Outtakes: Dan Patrick (ESPN Book)

Dan Patrick's dry wit, encyclopedic knowledge, and obvious love of sports has made him one of America's most respected sportscasters. Where Patrick shines brightest is as an interviewer; his no-holds-barred style disarms his subjects, who respond with great candor. In these selections from his ESPN The Magazine column, Outtakes, Patrick talks to 25 great athletes, from Barry Sanders to Gary Payton, and Dennis Rodman to Jeff Gordon. Each offers up personal gems; tough guy Brett Favre admits he cries when the Packers lose, Mr. Niceguy Pete Sampras disses Barbra Streisand ("She's what I call a pitching wedge. She looks good from about 150 yards away"), and Julie Foudy encourages her U.S. women's soccer teammates to celebrate by taking off their jerseys and begs Phil Jackson to become coach of the L.A. Lakers (both wishes came true in the months following her interview with Patrick). Even regular readers of Patrick's column in The Magazine will find new material here; each interview is prefaced with his frank reflections on the exchange. As usual, Dan Patrick is en fuego. --M. Stein