THE YEARS' BEST SPORTS WRITING

A couple things about The Years’ Best Sports Writing, the new annual collection of sports writing. For one, I’m thrilled that a collection of sports writing will continue, following The Best Sports Stories series, which appeared from 1945 thru 1991, and The Best American Sports Writing from 1991 thru 2020, meaning that the first edition of The Years’ Best Sports Writing will mark the 76th year such a collection has appeared. I thank everyone at Triumph for their faith in the concept, and for reaching out after the demise of BASW. It is not “my” book, and never has been. Although I will serve as editor of this inaugural edition – until this year – I have never made a selection of a single story for the collection, and in subsequent years a new editor will be chose by the Publisher each year. There will be no “Series Editor,” the role I filled for The Best American Sports Writing. An eight-member Editorial Board made up of both staffer and freelancers covering the full spectrum of contemporary sports writing will make recommendations to the Annual Editor each year and we will ask that Editor to take a much more active role throughout the year in the selection process. This, I think, will ensure the Series will not only be sustainable but will include as many diverse viewpoints and styles as possible. I’ll stay on in only an advisory capacity for the next few years to make sure the train keeps running. Then I’ll step away. The book belongs to its readers and the writers who make such a collection possible. More than anything, I thank the many, many readers whose enthusiasm for these books has meant so much – I’ve lost track of the number who have sent me photos of their collections of the earlier two series. I leave the collection in the hands of the writers whose work will be responsible for its success.