Charlie Pierce shows off his Heisman pose and discusses other news involving athletes and large sums of money…like the mega-contract for new Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford.

Based on the cover of the 2010 edition of The Best American Sports Writing – and the choice of Peter Gammons as guest editor – you’d be forgiven for thinking this year’s installment of the series is baseball-heavy. But Bill Littlefield says the book has plenty to offer for fans of all sports.

The NBA recently bought the debt-ridden New Orleans Hornets franchise. New arena plans fell through for the Sacramento Kings, the only team in the league drawing smaller crowds than New Orleans. Could Louisville, Kentucky be the new home of Chris Paul or Tyreke Evans? Bill discusses the possibility with Dan Klepal of The Courier-Journal.

When the NASCAR Hall of Fame opened in May it expected about 800,000 visitors in its first year. But projections now have dropped to about half that number and the hall is losing money. WFAE’s Scott Graf reports from Charlotte on why the attraction has fallen off the pace.

Philadelphia Magazine columnist Michael Bradley thinks Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is the best player in college football. But when Bradley voted for the Heisman Trophy, he didn’t include Newton on his list – and he’s not the only one. Bradley explains his decision to Bill.

The 2011 class that will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame includes the “baddest man on earth” and a man who wasn’t really a boxer at all. Bill Littlefield wonders if baseball’s big names who are shut out from Cooperstown could do better by stepping into the ring.

Only A Game’s Senior Producer Gary Waleik shares his thoughts on this week’s musical selections.

For over 40 years, Frederick Wiseman has been making documentaries about almost everything. He has tackled high schools, ballet, government and the military, but never sports until now. His new film, Boxing Gym, focuses on a small gym in Austin, Texas with an interesting and diverse clientele.

Charlie Pierce has little sympathy for Clevelanders still fuming about the departure of LeBron James. But he’ll take it easy on a long-suffering city right? Not quite.

For Jane Leavy, Mickey Mantle was a childhood hero. For young Bill Littlefield, Mantle was the second-best centerfielder in New York. Bill speaks to Leavy about her new biography of the Mick, The Last Boy, and shares his own memories of the troubled superstar.