Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Casey/Dan
Author on LJ:micehell
Author Website: Rodent Inferno
Why this must be read:

It's a truth universally acknowledged – no, scratch that, it isn't, but it's certainly my theory that, in general, the better the writer, the more self-deprecating. Case in point: micehell, who posted two Sports Night fics almost apologetically, and quite unnoticed by (I suspect) the vast majority of people. However, I refuse to allow them to stay hidden away, and so I present to you Miss: In which a consummation is achieved, but a point is missed. And there's Danny-angst which, I may have neglected to mention, is one of my Very Favourite Things in the Whole Wide World.

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Various
Author on LJ:minervacat
Author Website: when the floods roll back
Why this must be read:

Outside of setting fire to all one's possessions, a drabble may be the most ephemeral of art forms: as a writer, restricted by a 100-word limit, one goes to great pains to make sure that every one of those words is exactly the right one, set in exactly the right place, saying exactly the thing that needs to be said. Then it's posted, a handful of people take an average of a couple of minutes to read it, and it's almost instantly forgotten.

Here, minervacat has found the perfect 100 words not just once, but 45 times: one drabble for every episode (far too few!) of Sports Night. Even if one or two of the drabbles fell below par, this would be a remarkable achievement. As it happens, they don't: every one of them sparkles as brightly as the show itself. And minervacat remembers everyone – Isaac, Kim, Elliott and all – and, for a moment, brings all of them back to life.

It's wonderful. I'm in awe, I'm deeply envious, but most of all, I'm grateful that she did this.

And the Crowd Goes Wild: Still, it'd be nice to see a list of the 100 funniest people in sports one day, or the 100 people in sports most likely to be nice to women. He'd make those lists, he's sure.

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Casey/Dan
Author on LJ:meadowlion
Author Website: kff

Sports Night fandom, at least in my mind, comes in two distinct waves: the first came in the wake of the show's original run; the second, still ongoing, from reruns, overseas screenings, the DVD release, and word of mouth. Unfortunately and rather unfairly, most of the SN rec sites and listings date from the first wave, are vastly out of date, and take no account of latter-day writers. With the Trickster archive down – and it looks as though this time it's down for good – there's really no central resource for SN fans to archive or to find newer material (although laylee's new snarchive is doing its best to rectify this situation). It's my intention this month to rec some of the lesser-sung talents of the SN world, of which there are many.

Why this must be read: I'm starting with meadowlion, a prolific and talented writer, but whose work I believe I've never seen recced anywhere. This won't go far to redress the balance, but at least it's a start. It was difficult to choose any single fic above another, but I’ve gone with this one: a sweet, straightforward, post-Quo Vadimus happy ending, of the sort the boys so richly deserve.

Take This Sabbath Day: In which Casey has an epiphany, and Dan becomes a very smart man.

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: None – Dan & Casey friendship
Author on LJ: kwaldo12
Author Website: Fiction By Waldo
Why this must be read: I think what I love most about this story is that Danny finally allows himself to properly grieve his brother, and he does it with Casey. It only further cements the fact that the two are there for each other through everything and the author does a great job of showing us that, without hitting us over the head with it.

( Because I always love to throw excerpts at you guys…and I really enjoyed this particular paragraph... )

So go read, enjoy, and let the author know - Therapy

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: None - the whole gang, but Dan POV
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Crocodile In Spelling's Fanfic.net Index
Why this must be read: Occasionally one can stumble upon a real gem over at fanfiction.net, and this story is evidence of this. Set after the events of Draft Day, the staff tries to deal with the repercussions of all that Dan is going through. It’s darker than most Sports Night fic out there, but it still brings the banter and manages to be true to the characters.

( A short excerpt to intrigue you to read... )

So go read and, if you like it, be sure to leave feedback for the author: Now, Now

Sorry for the late start everyone! It's Tommygirl again and I'm back driving the Sports Night vehicle for the month.

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: scrunchy
Author Website: Scrunchy.Net
Why this must be read: This story is an A/U look at both Dan and Casey. Instead of sportscasters, they work in weather, but it seems like they still have all the same problems. They also still have the perfect banter and relationship that needs to resonate for any fan of the show and the boys. Scrunchy manages to take the setting of a hurricane and an alternate universe and make it work for the boys.

( The excerpt to reel you in... )

So go read and let the author know what you thought: The Story of the Hurricane

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: None. Dan, Natalie, humour.
Author on LJ: helsinkibaby
Author Website: The Band Gazebo
Why this must be read:

No, really. Why doesn't Michelle Kwan like Dan? It's a perfectly valid question, and one that helsinkibaby answers with the help of Natalie, and her inevitable brand of mad humour.

Putting on the Whammy

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dana/Casey
Author on LJ: megwriting
Author Website: Gray Area
Why this must be read:

This isn't simply a Dana/Casey fic. It's also a Dan fic, a Jeremy fic, and a little bit of a Jeremy/Natalie fic. In essence, it's Sports Night. Marguerite has the characters voices down exactly, and a plot worthy of the comic genius of the show itself, without forgetting that little bit of depth that makes it more than a fluffy romantic comedy.

( excerpt )

On Studio B, a Cricket Bat, and a Kiss

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey (sort of...)
Author on LJ: lordessrenegade
Author Website: Lordess Renegade's Fic
Why this must be read:

Lordess Renegade calls this 'pre-slash', but it could just as easily be Dan/Casey friendship. The most important thing is that it's sad, beautiful angst from two of the most angst-ridden guys ever to star in a sitcom. Set immediately after Isaac's stroke, one thing this fic does perfectly is really emphasise how much of a family the entire 'Sports Night' team are.

( excerpt )

Tell Me A Story

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: candle_beck
Author Website: None that I'm aware of - archived at fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

Dan Rydell was revealed to us very slowly on the show, one small piece at a time. We learned that he wasn't as happy-go-lucky as he pretended to be, and that a lot of his wisecracks were covering a lot of pain. It always seemed to me like the show was cancelled when we still had so much to learn.

This fic is a lovely piece of Dan backstory. It delves into the way his family life might have been, and touches on Sam's death with a gentle style, and narrative that's just spot-on.

Oranges and Cigarettes

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Danny/Casey
Author on LJ: out_thereAuthor Website: Amazed by the Mathematics
Why this must be read:

Okay, suspend your disbelief for a moment: imagine a world where Danny and Casey switch bodies. No, really. No, really. They get dressed in each other's clothes. They go to work and pretend to be each other. Casey notices Kim's shoes. Dan flirts with Casey, or with himself, depending on how you look at it. And then they switch back. And if you imagine a world where this could happen, well, this story is pretty much what it would look like.

( snippet )

This is my last rec in this fandom for the month, and I couldn't resist ending with this story. As the story summary says: "every fandom needs at least one body-swapping story."

The Cheese Does Not Wear Me

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: fromthesabary and runpunkrun
Author Website: Punk's site
Why this must be read:

Because I recced Sabine last night, I figured I should continue the trend and give you another by her, this time co-written by Punk, who's equally wonderful. This is a really weird little piece, in a wonderful way. Put it this way: most of it reads like a fever dream, with all the strangeness that entails. But there are also some wonderful moments between poor Danny and Casey, and the Jeremy-Natalie-Dana bits are perfect. So if you like your SportsNight stories weird and wonderful, this is a good one for ya.

Player Piano

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Casey/Dan
Author on LJ: fromthesabrary
Author Website: links to fic
Why this must be read:

This is an beautifully, beautifully written fic, and an example of what I love best about the SportsNight fandom. It starts off with the hilarious (Dan doing handstands, Casey tripping over ghosts while drunk, Sally being confused about Casey's non-existent dog). Then it moves on to the hot (sex against the wall). And by then you're sucked in—and bam, suddenly you're reading Casey afraid and reacting badly, and you want to just yell at him because how could he be so stupid? And then, just like the show, things work out, and it's okay. It's complex and wonderful and feels real.

Pretty Life

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Danny/Casey
Author on LJ: nestra
Author Website: Nestra's Pantheon
Why this must be read:

I can't believe Nestra hasn't been recced more often here! I love her stuff, and you should too. (Check out the very hot pieces she wrote with shrift, archived here in the C.V. memories, if you haven't already.) This is a short little piece, but oh-so-wonderful. Nestra's got the dialogue and the humor down pat (god, I love the SportsNight banter!) and the story's got just the right amount of sweet. Danny's got a hankering for something, and damn if he isn't going to go for it.

Hankering

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Danny/Casey
Author on LJ: candle_beck
Author Website: lj memories
Why this must be read:

This is a Casey we don't normally see, a Casey who's going quietly crazy inside his own head and who has a "creeping feeling of dread" that there's a bad omen in the sky. "Danny had broken down, he had lost it, worse than he had lost it in years, and in the heartrending chaos of what was happening with Dan, no one had much noticed that Casey wasn't doing so well himself, it was all anger and fear and futility in his mind, and there wasn't a single thing he could do about it." But this is also a Casey who doesn't believe in omens, who believes everything can be explained, and who is struggling to reconcile this feeling of dread with the fact of the "eleventh- hour miracle," the "judgment-day resurrection" which saved the show and saved Danny and which should mean that everything's okay. He's having dreams and flashbacks and doesn't understand what's going on. "No way," he says, "to make sense of it."
The story's lyrical, haunting, very (and appropriately) dreamlike. It weaves in and out of present and past, dreams and reality, echoing Casey's feeling of dizzied lostness till the reader feels it right along with him. It's a gorgeous piece full of gorgeous scenes: Casey, terrified, clutching Dan on the floor of their office; Dan bringing Casey a knock-back of whisky; Dan driving along the open roads of Texas.
In short, this is an incredibly powerful story, and you should all go read it.

Seeing the Future

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: nifra_idril
Author Website: Neon Nights
Why this must be read:

If you read SportsNight, you know the wonders of Sorkinesque banter. It's harder to do than it looks, but when it's done well, it's brilliant. My favorite pieces of SN fiction all have that quick back-and-forth, that wittiness, and this piece is no exception. It's written as if it were a SportsNight script, and perhaps the highest compliment I could pay it would be to say that if I didn't know better, I might think it were a lost episode of the show.

( It's absolutely hilarious. )

Picture This

Also, apologies for the fact that it's a third of the way into the month and this is my first rec. In retrospect, I should have known that September (i.e. the month of "School's Beginning Again, Oh No!" and "I Have To Move All My Stuff Into A New Apartment?") wouldn't be a great time to drive the Crack Van. But never fear, I'll do my best to provide a good story ever few days from here on out! You can expect a fair bit of nuttiness, lots of humor, lots of Danny/Casey, and a lot of "theirloveissocanon!" So consider yourselves warned. ;)

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: laylee
Author Website: Archives found in LJ Memories
Why this must be read:
This is a series of vignettes, centering around the relationship between Dan, Casey, Ceazer, and Babbette. You know, their pet llamas? No, really. It is a delightful little saga, very romantic and dare I say it, fluffy, yes, but the humor is sharp and it will make you "Awwww!" without feeling guilty about it, truly an accomplishment, especially in the world of slash. It a weird way, it captures the boyish charm of Dan/Casey as well as any piece of SN fanfic I've read, while being able to not take itself too seriously.

"But it's Christmas," Dan said plaintively.

"Danny, you're Jewish," Dana pointed out like he needed reminding. "You don't do Christmas."

"Yeah, but I do do the good will to all men thing, which is what it's supposed to be about, right?"

Dana rolled her eyes. "Just keep the llamas off the set, okay?"

The First Installment: Travel Plans

Link List to the Entire Collection

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Casey/Daniella (yes, you heard me)
Author on LJ: phoebesmum
Author Website: Sports Night Fic and Drabbles can be found in her memories.
Why this must be read:
Okay, the pairing is probably throwing you off. Yes, this is a gender-swap piece, which is pretty much categorically perceived as badfic. The thing is with this story, it isn't badfic at all. It is a touching, deftly composed love story - an alternative universe that is elegant in its composition. And that's part of what makes it so brilliant, taking what is a silly cliche and making is readable and enjoyable without layers of irony and post-modern posturing. The characterization is wonderful, not only Casey's, but you can still see and feel Dan in his female counterpart. There's romance, humor, and pain all rendered with a subtle touch. Definitely one of a kind, and a must read.

Additional note: The author didn't label this with a rating, but there is adult material in the story, so read at your discretion.


Second Grace

Hi all, my name is Kay and I'll be driving the Sports Night crack van this month. Most of my favorite stories in this fandom are Dan/Casey, but it is also a great fandom for humorous and dramatic general stories as well, so with any luck I'll have some variety when it comes to my recs. And now on to a... Dan/Casey rec. Well, at least I am consistent.

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey, with appearances by most of the cast
Author on LJ: out_there
Author Website: Amazed by Mathematics (Sports Night fic found under the Sorkinese menu)
Why this must be read:

First of all, new fic! Published just last month, this is truly one of the best Sports Nights stories I have ever read. Clocking in at over 80,000 words, it is the perfect thing to get you through a rainy day or a sleepless night.
Annie has Dan's charisma nailed, but what makes this story unique is her firm grip on Casey's characterization. There aren't many stories that come from his POV, and this provides a wonderful new outlook. There are smoking hot erotic scenes, laugh out loud moments, and true romance that doesn't make you sugar-sick. Despite its length, this fic flies by with its tight pacing, keeps you lured in with its realistic development of Dan and Casey's relationship, and it is incredibly faithful to Sorkin's voice as well.

And as she says in her summary - Oh, the Olympics happen, too.

"I have a question for you."
"For me?"
"You are a worldly man, Isaac, who has been to many places and seen many things. You are wise and knowledgeable about the ways of the world."
"Stop buttering me up and get to the damn question."
Casey laughed. "If you kiss someone while drunk, does it count?"
"Does it count as what?"
"As a kiss." Casey shrugged. "As whatever it would have counted as if you'd been sober."
"If I say no, will you get out of my office?"

Not Homophobic

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairings: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: out_there
Author Website: Amazed by the Mathematics
Why this must be read:

I love established relationship stories and this is definitely one of my favorites.  The author claims it's just a PWP, but it is more than that, it is a glimpse into the guys relationship.  The story?  Well, it's a hot night and all Dan wants to do is sleep.  Casey has other ideas.

( excerpt )

Too Damn Hot

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:

In this first time story, Dan gets more then he bargained for when he  eavesdrops on Kim and Natalie.      

( Excerpt )

Fair Trade

Fandom:  SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing:  Dan/Casey
Author on LJ:  no
Author Website:  n/a
Why this must be read:

"Good evening," video-Dan said, "I'm Dan Rydell, alongside Casey McCall, and just to clear up all of those lingering rumours, yes, we *are* gay. Those stories, plus - "

Sports as a whole is not very accepting of male homosexuality.  How would being outed affect Dan and Casey?

Strike Three

Then check out the sequel Double Fault

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan Rydell, Casey McCall (friendship), Charlie McCall
Author on LJ: scrunchy
Author Website:  55 Scrunchy

Why this must be read:

They say you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.  Dan finds out differently.

Charlie wants to invite Alexis, a girl from his school, over for dinner.  Casey is nervous about his son dating; Dan is worried because she plays soccer.     

"Sure -- except for the part where he's willingly entering into a relationship that will require him to hang out with … soccer fans." The last words came out a whisper, like Dan was talking about social diseases, or Michael Jackson.

"You know, your reaction is weirdly helping me be okay with this whole thing."

 

The Noblest Profession

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: khohen1
Author Website:kHo's Fanfiction
Why this must be read:This ficlet centers on a conversation between Dan and Casey about "Lost", Charlie, and deserted islands. Very funny story and the author has a good grasp on the Sorkinesque (that can't be a word) dialogue.


Stranded on an Island

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: runpunkrun
Author Website:< a href="http://home.teleport.com/~punkm/index.html">The Underground
Why this must be read: This story really captures the Sorkin banter. In it Dan has discovered the internet and is completely caught up in it. Written in the show's timeline, internet usage wasn't nearly as common as now- shocking :). My favorite line actually is from Natalie:

"The internet's broken," Natalie said, eyes bright. "Jeremy was just
telling me about it. It's so sexy. All the gigahertz and the packages."

"Packets," Jeremy corrected.

"Mm, packets." She shivered.

Great laughs and a sweet pre-slash story.
Fan Mail From a Flounder

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: veronicaluv
Author Website:Aithine.org
Why this must be read: Hawaiian shirts, green drinks and Casey leaping a balcony. Dark Danny, Clueless Casey and lines like this:

"Among many great things, sitting in a bar in Florida with you, surrounded by beautiful women and having drinks purchased for us by someone named Bosco is in a league of its own."

All the Ships at Sea

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: celli and out_there
Author Website: Fanfic 101 & Amazed by the Mathematics
Why this must be read: I bring you porn, people. Good, no GREAT porn. It is a first-time fic and what struck me about this fic is Casey's need to hear Dan's voice. Plus, did I mention it is great porn?

Check it out!

Baltimore Chop

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: janissa11
Author Website:Emland
Why this must be read:

I'm Texas Bek and for my first SN rec I'm offering Making It Real by the fabulous Em. This was one of the first Dan/Casey stories I read and it stuck with me for several reasons. First, the sex is holy-hell hot. But we also see a very real take on what a relationship between Dan and Casey might look like instead of a candy-sweet version. Beautifully written and painfully poignant; Go read!

Making It Real

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Implied, possibly unrequited Dan/Casey.
Author on LJ: phoebesmum.
Author Website: Nope. All her fic is stored in her memories section.
Why this must be read:

Oh, 'cause it's post-show, post-Casey bitter Dan, with therapy and a flicker of illness deeper than a broken heart. It's pretty short (though not for this fandom, woe), but it ends on a nice punch, so I can forgive a little.

The thing with Hilary is that she can take these canon things and grow their implications, she's got an interesting handle on everybody's voices, she brings characters into situations where they weren't involved in canon (Isaac's opinion on Abby's methods, for example)--her fic is not stagnant, stuck in show-time, comprised solely of banter, sports references, and wordplay.

Her fic is dynamic.

( excerpt. )

The woman makes a good point, my friends.

Every Day a Little Death: because you can never have too much bitter!Dan.

And leave feedback!

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairings: Rebecca/Casey, Casey/Dana/Dan, Dan/Charlie.
Author on LJ: out_there.
Author Website: Amazed by the Mathematics. Whoo for random Sorkinquotes as site names!
Why this must be read:

Did you read the pairings?

No, seriously.

Go back up there and read them again.

Did you pay attention this time?

Still need a reason?

Okay, okay. Fine.

Because the Rebecca/Casey is scarily plausible, and there needs to be more Rebecca in SN fic. Especially post-show, rejected, vengenificated Rebecca. And vengeful, spiteful, so-jealous-he-could-spit Casey.

( quote. )

Because the Casey/Dana/Dan is hooo-oootttt. In the sticky, uncomfortable, best friends who should not be doing this way. And there needs to be more threesomes in SN fic. Also, because Casey is a jackass in this section. Moreso than when he was doing somebody else's wife/Dan's ex in the previous one.

( quote. )

Lastly, but probably not leastly, because I am going to hell for thinking Dan/Charlie is a woefully unexplored pairing (but then, I also think Elliot dirty-dancing would be hot, so), and you should come with me. It'll be fun. Lake of fire, river of souls, we'll tan.

( quote. )

And so begins our descent, whee.

eta: I am an idiot. The Fic: Protect Me From What I Want. Sorry, folks. *headdesk*

Make sure to leave feedback, people.

ps: I'm back, yeah. Unfortunately, I do not bear much Jeremy slash this time, but as you can see, I've made up for it with wronger things. Continue to fear my candy.