ESPN writing - Saslow on Aroldis Chapman & Jones on Cuba and Hemingway

The latest issue of ESPN The Magazine had two excellent pieces of writing, a feature by Eli Saslow and column by Chris Jones. The column was titled "Idol Thoughts" and an interesting and introspective look at Cuba, Ernest Hemingway and believing in something. The Saslow feature was yet another great story from him with "A World of His Own" about Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. It was a fascinating view into the life of someone who seemingly has it all, but also misses the life he left behind in Cuba.

Spring Training Stories from Time & CNNSI

Man, I do so love this time of year in sports...

You've got hockey starting to get really interesting leading into the NHL playoffs and MLB Spring Training has officially sprung. The time two months from now with baseball past it's "playing in the snow" phase and hockey fully into the Stanley Cup playoffs is great as well, but what this current time has is... anticipation.

Two different pieces I recently came across that really encapsulate this idea for me. The first was David Von Drehle's (extremely short) Time Magazine piece "The Moment" about Spring Training and promise of the future. Love the way Von Drehle can describe so well with so few words on a page...

The second piece was from CNNSI and by Joe Posnanski... he of the frequently written to Joe Blog. Titled "Chapman justifies hype in debut", it's about Cincinnati Reds lefty Aroldis Chapman, but more than that... it's about this same idea of how every Spring, each team has an equal shot at glory that year. Even beyond that, Chapman represents the idea of a previously unknown talent stepping up in the Spring to show would could be possible.

Maybe Chapman will wind up in the Hall of Fame, maybe he won't and maybe the Reds will win a pennant (more than likely not), but for sports fans who love the great and unexpected story, it's fun to think about.