Andrew

I'd have to go with Bill Simmons right now. Second is Rick Rielly. You guys?

djtestudo

Same for me right now.

There are a lot of great writers out there. Some others I really like are Jason Whitlock, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, and Peter Schmuck.

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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

radioguy

tony kornheiser is my favorite by far. i've read all his books and they're fabulous. they aren't really sports related but all were very funny.

BigGov

Rick Reilly is my favorite. I just love his work, from ripping into the NCAA to writing about a deaf high school football team.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

holtmate

I'd have to say Bill Simmons, and most of the ESPN Page2 crew. Good information, and great laughs.

thrsn0730

Simmons is good, but his stuff was multitides better before he latched on with ESPN. If you can, try to dig up some of his previous stuff: I think he posted at bostonsportsguy.com or something like it.

guy44

Joe Sheehan. If you know who he is, you know why I love his writing.

Also, you are likely smart and very handsome to boot.

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spindles

My favourite is Peter Roebuck. He is a cricket commentator and journo. Just like I have no idea of any of the people already mentioned in this thread, you have all probably never heard of him.

He writes for a small paper called the Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/sport).

Edit - my avatar picture goes with the writer mentioned above.

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who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

quicksteal

In a high school English class, I had to write to someone, both praising and critiquing him/her. I wrote to Rick Reilly, and he actually wrote me back! I really like reading his stuff, but he seems to be writing more softies the past few years.

dylanmarsh

I concur with everyone's opinion of Simmons but only with the stipulation that he is the "Maxim" writer of ESPN. Lots of laughs and obscure pop-culture references. Although the Karate Kid references are really wearing me down, especially when he compares virtually every member of the Red Sox to Daniel-san and every member of the Yankees to the Cobra Kai.

As far as serious sports writers, my vote goes to Peter Gammons. He is usually very accurate and takes subtle, yet painful jabs at the horde of evil agents and primadonna ballplayers.

Simmons is the Wendy's burger to Gammons' filet mignon.

yoyoyobro

Rick Reilly has a great column every week in SI. Have also been reading Jay Lovington's column on ESPN Page 2 on poker and they are great as well. Both writers are very entertaining.