A+sense+IRR

A sense of where you are Ianic Roy Richard

This is one of McPhee's first articles with the New Yorker (if I go by our list it's the second) and it makes me wonder where McPhee got his start. I am thinking that he was writing for the sports section as his first article on the list is Basketball and Beefeaters which I know is about basketball and I am pretty sure that the Headmaster is also related to sports. So if he did indeed get his start in sports, I am wondering how he came to be known as more of an "environmental" journalist.

I picked this article a long time ago and I picked it because I liked basketball. I had read about Bill Bradley previously and I was interested about knowing more about him, he is an interesting man. Not many people go from playing in the NBA to being a senator and attempting a presidential bid.

McPhee's story I think captures him perfectly. This was before his prolific NBA career, this is when he was a stud at Princeton, an Ivy league school not known for dominating any sport. I think the scene where Bradley is practicing his hookshot over and over again is a perfect microcosm for Bradley's entire life. In that moment, McPhee is able to convey to us how hard of a worker Bradley is and how dedicated he is to his craft. McPhee didn't predict he would become a famous politician but in hindsight his demonstration of his work ethic and determination really illustrate how Bradley was able to become successful.

Stories like this one is where I find that McPhee shines the most. He has a particular talent for describing people and bringing their actions to life.