So, now it begins. After 8 years working on Strong Inside, I'll begin speaking about it in earnest next week. First up is an Oct. 10 appearance at Nashville's Southern Festival of Books, where I'll be paired up with the New York Times' Clay Risen ... [Continue Reading]
Don’t Quit My Day Job: Q&A With Gorkana
One of the challenges of working on Strong Inside over the last eight years has been balancing the time spent on the book with time spent with family and at my 'day job' as a partner at McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations in Nashville. In this ... [Continue Reading]
The Popdose Interview
Popdose.com's DW Dunphy conducted a fantastic Q&A with Andrew Maraniss on Strong Inside, asking a wide range of questions about the book. Check it out for yourself here. ... [Continue Reading]
50 Years Later, A Celebration of Nashville’s Most Significant Game
On Jan. 4, 1965, Perry Wallace’s Pearl High School team took on Father Ryan High School at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. The day was significant – on that same day in Washington, D.C., president Johnson outlined his “Great Society” vision in his ... [Continue Reading]
Words of Wisdom from Perry Wallace on The Nexus of Sports and Domestic Violence
One of the most fulfilling parts about working on Strong Inside over the last eight years has been the chance to interact regularly with Perry Wallace. We talked or exchanged emails hundreds of times on topics related to the book, but also spoke ... [Continue Reading]
SEC Pioneer Dillard Runs for Office in Michigan
Godfrey Dillard, who joined Perry Wallace as the first African Americans to play SEC basketball when both suited up for the Vanderbilt freshman team in 1966-67, has announced his candidacy for Secretary of State in the state of Michigan. Dillard grew ... [Continue Reading]
Bob Warren, Teammate Who Asked for Forgiveness, Passes Away
I was saddened to receive an email from Perry Wallace today informing me that his former teammate Bob Warren has passed away. After his playing career at Vanderbilt, Warren played for a decade in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and then ... [Continue Reading]
Perry Wallace Comments on Biography
For the first time, Perry Wallace speaks publicly about Strong Inside. http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/columnist/mike-organ/2014/08/10/book-describes-perry-wallace-struggles/13835561/ ... [Continue Reading]
Some Backstory to a Cool Picture
As a high school senior, Perry Wallace was driven up to Louisville, Ky., by a Cardinals booster living in Nashville to watch U of L’s star players Butch Beard and Wes Unseld. I describe the scene in the book, and Perry shared this photo of his ... [Continue Reading]
Strong Inside Featured on WNSR
Strong Inside was the focus of the full-hour of WNSR's Saturday morning show devoted to Vanderbilt sports. Host Tim Scott and two of his interns led a conversation in which we touched on everything from the civil rights activities in Nashville during ... [Continue Reading]