Bill Lyon: A Giant Retires

Excerpt:

How about the rest of us?

Civility seems to have gone out of style. We're just not very nice to one another. Courtesy is seen as a weakness. And everyone shouts. And when everyone shouts, then after a while no one listens.

This is why he was a giant: sports writing for him wasn't merely about sports, it was about life.

I particularly enjoyed columns where he would intersperse adages. Among the most memorable to me was: A rut is a shallow grave. I don't know if that was his or if he was quoting someone else, but the wisdom encapsulated in those few words has been a challenge to me not to find comfort in the tried-and-true, but to seek new challenges.

The civility evident in his writing was matched by his graciousness in answering every e-mail I ever sent him with a thoughtful reply. Godspeed to you, Mr. Lyon, and thanks for a lifetime of sharing your insightfulness.

Other appreciations:
Bob Ford
Steven A. Smith
Phil Sheridan
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