Former slick-fielding, light-hitting minor league infielder Ron Shelton first tried his hand at sculpture before establishing himself as a screenwriter in the early 1980s and as a leading writer-director by the end of the decade. With his literary values, sharp ear for naturalistic dialogue, and penchant for strong, interesting female characters, Shelton has become Hollywood's premier purveyor of the sports film. His character-driven scripts have emphasized acting far more than any formal attributes, and he has used the rehearsal process to discover the right behavior before blocking for the