Wright Thompson

Wright Thompson is a highly acclaimed author, journalist and sportswriter for ESPN. His work has appeared in a variety of magazines, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, GQ, and the Oxford American. He is known for his thoughtful, engaging writing and his ability to capture the human side of the stories he tells.

Wright Thompson was born in Mississippi in 1978 and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He began his career as a sports writer, covering the University of Mississippi's basketball team and other collegiate sports. In 2002 he moved to New York, where he worked as an editor and reporter for several magazines, including Sports Illustrated.

In 2008, Wright Thompson joined ESPN as a senior writer. He quickly gained prominence for his hard-hitting yet engaging stories on sports and the people involved with them. His signature style brought both humor and insight to his reports, along with a unique perspective on the games that he wrote about.

His most popular series, “30 for 30,” has featured stories on some of the most iconic figures in sports, such as Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and Jackie Robinson. He has also written pieces about lesser-known figures in the world of sports, like South African rugby player Chester Williams and Cuban boxer Joel Casamayor. In 2016, he won an Edward R. Murrow Award for his story about a man who built his presence in the New Orleans Saints’ fan community during its darkest days following Hurricane Katrina.

In addition to his work in journalism, Wright Thompson has authored four books. His book “The Pitcher and the Diva: The Improbable Friendship of Satchel Paige and Billie Holiday” tells the story of the unlikely friendship between two African American legends—Satchel Paige, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, and Billie Holiday, one of the most iconic singers of the twentieth century. His next book, “The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business,” is a collection of stories about athletes, coaches, and other figures in the sports world. His most recent work, “The Imperial Highway,” is an account of the author’s own travels through Mississippi and the sites, stories, and people that make the place so special.

For his work as a journalist, Wright Thompson has received numerous accolades, including Magazine Writer of the Year from the National Sports Journalism Awards, as well as a Pulitzer Prize nomination. He has been lauded for his strong and passionate storytelling, as well as his ability to capture the emotional aspects and human elements of the stories he covers.

Wright Thompson’s work is truly inspiring. His writing vividly captures the emotional power of the sports world, and is a testament to his commitment to giving voice to athletes, coaches, and other figures in the world of sports. He is a master storyteller, and his work is sure to continue to captivate and engage readers for many years to come.