Online sports reporting is a relatively new medium for writers to share statistical recaps, videos, photos, and to tell the great sports stories that all fans are used to reading. Some may argue that the online forum has watered down the content that sports writers create, but the following are testaments to the fact that great storytelling can still be found in online sports reporting. Each is unique, and each has sport and journalistic value.

1. ESPN’s Rick Reilly Tells One Last Story on Joe Paterno

Veteran sports writer Rick Reilly published “Joe Paterno’s True Legacy” this morning on ESPN.com, reminiscing on one last story on one of college athletics’ most influential and famed figures, Joe Paterno. This story will go down as one of Reilly’s best, as it is insightful, emotional, and poignant. Reilly is able to use the story of a former Penn State athlete’s relationship with the Paterno to celebrate the legacy left after the coach’s death on Sunday Jan. 22nd. Reilly reflects on all that Paterno became in his 46 years as head coach of the PSU football team, acknowledging his poor judgement in 2002 with the Sandusky situation, and celebrating everything else, which is admirable, charming, and great. Paterno was a winning coach, dedicated husband, a mentor, and a wholly good man. This bit of sports storytelling reveals that, and asks readers to remember Paterno for what he deserves to be remembered for.

2. ChicagoBusiness.com Blog Writer Reacts to Cubs’ Marketing Initiatives

This story is special for different reasons than most great sport stories. It was published this morning by ChicagoBusiness.com, a sports blog powered by Crain’s Magazine, and the post was written by Ed Sherman. The story addresses reports from the Chicago Cubs that they will begin to implement some new marketing strategies that will change the appearance and layout of the famed Wrigley Field, where the Cubs hold their home games.

The story aspect of the post by Sherman comes into play when he explains the Cubs’ past moves and motives in their marketing schemes from days past. Most hard-news sports writers simply regurgitate stats and quotes, but here, Sherman gives in to his fandom and offers some opinion, calling the addition of an LED JumboTron an “inspiring” move on behalf of the Cubs’ marketing execs. He addresses the true Cubs fan’s obsession with Wrigley Field, and makes comparisons in the physical appearance of the park with that of the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox.

Both of these comparisons add to the greatness of this story because of their respective relevance. The White Sox stadium was mentioned to juxtapose the two Chicago franchises and the physical differences between their stadium’s marketing ploys. The Red Sox’s Fenway Park was brought up not only to hint at the fact that we now have Theo Epstein, but to make a comparison between, arguably, two of the MLB’s most celebrated and revered venues.

3. Life + Times Blog Honors Ali with Picture/Quote Slideshow

The blog Life + Times is a modern collection of blog posts that relate to sports, music, style, technology, culture, and more. On Jan. 17, Life + Times published “Spoken Like a Champion,” which celebrated Muhammad Ali on his 70th birthday. The story elicited by the collection of 7 photos and seven quotes, directly from Ali, show the kind of person he was, the grandeur figure that he became, and remains today.

The story is unique in format and simplistic in style. It provides images with a great spotlight, and the quotes give additional emotion and significance to the subtext story constructed by the occasion. Muhammad Ali, since he first blessed American sport with his presence, has always been a super star. This story tells us that we should never let his legacy fade, for his image and his voice will remain with us forever.

4. Grantland‘s Bill Barnwell bashes coaches, refs, players, and fans alike after Championship Weekend closes in the NFL

Bill Barnwell brings an electrifying and real position to the evaluation of the NFL’s Divisional Championship games this past Sunday. The story, published this morning, provides some play-by-play detail of each games, to support his claim that fans search for scapegoats, and that sometimes coaches are more at fault for failure than players are. As was the case in both of yesterday’s games, Barnwell points out in a very frank and blunt fashion that refs control the pace of the game, and oftentimes make confidential calls that, had they been called differently, would change the outcome of the game.

This great story has a fan as a writer, addressing fandom, criticises them, and rightly so. He points out how fans label players as “Chokers,” until they redeem themselves in some way on or off the field. This type of holistic evaluation is great for the sports world. It keeps us centered, aware, and humble.