Sunday, December 30, 2018

Review of "Touched by God"

For my last review of 2018, I decided to pick a book written by a very controversial figure in soccer who scored one of the most controversial goals in World Cup history.  It was a very entertaining book and it is one to pick up if you remember this tourney.  Here is my review of "Touched by God"


Title/Author:
Touched by God: How We Won the Mexico ’86 World Cup” by Diego Armando Maradona
Tags:
Soccer, Football (European), Argentina, history, championship
Publish date:
May 30, 2017
Length:
256 pages
Rating: 
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
In a World Cup tournament that was both thrilling and controversial, Argentina won its second World Cup in 1986 behind the play of Diego Maradona. His memories of that tourney, as well as his thoughts on other players, coaches and the state of soccer in general are captured in this memoir.
There isn’t a topic about that tournament in Mexico that Maradona doesn’t mention as long as it involves Argentina’s national team. He talks about the training, the early travels to Mexico so that the team will be ready for the higher altitude. While he gives this action much credit for the success of Argentina in the World Cup, he was also highly critical of the team’s coach for his strategy and use of available players.
This last point is also worth noting because whether Maradona talks about that team, future Argentinian teams that fell short of the championship, European players with whom he shared the pitch in Naples, FIFA management and its current scandals, or even the media, it is clear that he still has some anger toward all of them, and more.  Some even believe his ego is far too big and that is the reason for this anger. While it is difficult to prove this, throughout the book he does explain why he believes what he believes and doesn’t really seem to care what others will say.
Which brings us to the main reason this book was one that I wanted to read – the controversial “Hand of God” goal in the quarterfinal match against England in that 1986 tourney.  Maradona doesn’t mince words – he states that he hit the ball into the goal with his fist, but since the referee did not call a violation and the linesmen did not challenge the call or state that they saw a violation, it is a goal.  It is the second goal he scored in that game, however, in which he has more fond memories and one that cemented his place as one of the best players in the world at that time.  That particular match also was played with the memories of the Falkland Islands war between England and Argentina still fresh in the minds of many.  Maradona tried to play down the memories of the war to use as motivation to win that match, but he repeatedly mentions that he was thinking about the young Argentinian men killed in the war.  So, it is safe to say that he and his teammates did use the war as a motivational tool. 
Maradona also talks about his family, his childhood, his drug use (albeit very briefly) and today’s game. What I felt was noteworthy about that latter topic is his praise for Lionel Messi, one of the best players in the world today.  He bristles at comparisons between himself and Messi, stating that neither should be considered “better” than the other but just that they are two great players in their time.
The book does have many references by Maradona to watch a particular highlight instead of a description. Also, he refers to many people by last name only so readers who are not familiar with that team will not know who he is mentioning.  Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read and one that is recommended for anyone interested in Maradona, that Argentina team or World Cup history.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Nook)
Buying Links:


Saturday, December 29, 2018

Review of "Beyond Broadway Joe"

It's hard to believe that it has been nearly 50 years since the New York Jets shocked the sports world and upset the Baltimore Colts in the third edition of the NFL-AFL Championship Game (it wasn't called the "Super Bowl" yet). This book is one of the most complete books about that team around.  Here is my review of "Beyond Broadway Joe"


Title/Author:
Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football” by Bob Lederer
Tags:
Football (American), professional, Jets, history, championship
Publish date:
September 11, 2018
Length:
416 pages
Rating: 
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
Even the most casual of football fans, no matter their age, know the story of Super Bowl III.  The New York Jets of the upstart American Football League were 17 point underdogs to the Baltimore Colts, champions of the well-established National Football League. The brash quarterback of the Jets, Joe Namath, guaranteed a Jets victory and his team delivered, scoring a 16-7 upset over the Colts and gave the newer league credibility.
However, it takes a team to win a championship in football and that means every member of that team makes contributions to the success that led to the victory. Author Bob Lederer focuses on those other players on the 1968-69 New York Jets and provides stories and insights into those other players as well as Namath, head coach Weeb Ewbank and owner Sonny Werblin – those three individuals are also given their due as the book profiles them after the initial chapter describing the game.
It isn’t easy to compile a collection of stories about football players who either play unglamorous positions (every offensive lineman, for starters), are back-ups at their position and see little game action (such as Namath’s back-up, Babe Parilli) or are now deceased and therefore could not share their recollections firsthand to the author. Nonetheless, Lederer does a wonderful job of writing about each of those “other” players. Not only does he mention the role each player had in making the Jets the champions (even if that player did not appear in the Super Bowl), he provides interesting facts about their professional and personal lives. One common theme for each player was camaraderie as it was clear from reading these stories that these men felt they were a total team and would do anything for each other. 
Each player was also graded by the Jets coaching staff on their effort and skills and this grade was explained by the author. Coach Ewbank had report cards for each player and many of these were shared and explained in the book. Hard core football fans will thoroughly enjoy these reports as they will provide insight into just how good this Jets team was and help provide evidence to argue that the victory by New York was not as big an upset as history has told us. Fans of a more casual nature may not catch on to each of these nuances but they still help explain how good a TEAM they were.
This is a must-read for readers who are Jets fans or pro football history buffs. It does provide a different and refreshing viewpoint of a very historic team and game.
I wish to thank Mr. Lederer for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
Buying Links:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-broadway-joe-bob-lederer/1126895902?ean=9780062798053#/


Sunday, December 23, 2018

Review of "The Greatest Athlete (You've Never Heard Of)"

Not every great athlete will achieve a lot of fame and recognition, but it would be hard to find any successful athlete who has been in relative obscurity than George Orton, the first native of Canada to win an Olympic gold medal.  The story of his life in sports and beyond is one that should be read.  Here is my review of an upcoming book on this remarkable man.


Title/Author:
The Greatest Athlete (You’ve Never Heard Of): Canada’s First Olympic Gold Medalist” by Mark Hebscher
Tags:
Track and Field, Summer Olympics, biography, ice hockey
Publish date:
March 12, 2019
Length:
240 pages
Rating: 
4 of 5 stars (very good)
Review:
George Washington Orton was paralyzed by an accident until he was 10 year old, but once he gained use of his limbs, he rarely stood still again as he became a world-class athlete, winning a gold medal in the 1900 Summer Olympics held in Paris. His event was the steeplechase, which is no longer an Olympic event. He was competing at the University of Pennsylvania at the time, and was mistaken as an American competitor even though his native country was Canada.  His life story, including his life outside track and field, is a fascinating read and journalist Mark Hebscher brings it to life.
Orton achieved much of his success in track while attending Penn, becoming an elite runner and setting many records in several events.  He did participate in other sports and yet was able to keep his amateur status and participate in the 1900 Olympics. This drew comparisons by the author to Jim Thorpe, who later had to forfeit his Olympic medals because he played semi-professional baseball. Orton had no such issues with his Olympic amateur status, but instead he won his gold medal in a shroud of confusion. Was he American since he competes for Penn (and was instrumental in founding the world famous Penn Relays) or was he Canadian since that was the nation of his birth?
Along with this confusion, there was the matter of the lack of publicity for the Olympics at this time. The 1900 edition was only the second time the modern games were held and they took second fiddle in Paris to the World’s Fair.  Because of this, most fans and people who were interested in the Olympics did not obtain the information as they would later when the Olympics grew in size and stature. 
While just the story of Orton’s rise in the world of track and field would be an interesting topic by itself, the complete life of the man is captured by Hebscher as he discusses many of the sports innovations inspired by Orton, such as putting numbers on the jerseys of football players. Orton was a tireless promoter, especially of hockey, as he was continuously working on making the sport popular in Philadelphia. He was instrumental in getting indoor rinks built in the city and even ran the Philadelphia Quakers, the first professional team in the City of Brotherly Love. While the team struggled in its only season, Orton is given credit for planning the seeds of interest in hockey as the Philadelphia Flyers are a very successful franchise in today’s professional game.
Orton’s accomplishments both in athletics and in other occupations such as teaching, writing books and sports business are all noted in fine detail in the book. All of this information came about because the author wanted to produce a documentary on the life of Orton as many Canadians did not know of his legacy and historical importance in the Olympics.  This was the only drawback of the book and only because the description of the author’s endeavors were scattered throughout the book.  All of this information would read very well in a foreword or afterword as it was important to the telling of the story. It just was inserted in places that interrupted the important information and that story – the story of George Washington Orton – is one that everyone with any interest in athletics should read.
I wish to thank Dundurn Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Review of "The Last Pass"

If one has ever read a book that was about so much more than what was expected, then that reader will understand what I felt when I was done listening to the audio version of this book.  Here is my review of "The Last Pass"




Title/Author:
The Last Pass: Cousy, Russell, the Celtics and What Matters in the End” written and narrated by Gary M. Pomerantz

Tags:
Basketball, professional, biography, race, Celtics, audio book.

Publish date:
October 23, 2018

Length:
384 pages

Rating: 
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:
Some consider the Boston Celtics of the 1950’s and 1960’s, when the team won 11 championships in 13 seasons, to be the greatest dynasty in the history of professional sports. The two players who were most important to these Celtics teams were Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. This excellent book focuses on Cousy’s life, but the driving theme is the relationship between these two iconic Celtics, especially Cousy’s self-questioning about whether he truly had done enough to help his teammate deal with the racism Russell faced in those times.

The book starts with the thoughts of Cousy, now over 90 years old, expressing regrets over how he handled his relationship with Russell. From there, Pomerantz smoothly tells the story of Bob Cousy, from his childhood in which his father was abused by his mother, his difficulty with speaking English (his first language was French) and to his basketball career.  He achieved success at Holy Cross in college before his time in Boston, where he was the flashy point guard for the first six of the Celtics 11 titles, in which Russell was a key player for all of them.

While the book paints a terrific picture of NBA basketball, the Celtics and Cousy’s brilliance on the court, those are not what make this book one that must be read. The reader will learn about not only Cousy the player and Cousy the man, but also about his family and friendships as well. His beloved wife Missy passed away after more than fifty years of marriage. He maintained friendships with many teammates throughout the years, including with coach Red Auerbach.  But he always had troubling thoughts about Russell and whether he did enough for not only the man, but for the man’s cause and rights.

The book will not answer those questions for either Cousy or the reader, but with the current state of racial issues in the country, it makes sense to show that there are still many unanswered questions.  Yes, this is a biography of a basketball legend – but it is also so much more.

Book Format Read:
Audio book

Buying Links:


 

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Review of "Racing to the Finish"

While I never considered myself a big fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr when he was racing, I was interested in what he had to say in his memoir, especially as his retirement in 2017 was due to concussions.  It was a great read.  Here is my review of "Racing to the Finish"



Title/Author:
Racing to the Finish: My Story” by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. with Ryan McGee

Tags:
Auto Racing, NASCAR, memoir, injuries

Publish date:
October 16, 2018

Length:
208 pages

Rating: 
5 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 
When one thinks of concussions and sports, American football immediately comes to mind, but athletes other sports have risks of concussions and the long term effects as well. One of these sports is auto racing, as drivers may suffer concussions from crashes or even bumps against the wall or other cars. This was the case for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he first exhibited these symptoms in 2012.  His memoir explains what happened that day in Kansas and what he went through for the next five years, leading to his decision to retire from racing in 2017.

This is far from the typical sports memoir. Earnhardt focuses exclusively on the time period from 2012 to 2017 and focuses on his concussion, his treatment and how that affected his personal and racing life. What makes this book so different than others on concussions in sports is that the effects are explained in plain language without a lot of medical jargon. The writing is heartfelt and personal as the reader will feel like he or she is right there with Earnhardt, not only in the car or in the garage with his crew but also a the doctor office or doing the exercises he had to do to recover.

While there is some material about Earnhardt in his car on the track and stories about other racers such as Martin Truex Jr. and of course his father, the book is less about racing or NASCAR and more about the personal struggles he endured.  He talks about crying (he says he only did so three times in his life), his decision to retire and the personal relationships he had with many people – not just his wife but other family members, his physician and the manager of Hendrick Motor Sports, the team he was racing for at the time of his retirement.

This book deserves a high rating for not only the personal touch of the writing, but also the message that is tells about concussions.  While readers may very well have heard this message before, it is one worth repeating and if even if the book helps one person through his or her struggle with this injury, then Earnhardt’s reason for writing the book will be fulfilled.

I wish to thank Thomas Nelson-W Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:
E-book (PDF)

Buying Links:



Thursday, December 13, 2018

Review of "Power Ball"

The best way to cure the winter blues with no baseball is to read baseball books!  At least that works for me.  Here is the review of the latest baseball book I have read - or more accurately, listened to since this was an audio book - "Power Ball"




Title/Author:
Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game” written and narrated by Rob Neyer

Tags:
Baseball, professional, statistics, politics, Astros, Athletics

Publish date:
October 9, 2018

Length:
320 pages

Rating: 
4 ½ of 5 stars (very good)

Review:
It isn’t often an author can take an idea in which other books have been published and produce a fresh product, but baseball author and analyst Rob Neyer does just that with his book “Power Ball”.  The idea that isn’t new is to write a book in the setting of one baseball game – indeed, he acknowledges that this is the case – as the setting is a game in September 2017 between the eventual World Series champions, the Houston Astros, and the last place Oakland Athletics.  What IS new is the method in which Neyer breaks down the game and his analysis on many of the pitchers and players who participated in that game.

This isn’t just a game recap in which each at-bat, play and pitching change is analyzed by the numbers, both traditional and modern.  While there is much of that, more of the book talks about just about any type of statistical analysis used today.  Whether one likes to hear about launch angle, velocity, Statcast (which measures all movement on the field) or whether the shift is effective and “modern” (hint – it isn’t new), the reader will find very interesting reading material on these and similar subjects.

Other issues that affect baseball, such as the pace of play and number of pitching changes, are also discussed and suggestions on how these can be addressed are suggested.  One manner to address the pace of play issue that I liked, as it is something I have felt is the biggest problem, is when pitchers and batters are delaying the game by stepping off the pitching rubber or out of the batter’s box.  Addressing this “farting around” (what Neyer calls it) may not shave a lot of minutes off the time of a game, but it would at least keep the game moving along.

There are also some political and social issues addressed, interspersed throughout the book.  At times these make sense and are worth talking about, such as the lack of “US born” African American players, but others such as climate change don’t seem to add anything to the discussion of the game or the teams playing.  While the issue of the lack of openly gay players in baseball might be worth discussing, it was one of the issues that seemed to be placed in the book just to promote a certain viewpoint instead of being part of the game being discussed.

That aside, the baseball talk about the numbers and the game itself , won by the Athletics in the ninth inning, was terrific.  I loved hearing the win probability change after each half inning, which was how each chapter ended.  A baseball fan, especially of the modern game, will truly enjoy this book. If one wants to read the book just for the baseball and leave out the other matters, it is still recommended, just skip over those parts.

Book Format Read:
Audio book

Buying Links:



 

Monday, December 10, 2018

Review of "Roy Sievers"

It is not uncommon for me at the end of the year to find books that were sent to me awhile ago but never were read or reviewed.  So, with apologies to the publisher hoping that they agree with me that it's better to write a late review than to not review a book at all, here is my review of "Roy Sievers"


 
Title/Author:
Roy Sievers: ‘The Sweetest Right Handed Swing’ in 1950’s Baseball” by Paul Scimonelli

Tags:
Baseball, professional, biography, Senators, Browns,             White Sox, Phillies

Publish date:
November 30, 2017

Length:
220 pages

Rating: 
4 of 5 stars (good)

Review:
Unless a person is an avid fan of baseball in the 1950’s, chances are he or she has not heard about Roy Sievers.  He enjoyed a productive hitting career playing mostly on losing teams, most notably the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators.  It was for the latter team where author Paul Scimonelli became a fan of Sievers and was the inspiration for this biography.

Drawing off memories, numerous interviews of former teammates and even with Sievers himself, the reader will learn much about Sievers’ career, both the highs and the lows.  While Sievers never led the American League in major offensive categories, he was often compared to some of the other stars of that era such as Mickey Mantle and Eddie Matthews.  Of course, playing for second division teams didn’t help him gain attention from most fans, but his offensive prowess was well-respected throughout the game. The interviews with other players and people involved in the game illustrated this.

It should also be noted that Sievers had injuries that threatened his career, most notably a severe shoulder injury that impaired his ability to throw from third base (his natural position) or the outfield.  By overcoming these setbacks to become one of the most respected players in the game says much about the character of Sievers as well as his ability.

The book an easy, fast paced read that at times jumps around from topic to topic but is a very good source of information for the state of the sport in the 1950’s. Aside from Sievers, no topic is explained in great detail, but does explain the point well enough that a reader who wants to learn more will have his or her interest piqued.  Recommended for fans of baseball in that decade.

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

Book Format Read:
Paperback

Buying Links:
www.mcfarlandpub.com – 800-253-2187


 

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Review of "How 'Bout Them Cowboys?"

The Dallas Cowboys are one of those sports franchises that even non-fans of the sport know about. So, any book about them would be of interest to many people. This one, written by Gary Myers, covers a lot of the history of the team but mostly revolves around owner Jerry Jones.  Here is my review of "How 'Bout Them Cowboys?"


Title/Author:
How ‘Bout Them Cowboys? Inside the Stars and Legends of America’s Team” by Gary Myers
Tags:
Football (American), Professional, Cowboys, history
Publish date:
October 9, 2018
Length:
288 pages
Rating: 
3 ½  of 5 stars (good)
Review:
Love them or hate them, anyone who knows anything about professional football knows about the Dallas Cowboys and their colorful, successful history. This is especially true since Jerry Jones purchased the team in 1989 and immediately fired the only coach the team had to that point, Tom Landry. This book by Gary Myers takes the reader inside world of Jones at various times through his ownership of the team.
The reader will learn much about what makes the owner tick. There is an extensive section about what really happened to the “friendship” between Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson. Myers explains why Jones fired Landry and yet made the legendary coach one of the first inductees into the Cowboys’ Hall of Fame. The extent of Jones’ reach into the football operations of the team after Johnson left is illustrated in a section about what happened in the draft war room of the team when Jones’ son Stephen and the rest of the Cowboys staff did NOT want to draft quarterback Johnny Manziel when Jerry was absolutely certain that the Cowboys would take the talented but troubled quarterback from Texas A&M. 
This is not to say that the book is only about Jerry Jones, although at times the book does read like it should be a biography of the owner. There are some passages that are about other times and people important to the history of the franchise. There is a very touching chapter on life after football for five star players for Dallas from the 1970’s and 1980’s – Tony Dorsett, Ron Springs, Robert Newhouse, Dennis Thurman and Everson Walls. The story of their friendships and health issues was powerful reading and it was my favorite section of the book.
However, the placement of this chapter and other sections that didn’t center on Jerry Jones seemed puzzling – it was like the book was supposed to be all about Jones, then it was realized that there had to be material on other aspects of the history of the franchise, so they were stuck in wherever they might fit.  This gave the book a disjointed feel, which was a shame because the material and stories, whether on Jones or others, was excellent and informative. There was even some humor in the book.  This line about how Bill Parcells became interested in coaching the Cowboys was very funny – “Parcells and Jones have different recollections of who played matchmaker, although they agree it was not Yente from ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ “
As a football fan who falls into the “hate them” category mentioned at the beginning of this review, I still found the information in the book excellent, but as a great read, it fell a little short. While this book would certainly be of interest to Cowboys fans, anyone who is interested in Jerry Jones of the history of the Dallas Cowboys would also enjoy this.
I wish to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:


Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Review of "Hockey Fight in Canada"

Sports fans have many different ways to channel their inner "nerd."  Some will do so by playing fantasy games. Others will pour over advanced statistics in their favorite sports.  For me, my inner sports nerd is exposed by reading books on the business side of sports. It is that reason that I was intrigued by this book on the recent massive contract paid by Rogers Communications for the Canadian broadcast rights to the NHL. It was a great book for this release.  Here is my review of "Hockey Fight in Canada"



Title/Author:
Hockey Fight in Canada: The Big Media Faceoff over the NHL” by David Shoalts
Tags:
Ice Hockey, professional, business, broadcasting
Publish date:
September 29, 2018
Length:
224 pages
Rating: 
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
“Hockey Night In Canada” has been a Saturday night tradition in the country for over 60 years.  The government-run Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) had the broadcasting rights for decades, but in 2014 Rogers Communications paid 5.2 billion dollars to gain the exclusive broadcast rights for NHL hockey games for the entire nation, including “Hockey Night in Canada.”  How this deal did not go exactly as planned for Rogers, as well as the wheeling and dealing behind the scenes by all parties involved are told in this excellent book by veteran Toronto sportswriter David Shoalts.
There were many reasons given by the author as to why the CBC lost the rights to “Hockey Night”, but the biggest seemed to be complacency. Since the program has been such a staple in the country and was aired on the one broadcasting network that covered the entire nation, it was figured that they would simply be awarded the next contract.  Like all other television networks, CBC was losing viewers as more people looked to cutting the proverbial cord and view programs on other platforms. Rogers was experiencing similar issues, especially with a drop in cable subscriptions, but was confident they could satisfy the wants of the NHL to expand viewership of its product on other digital platforms. This eventually became a winning strategy as Rogers beat out not only CBC but the other major Canadian broadcaster, Bell Canada.
When Rogers won the contract, it controlled all aspects of hockey broadcasts in Canada, with many games broadcast on its SportsNet regional networks. However, in a deal reached with the CBC, the latter was allowed to continue to broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada” but Rogers called all the shots – they collected all the revenue from advertising as well as forcing CBC into other concessions.
These concessions included a major change in the on-air talent. Popular (at least with viewers) long-time host of “Hockey Night”, Ron McLean, was replaced with George Stroumboulopoulos.  While he was considered more “hip” and the set for “Hockey Night” had been modernized by Rogers, Stroumboulopoulos never seemed comfortable in his new role.  McLean had not disappeared, however, as he still teamed up with Don Cherry on the very popular “Coach’s Corner” segment.  However, even that was affected by Rogers as they cut the amount of air time for the very popular coach and, like with any other topic, Cherry wasn’t afraid to air his opinion of the situation.

Complaints about “Coach’s Corner” was just one of a myriad of issues Rogers had with its contract. The information about all the other problems and issues that affected the ratings and telecasts was compelling and made the book a very lively read about a topic that normally would not be considered exciting reading material.  In a very short summarization of the first two years of the contract, Rogers’ ratings over all its services for hockey would depend on two factors – the success of the seven Canadian teams in the league (in 2016, none of the seven teams would qualify for the playoffs and the ratings tanked) and more specifically, the success of the Toronto Maple Leafs. To illustrate the power the Maple Leafs have on the broadcasting fortunes in Canada. The 2016 draft in which the Maple Leafs selected Auston Matthews drew higher ratings than any series in the playoffs that year, including the Stanley Cup Finals. 
Information like this is why any reader who enjoys reading about sports business or broadcasting will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a fascinating look at the cutthroat nature of negotiating for broadcasting rights for live sports, which are still in high demand today.
I wish to thank Douglas and McIntyre for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (PDF)
Buying Links:

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Review of "Tooth and Nail"

Having not read a book on boxing for awhile, I saw this one about a female fight doctor. Since that is one aspect of the sport that is rarely mentioned, I thought I would give it a try - turned out to be a pretty interesting book.  Here is my review of "Tooth and Nail"



Title/Author:
Tooth and Nail: The Making of a Female Fight Doctor” by Linda Dahl

Tags:
Boxing, memoir, medicine

Publish date:
July 24, 2018

Length:
304 pages

Rating: 
3 ½  of 5 stars (good)

Review:
Linda Dahl, an ear, nose and throat physician practicing on New York’s Upper East Side, was not happy with how her life was going. She couldn’t connect with her patients, she had gone through a divorce and felt intimidated around me. So, looking for some other outlet, she applied with the New York State boxing commission to be a fight doctor. Her stories of being one of the few females in a male-dominated sport are told in this memoir.

While her marriage didn’t last, it did have one significant event that changed her life.  She watched a match between Shane Mosely and Oscar de La Hoya at the urging of her then-husband, who was a huge boxing fan.  Dahl then saw how boxing became a way to connect with others after being inspired by Mosely’s courage and survival instincts in the match.  Having felt out of place throughout her medical career, she decided to take a chance by applying to become a fight doctor.

The mood of book changes frequently, as Dahl expresses not only her highs for her times in the ring and her encounters with famous boxers, but also her lows and frequent times of self-doubt.  Her stories about her encounters with Mike Tyson and Vladimir Klitschko were the best, and her job performance in the ring was always considered top notch by fighters, trainers and commissioners alike.  Moments in the ring and in the presence were the best parts of the book.

However, that isn’t the case as Dahl’s self-doubts about her ability, her communication skills, especially around men, and even her sexuality cast a pall on the book that at times made it feel like too much of a self-pity party. While these parts of her personality were needed to tell her complete story, it felt like this was too much of her life. One way she overcame this was by channeling her “inner Dom” after talking with a female patient at the New York practice. I won’t deny, I was thinking that this might lead the book down a very different path, but it did not do so.  Instead, what that lead to was Dahl wearing more revealing clothing to fights at which she worked.  That was interesting and did have the desired results for her – she became more assertive, especially around men.

Overall, this is a very interesting memoir that boxing fans will enjoy.  It is more than just a book on the sport, though, as readers who are inspired by women who overcome odds to be successful in male-dominated professions will also want to read this book.

Book Format Read:
E-book (Nook)

Buying Links: