Every once in while, you sit back and just wonder what kind of lives sports icons lead. Not the negative things that the news always shows. Not the community service that they do to make themselves look better. Rather, I want to know the reality of their lives.

Rick Reilly is my hero when it comes to this. There are certain people who just know how to write a great article that is rich and compelling, but there is no one better at it then Reilly. His recent article about Hasheem Thabeet is a prime example.

In this article, you get the facts that no one else is talking about. For example, how Thabeet took after his Oxford-educated, architect father who died of diabetes complications when 'Sheem was just 14.

It is special. It is amazing. It makes you not hate professional athletes. Reilly finds a special feature about a player and makes you fall in love with that person. Not to say it is always positive but you rarely see him writing about nasty, boring news.

So this is a salute. Reilly you are a true feature writer. You are the best.  

Can anyone say there is someone better? Who do you read every week?