Madelyn Cain: has written for USA Today and the Utne Reader, as well as for stage and television. Currently she teaches nonfiction in the Master of Professional Writing program at USC. Cain also lectures on women's issues and conducts writing seminars. She has been a guest on "Anderson Cooper 360," NPR and CNN.
Steven Travers: is a USC graduate and ex-professional baseball player. He is the author of the best-selling book "Barry Bonds: Baseballs Superman." He is also the author of "The USC Trojans: College Football's All-Time Greatest Dynasty" and "One Night, Two Teams: Alabama vs. USC and the Game that Changed the Nation."
The following is my interpretation of the panel discussion and probably contains plenty of errors.
Cain: Wrote a book about Laffit Pincay. Ran into him at a party. He has the most wins of all time. He was forced to retire due to a broken neck. He had a personal push, a passion for riding. He is an athlete who pushes the human being.
He had a wife who committed suicide at home, with their two kids there. She suffered from depression.
Personal triumph was winning the Kentucky Derby. His mother couldn't watch the race. Mother met him at the airport.
He had a very strict diet. Coffee in the morning along with an egg. Later he'd have a small steak and broccoli. He raced on 600 calories a day. Doctor said he'd kill himself so he worked with a nutricionist to vary his diet.
As he was coming close to breaking the all time win record, he was accused of throwing a race. The FBI called him. He took a lie detector test and failed. His wife was the only other person who knew about this investigation. He was eventually cleared, but it still took away from a joyful event.
A great story. Rags to riches story.
Travers: Always enjoyed sports history. A story about a person, but tries to marry subject matter with the city. He wrote a book about Tom Seaver, who isn't particularly an exciting person, but has an exciting history. He came out of high school without being considered a prospect. He joined the marine corps. He grew three inches. He decided to try out for the baseball team at Fresno City College.
Seaver was a perfectionist even now as he builds wine cellars. A very structured person in terms of dress, marriage, family. Was faithful to his wife. This structure gave him his mental edge.
His pitching style was meant to take stress off his arm and shoulder.
He had a sense of humor. Was friendly with opponents, but come game day he dressed like a Wall Street Banker -- as if he was going to work.
A story about a kid who wasn't that great of a baseball player, but developed later into a great one.
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