David Halberstam's ESPN.com Page 2 Articles

Due to ESPN.com's Page 2 section changing servers, it is impossible to find comprehensive archival content for the contributions of their two most famed former columnists: Hunter S. Thompson and David Halberstam.

While most of Thompson's Page 2 columns were compiled in a book by the same name as his column, Hey, Rube, Halberstam's have been lost in the vast depths of the world wide web.

Thankfully, I operate a computer that I've had for more than seven years now, and the Internet Explorer has a lot of old bookmarks. Among the bookmarks is a column Halberstam wrote in 2002 entitled "Are You Having Fun Yet, Barry?"

We all know Barry Bonds is a piece of shit, but it's still difficult to find any criticism of the man that doesn't come off as petty or fueled by an agenda. This is where Halberstam differed from most journalists: he had the ability to not just criticize athletes for individual trespasses, but rather he put athletes and sports as a whole into perspective against the grand scheme of life, and its joys and sorrows. He could write in this manner without being trite, or condescending, or contrived.

Thanks to my five-year-old bookmark, I was able to find some of Halberstam's columns on the old Page 2 server. ESPN.com might not have a Halberstam archive, but this here is a start. I believe these are all from 2002. Enjoy:

Are You Having Fun Yet, Barry?
Sports Can Distract, But They Don't Heal
If They Strike, I'm Going Fishin'
Torre Makes A Good Boss
One Splendid Day
Thanks, Soccer, See You In Four Years
Schaap Was A Pioneer...And A Good Guy


In truth, our lives are what we make of them. We work hard and, at the end of the day, in a world that is often mundane, the ability to watch one or two sports games a week is a kind of blessing, a relief from what is often a difficult routine. But if we want any kind of real emotional balance, we must get it from our loved ones, family, friends, co-workers. -David Halberstam