Don McRae
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Don McRae
@donmcrae.bsky.social
700 followers 99 following 190 posts
Author of 14 books about fighters, surgeons,
trial lawyers, South Africa and real life. https://www.donaldmcrae.com/

Interviewer for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/profile/donaldmcrae

https://www.donaldmcrae.com/
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donmcrae.bsky.social
I really liked this @jackimmcrae.bsky.social
jackimmcrae.bsky.social Jack McRae @jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 3d
This week I watched chess. It was strange to go to the Emirates and not watch #AFC, but the sport played in silence was captivating.

Not able to truly understand the moves of elite players in the London Chess Classic, watching their emotions became my fascination.
jackimmcrae.com/2025/12/04/t...
TWIW: Fascinating tension grips the Emirates at London Chess Classic
This week I watched chess. It is unusual to walk across the Ken Friar Bridge to a sporting event at the Emirates Stadium and not be among a sea of red, chanting in unison. On a blustery day in nort…
jackimmcrae.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I went to Liverpool to interview the mighty Molly McCann. “I’m a scouse female gay athlete who supports Everton – it’s like my cards are marked already" she joked while showing me all the heart and grit that defines her as she returns to boxing...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Molly McCann: ‘I’m a scouse female gay athlete who supports Everton – it’s like my cards are marked already’
Britain’s most successful female UFC fighter tells Donald McRae why she won’t box in Saudi Arabia but is on an express train to a world title in the ring
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks Declan Ryan for making The Last Bell one of the Daily Telegraph's Sports Books of The Year...[1/2]
November 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks Boris Becker for such an open interview about the lessons he learned in prison, as well as the terrifying moments, how studying Stoicism helped him, coaching Novak Djokovic, his powerful new book with Tom Fordyce and becoming a dad again at the age of 58

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Boris Becker: ‘Whoever says a prison life is easy is lying – it’s a real punishment’
Former Wimbledon champion tells Donald McRae about how taking accountability for his crimes allowed for rehabilitation, watching Novak Djokovic from his cell and the new era of brotherhood in the spor...
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Don McRae
jackimmcrae.bsky.social
This week I watched golf. The ANNIKA at Pelican is trying to be more than just an LPGA event & this year, invited the 461st best US junior and President Donald Trump's granddaughter to make her pro debut.

Unsurprisingly, Kai Trump was not good enough.
jackimmcrae.com/2025/11/18/t...
TWIW: Kai Trump’s debut sends women’s golf into the rough
President Donald Trump had claimed his granddaughter Kai was ‘really good’ at golf before she finished last in her LPGA debut. Photograph: Heute.at Creative Commons This week I watched …
jackimmcrae.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are really doing this Judgment Day shtick....

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Money lured Anthony Joshua to circus fight but he could really hurt Jake Paul | Donald McRae
The so-called Judgment Day fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will generate millions of dollars and attract huge ratings, but leave boxing a little more broken
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
In the early hours of this morning Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn spoke to some of us. There was a complicated kind of joy for Benn, and a pretty dignified pain for Eubank Jr. There was relief, too, in the fact that they were both all out of animosity...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Benn battles demons and doubters to emerge triumphant against Eubank Jr
Victory was driven by resentment after defeat in their first bout and towards his doubters after failed drug tests in 2022
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Don McRae
donmcrae.bsky.social
The usual blur of a live report....even if this one was easier to write as Conor Benn dominated and almost stopped a diminished Chris Eubank Jr. Benn said the saga with the Eubanks is over. I hope so. Time for Junior to find a life away from the ring

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Conor Benn overpowers Chris Eubank Jr to seal dominant rematch victory
Conor Benn won a one-sided unanimous decision by scores of 119-107, 116-110, 118-108 against an out-of-sorts Chris Eubank Jr to level their rivalry
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:05 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
The usual blur of a live report....even if this one was easier to write as Conor Benn dominated and almost stopped a diminished Chris Eubank Jr. Benn said the saga with the Eubanks is over. I hope so. Time for Junior to find a life away from the ring

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Conor Benn overpowers Chris Eubank Jr to seal dominant rematch victory
Conor Benn won a one-sided unanimous decision by scores of 119-107, 116-110, 118-108 against an out-of-sorts Chris Eubank Jr to level their rivalry
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:05 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I know life is a circle, and all that, but this feels ridiculous. Tonight, 15 November 2025, I'm at Benn-Eubank II. On 15 November 2024, I was in Texas for this shitshow: Jake Paul v 58 year-old Mike Tyson. These must be the glory days they keep telling us about

www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/n...
Jake Paul beats Mike Tyson in manufactured mismatch as Father Time comes calling
Jake Paul won a unanimous decision by two scores of 79-73 and a 80-72 shutout as the former world champion was unable to land telling blows
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:41 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thirty-five years ago this month Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank lit a fire in me which led to Dark Trade. Tonight is the rematch between their sons and boxing is shunted further to the margins with Saudi control, Dazn p-p-v, forced feuds and a desperate last dance...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
In the name of their fathers: Eubank v Benn began and ended a heady era of British boxing
Their dads lit a fire that consumed me but Eubank Jr v Conor Benn embodies all that has gone wrong with the Dark Trade
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I know it will make a lot of money for the promoters and fighters but it's hard to get excited about Benn v Eubank Jr II. The main point of intrigue seems to be whether a weight-cut and the erosion of time will cost Chris Eubank Jr - who won clearly last time....

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Ill-advised Benn-Eubank Jr rematch another example of boxing’s cynicism
The gripping contest between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr in April hurt both men who wouldn’t be in the ring again if it weren’t for their fathers’ fights
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks to Susie Wolff for talking so openly about her long, hard struggle from kart racing to F1 testing, overcoming prejudice and inequality, to become one of the most influential voices in motorsport - whether heading the F1 Academy or taking on the FIA.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Susie Wolff: ‘I can be very punchy and pragmatic. If I have to fight for something, I’ll fight’
Susie Wolff tells Donald McRae how close she came to her F1 debut, her quest to produce female drivers and a frightening knock on her hotel room door by a powerful man in the sport
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:19 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Of course I am biased...but I think this is very good
November 8, 2025 at 10:43 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I owe so much to @amandakelley.bsky.social for her incredible painting of Tyson Fury & to Craig Fraser & his design team for the cover of The Last Bell. There is a public vote for sports book cover of the year. If you have a minute, please vote for Amanda & Craig
news.williamhill.com/judge-a-book...
Judge A Book By Its Cover
One vote per person, 18+ please gamble responsibly
news.williamhill.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:58 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I really enjoyed talking to Joe Cole about his identity, fame, money, being a prodigy, Max Dowman, Mikel Arteta, his own surprise dream to become England manager, changes in football, his excellent book with Sam Wallace, Sunday League football and gardening.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Joe Cole: ‘Anything which generates the money you get in football means the parasites come’
Former Chelsea and England maverick tells Donald McRae about being portrayed as spoilt at 16, Max Dowman’s future, his admiration for Mikel Arteta, and a big dream of managing England
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
It was a treat to interview Mark Wood about the Ashes - from intense games in the garden with his dad being Australia and little Woody being England to the real thing starting this month. We also spoke about his past experiences in Australia and injuries

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Mark Wood: ‘We’re going to the Ashes with an Australia blueprint to put their batters under pressure’
The fast bowler tells Donald McRae that England have confidence and belief as he prepares for what could be his final series against the old foe
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:14 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I liked working on such an uplifting feature on Grenfell Athletic and how, after the fire which took the lives of 72 people, Rupert Taylor formed a football club to help Paul Menacer, Joseph John and other survivors. They found a way out of grief and loss...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
‘They saved my life’: Grenfell Athletic create hopeful future despite pain of loss in tower fire
A new documentary shows community unity helping a football club rise against a backdrop of a tragedy-hit building that is only now coming down
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I interviewed Mary Earps in Paris. It was raw and revealing: bullied as a girl, overcoming drink and eating problems, taking on Nike, winning the Euros, saving a World Cup final penalty, Hannah Hampton, Sarina Wiegman, coming out and finding peace in Paris

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Mary Earps: ‘I don’t look back with bad blood. It worked out well for everybody’
The former England goalkeeper tells Donald McRae the full story behind her international retirement, her problems with eating and alcohol, and why she’d struggle on The Traitors
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:08 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Mary Earps extract: ‘I felt sick and anxious. Then came the words I’d waited 12 months to hear’ www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Mary Earps extract: ‘I felt sick and anxious. Then came the words I’d waited 12 months to hear’
In an exclusive extract from her autobiography, the goalkeeper reveals the painful road to her shock England exit
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I interviewed Mary Earps in Paris this week. She gave me a brilliant interview, published online and in The Guardian tomorrow. The attached story about her, Hannah Hampton and Sarina Wiegman is only one part of tomorrow's interview. Book serialised in Guardian

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Mary Earps says she told Wiegman she was rewarding Hampton’s ‘bad behaviour’
Mary Earps says she protested to the Lionesses head coach, Sarina Wiegman, that ‘bad behaviour is being rewarded’ when rival goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was restored to the England side
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:25 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
It means a lot to be on the shortlist of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, alongside some very good writers.
October 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks Steven Finn for being so honest, open and impressive as he discussed his highs and lows in cricket, facing depression, finding the resilience to come back, England's chances of winning the Ashes this time and his dream of becoming the voice of TMS

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...
Steven Finn: ‘Saying I was not selectable was clumsy language and it damaged me’
In his candid new book, the former England fast bowler talks about the lasting mental turmoil that ended his 2013-14 Ashes tour
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
donmcrae.bsky.social
I wasn't at the fight last night but the extraordinary Fabio Wardley show rolls on. Trailing on the scorecards, again, he stopped Joseph Parker to complete another stunning comeback victory. Our interview ran earlier this week and he shared his story in detail

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...
‘My Netflix title would be white collar to world champion’: Fabio Wardley on his boxing journey | Donald McRae
Former Ipswich academy footballer Fabio Wardley fights Joseph Parker on Saturday and he tells Donald McRae he hopes victory will secure a title shot at Oleksandr Usyk, with whom he once sparred in Ukr...
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:53 AM
donmcrae.bsky.social
It was good to interview Kenny Dalglish and Asif Kapadia about their moving new film, doing the right thing after the devastation of Hillsborough, their confusion about xG, why there is no mini-crisis at Liverpool and how King Kenny produced miracles...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
‘It’s what’s in your heart that counts’: Kenny Dalglish on his love for Liverpool and the long shadow of Hillsborough
Donald McRae talks to Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia, who has made a film about the Scot’s remarkable career in football
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:11 AM