Review of "Raw" by Colin Cowherd

This was one of those books that I decided to read only because of the author.  As I mention in the review, I enjoyed listening to Colin Cowherd's radio show when he hosted a midday ESPN radio show.  So when I saw this title available on NetGalley, I jumped on the chance to read it - and I wasn't disappointed.  Here is my review of "Raw." 

Title/Author:

“Raw: My Grade-A, Unfiltered Inside Look at Sports” by Colin Cowherd

Tags:

General, broadcasting, musings

Publish date:

October 13, 2015

Length:

320 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

On occasion, I would turn on Colin Cowherd’s radio show “The Herd” when I needed a sports fix during some downtime in the office when he had a midday show on ESPN Radio.  I liked the show because even if the topic was one in which I didn’t have much interest or he expressed an opinion with which I strongly disagreed, he would be honest about it, give reasons for his viewpoint and tell it in a manner that wasn’t overly critical or patronizing.

So, when I saw he was coming out with his second book on his views of various sports topics, I jumped at the chance to pick up a review copy and dig in. As hoped, the book was written in much the same manner as his radio show. He has strong opinions on a variety of sports topics and he tells how he feels about them in a no-holds-barred style.

Just about every major sport and topic from the past two years in sports is covered here. He talks a lot about football and basketball on both the college and professional levels, which only makes sense given they are the two primary sports covered by his former employer, ESPN (He is now broadcasting for Fox Sports).  From the NFL’s attitude toward domestic violence to the saga of LeBron James returning to Cleveland, he shares his perspective on these topics with the readers in the same manner as listeners has heard. 

Social and political hot-button topics such as race relations and same-sex couples are also addressed.  He mentions that he has a way to take any topic and somehow turn it to make it relevant to sports as well – that is what he does with this as well.  Whether it was the saga of Michael Sam in NFL training camps or race relations with his super-hero character “Claiming Racism Man” I found these topics covered fairly and balanced.  Also, if someone is looking to find out Cowherd’s political leanings, I won’t mention them here, but I will just say that some of the views you read about will not fit neatly into one political position.

Overall, this was a very entertaining and enlightening read. If the reader enjoys Cowherd on the radio or television, then he or she will certainly enjoy this book as well. If the reader can envision those words being heard on the car radio or streaming online instead on the pages of the book, the essence of Cowherd’s broadcasts will be captured.

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

Buying links: (pre-order at time of posting)

http://www.amazon.com/Raw-Grade--Unfiltered-Inside-Sports-ebook/dp/B00P42WOSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444310619&sr=1-1&keywords=raw+colin+cowherd

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/raw-colin-cowherd/1121320776?ean=9781501124099  

Father's Day and sports

Happy Father's Day to all of the dads.  Sports play a big part of this special day.  Baseball stadiums at all levels are filled with sons and daughters who are treating Dad to a game...even if they are too young to be footing the bill themselves.  This year the Baltimore Orioles added something special.  They opened up the outfield so that before the game, fathers could play catch with their kids.  Talk about your Field of Dreams moment!  I bet every participant, no matter their age, will never forget it.

I am usually part of this tradition as my son and I will take in a game on or close to Father's Day.  An exception was made this year, however, as he is enjoying his honeymoon.

So I filled the void with another Father's Day sports ritual...the final round of the U.S. Open.  This is the one professional golf tournament that most weekend hacks can sit back and watch the pros face shots out of deep rough and try to putt on impossible greens and record scores that they regularly post.  I love this tourney for that and some of the great moments it produces.  Whether it was Johnny Miller's round of 63 at Merion (this year's site) in 1973, Tom Watson's chip shot at Pebble Beach in 1982 or the unforgettable duel between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate at Torey Pines in 2008, the U.S Open is a special tourney that always has the last round scheduled on a special day.

Wonderful time of the year

This is one of two wonderful times of the year for a sports fan. Baseball is in full swing, the NBA Finals have started and the NHL playoffs are in the Final Four (although they are usually in the Stanley Cup finals by now.) Three of the four major leagues in action makes for tough choices. Not just for a night like tonight when I had to decidee whether to tune in to hockey or baseball, but also to read one of the three books I am working on for this blog. Spoiler alert...the three books are two biographies and a tell-all. Won't give away anything else...butI will say all three have been good thus far. Hockey won for tonight with the chance for Boston to head back to the Finals. Would like to see that. Although now it will be tough to top game 1 of the NBA Finals. I wrote earlier that San Antonio is one of the best franchises in professional sports. It would be fitting to see their "Big Three" of Duncan, Parker and Ginobli win it all. Next review is coming soon -I promise..but now back to the game!

Model Sports Franchises

Just received the latest issue of Sports Illustrated and the cover States that the St.Louis Cardinals are baseball's model franchise. Have not read the article yet...have to get through the next book for this blog! :) Anyway, it got me thinking about model franchises and what makes a franchise "a model" one. I see three important characteristics. 1) Consistent results on the field. This doesn't mean championships every year or even playoffs. But the team will be a factor year in and year out. 2) Stability in the owner's box, coaching staff and roster. The best example of this is the NBA's model franchise, the San Antonio Spurs. When was the last time you heard that the Spurs were for sale, fired the GM, or let go of the coach? And how long has the core of Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker been there? Stability at its finest. 3) Players want to play for the team for reasons other than money. Yes, today's sports landscape rarely allows players to stay with one team for long. But when players want to sign with a team like the New England Patriots, how can you not take notice and try to see what they are doing right? Those three teams, along with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, make up the model franchises for each sport. Do you agree? If not, which franchises are they? And why? Let's have some fun with this topic.

No review or reading tonight...how can I even think of them when there are TWO game 7's in the Stanley Cup playoffs?   One was one of the best comebacks ever...Bruins down 4-1 in third period and come back to win in OT.  Amazing.  Other game not as good.  Rangers dominated.

Enjoy the games, get ready for the next round, and keep reading.  Next review to come tomorrow.

Lance