hit, rising to well over a million circulation and featuring the work of the greatest writers and photographers of the era.

The anthology carries 24 pieces of evocative writing from the magazine and each article is placed in historical context through an epilogue telling what happened to the subject in the years since the original piece was written. Athletes profiled include Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle and Wilt Chamberlain. In addition, a color insert includes classic, color-portrait photographs from the magazine that accompanied the original piece.

Bob Ryan, a 35-year veteran of the Boston Globe, covered the Celtics for many years before winning acclaim as a general sports columnist. His 11 books include a bestseller with Larry Bird, Drive: The Story of My Life. In 1997 he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is a regular on ESPN's The Sports Reporters, an occasional host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption and resides in Hingham, Massachusetts.

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Also by Bob Ryan:

• Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia