The Yards Between Us

A Memoir of Life, Love, and Football

By: R.K. Russell

Narrated by: R.K. Russell

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

In 2019, R.K. Russell broke the mold when he came out as bisexual in an essay for ESPN that ignited the sports world. Now, in his powerful memoir, THE YARDS BETWEEN US, he shares his story and explores his love of football, men and women, walking the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality secret, the tension between his private and public lives, and the importance of crashing through barriers.

One part inspirational journey and one part coming of age as an athlete struggling to break a mold. THE YARDS BETWEEN US follows in the footsteps of moving, impactful sports memoirs like Agassi's OPEN, Misty Copeland's LIFE IN MOTION, and Megan Rapinoe's ONE LIFE.

Russell traces the highs and lows of his life in and out of football, from his early life as a shy kid struggling with the expectations on a Black boy and the pull between his quiet nature and his athletic ability, to being drafted by his hometown team the Dallas Cowboys, and then on to seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills. And as his time in the sport comes into full bloom, Russell realizes that keeping his secret in the NFL is easier than in college when life and football are so much more connected to social worlds.

Through being cut, injured, and frustrating setbacks, Russell's confidence lags as the secret of his sexuality weighs heavier and heavier. And when that frustration is combined with the devastating loss of his best friend and sole confidant, the darkness that follows also brings a deep understanding that perhaps it's time to make a change. In Los Angeles, against the backdrop of the swaying palm trees and warm sands of Malibu, Russell falls in love and it's the final push he needs to stand up for every part of himself—a professional athlete, a writer, a son, a friend, a lover, a bisexual Black man. In THE YARDS BETWEEN US, R.K. Russell shows us the life-changing power of embracing who you are and fighting to make space so others can do the same.

©2023 R.K. Russell (P)2023 Hyperion Avenue

Heartfelt and insightful look at acceptance

I’ve had the pleasure to know Russ through a gym in Los Angeles. Hearing his story now through full acceptance and his journey to live his purest life is inspiring. Highly recommend.

A lonely journey

R.K. ‘s path is a testament to be considerate to everyone,, you never know what someone else is dealing with and more although their existence suggests something otherwise! A super listen! You feel as though you really know him but could never really know his struggles unless you are him!

Powerful story

I really enjoyed this story. being a black and gay man myself, him sharing his story is inspiring. I encourage others who are struggling coming out, especially black men, read this book to help ease that process. y
You are more than enough, and there's a whole community that will support you 💕💕💕

Intriguing and motivating

This will help a lot of people and open some eyes. Sadly, some of those people who need to read and understand Ryan’s problems will never open their eyes or minds to anything LGBTQ+.
Thanks to Mr Russell for this enlightening work.

Detoxifying masculinity, or plain ol’ excellence in being human, well-told

This is an important work to add to the growing chorus of new voices on detoxifying masculinity.

I’m a white woman from a difficult past who is aligned with expanding the pool of recipients society treats with dignity, and I am fully ignorant of sports.

Stories like these help me process my grief from my own life with grace; reading/hearing stories from people so unlike me whose skillful and generous telling lays bare our common humanity gifts me the grace of solidarity with so many who live with pains and sorrows as diverse as life on Earth.

We don’t all learn to live, though, and one of the strengths of this story is not the athletic arc itself, but the introspection, voiced for all of us, from a deliberate thinker and feeler.

Masculinity, like humanity, is deep and raw; easy to get lost in. This is an important story about how to learn to live with self-determination, integrity, and depth amidst the complexity of all our lives.

The author’s reading sometimes strolls over powerful phrases or moments, hiding his excellent writing. I think this is worth both a listen and a read, and I might do both.

Probably More Brave Than I Realize

As a bisexual man, I read for the bisexuality and not the football. I’m sure there will be readers who are the exact opposite.

But I’m grateful for RK for bringing these two worlds closer together—before he even wrote this book.