The Best American Sports Writing 1994

by Davis Miller, Tom Boswell (Editor), Glenn Stout (Series Editor)

Capturing the world of sport with all of its drama and humanity, the ultimate anthology includes articles from more than 350 magazines and newspapers on topics ranging from the late Buster Smith, world checkers champion, to U.S. Open tennis.

Genres: Sports, Essays, Anthologies, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1994

About the author

Davis Miller is notable for a series of works that combine reportage and autobiography. His books include The Tao of Muhammad Ali and The Tao of Bruce Lee: a martial arts memoir, both of which have been critically acclaimed number-one bestsellers in the United Kingdom and Japan, as well as The Zen of Muhammad Ali: and other obsessions, a collection of personal essays, memoir and short fiction that was published exclusively in the U.K., where it was a number-eight bestseller.

His most recent book is Approaching Ali: A Reclamation in Three Acts, which was published on 1 March 2016 in the United States and the United Kingdom, and on 3 September 2016 as En Busca de Muhammad Ali in Spain.

Miller's story 'My Dinner with Ali' was judged one of the twenty best magazine stories of the 20th Century.

He is also co-librettist of the acclaimed chamber opera, "Approaching Ali," which was commissioned by the Washington National Opera and received its world premiere in 2013 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Reviews

[Lani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the last of my found Sports Writing books, so it's possible I suffered from burnout. But this book also suffered from a lot of golf, and a lot of long stories.

I felt like this collection had more variety than the previous one I read (actually I think the following year's collection) that was REALLY heavy on a few subjects, but it had fewer short pieces that made the book an enjoyable quick read.

A solid meh.

[Grant Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry in an immortal series, all of which books I recommend. Some of my favorites were "Triumph on Sacred Ground" about the Zambian National Team tragedy; "The Magic Act" about Magic Johnson post-HIV diagnosis; "As Time Runs Out" about Jimmy Valvano and his dealing with his cancer diagnosis; and "The Rock" about Rocky Marciano's life after retirement from boxing.

I'm excited to read next year's edition.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Particularly liked:

-the profile of Chuck Bednarik - Concrete Charlie the "the last of the 60-minute men, was a stalwart at both linebacker and center for the 1960 NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles"

[Pete Iseppi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best "Best American" series of books that I have read so far. Of the 20+ articles in this volume, only one or two of them were, in my opinion, so/so. It fun to read these stories that were written in 1993/94. They bring back memories.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better selection than 1993.