Why a Seattle Man Got Killed Dribbling a Soccer Ball on the Oregon Coast

Richard Swanson
By AARON MESH

When news broke last month that a Seattle Sounders fan was killed by a truck outside Lincoln City, Oregon, while dribbling a soccer ball on the shoulder of Highway 101—on the first and only leg of a journey to the World Cup in Brazil—it inspired double takes and some unfortunate jokes.

It also led to a phenomenal piece on Grantland this week.

In "Dribbling Man," sports reporter Robert Andrew Powell retraces the steps of Richard Swanson, the 42-year-old Seattle man whose quest to kick a soccer ball to South America grew out of unemployment and frustration.

Here's a sample.

Read the entire piece here.

WWeek 2015

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