Author Archives: paulryden

I have the good fortune to live in Atlanta and cheer for a baseball team that has been extraordinarily successful. But not every baseball fan in America enjoys the thrill of a pennant race year in and year out. Imagine living in Kansas City or Pittsburgh. Fine cities, to be sure, but when it comes […]

I went to the Braves game the other night and spotted Leo Mazzone, the former pitching coach turned sports radio host. He was in the booth set up on the Fan Plaza, holding forth as part of a three-man team on the pre-game show. I had interviewed Leo a few times in my career as […]

We all have guilty pleasures when it comes to television viewing, and I’m not ashamed to say that “Project Runway” is mine. I have no idea why. I’ll just blame my wife and daughter. They got me hooked. But again, why? I’m not a devotee of haute couture; if I were still dating I would […]

Forget your World Cup, forget the LeBron James Hour of Decision. Baseball’s All-Star Game has finally arrived. It is, by far, the best all-star game among any major league sport. And, for better or worse, the winning side gets home field advantage in the World Series. Doesn’t make any sense on many levels, but it […]

There have been many books and articles written about that sentimental round of golf with Old Dad. There’s something so right about it. Like going to your first ballgame with your dad. (August 10, 1962 for me; Giants beat the Dodgers 11-2 at Candlestick Park, not that I remember any details about the game or […]

My most embarrassing moment on live TV wasn’t really all that embarrassing. In fact, it’s provided me with a great way to open up after-dinner speeches since 1976. It’s best spoken, rather than written, so let me say it for you. Get the latest Flash Player to see this player. [Javascript required to view Flash […]

It’s Draft Day in the NBA. And you thought the season was over last week. But I’m okay with it because I like the NBA. I used to cover it as a reporter for TBS and TNT back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. But it always struck me a bit odd back then […]

As a freelancer, guaranteed summer vacations are something I left behind when I struck out on my own. Not that my family and I don’t enjoy some time away. But it takes careful planning and a willingness to turn down potential income for a week or ten days. Any of you freelancers out there have […]

Now that the NBA finals are headed back to the West Coast, are you missing Boston’s parquet floor already? It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. At least it wasn’t when the Celtics played in the original Boston Garden, a sort of museum for the sweat set. I’m a fan of old stadiums and […]