{"product_id":"book-iafc","title":"World Class","description":"\u003cb\u003e“This collection of Grant’s 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\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe definitive collection of beloved late journalist Grant Wahl’s work—a masterclass in the art of sportswriting\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, collapsing in his press seat during a quarterfinal match, tributes to Wahl poured in from around the globe. Wahl was beloved for good reason—he was kind, generous, and unflinching in the face of injustice. He was also one of the best sports journalists of his generation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpanning four decades of storytelling, \u003ci\u003eWorld Class\u003c\/i\u003e collects for the first time the finest writing of Grant Wahl, from op-eds for his college newspaper to twenty-five years of reporting at \u003ci\u003eSports Illustrated\u003c\/i\u003e to his deeply personal work for \u003ci\u003eFútbol with Grant Wahl\u003c\/i\u003e on Substack. Wahl was the multi-tool modern sportswriter: clear and direct; able to write long, short, or in between; cosmopolitan; socially aware.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArranged thematically, \u003ci\u003eWorld Class \u003c\/i\u003edemonstrates how Wahl’s career aligned with the evolution of sportswriting. Included are explorations of soccer subcultures from Buenos Aires and F.C. Barcelona to the dusty sandlots of Nacogdoches, Texas, as well as accounts of trophy lifts that have a first-draft-of-history definitiveness. Some pieces capture prodigies early in their careers, like LeBron James and Landon Donovan; others lift the voices of the women athletes to whom Wahl paid early attention—stars like Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe. The book showcases the daring and important positions Wahl took in Qatar in the weeks before he died, supporting migrant workers and LGBTQ+ people.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore than a collection of Grant Wahl's best work, \u003ci\u003eWorld Class\u003c\/i\u003e is a portrait of a journalist at the height of his powers, always evolving with the times, revealed by the stories he found and the unflinching way he told them.","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49712870228272,"sku":"BDiafc","price":22.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/526647-iafc-Square.jpg?v=1744244858","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-iafc","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}