Rick Reilly

Rick Reilly is an American sportswriter and author known for his long-running columns in Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His career spans over 40 years, during which he has written 15 books and won numerous National Sportswriter of the Year awards. Reilly's signature style combines sports journalism with humor and human interest angles, particularly evident in his "Life of Reilly" column that appeared on the back page of Sports Illustrated from 1997 to 2007. His work often focuses on the personal stories behind sports figures and the cultural impact of athletics rather than just game statistics and results. While at ESPN, Reilly continued his column-writing and expanded into television appearances as an essayist for SportsCenter and other programs. His books include "Who's Your Caddy?," "Missing Links," and "Commander in Cheat," with several reaching The New York Times bestseller list. Reilly's contributions to sports journalism have earned him induction into the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, and his work has been anthologized in The Best American Sports Writing. He retired from ESPN in 2014 but continues to write books and make occasional media appearances.

Readers praise Reilly's conversational writing style and ability to find compelling human stories within sports. Amazon reviewers frequently mention his humor and knack for making complex sports topics accessible to casual fans. Positive reviews highlight: - Sharp observational humor - Personal anecdotes that enhance reporting - Clear, engaging writing voice - Ability to capture emotional depth in sports stories Common criticisms: - Overuse of jokes and puns - Self-promotional tone in later works - Repetitive writing style across books - Political commentary in recent books like "Commander in Cheat" Average ratings: - Goodreads: 3.8/5 across all books - Amazon: 4.1/5 average - "Who's Your Caddy?" rates highest at 4.4/5 - "Commander in Cheat" shows most polarized reviews (2.9/5) One reader on Goodreads notes: "Early Reilly was a master at finding the heart in sports stories. Later works feel formulaic." Another writes: "His columns were better than his books - more focused, less padding."

Commander in Cheat (2019) An examination of Donald Trump's relationship with golf, including documented instances of his behavior and ethics on the course.

Tiger, Meet My Sister... And Other Things I Probably Shouldn't Have Said (2014) A collection of sports columns covering various athletes and sporting events from 2008 to 2013.

Sports from Hell: My Search for the World's Dumbest Competition (2010) A first-person account of participating in unusual sports competitions around the world.

Shanks for Nothing (2006) A novel following the misadventures of a golf enthusiast and his eccentric friends at a public golf course.

Missing Links (1996) A fictional story about working-class golfers competing for membership at an exclusive country club.

Who's Your Caddy? (2003) Chronicles of the author's experiences caddying for various celebrities and professional golfers.

The Life of Reilly (2000) A compilation of selected sports columns written during the author's tenure at Sports Illustrated.

Slo Mo! (2001) A novel about a fictional 7-foot-8 basketball player navigating professional sports and fame.

Dan Jenkins writes sports journalism and humor with a focus on golf and football. His novels like "Semi-Tough" and "Dead Solid Perfect" blend sports culture with satirical observations and irreverent commentary.

Mike Lupica produces sports columns and books that examine both professional and youth athletics. His work spans newspaper columns, adult non-fiction, and young adult sports novels.

Frank Deford wrote about sports culture and history through long-form journalism and books. His work for Sports Illustrated and NPR covered multiple sports while exploring the human elements behind athletic competition.

Bill Simmons combines pop culture references with sports analysis in his columns and books. His writing style incorporates personal anecdotes and historical sports moments to examine fan culture.

Jim Murray delivered sports commentary through newspaper columns and books that focused on personalities in athletics. His work for the Los Angeles Times earned him a Pulitzer Prize and influenced a generation of sportswriters.