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New York Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
In the Nevada Desert, a Weekend of Fitness, Frost and Firearms
I have been contributing to The New York Times since 2019, mainly as a film and TV critic, reviewing movies and interviewing actors and filmmakers. But over the past year, I've developed a new niche: Under the aegis of the Styles section, I've written about professional slap fighting; a fitness racing craze; the 'Super Bowl of Pickleball' and an 'Enhanced' version of the Olympics, in which the competitors are allowed to use steroids. These odd, alternative sports and competitions have become my favorite beat. I came to this subject through my interest in CrossFit, which has been a hobby and a passion for about seven years. I'm fascinated by CrossFit's unique, constantly varied methodology, and I've written stories about its founder and the annual CrossFit Games (I'm currently writing a book for HarperOne about the history of the company). One of CrossFit's foundational tenets is to 'regularly learn and play new sports,' and I've taken that advice to heart. I'm always looking for new sports to try and, of course, write about. A few months ago, the former CrossFit Games champion Jason Khalipa posted on social media about something called the Tactical Games, a fitness competition that seemed to combine elements of CrossFit with firearms. It appeared to be right up my alley: unique, intense and vaguely outlandish, with a political dimension that felt especially heavy after President Trump took office. (One of the sport's most outspoken advocates is Tulsi Gabbard, the director of National Intelligence.) I emailed Benjamin Hoffman and Stella Bugbee, my editors on the Styles desk, about the Tactical Games in late January. After discussing logistics, we decided that it would be best for me to fly to one of the regional events to watch the action unfold firsthand. A little less than three months later, I flew from Berlin, where I've lived for the past two years, to Reno, Nev., for a weekend of fitness and firearms and nearly 48 hours of air travel. I had never been to Reno, but I went to Las Vegas last summer on assignment, when it was a sweltering 110 degrees. So I was prepared for balmy weather. What greeted me on my first morning in the high desert basin, however, was a frigid 35-degree torrent of rain and snow. Bridget Bennett, a Reno-based photographer hired to shoot the event, picked me up from my hotel just after six in the morning, and we drove the 20-odd miles to the event grounds in the early dawn light, the bitter wind howling. At the Nevada Firearms Academy, where the event was taking place, athletes were stretching and warming up, checking their handguns and cleaning their rifles. Most wore camo military fatigues and body armor, and, despite the inclement weather, the atmosphere was upbeat and festive. The organizers had warned us to bring ear protection, and with good reason: The near-constant sound of gunfire was deafening. At one point, I had no choice but to remove my earplugs to better hear someone I was interviewing. At a nearby event station, a competitor maneuvered through an obstacle course and began blasting a target with a pistol. Some of the tasks were familiar to me from CrossFit: At one station, athletes had to leap onto a 24-inch wooden box and sprawl onto the ground on the other side, known as a burpee box jump over. Another station involved lifting heavy barbells, using a common Olympic lifting technique called the clean and jerk — a test of both skill and strength. The twist was that, between all of this heaving and jumping, competitors also had to shoot handguns and rifles. It made for a unique spectacle. I wasn't sure what kind of people a fitness and firearms festival might attract, but I found the competitors friendly and welcoming; more than one person, seeing me underdressed and shivering, offered hand warmers or a spare coat. Some were a bit skeptical of our purpose, though. 'This doesn't seem like the kind of thing The Times would cover,' one competitor told Bridget warily, after she asked permission to photograph him. Maybe not — but it's the kind of thing I like to cover best. Far-flung adventures, bizarre challenges, activities that test fitness while also defying common sense: That's the stuff that I live for. Flying home on Monday morning, tired and jet-lagged, I felt like I'd taken the next logical step in this strange ongoing journey into my new favorite niche. On assignments like these, I'm writing about alternative sports, but I like to think that what I'm really covering is America in 2025. Handguns, CrossFit, military gear in the freezing rain — they're part of a picture of a culture unlike any other on Earth. I hope readers see these stories as more than a glimpse of an unusual pastime. I hope they're a window into the way we live. I'm back in Berlin now, enjoying the warmth of a proper spring. But I'm sure I'll be back to the United States soon. I just need to find the next sport.
Tatler Asia
13-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
10 books about travel that will spark your wanderlust
2. 'Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail' by Cheryl Strayed Above 'Wild From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail' by Cheryl Strayed (Photo: Vintage) Cheryl Strayed's memoir is more than a tale of hiking boots and blisters. Traversing over a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, she unpacks grief, failure and the slow, healing rhythm of putting one foot in front of the other. Wild stands out among books about travel for its raw honesty—this is not a romanticised journey, but one that earns its transformation mile by gruelling mile. 3. 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho Above 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho (Photo: HarperOne) Paulo Coelho's philosophical tale of a young Andalusian shepherd who dreams of treasure in the Egyptian pyramids has become a global touchstone for spiritual seekers. Along the way, Santiago meets desert dwellers, merchants and mystics. While some roll their eyes at its aphorisms, it remains an enduring reminder that the most compelling books about travel are often the ones that take you inward as much as outward. 4. 'The Lost City of Z' by David Grann Above 'The Lost City of Z' by David Grann (Photo: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group) A gripping blend of biography and historical adventure, this non-fiction narrative follows British explorer Percy Fawcett's obsessive quest for a mythical city in the Amazon. David Grann interweaves Fawcett's journals with his own trek into the jungle, revealing the line between ambition and madness. For fans of perilous expeditions, this is one of those books about travel that reads like a fever dream. 5. 'A Year in Provence' by Peter Mayle Above 'A Year in Provence' by Peter Mayle (Photo: Vintage) Peter Mayle's memoir of buying a farmhouse in Provence is less about adventure and more about immersion. With dry humour and a keen eye for detail, he chronicles the region's eccentric locals, seasonal rituals and culinary pleasures. The book doesn't shy away from the bureaucratic and logistical headaches of relocation, making it a grounded yet charming addition to any collection of books about travel. 6. 'A Cook's Tour' by Anthony Bourdain Above 'A Cook's Tour' by Anthony Bourdain (Photo: Bloomsbury Publishing) Long before he became a global icon, Anthony Bourdain wrote A Cook's Tour —a globe-spanning, sharp-tongued food memoir that proves cuisine is one of the most intimate ways to know a place. From the markets of Vietnam to a Russian military base, his prose is as raw and unsentimental as the meals he describes. It's one of the few books about travel that reads with the bite of noir fiction. 7. 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy Above 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy (Photo: Random House Trade Paperbacks) While not a travelogue, Arundhati Roy's Booker Prize-winning novel is steeped in place. Set in Kerala, India, it offers a lush, tragic portrait of childhood, caste and forbidden love. The setting is inseparable from the narrative, described with such sensuality and specificity that readers unfamiliar with the region will feel they've been dropped into its monsoon-soaked heart. This is a literary reminder that some books about travel don't involve a plane ticket. 8. 'Under the Tuscan Sun' by Frances Mayes Above 'Under the Tuscan Sun' by Frances Mayes (Photo: Bantam) Frances Mayes' memoir of restoring an abandoned villa in Tuscany walks a fine line between reverie and reality. Her love of Italian food, landscape and architecture spills across the pages, but so do her frustrations with Italian bureaucracy and renovation woes. Less about travel and more about building a life abroad, it remains a favourite among readers seeking books about travel that blend aspiration with authenticity. 9. 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer Above 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer (Photo: Anchor Books) Christopher McCandless' fatal journey into the Alaskan wilderness has become mythologised—equal parts cautionary tale and manifesto. Jon Krakauer's investigation raises questions about freedom, recklessness and the modern craving for solitude. As far as books about travel go, it's one of the most haunting, probing not only what it means to venture far from home, but why some people feel they must. 10. 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert Above 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert (Photo: Riverhead Books) Often imitated, occasionally derided and widely beloved, Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir traces her post-divorce pilgrimage through Italy, India and Bali. Though it sparked a wave of self-discovery tourism, the book itself is self-aware, funny and emotionally intelligent. It's a reminder that books about travel can serve as both map and mirror, showing not just where we might go, but who we might become along the way.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Kerry Kennedy is writing ‘intimate' book about her mother, Ethel Kennedy
NEW YORK (AP) — Kerry Kennedy is working on a book about her late mother, Ethel Kennedy. 'Ethel: Faith, Hope, Family, and an Extraordinary American Life' is scheduled to come out in the fall of 2026. 'This intimate portrait of Ethel Skakel Kennedy offers a unique window into the life of a woman whose compassion, resilience, and dedication to justice have left an indelible mark on American history,' reads an announcement released Tuesday by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Kerry Kennedy, 65, is one of 11 children born to Ethel Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, the attorney general, U.S. senator and presidential candidate who was assassinated in 1968 . Ethel Kennedy, who died in 2024 at age 96, was an activist who founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, now called Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Kerry Kennedy serves as its president. 'Ethel' was co-written by Kerry Kennedy and author Maryanne Vollers, who has worked on books by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Billie Jean King among others. 'Kerry Kennedy draws upon her personal experiences and deep admiration to tell the story of her mother's life,' according to HarperOne. 'From Ethel's early years as a spirited young woman to her enduring influence as a matriarch of one of America's most storied families, 'Ethel' is an exploration of courage, empathy, and the power of activism.'
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kerry Kennedy is writing 'intimate' book about her mother, Ethel Kennedy
NEW YORK (AP) — Kerry Kennedy is working on a book about her late mother, Ethel Kennedy. 'Ethel: Faith, Hope, Family, and an Extraordinary American Life' is scheduled to come out in the fall of 2026. 'This intimate portrait of Ethel Skakel Kennedy offers a unique window into the life of a woman whose compassion, resilience, and dedication to justice have left an indelible mark on American history,' reads an announcement released Tuesday by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Kerry Kennedy, 65, is one of 11 children born to Ethel Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, the attorney general, U.S. senator and presidential candidate who was assassinated in 1968. Ethel Kennedy, who died in 2024 at age 96, was an activist who founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, now called Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Kerry Kennedy serves as its president. FILE - Ethel Kennedy, left, and her daughter Kerry Kennedy attend the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award ceremony on Dec. 16, 2014 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up 'Ethel' was co-written by Kerry Kennedy and author Maryanne Vollers, who has worked on books by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Billie Jean King among others. 'Kerry Kennedy draws upon her personal experiences and deep admiration to tell the story of her mother's life,' according to HarperOne. 'From Ethel's early years as a spirited young woman to her enduring influence as a matriarch of one of America's most storied families, 'Ethel' is an exploration of courage, empathy, and the power of activism.'
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sonny Vaccaro has plenty to say in memoir covering his remarkable career
Sonny Vaccaro has plenty to say in memoir covering his remarkable career Maybe the most remarkable thing about Sonny Vaccaro is that after thousands of interviews, a documentary and a feature film about his one-of-a-kind basketball life and decades worth of news stories that connect him to some of the biggest milestones in American sports, he still has plenty of new stories to tell. 'There's enough (material) for another one!' Vaccaro told me in a phone conversation this week, shortly before his new book, 'Legends and Soles: The Memoir of An American Original' is officially released by HarperOne publishing company. 'I hope God gives me the time.' But if this book is the last official account of how the now 85-year-old Vaccaro became the Godfather of summer basketball, the marketing executive who convinced Nike to bet everything on Michael Jordan and the man who took down the NCAA in federal court, it's more than enough to tell the story of how an immigrant's kid from a small mill town outside of Pittsburgh changed American sports forever. "If it's the last thing I did, other than being with my wife all these years, it's the best story I could have left — there's no question about it,' Vaccaro said. Though a typical conversation with Vaccaro is a high-speed, meandering journey of tangents and anecdotes that are often incomplete, his book is a straightforward, easily digestible series of key points in his life that explain exactly how he went from aspiring football player who thought he was headed to Kentucky on scholarship to basketball camp impresario to Nike, where he sold company executives on a plan to take over college hoops by paying coaches to outfit their teams. 'The deal is this,' Vaccaro writes in the book, recalling his pitch to UNLV's Jerry Tarkanian in 1978. 'I give you $10,000, and a lot of Nike merchandise — shoes, T-shirts, sweat suits, bags — and you do your part: Suggest to the kids that they wear Nikes. Practices, games, tournaments. That's it.' 'That's it?' Tarkanian replies. 'And all I gotta do is suggest that the kids wear free brand-new basketball shoes?' 'That's it,' said Vaccaro, who made the deal and wrote Tarkanian a $2,500 check out of his personal account — money he didn't have at the time. But that was Vaccaro's deal with Nike in those early days: Once he got the handshake from the coach, only then would the company wire him the reimbursement. Some of these stories have been well-known for decades in the world of basketball and sports marketing. But they became more mainstream after Vaccaro was the subject of an ESPN '30 for 30' titled 'Sole Man' and then again in 2023 with the Ben Affleck-directed movie 'Air,' which covers the 1984 pursuit of Jordan by Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) and Nike, which at the time was nothing like the international behemoth it is now. But many of the 'Legends and Soles' anecdotes within those major events have never been written about before, Vaccaro said. Perhaps the most prominent involves a meeting at the 1984 Olympics that Vaccaro had arranged between Nike founder Phil Knight and Billy Packer, who was the most prominent college basketball analyst of his time. According to the book, Knight was still waffling on whether to put a massive deal in front of Jordan, who was originally more inclined to sign with Adidas. Keep in mind, Jordan was the No. 3 NBA draft pick coming out of North Carolina — not exactly a slam dunk to be the best player of his generation, much less all time — even though Vaccaro was convinced he was the guy Nike had to sign. So Vaccaro asked Packer to come to Nike's post-Olympic party and sit down with Knight — not knowing exactly what he'd say about Jordan. But by the end of the meeting, Knight was convinced. "That was the coup de gras,' Vaccaro told me. Why? 'Because (Packer) was neutral,' Vaccaro said. 'Knight wanted someone not involved.' This is important because, over the decades, Knight and even Jordan have disputed the genesis of the most important and lucrative deal in the history of sports marketing, downplaying Vaccaro's involvement. But as Vaccaro started the process of writing his memoir several years ago, he reached out to some of the people involved in these stories and asked for their recollection to see if it matched his own. One of them was Packer, who remembered it just as Vaccaro did. 'I said, 'Billy, would you mind writing this down so I have it? Because no one will believe it if something happens to me,' " Vaccaro told me. 'So he wrote me a letter, and it got lost so he wrote me a second one." Packer died in 2023, by which point Vaccaro had gotten serious again about putting his life story on paper — something his sister-in-law Mary Jo Monakee had encouraged and helped with until she passed away four years ago. At that point, Vaccaro had 150,000 words and 20 hours of tape-recorded monologue that needed to be molded into a readable book. That's when Vaccaro and his wife, Pam, brought in noted journalist and author Armen Keteyian to put it all together — covering his bitter exit from Nike, his ill-fated pursuit of LeBron James on behalf of Adidas, the AAU sneaker wars and ultimately his role in convincing former UCLA star Ed O'Bannon to be the lead plaintiff in an antitrust case against the NCAA. Throughout the book, Vaccaro notes how a series of coincidences and chance meetings defined his path. And while many former basketball players he knew from his camp agreed that the NCAA's monopoly over name, image and likeness rights needed to be challenged in court, none wanted the burden of being the lead plaintiff and all the publicity that would come from taking on amateurism. But just a few days before Vaccaro called on him, one of O'Bannon's colleagues at the car dealership where they worked told him about a video game his son was playing as O'Bannon from UCLA's 1995 championship team. It was O'Bannon's number, his shaved head and even his left hand — and he was getting nothing. Though it has taken many years, multiple court cases and been messy in implementation, Vaccaro's role in correcting that economic wrong is undisputed. What could be a better tribute to a man whose career started at the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic back in Pittsburgh with a simple principle: If you get the best high school talent to play the best high school talent, people will watch. And care. And eventually, everyone will make money. Despite all the controversies and 'sneaker pimp' accusations over his influence in college sports and youth basketball, Vaccaro was always right about that. And in 'Legends and Soles,' it's his turn to tell us exactly how it happened.
