Review of “Iron in the Blood”

With the calendar turning to August, that means college football season will soon be upon us. To get ready for this season, I picked up a book that is about a game played at the end of the season, the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn. Excellent book on one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries. 

Title/Author: “Iron in the Blood: How the Alabama vs Auburn Rivalry Shaped the Soul of the South” by Jay Busbee

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: College football has many legendary rivalries, some of which are quite fierce and quite old - Michigan-Ohio State, California-Stanford, Minnesota-Wisconsin and Oklahoma-Texas to name a few. One of the best is an intrastate rivalry in the Southeast Conference, Alabama vs Auburn. This book by Jay Busbee takes a deep dive into the history of these two schools in the Yellowhammer State.  

Both schools get equal amounts of coverage in the book, something that is refreshing when one considers the storied history of Alabama Crimson Tide football and their overall success which is much greater than Auburn. Coaches for both the Tide and the Auburn Tigers are portrayed here. Especially the legendary names at both schools - Shug Jordan for Auburn, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nick Sabin for Alabama are the most notable names among the coaches. Players such as Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Joe Namath (Alabama) also have much text dedicated in the book. Busbee does a great job of telling how the contributions of these men, plus others, have helped shape this rivalry into one of the best in college football. 

His accounts of some of the more memorable games in this series, such as the 2013 “Kick Six” game, the 1972 “Punt, Bama, Punt” game and the 2023 Gravedigger game. Each one of those chapters allowed the reader to relive those extraordinary games with enough details and storylines to give a complete picture of the intensity of the rivalry. 

But what makes this book so good are the stories away from the football field and how anyone living in Alabama will be chanting either “Roll Tide” or “War Eagles” depending on their loyalty. One of the best stories in the book was already known by many football fans even if they don’t have a rooting interest in this rivalry. An Alabama fan named Harvey Updyke poisoned two oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn. Those trees were covered in toilet paper when Auburn would win the Iron Bowl and Updyke wanted that to end after the Tigers won in 2010. He eventually pled guilty to the crime. While there have been other publications and stories about this, Busbee’s detailed and complete account of this is great reading and just one example of how he brings the deep seated passion of these rivals to life. 

Even if a reader doesn’t take sides in Iron Bowl matchups, they will be informed and entertained by reading this book. Any college football fan of any team will want to add this one to their bookshelf.

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

Link:https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Blood-Alabama-Auburn-Rivalry-ebook/dp/B0DL7D7ZP6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0 

Review of “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty”

Keeping up with my theme of reading a book about the team or sport I am attending, I read this book on the New York Yankees on a bus trip to Yankee Stadium. Even though it’s been out for a long time, I have had it on my TBR pile for a long time and now it’s finally on the “previously read” file. 

Title/Author: “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty” by Buster Olney

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: In the six year period from 1996 to 2001, the New York Yankees played in the World Series 5 times, winning 4 of them in 1996 and in 1998-2000. This book by ESPN baseball expert Buster Olney examines the only one they lost in that time frame and specifically game 7 in which they lost when Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks their first, and so far only, championship.

The book digs deeply into the Yankee organization, from owner George Steinbrenner and his micromanagement of the club to players who were important to the success of the team. This included the superstars like Derek Jeter, other key players like Tino Martinez and David Cone (even though Cone was not on the team in 2001) and Chad Curtis. Even if a reader has read other books or material on the Yankees during that time frame, this is still a very interesting look at the team and one might find new information on those Yankee teams. 

This type of information is inserted between chapters that describe an inning of game 7 on the 2001 World Series. If there is anything that makes the book less than enjoyable for a reader, it could be this back and forth between game 7 and the sections on the Yankee organization. I thought that structuring the book in this manner worked well, especially when the chapter on game 7 ended with a Yankee player making a hit or out and the next chapter would lead with something about that player. 

It’s a different look at that time frame of the storied Yankee history. It also isn’t too critical of the team but doesn’t sugar coat the problems that were building up beneath all the winning. It’s a fair and balanced book that baseball readers should enjoy.  

Link:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BM2ZM2/ref=ku_mi_rw_edp_ku

Review of "Talking Baseball with Major League Stars"

Fairly short book resulting in a fairly short review - but packed with good information.  It did have a little (very little) "Glory of Their Times" feel, but it was less about the stories of these men and more about the game of baseball itself. 

Title/Author:

“Talking Baseball with Major League Stars” by Wayne Stewart

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

If one wants to learn about any aspect of baseball, whether it be pitching, hitting, fielding, strategy, or any other topic related to the game, it only makes sense to talk to those who do it best.  That is the concept behind this book by Wayne Stewart, where a reader will learn about these topics and more from interviews with many Major League baseball players and managers.

Through these numerous interviews, Stewart was able to craft a decent narrative on so many different approaches to the game. This is not only due to the sheer number of people who provided quotes and information, but just because of the many nuances of the game. A great example of this is the section on pitching, which was my favorite chapter of the book. Just about any type of pitch that a reader can think of, whether it is in current use (split-finger fastball, cutter) or one that is not used as often as it used to be (forkball, knuckleball), there will be several people giving their opinions or knowledge about that topic. 

While this makes for very interesting reading and even hardcore fans can learn something new, it can get overwhelming at times to read the book.  Not so much because of the information, but because of the sheer number of players and managers interviewed.  I had a hard time keeping track of which person said which quote when many would talk about the same detail.  It was still good to read, just hard to follow who said what.

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

Link: Talking Baseball with Major League Stars: Stewart, Wayne: 9781538185285: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "This is Panther Country"

It isn't often that when I read a book involving sports, the stories that are not about the game but that are about other parts of life are what I enjoy.  This book falls into that category and it made for a very good book.  

Title/Author:

“This is Panther Country: A Memoir of Youth, Underdog Spirit and Basketball Glory” by Tom McKeown

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Some people will look back on their days in junior and senior high school with fond memories.  Some are glad they are far away in the rear-view mirror.  Tom McKeown is part of that first group, especially during his year in 8^th grade (1974-75) when his local high school, the Babylon Panthers, overcame long odds to win the Long Island basketball championship.

McKeown was a player for his junior high team but was injured for most of the season. That didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the game as he wrote about his experience at every game the Panthers varsity team played and the action he describes is as good as any professional game. One of the playoff games went into triple overtime and the reader will be sweating out every word as much as the fans at the gym were sweating out every possession.

More than basketball, what makes this book a joy to read is just seeing the world through the eyes of an 8^th grader and for a grown adult to write in this manner nearly 50 years after experiencing it was quite a change from most memoirs.  It got to the point that more than the Panthers basketball team, I was rooting for McKeown to win over the girl he was crushing on, Virgina. Sadly, unlike the Panthers, Virginia started going out with another boy. The way McKeown wrote this side story, along with others such as after game parties, was excellent and was a great portrayal of his entire school year, with the basketball championship an extra bonus. 

If a reader enjoys reading stories like this, whether as YA fiction or memoirs like this, then pick up this book and enjoy the life of a huge basketball fan in junior high and what it was like to root for a championship team.

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

Link: Amazon.com: This Is Panther Country: A Memoir of Youth, Underdog Spirit, and Basketball Glory eBook : McKeown, Tom: Kindle Store

Review of “The Last Hockey Game”

It isn’t often I’ll find a good hockey book in the summer, but my local library had an e-version of this one. Between the title, the fact this was the last game of hockey’s Original Six era AND the winner of this game has not won a championship since the, I had to try it.

Title/Author: “The Last Hockey Game” by Bruce McDougal

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: On May 2,1967, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 to win the Stanley Cup 4 games to 2. It marked the last game of the “Original Six” era of the NHL as six expansion teams were set to begin play the following fall. This book by Bruce McDougal not only tells the story of that game but also gives the reader a great look at the players, coaches, owners and others who made that period of hockey very interesting . 

Every player on the two teams, from Hall of Famers (17 in total, 10 for Toronto, 7 for Montreal) to the fourth line players, everyone gets at leas a passing mention in this book. The description of the game action is so detailed that a fan who was alive at that time can close their eyes and imagine Foster Hewitt (another person who got a great portrayal in the book) calling the action.

The reader will also feel a sense of what the business of NHL hockey was like at that time. With no union or free agency and only six teams, players had accepted whatever was offered by the owners, who were mostly not viewed in a favorable light in these sections. Whether they truly were villains or just trying to maximize their wealth and power (oh,wait, maybe that DOES make them villains), a reader will learn much about the business side of the game at that time as well as what it was like on the ice when McDougal writes about the players. They are portrayed as regular men just trying to eke out a living playing a rough game.

I thought the book was dragging at first, but once I got into the game itself, it turned out to be a very good read. I’d recommend this for any reader interested in that era of hockey. Also, as of the writing of this review, it should be noted that this was the last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup - the longest current drought of any hockey team.

Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Last-Hockey-Game-Bruce-McDougall-ebook/dp/B00LUSEOA8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0 

Review of “The Fight of His Life”

Having not picked up a boxing book in a while, I decided to request this one on Joe Louis. While there is boxing in it, this book is really about so much more. Here is my review of “The Fight of His Life.”

Title/Author: “The Fight of His Life: Joe Louis’ Battle for Freedom During World War II” by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: It is well known and well documented that Joe Louis became a national hero when he defeated German fighter Max Schmeling to become the heavyweight champion of the world at a time when the Nazis were rising to power in Germany. What isn’t as well known was Louis’ later troubles with blt at racism and segregation when he enlisted in the United States Army to help defeat the Nazis. His time in both the ring and the military is captured in this book co-written by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith.

As the subtitle will imply, much of the book is dedicated to Louis’ time in the Army. Instead of engaging in combat duty, his main duty was to promote goodwill amongst the troops, put on boxing exhibitions and to also show at least on the surface that Black soldiers were making a difference in the Allied forces’ efforts. As Roberts and Smith illustrate, that was not the case. Some of the best work they do in this book are also some of the hardest parts to read. The discrimination, poor work assignments (especially for Black enlisted sailors in the Navy) and treatment on liberty by military police are portrayed in enough detail that will make even a hardened reader shake their head.

Along with the portrayal of Louis as a vice for the Black military member, the book does a very good job of portraying Louis as a great boxer, a married man with a wandering eye (especially while in service as he and Lena Horne were an item) and also as a person who was used and indebted to his boxing manager Mike Jacobs. I never realized just how much financial difficulty Loouis had until reading this book. 

This is a book that certainly pulls no punches to fully describe the activist in Joe Louis and for that reason alone, it is one that should be read by all, not just boxing fans.

I wish to thank Basic Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own. 

Link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DZ22V8KN/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0DZ22V8KN&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Review of "Black Noon"

This is one of the very few books I have purchased since launching this book review site, mainly because it was published just after I started writing and it was not available in digital format at any library.  No problem - while it's been awhile since I bought the book, it is still a great book for racing fans. 

Title/Author: “Black Noon: The Year They Stopped the Indy 500” by Art Garner

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:  The 1964 Indianapolis 500 was not remembered because one of the most popular and successful drivers of this race, A. J. Foyt was the winner.  It was not remembered because Foyt won driving a roadster, a car that was becoming less popular in favor of rear-engine models such as Lotus.  No, it is remembered because of the tragedy that took place on the second lap in which two drivers, Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs, were killed in a fiery crash that is still being discussed today more than 60 years after it happened.

Author Art Garner, a well-respected motorsports writer, does a great job of covering everything from the cars to the drivers (not just MacDonald and Sachs) to the owners and tire company CEOs to break down not only what happened on that fateful Memorial Day race, but also complete research and writing about so many factors taking place before the race.

There are three main sections to the book.  The first one focused on many personalities involved in racing at that time.  Of course, Sachs and MacDonald have extensive write ups of their lives and racing careers, but there is other great information on the personalities mentioned above.  Mickey Thompson, who was the owner of rear engine style cars and who hired MacDonald as a driver, is one example of a person whose story is well covered and well written by Garner. His coverage of the competition for use of tires between Firestone and Goodyear is also worthy of mention here.

The second section of the book focused on the month of May 1964 before the race takes place.  The inside look at Gasoline Alley is fascinating. Garner’s writing about events such as the first day of qualifying in which the pole sitter will be determined, the test rookie drivers must pass before being allowed to attempt to qualify and Moving Day, in which the drivers who are in the lower places may get bumped by faster cars on that last day of qualifying, was outstanding.  As one who is a casual fan of the Indy Car series, this information on what takes place in Indianapolis in May was quite fascinating.

The third section is about the race itself and its aftermath.  It is surprising that the writing about the actual accident and fires that killed the two drivers is more matter-of-fact than emotional and that is very good.  Garner saves the emotional aspects for later and he again writes about nearly everyone who would comment.  Of course, the two widows were covered, but the reactions of other drivers, crew members and others at the track was what truly made the tragedy of this event even more poignant.  Even Foyt, when accepting his congratulations in Victory Lane, is subdued when he finds out the news about Sachs and MacDonald.

Art Garner is one of the best motorsports authors I have read, and even though this book has been out for 11 years, it’s still a great read for motorsports fans about one of the most tragic days in racing.

Link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GET19G0/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20