The new issue of the magazine is out, with my story on How Soccer Explains the Sports World. Check it out here. The video highlighting the six photo shoots is lots of fun, too.

Last week, I flew to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to begin reporting for a story on Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. The piece will be part of our College Football Preview issue, out in mid-August, and it will be a good one. I spent time with Ingram on campus and got to witness, first-hand, the incredible golf game he left behind to play high school football. We hit the university driving range and I watched him blast a borrowed driver 330-plus off the tees … in flip flops. It was a quick, but interesting window into the life of a guy fans don’t know much about, aside from his stats and his dad. Hopefully this story will change that. And I hate to break it to you, Florida fans: He made it tough not to leave Tuscaloosa a Mark Ingram fan. Great guy with a great attitude and unwavering will to be the best at everything he does. Bama’s going to have one tough offense to stop this season.

INGRAM, ABOUT TO CRUSH ONE OFF THE TEE …

On Sunday, Lindsay and I sat fieldside (Thanks, Linz and Ben!) for game three in the Yankees three-game return to Dodger Stadium. Our seats were so close to the field–and the Yankees dugout–we were practically in the game. And what a game it was. Down by four in the 8th, the Yanks came back to tie it up and win by two in the 10th. I’ve definitely been spoiled by great games lately.

THE VIEW FROM OUR SEATS. WE WERE PRACTICALLY IN THE GAME …

LINDSAY, RICH THE USHER AND ME …

Now, I lock myself in my apartment for the week and write.