Review of "Race and Resistance in Boston"

This was a book that was outside of my usual comfort zone, and it was well worth the time to read.  It took careful reading to fully grasp the various messages being sent in the variety of essays, but it was certainly worth it.  Here is my review of "Race and Resistance in Boston." 

Title/Author:

“Race and Resistance in Boston: A Contested Sports History” edited by Robert Cvornyek and Douglas Stark 

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Trying to write a review of this book can be a challenge – just like describing the history of racial issues in Boston, especially in the world of sports.  This collection of essays is a very noble attempt to describe how various sports played a role in this discussion and how the full history can be best described as “complicated.”

Just the well-known facts can send a mixed signal to the average person – Boston teams were the first ones to draft a Black player in the NBA (Chuck Cooper, Celtics), to have a Black player appear in an NHL game (Willie O’Ree, Bruins) and the first Black coach to win an NBA title (Bill Russell, Celtics.)  Yet, the Red Sox were the last baseball team to integrate, they held a bogus “tryout” for three players in 1945, including Jackie Robinson, and the city as a whole held Black athletes to different standards.  Even legends like Russell felt that the city was less than welcoming toward them. 

This collection of essays tries to bring to light some of the lesser-known matters of the issues, challenges and successes experienced by these athletes. One excellent example is the rich history of semi-pro baseball in the Boston area by many Black teams. They not only played excellent games, some of which are described in great detail, they also faced many white or integrated teams and received praise for their play.  This was the best chapter for one of the main goals of the book – to shine the light on lesser-known athletes and their accomplishments.  That goes for their work toward civil rights and equality for all people as well as their athletic achievements.

The variety of sports covered in the book was also impressive – baseball, hockey, basketball, cricket, tennis and golf are just a few of the sports in which Boston-based Black athletes made contributions to both their sport and the fight for equality.  That was the biggest takeaway I had with this book – the sheer number of unknown athletes whose contributions have been lost in time.  It should also be noted that the subjects of equality for women, non-binary athletes and the LBGTQ+ community are also addressed in the book as well as racial issues.

The book is a more scholarly one in nature, has many notes and references and is one that a reader must read carefully to fully grasp the message being sent by the writer.  However, that time will be well spent after learning the amazing work done by these athletes.

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: Race and Resistance in Boston: A Contested Sports History: Cvornyek, Robert, Stark, Douglas, McCourty, Devin: 9781496232687: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis"

Train rides are always the best time for me to catch up on reading and on my recent travels to Washington, DC via train, that gave me that opportunity.  One of the older books on my TBR pile was this one on a tennis player whom I never heard of, but had a story that should be told - and it was by her granddaughter. 

Title/Author:

“The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis” by Felice Hardy

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  The story of Liesl Herbst, as told by her granddaughter Felice Hardy in this family memoir, is one that is at times compelling, at times inspiring but for the most part tragic.  Liesl came from a Jewish family in Vienna with some wealth – but being Jewish in a country so close to Germany, there were rumblings of trouble when the Nazis rose to power.  Before this however, Liesl wanted to channel her athletic talent into tennis and follow her idol, Suzanne Lenglen into the sport. 

Through extensive research (by herself and other researchers in Austria and Czechoslovakia), Hardy is able to not only find out about her grandmother’s tennis career but is also able to describe in great detail about the escape from Austria that Liesl and her daughter Dorli (Hardy’s mother) were able to accomplish and settle in London.  Because Liesl was a former tennis champion in Austria, she wanted to compete again and was able to do so at Wimbledon.  She and Dorli became the only mother/daughter team to compete at Wimbledon and while they may not have advanced far in the tournament, it was a testament to their athletic ability and their determination in both athletics and survival.

However, this book is not all positive.  The rest of the family members did not escape the Nazis and all perished at various points during their imprisonment.  These passages, which were more of the book than Liesl’s tennis accomplishments, were difficult to read, but really were necessary for both the reader and the author.  Hardy should be commended for remembering all members of her family, not just her famous grandmother.

There are many conversations that are quoted in the book and given the time frame and lack of ability to verify these from survivors, one must consider these as conversations that Hardy believed these people would have had when either making their escapes or being captured. The journey of David, Liesl’s husband, to London after sending his wife and daughter there almost reads like a survivalist story.  While this is not to question any of the authenticity of this and other similar accounts, it does appear that some of this is what Hardy believes her family members did and said. However, that doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the book.  It is one that is a very good read and while tennis is a part of the story, the takeaway after reading is how much suffering people endured at the hands of the Nazi party during the Holocaust.

I was provided a review copy via NetGalley and the opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis: From Vienna to Wimbledon, one family’s struggle to survive and win: 9781802471199: Hardy, Felice: Books

 

 

Review of "Carrie Soto is Back"

As part of my goal to read more fictional sports book, I decided on this one because from the description, I thought the main character would be based loosely on Serena Williams.  While there is coaching from her father, there are some, but not too many other similarities.  That is a good thing, as Carrie Soto is a very interesting character in an excellent novel.  Here is my review of "Carrie Soto is Back." 

Title/Author:

“Carrie Soto is Back” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:  While I have started reading more fictional sports books, I had never seen one in which tennis was the primary sport.  Having never read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid previously but reading so many reviews and articles describing her work, I decided to pick up this novel on a brilliant but unlikable tennis star, Carrie Soto.  Carrie was the record holder for most Grand Slam titles up to her retirement in 1989, then it was threatened to be broken by Nikki Chan.  Soto decides to come out of retirement in 1994 to play in the 1995 Grand Slam tourneys to re-claim her record.

This book validates all the positive material about Reid’s work. The best part of her work is the character development of not only Carrie, but also her father Javier.  Javier coached Carrie during her career and is doing so for her comeback as well.  Other great characters in the book include Bowe Huntley, a male tennis player making his own comeback and was a former romantic partner of Soto; her agent Gwen and even Chan, whom the reader learns more about later in the book.  All of them are brilliant people in one way or another and yet, have flaws that make them vulnerable. Readers can relate to all of them, even if they are not great tennis players.

During her time as a champion, Carrie is called a “battle axe” or even worse, the “bitch” due to her abrasive personality and that shows during her comeback as well.  But there is more to Carrie than the hardened personality and killer on the court and it is for this reason that I believe the book is well worth the time for anyone to read, even if they are not tennis players, fans or even know much about the game.

Be prepared, however, to read a lot about tennis and the strategy, types of shots and what goes through players’ minds as they prepare for matches.  These passages are written skillfully by Reid in that they are complex enough for tennis buffs to not be bored while reading them, yet simple enough that even those who have never been exposed to the game will be able to understand them.  More importantly, regardless of how well the reader understands the sport, the tennis passages give great insight into the characters of Carrie, Javier, and Bowe.

The book and story flow well and the ending is not entirely predictable.  Granted, there are only two ways the ultimate goal for Carrie will end, but which one of those will happen is in question until the end. That isn’t because of the suspense, but simply because the reader will be rooting for whatever character appeals to them the most – and that just might be a hard decision as this is a completely engrossing book with memorable characters and great tennis action.  Fans of either Reid or tennis should add this one to their library.  

 

Link: Carrie Soto Is Back: A Novel: Jenkins Reid, Taylor: 9780593158685: Amazon.com: Books

 

Review of "Own the Arena"

Admittedly, I had never heard of Katrina Adams when I saw this book offered on NetGalley and then I kept it buried in my TBR pile (unintentionally, of course).  Glad I finally pulled it out and read it, thanks to a couple of Goodreads challenges.  Here is my review of "Own the Arena."

 

Title/Author: “Own the Arena: Match Points for Winning, From the Blacktop to the Boardroom” by Katrina M. Adams

Rating:  4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: In tennis, the U.S. Open is not only one of the four Grand Slam events, but it has also been compared to the Super Bowl in terms of its power to attract fans, celebrities, top players and generate money.  Katrina Adams provides readers of this book a first-hand look at not only the action on the court, but an inside look at what goes into putting on an event like the U.S. Open, well beyond the two weeks of tennis.

Adams draws on her experience as a college and professional player and later her term as President of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to not only showcase the U.S. Open but also provide readers with glimpses into her life, both personally and professionally.  Her success in both areas was due to many factors and some of those she shares with readers in such a way that no matter one’s profession and athletic interests, if any, they can be used to achieve one’s goals.

Being the first Black woman to hold the position, Adams faced many challenges as one might expect.  She speaks eloquently and passionately about overcoming racism and sexism in the sport and does so without bitterness.  Indeed, she talks glowingly about those who helped her along the way and shared the same passion.  One excellent example is Billie Jean King, who she credits as being a pioneer in brining many issues to the forefront for women’s tennis such as equal pay and facilities.  Her dialogue on these social issues is never condemning – she does include white men when she talks about diversity and welcoming all views – and a reader will come away with a new sense of awareness for these matters.

As for the tennis, her career as a player is covered adequately, but her career in the management of the USTA is much better.  It may be due to recency, or maybe the accomplishments, but for both topics, a reader will learn much about Adams and her work at the USTA and U.S. Open.  An excellent story, for just one of many examples, is how her culinary team makes sure that there is appropriate food for all tastes and cultures of VIPs who visit those suites during the tourney.  One particular guest whose taste for Southern food resulted in collard greens and fried chicken made for a very touching story. 

Accounts like this are what make this book an enjoyable read for any tennis fan, whether or not they are familiar with Adams’ career either as a player or as an executive. The tips are all applicable to her work in both areas and will be for a reader as well.  

I wish to thank Amistad for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Own-Arena-Match-Points-Winning/dp/0062936824/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1659727901&sr=1-1

 

 

Review of "Signature Shoes:

One of the goals I set for this blog when I started it over seven years ago was to review books on as many different sports or topics involving sports as possible.  This is the first book I have reviewed that is strictly about shoes and the athletes who wear them and/or have their names attached to them. Here is my review of "Signature Shoes."

Title/Author:

“Signature Shoes: The Athletes Who Wore Them and Delightful Pop Culture Nuggets” by Ryan Trembath

Tags:

Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, history, shoes

Publish date:

November 28, 2020

Length:

154 pages

Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

While most people have either heard of or owned a pair of Air Jordan’s, many may not know that that was far from the first shoe that was the signature shoe of a well-known athlete. That distinction went back a couple decades and the history of signature shoes for athletes is described in this interesting book by Ryan Trembath.

The practice of attaching an athlete’s name to a shoe began well before Nike did this for Michael Jordan.  It wasn’t an uncommon practice for tennis players (Stan Smith, Ille Natase and Billie Jean King, for example) or soccer players, especially the great Pele, to have signature shoes.  At that time, the two major shoe companies doing so were Adidas and Puma. Trembath gives the reader a brief but informative history of those two rivals and others who soon joined in the business such as Nike, Reebok and PONY.

By the 1990’s the market for such shoes became oversaturated and that is about where the history lesson in the book ends, but there is more to read than just shoes. There are also interesting facts about many of the athletes whose names were attached to the shoes as well as some pop culture tidbits tossed in at various points in the book.

At a quick 154 pages, this book is not an exhaustive history of shoes or sports, but does give the reader a very interesting and entertaining look at the industry of the signature shoe and is worth a look for any reader interested in this topic.

I wish to thank Mr. Trembath for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)                                                                                                                                

Buying Links:

http://www.eckhartzpress.com/shop/signature-shoes-the-athletes-who-wore-them-and-delightful-pop-culture

Review of "Different Strokes"

When offered this book for review by the publisher, I really didn't know what to expect - would it be a crowning of the Williams sisters as the best players?  Would it be an expose on racial inequality in tennis?  Would it highlight other black stars?  The answer to all of these questions is yes, and so much more.  Here is my review of "Different Strokes"

Title/Author:

“Different Strokes: Serena, Venus and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution” by Cecil Harris

Tags:

Tennis, professional, race, politics

Publish date:

February 1, 2020

Length:

256 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

An entire generation of tennis fans have seen sisters Venus and Serena Williams dominate the sport like few others have done in the past.  While their accomplishments, most notably Serena’s, are remarkable, their struggles to be accepted and recognized for their greatness within their sport because of racial issues highlight this book by Cecil Harris.

Harris not only writes about the two sisters and their careers, but also educates readers about the larger struggle African-Americans have faced in tennis. Starting with Althea Gibson, the woman credited with breaking the color barrier in the sport, Harris writes with knowledge and passion about her, the Williams sisters, Arthur Ashe, Sloane Stephens and many other black players who have achieved greatness.  While the Williams sisters, Gibson and Ashe have the most pages written about them, Harris touches on many different players.  He also writes not only about their achievements on the court, but their achievements and struggles off the court as well.  A particularly well written piece was about the unprovoked attack by police on former player James Blake in a case of mistaken identity.

Another aspect of the book that is very important to Harris’ message is that he not only writes about players gaining in acceptance and accomplishments, but also the struggles and inequality suffered by African-Americans wishing to seek jobs in the sport in areas such as coaching or umpiring.  The inequality in the latter profession, especially in terms of assignments for major tournaments and in moving up in rankings. Umpires are provided a colored card based on experience and merit, ranging from white to gold, with the latter receiving the highest salaries and best assignments. 

The writing clearly shows that Harris is not only knowledgeable about the sport, but that he is passionate about both the game and the issues surrounding blacks in tennis.  This book will provide much needed insight into the matter of race in tennis and illustrates that while there has been much progress in that area, especially given the professional and social presence of Serena Williams, there is still much work to do to address the inequalities still in existence.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

                       

Book Format Read:

E-book (hardcover)                                                                                                                         

Buying Links:

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496214652/

https://www.amazon.com/Different-Strokes-Serena-Unfinished-Revolution/dp/149621465X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Serena Williams"

While there are many books written about Serena Williams, including an autobiography in 2009, this book is worth the time to read as it delves deeply into her life and activism off the court as well as her record-setting tennis career.  Here is my review of "Serena Williams"

Title/Author:

“Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend and Cultural Heroine” by Merlisa Lawrence Corbett

Tags:

Tennis, biography, professional, race, women

Publish date:

February 15, 2020

Length:

208 pages

Rating: to

3 ½ of 5 stars (good)

Review:

When an athlete becomes known when just the first name is said – for example Tiger or LeBron – it is clear that the athlete would be not only a great player but well-known outside of sports as well.  Serena Williams – hereafter referred to as "Serena" – has achieved this legendary status.  This biography by sportswriter Merlisa Lawrence Corbett tells readers how she rose to the top of the tennis world and at the same time became a voice for social, racial and gender equality.

Readers who want to learn about Serena's tennis career will have good material at their disposal, especially in the first quarter of the book and also near the end when Serena made her comeback attempt after giving birth to her daughter. These sections read like long recaps of important matches and Grand Slam events that Serena won mixed in with many observations made by other writers, her father Richard and her older sister Venus.

Throughout the book, Lawrence Corbett will remind readers frequently of the sisterly love between Serena and Venus.  This is especially noteworthy early in their respective careers as it was initially believed by many, including Richard, that Venus was the one who was going to be the tennis superstar. While Venus did end up having a very good career with multiple Grand Slam title, she was eclipsed by her younger sister, who at the time of publication has won 23 of these titles.

While the tennis makes for good reading, more of the book is dedicated to other aspects of Serena and her activism.  It is noted that her savvy use of social media has helped to have an even bigger presence than other athletes who were also addressing racial and gender issues.  Serena's successes are celebrated, such as getting all of the Grand Slam tournaments to offer equal purses for both men and women.  Even Serena's marketing success and fashion tastes (also part of the marketing) are described in the book.  These sections, while at times do repeat some talking points, nonetheless make very good parts of the book in which the reader will learn what makes Serena the international star that she is.

Lawrence Corbett does not shy away from addressing controversial topics such as the behavior of Richard, the booing of the two sisters at tournaments early in their careers and Serena's outburst at an official at the 2018 US Open finals when she was penalized a point.  These subjects are presented in a fair manner without editorializing and therefore the reader can come to his or her own conclusion. While no biography is truly complete without interviews from either the subject or those close to the person, the research and writing in this book makes it one that is worth the time to read if a reader wants to learn the complete story of Serena.   

I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Note: 3 ½ stars rating is rounded to 4 for Goodreads and NetGalley

                                                    

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Serena-Williams-Champion-Cultural-Heroine-ebook/dp/B07ZL39DQT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "The Strenuous Life"

Whether or not the book is sports-related, anything written about Theodore Roosevelt and his family is usually worth the time to read.  This book that concentrates on the role sports played in his life and in his Presidency is one of them.  Here is my review of "The Strenuous Life"

Title/Author:

“The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete” by Ryan Swanson

Tags:

Football (American), running, tennis, baseball, boxing, Olympics, politics

Publish date:

August 20, 2019

Length:

376 pages

Rating: to

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Theodore Roosevelt was known to be one of the more active Presidents, but just how active he was and the impact he had on both participating and spectator sports is captured in this book by Ryan Swanson.  In it, Swanson takes an in-depth look at Roosevelt's experience in sport, whether it was in his youth and college days, his time at the White House or frankly, any other time.

While many know about TR's concern about the violence in college football and his asthma that affected his activity as a child, other activities that are not as well know make their way into the reader's attention.  One of this is the "tennis cabinet" – staff members with whom TR would play tennis on a regular basis.  He was an enthusiastic boxer, both at Harvard and at the White House.  Of course walking regularly was also a favorite activity of his. 

Something that may be surprising, however, is his lack of enthusiasm for baseball.  Even though he was presented with a "golden ticket" good for admission to any major or minor league baseball game, Roosevelt believed the game was not active enough as he preferred sports and activities that required more motion by the body.  He felt that all ages should be more active, as he established what became known as the physical fitness tests for school-age children.

These are just some of the topics Swanson covers with gusto and in great detail. Because of the detail, it is a book that requires careful reading, but once done, the reader will have taken a fascinating look at the active life of the 26^th United States President.

                                                    

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Strenuous-President-Theodore-Roosevelt-American/dp/1635766125/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "The United States Tennis Association"

While most books I read about a sport off the field have to do with baseball, I found this one on the history of the United States Tennis Association very interesting.  If nothing else, after reading this, one will understand why the sport was considered to be only for the elite.  Here is my review of "The United States Tennis Association"

Title/Author:

“The United States Tennis Association: Raising the Game” by Warren F. Kimball

Tags:

Tennis, history, business

Publish date:

December 1, 2017

Length:

448 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Starting out as a group of elite white men from the northeastern part of the United States to help promote the game of “lawn tennis”, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has become the largest tennis association in the world. The organization boasts women in many leadership roles, revenues that total well into nine figures and is mostly run by volunteers.  The story of how this organization grew into a unique governing body is told in this book by Warren F. Kimball.

The UST(L)A – L for Lawn as that was the complete name for many years – had its humble beginnings in the Northeast and was composed of tennis clubs instead of individual memberships.  Indeed, the USTA did not begin soliciting individual members until the 1960’s, preferring instead to keep the organization as one of a collection of clubs.  The organization did grow from the Northeast all the way to California and spots in between but for most of its early years, it reflected the culture of the Northeast.  Kimball’s research and attention to detail bear this out well.

A major theme throughout the book is that the USTA would try to keep its championship tournament (which is today’s US Open) and the organization as a whole open to amateur players only.  Professionals who were collecting money for playing the game, in any fashion (prize money as we know it today was not won in those days), such as Suzanne Lenglen and Bill Tilden, were considered rogues.  In Tilden’s case, his rebellious ways against the USTA style did not help win him any fans in the organization.  However, this gradually changed as more people were willing to pay to watch these outstanding player and in 1968, professionals were allowed in the USTA and the US Open was truly an “open” tourney for both amateurs and professionals. 

The organization’s history after that point is also covered in the book as the game’s revenues and popularity grew out of being the reputation of being an elitist sport to one that can be enjoyed by all, both as a player and a spectator. Through the book’s entire description of USTA history, Kimball writes with meticulous detail that has to be read carefully.  This is not a book for the reader who wants a quick history lesson.  Instead, the reader who wants to learn everything he or she can about this extraordinary organization will want to pick up a copy of this one.  

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)

Buying Links:

http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/university-of-nebraska-press/9780803296930/

https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Tennis-Association-Raising-ebook/dp/B076PYBY3L/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr

Review of "Need One!"

This was a very different type of sports memoir that I had never heard about until the author sent me an email.  When I looked into this book, I thought that this would be a dream trip for any sports fan.  After reading this book, the dream may be wonderful or a nightmare, but it sure made for entertaining reading.  Here is my review of "Need One!"

Title/Author:

“Need One! A Lunatic’s Attempt to Attend 365 Games in 365 Days” by Jamie Reidy

Tags:

Football (American), tennis, bowling, volleyball, baseball, memoir

Publish date:

February 25, 2017

Length:

226 pages

Rating: 

4 ½ of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Every sports fan has a sports bucket list, places and teams that the fan wants to see at least once in his or her lifetime.  Dubbed “Sports Year”, author Jamie Reidy set out to do just that by attending one sporting even each day for an entire year. He also wanted to align Sports Year with the Wounded Warrior Project and allow wounded veterans to attend games and events on their bucket lists. 

While Sports Year fell short of the goal of one event every day for a year, the book does a fine job of capturing the adventures Reidy encountered while attending events.  He had to do this on a very limited budget as his hopes of obtaining sponsors did not go as well as he hoped (but he did end up sending out some Sports Year koozies for donors as promised).  He talks often about his 10-year-old Saab and the less-than-prime condition it was in to make the long journey.  His tales about his car were quite funny as were many of the other stories he shared.  This humor is the best quality of the book as it is not only entertaining, it kept the book moving along at a good pace.

Another nice touch to not only the book, but also Sports Year, is the variety of sports he attends.  Not only the types of sports, but also the age level of the participants.  During this trip, he becomes a big fan of girls’/women’s indoor volleyball.  He realizes how trivial his troubles during the trip are when he sees a softball game in which all players have had at least one limb amputated.  He gets to take veterans to some of the biggest venues such as Cowboys Stadium and Lambeau Field.  Through it all he maintains not only his sense of humor but also his sanity – at least enough to be able to write a very different type of sports memoir that any sports fan will enjoy reading.   

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Need-One-Lunatics-Attempt-Attend/dp/099808994X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&dpID=51XfprIyBXL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail