Gary Smith

Former SI senior writer Gary Smith reflects on Muhammad Ali's life through a series of photographs and encounters with both the champion and those he fought and influenced. 

Kelly Slater is winning world titles again—a record nine and counting—and planning to bring his sport to the masses. But before he could do that, the uneasy rider had to solve the nagging mystery of why he surfed.

No other athlete has so commanded out attention. And the careers of so few have been so varied, so complex and so little tainted by hypocrisy.

In honor of the 14-year anniversary of Allen Iverson's MVP award, Sports Illustrated looks back at A.I.'s 2001 campaign and how the star learned to love his coach.

From the SI Vault: 'Running For Their Lives,' the 2004 Gary Smith story that inspired the Kevin Costner movie McFarland, USA.

Gravely ill with cancer, Jim Valvano is fighting for his life the same way he coached basketball, by learning all he can, talking up a storm and insisting on the last shot.

Muhammad Ali and his followers were the greatest show on earth, and then the show ended. But life went on.

The latest in the SI 60 series is "Crime and Punishment," the modern morality tale by Gary Smith about the ripple effects of what happened after high school basketball star Richie Parker was convicted of sexual assault. It won the 1997 American Society of Magazine Award for feature writing.