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Frank Deford on Roethlisberger
By Bob Smizik | Thursday, 8 p.m.
It might not be correct to call Frank Deford the Babe Ruth of sports writers, but he’d be in the discussion -- at the very top.
Deford, who spent most of his career at Sports Illustrated, was beyond brilliant as a writer. He recently published a long article in the magazine about his career, proving once again he is in a class with few others.
He has written several book. Most notable are one about his daughter who died of cystic fibrois, ``Alex: The Life of a Child,'' and a fictional football novel, ``Everybody's All-American.'' The first will make you cry; the second will make you laugh out loud.
In recent years, he has moved beyond print. He is a correspondent for ``Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,‘’ on HBO, where he continues to earn the highest of journalistic accolades. He also does commentary on NPR.
It was there that he tackled the Ben Roethlisberger controversy. Of the suspended Steelers quarterback, Deford said:
``To what earthly benefit is it to suspend Roethlisberger? Does it teach little, impressionable children a lesson? Is it going to make other football players pause and think about being a role model late at night when they are on the cusp of committing mayhem? I mean, let's give Roethlisberger credit. At least he wasn't packing a firearm like so many of his athletic brethren do when they are out taking the air these evenings.’’
Before you consider Deford a champion of Roethlisberger read the rest of the story
[url="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126311757"]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =126311757[/url]
Frank Deford on Roethlisberger
By Bob Smizik | Thursday, 8 p.m.
It might not be correct to call Frank Deford the Babe Ruth of sports writers, but he’d be in the discussion -- at the very top.
Deford, who spent most of his career at Sports Illustrated, was beyond brilliant as a writer. He recently published a long article in the magazine about his career, proving once again he is in a class with few others.
He has written several book. Most notable are one about his daughter who died of cystic fibrois, ``Alex: The Life of a Child,'' and a fictional football novel, ``Everybody's All-American.'' The first will make you cry; the second will make you laugh out loud.
In recent years, he has moved beyond print. He is a correspondent for ``Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,‘’ on HBO, where he continues to earn the highest of journalistic accolades. He also does commentary on NPR.
It was there that he tackled the Ben Roethlisberger controversy. Of the suspended Steelers quarterback, Deford said:
``To what earthly benefit is it to suspend Roethlisberger? Does it teach little, impressionable children a lesson? Is it going to make other football players pause and think about being a role model late at night when they are on the cusp of committing mayhem? I mean, let's give Roethlisberger credit. At least he wasn't packing a firearm like so many of his athletic brethren do when they are out taking the air these evenings.’’
Before you consider Deford a champion of Roethlisberger read the rest of the story
[url="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126311757"]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =126311757[/url]
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