Review of "The Original Six"

Okay, back to sports books.  With the NHL playoffs in full swing, I am watching more hockey than I did for most of the regular season (despite my favorite team, the Minnesota Wild, getting eliminated).  Most hockey fans know who the Original Six teams are, but many may not know their history during that time frame.  This book is a good look back at that era. 

Title/Author:

“The Original Six: How the Canadiens, Bruins, Rangers, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings Laid the Groundwork for Today’s National Hockey League” by Lew Freedman

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

From 1942 to 1967, the National Hockey League consisted of six teams – Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs. While these six teams were not all part of the NHL when it was organized in 1917, these six were the franchises who were able to survive the chaos the league went through in World War II and created what many considered to be a golden age of hockey.  The history and most notable people for each team is chronicled in this book by Lew Freedman.

The format for each chapter is the same – the team’s history up to the 1966-67 season, stories about key players, front office staff and coaches during that time frame, and what the team has done since 1967.  That year is key because it was the year of the “Great Expansion” when the NHL doubled in size from 6 teams to 12.  If a player, coach or executive started their time with the team during the Original Six era but had most of his success after the Great Expansion, he will still warrant a mention in this book.

The depth of the stories depends on the star power of the person.  A player like Gordie Howe (Red Wings) or Maurice Richard (Canadiens) garnered a lot more ink in this book than someone like Camile Henry (Rangers) or Jimmy Thomson (Maple Leafs).  While that was to be expected, it was nice to see some not-so-well-known players get mentioned in this book. It’s especially nice to see this for readers like me to learn about these players who played for small salaries in a league that had limited exposure.

Each club in that era has a colorful history and Freeman does an admirable job of bringing that to life in this time of 32 NHL teams (although there were 30 at the time of the book’s publication in 2016.) Avid hockey fans like me always enjoy matchups of these teams and this book brings the colorful history of that era to life.

Link: Original Six: How the Canadiens, Bruins, Rangers, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings Laid the Groundwork for Today's National Hockey League: Freedman, Lew: 9781613219492: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "This Is Our City"

No matter which of the four major professional league one follows, it is clear that Boston has been the city with the most success in those leagues.  This book by a popular sports radio host in the city does a very good job of describing why that has happened.  Here is my review of "This Is Our City."

 

Title/Author: “This is Our City: Four Teams, Twelve Championships and how Boston Became the Most Dominant Sports Citty” by Tony Massarotti

Rating:  4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  Since the beginning of the 21^st century, sports fans in New England, and specifically Boston, have been blessed with excellence by the city’s professional sports teams in all four of the major sports.  Between the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics, they have won 12 championships, made an additional six appearances in their respective sport’s championship game or series, and won over the hearts and minds of nearly every Bostonian.  How each of these teams achieved this lofty status is covered in this book by Boston sports radio host Tony Massarotti.

As one might expect, the Patriots are the team that dominate the book, and it is their improbable victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI that Massarotti uses as the start of the Boston dominance of professional sports.  While the Patriots would certainly earn the distinction of getting the most text in this book with their six Super Bowl wins, each of the other three teams certainly gets a fair share of coverage as well.  Even though the Celtics and Bruins each won only one title during the time frame covered by the book, the coverage of those two teams was very fair and complimentary.  This is especially true for the Bruins, who, per the book, have won the fourth most games in the NHL during that time frame despite taking home only one Stanley Cup.

One surprising aspect of the book, given its title and occasional smug tone (totally justified with the teams’ records) was that the struggles of the teams were covered in detail as well as the triumphs. A great example of this was the implosion of the 2011 Red Sox in missing the postseason amid controversy over the actions of players in the clubhouse and the subsequent departures of field manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein.  While most sports fans know the details, Massarotti’s writing brings a different perspective into the stories.  The same goes for other shortcomings such as when the Bruins blew a 3 games to none lead against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, the two Super Bowl losses to the Giants by the Patriots and how the Celtics went quickly from riches to rags to riches to rags and riches yet again. That is not uncommon in the NBA, and explaining that is one reason I felt Massarotti was very fair in his coverage of all four teams when describing the times they did not win championships.  

For fans who want to learn more about the recent accounts of the teams, here the book falls a little short, at least when comparing them to the early accounts.  For example, there was surprisingly a shorter write up about the incredible comeback by the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, at least compared to their earlier wins.  Same goes for the Red Sox and their 2018 World Series victory – this section was very short when compared to the 2004 and 2013 wins. This is not to say that a reader won’t learn more about that time frame for all 4 teams – indeed, there’s a good write up on the 2019 Bruins when they lost the Stanley Cup Final to the St. Louis Blues – but it just isn’t quite as complete as the earlier chapters.

Overall, this is a decent book for readers who want to learn more about the Boston dominance in the last 20 years of professional sports.  Be prepared for a little bragging and a little possible arrogance, but it is a great look at the professional sports scene in that city.

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

Link:  This Is Our City: Four Teams, Twelve Championships, and How Boston Became the Most Dominant Sports City in the World: Massarotti, Tony: 9781419753589: Amazon.com: Books

Review of “Willie”

Even though Willie O’Ree doesn’t have an impressive stat line for his short time in the NHL, he is nonetheless a Hall of Fame player and an inspirational figure to many in the game. He may not have had the same legacy as Jackie Robinson, but his place in history of his chosen sport, hockey, is just as important. Here is my review of O’Ree’s memoir “Willie.”

Title: “Willie: The Game Changing Story of the NHL’s First Black Player” by Willie O’Ree

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars (very good)

Review: While it is well-known that Willie O’Ree was the first Black playoff in the NHL, it isn’t as well known that there were slaves in his family (they escaped to Canada), that he played almost his entire career blind in one eye due to injury and that he spent many years both on and off the ice enjoying life in Southern California. His memoir tells about this and a lot more in a down-to-earth, chummy style that truly does feel like it’s a grandfather telling the youngsters about what it was like “back in the day.”

That can be both a good thing and a bad thing in a book like this. I felt it was mostly a good thing in this book as O’Ree’s style makes the reader feel comfortable when he is talking about an uncomfortable topic, racism. Some may feel he downplays the racism he faced because he usually limits that to the insults from the fans or some players, but overall he doesn’t come across as angry or bitter about it, mostly sad. He praises most of his fellow hockey players and coaches as he states numerous times that not many cared about his skin color - they only cared about how good he was.  His eye injury was a scary incident and eventually cost him a shot at returning to the NHL after he was traded from the Bruins as the league had a rule in place that this type of disability would prevent a player from playing in the league. That comes across as his biggest disappointment after moving to California as he was hoping to get a chance when the Los Angeles Kings started play in 1967.

The best of his stories form his youth is when he got to meet Jackie Robinson and told the great second baseman that he was going to make history in his sport too. Sure enough, he did in 1959 when the Bruins called O’Ree up from the minor leagues as an emergency fill-in because of injuries to other players. Imagine his surprise many years later when he ran into Robinson again who not only remembered him, but also remarked that he was correct in that he would make history in hockey. 

Any reader interested in social or racial issues as well as hockey fans will enjoy this book. It may be quite folksy and tempered compared to book on similar topics but it is a very good read about a pioneer in the game whose contributions earned him a place in the hockey Hall of Fame.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Willie-Game-Changing-Story-First-Player/dp/0735239746/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Review of "Kooks and Degenerates on Ice"

1970 was a very iconic year for sports and one of those iconic moments was the photo of Bobby Orr celebrating his goal that won the Stanley Cup midair.  That photo is on the cover of this book that celebrates that Boston Bruins team and is a quick, easy read for hockey fans.  Here is my review of "Kooks and Degenerates on Ice"

Title/Author:

“Kooks and Degenerates on Ice: Bobby Orr, the Big Bad Bruins and the Stanley Cup Championship That Transformed Hockey” by Thomas J. Whalen

Tags:

Ice Hockey, professional, championship, history, Bruins

Publish date:

May 13, 2020

Length:

240 pages

Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

On May 10, 1970 Bobby Orr scored the game winning goal in game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, giving his Boston Bruins a series sweep over the St. Louis Blues and the Stanley Cup championship.  Immediately after he shot the puck, he was tripped by a Blues defender, sending him airborne and creating one of the most famous photographs in sport history. The story of Orr, that team and the road to their championship is remembered in this book by Thomas J. Whalen.

This book has all the elements that are typical for a book about a championship team or season: there are game recaps, especially for the playoffs and all four games of the Finals. There are plenty of stories about players for the team featured.  In this case, among the prominent Bruins from that club discussed are Orr, Phil Esposito, Derek Sanderson and Gerry Cheevers.  Something that isn’t usually included in this type of book is player profiles from other teams. Whalen included profiles of such personalities as Glenn Hall and Bobby Hull, goaltender for the Blues and forward for the Chicago Blackhawks respectively.  There is also a final look at the Bruins and the key players after that championship season.

All of these sections make for easy, entertaining reading. It does feel a bit choppy when describing the actual 1969-70 season as that is where many of the player profiles are placed in a random manner.  Before this, there was much text about the social and political situation of 1970 along with a brief history of the Boston Bruins.  This was good information that took about 25% of the book, but reading through this was worth the time, especially the Bruins history.  That sets the tone for the wild season in which, in the words of Eddie Johnston, “a bunch of kooks and degenerates who get along” won the Stanley Cup.

Hockey fans will enjoy this book, especially Bruins fans, as a colorful team won one of the most prized trophies in sports with an iconic photo to capture the championship moment.  The 50^th anniversary of this team is remembered well in this book. 

I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield 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/Kooks-Degenerates-Ice-Championship-Transformed-ebook/dp/B0855TK474/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kooks-and-degenerates-on-ice-thomas-j-whalen/1130660155?ean=9781538110294   

Review of "Line Change"

When I saw this book offered on NetGalley, I immediately thought of a similar story I read several years ago, "Elven Seconds" by Travis Roy.  While there are similarities, Matt Brown's story is very different and worth taking the time to read, even if the reader is familiar with Roy's story.  Here is my review of "Line Change"

Title/Author:

“Line Change: A True Story of Resilience in the Face of Adversity” by Matt Brown with Todd Civin

Tags:

Ice Hockey, memoir, high school, injuries, Bruins

Publish date:

March 5, 2019

Length:

193 pages

Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Anyone who has played or watched ice hockey knows it can be a brutal game. Because of its violence and its speed, something awful can happen in an instant. For sophomore player Matt Brown of Norwood High School in Massachusetts, that happened during a game in 2010.  As the puck came off the boards and into his skates, he was hit from behind with a clean, legal check.  Brown fell, hitting his head on the boards and immediately could not move any of his limbs.  The crowd went silent, a nurse rushed to the ice from the stands as medical personnel later took him off the ice in a stretcher.  The play turned out to be the last of his hockey career as he became permanently paralyzed. 

However, that didn’t stop Matt from not only recovering and earning his diploma and a college degree, but he also became an inspiration to many hockey players and teams, including the Boston Bruins.  Brown writes about all of his experiences with his recovery and the love shown him by many in this inspiring memoir. 

Hearing that the hockey community embraced Matt isn’t a surprise to anyone who follows the sport as hockey players are known for their generosity and support for those less fortunate. In Matt’s case, the Bruins not only let him drop the puck at an opening faceoff, he also was shown the Stanley Cup after the Bruins won it in 2011 and also was given an army ranger jacket that the 2013 used to honor players on their run to the Stanley Cup finals that year.  It is clear from the writing that Brown was humbled and overjoyed to be a part of the Bruins’ teams those years.

More than the hockey, however, the reader will be inspired by Matt’s unwavering optimism in both his physical recovery and the way he handled life situations such as adjusting to college life and breaking up with his first girlfriend – things that many teenagers typically face.  That makes some parts of the book special – you realize Brown is a young man just trying to live his life like any other young man.

Also inspiring is his participation in the Boston Marathon.  He has done so six time, the first time in 2012 with runner Lucas Carr pushing Matt in his wheelchair to the finish line.  While Matt acknowledges that Lucas has the more physically demanding portion of their team, it should be noted that he had to endure a lot physically himself as the wind and bumpy ride in the wheelchair would leave him just as exhausted as Carr when they would cross the finish line.  It should be noted that they were going to participate again in 2013, the year of the Boston Marathon bombing, but Matt was suffering with chest colds and his physician recommended that he not participate so Matt obeyed his physician.  I shuddered when I read that to think what would have become of him, especially when he noted that Carr ran himself and crossed the finish line about a minute before the first bomb exploded.

Avid hockey readers will not be able to compare this book to another story of a hockey player suffering a similar fate, Travis Roy’s “Eleven Seconds.”  Both stories need to be told, but just as they are two different people, these are very different stories.  Matt’s is one that anyone will enjoy reading whether or not or one is a hockey fan.

I wish to thank Mascot Books 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/Line-Change-Matt-Brown/dp/1643072102/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Count the Rings!"

For most readers, summer is the time to catch up on reading at the beach or on vacation. Summer has just the oppisite effect on me - because of my fanatical love of baseball, I usually read less during the summer except for train rides to ball games.  But I do carry on trying to fit in some reading whenver possible.  This was a book that was in my TBR queue for a long time so thanks to a "pick it for me" challenge, I finally got around to reading this book on Boston sports championships.  Here is my review of "Count the Rings!"

Title/Author:

“Count the Rings! Inside Boston’s Awesome Reign as the City of Champions” by Bob Halloran

Tags:

Baseball, Football (American), basketball, ice hockey, Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, championship

Publish date:

October 15, 2017

Length:

224 pages

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (Okay)

Review:

Sports fans in Boston have had plenty of reasons to celebrate since 2001. In that time, the city has been the home of 10 championship teams – the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015 and 2017. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, 2007 and 2013, while the Celtics took home their 17^th NBA championship in 2008 and the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Each of these championship seasons is relieved in all of their glory in this entertaining book by Bob Halloran. Each team’s special season is covered from the previous offseason when key personnel changes were made up to the moment the title of “champions” was proclaimed by sports broadcasters. 

It didn’t matter which team or which sport, Halloran was an enthusiastic writer for each chapter. This enthusiasm was evident in many ways.  The writing was an excited conversation style, meaning that it read like he was talking about the championship team over beers with buddies at a Boston pub.  There were many sentences that ended with exclamation points to emphasize his enthusiasm. While it is great to hear or read stories from excited fans (or writers in this case), sometimes it can feel over the top if the reader or listener isn’t a loyal fan of said team. 

That doesn’t mean this is a bad book – indeed, if the reader is a fan of Boston sports, he or she will love this book.  Taking an objective look at it, from the viewpoint of a reader who may not be a fan of any Boston team, the book may not get quite the positive reception.  Nevertheless, the book does what it sets out to do and give Boston fans a chance to relive those frequent moments of glory they have felt throughout most of the 21^st century.

I wish to thank Lyons 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/Count-Rings-Bostons-Awesome-Champions/dp/1493030086/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Orr: My Story"

Everyone who knows anything about hockey knows who Bobby Orr is and what he meant to the game.  Some believe he is the greatest player ever, even more than Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky. His memoir is a book I have been meaning to read for a long time - and I finally decided to do so.  That was a good decision.  Here is my review of "Orr: My Story"

Title/Author:

“Orr: My Story” by Bobby Orr

Tags:

Ice Hockey, memoir, professional, Bruins, Blackhawks

Publish date:

October 15, 2013

Length:

304 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Mention the name “Bobby Orr” and hockey fans will envision the man who revolutionized how defensemen play the game and non-fans will even know that he was a great player in Boston.  Considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he had an image of a quiet and dignified man, not completely comfortable in the spotlight and would give much more credit to his teammates.

When he decided to write his memoir in 2013, the words he used solidified that reputation.  He tries to write as much about others as he does about himself in the book.  He states that he wrote the book because he had “something to share” to other parents and grandchildren.  He stays away from gossip (his section on colorful Bruins teammate Derek Sanderson was very short) or harsh criticism.  The latter was very evident with his section on Alan Eagleson, the disgraced agent who represented Orr and many other hockey players while serving as the president of the NHL players’ union. Even though it is very evident that Orr still harbors bitterness to this day about the man who led him astray financially, he still writes some positive things about Eagleson as well.

That was probably the biggest surprise in the book as most of the book reads like the typical sports memoir, with praise for his parents, fond memories of playing hockey on the lake as a kid, remembering his career in Juniors where he was discovered at 15 by the Bruins and signed as a teenager.  Then we hear stories about his time with the Bruins and their talented teams – of course in true Orr style, he is humble about this and writes more about his teammates than himself. He also writes more about his foundation to make hockey for children better and even some thoughts on today’s professional game.

The best writing in this part of the book for me was when he talked about his departure from Boston to the Chicago Blackhawks, a move he was making because he felt that the Bruins did not want him any longer since his knees were giving him much pain.  This is also addressed in his chapter on Eagleson.  While he played so few games in Chicago, even there he shows his humility by wanting to do something for the franchise instead of just collecting a paycheck for not playing with his balky knees. 

This book is an easy read, one that will be completed fairly quickly and will be enjoyed by any hockey fan of any level.  This is mainly because even if a fan is too young to have seen Orr play, he or she knows about the legendary defenseman and his story is one that should be shared with all fans.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Nook)

Buying Links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/orr-bobby-orr/1113913076?ean=9780425277027#/

https://www.amazon.com/Orr-My-Story-Bobby-ebook/dp/B00AYJIL9O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517187858&sr=1-1&keywords=orr+my+story