James S. Hirsch

Oct 3, 2024 | wsj.com | James S. Hirsch

Guzzled at bars, swigged at sporting events and sipped at parties, beer is the go-to lubricant for social gatherings. It was once much more. Tribal societies made beer for weddings, funerals and harvest festivals. In medieval times, customers purchased beer to support young married couples or struggling neighbors.

Aug 8, 2024 | wsj.com | James S. Hirsch

It all started with an anonymous tip. In early 2001, investigators at the FBI began following up on a call that claimed a popular promotion at McDonald’s was beset by fraud. The promotion itself, which was based on the board game Monopoly, promised $1 million prizes to top winners. The informant said that three of the winners were related and had all received their winning game pieces from an “Uncle Jerry.” Checking public records, the agents discovered that all three lived in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jun 19, 2024 | bostonglobe.com | James S. Hirsch

In October 2016, I called Willie Mays at his home. My biography of him had been published in 2010, and I would still call him on occasion for small talk. In this case, I asked him about the World Series, which had just begun between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. “So, Willie, who you rooting for?”“Oh, no!” he bellowed in a deep, gravelly voice. “I’m not going to answer that question!”I already knew the answer. Willie was a National Leaguer, and he was rooting for the Cubs.

Mar 15, 2024 | wsj.com | James S. Hirsch

One was a pious taskmaster from rural Indiana who quoted Benjamin Franklin for moral guidance. Another was a wary teenager from New York City whose reading of Malcolm X inspired his civil-rights militancy. The third was a taciturn hippy from San Diego whose devotion to the Grateful Dead affirmed his rebellious spirit. They were an unlikely trio, but together, John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton created one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.

Jan 7, 2024 | msn.com | James S. Hirsch

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