World Class

Praise

“You can’t talk about the history of U.S. soccer without including Grant Wahl. His legendary career and fearless advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community will be a legacy that lives on through this anthology and beyond.”—Megan Rapinoe

“For me, Grant Wahl’s Sports Illustrated cover story was the moment everything started. The time that we shared when I was in high school for that story was pretty special for myself and my family. Wahl was always energetic, always had a smile on his face, and always wanted to do right by his interview subjects. This collection of his work is a great testament to not only what he did when he was here, but what he’s still doing to impact others.”—LeBron James

“Grant Wahl’s job was to write about sports, but his art was to reveal what matters most in life. This anthology is a collection of brilliant storytelling and timeless wisdom about excellence from a world-class professional. He was the best of us, and his work lives on to make us all better.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again

“Some of the best, most compelling sportswriting I’ve ever read.”—Clint Smith

“I hesitate to call this collection sportswriting at its best, because I think it is just writing at its best. To me, Grant Wahl was an anthropologist, and sports was his lens for studying humanity.”—David Epstein, New York Times bestselling author of Range and The Sports Gene

“Every word in this book surges with his energy and enthusiasm and love. I was one of the luckiest people in the world to get to know Grant. I miss him. But he’s here in this wonderful collection of his best work.”—Joe Posnanski, New York Times bestselling author of Why We Love Baseball

“A titan of the American game.”—Brendan Hunt

“Grant Wahl was—and his work and legacy remain—world class. Wahl was all class and tops in class, with few peers matching his quality, rigor, vigor, and unswerving honor. He also considered the entire planet his beat, going wherever the story took him. Damn, we miss him.”—Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated writer and 60 Minutes correspondent

“Not only are these informed pieces almost effortlessly readable to aficionados and newbies alike . . . the collection is suffused with both courage and humanity. . . . Recommended for any soccer collection.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Far more than an ordinary sportswriter . . . [Wahl] did more than any other writer to elevate soccer in the national sports conversation. . . . A fine collection by a much-missed writer who was just rising to the top of his game.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)