| Boxing is a sport that can bring out the best and the worst in human
beings. This is true for the fighters, the managers, the fans and nearly
anyone with a connection to the sport. Whichever way a story or personal tale
goes, this book on the sport in America and Britain during the 1990’s is
widely hailed as one of the best books on the sweet science ever written and
this reviewer agrees with that assessment.
Donald McRae, a writer for the British publication The Guardian, has
been transfixed by the sport for a long time so he set out on a year-long journey
to the United States and his adopted homeland of Great Britain (he is a
native of South Africa) and through his exchanges with some of the best
fighters of that era, he paints a very compelling picture of not only the
boxers but also of the role that race, violence and social status play in the
game.
Some of the fighters portrayed include Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., James
Toney (whose portrait graces the cover), Chris Eubank, Oscar de la Hoya, and Nassem
Hamed. Of course, promoters like Don King and Bob Arum are portrayed as well
as some others such as Jackie Kellum, the manager for Toney and one of the
very few females involved in the sport at the time.
However, instead of simply rehashing
information that can be found in other sources, McRae dives into the minds of
the people involved. The reader will feel like he or she knows the person
portrayed more intimately than before turning the pages. Just for one
example, the reader will learn that Mike Tyson is as well versed in
Hemmingway and Mao (and many other authors) as well as uppercuts and body
blows. While that wasn’t secret, it isn’t something that is described in as
rich detail in other sources as it is in this book.
I was particularly struck by the portrayal of James Toney as he had a
background similar to many other fighters.
That is, having no father figure in the house, a hard-working and
supportive mother and a close call to being another victim of the streets
instead of finding salvation in the gym. While all of these are true in Toney’s
life, he went through a different path, most notably helping his mother, who
was astute in business, by working at her bakery. Hiring a Jewish woman as
his manager and getting married young and having a daughter is also important
to his story as McRae illustrates how much the women in Toney’s life affect
him so much both in and out of the ring.
Since this book is best read in pieces, one person at a time, Toney’s
story is one that should be digested fully as the reader will come away mesmerized.
These are just a few examples of the fantastic prose shared by McRae in
this book that is now in its third publication and should be read by every
person with any interest in the sport. It is one that I will come back to for
re-reading sections time and time again.
I wish to thank Hamlicar Publications for providing a copy of the book in
exchange for an honest review.
Excellent
basketball memoir
Usually a sports memoir will follow the same pattern. An ex-athlete will talk
about his childhood, his career while playing his chosen game and his life
after retiring. While some of this is true for Metta World Peace (formerly
known as Ron Artest), his story takes on extra meaning because of his
willingness to talk about his mental health issues so candidly.
He does verify some of his more off beat moments, such as working at Circuit
City while still a player. He does
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