Happy New Year!

2016 was a terrific year in sports - the Chicago Cubs won their first championship in 108 years, the Cleveland Cavaliers brought their city a championship team in any sport for the first time in 52 years, and two American swimmers (Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky) became the most decorated Olympic athletes at the Rio games.  It was also a year of sadness, as we lost many in the sports world, including Muhammad Ali, Gordie Howe, and Arnold Palmer, three of the greatest at their games.

Also, on a personal note, 2016 was a terrific year for this blog and myself, with more and more of you coming over to take a look at the reviews, offer books and other kind words.  I thank each and every person who has visited this site - we shared the same love of sports and through books, that passion can be shared and passed down through the generations.

Here's wishing everyone a safe, happy and prosperous 2017.

Review of "Dynamic, Bombastic, Fantastic" - the Oakland A's of the 1970's

Whenever I can find anything new on the baseball team that I consider to be the best that I have seen in my lifetime, the Oakland A's from 1971-75, I eagerly pick it up and devour it.  That was the case with this book when I saw it was available on NetGalley, and it did not disappoint.  It covered nearly everything important that happened to that team on and off the field.  Here is my review of "Dynamic, Bombastic, Fantastic."

Title/Author:

“Dynastic, Bombastic and Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish and Charlie Finley’s Swingin’ A’s” by Jason Turbow

Tags:

Baseball, professional, history, Athletics, championships 

Publish date:

March 7, 2017

Length:

432 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

The Oakland Athletics, or as their owner liked to call them, the “Swingin’ A’s”, were the best baseball team in the early and mid-1970’s. They won five straight division titles between 1971 and 1975, including three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974.  With this type of success, one would think that the team would be a big draw, the players would want to continue their success in Oakland and the owner was very popular.

Those assumptions would be incorrect and the adventures of this team and its owner, Charles O. Finley (referred to throughout the book as the “Owner”) are chronicled in this entertaining book by Jason Turbow. The A’s of that time were not only talented with baseball skills on the field, but many were talented with their fists in the clubhouse, team plane or hotel as they were just as competitive in their fights in those locales as well as on the diamond. Turbow writes about both of these aspects of the team with equal parts knowledge and amazement as the fights kept on coming.

Whether the player was Reggie Jackson (fight with Billy North), Rollie Fingers (fight with John “Blue Moon” Odom) or Bert “Campy” Campanaris (threw a bat at a Detroit pitcher in the 1972 postseason), the stars of the team are covered in a manner that the reader will learn what made him a great player and a complex person. None of the stories outside of the diamond are written in great detail, but the reader will learn more about each of these players who all shared one thing in common: a strong dislike of the Owner.

The Owner draws much of the wrath of the author throughout the book as no matter what transpires on or off the field with the club, Turbow will find a negative connection to Finley in which the Owner’s action or inaction, depending on the type of transgression, ended up having negative consequences for the A’s. While none of this information is incorrect and the conclusions are backed with solid evidence, the reader will be left with the conclusion that the team won DESPITE Finley, not because of anything positive he did.  To be fair, the book isn’t a completely critical account of his tenure as owner - and it bears repeating that all criticism of the Owner is backed up by solid research - but the question is raised about just how good this team would have been for a long time had Finley not made some questionable decisions. This consistent negativity toward Finley was the only blemish in the joy I had in reading about those A’s teams and the dominance they displayed on the field. 

For fans of baseball in the 1970’s, this is a book that is highly recommended as it is one of the most complete books written about the best team of that decade.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)

Buying links (pre-order at time of posting):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544303172/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0544303172&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dynastic-bombastic-fantastic-jason-turbow/1124079662;jsessionid=BDD99606162768BD46A41777DACB8E4E.prodny_store02-atgap01?ean=9780544303171&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004

Review of "Baseball's Most Baffling MVP Ballots"

For everyone who is celebrating, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.  I wish everyone a joyous holiday season, no matter how you celebrate.

While the holiday season doesn't coincide with baseball season, debate amongst fans about awards, players and the like knows no season.  So with that mind, I present this review on a terrific book on some of the more questionable selections on the most valuable player in baseball. This is my review of "Baseball's Most Baffling MVP Ballots".

Title/Author:

“Baseball’s Most Baffling MVP Ballots” by Jeremy Lehrman

Tags:

Baseball, professional, history, awards

Publish date:

September 20, 2016

Length:

256 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (Outstanding)

Review:

Baseball fans love to debate nearly everything about the game – are pitchers more valuable than position players? Are batting averages overrated? Should a player on a last place team win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award?

This last question, while not directly answered, is just one of the many aspects of that coveted award discussed in this witty, well-researched and well-written book by Jeremy Lehrman. As the title suggests, it does talk about some of the more controversial  MVP awards, but it does so much more than just that.

Of course, some of the most famous “wrong” choices are discussed at length such as Roger Pekinpaugh in 1925, Dick Groat in 1960, Willie Stargell in 1979 and Justin Morneau in 2006.  Through advanced statistical analysis, mostly using Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Lehrman makes a compelling case on who should have been the proper winner those years and others as well.

For those who may think that this is just another book that tries to rewrite history by using advanced statistics that were not in vogue during prior generations, think again.  Yes, Lehrman does that, but for every disagreement with the winner chosen by the baseball writers he does two things that are admirable: one is that for most of the winners, he gives a plausible explanation of why he believes that the winner was chosen and will often say that the choice does have some merit, even that winner was not necessarily the best choice. Lehrman then follows that up with who he believes was the true MVP with statistical proof to back him up. Most of the time, he relies just on the raw advanced data for this with some other anecdotes.

These anecdotes include some great one-liners that make reading the book a treat.  Among the best ones are these three gems: 

• When discussing the poor fielding by 1996 AL MVP winner Juan Gonzalez, he penned this gem: “When tracking fly balls in the outfield, Juan Gonzalez showed the judgment of a teenager on prom night.”
  
  
• For another great line about a poor defensive player, Dante Bichette, try this one: "Bichette played left field with the same speed and grace Peter Boyle brought to the monster in Young Frankenstein."
  
  
• Everyone knows why Roger Maris was the 1961 winner, but Lehrman goes against that logic: “Maris was known for his strong arm.”

Written in a conversational style with strong support for his conclusions, extensive knowledge and use of advanced statistical analysis and yet some consideration for those who still value traditional statistics and methods, this book is one of the better baseball books that question previous awards or strategy. It is one that serious baseball fans must read, especially those who enjoy debating the topics at the start of this review.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Most-Baffling-MVP-Ballots/dp/147666675X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1482600085&sr=8-1-spell

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baseballs-most-baffling-mvp-ballots-jeremy-lehrman/1123942735?ean=9781476666754

Review of "Father Bauer and the Great Experiment"

No matter the sport or how big a fan one is of that sport, there is always something new that will be learned by reading books about that game. I had never known that the Canadian Olympic hockey team was not always made up of the best amateur or professional players. The man who came up the idea to create this national team is the subject of this very good book.  Here is my review of "Father Bauer and the Great Experiment."

Title/Author:

“Father Bauer and the Great Experiment: The Genesis of Canadian Olympic Hockey” by Greg Oliver

Tags:

Ice Hockey, history, Winter Olympics

Publish date:

April 11, 2017

Length:

360 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

It is hard to picture now, but until 1963, Canada’s Olympic hockey was not a collection of the best players, either amateur or professional, as is the case now. The team that won the Canadian Junior championship the previous year was sent to the Olympics and usually the results were positive. However, that was not the case in 1960 when the United States pulled off the upset and won the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Father David Bauer had a dream to create a true national team that would represent Canada in all international hockey competition as well as the Olympics. His dream became a reality and the road that led to the creation of this team, and what happened afterward as well, is captured in this well-researched and well-written book by Greg Oliver.

The events that led up to the creation of the national team are covered in full detail and the reader will learn a lot about why there was no true national team before 1963.  It is important to read about this as it will illustrate to the reader why Father Bauer’s work to convince the powers-that-be to create this team was so crucial to the sport.  This was now a true national team and represented Canada well, despite not earning a medal due to a change in the determination of the final standings in the 1964 Olympics. Oliver’s writing will take the reader back to that time and he or she will feel much sympathy for the team.

The story doesn’t stop there, as Oliver chronicles the later decision by Canada to stop participating in international tourneys and Olympic Games, only to make a return in 1980. Father Bauer’s involvement with the team and the sport through this period is also covered and before this, Oliver does his best work in the book by writing about Father Bauer’s career in hockey at St. Michael’s College. The chapters on his coaching career and the turns it took is well worth the time to read and the reader will come to know the man and how important a role he plays in the sport.

This is a very good book that is recommended for any reader who wants to learn more about the history of Canadian international hockey or about the life of the man who made the country’s national team truly national.  Readers who are not familiar with the history of this team will learn a lot and will see just how important the sport is in the lives of all Canadians, not just fans and players. But most important, the reader will learn how much Father Bauer meant to the game and why he is a beloved figure to all of those who played for him.

I wish to thank ECW Press for providing a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links (pre-order at time of posting):

https://www.amazon.com/Father-Bauer-Great-Experiment-Canadian/dp/1770412492/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1482370435&sr=1-1&keywords=father+bauer

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/father-bauer-and-the-great-experiment-greg-oliver/1124519354?ean=9781770412491

Review of "The Last Great Fight"

Great upsets in every sport are remembered over generations. Whether it was the US Olympic hockey team defeating the USSR in 1980, Chaminade defeating #1 ranked Virginia or this heavyweight boxing championship, moments like these always have more to the story. This book on the night when Buster Douglas defeated Mike Tyson is a great boxing book and is highly recommended.  Here is my review of "The Last Great Fight."

Title/Author:

“The Last Great Fight: The Extraordinary Tale of Two Men and How One Fight Changed Their Lives Forever” by Joe Layden

Tags:

Boxing, history, upsets

Publish date:

October 2, 2007

Length:

320 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (Outstanding)

Review:

It was considered to be one of the greatest upsets in the history of boxing.  On February 11, 1990, James “Buster” Douglas, a 42-1 longshot against heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, knocked out the champion in the tenth round to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. This book by Joe Layden not only captures the events and magnitude of the fight itself, but also portrays both of the fighters and the paths they took both before and after that fight.

Nearly every aspect of the actual fight is detailed well – from the opening bell when Douglas showed that Tyson would not intimidate him to the eighth round knockdown of Douglas that was later protested by Tyson’s manager Don King as a “long count”, to the devastating punch in the tenth round that made Douglas the champion, everything about the fight is covered.

However, the true beauty of the book is the writing about both fighters and important people in their lives. Layden treats controversial subjects well, such as some of Tyson’s worst moments like his 1992 rape conviction or his stormy marriage to actress Robin Givens.  Oh, yes, Tyson’s boxing career and training are also well-researched and detailed.

Douglas’s story gets equal billing, but instead of the headlines, Layden covers the personal relationships that made Douglas the man he became.  The first chapter is a brief history of his father’s boxing career and the toughness he displayed – though not all of it was passed down to his son. The relationship Douglas had with his managers, his wife and his parents are captured well here, enough to make the reader feel that he or she has known Douglas personally. 

Because of the way he writes about each fighter, the differences between them are stark and the reader will be able to note these right away.  Differences such as the even keel that Douglas tried to live his life as opposed to the extremes of Tyson. The differences in the way each man handled his money, his fame and his championships are also evident in the manner in which Layden portrayed the two men.

Not only because of the historical nature of the bout, this is a book that all boxing fans should include in their libraries because of the amount of information on the two fighters and how well each one is portrayed.  This was an excellent book that was well worth the time it took to read.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Nook)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Great-Fight-Extraordinary-Changed/dp/0312353316/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1482030596&sr=1-1&keywords=the+last+great+fight

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-great-fight-joe-layden/1100358439?ean=9780312353315

Review of "Will Big League Baseball Survive?"

The title of this book is a question that seems to be asked all the time, but yet the game continues to thrive despite all the supposed ills.  This book is a well-researched one that addresses the question beyond the usual ills that are supposed to doom the sport.  Here is my review of "Will Big League Baseball Survive?"

Title/Author:

“Will Big League Baseball Survive? Globalization, the End of Television, Youth Sports and the Future of Major League Baseball” by Lincoln A. Mitchell.

Tags:

Baseball, history, business

Publish date:

December 12, 2016

Length:

208 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

It has been said that as much has been written about the future extinction of baseball as there has been about the game itself.  That was what I thought this book was going to be about from this title. However, that is not the case as Lincoln A. Mitchell delivers a volume that is as much about why the Major Leagues are where they are at today and the directions they may take in the future.

Nearly every reason given that baseball is a dying sport, from lower television ratings to the aging of its fan base, is explained in the book and while the facts are not refuted, there are explanations of why this is happening and how baseball can offset that trend. Indeed, Mitchell praises many initiatives taken by baseball, including how well the sport has used technology to market and expand its product. Also, the globalization of the game is well-covered, not only on the native country of players, but also how the game is being introduced to nations in which it has never been played before. This has all come when the game’s leaders such as former commissioner Bud Selig has repeatedly pointed out how well the game’s economic health has stayed with high attendance and merchandise sales figures.

That doesn’t mean Mitchell only paints a rosy picture of the game.  The scandals on performance enhancing drugs and the subsequent slow reaction by officials is the subject of substantial criticism.  While the game does have a diverse player population, the same cannot be said of the fans, which are mainly American and white. A topic rarely discussed in baseball, gender discrimination, is addressed in a convincing manner. Also addressed is income inequality, something that is surprisingly wide just among the fan base.  For a long time, the game was sold as affordable family entertainment because the tickets were inexpensive, but Mitchell shows that just is not the case any longer.

The book’s title is answered in the affirmative, with several situations analyzed and some intriguing possible scenarios, such as expansion to include teams in the Far East and the Caribbean. None of them are far fetches and Mitchell uses sound logic and research to make his points here as he does throughout the book. While at times it reads as a scholarly work instead of a book for pleasure (and that may very well be the case), it is one that baseball fans will enjoy as it addresses a question as old as the game itself in a very different light.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Will-League-Baseball-Survive-Globalization/dp/143991379X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481503152&sr=1-1&keywords=will+big+league+baseball+survive

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/will-big-league-baseball-survive-lincoln-mitchell/1123583479?ean=9781439913796

Review of "Frick*"

With the completion of baseball's Winter Meetings, actions by the front office of the teams was on the minds of all baseball fans.  With that in mind, it is with excellent timing that I picked up this book on Ford Frick, the third commissioner in baseball history. He was best known as the man who added an asterisk to Roger Maris's record of 61 home runs in 1961. That is not completely accurate.  The complete story, along with the rest of Frick's career, is captured in this book.  Here is my review of "Frick*"

Title/Author:

“Frick*: Baseball’s Third Commissioner” by John P. Carvalho

Tags:

Baseball, history, commissioner

Publish date:

November 9, 2016

Length:

324 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very good)

Review:

In 1961, when Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were threatening to break Babe Ruth’s single season record of 60 home runs, a former ghostwriter for Ruth declared that in order for a season record to be recognized, it had to be accomplished in 154 games, even though the season was extended to 162 games that season. When Maris hit his 61^st home run in game 162, his accomplishment was recorded with an asterisk. 

The man whose ruling brought about the unusual notation, Ford Frick, was the baseball commissioner and therefore had the power to make such a ruling. His time as commissioner and his accomplishments in journalism and baseball prior to becoming the third commissioner in baseball history is told in this well-written book by John P. Carvalho.

More than just a recap of Ford’s life, Carvalho writes in depth about the ruling and how the asterisk became the notation for Maris’s record.  It is noted that this was not Frick’s idea to use that symbol, but instead an offhand remark by one of Frick’s most ardent supporters, sportswriter Dick Young from New York. 

Frick was also a sportswriter before becoming president of the National League and then commissioner. One of his more well-known assignments was as a ghostwriter for Babe Ruth when Ruth would be “writing” columns for newspapers during his playing days. Critics of Ford’s ruling about single season records point to this job and would say that this was what drove his ruling – to make sure that Ruth would still hold the record.  Carvalho does a good job of refuting that criticism and portrays Frick as a man who made decisions involving the game independently without too much influence from others.

Frick also oversaw many important milestones in the game as well, including keeping the game going during World War II, integration, teams moving to new locations (five franchises moved during his tenure) and expansion from 16 to 20 teams. Carvalho covers these issues fairly as he does portray Frick as a man who would usually defer to the wishes of committees created to address these issues. However, that led to more criticism with some calling him the “do-nothing” commissioner. Without sounding too complimentary, Carvalho addresses those concerns. Just like with the Maris/Ruth ruling, Frick’s work on those issues was done with much input from others but the ultimate decisions were his.

This book is recommended for readers who wish to learn about the history of the game during that era and the background to understand why so many teams moved during that time or what was going on in the administrative offices of both the National League and the commissioner’s office. It is a complete, thorough account of Frick’s time in baseball that should be on the bookshelf of readers who enjoy the sport.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)

Buying links (pre-order at time of review):

https://www.amazon.com/Frick-Baseballs-Commissioner-John-Carvalho-ebook/dp/B01N97FLI5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frick-john-p-carvalho/1124742270?ean=9780786495320

Review of "Suicide Squeeze"

It's hard to believe it was nearly 12 years ago that several major league baseball players were called before Congress to testify about the use of steroids and none of them (Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero and Jose Canseco) had much to say that was helpful.  However, parents of two young men who committed suicide after abusing steroids chasing their baseball dreams did present powerful testimony.  The stories of those two young men whose lives ended far too soon are the subject of this book.  Here is my review of "Suicide Squeeze."

Title/Author:

“Suicide Squeeze: Taylor Hooton, Rob Garibaldi and the Fight Against Teenage Steroid Abuse” by William C. Kashatus

Tags:

Baseball, high school, college, youth sports, USC, performance enhancing drugs

Publish date:

January 23, 2017

Length:

256 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very good)

Review:

Much has been written and said about the use of steroids, or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in Major League Baseball.  However, the use of PEDs is not limited to the big leaguers – there are also players who have used them in high school, college and amateur baseball in order to gain a competitive advantage. The stories of two players who used them and ultimately committed suicide are the central tales of this book written by William C. Kashatus.

The two players involved are Taylor Hooton (cousin of former major league pitcher Burt Hooton) and Rob Garibaldi. Both players started using steroids in high school with the hopes of improving their performance in order to attract the attention of professional scouts or obtain college scholarships. The latter did happen for Garibaldi, as he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Southern California, one of the more prestigious college baseball programs. However, both of them ultimately committed suicide as the side effects of the drugs took effect.

The book starts out with the testimony of a parent of each player, Don Hooton and Denise Garibaldi, presented to Congress during the 2005 hearings on PED use in baseball.  That was the most powerful section of the book as both parents gave moving accounts of what their sons went through and the responsibility that major league baseball has in letting everyone know about the danger of these substances.

From there, the reader will learn much about the two young men, their dreams and what they would do in order to achieve them.  More than just success on the diamond, Kashatus also explains other reasons that young men would want to use these drugs, such as physical enhancement to be more attractive to the opposite sex.  Kashatus conducted interviews with family members and also did extensive research on the drugs. Some of those passages are very technical in nature. If the reader is not familiar with this topic, they will have to be carefully read in order to fully appreciate what the drugs to one’s body and mind.

Written with the goal of hoping to prevent additional suicides by young athletes, this book is one that should be read by anyone who is involved in youth sports in order to fully learn about the dangers of abusing these drugs. It will make the reader stop and think about PEDs and whether the risk of taking these is worth it.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links (pre-order at time of review):

http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/2434_reg.html

https://www.amazon.com/Suicide-Squeeze-Garibaldi-against-Teenage/dp/1439914389/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480990586&sr=1-3&keywords=suicide+squeeze

Review of "Drama in the Bahamas"

We are coming up on the 35th anniversary of the last fight of Muhammad Ali.  For those of us who saw that fight, as I did in a hockey arena on closed circuit TV, we remember it as a sad occasion to see the great champion only as a shell of what he once was. This book is an excellent account not only of the fight but of the entire adventure that led up to the bout.  Here is my review of "Drama in the Bahamas."

Title/Author:

“Drama in the Bahamas: Muhammad Ali’s Last Fight” by Dave Hannigan

Tags:

Boxing, professional, history

Publish date:

August 2, 2016

Length:

216 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (Outstanding)

Review:

More often than not, the last fight in the career of a championship boxer is a sad occasion. That fighter believes he has enough left to win that fight and maybe even be on track to regain the championship or win it in another weight class. In 1981, that was the situation for Muhammad Ali.  At least publicly, he believed that despite his loss in 1980 to Larry Holmes he could become a four-time champion and would be on his way back by defeating Trevor Berbick.

That didn’t happen as Ali lost the fight, and as this well-written book by Dave Hannigan illustrates, Ali was not as focused on the fight as one would think for a person who wants to reclaim the title.  Also, the book details the many blunders that promoters made in preparation for this fight, as several times it seemed that the fight would not happen.

The book explores nearly aspect of the events that led up to the bout on December 11, 1981 and there were many obstacles. It was clear from the start that the promoters were short on money and had trouble finding a locale for the fight.  Even the one that was ultimately picked in the Bahamas was makeshift, cramped and uncomfortable for the fighters (the undercard included Thomas Hearns and Greg Page). 

While he didn’t write a lot of words describing this particular issue, one of the better illustrations of just how much of a fiasco the whole event turned into was when Hannigan wrote that there was a lack of new boxing gloves for the fighters. This shortage was severe enough that Hannigan mentioned that trainers were requested not to cut off the laces when removing the gloves from the fighter’s hands so that they may be used again.  For a major boxing event, this was one of the sadder tales.

But none were sadder than that of Ali, who was a shell of the great fighter that he was and this is the best writing in the book.  The press, TV networks and most other promoters wanted nothing to do with the bout as they did not want the public to see Ali in this condition – they wanted to remember him as the brash young man with the quick moves and devastating punches.  Also, Berbick’s rise to contender status by the time this fight took place is also well-documented by Hannigan.  Much like the publicity, Berbick wasn’t forgotten, but he certainly played second fiddle to Ali, whose loss made for a sad ending to an excellent career. This book is one that all boxing fans should add to their bookshelves.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drama-in-the-bahamas-dave-hannigan/1122432132?ean=9781613218983

https://www.amazon.com/Drama-Bahamas-Muhammad-Alis-Fight/dp/1613218982/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480779670&sr=1-1&keywords=drama+in+the+bahamas+muhammad+ali%27s+last+fight

Review of "The Baron and The Bear"

Sometimes a book that promises to challenge a long-held belief or show another side of a historic moment can fall short of that promise.  This book about the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship does not do that - it is a terrific book mainly on the two coaches of that historic game and will make the reader think a little differently about the two men.  Here is my review of "The Baron & The Bear."

Title/Author:

“The Baron and the Bear: Rupp’s Runts, Haskins’s Miners and the Season that Changed Basketball Forever” by David Kingsley Snell

Tags:

Basketball, college, race, Kentucky, Western Texas

Publish date:

December 1, 2016

Length:

312 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (Outstanding)

Review:

The championship game for college basketball in 1966 was a watershed moment, not only for the sport, but also for the civil rights movement of the time. Texas Western University (now the University of Texas-El Paso) faced Kentucky in that game. It was significant because Texas Western, coached by Don Haskins, started five black players while Kentucky, coached by the legendary Adolph Rupp, not only started five white players, but did not have a single black player at all. Texas Western won the game and in doing so, started a transformation in the game that still affects the sport today.

David Kingsley Snell paints a masterful picture of the two coaches in this book that not only chronicles the season for the two teams, it sets aside some of the hyperbole surrounding the game and lets readers judge for themselves how much race played a factor in the coaches’ recruitment and handling of his respective teams.

There were more similarities than differences between the coaches, a point that Snell makes clear throughout the book. While the players may have been different, the coaches both used drills repeatedly throughout practice to make their teams fundamentally sound and well-conditioned. Through interviews with surviving players from both teams, the reader will come to view both coaches as driven men who want to win all the time and will do whatever it takes during practice to make sure the players are ready come game time.  In fact, many players many that the games were the easy part of the season and that practice was the time to dread.

It isn’t often the that epilogue of a book will be the most thought-provoking section, but that is the case here.  After the game, and even to this day, the popular belief is that Rupp was a racist because he refused to recruit black players and allegedly made racist remarks to reporters and his team. Those are refuted by players, Rupp’s staff members and other members of the press as part of the epilogue in the book. Most of these charges were published in Sports Illustrated, at the time one of the most influential publications in sports and therefore were common beliefs.  Snell does a good job showing that coach Rupp may not be the vile person some thought he was. It is also noted that Rupp tried to recruit a black player (Wes Unseld) prior to the 1965-66 season but was rebuffed by many at the school as well as by the “gentleman’s agreement” in place at the time that Southeast Conference schools will not recruit black players.

In the same token, Haskins is not portrayed as a champion of civil rights but simply as a coach driven to win and to do so, he will put his best players on the floor, regardless of their race. The team gelled during the season, was brought down to earth when an inferior team defeated them and then went on an incredible run to win the championship, much like any other team has done regardless of its racial makeup.

“The Baron & The Bear” is an excellent account of not only the teams but an in-depth look at what made these two coaches tick. They will be forever linked together by this historic game and they are linked together here as well. Basketball fans will enjoy reading about the coaches and should make this one part of their libraries.

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

Book Format Read:

Hardcover

Buying links:

https://www.amazon.com/Baron-Bear-Haskinss-Changed-Basketball/dp/0803288557/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480254556&sr=1-1&keywords=baron+and+the+bear

http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Baron-and-the-Bear,677281.aspx