Frank Deford, legendary sportswriter, dies at age 78

Frank Deford, one of the sharpest and most affable sportswriters in American journalistic history, died Sunday at the age of 78. Deford’s decades-long career reached from the daily newspaper to the smartphone screen, covering every medium in between. A Sports Illustrated contributor since 1962, Deford also created memorable television segments for outlets including HBO and CNN. His weekly sports segments on NPR, which he concluded earlier this month, showcased his characteristic wit, insight, curiosity, and compassion.