The rich seam of sports writing that focuses on capturing what it means to be a hero—or exceptional, or even anti-heroic—is analysed, alongside the dangers of adulatory writing. The nature of fandom is explored through the lens of Ludwig Feuerbach’s philosophy of religion. The landmark writings of Gay Talese are introduced, anticipating later chapters on the New Journalism and the ′American Century′ of sports writing. David Foot’s proposition that good sports writings ″emanate usually from somewhere between the dressing room and the psychiatrist’s couch″ is discussed and endorsed.