Good journalism takes what is important and makes it interesting and relevant to the reader. The same principle applies to all other genres of writing. The first draft of history is a primary source, a firsthand account that provides the scaffolding for all that follows. In the hands of a gifted writer, dry sports statistics give rise to soaring sagas of hope and loss, joy and longing, disappointment and redemption. During our meeting on October 9th, Mark Purdy will teach us how to capture the essence of a breathtaking moment and wield it as a lens to define an era.
For 33 years, beginning in 1984, Mark Purdy’s name was synonymous with San Jose sports. As a columnist for the Mercury News, he covered 14 Olympics, 32 Super Bowls, and many other major events with clever, incisive, and thought-provoking commentary that highlighted South Bay personalities as they competed around the globe. His keen insights earned him recognition as one of America’s top 10 sports columnists by the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal.
Raised in rural Celina, Ohio, Purdy graduated from Northwestern University and worked at the Los Angeles Times and Cincinnati Enquirer before coming to San Jose. A fierce advocate for the 1993 construction of SAP Center, Purdy was also responsible for labeling the Giants’ McCovey Cove in San Francisco and coined the Sharks’ alternate nickname of “Los Tiburones.” His whimsical annual, “Tour de French Fry,” raised funds to buy bicycle helmets for local youth. In 2021, he became the first journalist to be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
When: Monday, October 9th at 6:30 pm
Where: Triton Museum, 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Admission: Member $10, Nonmember $15