I received a request from the author to provide a review of this brief book on professional football. I gladly did so as the book was a quick read. Here is the review:
Title:
"The Great Book of Football: Interesting Facts and Sports Stories" by Bill O'Neill
Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
If a reader is looking for a quick but complete history of professional football, this short book by Bill O'Neil is a very good source. Covering the game from the early days of the NFL in the 1920's up to the amazing comeback by the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, the book covers a lot of information, leagues (including the AAFC of the 1940s and 50's and the AFL of the 1960's) and players. Of the latter, great players from every era has an essay written about hi!, from Bronco Nagurski to Tom Brady. While no section is very long or overly detailed, each era has enough information to satisfy those readers who wish to learn more about the sport during that time.
The trivia part contains 5 multiple choice questions at the end of each chapter, which also lists interesting facts from the chapter as well. The questions are fairly easy, especially if the reader was paying attention. This book is recommended for those readers who wish to learn more about professional football in a short time.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Review of "The First Major"
It has been too long since I reviewed a book. With obligations to both work and a community organization to which my wife and I belong, plus postseason baseball, I was falling behind on my reading. But if anything can break a person out of a reading slump, picking up a book by an author the reader loves can do the trick. That happened with me with this book, as I have been a fan of John Feinstein ever since I read his first golf book, "A Good Walk Spoiled." His latest golf book continues his legacy of excellent golf writing. Here is my review of "The First Major"
Title/Author:
“The First Major: The Inside Story of the 2016
Ryder Cup” by John Feinstein
Tags:
Golf, professional, championship
Publish date:
October 24, 2017
Length:
320 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (Outstanding)
Review:
What started as a relatively friendly competition between groups of
professional golfers in the United States and Europe, the Ryder Cup, has become
one of the most emotional and pressure-packed events in golf. The 2016 edition was no different and the
entire competition, as well as the history of the event, is captured in this
book written by best-selling author John Feinstein, who is a very respected
author on the sport.
Having read every book for an adult audience that Feinstein has written, I
opened the book with very high expectations. The first half of the book was
very informative as it gave a very good account of the history of the Ryder Cup
as many legendary golfers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have competed in
the competition. Some golfers have performed
better on this stage than the tourneys in which a golfer’s own individual score
is his only concern, not that of a team. An example of a player with this
reputation is Colin Montgomery, an outstanding European Ryder Cup player. Feinstein shares the story of the Ryder Cup
through descriptions of stories of Montgomery and many others who have gone
through the joy and the agony of the tourney.
As a reader, I found this part of the book a little difficult to follow.
One reason is that when something takes place at a past Ryder Cup, the year isn’t
given but instead the location such as Gleneagles (2014) or Medinah
(2012). Until I got used to this, I had
to frequently look back to find out what year that particular incident took
place. Also, the pace of these stories,
while fascinating and entertaining (especially the Phil Mickelson press
conference at Gleneagles), was fairly slow.
However, once the book shifted from the history of the competition to the
actual 2016 Ryder Cup played at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota, then the
writing was pure Feinstein magic that his fans like me have come to know and
love about his books. Even though I knew
who won the tournament, it read like a gripping drama, complete with great
golf, emotional speeches by the players, unruly fans and eventually a
championship won in which the winners were elated and the spirits of the losers
were deflated. I look at this ending like a round for a golfer who struggled on
the front nine, but once he or she made the turn, the shots were going straight
and the putts were finding the cup. The
writing about the actual tournament was so good, if it were the golf round
described above, Feinstein would have been threatening to shoot under 30 on the
back nine.
Golf fans and fans of
Feinstein’s work will want to add this book to their libraries as it is another
work in the long line of excellent golf books by the author. If the reader has
not heard of Feinstein, this is an excellent introduction to his writing.
I wish to thank
Doubleday Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for
an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Review of "Defying Expecations"
A confession: I hardly paid attention to Major League Soccer until I attended my first game this summer, watching the new expansion club Minnesota United face DC United. The atmosphere was great and the fans were some of the noisiest I have ever heard at a sporting event that I attended. When I heard about this book and the same type of environment that is present for another fairly new MLS club, I decided to take a look at the book - that was a good choice. Here is my review of "Defying Expectations."
Using Six Core Values the couple developed at the kitchen table, they set out to find investors and other key personnel required to build a team. Like in Austin, the franchise in Orlando started in the United Soccer League, winning the title in their first year, 2011. But unlike Austin, they saw much more potential. Through hard work, perseverance even after setbacks such as denial for stadium funding from the Florida legislature and a very large and loyal fan following, the club became an MLS expansion team in 2015. They made the league sit up and take notice by not only signing Brazillian superstar Kaka, but also for selling over 60,000 tickets for the very first game. Orlando City has been one of the more successful MLS franchises since then and they hope to continue this into the future.
Title/Author:
“Defying Expectations: Phil Rawlins and the
Orlando City Soccer Story” by Simon Veness and Susan Veness
Tags:
Football (European), soccer, professional,
biography, business
Publish date:
November 1, 2017
Length:
304 pages
Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
No matter the sport,
league or level of play, one of the more difficult tasks in the business side
of sports is to build a franchise from scratch.
Phil Rawlins, his wife Kay and their team of investors and executives
did this in Major League Soccer, building the Orlando City Soccer Club from the
ground up. Their success, starting with
Phil’s success in both business and football in England, is captured in this
book by Simon Veness and Susan Veness.
The origins of Orlando
City can be traced back to another soccer club, Stoke City who is currently a
club in the English Barclay’s Premier League.
This team was the one Phil Rawlins followed from childhood and when they
had been playing poorly enough to be relegated out of the Premier League,
Rawlins felt it was time to do something about that and he became an influential
member of Stoke’s board. His innovation put Stoke back on track, but the lure
of building a soccer team in the United States brought him to Austin,
Texas. There, with his then-wife Wendy
(Rawlins would have three wives, Kay being his most recent) they put together a
success team in the heart of American football territory, piling up wins and
drawing fans to Austin’s minor league team.
However, Phil’s
ultimate goal was to build a team in the largest American league for soccer,
Major League Soccer (MLS). The league wanted to expand to the southeastern part
of the country and Orlando was considered to be one of the markets in which a
franchise could be viable. By then, Phil
realized he had gone as far as he could in Austin, so he and his new wife
decided to make the plunge and go for it in Orlando.
Using Six Core Values the couple developed at the kitchen table, they set out to find investors and other key personnel required to build a team. Like in Austin, the franchise in Orlando started in the United Soccer League, winning the title in their first year, 2011. But unlike Austin, they saw much more potential. Through hard work, perseverance even after setbacks such as denial for stadium funding from the Florida legislature and a very large and loyal fan following, the club became an MLS expansion team in 2015. They made the league sit up and take notice by not only signing Brazillian superstar Kaka, but also for selling over 60,000 tickets for the very first game. Orlando City has been one of the more successful MLS franchises since then and they hope to continue this into the future.
This entire story is
told in an easy to read manner by Simon and Susan Veness and covers much of
Phil Rawlins’ life successes in both business and soccer. The story of how he
went from a hustling salesman to earning $259 million on an initial IPO is just
as interesting a tale as is the success of Orlando City. The book is part business, part soccer and
part biography of a man who never let setbacks stop him from achieving his
visions. It is an inspiring story that
readers will enjoy, even if they are not soccer fans.
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/Defying-Expectations-Rawlins-Orlando-Soccer/dp/1496201760/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&srThursday, October 12, 2017
Review of "Violated"
This book needs no explanation about the content or the topic. This is an issue that is saddening and maddening at the same time. It is a book that needs to be read and then those that read it should do what they can to correct the current climate of sexual assault on college campuses. This is my review of "Violated."
Title/Author:
“Violated: Exposing Rape at Baylor University
Amid College Football’s Sexual Assault Crisis” by Paula Lavigne and Mark
Schlabach
Tags:
Football (American), college, rape, Baylor,
crime
Publish date:
August 22, 2017
Length:
368 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Sexual assaults on
college campuses have been a problem that has gained more notoriety in recent
years as universities have been held responsible to create a safe environment
for women. The institutions have been accused of protecting athletes accused of
assault, especially football players.
Baylor University, a Baptist school in Waco, Texas was exposed to
enhancing this culture and the investigation into this culture is the topic of
this excellent book by investigative reporters Paula Lavigne and Mark
Schlabach.
The book begins with
stories of unwanted advances, rape and even gang rape of female students by
various football players on the Baylor team. The victims are from various
backgrounds, races and interests. The accounts
of these attacks are difficult to read – detailed enough to make the reader
uncomfortable, but necessary to illustrate the magnitude of the crimes. These
victims are followed through most of the book as their lives are changed
forever. Those that were brave enough to
come forward then faced more problems on several fronts. Whether it was Baylor
officials not believing the victims, assailants being protected by coaches and
other school officials, or investigations that ranged from incomplete to poor,
the book shows the lack of compassion the university gave these young women.
As for the players, they
are not given any slack by the authors – they are held responsible for their
actions and the excuses or protection provided by the university’s athletic department
are exposed for the obstruction of justice that they are. The football coach and athletic director eventually
lose their jobs over this issue. Other
players who are not accused or took part in any of these assaults for the most
part are not affected, but those who would protect teammates or accuse the
victims of lying or consenting are criticized just as much as those who assaulted
the women.
Even more than the
players, however, is the harsh criticism that Baylor University took by the
authors and it was well-deserved. In
addition to the aforementioned lack of sympathy for the victims, the compliance
with Title IX, the federal law that promotes gender equality on college
campuses, was poor as well. The authors expose Baylor’s reporting of sexual
assaults and subsequent interviews and closing of cases that left a lot to be
desired. The people responsible are many and not just those in the football
program. Like most scandals, the
responsibility comes from the top, as college president Ken Starr (yes, THAT
Ken Starr) had to give up the position.
While this was a very
difficult book to read on all fronts and in all chapters, it is one that is
necessary to read in order for one to comprehend the scope and horror of the
sexual assault crisis. The reader will not only be angry at the men who
assaulted these women, it will be clear to the reader that the university must
bear the ultimate responsibility for the victims and must work to change their
culture.
I wish to thank Center
Street for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest
review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
Monday, October 9, 2017
Review of "S is for the Stanley Cup" - children's book
I was thrilled to receive a request to review a children's hockey book. Last spring, I took my grandson to his first hockey game and he had a blast. I am visiting him again in a couple weeks and I plan on going to another one with him. Thanks to this request, I now have a book to help him learn more about the game as well. Here is my review of "S is for the Stanley Cup."
Title/Author:
“S is for the Stanley Cup: A Hockey
Championship Alphabet” by Mike Ulmer, illustrated by Chris Lyons
Tags:
Ice Hockey, championship, children’s book
Publish date:
August 15, 2017
Length:
32 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
The Stanley Cup is one
of the best known and much loved championship trophies in sports. It has a colorful history and many
interesting tales outside of the hockey rink.
In this book written for children ages 6 to 9, Mike Ulmer tells this
history and some other related hockey poems in poems that start with each
letter alphabetically. To go with each
poem, a short story consisting of one or two paragraphs will further explain
the word used to start the poem and its importance to hockey.
While most of the
letters are devoted to the Stanley Cup, there are poems and stories about
players, funny events with the trophy such as baptizing babies and even a
parade of Zambonis. The latter is the last page of the book and describes the
1997 Zamboni parade in St. Paul, Minnesota to celebrate being awarded a
franchise before a new arena was built.
While the stories and
poems make for fun reading by themselves, the illustrations by Chris Lyons are
the best features of this book. The
drawings of famous players such as Jacques Plante, Wayne Gretzky and Mark
Messier are especially impressive as Lyons is able to capture their facial
features in good detail so that adults who are reading along with the child
will be able to easily recognize these players.
If a child is
interested in hockey, then this book is one that he or she should read. The
child will learn a lot about the game and smile at some of the funny stories
and have that learning enhanced by the wonderful illustration.
I wish to thank Sleeping
Bear Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
Buying Links:
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Review of "Dennis Maruk"
Every now and then, a book comes out that will bring back some good sports memories even before I read it. That was the case with this book, as I remembered Dennis Maruk during his seasons with the Minnesota North Stars, the team I loved growing up and later as a young adult before they left for Dallas. Even though Maruk had his best season with the Washington Capitals, I was eager to read his memoir. This is my review of that story.
Title/Author:
“Dennis Maruk: The Unforgettable Story of
Hockey’s Forgotten 60-Goal Man” by Dennis Maruk with Ken Reid
Tags:
Ice Hockey, professional, memoir, Seals, Barons, North
Stars, Capitals
Publish date:
October 17, 2017
Length:
320 pages
Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
There have been only
20 players who have scored at least 60 goals in one season during the 100 year
history of the National Hockey League.
Most of them are well known stars such as Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy and
Phil Esposito. There was also a player
who was considered too short to be successful in the game and often toiled for
poor teams who was the seventh player to scored 60 goals. That player is Dennis Maruk. His memoir, co-written with hockey scribe Ken
Reid, tells of the story of a player who always had to prove he belonged in the
game and lived just as obscure a life after hockey.
The consistent theme
throughout the book for Maruk is that he always would do what he felt needed to
be done. Whether it was on the ice
during his days in junior hockey or the NHL, he would always believe he had to
prove himself. Whether it was to show
his junior coaches he could play, to prove in NHL training camp that he didn’t
need to go to the minor leagues (the only time he played in the minor leagues
was well into his career when he did a rehab stint in the minors) or to gain
more ice time, Maruk’s stories about his career sounded like he played with a
constant chip on his shoulder.
Even during his
amazing season in 1981-82, when he scored 60 goals for the Washington Capitals,
he felt responsible for the fact the team did not make the playoffs. In those days, that was not easy as 16 of the
21 teams in the league would do so. Also,
that season is when Wayne Gretzky set the all-time record for goals scored with
92 and points with 212. In comparison,
Maruk’s 60 goals seem small potatoes and because so much attention was given to
Gretzky’s accomplishments, this was barely noticed, even in Washington. While Maruk doesn’t express any bitterness
toward this, the overall tone set in the book will make the reader wonder whether
deep down, he does.
This also the case
with his teams – his first professional team, the California Golden Seals, was
a lost soul among NHL clubs, first struggling in the Bay Area, then moving to Cleveland
and playing in a large empty arena and finally merging with the Minnesota North
Stars. After the merger, the North Stars
traded Maruk to the Capitals, where he had that magical season. Later, he headed back to Minnesota and played
there for a few more seasons before retiring in 1989. His life after hockey was filled with many
encounters with celebrities. Maruk talks
most about his interaction with Kurt Russell, who played Herb Brooks in the
movie “Miracle.” Maruk played for Brooks
for one season with the North Stars, and was the coach with whom he had the
most pleasant memories in the book.
Maruk also talks about
the problems he had in his personal life, including his two divorces and his
depression in which his daughter talked him out of a dark place in his
life. He held various jobs after hockey,
including working on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico. These stories made this
memoir a little different than many.
Also, another unusual aspect of this sports memoir is that Maruk often
states that he didn’t remember many of his career milestones, such as his first
NHL goal, although at least that wasn’t the case for his 60th in
1982. It wasn’t because he was in a fog,
hung over (although he does talk about alcoholism) or high – he simply states
he doesn’t remember. Aside from some
drinks, he wasn’t a hard partier or seen with many women – he just did the work
that he felt needed to be done.
This book was a very
quick read – it took me less than a two hour sitting to complete it, another
rarity in sports memoirs. It is one that
is recommended for hockey fans who either remember him and his play, as I did,
or for readers who want to learn more about the forgotten 60-goal man.
I wish to thank ECW
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/Dennis-Maruk-Unforgettable-Hockeys-Forgotten-ebook/dp/B06ZYJR5F8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507508658&sr=1-1&keywords=dennis+maruk+bookSaturday, October 7, 2017
Review of "Golden Days"
Having been in a bit of a reading slump, the best way to get out of it is to pick up a book by an author whom I like. This book is written by Jack McCallum, considered to be one of the best basketball authors today. This did the trick - it was a great book on two legendary teams. Here is my review of "Golden Days."
Title/Author:
“Golden Days: West’s Lakers, Steph’s Warriors
and the California Dreamers Who Reinvented Basketball” by Jack McCallum
Tags:
Basketball, professional, Lakers, Warriors, championship
Publish date:
October 24, 2017
Length:
336 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Two of the best teams
in the history of professional basketball are the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers
and the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.
Both teams had lengthy winning streaks – Golden State had a 24 game
streak and the Lakers had a 33 game streak that still stands as the longest
winning streak by a professional team in the four major sports. Both teams won their respective championships. Both teams had several all-star players on
the roster. The comparison between the
two teams is captured in this wonderfully written book by Jack McCallum,
considered one of the better basketball authors in the business.
There is one link between
the two teams from different eras – Jerry West.
West was one of those all-star players on that Lakers team, and was
relieved to finally win a championship after many years of finishing second to
either the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks.
After his playing career, he worked in the front office for several
teams, but his best work was with the Warriors in putting together the team
that includes Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Drayman Green.
The book is fast
paced, has many humorous passages and is a wonderful looks back at both teams’
construction and the championship seasons.
One chapter is dedicated to each game of the Lakers’ historic winning
streak – this was my favorite section of the book as a reader will either have
great memories of the team or, if too young to have seen this team, will learn
what the culture of professional basketball was at the time and the colorful
characters that made up the Los Angeles Lakers.
This doesn’t mean
McCallum shorts changes his quality work for the Warriors either. The reader will learn how the Warriors went
from laughing stock to domination through the hard work of new-thinking owners,
sheer luck on draft night in 2009 that allowed them to draft Curry and how they
have become the hip team of the current basketball culture. I enjoyed reading about this team as well,
mainly because McCallum writes in such a manner that he shows great respect for
both teams without the book coming off as a love fest for either one of
them. It is simply a lot of great information
and stories about two legendary teams. This book is highly recommended for all basketball fans of all ages.
I wish to thank
Ballantine Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for
an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
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