Review of "When the Lights Went Out"

With my subscription to Audible, there are books that can be obtained at no charge just like Kindle Unlimited.  This book, even though it was published 20 years ago, caught my eye as I am always interested in books that have information on the former Soviet Union's hockey program.  I loved this audiobook and highly recommend it to readers of hockey books. 

Title/Author:

“When the Lights Went Out: How One Brawl Ended Hockey’s Cold War and Changed the Game” by Gare B. Joyce, narrated by Jeff Burling

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

The World Junior Ice Hockey Championship tournament is one of the most prestigious tourneys in the sport.  Teams of young players compete early each calendar year to represent their countries and become of a source of national pride, especially in hockey-mad nations like Canada.  In the 1987 World Juniors, Canada had a chance to capture the gold medal with a win over the Soviet Union in the last game of the tournament, who fell out of medal contention.

However, instead of a coronation for Canadian superiority, a bench clearing brawl occurred with 6:07 left in the second period.  This “skirmish” (what it was called by CBC broadcasters when they came back from a commercial break) led to tournament officials to remove both nations from the tourney, thereby denying the Canadians a chance at a medal. This book by Gare B. Joyce covers every aspect of this event – before, during and after – and does an excellent job in doing so.

Joyce gives excellent background information on the hockey organizations of both nations – the junior hockey program in Canada and the Soviet Union’s hockey development as well.  Players, coaches and off-ice employees are all mentioned in this section and this leads up to the teams competing in the 1987 tourney.

Several players on both sides will be familiar to fans of NHL hockey in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.  Two notable players on each side were Brendan Shanahan and Theo Fleury for Team Canada, Sergei Federov and Alexander Mogilny for the USSR.  The sections on the actual brawl are quite interesting as the narration by Burling is great here.  The instructions are for a reader to put in the DVD (book was originally published in 2006) and stop at various points where Burling describes Joyce’s observations of what was going on. I thought this was a unique way of capturing what was happening on the ice during the brawl, and it was excellent.

After the brawl, the description of the events afterward, to a reader not familiar with the incident, may seen biased toward the Canadians and even I thought at times if felt that way.  Two things stood out to overcome that thought – one was Joyce’s explanation of the dismissal of many conspiracy theories about officials not wanting to award Canada a medal.  The other was his criticism, which to many was fair, of referee Hans Ronning.  The Norwegian was named to be the referee for this game for his neutrality but instead his lack of being able to control the players was clear, long before the brawl.  In order to stop the fighting, arena workers were asked to turn off the lighting, which was the inspiration for the title of book.

While the two teams were kicked out of the tourney and each player was suspended for one year, that was reduced to six months, which allowed several players from both nations to again compete in 1988, both in the World Juniors and the Olympics held that year in Calgary.  Here, Joyce does more fantastic writing and research on describing what took place not only there, but how this affected the players, coaches and the overall rivalry between the two hockey nations, which was going to change drastically soon with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Finally, one more terrific aspect of the book – Joyce’s interviews with players from both sides nearly 20 years after that event.  For some, it affected them greatly.  Others, not so much, but each interview Joyce published here had some great insight given by the players.  It also had interesting stories about the Russian players who were now free to play in the NHL and other professional leagues.  Mogiliny’s story was quite riveting as he had to apply for asylum as he was going to come to North America before others were officially allowed by the Russian government.

If a reader is interested in the World Junior tournament, Canadian junior hockey or hockey in the former Soviet Union, this book is for them.  A great read, even 20 years after its first publication.

Link: When the Lights Went Out Audiobook by Gare Joyce  

Review of “Tiger v. Jack”

Keeping with my recent golf theme and impatiently awaiting spring so I can break out my golf clubs, I decided to read this book on one of the few discussions on the “greats of all time” in which one could choose one of two names and not get a strong rebuttal but the other person - it’s that close. Here is my review of “Tiger v. Jack”

Title/Author: “Tiger v. Jack: Golf’s Great Debate ” by Bob Harig

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:  When golf fans are debating who is the greatest golfer of all time, two names are usually mentioned - Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. While the two golfers played in different eras of the game, their accomplishments are well known and constantly compared. This book by Bob Harig digs deep into their careers and their games to provide his opinion on the debate that many agree on one thing - no matter who you pick, both of them are head and shoulders above everyone else.

The first and last chapter are perfect bookends to the debate. The first chapter covers the 1986 Masters tournament when Jack made a huge charge on the back nine on Sunday to become the oldest winner of the Masters at age 46, good for his 18th major championship. The last chapter is about the 2019 Masters, when Tiger won his 15th major at age 43 after a lengthy drought from majors due to injuries, most notably several back surgeries. 

Between those chapters, a reader will learn about the best aspects of each golfer’s game, their first major tournament win, how their career trajectories played out and how they came to be the best of their eras. Harig goes beyond counting wins in majors and PGA wins to provide in-depth information on both golfers. One example of this that I really enjoyed was how both men would intimidate their opponents before teeing off on the first hole. They knew how to exploit any fear or doubt their opponents had which would result in those golfers either trying too hard or making mistakes they normally would not make.  This description was very interesting.

There is information on legendary golfers whose marks first Jack, then Tiger, would eventually shatter. Information on Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Ben Hogan give a good history of how the four major tournaments became a very important part of a golfer’s career. The sections on each man’s accomplishments outside of just winning majors were also very good. Also interesting was a discussion on how each man became involved in the police of golf during their times - Jack on the PGA’s policy that favored club pros instead of those on the PGA tour, Tiger on the emergence of the rival LIV golf league. 

Other golfers, broadcasters, and golf personalities, all from both eras, were included in Haig’s analysis. The last sections before the 2019 Masters where Harig breaks down each man’s game (putting, driving, bunker play, etc), the quality of other players at the time and the size of the field during their time and other statistics, Harig makes his decision and lays it out well. This is an excellent book for those wanting more information on their golfer they choose in this debate. 

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FLZ4MNRW/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20 

Review of “America Tees Off”

 As I noted in my last post, the huge winter storm that hit most of the country allowed me more reading time. This book was one I was able to complete in a fairly short amount of time. Since it was a golf book, it also left me dreaming of golf weather! 

Title/Author:

“America Tees Off: True Tales of Golf’s Rich History” by David Sowell

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Even non-golfers know that the game has a rich history. Beginning with its origins at St. Andrew’s, also known as the Old Course to today’s game, there are many stories to be told about it. This book by David Sowell does just that, with concentration on stories from courses in the United States.

Stories might be generous here as most of the essays take less than two pages. While this made for quick reading, it often left me wanting more information about the golfer, the course, or whatever else the story was about.

This disappointment, however, was offset by the great variety of topics chosen and that the book covered the entire span of time that the game has been played here. Some of the more interesting topics included President Eisenhower playing at Augusta, how golf balls were kept cool when they were made of gutta perch and a deal made between Charles Schwab and Andrew Carnegie on the golf course.

Of course, professional golfers have their stories too. Not just big names like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, but players like Ben Curtis and Juli Inkster have their moments in this book too. That is the best aspect of the book. The brevity of the stories made it possible to have many people featured without making the reader get lost in trying to keep them straight. A quick, enjoyable read for those who enjoy golf. 

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/America-Tees-Off-Tales-History/dp/1496243161/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0  

Review of "Baseball's Outcast"

While the past week was quite busy for me, the snowstorm that is gripping much of the nation has helped me catch up on reading and writing reviews.  To start the recovery of reviews, here's one on former MLB star Ron LeFlore. 

Title/Author:

“Baseball’s Outcast: The Story of Ron LeFlore” by Adam Henig

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

While every professional athlete, no matter their background, has an interesting story to share about the rise to becoming one of the best at their profession, former Major League Baseball player Ron LaFlore had a very different path to get to that point.  His story of going from a convicted criminal serving time in prison to becoming an All-Star outfielder is covered in this book by Adam Henig.

LaFlore grew up in a poverty-stricken, mostly Black area of Detroit.  Succumbing to life on the streets, he took to committing various crimes to obtain money.  During an armed robbery, he was arrested and sentenced to serve time at Jackson State prison.  While I was certainly interested in LaFlore’s baseball career, I found this section of the book to be the best as Henig did a masterful job of describing LaFlore’s life in prison, his change in behavior from rebellious to model prisoner due to athletics and the ways he developed his skills in baseball, a sport he never played before suiting up for the prison team.

A scout from the Detroit Tigers discovered LeFlore through connections and he was granted a 48 hour pass to attend a tryout at Tiger Stadium.  While still fairly raw with his fielding and hitting, it was LaFlore’s speed that eventually earned him a contract with the Tigers and more importantly, an early release from prison.

From there, the book is mainly about his baseball career, where he became an all-star with the Tigers during the 1976 – 78 seasons, led the American League twice in stolen bases and was a fan favorite. He teamed up with a local sportswriter to pen an autobiography, which became a best-seller and also was made into a made-for-TV movie that starred LeVarr Burton playing LaFlore.  Henig’s writing was also very good here, including when he injected aspects of LaFlore’s personal life that not only affected LaFlore’s performance on the field, but also his standing with teammates and the Tigers’ front office. 

That led to a trade to the Montreal Expos, where he led the National League in stolen bases, becoming the first major league to accomplish the feat in both leagues.  However, again due to difficulties with getting along with teammates and the front office, the Expos released him after just one season, 1980.  After that, he tried to catch on with the Chicago White Sox, but that didn’t end up well either. 

Here is where the book turns into simply a brief summary of his life after baseball, save for one incident where he and his wife were invited to a reception for former players in Detroit, only to have several issues such as the lack of a hotel reservation make it more difficult.  I found this to be quite an abrupt end to the book after all the great detail about his life before and during baseball.

I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Outcast-Story-Ron-LeFlore/dp/1538194953/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

Review of “Heartland”

The strong start to 2026 for my reading continues with this excellent book on Larry Bird’s time at Indiana State and stories about his teammates there as well. 

Title/Author:

“Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream and the Miracle of Larry Bird” by Keith O’Brien

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Before Larry Bird became a legendary NBA player with the Boston Celtics, he was an All-American player for the Indiana State Sycamores, a basketball program very few knew about before Bird’s arrival. The story of Bird’s path to the Terre Haute campus and the Sycamores’ magical 1978-79 season is told in this excellent book by Keith O’Brien.

Much like his other books, most notably his biography of Pete Rose, O’Brien conducts hundreds of interviews with people involved in Bird’s life. They can be family, teammates, other acquaintances or even someone who had a brief encounter or event with Bird. An example of this is that O’Brien interviewed the two Indiana State cheerleaders who appeared with Bird on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1977. At that time, getting on that cover was very prestigious. Getting the perspective of that event from these two women is just one example of the depth of the book.

O’Brien has also shown in other books that storytelling is one of the strengths of his writing and this book has plenty of stories. Whether these are from coaches such as Bob King and Bill Hodges the two coaches for Indiana State during Bird’s time there (King had to give up coaching due to health issues and Hodges, who was on King’s staff, took over those duties), from teammates such as Carl Nicks and Bob Helton, or even people from Bird’s hometown of French Lick, Indiana, these paint a fascinating picture of Bird during this time frame.

The book not only covers the Indiana State basketball team, but also a deeper look at Bird’s life before he reluctantly agreed to go with King to visit the campus. It is known that he originally intended to attend Indiana and play for legendary coach Bob Knight there, but he grew depressed and lonely there and did not play a game for the Hoosiers. This, along with other parts of his personal life such as a short marriage that resulted in a daughter being born, his father’s suicide and his time working for the town as a garbage collector are also chronicled here. No matter what Bird was doing at that point, O’Brien describes it well and completely.

The book is an easy read and is broken up into many smaller chapters, making it easy to digest and finish in a short amount of time. Any basketball fan will enjoy this book on one ofn the true legends of the game. 

I wish to thank Atria Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Heartland-Forgotten-Place-Impossible-Miracle/dp/166821170X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 

Review of "Baseball's First Superstar"

Ever pick up a book thinking it was going to be of a certain type, only to find out while reading it that it wasn't at all what you expected?  That was the case for me with this book on Christy Matthewson - but even with that, it turned out to be all right.  Here is my review.

Title/Author:

“Baseball’s First Superstar: The Lost Life Story of Christy Matthewson” by Alan D. Gaff

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

As one of the first five players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Christy Matthewson established himself as one of the finest pitchers in the early 20^th century.  This book by Alan D. Gaff is part a history of newspapers, part an argument to convince the reader that Matthewson was the first true superstar and mostly accounts written about the great pitcher by himself, his widow and sportswriter Bozeman Bulger.

It was puzzling to understand why Gaff opened the book with a history of newspapers and their coverage of baseball, but after reading the whole book, it made sense. It was a preface to the section of the book (the biggest one) where Bulger’s account of Matthewson’s life was included. This makes the book more of a reference or scholarly type of read instead of one that is a true biography of Matthewson. When taken into that context, this book is a good account of the “lost” stories about Matthewson.

Aside from what is in the writing from Bulger and Matthewson himself, the only true writing about baseball is Gaff’s chapter on why Matthewson should be considered baseball’s first true superstar. He compares Christy to the other four players enshrined with him on that initial ceremony in Cooperstown: Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner.  The reader can decide for themselves whether this argument for Matthewson to hold the title is valid, but it did have some interesting information on all five baseball greats.

While I learned new information about Matthewson from this book, it did not come away to me as a great work, but I did enjoy reading the accounts of Matthewson himself and the stories told by Bulger.  It’s a good book for those readers interested in early 20^th century baseball.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Baseball's First Superstar: The Lost Life Story of Christy Mathewson: Gaff, Alan D.: 9781496243270: Amazon.com: Books

Review of “10th Round”

This was a book I obtained earlier but recently received a message in which I had a deadline to submit a review. Thankfully it was a short book, but it was excellent.  Here is my review of “10th Round.”

Title/Author:

“10th Round: Every Fight Has a Final Bell” by Eric J. Polli

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent )

Review: 

While I don’t read many fictional stories with a sports theme, the description of this short book by Eric J. Polli intrigued me. It’s the story of Mickey Brannigan, a former middleweight boxing champion whose life has been broken by several bad decisions after his time in the ring was over. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, he tries to make peace with his estranged son Danny. He is also making one last entry into the sport - not by fighting, but by training a young, up and coming fighter named Tyrell Banks. 

The story is very inspiring, no matter if the reader is reading it through the eyes of Mickey, Danny or Tyrell. Polli does an excellent job of developing all three of these characters fairly quickly without needing to go into extraneous information or with long side stories to explain their characteristics.  This is the biggest strength of the book, along with a good fast paced story.

If a reader wants to read it as a sports story more than as a story about the main characters, then it’s quite good for that as well. While the reader will get some bits and pieces of Mickey’s fights through flashbacks, the best writing about the sport is during Tyrell’s training sessions, both before and after Mickey becomes his trainer. 

Not only is the story great, but so is the ending for all three of these characters. It’s a short, quick read that readers of both boxing and inspiring stories will enjoy.

I wish to thank the author for providing a copy of the book.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FXHBWTKH/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20