Better Than Lifting Things: A 44-Year Sportswriting Journey by Glenn Sheeley

Behind the Scenes of a Storied Sports Journalism Career

BETTER THAN LIFTING THINGS offers an engaging, reflective tour through Glenn Sheeley’s 44 years reporting on major sports moments, personalities, and iconic venues. From his early Pittsburgh beat to the open doors of Augusta National, the book blends frontline dispatches with personal storytelling, inviting readers to feel the tempo of game days, newsroom deadlines, and long road trips that shaped a career.

With a foreword by NFL legend Terry Bradshaw, the narrative unfolds with a sense of place—steel mills, stadium kitchens, practice fields, and press boxes—that makes the sports world tangible. You’ll travel from the mid-1970s Steelers’ ascent alongside players like Bradshaw and Greene to Glenn’s later years covering golf, Major Championships, and the golf legends who defined an era. The book also honors the city of Pittsburgh—the Rooney family’s influence, Myron Cope’s colorful broadcasts, and the fierce pride of a community that lives for the game.

What you’ll discover inside

• Deep-dive scenes from 32 straight major championships, including moments with Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
• Firsthand perspectives on Augusta National and Masters Week, plus memorable Open Championship coverage in St. Andrews.
• Insights into the rhythm of a newsroom, the challenges of deadlines, and the joy of reporting on great teams.

In a narrative voice that is respectful, curious, and human, the book highlights the craft of sportswriting as much as the events themselves. Readers will sense the electric atmosphere of big games, the pressure of headlines, and the satisfaction of telling stories that endure beyond the final whistle.

What this book can offer to readers

• A window into how a longtime sportswriter tracked pathways through football, golf, and national headlines.
• Real-life anecdotes about legendary figures—plus the evolving media landscape across decades.
• Inspiration for aspiring journalists and sports fans who crave context, character, and craft in equal measure.

Whether you’re a dedicated Steelers supporter, a golf aficionado, or simply curious about the life behind the headlines, this memoir provides a rich, well-paced portrait of a career lived in the global arena of sports. It invites readers to imagine the conversations, the travels, and the moments that shaped a writer who found his own voice while chronicling others’ triumphs and trials.