Better Than Lifting Things: 44 Years of Sportswriting with Steelers, Masters, and Tiger Woods

Behind the Scenes of a 44-Year Sportswriting Journey

BETTER THAN LIFTING THINGS invites readers to ride along from Glenn Sheeley’s early days covering the Pittsburgh Steelers to decades on the golf beat in Atlanta. Feel the rhythm of deadlines, the scent of coffee and ink in crowded press rooms, and the charged atmosphere of game day as stories unfold beneath stadium lights and hotel hallways. This memoir blends wit with honest reflection, offering a window into the craft, the travel, and the relationships that shaped a long career in sports media.

The book delivers more than anecdotes; it chronicles a life spent in close proximity to iconic moments and larger-than-life personalities. Expect vivid memories of press conferences, cross-country flights, and late-night rewrites that made those headlines feel personal. It’s a work that respects the stakes of major events while celebrating the people who bring them to life—coaches, players, editors, and fellow writers alike.

A Storied Road Map

The author reflects on a Pittsburgh era when the Steelers dominated the mid-70s, sharing scenes with Bradshaw, Greene, Lambert, and others amid the city’s passionate sports culture. The narrative then shifts to Atlanta, where 26 years on the golf beat intersect with majors, Masters Sundays, and headlines drawn across the country. It highlights 20 Masters trips at Augusta National, including Nicklaus’ memorable 1986 win at age 46, and a long run covering Open Championships on historic links like St Andrews.

• firsthand access to pivotal events and legendary venues
• intimate portraits of players, coaches, and sportscasters
• a warm, humorous lens on a demanding profession

Two Offbeat Perspectives on a Storied Career

Readers glimpse the pace of a bustling newsroom and the quiet intensity of championship rounds. A foreword by NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw adds cross-sport resonance and a sense of camaraderie across disciplines.

• behind-the-scenes chatter from iconic franchises and moments
• insights into golf legends and major championships, including Tiger Woods
• an affectionate portrait of a life spent on deadline and travel

As Red Smith famously quipped that sportswriting is “a lot better than lifting things,” this memoir leans into that spirit—celebrating craft, resilience, and the moments that make a career in sports media uniquely rewarding. It invites readers to savor sport as a shared experience, a thread connecting cities, fans, and generations.