Benjamin franklin deford iii december 16, 1938 may 28, 2017 was an american. 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. The death was confirmed monday by npr, where deford delivered commentaries for 37 years. The author of more than fifteen books, frank deford b.
Scarlets subsequent adoptionwere touchingly chronicled in defords 1982 book, alex. Frank defords quest to bring humor and grace to sportswriting. 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. How sportswriting has changed over time frank deford says he has always been more interested in the people than in who was winning the games. He has been elected to the hall of fame of the national association of sportscasters and sportswriters and has been awarded both an emmy and a peabody. I caught up with deford as he was starting a 20city book tour for his new memoir, over time. Frank deford, a longtime sports illustrated writer, author and commentator, died sunday in key west, fl, his wife confirmed to multiple media outlets. Frank deford, often considered the finest sportswriter of his generation. Beginning in the early 1960s, frank defords career has paralleled the.
May 10, 2012 frank deford basically looks the way he writes. Cf foundation mourns loss of frank deford cf foundation. Frank deford is among the most versatile of american writers. Frank deford is an author with two videos in the cspan video library. Frank deford, the awardwinning sportswriter and commentator whose elegant reportage was a staple for years at sports illustrated and national public radio, has died. Writer frank deford takes his tale of love and loss onto tv. His work has appeared in virtually every medium, including print, where he has written eloquently for sports illustrated since 1962. A member of the national sportscasters and sportswriters association hall of fame. Frank deford was born on december 16, 1938 in baltimore, maryland, usa as benjamin franklin deford iii. He is senior contributing writer at sports illustrated, where his byline first. He won both an emmy and a peabody award for his broadcasting. Nelson as deford, bonnie bedelia as his wife carol, and gennie james as alex.
Whether frank deford is the voice you hear on national publ. 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. May 29, 2017 frank deford practically invented the notion of multimedia. May 30, 2017 could tigerphil ii be nixed by the tour. Carol quit college to pursue a career in modeling and was working in new york in 1965 when she married frank deford. Frank deford states at the outset of this book that it is a memoir of his career as a sportswriter, so if the reader is looking for a tellall examination of his life, this isnt it. Frank defords memoir recalls a lost era of sportswriting, when. This is a grand collection of his most vivid caricatures, colorful anecdotes, and outofleftfield observations on the often humbling and humorous nature of sport. He wrote more than a dozen books and in 20 he was the first. My life as a sportswriter by frank deford is a pleasure to read. Friendship and sacrifice on and off the gridiron by deford, frank, blackistone, kevin b. 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. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. President barack obama laughs with frank deford as he awards him the 2012 national humanities medal for transforming how we think about sports, during a ceremony in the east room of white house on july 10, 20.
He is senior contributing writer at sports illustrated, where his byline first appeared in 1962. Frank deford, the renowned sportswriter and commentator, has died. Frank defords best golf writing from the pages of sports illustrated. I caught up with deford as he was starting a 20city book tour for his. Deford is currently the magazines senior contributing writer and contributes a weekly column to. But alexandra deford happened to have a father who was a top magazine sportswriter, and the book. 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.
Deford wrote for sports illustrated magazine from 1962 until his death in 2017, and was a correspondent for the real sports with bryant gumbel television program on hbo. Frank defords best golf writing from the pages of sports. Two of defords books, the novel, everybodys allamerican, and alex. The cystic fibrosis foundation today mourns the passing of legendary sports journalist frank deford, whose young daughter alex lost her fight to cf in 1980, and who served as chair of the cystic fibrosis foundations board of trustees from 19821999. Frank deford has lived in connecticut for nearly 30 years, but that doesnt mean he has forgotten his baltimore roots. Book cover for over time my life as a sportswriter by frank deford.
I caught up with deford as he was starting a 20city book tour for his new memoir. Writer frank deford takes his tale of love and loss onto. With the best prose in sportswriting and the sweep of a halfcentury in sports the book is a joy for all aficionados of a well told story. May 30, 2017 sports illustrated writer and npr commentator, frank deford died on may 28 at the age of 78. Your 1984 sports illustrated article about coach bob bull sullivan, the toughest coach there ever. May 29, 2017 frank deford, the renowned sportswriter and commentator, has died. But deford fans have been getting to hear the veteran sportswriter at greater length lately.
Like mark potts, i looked upon frank deford as one of the legends in sports journalismso i was both touched and floored to receive his note. He died sunday, may 28, 2017, in key west, florida, according to his. The entitled by frank deford and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. May 29, 2017 frank didnt know me at all but he took the time to write and send me a lovely note about my book. Frank deford, jimmy breslin, and charlotte sheedy reflect on the extraordinary life and career of literary agent sterling lord, who has represented jack kerouac, ken kesey, and countless others, in this video from open road media, the publisher of lords new memoir, lord of publishing.
He wrote more than a dozen books and in 20 he was the first sportswriter to receive a national humanities medal. Frank deford explains why the boxer and the blonde was the perfect story, except for the one regret he still carries about it. In addition, he was a correspondent for hbos real sports with bryant gumbel and a regular wednesday commentator for national public radios morning edition. May 29, 2017 frank deford, often considered the finest sportswriter of his generation for his detailed psychological profiles of athletes and coaches, who also won acclaim for his novels, his television and. I am proud of a lot of things ive written, but id like to think what frank deford gave the world that was the best of him was his work against cystic fibrosis. 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. Deford wrote the 1981 book everybodys allamerican, about the downfall of a 1950s university of north carolina star.
Eightyearold gennie james, who played sally fields daughter in places in the heart, is a texan who retained traces of her southern accent, said. My life as a sportswriter by frank deford goodreads. Find out more about his prosperous career, cause of death, and more in our frank deford wiki. Grantland rice set the stage for deford to become our own generations knight of the keyboard. The author of eighteen books, frank deford has worked in virtually every medium. Frank deford has 43 books on goodreads with 10920 ratings. Frank deford is a sixtime national sportswriter of the year, senior writer for sports illustrated, commentator on nprs morning edition, correspondent for hbos realsports with bryant gumbel and the author of 14 books. Whether frank deford is the voice you hear on national public radios morning edition or the name you see in the newsweek.
In fact, the acclaimed writer, who grew up in north baltimore and graduated. The life and times of the roller derby was published in 1971. I am listening to this book and with his voice, frank deford redeems the story. Over time, a memoir by frank deford the new york times.
Hes 64, trim, wears silk ties, french cuffs, and natty sports coats. The best of frank deford, according to frank deford kpbs. A weekly commentator for nprs morning edition, he is also a regular correspondent on the hbo show real sports with bryant gumbel. Deford is a graduate of princeton university, where he has taught in american studies. A member of the national sportscasters and sportswriters association and its hall of fame, deford has been named sportswriter of the year six times.
He was a writer and actor, known for everybodys allamerican 1988, trading hearts 1988 and alex. President barack obama laughs with frank deford as he awards him the 2012 national humanities medal for transforming how we think about sports, during a ceremony in the east room of white house on. 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. Today, siena college honors frank deford with the honorary degree, doctor of humane letters. His most recent book is bliss, remembered, a novel set during the 1936 berlin olympics. Deford died on may 28, 2017, at the age of 78, at his home in key west, florida.
Deford, a longtime sports illustrated reporter, also was a novelist and appeared on tv and radio. Frank deford books list of books by author frank deford. Legendary sports writer frank deford has died, cbs news confirms. He was a gifted man, who delighted us as a sports commentator and writer for over four decades.
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