Links

Sources of Inspiration
National

Bill Simmons, The Sports Guy (ESPN.com)
I've been reading his articles since he first started posting on ESPN.com in 2001. His writing style heavily influenced more than a few of my View From the Couch columns. It's interesting to see how he writes on sports, almost like an entertainment writer with a sports focus. I enjoyed his recent book, Now I Can Die in Peace, about the Red Sox and the years leading up to their 2004 World Series Championship.

Scoop Jackson, Columnist (ESPN.com)
I've been reading Scoop for a while, starting with his pieces in SLAM. Often, I'll find Scoop is the one to give voice to opinions and questions that were on my mind, but seemed to slip under the radar, like his column about Phil Jackson's reaction to the NBA dress code. I always retell the lead to a story Scoop wrote on Lebron James in 2003 as evidence of just how good 'Bron actually is.

Lang Whitaker, Online Editor (SLAM), Columnist (SI.com)
I've read Lang's Daily Links on the SLAM Web site for several years now, as well as his magazine pieces in SLAM. I clipped his story on Dwight Howard from SLAM 80 because the lead made such an impression on me that I retold the story to anyone who would listen.

Gary Smith, Senior Writer (Sports Illustrated)
Several of Gary Smith's pieces have stuck with me, none more so than his profile on Mia Hamm from a few years back. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm now passing it along to you. Look it up. Read it.

David Halberstam, Writer
I'm a late-comer to Halberstam, whom I was only introduced to last winter when my father gave me a copy of The Teammates during the holidays. I enjoyed that enough to begin working my way back through his catalog, starting anachronistically with his newest book on Bill Belicheck: The Education of a Coach.

Ralph Wiley (1952-2004) , Columnist (ESPN.com)
I discovered the late Ralph Wiley through his ESPN work, but I branched out from there. I might have disagreed with more than a few of his points, but I never left an article early, and I don't think you can pay anyone a higher compliment. R.I.P. Ralph.

New York Writers

New York Daily News	New York Post	New York Times
Filip Bondy	Steve Serby	Harvey Araton
Mike Lupica	Joel Sherman	Ira Berkow
Not Pictured: Frank Isola	Peter Vescey	Murray Chass
	Not Pictured: Marc Berman	William C. Rhoden
		Selena Roberts
		George Vescey
		Not Pictured: Lee Jenkins, Liz Robbins