Frank Deford http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100422&ft=1&f=2100422 Among the most versatile of writers, Frank Deford's work has appeared in virtually every medium. In magazines, he is the senior writer at <em>Sports Illustrated</em>. On radio, he may be heard as a commentator every Wednesday on <em>Morning Edition</em> on NPR. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 22:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Frank Deford http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100422&ft=1&f=2100422 Backing Becks: Don't Knock The Soccer Star's Talents After the announcement that David Beckham is retiring, there's been much discussion about how good of an athlete he's really been. Sports commentator Frank Deford says Beckham's talents have been overlooked. Tue, 21 May 2013 22:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/185779527/backing-becks-don-t-knock-the-soccer-star-s-talents?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/185779527/backing-becks-don-t-knock-the-soccer-star-s-talents?ft=1&f=2100422 After the announcement that David Beckham is retiring, there's been much discussion about how good of an athlete he's really been. Sports commentator Frank Deford says Beckham's talents have been overlooked.

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]]> No. 1s: The Latest Greatest Of All Time The NBA will soon crown another team as the best. And another MVP will be named. But commentator Frank Deford says such titles of greatness are fleeting. Wed, 15 May 2013 03:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183934665/no-1s-the-latest-greatest-of-all-time?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/183934665/no-1s-the-latest-greatest-of-all-time?ft=1&f=2100422 The NBA will soon crown another team as the best. And another MVP will be named. But commentator Frank Deford says such titles of greatness are fleeting.

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]]> Ladies, Want Women's Sports To Get More Attention? Pony Up Some critics say that women's sports aren't treated the same as men's sports when it comes to coverage, marketing and advertising. Frank Deford has some thoughts about why that is, and how it can change. Wed, 08 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/181926587/ladies-want-womens-sports-to-get-more-attention-pony-up?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/08/181926587/ladies-want-womens-sports-to-get-more-attention-pony-up?ft=1&f=2100422 Some critics say that women's sports aren't treated the same as men's sports when it comes to coverage, marketing and advertising. Frank Deford has some thoughts about why that is, and how it can change.

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]]> Get Off My Lawn! And Other Grumblings About Sports Today Frank Deford's friend "the Sports Curmudgeon" reflects on some of the things that bother him about the sports world. Wed, 01 May 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180064496/get-off-my-lawn-and-other-grumblings-about-sports-today?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180064496/get-off-my-lawn-and-other-grumblings-about-sports-today?ft=1&f=2100422 Frank Deford's friend "the Sports Curmudgeon" reflects on some of the things that bother him about the sports world.

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]]> The Pitch For More No. 42s There's more buzz than usual this year around baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who made his major league debut on April 15, 1947. But commentator Frank Deford says there isn't enough buzz in college athletics to help shape the Robinsons of the future. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/17/177470407/the-pitch-for-more-no-42s?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/17/177470407/the-pitch-for-more-no-42s?ft=1&f=2100422 There's more buzz than usual this year around baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who made his major league debut on April 15, 1947. But commentator Frank Deford says there isn't enough buzz in college athletics to help shape the Robinsons of the future.

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]]> Tiger At The Masters: The Juncture Of Exhilaration And Peril When Tiger Woods tees off at Augusta National Golf Club this week, he will have overcome injuries and personal scandal. But commentator Frank Deford wonders whether a Masters win for Woods would be a comeback or his way of getting back at his detractors. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176670571/tiger-at-the-masters-the-juncture-of-exhilaration-and-peril?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176670571/tiger-at-the-masters-the-juncture-of-exhilaration-and-peril?ft=1&f=2100422 When Tiger Woods tees off at Augusta National Golf Club this week, he will have overcome injuries and personal scandal. But commentator Frank Deford wonders whether a Masters win for Woods would be a comeback or his way of getting back at his detractors.

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]]> Baseball Isn't Dead; It Just Takes More Work To Appreciate For years, non-baseball experts have been ringing the death knell for this game. But sports commentator Frank Deford says popular team games are so deeply ingrained in our culture that they're here to stay. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176047802/baseball-isnt-dead-it-just-takes-more-work-to-appreciate?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176047802/baseball-isnt-dead-it-just-takes-more-work-to-appreciate?ft=1&f=2100422 For years, non-baseball experts have been ringing the death knell for this game. But sports commentator Frank Deford says popular team games are so deeply ingrained in our culture that they're here to stay.

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]]> It's Been An Ugly Year For College Basketball Frank Deford isn't impressed with the style of play — or the style of uniforms — in this year's March Madness. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175363063/its-been-an-ugly-year-for-college-basketball?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175363063/its-been-an-ugly-year-for-college-basketball?ft=1&f=2100422 Frank Deford isn't impressed with the style of play — or the style of uniforms — in this year's March Madness.

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]]> What's The Score On Spirited Sports Banter At Bars? Sports commentator Frank Deford wants to know: When did we stop arguing about sports in the time-honored bar-stool fashion? Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174761566/whats-the-score-on-spirited-sports-banter-at-bars?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174761566/whats-the-score-on-spirited-sports-banter-at-bars?ft=1&f=2100422 Sports commentator Frank Deford wants to know: When did we stop arguing about sports in the time-honored bar-stool fashion?

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]]> School Bands Should Not Be Entertainment Adjunct For Sports For commentator Frank Deford, it seems unfair that students who pursue other extracurricular talents — like music — should be placed in a subsidiary position to their classmates who happen to play sports. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/13/174138591/school-bands-should-not-be-entertainment-adjunct-for-sports?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/13/174138591/school-bands-should-not-be-entertainment-adjunct-for-sports?ft=1&f=2100422 For commentator Frank Deford, it seems unfair that students who pursue other extracurricular talents — like music — should be placed in a subsidiary position to their classmates who happen to play sports.

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]]> Catholic Universities See True Path To Salvation: Basketball A powerful leadership group — the Catholic Seven — is stepping forward and heading in a bold new direction: basketball. These schools want out of the Big (football) East Conference. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:21:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/06/173533196/catholic-universities-see-true-path-to-salvation-basketball?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/06/173533196/catholic-universities-see-true-path-to-salvation-basketball?ft=1&f=2100422 A powerful leadership group — the Catholic Seven — is stepping forward and heading in a bold new direction: basketball. These schools want out of the Big (football) East Conference.

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]]> Dear College Presidents: Break The NCAA's Vise Grip On Athletes Student-athletes are really sucker-athletes under the organization's structure, says sports commentator Frank Deford. Will no college president speak the words that will break the organization's spell? Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/27/172965051/dear-college-presidents-break-the-ncaas-vise-grip-on-athletes?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/27/172965051/dear-college-presidents-break-the-ncaas-vise-grip-on-athletes?ft=1&f=2100422 Student-athletes are really sucker-athletes under the organization's structure, says sports commentator Frank Deford. Will no college president speak the words that will break the organization's spell?

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]]> Reminders Flood In: Athletes Are People, Not Heroes We often put athletes on a pedestal. But after the latest accusations of bad behavior — accusations that include a murder charge against Oscar Pistorius — it may be time to lower that pedestal several notches, says Frank Deford. Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/20/172413312/reminders-flood-in-athletes-are-people-not-heroes?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/20/172413312/reminders-flood-in-athletes-are-people-not-heroes?ft=1&f=2100422 We often put athletes on a pedestal. But after the latest accusations of bad behavior — accusations that include a murder charge against Oscar Pistorius — it may be time to lower that pedestal several notches, says Frank Deford.

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]]> An Oft-Told Tale: The Beauty Queen And The Quarterback Last month, Brent Musburger was accused of being sexist when he gushed about "what a beautiful woman" Miss Alabama was during the BCS Championship game. Commentator Frank Deford says if Musburger was guilty of anything, it was failing to note what a cliche he was perpetuating. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/13/171826993/an-oft-told-tale-the-beauty-queen-and-the-quarterback?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/13/171826993/an-oft-told-tale-the-beauty-queen-and-the-quarterback?ft=1&f=2100422 Last month, Brent Musburger was accused of being sexist when he gushed about "what a beautiful woman" Miss Alabama was during the BCS Championship game. Commentator Frank Deford says if Musburger was guilty of anything, it was failing to note what a cliche he was perpetuating.

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]]> It's The Dog Days For America's Sports Dynasties We used to have three bona fide dynasties: the Yankees in baseball, the Celtics and Lakers in basketball, and the Cowboys in football. We even had dynasties in college sports. But no more. Commentator Frank Deford says our dynasties are melting as fast as the Arctic ice cap. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/171185437/its-the-dog-days-for-americas-sports-dynasties?ft=1&f=2100422 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/171185437/its-the-dog-days-for-americas-sports-dynasties?ft=1&f=2100422 We used to have three bona fide dynasties: the Yankees in baseball, the Celtics and Lakers in basketball, and the Cowboys in football. We even had dynasties in college sports. But no more. Commentator Frank Deford says our dynasties are melting as fast as the Arctic ice cap.

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