I met Wright Thompson 10 years ago when we were working on the same story for different magazines. The main thing I remember about that trip is a long, hazy night in a hotel bar in Alabama where we talked like we had known each other forever.
Wright was already one of America’s best sportswriters then, and he has only gotten better – his profiles for ESPN bring new insights into people who have been in the spotlight for decades, likeMichael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
Lately, Wright has ventured into some new things. He’s the executive producer of a TV show called TrueSouth, which explores Southern food and culture side-by-side. And he has a new book, already a New York Times best-seller, called “Pappyland,” about the family who created America’s most coveted bourbon – Pappy Van Winkle.
“Pappyland” turns out to be the story of Wright and his family, too. We talked a lot in this episode about running – running away from home, and running back to it, and finally running toward the life you really want. We’ve both been thinking about that a lot lately.
Show notes:
- Wright's book, "Pappyland"
- His collection of stories, "The Cost of These Dreams"
- His TV show, "TrueSouth"
- The Dale Murphy story he mentioned
- Pappy Van Winkle
Other music in this episode:
Lobo Loco, "High Valley Hometown"
Podington Bear, "Delta"
