Frank Deford

Frank Deford

Frank Deford is among the most versatile of American writers. His work has appeared in virtually every medium, including print, where he has written eloquently for Sports Illustrated since 1962. Deford is currently the magazine's Senior Contributing Writer and contributes a weekly column to SI.com. Deford can be heard as a commentator each week on Morning Edition. On television he is a regular correspondent on the HBO show Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel. He is the author of 15 books, and his latest,The Enitled, a novel about celebrity, sex and baseball, was published in 2007 to exceptional reviews. He and Red Smith are the only writers with multiple features in The Best American Sports Writing of the Century. Editor David Halberstam selected Deford's 1981 Sports Illustrated profile on Bobby Knight (The Rabbit Hunter) and his 1985 SI profile of boxer Billy Conn (The Boxer and the Blonde) for that prestigious anthology. For Deford the comparison is meaningful. "Red Smith was the finest columnist, and I mean not just sports columnist," Deford told Powell's Books in 2007. "I've always said that Red is like Vermeer, with those tiny, priceless pieces. Five hundred words, perfectly chosen, crafted. Best literary columnist, in any newspaper, that I've ever seen." Deford was elected to the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Six times at Sports Illustrated Deford was voted by his peers as U.S. Sportswriter of The Year. The American Journalism Review has likewise cited him as the nation's finest sportswriter, and twice he was voted Magazine Writer of The Year by the Washington Journalism Review. Deford has also been presented with the National Magazine Award for profiles; a Christopher Award; and journalism honor awards from the University of Missouri and Northeastern University; and he has received many honorary degrees. The Sporting News has described Deford as "the most influential sports voice among members of the print media," and the magazine GQ has called him, simply, "The world's greatest sportswriter." In broadcast, Deford has won a Cable Ace award, an Emmy and a George Foster Peabody Award for his television work. In 2005 ESPN presented a television biography of Deford's life and work, You Write Better Than You Play. Deford has spoken at well over a hundred colleges, as well as at forums, conventions and on cruise ships around the world. He served as the editor-in-chief of The National Sports Daily in its brief but celebrated existence. Deford also wrote Sports Illustrated's first Point After column, in 1986. Two of Deford's books, the novel, Everybody's All-American, and Alex: The Life Of A Child, his memoir about his daughter who died of cystic fibrosis, have been made into movies. Two of his original screenplays have also been filmed. For 16 years Deford served as national chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and he remains chairman emeritus. He resides in Westport, CT, with his wife, Carol. They have two grown children – a son, Christian, and a daughter, Scarlet. A native of Baltimore, Deford is a graduate of Princeton University, where he has taught American Studies.

SI Vault: Done in Down Under: Sukova ends Navratilova's '84 Grand Slam bid
Tennis

SI Vault: Done in Down Under: Sukova ends Navratilova's '84 Grand Slam bid

From the SI Vault: Frank Deford writes in the Dec. 17, 1984, issue of Sports Illustrated about Martina Navratilova's loss to Helena Sukova to end her bid for the calendar Grand Slam at the Australian Open.

Frank Deford
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SI Vault: Boston's savior Bobby Orr commands respect, high price at 18
NHL

SI Vault: Boston's savior Bobby Orr commands respect, high price at 18

Bobby Orr's arrival at age 18 saves the Boston Bruins: a 1966 Sports Illustrated feature by Frank Deford.

Frank Deford
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SI Vault: Huge Commotion in Mudville: A new twist on Casey at the Bat
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MLB

SI Vault: Huge Commotion in Mudville: A new twist on Casey at the Bat

From the SI Vault: On the 100th anniversary of Casey at the Bat, Frank Deford imagined what really might have happened in the days before and after Ernest L. Thayer's famous 1888 baseball poem.

Frank Deford
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The Boxer And The Blonde: Billy Conn won the girl but lost the fight
Boxing

The Boxer And The Blonde: Billy Conn won the girl but lost the fight

The boxer and the blonde are together, downstairs in the club cellar. At some point, club cellars went out, and they became family rooms instead. This is,

Frank Deford
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SI Vault: Long Ago He Won The Big One: Dean Smith's best victory
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College

SI Vault: Long Ago He Won The Big One: Dean Smith's best victory

This story originally ran in the Nov. 29, 1982 issue of Sports Illustrated. The much-awaited NCAA title he got last season wasn't the most important victory of

Frank Deford
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The Rabbit Hunter: A penetrating profile of Bobby Knight
College

The Rabbit Hunter: A penetrating profile of Bobby Knight

Today's SI 60 selection is "The Rabbit Hunter," Frank Deford's 1981 profile of already accomplished and already controversial Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight, whose behavior was often puzzling.

Frank Deford
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Raised By Women To Conquer Men: The journey of Jimmy Connors
Tennis

Raised By Women To Conquer Men: The journey of Jimmy Connors

Frank Deford's penetrating profile of legendary tennis champion Jimmy Connors is the latest submission in the SI 60.

Frank Deford
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The Ring Leader: Bill Russell helped the Celtics rule their sport like no team ever has
NBA

The Ring Leader: Bill Russell helped the Celtics rule their sport like no team ever has

In this SI 60 feature, Frank Deford examines the life and legacy of Bill Russell, who helped the Celtics dominate their sport the way no team ever has.

Frank Deford
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Pistorius' actions prove athletes cannot always be admired
More Sports

Pistorius' actions prove athletes cannot always be admired

Frank Deford
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Ray Lewis' farewell not exactly a storybook affair
NFL

Ray Lewis' farewell not exactly a storybook affair

Frank Deford
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Despite benefits, NCAA claims gambling hurts sports' integrity
More Sports

Despite benefits, NCAA claims gambling hurts sports' integrity

Frank Deford
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Finding the peace, good will and kindness we'd like to see in sports
More Sports

Finding the peace, good will and kindness we'd like to see in sports

Frank Deford
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