Review of "Tyson Fury"

Readers of this blog know that one of my favorite subjects in my book reviews is boxing.  Having only heard about Tyson Fury due to his holding of the linear heavyweight championship, I was interested to pick up this book and learn more about him.  Here is my review of this biography of the heavyweight champ. 

Title/Author:

“Tyson Fury: Gypsy King of the World" by Nigel Cawthorne 

Tags:

Boxing, professional, championship, biography

Publish date:

September 1, 2020

Length:

356 pages

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (okay) 

Review:

While the title of "heavyweight boxing champion of the world" doesn't have quite the same luster today as it did in previous decades, it is still considered an honor to be part of that linear history.  The current holder of the title, Tyson Fury, is the subject of this biography by Nigel Cawthorne.

One thing that Fury will never be accused of is being boring, as the book is filled with many quotes, controversies and stories from Fury's press conferences and pre-fight publicity appearances. Even more than his actual fights, these make the best and most entertaining parts of the book as a reader will learn more about Fury as the boxer, the publicity machine and even a little of his private life. 

Of course, being a big man at six feet nine inches tall, he makes for a large presence both in and out of the ring.  The name "Gypsy King" came from Tyson's family living the life of travelers.  It is also noted that he was named Tyson after former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.  If one believes in omens, this could be one of the best ones to come true. 

The book doesn't delve too deeply into any one topic, especially Tyson's personal life.  After starting off with his win over Deonte Wilder to recapture the heavyweight title in February 2020, the reader will learn a little about Fury's upbringing, his rise in boxing in the British and Irish theatres and his eventual success in obtaining the title. Along the way, Fury had many ups and downs. Some of these were unforeseen circumstances, some of them were of his own making.  These are not covered in depth throughout the book, simply captured in the text.  Having little knowledge about Fury or his career, I was hoping for a deeper dive into his career and his life, but this was a decent introduction to the man.  Readers who have followed his career closely or are passionate boxing fans of the current state of the sport will most likely know all of this information already.

I wish to thank Ad Lib Publishers 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/Tyson-Fury-Gypsy-King-World-ebook/dp/B087JBQD2L/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Fear Is a Choice"

 Have you ever started a book, put it down because it didn't grab your interest, but pick it back up later and end up loving it?  That was the case for me with this book.  I thought it was going to be "just another memoir" - but oh, no, it is MUCH better than that.  Here is my review of "Fear Is a Choice."

Title/Author:

“Fear Is a Choice: Tackling Life's Challenges with Dignity, Faith and Determination" by James Connor with Tiffany Yecke Brooks

Tags:

Football (American), memoir, Pitt, Steelers, disease

Publish date:

June 16, 2020

Length:

224 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

James Connor seemed to have everything going or him.  Growing up in a working class family in Erie, Pennsylvania he worked hard to earn a football scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh.  Then after an outstanding sophomore season at running back, he learned that he had Hodgkin's lymphoma.  His battle to not only overcome the disease but also to become an important member of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a story that is a terrific read.

In the world of sports memoirs, one will usually read about the author's childhood, overcoming whatever obstacles came his way and that was able to be achieved through the love of friends, family or other important people in the athlete's life.  Many times, there is introspection by the author to describe how he or she came to see what it truly important in life.  Of course, there is descriptions of the success of the athlete in the chosen sport and how his or her career has gone. This book has all of those elements.

So, if this has all the typical elements of a sports memoir, what makes this one so good?  It is the combination of the story told, the honesty and emotions that Connor describes in his journey and the devotion Connor has to his Christian faith, the important people in his life and even those who he met only briefly but told him how much his story meant to them.  While reading the book, especially during his chemotherapy, it is clear to the reader that Connor has much love to give and will work hard at whatever task is at hand, whether undergoing intravenous chemotherapy or extra time in the weight room. 

One story that illustrates his work ethic was during a chemotherapy session, he was studying other college running backs by watching video on his phone while the drugs dripped in the bags. By studying them, he was determined to not only return to the field after beating the cancer, but also to be a better running back.  For the love he expresses for practically everyone in his life, just reading about his interactions with everyone at the oncology clinic – from the doctors and nurses to the cafeteria and cleaning staff – it is clear that he believes every single person there played an important part of his recovery. 

It is hard to write about what a pleasure it was to read this book because no description of Connor's words will do justice to his story or the way he wants to tell it.  It is easy to see why his jersey has been one of the best selling NFL jersey since he came into the league given his humility and deeply felt thanks when telling his story.  There isn't a lot of football talk in this book, so even if a reader is not much of a football fan, there is a lot to enjoy while reading this book.

I wish to thank HarperCollins Publishers 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/Fear-Choice-Tackling-Challenges-Determination/dp/0062938436/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fear-is-a-choice-james-conner/1134982137?ean=9780062938435

Review of "Bundini"

 While I had heard of Bundini before reading this book, mainly through reading about Muhammad Ali, I never realized just how much Bundini was a part of the Ali legend.  Not to mention how exciting a life Bundini lived.  Here is my review of a terrific biography of the man. 

Title/Author:

“Bundini” by Todd D. Snyder

Tags:

Boxing, professional, biography, championship

Publish date:

August 25, 2020

Length:

344 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Drew “Bundini” Brown’s life is one that not many people, even boxing fans, can say they know well.  That doesn’t mean it was boring – indeed, the man who was in Muhammad Ali’s corner for most of his career and his most legendary fights lived an exciting life that the author of this book, Todd D. Snyder, says that it is “once that not even the best Hollywood writers could have invented for the silver screen.”

Drawing off of many interviews with Bundini’s son, Drew III, as well as thorough research and stories from other people, a reader will be drawn into the world of Bundini from his humble beginnings in Sanford, Florida where he ended up being raised by his father when he and his mother separated to Harlem all the way to his poignant death in a hospital after falling at a run-down motel in California where he lived his last years penniless.

In between all that, Snyder paints a terrific picture of a man who was a hustler, servied in the navy as a porter, had a wonderful gift of gab, rebelled against social norms by marrying a white Jewish woman who had as big a rebellious streak as her husband and through his street smarts, worked for one of the many businesses in Harlem owned by boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson. From there he connected with a local boxer who provided him a job and that introduced Bundini to the sport and led him to Muhammad Ali.

Ali took a liking to the young man who had not only was a hard worker, but had a wonderful way with words, much like the up and coming heavyweight boxer.  It turned out to be a match made in heaven as Bundini was his principle motivator as well as poet. The most well-known of his phrases was “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” but it was far from the only mark that Bundini would leave with Ali.  Their relationship, like any other relationship of any type had its ups and downs – Ali would fire and rehire Bundini far more often than George Steinbrenner would with Billy Martin – but they would remain forever linked together.

What makes this book such a fascinating read is not just the story of Bundini, as great as it is, but Snyder’s masterful touch of taking just stories from Bundini’s son and other people in his life and weaving it together into such fantastic prose. This is true for all aspects of Bundini’s life, not just his time in Ali’s corner.  There was a special bond between Bundini and Drew III that is brought out in Snyder’s writing. Bundini called his god “Shorty” and would remind Drew III throughout his life about Shorty’s will and that made for some of more memorable parts of the book.  Those, as well as Bundini’s love for his first wife Rhoda, even well after their divorce, are portrayed even better than the boxing matches in which Bundini was in Ali’s corner, giving “Champ” the encouragement he would need.

Much more than just a boxing book or a biography, “Bundini” captures the heart and soul of a man who is just as important a part of the legend of Muhammad Ali as is any other person in his life.  This book is one that should be read by everyone, not just boxing fans.

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

                                                                             

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                               

 

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Bundini-Believe-Todd-D-Snyder/dp/1949590208/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Jeff Gordon"

While I have followed NASCAR for many years, I have seen many more races this year as it was the first sport to resume after most sports shut down in March 2020.  As a result of watching more races, I have been looking for more books on the sport.  I found this biography of Jeff Gordon and was pleased with how easy an read it was.  Here is my review. 

Title/Author:

“Jeff Gordon: His Dream, Drive and Destiny" by Joe Garner

Tags:

Auto racing, NASCAR, biography

Publish date:

November 22, 2016

Length:

192 pages

Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

When NASCAR became more of a national sport instead of a niche in the southeastern United States in the 1990's, one of the star drivers who helped this mainstream push was Jeff Gordon.  With his good looks, polite demeanor, upbringing in a region outside of the hub of NASCAR and oh, yes, his success on the track, he was a fan favorite and well-respected by his competitors.  This book by Joe Garner does a nice job of recapping Gordon's upbringing and his career.

Most sports biographies that cover an athlete's upbringing will talk about the people and events that made the athlete realize that his or her destiny was in their sport.  This book is no different in that respect as Gordon's early entry into racing on dirt tracks with small winged vehicles are well-covered.  He gives a lot of credit to his mother Carol and stepfather John for supporting him when doing this both emotionally and financially.  Despite his small physical stature, team owners and crew chiefs were taking notice of him before he settled on pursuing a career in NASCAR, even though his early dreams were about him racing at the Indianapolis 500. 

This part of the book, and subsequent chapters in which Carol and John are mentioned are the most the book contains about Gordon's personal life.  While his two marriages and the children he is raising with his second wife are covered, this book is much more about Gordon's racing career than it is about his personal life.  There is little negative coverage about his career as well.  Yes, some of the harder parts, such as when Gordon left a smaller team to sign with one of the big names in the sport, Hendrick Motorsports, are covered, but overall this book reads like a fan book.  Of course, given the success Gordon had in his career, with four NASCAR championships, it is easy to see why this would read as such.

There are plenty of pictures throughout the book as well, giving the reader a nice visual recap of Gordon's career as well as a decent read.  The pictures in the Kindle version, which is what I read, can be small at times but per other reviewers who have read the hardcover edition, it is a coffee table type book in which the pictures especially stand out.

This book is great for two types of readers – relatively new fans of NASCAR who only know of Gordon being a broadcaster for Fox's coverage of the sport or for his biggest fans.  The former will learn much about his racing career before broadcasting, the latter will relive many great memories.  Other fans who have followed the sport for a long time won't learn a lot of new material but will still have fun reading about one of the biggest names in the sport. 

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Gordon-Dream-Drive-Destiny-ebook/dp/B01MAVY43P/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "The Origins of Southern College Football"

 This was a book that grabbed my attention with just the title.  Given how the Southeastern Conference has produced so many great teams and players the last 20 years or so, it was good to learn about the origins of the game in the area.  Here is my review of "The Origins of Southern College Football."

Title/Author:

“Origins of Southern College Football: How an Ivy League Game Became a Dixie Tradition" by Andrew McIlwaine Bell

Tags:

Football (American), college, history

Publish date:

August 12, 2020

Length:

200 pages

Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Most college football fans, broadcasters and writers will agree that the Southeastern Conference has the best teams and players in the game today. However, that hasn't always been the case as in the early history of college football, the game was primarily played at Ivy League schools and the quality of play in the South wasn't considered as good. This book by Andrew McIlwaine Bell gives the reader an insight into the game in that region during those early days.

Something the book shows that might be surprising is that there is no single "ah-ha" moment or game when football became the game of the South.  Instead, it was gradually gaining acceptance and popularity as the South was recovering from its losses in the Civil War and was looking to its northern neighbors for ways to rebuild.  Organized, "scientific" football was one of those customs that was already popular in the Northeast and some Ivy League transplants brought the game to the South, where it became a symbol of the area's strength, resilience and yes, its culture that included racism.           

On that last topic, this issue and other historical matters such as two other wars (the Spanish-American War and World War I) and politics are featured as prominently as football in this book.  These are important to include to bring the complete picture to the reader as they helped shape the region's attitude and participation in the game.  Of course, Theodore Roosevelt's actions toward making the game safer is an example of how these issues tie in with the game.

If there are any events, games or teams that truly brought attention to the way the game was played in the South to writers and other important figures in the Northeast, it would be the accomplishments of two particular teams.  One would the team from Sewanee (now known as the University of the South) in 1899.  They became the first team from the South to go undefeated in one season.  While they have now been properly recognized for that feat, the "elite" in the Northeast felt that this wasn't much of an accomplishment since it was believed the quality of play in the South was much more inferior than that in the Northeast.  It took nearly two decades to change that attitude when John Heisman led the 1917 Georgia Tech team to a national title.  That team shut out most of its opponents and still holds the record for the most lopsided win in college football history, a 222-0 win over Cumberland College.  

While the book in some parts reads like a scholarly work, it is still an enjoyable book for the reader who wants to learn more about college football in the South at that time and in that culture.  Even die-hard college football fans are bound to learn some new information about the game, as this reviewer did.  

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

 Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Origins-Southern-College-Football-Tradition/dp/0807171204/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Buzzie and the Bull"

 Even though I am not a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, I find books about them to be some of the better baseball books. This book on a part-time player and the GM of the 1965 World Champions is another one of those good books on the Dodgers.  Here is my review of "Buzzie and the Bull"

Title/Author:

“Buzzie and the Bull: A GM, a Clubhouse Favorite and the Dodgers’ 1965 Championship Season” by Ken Lazebnik

 Tags:

Baseball, professional, biography, Dodgers, championship

 Publish date:

September 1, 2020

 Length:

208 pages

 Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

In 1965, the Los Angeles Dodgers were considered by many to be the premier franchise in baseball as they were in the midst of winning three pennants in eight seasons as the New York Yankees were starting to fade.  The Dodgers were built by general manager Emil “Buzzie” Bavasi and both his eye for baseball talent and his hardball negotiation tactics with players were legendary. There was one player for that 1965 Dodgers championship team for which Bavasi had a soft spot and that was Al “ the Bull” Ferrara. Their friendship and what it meant to those Dodgers is the subject of this book by Ken Lazebnik.

 The book might be better titled “The Bull and Buzzie” because there is much more written about Ferrara than Bavasi. That could be because, as Lazzbnik notes in his sources, the interviews he had with Ferrara resulted in many great stories as the Bull’s memory was sharp and the stories were plentiful. Bavasi’s stories, on the other hand, had to come from interviews with family members as he passed away in 2008.

Ferrara mentions several times throughout the book he loved to both work and play to life’s fullest.  His off-field adventures of gambling on the horses, visits to establishments with less-than-sterling reputations and his enjoyment of adult beverages and female companionship made for very entertaining reading. Both his teammates and his general manager on the Dodgers loved to hear about them as the Bull became one of the more popular figures in the Los Angeles clubhouse even though he was only a part-time player. 

For the most part, Bavasi said little about Ferrara’s lifestyle, but when one incident in July 1965 tested that patience,  Bavasi sent Ferrara to the minor leagues and did not call him back up until September 1 of that season, too late to be included on the roster for the World Series.  While Ferrara talks about being grateful to his teammates for voting him a full share of the bonus given to players who are on the winning championship team, a player must be on the roster to earn a championship ring and Ferrara’s showing of his bare hands to the author during this interview illustrates how much he still feels that slight, even though he always accepted whatever fate came his way through his actions.

That is just one illustration that Lazebnik uses to give the reader an in-depth look at Ferrara as the stories of his drinking and gambling are just as entertaining, if not more so, than the baseball writing.  Most of the baseball passages are fairly basic as readers who have read other books on the Dodgers of that ear, or biographies of some of the players such as Sandy Koufax, would probably already know most of that information.  To his credit, Lazebnik acknowledges this and gives credit to some of those publications, such as Michael Lehay’s excellent book on those Dodgers teams, “The Last Innocents.”

While there is some good information on Bavasi as well, this book is best suited for those readers who want to learn more about the life of a player who wasn’t a star but instead a popular bench player for an outstanding team.  The friendship of Bavasi and Ferrara is a recurring throughout the book, including when both player and GM moved from the Dodgers in late 1968 to the expansion San Diego Padres.  It’s a fun, quick read that fans of the Dodgers will enjoy.  

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                                

Buying Links:

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496213174/

 https://www.amazon.com/Buzzie-Bull-Clubhouse-Favorite-Championship/dp/1496213173/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Fields of Friendly Strife"

In a Facebook group dedicated to college football literature, I saw a post about this book and I was very curious.  After picking this book up and giving it a read, I am very glad that I did and wish to thank the leaders of that group for pointing out this book.  Here is my review of "Fields of Friendly Strife."

Title/Author:

“Fields of Friendly Strife: The Doughboys and Sailors of the WWI Rose Bowls" by Timothy P. Brown

Tags:

Football (American), college, military

Publish date:

November 28, 2017

Length:

519 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (outstanding) 

Review:

College football fans usually think of the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences when the Rose Bowl is the topic.  However, early in the history of the bowl game, that was not the case and during World War I, the game was actually played between teams composed of service members.  This book by Timothy P. Brown not only is about those games, but it also is an excellent reference for an in-depth look at the life of soldiers, sailors and Marines during this time.

While the football writing and description of the teams and games is excellent, what makes this book really stand out is the research.  Nearly every player is mentioned for not only their athletic ability but also for their service in the Great War, their military or civilian careers after the war and personal lives as well.  This is not an easy endeavor and Brown pulls this off extremely well.  The organization of the book is good as well.  Tables, charts and pictures are used frequently throughout the book to augment the information found in the text.

The teams from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Mare Island and Camp Lewis were the teams that participated in the two Rose Bowl games in 1917 (Camp Lewis and Mare Island) and 1918 (Great Lakes and Mare Island).  The politics, scheduling and other aspects of being able to pull off these games during not only a time of war, but also a health pandemic was nothing short of amazing, and these actions are covered just as well as the games and the war.

This book is recommended for anyone who enjoys reading about college football (even though these were not considered college teams) or World War I. Readers will enjoy this through book on the Rose Bowl games during those two years and the men who participated.               

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Fields-Friendly-Strife-Doughboys-Sailors/dp/0999572318/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

Review of "Sooner"

An upcoming book on Oklahoma Sooners coach Lincoln Riley caught my attention, especially with the college football season facing many questions heading into the fall of 2020.  This book is one to read to learn more about the life of this young, dynamic coach.  Here is my review of "Sooner"

Title/Author:

“Sooner: The Making of a Football Coach – Lincoln Riley’s Rise from West Texas to the University of Oklahoma” by Brandon Sneed

Tags:

Football (American), college, biography, Oklahoma, coaching

Publish date:

August 25, 2020

Length:

288 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (outstanding) 

Review:

Not many college football coaches can match the success that Lincoln Riley has had in his first three seasons as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.  In each season, Riley has led the Sooners to not only the Big 12 conference championship, but the Sooners have also been in the College Football Playoff each of those years as well.  How Riley has reached this point is the subject of this excellent book by Brandon Sneed.

Riley grew up in the West Texas town of Muleshoe and like many other small towns in Texas, the town revolved around football.  Lincoln, along with his brothers, played football for the high school team and he excelled on both offense and defense. An injury when attempting to tackle a linebacker who intercepted one of his passes turned out to be a life-changing moment for Riley.  While he didn’t know that at the time, Sneed uses that moment frequently during the book, as well as another time when Riley’s seventh grade football coach drew blood on his own forehead by doing a head butt with a helmeted player. 

The reason these, as well as advice from one of Riley’s coaching mentors, Donnie Duncan, were referenced frequently is that the steps along the path Riley took from high school quarterback to the Sooners’ head coach was fraught with lessons learned from these events.  Sneed does a very good job of writing long passages about other aspects or people that are important in understanding Riley’s determination and knowledge of the game.  One is his high school experience – fans of the book or movie “Friday Night Lights” will appreciate Sneed’s description of the importance of the sport in Texas. 

It is also important for the reader to understand the head coach who gave Riley his first job in coaching, Mike Leach.  At the time, Leach was the coach of Texas Tech when Riley was attempting to become the starting quarterback as a walk-on.  While Leach didn’t think Riley would be able to play, he saw the smarts Riley had for the game and offered him a job as his football personal assistant.  While Riley’s dream of being a quarterback were gone, he took the job, absorbed Leach’s unconventional offensive ideas and used the job to launch his coaching career which took him to East Carolina as an offensive coordinator, then the same job at Oklahoma under legendary coach Bob Stoops, then inheriting the job when Stoops retired in 2016.  The reader will learn much about not only the life of a college football coach, but some of the non-traditional thinking of Leach, Stoops and Riley. 

Not much about Riley’s personal life is written but enough to let the reader know that Riley isn’t all about the job, sleeping in the office and believing the only way to get out of a tough spot is to “work longer and harder.”  This helps paint a complete picture of the man who has already had enormous success coaching a traditional college football powerhouse at a very young age.  College football fans will enjoy this look at the latest coaching sensation.

I wish to thank Henry Holt and Co. for providing a copy of the book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

                                                                             

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)                                                                                                                               

 Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Sooner-Football-Lincoln-University-Oklahoma-ebook/dp/B082ZGV6CK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sooner-brandon-sneed/1135712307?ean=9781250622150