Review of "Rising Tide"

Randy Roberts and Ed Krzemienski’s Rising Tide traces how Joe Namath and Paul “Bear” Bryant helped transform Alabama football into a national force during the 1960s. Their intertwined stories unfold against a backdrop of resistance to integration and the shifting cultural landscape of the Deep South. It’s a compelling blend of biography, football history, and social context.

Title/Author:

“Rising Tide: Bear Bryant, Joe Namath & Dixie’s Last Quarter” by Randy Roberts & Ed Krzemienski

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  Two legendary figures—Joe Namath and Paul “Bear” Bryant—stand at the center of Rising Tide, Randy Roberts and Ed Krzemienski’s absorbing look at how Alabama became a college football powerhouse in the 1960s. Their parallel stories, set against the state’s fierce resistance to integration, give the book both its narrative drive and historical weight.

The authors write with depth and clarity about both men, offering rich background on Namath and Bryant before their paths converge in 1961, when Namath arrived on campus. Although freshmen were ineligible for varsity play, Namath immediately impressed on the freshman team and soon became the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback. His tenure—marked by standout performances, a suspension late in the 1963 season, and ultimately an All‑American year capped by a national title in 1964—is covered with nuance. Roberts and Krzemienski also give welcome attention to Namath’s high school career and the intense recruiting battle that brought him to Tuscaloosa.

Bryant’s portrayal is equally strong. While the book offers little on his Texas A&M years or the famed Junction Boys, it delivers vivid stories from his Alabama tenure—most memorably his habit of watching practice from a tower and his rare invitation for Namath to join him there. The authors capture Bryant’s near‑mythic status in Alabama, where his authority and popularity seemed unshakeable as long as the team kept winning.

The book’s most compelling section, in my view, is the detailed account of the lawsuit Bryant and Georgia coach Wally Butts filed against The Saturday Evening Post. After the magazine accused Butts of giving Bryant confidential game information before their 1962 matchup, both men fought back, ultimately winning their cases and damages. The courtroom drama is expertly rendered, and the episode underscores just how deeply Bryant was revered throughout the state.

While the chapters on Alabama’s resistance to integration and the broader Dixie landscape are informative, they lack the depth and freshness of the football‑centered material. Readers new to this history will find value, but those familiar with the era may not encounter much that feels new.

For college football fans, Crimson Tide loyalists, or anyone interested in two of the sport’s defining figures, Rising Tide is an engaging and worthwhile read.

 

Link:  Rising Tide: Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, and Dixie's Last Quarter: Roberts, Randy, Krzemienski, Ed: 9781455526321: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "NASCAR Champions"

If you’ve ever wanted a single book that captures the full lineage of NASCAR greatness, NASCAR Champions delivers. Packed with photos, stories, and smartly organized profiles, it’s a tribute to the drivers who shaped the sport. Fans of any era will find something to enjoy.

Title/Author:

“NASCAR Champions: Every Cup Series Champion from 1949 to Today” by H. A. Branham and Holly Cain

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

From its start to today, the NASCAR Cup Series championship has been the pinnacle achievement of every season—and the defining honor for the driver who earns it. NASCAR Champions, a coffee‑table book by H.A. Branham and Holly Cain, offers a complete, visually rich chronicle of every driver who has claimed that coveted title.

Each champion is presented in a consistent, clean format. Readers get a mix of photos—drivers in the car, celebrating wins, in action on the track, or in portrait—and even in the electronic edition, the layout is crisp enough to show how strong the print version will look. Every driver also receives a concise narrative focused on his Cup Series career and accomplishments. Occasional nods to success in ASA, the Craftsman Truck Series, or the Xfinity Series (now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) add helpful context. These profiles strike a “Goldilocks” balance: not too long, not too short, just right.

The book also includes well‑paced side features on how the championship format, points systems, and playoff structures have evolved over the decades. Like the driver stories, these sections are informative without dragging and give readers exactly what they need to understand the sport’s shifting landscape.

NASCAR fans will find plenty to love here—whether for the photography, the accessible storytelling, or the chance to learn more about the sport’s greatest champions. Highly recommended for fans at any level of NASCAR knowledge or enthusiasm.

I wish to thank Motorbooks for providing a review copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link:  NASCAR Champions: Every Cup Series Champion from 1949 to Today: Branham, H.A., Cain, Holly, White, Rex, Martin, Mark: 9780760399651: Amazon.com: Books

Review - The Hockey 100

 As I continue my quest to reduce my TBR mountain to hopefully at least a hill, I chose this book as the hockey season is coming to a conclusion this week.  This is the fourth book in a series that highlights the 100 greatest players in a sport - this is one is for the modern era of hockey.  I've read all four and so far, this is the best one. 

Title/Author:

“The Hockey 100: The Story of the Greatest Players in Modern Hockey History” By Sean McIndoe and Dan Robson with The Athletic hockey staff

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (Excellent)

Review: 

Since hockey has some unique traditions like playoff beards and an octopus thrown out on the ice at Detroit, it is only fitting that some of the greatest players in the game have some unique stories as well.  This book, listing the 100 greatest players since the NHL expanded from six teams to 12 in 1967, has some of those stories. These have been collected from various writers for The Athletic and compiled by Sean McIndoe and Dan Robson.  These are stories that every hockey fan should read.

Since this is a subjective list of those 100 players, there will be omissions or arguments about where certain players should be ranked. While those are always good for sports bar arguments or even friendly (?) discourse around the couch while a game is on the television, these rankings are grounded in well-reasoned arguments.

One great example of this is the story of Marcel Dionne, ranked #15 on this list.  The writer of this story points out that when people rattle off great players in the history of the NHL, Dionne is overlooked because he was never on a team that won the Stanley Cup. I wanted to stand up and cheer this author – it’s an argument I always make about any great player in a team sport.  I have always felt that degrading a player because his team didn’t win a championship is unfair.  The player doesn’t make personnel decisions – that’s up to the coaching staff and the front office. 

The other aspect of this book that I really like is that many of the stories of these players don’t always revolve around their statistics and accomplishments.  Of course, each player’s feats are included, but they aren’t always THE story. 

Here are two examples:  The first is about Bryan Trottier, who was a key player on the New York Islanders teams that won four consecutive Stanley Cups, has been very active in making the voice of Canadian Indigenous people heard.  The second is about Alexander Mogilny, a Russian player who came to the NHL before the USSR allowed its players to play in North America.  Mogilny had to make his arrangements in Sweden and even there, the team executives working on the deal felt the Soviet Union might be following them and tracing their calls.  This story was even more intriguing than the well-known story of The Russian Five from the Detroit Red Wings.  Some of those players made this list as well.  

Some hockey fans will not only be disappointed with the book because of player rankings, but it will also leave out greats from the Original Six era like Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau and Gordie Howe (he’s left out because even though he played after 1967, his best years were prior to that). Even without them, it does make for great reading for hockey fans and pays homage to the great players of the last 60 years.

I wish to thank William Morrow for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this book are strictly my own.

Link:   Amazon.com: The Hockey 100: The Definitive Ranking of Ice Hockey's Greatest Players by The Athletic's Journalists (Sports series, 4): 9780063329195: The Athletic: Books

Review of “Out of the Rough”

 It’s always exciting to read a book on a topic or person that you did not know about before reading that book. That was the case for me with this book about Ted Rhodes, a Black golfer considered to be one of the barrier breakers for Blacks into professional golf. Here is my review of this excellent biography on him. 

Title/Author: “Out of the Rough: Ted Rhodes and His Fight Against Golf’s Color Barrier” by Dan Taylor 

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (Excellent)

Review: When Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters, in his press conference he paid tribute to three men considered to be pioneers for Black golfers - Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder and Ted Rhodes. The work and struggles Rhodes had in opening the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) up to Black golfers is largely unknown and this book by Dan Taylor is an excellent biography of this golfer whose accomplishments should be better known. 

Rhodes grew up in Nashville where Jim Crow laws made it hard for him to pursue golf, but he did get a caddying job on a public course and it was there where the golf bug hit him. He was mentored, took the game seriously and was invited to play in a tournament sponsored by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, an avid golfer himself. That was where Rhodes became more well known as a golfer who had great potential.

Taylor’s writing illustrated Rhodes’ struggles to get into a PGA tournament as the organization had a strict “Caucasians Only” policy. Rhodes still was able to rack up great scores in the United Golf Association (UGA) that was for Black golfers, but the prize money was a pittance compared to PGA purses. While the coverage of Rhodes’ success was very good, Taylor’s account of the deals made and broken by the PGA, their blatant discrimination against Black golfers and their heavy handedness when addressing this matter with sponsors such as Bing Crosby and his annual tournament was very revealing. It showed just how bad Black golfers were viewed by the organization.

Once Rhodes was able to break the color barrier, he and Charlie Sifford did have some success. But where Rhodes was really making his mark was in coaching other Black players. One very famous pupil of his was Althea Gibson. Once she was tired of tennis because she had defeated nearly every other player, she wanted to try her hand at golf. Struggling at first, she eventually became proficient enough in the game under Rhodes’ tutelage that she became the first Black woman to compete in the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

When Rhodes died at age 55, the golf world grieved as the sport lost a true pioneer. This book is one that should be read by those who enjoy golf but may not be aware of the contributions Rhodes made to the sport. I was one of those golf fans who did not know about Ted Rhodes - I am very glad that I do now.

I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own. 

Link:   https://www.amazon.com/Out-Rough-Rhodes-Against-Barrier/dp/B0FBQY2554/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 

Review of "The First All-Star Game"

With baseball season now at around the quarter turn with each team playing about 40 or so games thus far, it's time to start thinking about the All-Star game voting.  So, it's appropriate to post a review of a book about that first All-Star game in Chicago back in 1933. 

Title/Author:

“The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR and America at the Crossroads” by Randall Sullivan

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Many baseball fans and historians know that the first baseball All-Star game was played in 1933 at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, that the American League won that first game on a home run by Babe Ruth and that it was the brainchild of Chicago newspaper mogul Arch Ward.  This book by Randall Sullivan gives a very in-depth look at how the game came about and some other historical background of the politics and economic depression of the United States at that time.

What strikes me most about this book and the excellent details that Sullivan includes is that he gives a well-rounded description of every player and manager on both teams.  Even non-starters, players who did not appear in the game and others such as the umpires also are given their due.  These are all in the chapters leading up to the game itself which is also covered in very good detail.

There is other baseball covered in the book, most notably excerpts about the All-Star games of the Negro Leagues as at this time, Major League Baseball still had its unwritten but very noticeable color line and no Black players were on any of the 16 teams. 

While the other topics discussed by Sullivan do provide some good background, they are explained in the same level of detail as the All-Star game itself. That may make a reader distracted or question why there is so much detail about items like Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Great Depression or the history of the World’s Fair in Chicago, which was also taking place in Chicago at the time of the game.  While there is relevance to the All-Star game for some of these, especially with the World’s Fair, there were times I was wondering if I was reading a history book or a baseball book.  Fortunately, there was enough of the latter that I knew it was a very good baseball book that is one for any reader who wants to learn more about the origins of the All-Star game.

I wish to thank Atlantic Monthly Press for providing a copy of the book via Netgalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link:   The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR and America at the Crossroads: Sullivan, Randall: 9780802167361: Amazon.com: Books

 

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 "The Heyday of Willie, Duke and Mickey"

The return of baseball season means I'll be attending games.  My preferred method of transportation for these trips is either a train or a bus, meaning more reading time. Here is my review of this book I read on a recent trip to Yankee Stadium. 

Title/Author:

“The Heyday of Willie, Duke and Mickey: New York City Baseball’s Golden Age Amid Integration” by Robert C. Cottrell

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

After World War II ended, major league baseball went through a period of great change as it integrated Black players into the game.  It also went through a period of dominance by New York teams as at least one of the three New York City teams – New York Yankees, New York Giants or Brooklyn Dodgers – appeared in the World Series in 9 of the 11 years between 1947 and 1957.  This period of baseball history is chronicled in this book by Robert C. Cottrell.

Cottrell covers this from two views – one from on the field with good recaps of the seasons for each of the three New York teams.  He also provides readers with the progress of integration of the major leagues. Of course, he starts with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he does an admirable job of informing the reader of the progress made by other clubs as well. This also includes the lack of progress of integration on some clubs, most notably the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

One thing to note is that if a reader has read other books on either topic, there probably won’t be much new material that they have not already read.  This book gives a good overview of these items.  The sections with the most detail are those that talk about the pennant races and World Series matchups involving one of the three teams.

Something that did catch me by surprise was the title did not seem to really be the right one for the book.  While each of those three Hall of Fame center fielders did get a good amount of text, it felt like the subtitle would have made the better title.  For the record and for those who were not familiar with the names, they were Willie Mays of the Giants, Duke Snider of the Dodgers and Mickey Mantle for the Yankees.

Overall, this was a decent book and one that was fine for passing the time on a train ride to Yankee Stadium for a ball game.  It is best suited for those readers who were not already familiar with this golden age of New York City baseball.

I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: Heyday of Willie, Duke, and Mickey, The: New York City Baseball's Golden Age amid Integration: 9798881842574: Cottrell, Robert C.: Books

Review of "Tales from the Montreal Canadiens Locker Room"

I started listening to this audio book on my recent trip to a Canadiens-Rangers hockey game, keeping in line with my policy to read or listen to books appropriate for my trip. However, I didn't finish it that night, had to put it aside to get another review done, and came back to it, finishing today.  Here is my review.

Title/Author:

“Tales from the Montreal Canadiens Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Canadiens Stories Ever Told” by Robert S. Lefebvre, narrated by J.P. Linton

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

As the hockey team who has won the most Stanley Cups, this book on the Montreal Canadiens from the collection of similar titles for other teams in the four major sports sounded like one that would be full of excellent stories.  While this book by Robert S. Lefebvre has a few of them, especially during the greatest eras for the team in the 1950’s and the 1970’s, overall, this book fell short of those expectations.

One aspect that did not fall short of expectations was the narration of the book by J.P. Linton.  Even more than the good stories, I felt that Linton did a fantastic job on the narration, especially in the earlier chapter when the connection between the Canadiens and the Francophone population in the province of Quebec.  His pronunciation of the French names was very good, and he provided excellent narration of the hockey stories as well.

Here is where the book was not what I expected – the actual stories.  When I see one of these books in the “Tales from the Locker Room” series, I expect a lot of stories about the players’ camaraderie, their antics away from the games and of course game action as well.  This book lacked much of these.  There were more historical stories of how great Canadiens teams were either built or had their dynasties come to an end.  This was especially true for the Montreal teams that won four consecutive Cups from 1976 to 1979.  The stories were more about the players after they left the Canadiens that led to the end of their dynasty in the spring of 1980.  Or, if not that topic, there were plenty on how some of those players were acquired, such as how the trade for Guy Lafleur was conducted. 

Those types of stories, which were many of them no matter what era was being discussed, were good and well-researched. They did hold my interest long enough for me to finish the book, although Linton’s narration helped with that as well.  This just was not the collection of stories I expected.  Readers or listeners who are more interested in the workings of the Montreal front office through the decades would be the target audience for this book.

Link: Amazon.com: Tales from the Montreal Canadiens Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Canadiens Stories Ever Told (Audible Audio Edition): J. P. Linton, Robert S. Lefebvre, Audible Studios: Books

Review of “The Hardest Longest Race”

 Happy Easter to those who celebrate. Having taken the Easter week off, it gave me plenty of reading time and as a result more reviews done. This book was a bit of a challenge to finish, but I’m glad I stuck it out and wrote this review while still fresh in my mind as I even upped my rating. Here is my review of “The Hardest Longest Race.” 

Title/Author: “The Hardest Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Race That Changed America” by Eric Moskowitz. 

Rating:  4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: Before auto racing came into the sport we know today, there was a race across the United States pitting five cars from 4 different auto makers. Billed as the Ocean to Ocean race, this 1909 race from New York to Seattle is chronicled well in this book by Eric Moskowitz.

The five cars were produced by Ford (they had two Model T’s in this event); Shawmut (a small automaker business in Boston); Acme; and Italia, a European maker. The race was used not only for advertising purposes but also to see if the “little guys” from Boston and elsewhere could beat the mighty Ford brand. This was such an important event that Henry Ford himself made the trip to Seattle to see the finish and the prize money was put up by Robert Guggenheim. 

The book takes the reader through the many paths through mud, ruts, potholes and other obstructions through the states. There are various checkpoints along the way where the cars check in for standings and the crews can rest and refuel both cars and bodies. Moskowitz does a very thorough analysis here of all these roads, cars and men in this event. At times it feels too good as one has to carefully read it in order to keep the cars and crew straight and also to fully understand what the conditions were like driving these cars.

Fans of auto racing today - whether Indy car, F1 or NASCAR - will find that reading about race cars with speeds less than 20 miles per hour will be hard to imagine given the speed of today’s cars. But putting in perspective the nature of those early cars, the completely different parts like axles and tires and the road/trail conditions, finishing this race is a major achievement.

There was a major dispute and rules violation that affected the outcome of the race but not the aftermath. This review will not provide a spoiler but will say that this book goes well beyond a sports book on auto racing. It’s a great adventure story with many twists - literally and figuratively- along the way.

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hardest-Longest-Race-Cross-Country-Contest/dp/1250282675/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 

Review of "A Soaring Season"

 As I work on the never-ending task of catching up on my TBR pile, I pulled out this one that the author sent to me nearly a year ago.  Under the category of "better late than never", I read it as it was a quick and good read on one of the "Cinderella" college basketball teams fans get to see every now and then.  

Title/Author:

“A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003-04 St. Joseph’s Hawks” by Aaron Bracy

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

College basketball has had its share of teams, mainly from smaller schools, go on unbelievable runs during a season to get far into the championship tournament otherwise known as March Madness.  This book by Aaron Bracy tells the story of one of these teams, the 2003-04 St. Joseph’s Hawks.  For those not familiar with the fate of the team, skip this sentence – the Hawks made it to the Elite Eight, losing a heartbreaking game to Oklahoma State 64-62, denying them a trip to the Final Four.

Located in Philadelphia, the Hawks made their run on two future first-round draft choices of NBA teams.  Jameer Nelson and Delonte West were the stars of this team and were the clear leaders.  Nelson was also named as the national Player of the Year in college basketball that season.  However, as basketball is a team game, it also took contributions from many players and coaches.  This is the strength of this book as Bracy did a very good job of not only providing information on every player and coach (and even the mascot) but also ensuring that contributions by them were included in every game summary.

The book follows a very familiar format for books describing one season for a team, no matter the sport or the level (college, pro, amateur, etc.).  The book starts with a cliffhanger scene from the Oklahoma State game, then goes on to give the back story of how they built the team, mainly concentrating on West, Nelson and the head coach Phil Martelli. Then the book goes into the season with a game-by-game account that is typical for this genre, but as mentioned, will go beyond just the stars and provide highlights and quotes from other players as well.  Once the games are completed, there is a wrap up of the season and a “where are they now” section for each of the key contributors.

While this book wasn’t much different than other books that capture a special season, I did enjoy reliving the story of this team that caught the attention of many basketball fans, including myself.  I remember the Oklahoma State game quite well and Nelson lying on the floor after just missing the shot that would have tied the game, then sitting up with his knees up and staring out in disbelief that it was all over.  That was captured in one of the many very good passages on the players by the author.

I wish to thank Mr. Bracy for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks: Bracy, Aaron, Lunardi, Joe: 9781955041430: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "The Long Game"

With the arrival of the 2026 World Cup to the United States, Canada and Mexico, I wanted to pick up this book to get a good look at the United States' squad.  I got that and a whole lot more from this excellent book. 

Title/Author:

“The Long Game: U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts” by Leander Schaerlaeckens

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Leander Schaerlaekens’ book offers a thorough and engaging history of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT), tracing its long and often winding journey from obscurity to renewed relevance on the global stage. The narrative begins by framing the USMNT’s early years through the lens of its stunning 1–0 upset over England in the 1950 World Cup—an achievement that stood in isolation for decades. After that moment of international shock, the United States failed to qualify for another World Cup until 1990, a period Schaerlaekens characterizes with precision and clarity.

One of the book’s strongest sections is its examination of that 40-year gap, during which American soccer struggled for identity and stability. Schaerlaekens effectively documents the fragmented nature of the sport during this era: the absence of a formal national program, the collapse of early professional leagues, and the sport’s marginal cultural footprint. His account of how the United States finally clawed its way back to the World Cup in 1990—despite limited infrastructure and minimal global respect—provides essential context for understanding the program’s modern era.

From there, the book offers a detailed, tournament-by-tournament exploration of the USMNT’s growth, challenges, and internal dynamics since 1990. Schaerlaekens blends analysis of on‑field performance with discussion of coaching philosophies, roster decisions, and the evolving expectations placed on the team. These chapters illuminate the difficult decisions and political maneuvering that shape the national team, giving readers a deeper appreciation of the complexities behind each World Cup cycle.

Interspersed throughout are insightful player and coach profiles that enrich the broader narrative. Schaerlaekens highlights the personalities who have shaped the program over the past three decades, while also providing an accessible look into the governance and politics of both U.S. Soccer and FIFA. For a casual fan—especially someone whose interest peaks during World Cup years—these sections offer valuable background on how players are selected, how coaches are evaluated, and how organizational pressures influence the team’s trajectory.

A notable feature of the book is its series of chapters dedicated to contemporary stars such as Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams. These segments help bridge the historical story with the present and future of the team, offering readers a sense of how today’s core players developed and why they are integral to the United States’ ambitions ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the country will co‑host.

Overall, Schaerlaekens delivers a balanced and comprehensive chronicle of the USMNT. Whether one is a longtime supporter or a casual viewer who tunes in every four years, the book provides both historical insight and forward-looking context. It is an informative and enjoyable read for soccer fans of any level.

I wish to thank Viking Penguin for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

 

Link: Amazon.com: The Long Game: U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts: 9780593653876: Schaerlaeckens, Leander: Books

Review of “Tiger v. Jack”

Keeping with my recent golf theme and impatiently awaiting spring so I can break out my golf clubs, I decided to read this book on one of the few discussions on the “greats of all time” in which one could choose one of two names and not get a strong rebuttal but the other person - it’s that close. Here is my review of “Tiger v. Jack”

Title/Author: “Tiger v. Jack: Golf’s Great Debate ” by Bob Harig

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:  When golf fans are debating who is the greatest golfer of all time, two names are usually mentioned - Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. While the two golfers played in different eras of the game, their accomplishments are well known and constantly compared. This book by Bob Harig digs deep into their careers and their games to provide his opinion on the debate that many agree on one thing - no matter who you pick, both of them are head and shoulders above everyone else.

The first and last chapter are perfect bookends to the debate. The first chapter covers the 1986 Masters tournament when Jack made a huge charge on the back nine on Sunday to become the oldest winner of the Masters at age 46, good for his 18th major championship. The last chapter is about the 2019 Masters, when Tiger won his 15th major at age 43 after a lengthy drought from majors due to injuries, most notably several back surgeries. 

Between those chapters, a reader will learn about the best aspects of each golfer’s game, their first major tournament win, how their career trajectories played out and how they came to be the best of their eras. Harig goes beyond counting wins in majors and PGA wins to provide in-depth information on both golfers. One example of this that I really enjoyed was how both men would intimidate their opponents before teeing off on the first hole. They knew how to exploit any fear or doubt their opponents had which would result in those golfers either trying too hard or making mistakes they normally would not make.  This description was very interesting.

There is information on legendary golfers whose marks first Jack, then Tiger, would eventually shatter. Information on Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Ben Hogan give a good history of how the four major tournaments became a very important part of a golfer’s career. The sections on each man’s accomplishments outside of just winning majors were also very good. Also interesting was a discussion on how each man became involved in the police of golf during their times - Jack on the PGA’s policy that favored club pros instead of those on the PGA tour, Tiger on the emergence of the rival LIV golf league. 

Other golfers, broadcasters, and golf personalities, all from both eras, were included in Haig’s analysis. The last sections before the 2019 Masters where Harig breaks down each man’s game (putting, driving, bunker play, etc), the quality of other players at the time and the size of the field during their time and other statistics, Harig makes his decision and lays it out well. This is an excellent book for those wanting more information on their golfer they choose in this debate. 

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FLZ4MNRW/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20 

Review of “Heartland”

The strong start to 2026 for my reading continues with this excellent book on Larry Bird’s time at Indiana State and stories about his teammates there as well. 

Title/Author:

“Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream and the Miracle of Larry Bird” by Keith O’Brien

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Before Larry Bird became a legendary NBA player with the Boston Celtics, he was an All-American player for the Indiana State Sycamores, a basketball program very few knew about before Bird’s arrival. The story of Bird’s path to the Terre Haute campus and the Sycamores’ magical 1978-79 season is told in this excellent book by Keith O’Brien.

Much like his other books, most notably his biography of Pete Rose, O’Brien conducts hundreds of interviews with people involved in Bird’s life. They can be family, teammates, other acquaintances or even someone who had a brief encounter or event with Bird. An example of this is that O’Brien interviewed the two Indiana State cheerleaders who appeared with Bird on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1977. At that time, getting on that cover was very prestigious. Getting the perspective of that event from these two women is just one example of the depth of the book.

O’Brien has also shown in other books that storytelling is one of the strengths of his writing and this book has plenty of stories. Whether these are from coaches such as Bob King and Bill Hodges the two coaches for Indiana State during Bird’s time there (King had to give up coaching due to health issues and Hodges, who was on King’s staff, took over those duties), from teammates such as Carl Nicks and Bob Helton, or even people from Bird’s hometown of French Lick, Indiana, these paint a fascinating picture of Bird during this time frame.

The book not only covers the Indiana State basketball team, but also a deeper look at Bird’s life before he reluctantly agreed to go with King to visit the campus. It is known that he originally intended to attend Indiana and play for legendary coach Bob Knight there, but he grew depressed and lonely there and did not play a game for the Hoosiers. This, along with other parts of his personal life such as a short marriage that resulted in a daughter being born, his father’s suicide and his time working for the town as a garbage collector are also chronicled here. No matter what Bird was doing at that point, O’Brien describes it well and completely.

The book is an easy read and is broken up into many smaller chapters, making it easy to digest and finish in a short amount of time. Any basketball fan will enjoy this book on one of the true legends of the game. 

I wish to thank Atria Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Heartland-Forgotten-Place-Impossible-Miracle/dp/166821170X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0