May 29, 2017 deford was a prolific book author and contributed commentaries to hbos real sports program. He had recorded 1,656 commentaries for npr over nearly 40 years. Frank deford, a longtime sports illustrated writer, author and commentator, died sunday in key west, fl, his wife confirmed to multiple media outlets. The national sports daily, simply referred to as the national, was a sportscentered newspaper published in the united states beginning on january 31, 1990. New england patriots quarterback tom brady sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of an nfl football game against the kansas city chiefs, in kansas city.
I had been putting it off because it is a very sad topic but i gathered up the fortitude to read the book. Frank deford wrote this book shortly after his daughter, alex, died in 1980 from cystic fibrosis. Longtime sportswriter frank deford, who spent decades at sports illustrated and npr, died sunday at age 78 his family says he died sunday in key west, florida. Read frank deford chronicle what bill russell learned from. Encountering it again made me realize that it hints at. Renowned sports writer and commentator frank deford, 78, died on sunday, just a few weeks after his last piece aired on morning edition. His work has appeared in virtually every medium, including print, where he has written eloquently for sports illustrated since 1962.
Deford lost his daughter, alexandra, to the disorder on january 19, 1980 when she was just eight years old. From legendary sixtime national sportswriter of the year and npr commentator frank deford comes a richly detailed, pageturning tale that takes you deep into americas game. Deford served as the chair of the foundations board of. Scarlet deford is the daughter who makes him proud. From 1982 to 1999, he served as chairman of the cystic fibrosis foundation. Frank deford was born on december 16, 1938 in baltimore, maryland, usa as benjamin franklin deford iii. The author of 18 books, nine of which were novels, deford was also a peabody, cableace and emmy winner, the latter for his work as a writer during the 1988 seoul olympics. Jay bilas was a friend of a lawyer in his firm who had two daughters play field hockey here. Frank deford wrote with sincerity, giving depth to.
Alexandra deford, a precious and precocious girl, was just eight years old wh. Sports writer and commentator frank deford, who won awards for his work with sports illustrated magazine and npr, has died at 78. When his beloved alex died at age 8 from cystic fibrosis, deford turned to writing. Frank deford on his awardwinning bill russell feature, the ring leader the reaction was that everybody liked it and the people in pittsburgh were crazy about it.
Frank deford pictured, the awardwinning sports writer and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated, has died aged 78 at his home in key west, florida. I worked with frank deford for several years at sports illustrated, and if you were to ask me to name his favorite sport, id have to say basketball, with tennis a close second. Frank deford practically invented the notion of multimedia. My life as a sportswriter is as unconventional and wideranging as frank defords remarkable career, in which he has chronicled the heroes and the characters of just about every sport in nearly every medium. In two separate stints at the magazine, first from 1962 to 89 and then from 1998 to 2017. Id know that voice anywhere is an eclectic joy to read, highly recommended. Being a gracious host, he also shares other adoption stories within his circle of friends that includes sportswriter frank deford, freakonomics author.
Mar 22, 2018 the foundation remembers legendary sports journalist frank deford, whose young daughter, alex, lost her fight to cystic fibrosis in 1980. He wrote more than a dozen books and in 20 he was the first sportswriter to receive a national humanities medal. The entitled by frank deford nook book ebook barnes. Frank deford discusses his daughter alex, who died at 8 after living with cystic fibrosis. Nelson as deford, bonnie bedelia as carol deford and daniel corkill as her brother, christian. New york frank deford, who mined the sports world for human stories and told them with literary grace over six decades in sports illustrated, a shelf of books, and many years of radio and. Learned about cystic fibrosis which i knew next to nothing about. May 29, 2017 frank deford pictured, the awardwinning sports writer and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated, has died aged 78 at his home in key west, florida. Westport sportswriter publishes a love story westport, ct patch.
His latest novel, bliss, remembered, is a love story set at the 1936 berlin olympics and world war ii. But the sports world was booming, the new journalism style of writing about it encompassed every human drama or. He exported his voice to radio, tv and film, and if you didnt know him you might have thought he was an actor, because he wore. Writer frank deford takes his tale of love and loss onto tv. With bliss, remembered, the celebrated frank deford has produced a work of literature that ranks with the best of his many novels, including everybodys all american, which sports illustrated ranked as one of the twentyfive best sports books of all. I read, alex the life of a child gunnar esiason blog.
Jul 27, 2010 it was fun being a woman for a change, said the tall and lanky deford, who has lived in westport since 1974 with his wife. A father remembers his daughters battle with cystic fibrosis. People ask me, how could you write a book about alex. Deford reprints this recipe in his cursory yet endearing new memoir, over time. His account is the basis for an abc special wednesday at 9, starring young gennie james as alex, craig t. The entitled is a baseball masterpiece, like the natural and field of dreams. Deford is survived by his wife, the former fashion model carol penner, two children, and two. Writer and commentator frank deford is the author of sixteen books. May 29, 2017 frank deford, who cultivated a distinct style of sports journalism at sports illustrated and national public radio, had died. Your 1984 sports illustrated article about coach bob bull sullivan, the toughest coach there ever.
In two separate stints at the magazine, first from 1962 to 89 and then from 1998 to. Read frank deford chronicle what bill russell learned from his family and taught the celtics bill russell grabs a rebound during a game against the lakers at the boston garden during the. The events of the book were adapted into a film by abc in 1986 starring craig t. The foundation remembers legendary sports journalist frank deford, whose young daughter, alex, lost her fight to cystic fibrosis in 1980. Defords discussion of how they came to adopt their daughter, scarlett. Over time, a memoir by frank deford the new york times. He exported his voice to radio, tv and film, and if you didnt know him you might have thought he was an actor, because he wore purple. Westport sportswriter publishes a love story westport. Frank deford has 43 books on goodreads with 10920 ratings. I caught up with deford as he was starting a 20city book tour for his new memoir, over time. This is as one might expect, a highly emotional read. I love frank defords writing and this was his most popular book. Writer frank deford takes his tale of love and loss onto. Scarlet, a native filipino, was adopted by deford, 47, and his wife, carol, 43, less than a year after the death of their natural daughter, alexandra.
May 10, 2012 i caught up with deford as he was starting a 20city book tour for his new memoir, over time. Frank deford talks about daughter alex the morning. Alexandra deford was 9 years old when she went home from the hospital for. May 28, 2017 sports writer and commentator frank deford, who won awards for his work with sports illustrated magazine and npr, has died at 78. May 29, 2017 longtime sportswriter frank deford, who spent decades at sports illustrated and npr, died sunday at age 78 his family says he died sunday in key west, florida.
He died sunday, may 28, 2017, in key west, florida. My life as a sportswriter is as unconventional and wideranging as frank defords remarkable career, in which he has chronicled the heroes and the characters of just about every sport in nearly. Frank deford, often considered the finest sportswriter of his generation for. The movement, branded new journalism, came into its own around the same time frank deford was breaking through as a young writer at sports illustrated. May 01, 2000 the best of frank deford relates not only the specific and the spectacular events that make up great sports writing, but reflects through sports the larger world of american culture. Frank deford national endowment for the humanities neh.
May 30, 2017 renowned sports writer and commentator frank deford, 78, died on sunday, just a few weeks after his last piece aired on morning edition. Deford was a prolific book author and contributed commentaries to hbos real sports program. Benjamin franklin deford iii december 16, 1938 may 28, 2017 was an american sportswriter and novelist. After exactly a year of their daughters burial, alex and carol deford would. This is a grand collection of his most vivid caricatures, colorful anecdotes, and outofleftfield observations on the often humbling and humorous nature of sport. From 1980 until his death in 2017, he was a regular sports commentator on nprs morning. It was fun being a woman for a change, said the tall and lanky deford, who has lived in westport since 1974 with his wife. Frank deford is a sixtime national sportswriter of the year, senior. This is a wonderful, inspired book equal parts funny and touchinga treasure for sports fans.
May 29, 2017 few writers have been as closely identified with anyone place as frank deford was with sports illustrated. This is a wonderful book, but the kindle version is abbreviated. This past week the world lost one of its great storytellers in frank deford. May 30, 2017 frank deford was a longtime advocate for research and treatment of cystic fibrosis. Few writers have been as closely identified with anyone place as frank deford was with sports illustrated. The best of frank deford relates not only the specific and the spectacular events that make up great sports writing, but reflects through sports the larger world of american culture. For my money, frank deford is the greatest takeout writer in sports, ever, sports columnist and tv personality tony kornheiser told grantland in 2011. New england patriots quarterback tom brady sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of an nfl football game against the kansas city chiefs, in kansas city, mo. May 29, 2017 frank deford practically invented the notion of multimedia.
The life of a child, the book he had to do because he says, as a writer, he would have been derelict not. In his new memoirthe congenial moderator invites us into the family he and his wife caroline created when they adopted two chinese daughters based on little more than thumbsize snapshots. E porcelain and enamel manufacturer and the scheming owner of fort zacharys expansion franchises in pro basketball and hockey. The defords took her to various hospitals, one after the next missing the mark and. Your 1984 sports illustrated article about coach bob bull sullivan, the toughest coach there. Frank deford celebrity profile check out the latest frank deford photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. He died sunday, may 28, 2017, in key west, florida, according to his. The author of 18 books, nine of which were novels, deford. May 30, 2017 deford and i both married well, and we were both blessed with daughters.
He was a longtime advocate for research and treatment of cystic fibrosis. Baby, we were meant for each other scott simon books. Uppercrust baltimore in 1955 is the dynamic setting of defords seventh after the other adonis, 2001, etc. From legendary sixtime national sportswriter of the year and npr commentator frank. My life as a sportswriter is as unconventional and wideranging as frank defords remarkable career, in which he has chronicled the heroes and the characters of just about. Frank deford, who cultivated a distinct style of sports journalism at sports illustrated and national public radio, had died. May 29, 2017 frank deford is survived by his wife and their two surviving children, scarlet and christian. Defords wife confirmed to the washington post that he. Frank deford wrote this book shortly after his daughter, alex, died in 1980 from cystic fibrosis at the age of eight. The best of frank deford, according to frank deford. To read frank is a great experience, to talk with frank gives a whole new.
May 19, 2016 id know that voice anywhere is an eclectic joy to read, highly recommended. Praise for over time equal doses of selfdeprecating humor and anecdotal history of american sports journalism are the essence of frank defords entertaining new memoir. New members save 20% off curbside pickup unavailable on. A novel by frank deford and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Deford s archives are held by the university of texas, where an annual lecture is presented in his name. It is frank defords timeless book about his daughters short battle with. His daughter, alexandra, passed away as a child in 1980. Frank deford is among the most versatile of american writers. It was a time when a new family had moved into the westport, conn. I had come to know frank several times over the years. Deford grew up in baltimore, maryland, the oldest of three. After her death in 1980 at the age of 8,her father, frank deford, who was a.
He was a writer and actor, known for everybodys allamerican 1988, trading hearts 1988 and alex. Sep 22, 2011 writer and commentator frank deford is the author of sixteen books. Deford and i both married well, and we were both blessed with daughters. Christian deford is the son of frank deford born in 1969 46 years ago, child of frank deford and carol deford. I really felt that i would be irresponsible if i did not write the book. Deford adopted many of the devices of new journalism and applied them to sportswriting, making him a pioneer in the longform sports journalism associated with that magazine. With bliss, remembered, the celebrated frank deford has produced a work of literature that ranks with the best of his many novels, including everybodys all american, which sports illustrated ranked as one.
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