Monday, October 8, 2018

Review of "Never Ran, Never Will"

It is not often a book on any sport at any level will leave a message to me about social issues and make me want to help in some small way.  This book is one that did - a wonderful account of young men in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville and the youth football program that some see as a path to future success.  Here is my review of "Never Ran, Never Will."



Title/Author:
Never Ran, Never Will: Boyhood and Football in a Changing American Inner City” by Albert Samaha

Tags:
Football (American), youth, society

Publish date:
September 4, 2018

Length:
368 pages


Rating: 
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:
Brooklyn is noted for its diverse neighborhoods and the changing landscape of the borough is bringing more wealth and success to many of its residents. However, the neighborhood of Brownsville has felt that some of this success has left it behind.  There is a great success story that originates from Brownsville – the youth football program known as the Mo Better Jaguars.  This excellent book by Albert Samaha captures the spirit of these football squads, as well as its players and coaches.
 
The main focus of the book is not just the sport of football but the issues facing boys and young men in the inner city.  Several players – Gio, Oomz, Isaiah and Hart just to name a few – are portrayed and their issues with family, school, gangs and other matters are told in painstaking detail.  Some of the stories are inspirational, some are heartbreaking.  Their lives are taking shape while playing for the Mo Better program and they may surprise the reader on just how some of their experiences do not fit the stereotype of life in the inner city.

The same goes for the coaches – Esau, Vick and Chris. These are even better reading as they are not only coaching the boys to improve their football skills but also on what they need to do or not do in order to succeed.  Their overwhelming theme is to avoid “the streets” as they can swallow a young man up and he will find himself in gangs, in jail or dead.  These coaches not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk. I found Vick’s story quite compelling, especially that at the same time he is telling his players about the importance of school and reading, he is trying to better himself by going to school to become a nursing assistant while trying to find a job. 

The reader will also learn about Brownsville – its history, its struggles and the lack of support it has received from the rest of New York City.  It is important for the reader to absorb this information as well, as it helps to illustrate what the Mo Better players are experiencing and how the Jaguars have become such a vital part of the neighborhood as many of these youth view football as the means to get onto a path to success.  That success may come in the form of an NFL career or a scholarship to college where the education received will lead to a successful career in another field. 

Football writing is not forgotten, however, and while Samaha is not a sportswriter by trade, his narratives of the action on field, both in practice and during the games, will be easily digested by all fans of the game no matter how closely they follow the sport. The detail is just as good here, especially when describing how much the players like to hit. It feels like they are releasing all of their frustrations with their issues at home or in school on the other kid, whether it is a teammate at practice or an opponent who will not be able to continue the play. 

This book will make an impact on the reader in ways that other sports books cannot, especially when one considers the topic and the issues faced by these young men.  It will make the reader think, it will make the reader cheer, and hopefully it will make the reader help to take action to ensure that young men living in places like Brownsville are not left behind.

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


Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)

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