Presents a biography of the young skateboarder whose athletic style helped bring skateboarding into the mainstream of the sporting world.

Describes the life and career of the basketball superstar and center for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The life story of the World Series-winning pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks reminds youngsters that talent doesn't mean anything without hard work to back it up.

Yao Ming is one of the biggest stars in basketball today-literally. At seven feet, six-inches, Yao's impressive performance for the NBA's Houston Rockets earned him the Rookie of the Year Award in 2002-2003, and put him on the covers of Sports Illustrated and other magazines, as well as in television commercials for brands such as Visa and Gatorade. His gentle nature off the court doesn't impede his domination on the court, and his sensational seasons have brought a new surge of interest to the NBA. Watch for him in the Summer '04 Olympics!

Includes articles chosen from magazines and newspapers on topics ranging from bullfighting to basketball, baseball, and boxing.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford pulls together the finest sports writing of the past year, featuring contributions by such celebrated writers as David Remnick and David Halberstam.

Sports icon Dick Schaap brings together top sports writing at the top of its game, with pieces on all athletic endeavors from football to fishing, from basketball to birdwatching.

One of America's premier sports journalists selects the best sports writing of the year by such authors as H.G. Bissinger, Charles P. Pierce, Jim Harrison, Rick Reilly, and others.

Gathering together the very best writing on all sorts of athletic endeavors, matters of sportsmanship, and plain old fandom, "The Best American Sports Writing" has earned critical acclaim and a devoted following.

With Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Cramer at its helm, this collection brings together the best writing on sports from the past year. Not just for readers of the sports pages, this year's selections embrace the world of sports in all its drama, humanity, and excitement.