Men's Health, Notable Nonfiction Book of 2023Winner, Most Original Book of 2024, Non-Obvious Book AwardsMost Memorable Books of 2024, Books & Biceps“You’re mad at me, but I am killing you.”—NBA star Gary Payton“Find the hate.”—NFL star Warren Sapp“Why can’t you be more like Rafi Kohan?”—your mom, probablyWhether in basketball, football, or MMA, athletes talk trash to eac...

Finalist • PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing“An inventive, fast-paced look at what have become our modern shrines in a sports-obsessed society.” —Tom VerducciIn this “addictive” (Publishers Weekly) romp, intrepid sportswriter Rafi Kohan finagles access to our most beloved fields to find out just what makes them tick: from old-timer Wrigley, creakily adjusting to the twenty-first century, to the oversized monstrosity of Jer...

“You’re mad at me, but I am killing you.”—NBA star Gary Payton“Find the hate.”—NFL star Warren Sapp“Why can’t you be more like Rafi Kohan?”—your mom, probablyWhether in basketball, football, or MMA, athletes talk trash to each other—and sometimes to fans—like it’s their job. And in some ways, it is: sports only matter if we decide to care about them. And insulting your opponent, or playing the heel, is probably the fa...