George Plimpton dead at 76

[osprey4]

George Plimpton, who I consider one of the better sports writers of our generation, has died at the age of 76.

Funny that I heard him just the other day on the radio talking about some of his life adventures. He's done it all. One of my favorite sports books in recent memory was his "Curious Case of Sidd Finch", which was a spin-off of an SI article he wrote (published on April Fool's day, early 80's).

[J-Excel]

We should just start one big dead celeb thread.

Paper Lion was good. The movie I mean. I never read any Plimpton books.

[M_Six]

Serious range of talent in this man. Rare indeed.

RIP, George.

I think the dead celeb thread would get fairly lengthy.

[Theophylact]

The world's greatest professional amateur.

Also, of course, editor of Paris Review. I read the first five volumes of the interviews published there (Writers at Work); they were terrific.