Grant Wahl leaves the world a sterling example of how to work with compassion, vigor, and humanity. And how to live life that way, too. jon_wertheim on the former Sports Illustrated senior writer, colleague, and friend
A titan in the industry, he will be remembered for more than just his coverage’s passion and vigor.In the summer of 1996, an amiable kid from Kansas with the physique of a car antenna walked into. My new office mate came bearing a bag of Krispy Kreme donuts for us to share, a Kansas ball cap, a quiet confidence and an evangelist’s passion for soccer.
Grant’s first World Cup for SI was 1998 in France; and he returned with giddy stories, his faith in his sport more fervent than ever. He was no less excited the following year when the U.S. women did their thing. For almost 25 years at SI—and just as critically the last three years on his own—Grant has covered the sport with vigor, rigor and affection. He covered people and places, not just the vectors of the ball. He devoted time and attention to men and to women. The game domestically and abroad. Even for those he couldn’t fully convert, we came to appreciate the sport more because of him. More important, it was hard not to be inspired by his approach to the work.
Grant’s other great love , was Céline. They met at Princeton, married in 2001 and never left each other’s side. As proud as Grant was of his sports ascent , he was more proud of The Doc—as he called her—and the life-altering, humanity-bettering work she did, especially during COVID-19. Grant’s loss is just that: a loss. An unfillable hole in the lineup—for journalism, and not least for humanity. If he were 30 or 40 years older, we could tidily say “he died doing what he loved” and find solace there. That seems to ring hollow today. Grant leaves us a sterling example of how to work with compassion, and principle; and how to live with it, too.
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