“Robert Victor Sullivan, whom you’ve surely never heard of, was the toughest coach of them all. He was so tough he had to have two tough nicknames, Bull and Cyclone, and his name was usually recorded this way: coach Bob “Bull” “Cyclone” Sullivan or coach Bob (Bull) (Cyclone) Sullivan. Also, at times he was known as Big Bob or Shotgun. He was the most unique of men, and yet he remains utterly representative of a time that has vanished, from the gridiron and from these United States.”

Flashbacks from the life of Aaron Hernandez from the person who knew him best, his older brother Jonathan.

Carried away by love—for risk and for each other—two of the world’s best freedivers went to the limits of their sport. Only one came back.

What former NBA coach Monty Williams learned in the wake of losing his wife.

A profile of a previously unknown rookie pitcher for the Mets who dropped out of Harvard, made a spiritual quest to Tibet, and somewhere along the line figured out how to throw a baseball much, much faster than anyone else on Earth.

He’s got 50,000 Instagram followers. He’s been offered several college scholarships. He just played his first high school basketball game.

When Randy Lanier sped to Rookie of the Year honors at the 1986 Indianapolis 500, few knew his racing credentials, let alone his status as one of the nation’s most prolific drug runners, smuggling in tons of marijuana when he wasn’t on the track. Now, after 27 years in prison, Lanier is looking to the road ahead.

At age 17, Bonnie Richardson won the Texas state track team championship all by herself. Then she did it again.

He was supposed to be the Dallas Cowboys’ star running back. Instead, Joseph Randle is in prison.

A profile of the NBA sideline reporter as he battled cancer.

An ousted NBA general manager considers his next step.

With the 428th pick in the 1974 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers selected…one of the most violent killers in U.S. history.

Mykal Riley’s last-second three-pointer kept thousands of fans out of the path of a tornado. Just as remarkable? That Riley was there to take the shot in the first place.

An NBA lottery pick and drug addict tries to rebuild his life.

A profile of Jimmy Connors on the eve of the 1978 U.S. Open. His legendary confidence, honed by his mother since childhood, was in free-fall. (He would go on to win the final in straight sets.)

He set a world record in the 100-yard dash as a teenager. He was mentored by Muhammad Ali and a man who orchestrated the largest bank embezzlement in U.S. history. He was homeless for part of his adult life before making a comeback at age 34. Throughout it all, Houston McTear was really, really fast.

The story of the Refugee Olympic team.

A profile of Ken Griffey, Jr., six years after he last played a baseball game.

On being — and playing for — Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt.

Just before his first NBA game, an 18-year-old LeBron James was asked about the pressure of controlling the combined fortunes of a city, major corporations, and the league. “I can handle it,” he said.

Five years after they leave the league, 60 percent of NBA players have nothing left. In the NFL, it’s closer to 80 percent after just two years. On the economics of professional sports.

In an era when America’s great sportswriters were as big as the athletes they covered, W.C. Heinz may have been the best of the bunch.

On the talent, ego, and late father of Bryant Gumbel.

The Rattlesnake Derby is like a bass-fishing tournament, except you really don’t want a bite.

Kobe Bryant in twilight.