The best things I wrote in 2017

6 min readDec 17, 2017

I wrote a bunch of stuff in 2017. At the end of every year I like to put the best pieces in one place, because otherwise they get swallowed up by the internet and I can’t find them. And you never know, maybe someday I’ll have to prove to my future grandchildren I used to do things besides knit, drink white wine, and watch videos of people frosting cakes on the internet. Even though I already do a lot of that, anyway (here’s my list from 2016).

I’m grateful to everyone who trusted me to tell their stories this year, and to everyone who read them. With each piece, I try to present something entirely new, or articulate something people are feeling but haven’t quite put into words, or at least make a few people laugh. I’m not sure how often I succeed at any of that, but I’m grateful that subjects and readers give me a chance to try. This job is an incredible privilege.

Go Pats.

LONGER FEATURES

The bloodlines of America run through the Kentucky Derby
I went to the Kentucky Derby and wrote about what divides America. This was the most nervous I’ve ever been heading into reporting something. I landed in Louisville with only a very slight idea as to what I was looking for, and this came together as I went places and talked to people. Being open to whatever narrative presents itself as you poke around often pays off, however terrifying that not knowing is at the time.

Racing the past in Jonesport, Maine
I’ve wanted to write this story about the lobster boat races in Downeast Maine since I was 18 years old. I’m thrilled that I was able to do so, and also take a video team up with me and produce a short doc on it. Shoutout to Adam Porter (sorry we almost died on a boat) and Alex Hawley at SB Nation, who made a beautiful film and stayed in Maine with me for seven days thanks to weather delays even though we were only supposed to be there for three.

Can NASCAR save itself when Dale Jr. is gone?
I went to Bristol, Tennessee, and wrote about the challenges NASCAR faces with Dale Earnhardt Jr. retiring. I was pretty aware of being a woman alone in the field (literally, at one point I was in a field by myself surrounded by drunk men) this time. But it was worth it, and I think actually made the story stronger.

Matt DiBenedetto wants to be the future of NASCAR. Now he needs the cash.
I wrote a profile of a young driver who has promise and talent but lacks the millions of dollars he needs to really succeed in the sport.

(I realized that four of the features I wrote this year have to do with racing and going super fast…maybe there’s a metaphor there. Maybe there isn’t.)

The day Chris Long gave a season of NFL check to charity
The Eagles’ defensive end Chris Long was kind enough to let me hang around on the day he announced he’d be donated his entire season’s salary to programs supporting educational equality. In a really shitty year, it was wonderful to get to tell the story of someone who is trying to make a difference in a truly constructive way.

College football at Fenway makes no sense and it’s the best
When I saw that UMass and UMaine were playing football against each other at Fenway, I felt like someone had designed an event for me to write about. A ridiculous thing, featuring teams from the two places I grew up, in my favorite stadium in the world? Yes, please. So I went, and found it pointless and totally charming.

The Patriots have a Trump problem
Got a lot of shit for this one.

VIGNETTES/REPORTED PIECES/WHATEVER THESE THINGS ARE

I went to a James Dolan concert the night of the NBA draft, and when Dolan came out wearing a top hat, sunglasses, and scarf, I started cry-laughing in the front row. He then went on the record with me about how he doesn’t care to be involved with the basketball team he owns.

I went to the Westminster Dog Show, which was the best thing to report ever in the history of reporting.

At the Super Bowl, I found a family of refugees in Houston the week Trump announced his Muslim travel ban. I arrived in Houston the day after Trump announced he was banning travel from seven different Muslim countries. I felt it was really important to write something about how welcoming the city has been to refugees and how vital many of these people are to the city, especially when it comes to putting on an event like the Super Bowl. Grateful to the organizations and families who let me spend time with them for this.

Speaking of the Super Bow, I also drove around Houston with Paul Wall one afternoon and then (full disclosure) wrote about it very hungover at 6 a.m., which felt appropriate. I also wrote about how Matt Ryan listens to Mumford and Sons while the rest of the Falcons listen to Migos, Edelman’s amazing catch, and the first woman NFL referee Sarah Thomas.

I met Rachel and Bryan after writing about The Bachelorette all season and it was super weird.

I interviewed Marlins Man (oh boy) at MLB All Star weekend in Miami.

Back in New York, I also asked Noah Syndergaard a bunch of really dumb questions about hot sauce.

I went to Disney on Ice and cried, and found the NFL fan experience in Times Square kind of alarming.

My favorite guy at my coffee shop got a Tim Couch tattoo, so I tracked down Tim Couch.

I spent time with the kids in the NCAA mascot costumes and found them very sweet and earnest.

WEIRD STUFF/HUMOR PIECES

I recapped Wrestlemania because I’d never seen a minute of pro wrestling before, and this blew my mind.

I’d also never seen Air Bud, so I watched it and wrote about it 20 years after it came out.

I conducted a comprehensive study of the question, Is it sports?

My coworker drew a picture of me that was so bad I couldn’t stop laughing.

I wrote an article called Hot dogs < 3, and after I published it I looked up and thought, “What the hell am I doing with my life?”

I have strong thoughts about stadium proposals and wondered Why does Derek Jeter have so much hand sanitizer in his office?

I went down a rabbit hole of trying to figure out what Tom Brady’s Instagram posts mean (and again) (and again) (and again) and unsuccessfully tried to interview Carrie Underwood about the Sunday Night Football song.

COLUMNS/ESSAYS

I wrote about my search for a Charlotte Hornets jersey and then an internet stranger sent me one!!!!

I don’t blame Durant for going to the Warriors and I don’t care that the Red Sox cheated and I still hate the Yankees and baseball is cruel.

I fell asleep during the World Series and was mad about it, and also I love this Celtics team so much.

I wrote about Sufjan Steven’s new Tonya Harding song.

I also did this video (I mean, I didn’t edit it, but I wrote it and was in it):

Off SB NATION:

I wrote about how Great Lash Mascara sucks for Racked.

I wrote a profile of the artist David Driskell for Down East Magazine.

For GQ, I detailed what your favorite La Croix flavor says about you.

Also, here’s an interview I did about my career so far. This year was…kind of nuts.