Grant Wahl is without a doubt one of the most iconic soccer reporters in American history. His untimely passing during the 2022 World Cup brought forth countless memories and tributes from other soccer reporters. Working for Sports Illustrated, Grant Wahl put together an impressive collection of stories. Many of them were in-depth looks at American soccer.
He oversaw the rapid rise of Major League Soccer and its subsequent expansion. Additionally, Grant Wahl regularly provided unparalleled coverage of the United States Men’s National Team. However, his work is generally divided into different publications. These include Sports Illustrated and Football with Grant Wahl, which was his newsletter with Substack. Wahl had the ability to write on different topics and for different types of audiences. Stories can be in-depth analyzes of social issues in football or they can be quick-hit news.
Now, Grant Wahl has a new book titled ‘World Class’ that brings together some of the most iconic stories from his much-vaunted career. That includes stories documenting some of the brightest young stars in American sports. Notably, Grant Wahl did more than cover football during his time at Sports Illustrated.
World Class is now available for pre-order through Amazon. Readers will be able to receive the book when it is published on June 4. It will serve as a lasting memory for one of the greatest American sportswriters of a generation.
Stories abound in Grant Wahl’s new book
With Grant Wahl writing the stories of so many historic sports figures, the list of stories to be included in this new book is extensive.
For example, Grant Wahl documented Landon Donovan’s rise to becoming one of the most iconic players in American soccer history. With so much access to the USMNT and Major League Soccer, Wahl often had close contact with Donovan during his time as a player. Additionally, the writer got an early look at some of the USWNT’s most iconic stars. The book will take an in-depth look at Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach long before they became the most integral parts of the immensely successful Women’s World Cup teams.
Not all stories are about individual players or coaches. Grant Wahl captured the culture of soccer in places like Buenos Aires and Barcelona. The book’s description even mentions “the dusty sands of Nacogdoches, Texas,” which is a tribute to Clint Dempsey and his upbringing. Wahl will tell stories about first-hand accounts of teams that lifted trophies.
More than just football
Wahl focused primarily on football. However, it was more than just that. One of Grant Wahl’s biggest stories was the headline about LeBron James before he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The story helped put James on the map, as the story’s cover image read “The Chosen One.”
“For me, Grant’s Sports Illustrated cover was the moment it all started,” LeBron James said. “The time we shared when I was in high school for that story was very special for me and my family. Grant was always energetic, always had a smile on his face and always wanted to do right by his interview subjects. “This collection of Grant’s work is a great testament not only to what he did when he was here, but also to what he continues to do to impact others.”
PHOTOS: IMAGO.
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