Those Guys Have All The Fun

Inside the World of ESPN
James Andrew Miller & Tom Shales - 2011 Little, Brown & Company

 I resisted reading this book for a while, but I'm glad that I finally did (at the "gentle" encouragement of others).  It's fun, it's enjoyable, and it's informative about a major player in the world of professional sports.

The structure is a little different, as the chapters are set up by specific time frames and the content consists mainly of excerpts from the innumerable interviews Miller and Shales conducted, with only smalls transitions by the authors here and there.  Some of these transitions are rather abrupt and there are times when it feels like some topics do not flow into the next as seamlessly as they should.

Overall, "Those guys have all the fun" is well worth the read, especially when there are differing accounts from individuals on the same subject.

Friday Night Lights

A Town, A Team, and a Dream
H. G. Bissinger - 2000 Da Capo Press

Friday Night Lights is not just an intriguing read of a town, a team and a dream but also an enchanting, journalistic work that ranks alongside Maraniss' When Pride Still Mattered and other exemplary works of sports journalism. 

While many may be familiar with the film and TV series this book inspired, that should not allow them to overlook the fascinating portrait that Bissinger paints of small towns and football, wound as tightly together as the bindings of a book. 

The reading is easy and enjoyable and the story is at once engaging, sympathetic, painful and honest.  In all, a highly recommended read. 

The Boxer's Heart

Kate Sekules - 2012 The Overlook Press

The Boxer's Heart was a more interesting read than I expected and it is a book I would pass on to others.

The books was originally printed in 2000 and this current edition is a 2012 reprint specifically timed to coincide with the first time women's boxing would be included in the Olympics.  There is a lot of focus on early woman's boxing, specifically from around the 1990s when it was still a struggle but becoming more accepted for women to box. 

The author's story parallels the rise of women's boxing and delves into not only the psyche of a fighter but also the various elements that make up and surround a fighter, including trainer relationships and the gym.

In all, the book was interesting, informative and an enjoyable read.

Out of My League

Dirk Hayhurst - 2012 Kensington Publishing Corporation

After reading The Bullpen Gospels, I was thrilled to see there was a sequel especially one that saw Hayhurst finally make it to the Show.

Although, this book contained much more of Hayhurst's personal story, in that it revolved a lot around his fiance and what baseball can mean to relationships, it was highly enjoyable and informative.

The most interesting and entertaining aspects of the book are closer to the second half, when he finally hits the Bigs and describes his wide-eyed rookie impressions and hazings. 

There were many laugh out loud moments and this book, like its predecessor, is a highly recommended read.

Strokes of Genius

L Jon Wertheim - 2009 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

As someone familiar with Wertheim's writing through Sports Illustrated, I expected this book to be better.

The information in the book is good (see the part about gambling in tennis) and I suspect that any book about one of the all-time matches between these two tennis greats will not be short on praise, but still, the actual writing is what could be better.  It was more simple than expected and instead of weaving unique metaphors and similes they were obvious and basic.

I wouldn't rule this book out too fast, though, as it is still an easy read and has what to offer.

Over Time

My Life as a Sportswriter
Frank Deford - 2012 Grove/ Atlantic, Inc.

Frank Deford can well be considered the Yankees of sports writers, not just because he's so good but also because he's just that good.

What strikes me the most about Deford is not so much what he writes about but how he writes about it.  Unlike many from the myriads of sports writers today, Deford has a unique writing style, at once humorous, nostalgic, intellectual and endearing, that turns his work into literature.

Over Time is highly recommended for any fan of good writing and that it is about sports, the old days of sports writing and offers a perspective on the present state of affairs is an added benefit to such a good book. 

Driving Mr Yogi

Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry, and Baseball's Greatest Gift
Harvey Araton - 2012 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

There have been many books about Yogi Berra and Yankees baseball and this one is no different in it's admiration and fandom of the two.   This book is not a celebrated account of Berra's early years but of the years since he came back to the franchise and reclaimed his stature as the great number 8.  The specific focus is on his 11 year spring training relationship with the great Ron Guidry, and the general atmosphere he brings to the Yankee clubhouse there.   The book recounts the quirks and nuances that endear Berra to fans and players alike and is a tribute to what he means to the Yankee organization.

It's a  great read because it's hard to think about Yogi Berra and baseball without smiling...

The Big Miss

My Years Coaching Tiger Woods
Hank Haney - 2012 Crown Publishing Group

As one of the most famous athletes ever, Tiger Woods is also one of the most talked about and often over talked about athlete ever.   Although, this book is just more Tiger Woods, it is written by his former swing coach, Hank Haney, and the perspective that is offered is unique and revealing.

The book contains a lot of detail about the actual mechanics of Woods' swing but there are other details there as well.  The book is not about getting even, but a simple revelation about a man who is human and yet not like the rest of us.  The more interesting parts of the books are the accounts of Tiger's actions and attitude that are telling in the mentality it takes to be at the top.  That we do not have lives anything like Tiger's is obvious but this book confirms why.

Calico Joe

John Grisham - 2012 Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Admittedly, I was hesitant but intrigued when this book came out.  The combination of John Grisham and baseball was either going to be fantastic or... not.

There is no need to point out the obvious, that the book is well written.  The plot line has a lot of potential as a story about a son trying to make peace between his major league pitching father and the man whose career he surreptitiously ended with a fastball to the head.  The path Grisham set out with this story line was ambitious but also something difficult to solve satisfactorily in such a short time.  

The book is too short and simple to address something as complex as forgiveness and the intentional destruction of a career.  To end with something positive, although slightly inaccurate, Grisham does incorporate real athletes and events to create a solid background setting. 

The Might Have Been

Joseph M Schuster - 2012 Random House Publishing Group

There are many books about minor leaguers and each one has potential in the broken, or yet to be fulfilled, dreams of baseball players. 

This book is written in a very nostalgic style, like grandpa telling the story of a man he once knew.   The unfortunate part of this book, however, is that it leaves many things unexplained or unresolved.  We're not really sure what draws Edward Everett (the double name takes some getting used to) to baseball or why he would give up a family and steady paycheck for a life drudging about the minor leagues.   There are many other parts of his psyche that we don't get to see and because of this he is not an easy character to relate to.    In general, there are many times in this book that more insight and less nostalgia would make it a better read.

The Bullpen Gospels

Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran
Dirk Hayhurst - 2010 Kensington Publishing Corporation

I'm sure this book has garnered many comparisons to Jim Bouton's Ball Four and for good reason.  Both are hilarious and revelatory accounts from pitchers about some of their time playing professional baseball. 

This book is very entertaining and there were many laugh out loud moments.   The writing is easy to understand and frank in its descriptions.  Considering the accounts Hayhurst did choose to share, I can hardly imagine what he chose to leave out.   The greatest part of this book, however, is Hayhurst's attempt to find meaning beneath the jersey and his prerogative to share that meaning with us.

In all, a highly recommended book.

Damn Yankees!

Damn Yankees: Twenty-Four Major League Writers on the World's Most Loved (and Hated) Team
Edited by Rob Felder - 2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Rob Fleder says it himself in his introduction to this book, love them or hate them, everyone has an opinion about the New York Yankees.  This book proves it.

In Damn Yankees, Fleder has gathered essays from 24 top-notch writers about anything Yankee related.  Some speak about their experiences growing up as fans, as haters, as onlookers, but all talk about the Yankees and what they mean to them.

The collection of essays are interesting in their variety, each author talks about different times and topics, which means there's something for everyone here.  Some essays are better than others and then some are really good.  Number one pick for best essay: "The Errors of our Ways" by Pete Dexter.

Accidents do Happen... For the Best

An Accidental Sportswriter
Robert Lipsyte - 2011 HarperCollins Publishers

I was very excited to read this book by Bob Lipsyte about his sports writing career and the biggest complaint I have is that is wasn't longer.  Lipsyte focuses on a few athletes and individuals and selects some of the major social issues, as they occurred in sports, to talk about as a reflection of his career.

The book is clear, pretty easy to read (sometimes the transitions are a little abrupt) and unique from most other sports writer's accounts in Lipsyte's love-hate relationship with what has "accidentally" defined his career. 

There are many interesting anecdotes that he recounts (one of the best when he met Muhammad Ali and the Beatles in the same day, before either became national sensations) and various issues that he discusses (the interesting relationship between those that write about sports and the sports hierarchy that allows writers to write about them.)

This book is recommended for its fresh, different and intriguing interpretation of sports and sports writing.

When the Garden was Eden

Clyde, the Captain, Dollar Bill, and the Glory Days of the New York Knicks
Harvey Araton - 2011 HarperCollins Publishers

This book is a well written and very enjoyable read about the glory days of the Old Knicks and their championship seasons.  The title of the book says much and the focus of the book is true to the paradisaical description as Araton describes not only the players and the teams but also compares those team-oriented Knicks to the star studded teams of the present.   Araton also occasionally includes first person accounts that make the book and the story much more personal and relevant. 

There two additional aspects of this book that make it well worth the read.  One is the followup and information Araton includes about the players and their lives after basketball.  The second is in the significance of the game not only to a sports city but also to a country undergoing great social and political changes.  

One on One

Behind the Scenes with the Greats in the Game
John Feinstein - 2011 Little, Brown and Company

I have not read many of John Feinstein's books but that didn't hold me back from reading this one and it should hold others back either.  This book is not about a year in a particular sports like most of his others; rather it is about the the ideas and circumstances surrounding his other books.   Feinstein talks about his writing experiences including his perception of various athletes and some of the friends he made along the way.

Feinstien's style is honest and straightforward and as someone who has been to many major sporting events, he has some interesting stories to share.  The diversity of the book (college basketball, army-navy football, major league baseball, golf, and tennis) can make it appealing to all types of sports fans.

The biggest caveat is that like most books that take a trip down memory lane, the narrative is sometimes sidetracked, which confuses the timeline a bit.  However, like most memoirs written by sportswriters, the variety of sports coverage and figures makes the book rather interesting and entertaining.

The Blind Side

Evolution of a Game
Michael Lewis - 2006 W.W. Norton & Company

The story of Michael Oher is fascinating and almost unbelievable considering the fairy-tale like elements.  A poor, unnoticed, black kid is adopted by a rich, white family, becomes a football phenom, gets into college, and goes in the first round of the NFL draft.  It's a little hard to believe...

One of the best parts of this books is that it was written by a good author, Michael Lewis.  Like Moneyball, Lewis takes something technical (the birth of the left tackle) and weaves it into a dynamic and interesting story.    For those who are less into football and more into story, realize that there are large sections devoted to the evolution of the football game from a running one to a passing one.   It's needed to provide a context for Michael Oher and the reason why he was such a big deal.  For those more into football, the story does not detract from the discussion of football, the quarterback's blindside, the birth of the left tackle, and players ranging from Lawrence Taylor to Johnathan Ogden. 

It's a good book and an excellent blend of the game of football and an incredible human story.

Ball Four

Jim Bouton - 1990 Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out it was the other way around."

If there were only two books you had to read on baseball this would be the other one.  A friend of mine had been trying to convince me to read this book for months and I had it sitting in my "to get to" stack.  I still can't believe I didn't get to it sooner.

Ball Four is one of the best and most entertaining books I have ever read and that's not even from a sports point of view.   The book literally comes across as Bouton describes it "just taking notes" and the anecdotes and stories he shares are hilarious and revealing.  Forget the right or wrong of writing this, this book makes ballplayers human again.  From a fan's point of a view, from a baseball point of view, and from a people point of view this book is a must.

Now in the wise, wise words of Joe Schultz "zitz 'em and go pound Budweiser!"

War Room

The Legacy of Bill Belichik and the Art of Building the Perfect Team
Michael Holley - 2011 itbooks - an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Books that write about a legacy while that legacy is still in progress always make me wonder...

This book is supposed to be about Belichik's genius or savvy in maximizing and manipulating his draft picks.  This book is about that and much more.  War Room comes to tell a story, about a man, whose influence spread beyond the team and franchise he rebuilt.   The main focus is on Belichik but it broadens to include the relationship between him and the two men he guided to positions of GM.

Holley does not hesitate but begins the story immediately and does not let up throughout.  This book was a surprisingly fluid read and the pace and style kept the story moving and the information interesting.  Many insights about the running of an NFL franchise and the implementation of the idea are revealed throughout the narrative, making it a read worthy for all football fans.

Bottom of the 33rd

Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game
Dan Barry - 2011 HarperCollins Publishers

"This is a book of informed imagination," an accurate, honest and succinct way to describe this "non-baseball baseball book."

Dan Barry is a unique author and his choice of topic, the longest professional baseball game, a minor league game, is bold and intriguing.  The style is whimsical and nostalgic with strong metaphorical and poetic language, which shield the nonfictional, informative aspect of this book. This book could easily be recommended for its individual style of writing than for the information it has enveloped within.

That the game lasted as long as it did is astounding, that it was not called sooner stupefying. In truth, this book is more a portrait of Baseball's singular minor league system that swallows up hometown heroes and "cardboard prospects" set against the backdrop of a game whose sole distinction lies in is its longevity.  Without the exploration of the characters and components leading up to this game, this book could have been rightfully reduced to a lyrical short story or mind-boggling baseball anecdote.

An interesting read from a literary perspective and a wistful depiction of a curious part of Baseball history.

The Whore of Akron

One Man's Search for the Soul of LeBron James
Scott Raab - 2011 HarperCollins Publishers

The first time I saw that the book was coming out, I filed it away for future browsing without really intending to read it.  A little while later I received a package from HarperCollins with this book inside.  And so I read it.

The idea of the book struck me as funny but a little off at the same time.  Raab substantiated my instincts by declaring "Obviously I myself don't know or care how or where to draw a line between fan and fanatic." 

The book is easy to read and its structure keeps the story moving.  Raab is despicably frank and flagrantly honest as he fluctuates between his personal story and the story of LeBron and Cleveland.  The language is crude, dirty, uncensored and at times way too revealing.  No one could be blamed for dismissing this book as the misguided rantings of an unfulfilled fan.  Because of, or rather in spite of, the above mentioned qualities the book was highly entertaining and a shout out to all suffering, champion-less, victims-of-free-agency fans.  In the end (and against my will) I actually liked it.