“A soccer rivalry between an idealistic fan-owned club and a powerhouse’s racist hooligans reflects Israel’s continuing march towards right-wing extremism.”
Sports
Posted inNonfiction
Best Of 2023: Features
At the time of this writing, Longreads editors have created nearly 650 recommendations in 2023, and just about every one of them can be considered a feature. However, you’ll find that the stories contained herein are features in the classic sense: marriages of deep reporting and indelible prose. Some are light, others emotionally taxing. Their […]
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Wild Quest to Create a Fake Indian Cricket League … That Was Just the Beginning
“Davda’s Molipur cricket league was not a one-off caper, it turns out. It was a single node in a network of at least dozens of Molipur-style scams worldwide.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
“I Shall Not Be Moved”: Inside a New York City Sumo Wrestling Club
“Slowly but surely, sumo wrestling is growing in America. Meet the men finding meaning in the ancient art of pushing each other around.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Game, Set, Fix
“As gambling on tennis exploded into a $50 billion industry, he had infiltrated the sport, paying pros more to lose … than they could make by winning tournaments.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Andy Roddick’s Open Era
“Twenty years after winning the US Open, Andy Roddick has thrown away his trophies and moved on with his life. But in a rare interview, the last American man to win a grand slam reflects on that historic triumph—and all the pressure, fame, failure, love, and loss that came after.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
How Pacman Jones, NFL Poster Boy for Bad Behavior, Stepped in for Fallen Teammate’s Family
“Years ago, after the accident, when Pacman promised Loleini he’d do anything for Slim’s family, he meant it.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
How a Ticket from Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls Debut Became Priceless
“Every ticket can tell you a story. I’m someone who’s about relationships and experiences. And that’s what tickets are to me.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Inside the NBA’s Great Generation War
“Not so long ago, retired NBA stars could put on a suit, go on ESPN, and lay into the next generation of young players with little pushback. Then something shifted.”