DAN McGRATH
Dan McGrath brings three decades of journalism experience to the Chicago News Cooperative, including more than 12 years as sports editor, associate managing editor and senior writer for the Chicago Tribune.
Before joining the Tribune, Dan worked for newspapers in Freeport, Ill.; Reno, Nev.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Francisco; Philadelphia; and New York. While he has worked most of his career in sports, he also has been a media critic, national correspondent, metro columnist and book reviewer.
Sports sections that he has edited have won more than a dozen top-10 awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors Association. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for spot news coverage in 1992 and for commentary in 1993. A Chicago native, he is the co-author or editor of five books on the city’s sports teams, including the best-selling "Out of the Blue" on the 2003 Chicago Cubs.
Recent Contributions
by DAN McGRATH | Dec 18, 2009
A matchup of former national champions, Saturday’s college basketball game between Loyola and the University of San Francisco was a low-key affair — only 2,638 fans turned out to see Loyola triumph, 66 to 63, and there was no local television coverage. The low turnout underscores the waning influence of Roman Catholic schools throughout college
by DAN McGRATH | Dec 18, 2009
June 15, 1964, is a date that lives in infamy for the Cubs. That was the day they traded Lou Brock and two prospects to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Ernie Broglio and two throw-ins. You know the story: Brock, three days short of his 25th birthday at the time, went on to a
by DAN McGRATH | Dec 13, 2009
Ryne Sandberg moved closer last week to his goal of managing the Cubs when he was promoted to the highest rung on their minor league ladder, Triple-A Iowa. The Hall of Fame second baseman sought the Cubs’ job when Dusty Baker was fired after the 2006 season, but Jim Hendry, the general manager, told him
by DAN McGRATH | Dec 11, 2009
Alex Rodriguez fought back tears as he sat in the living room of his tidy Cicero bungalow. He was talking about his brother, Paco, who suffered fatal brain injuries in a boxing match in Philadelphia last month. “I was eight-and-a-half years older than Paco, but he was the man I wanted to be,” Alex said
by DAN McGRATH | Dec 4, 2009
As the Blackhawks returned from a 12-day, six-game Western trip this week, Rocky Wirtz, the team chairman, was uncharacteristically grumpy two hours before the puck dropped for the game Tuesday night against Columbus at the United Center. The taxing trip had been a rousing success — four wins in the six games, including a 7-2
by DAN McGRATH | Nov 22, 2009
In 2006, when his Chicago Bears were riding a stout defense and strong running game to a surprise Super Bowl appearance, Coach Lovie Smith disdained comparisons to the Bears’ 1985 forebears, almost scornfully. It was time, he suggested, for the franchise and its fans to put those memories aside and forge a new identity. Wow.
by DAN McGRATH | Nov 20, 2009
The Chicago Bulls’ record on their annual “circus trip” in the 10 seasons since Michael Jordan retired was 10-56 before their game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. With jugglers, clowns and animal acts from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey filling the United Center, the Bulls have embarked on the annual road trip
