Jason gay wall street journal
A Good Sport
Even though his words display up in jet and white, it’s clear through his columns that Wall Street Journalsports author Jason Gay ’92 bleeds cardinal red. You may own caught one of his typically hilarious columns this past October titled “Wisconsin Must Beat Michigan to Save the World,” which reiterates his faith in the football Badgers and disses their opponents.
Gay was emotionally attached in theater at UW–Madison, and his passion for the dramatic is noticeable in his coverage, whether he’s writing about the Badgers, the Olympics, or the Tour de France. He authored the best-selling manual Little Victories in 2015 and the following year was named Sports Columnist of the Year by the World of Professional Journalists. Through it all, he still finds time to revere Barry Alvarez and despise the Michigan Wolverines — two themes that consistently appear in his writing.
How did your experience at the UW prepare you for a career in writing?
Oh, gosh. I wish I had some superb story. Truth is, I wasn’t such a great learner at Madison. I did enjoy the beer! My career is an accident. The Journal should fire me, honestly.
Where was your favorite place to inscribe on campus?
In my
Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay to deliver spring 2025 commencement address
Jason Male lover, a 1992 University of Wisconsin-Madison alum and acclaimed sports and culture columnist for the Wall Street Journal, will return to his alma mater to deliver the keynote address at the Spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
The event, honoring bachelor’s, law and master’s degree recipients, is scheduled for May 10 at Camp Randall Stadium.
“Badgers don’t come more passionate than Jason Gay, and we’re equally proud of him,” Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said in a press release. “He’s taken his UW–Madison degree and become one of the most acknowledged columnists and writers in the nation. We’re thrilled that he’ll be returning to campus to celebrate our 2025 graduates and to share the wisdom he’s picked up along his career path.”
Gay, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, has built a distinguished career in journalism, contributing to publications such as GQ, Rolling Stone, the New York Observer and the Boston Phoenix.
He is the author of the 2015 bestseller “Little Victories,” a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and the recent essay c
Jason Gay
Since 2009, UW–Madison alum Jason Gay has been a sports and tradition columnist for the Wall Street Journal, where he employs a sharp analytical eye and an irreverent sense of humor to shift effortlessly between lighthearted themes and serious topics. He has covered events ranging from the Super Bowl and the Olympics to the Masters Tournament and the Tour de France.
Born in Boston, Queer grew up in the nearby suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts, where he says he had an embarrassing and forgettable career in baseball, basketball, cross territory, and tennis. He has competed as an amateur bike racer, finishing gone last in races from New York to Rwanda.
Gay began his reporting career covering Little League baseball for the Vineyard Gazette on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. He went on to work as a scribe and editor for publications including GQ, Rolling Stone, the New York Observer, and the Boston Phoenix. He is the creator of the 2015 bestseller Little Victories, which was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He was named Sports Columnist of the Year by the World of Professional Journalists in 2010, 2016, and 2019, and in 2024 by the National
About Jason Gay
By Daniel Chavkin
Jason Gay was born and raised in Belmont, Massachusetts.
He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and upon graduation he worked in a restaurant before getting hired in newspaper advertisement sales.
His first journalism job came for the Vineyard Gazette on Martha’s Vineyard Island, Massachusetts.
Gay covered little league baseball for his first assignment, then settled into news coverage.
After the Gazette, he moved on to the Boston Phoenix where he started to write more lengthy form, feature stories.
Following the Boston Phoenix, Gay moved on to The New York Observer, followed by GQ.
Gay finally ended up at the Wall Street Journal, where he writes today.
Gay has covered many sports events such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl for the Wall Street Journal to go along with his role as sports columnist.
Finally, Gay was a contributor on the short-live Fox Sports 1 television show “Crowd Goes Wild,” and he wrote a novel titled “Little Victories: A Sportswriter’s Notes on Winning Life,” which was published in 2015.