Seth Wickersham
Ascension to the greatest heights in your chosen field along with involvement telling one of the sports world’s most compelling stories should put author Seth Wickersham of Anchorage in some rarified air.
Yet, Maddie Wickersham, Seth’s 10-year-old daughter, prefers to think she has her father beat.
“One of Maddie’s favorite accomplishments from when she was younger, she climbed Flattop,” Wickersham said. “She’s quite proud of herself on that one.”
Sure, besting Anchorage’s famed mountain trail is memorable. So is pouring yourself into a passion project as Wickersham accomplished with “It’s Better to be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness.”
The book made its debut on the New York Times Best Seller list Wednesday.
A senior writer with ESPN and 1995 Service High graduate, Wickersham has spent 20 years reporting feature-length and investigative stories about the Patriots and other topics for the professed “Worldwide Leader in Sports.” His work for the huge media conglomerate helped him get to know superstar quarterback Tom Brady, legendary but surly coach Bill Belichick, team owner Robert Kraft and many others.
Wickersham helped introduce Brady – ol’ TB12 – to the masses when New England made its first championship run.
“It was weird,” Wickersham said. “Back then, it felt like we were from the same species. But you could always tell he understood himself like no one else.”
Wickersham said he talked coaching philosophies with Belichick often late at night. He reported on “Deflategate” and “Spygate,” two famous scandals that somewhat tarnished the totality of the Patriots’ six Super Bowl victories.
“A publisher approached me in late 2019 and we talked about me having this big base of insight,” said Wickersham, 45. “I had the notes and transcripts.
“I could do more reporting and make some calls on the parts I didn’t know as well.”
The vaunted Washington Post describes the book as an exploration of the Brady-Belichick relationship and Kraft’s role in the drama “as they win at unprecedented rate, flout rules along the way and leave 31 teams trying to replicate their success. The book also tackles the bigger question: What is the cost of greatness?”
Therein lies why sports fans coast to coast, everywhere, including here in Alaska, should appreciate Wickersham’s storytelling.
“The book is not only about two cultural and athletic icons, but it’s also in my opinion a study of greatness,” the author said. “How it’s achieved and what kind of DNA you have to have to be great.
“That’s what I tried to chase. People who read it will see the themes as being really universal.”
Growing up in Anchorage, Wickersham was part of the Service High football program in the early stages of its late 1990s’ dominance. He always explored other interests.
“The newspaper class was also an elective, and I took part in that for three years,” he said. “I lettered in newspapers which tells you all you need to know.”
He devoured print media, usually having to wait an extra week or so for recent editions of “Sports Illustrated,” “The Sporting News,” “Time” and “Newsweek” to arrive in his mailbox. He admits to growing a little frustrated about the isolation of Alaska.
“Subconsciously, I learned to value finding the story,” he said. “Whether it was a Super Bowl, a presidential debate or Monday Night Football, a timeless quality always existed with those stories.”
After high school, he first studied at Montana State University before transferring to the University of Missouri and its renowned school of journalism. He interned during Anchorage summers at the CBS television affiliate as well as the Anchorage Daily News. He also spent time interning at the Washington Post, where he attended workshops and learned from esteemed journalist Bob Woodward. ESPN scooped up Wickersham fresh out of college and he’s worked there since.
As he’s promoted the book, it’s become clear Wickersham has blossomed into one of the media company’s top NFL storytellers and personalities. He lives near ESPN headquarters in Connecticut with wife Alison Overholt, Maddie and 5-year-old son Grant, and still has family living near Girdwood.
Like with everyone, the COVID pandemic has kept Wickersham from visiting his home state in the last few years. But he’s eager to get back and into the vast backcountry.
“A friend got me into heli-skiing,” Wickersham said. “I can’t wait to get back out there with the Chugach Powder Guides.”