I’ve never subscribed to Sports Illustrated magazine. As a result, I totally missed the Rick Reilly era, which, in all honesty, was my error.

Thankfully, my brother let me borrow one of Reilly’s books, Hate Mail from Cheerleaders and Other Adventures from the Life of Reilly.

This book is a collection of columns from “The Life of Reilly,” first published in Sports Illustrated. Reilly says this about his style…

“I don’t write about sports. I write about people who happen to be in sports. I write about human joy, sorrow, religion and politics as it weaves itself through sports.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. His stories make my eyes, and, in some cases, my heart smile. On more than one occasion, I’d finish reading one of his columns in this book, grin and say, “good one” out loud. My brother and I recommend checking out this book (right, Joe?). Or, at the very least, reading Reilly’s June 20, 2005 column, Strongest Dad in the World, if you haven’t already.

He’s a clever one.

I suppose I should start reading ESPN now since Reilly is writing over there. I wouldn’t want to miss out on another word from “one of the funniest humans on the planet,” according to the New York Daily News.

Now I Reilly must go check my mail and see if there’s any hate mail from cheerleaders or (gasp!) Fitness & Spicereaders!