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Fred Mitchell

Sportswriter Frank Deford captures a remarkable career

Last updated Sunday, June 3, 2012 - 7:26am

Equal doses of self-deprecating humor and anecdotal history of American sports journalism are the essence of Frank Deford's entertaining new memoir: "Over Time: My Life as a Sportswriter," published by Atlantic Monthly Press.

Most renowned for his epic profiles in Sports Illustrated beginning in the early '60s, the Princeton graduate known as "The Kid" also gained notoriety as the editor of the ambitious yet financially doomed publication called The National Sports Daily in 1990. The author of 18 books, Deford even broke new ground for sportswriters as one of the featured stars on the Lite Beer All-Star television commercials with Billy Martin and Marvelous Marv Throneberry.

Features, Books, Frank Deford, Memoir, Over Time, Sports Read more Comments

Gale Sayers says Rose must be patient

Fred Mitchell Chicago Tribune

Last updated Saturday, May 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

CHICAGO -- For Gale Sayers, the devastating injury to Derrick Rose brought back painful memories.

In a 1968 game against the 49ers at Wrigley Field, the Bears halfback took a pitch out from quarterback Virgil Carter. Sayers planted his right leg to make a cut, but 49ers cornerback Kermit Alexander lunged at the leg to make the tackle. Sayers' knee buckled.

Sports, Basketball, NBA Read more Comments

Sanders, Sharpe enter Hall in style

Fred Mitchell Chicago Tribune

Last updated Sunday, August 7, 2011 - 6:09pm

CANTON, Ohio -- Deion Sanders and Shannon Sharpe both used to talk a good game after they danced, pranced and entertained the fans.

But it took much more than talk and showmanship to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where both men were enshrined Saturday night along with Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter and Ed Sabol.

NFL, Sports, Football Read more Comments

Mr. Cub to Mr. Sosa: Come clean

Fred Mitchell Chicago Tribune

Last updated Friday, January 29, 2010 - 2:43pm

CHICAGO -- Ernie Banks celebrates a birthday Sunday, and Mr. Cub insists "at 79, everything is fine."

Sports, Baseball Read more Comments

Tiger Woods' dad foresaw this clash of privacy and celebrity for his son

Fred Mitchell Chicago Tribune

Last updated Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 6:36pm

Earl Woods knew there would be days like this for his famous son.

In 1997 and '98, I was able to spend a great deal of time with the Woods family, and a little with Tiger himself, working on the book "Playing Through" with Earl Woods.

Golf, Sports Read more Comments

Barry Sanders still has no regrets about leaving the NFL in his prime

Fred Mitchell Chicago Tribune

Last updated Sunday, August 16, 2009 - 9:11pm

CHICAGO -- As a pre-eminent NFL running back, Barry Sanders made on-field decisions at the blink of an eye eluding tacklers as if buttons on a video game were determining his direction.
Ten years ago last month, Sanders stunned the NFL world when he decided to retire while healthy at the age of 30, and on the verge of breaking one of the game's most cherished records -- the all-time career rushing mark of Bears Hall of Famer Walter Payton.
Sanders made his retirement public by faxing a letter to the Wichita Eagle, his hometown newspaper, in July 1999. A few months later, Payton died from the complications of liver cancer.

Pro Football, Sports, Football Read more Comments