Review of “Take Your Eye Off the Puck”

I’ve been in a hockey mode the last week or so - I attended this year’s college hockey regionals tournament where Michigan advanced to the Frozen Four and will be attending my first NHL game in 6 years later this week. So, hockey books are on tap this week First one is this audiobook that despite the title will be enjoyed by any level of hockey fan. 

Title/Author: “Take Your Eye Off the Puck: How to Watch Hockey by Knowing Where to Look” written by Greg Wyshynski, narrated by Barry Abrams

Rating:  4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  Looking for a decent hockey book, the title of this one caught my eye mainly because of the title. While I have been watching hockey, either live or on TV, for decades, I was hoping to maybe pick up an extra tip or two by listening to this audiobook written by Greg Wyshynski and narrated by Barry Abrams. 

While I really didn’t get tips for watching the game, it did offer insight into various parts of the game. This, in turn will help the fan, especially those new to the game, know where to look at other parts of the rink or players away from the puck. Most of these I already do, such as looking at battles in front of the net. I always love to see that battle between an offensive center, a defensive defenseman and at times the goalie as well. 

Descriptions like this are sprinkled through the first third or so of the books as Whyshynski explains all of the positions and what their main roles are, what it means to be on the first line, fourth line and others in between. The same goes for describing the roles of defensemen and why there are “offensive” and “defensive” defensemen. These chapters still help new fans decipher what they are seeing on the ice.

However, the book then starts talking about coaching, running a team as the general manager and the nuances negotiating the NHL salary cap. While the information is great here, even for long-time fans like me, I wondered what it had to do with watching a game. Here, this is where I was glad I listened to the audio version of this book as Abrams was an excellent narrator. That was especially the case when he was narrating some of the many humorous quips throughout the book. I’ll end this review with this explanation of why marquee matchups of star players like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin rarely result in the two of them on the ice at the same time. 

“Hockey isn't like basketball, where you see stars going head-to-head off the dribble. The Crosby vs. Ovechkin banner headlines on NHL.com are fun and all, but if you tallied up the time the two are actually on the ice together, it's roughly smaller than the Wicked Witch of the East's screen time before Dorothy dropped a house on her.” 

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Puck/dp/1629371203/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 

Review of “Homestand”

Finishing up a great month of reading with a book about baseball in a small town that lost its minor league team but is still enjoying baseball. Here is my review of “Homestand.”

Title/Author: “Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight For the Soul of America” by Will Bardenwerper

Rating: 3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review: 

Batavia is a Rust Belt town in western New York that like many of its brethren, has seen better days economically. Many of its small businesses have been shuttered although there is still some activity. For many years the town had a minor league baseball team, the Batavia Muckdogs. Then they lost that team in 2020 when Major League Baseball contracted 42 teams, one of which was the Muckdogs. 

However, the town did not completely lose baseball as a local couple purchased a team in a league of teams composed of college players on summer break, located it in Batavia and kept the name Muckdogs. This book by Army veteran and baseball fan Will Bardenwerper not only chronicles the 2022 Muckdogs season, but it also is a story of a small town, its residents and the fans who made the trek to Dwyer Stadium. 

These stories of people are excellent and the best parts of the book, both for the reader and to show the best of Bardenwerper’s writing. Whether it was two middle aged ladies who don’t consider themselves sports fans yet attend every game, an elderly couple raising their great-grandchildren while enjoying summer nights at the ballpark, the town’s curmudgeonly playwright (who is a Mets fan like the author) and even the stories about Barderwereper’s own family (especially his six-year old son Bates), a reader will feel like they are at Dwyer Stadium or in one of the town’s establishments. The portrayal of Batavia and its team will tug at the reader’s heartstrings.

But those are almost negated by the repetitive and frequent mentions by Bardenwerper about baseball’s current economic model and use of statistical data. It got to the point where I thought I should play a drinking game while reading and take a drink every time he mentioned that MLB eliminated more than 40 minor league teams. He also was frequently criticizing current economic and business principles on “efficiency” and use of technology. These were interspersed within the chapters on the town’s people or the Muckdogs games. That interrupted the nice flow of those great stories. These topics were important to the message Bardenwerper was saying, but they would have been better had they had their own chapters. That may have also reduced the repetition of several points made.

Those issues notwithstanding, this is still a nice look at baseball in small town America. Yes, it may not be professional or affiliated with MLB, but the people still enjoy it, the players are pitching and hitting and at least a small piece of the American experience that the author is lamenting is dying at least has some life in Batavia, New York. 

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

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Homestand-Small-Baseball-Fight-America/dp/0385549652/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 

Review of “Deep Thoughts From an Armchair Quarterback”

Happy Holidays! For one of the last reviews of 2023, I went with this book written by a sports fan on thoughts that other fans usually have and/or express. Here is the review of this book. No matter which holidays you celebrate, I wish all of you a joyous season.  

Title/Author:

“Deep Thoughts From an Armchair Quarterback” by Chris R. Weilert

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Sports fans who view many games in a wide variety of sports will relate to this book by Chris Weilert. He’s not claiming to be any different than any other fan - simply a fan who is sharing his thoughts on a wide variety of sports and it makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.

What I really liked about this book is that Weilert covers a wide variety of sports and doesn’t spend a lot of time on any on particular game, team or athlete. He doesn’t get overly critical of anything, nor does he go overboard on praise. If there is a topic that affects him and his feelings about it, he’s not shy to voice his thoughts. The best example of this is when he talks about a topic sports fans debate all the time - who is the GOAT (greatest of all time)? Pick any sport, any team, any player and this debate rages - Weilert thinks that it’s a waste of time - how can one fairly compare performances in different eras? (Note - while it’s not the reason I chose this example, I am in complete agreement with him on this topic). 

Another good aspect of this book is that while it helps to be a fan, a reader doesn’t have to be an expert on the vocabulary or nuances of the various sports discussed to enjoy the book. The language is basic and easy to comprehend- it feels like a barstool discussion on whatever topic is the subject of the chapter. Finally, what makes the book fun is the wide variety of games covered. Of course the main four of baseball, football, basketball and hockey are a majority of the text but so many others are discussed, such as the Olympics and the Highland Games - that was a fun chapter.

No matter who or what they follow, sports fans will want to pick this book up, maybe with their favorite adult beverage close by and enjoy these discussions that fans engage in all the time. 

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

Link:https://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Recliner-Quarterback-Chris-Weilert-ebook/dp/B0CDP5LT3J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Review of "Gathering Crowds"

Any reviewer who obtains review copies knows what it feels like to have a large pile of books waiting for review and the age that some of them may be.  I am certainly one of them and this is one of the older ones that I have finally been able to read.  Here is my review of "Gathering Crowds."

 

Title/Author:

“Gathering Crowds: Catching Baseball Fever in the New Era of Free Agency” by Paul Hensler

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

The period between 1975 and 1990 was a very turbulent time for the sport of baseball.  The players were granted freedom to seek employment with new teams after decades of being bound to one club under the reserve clause.  In addition to this, there were labor disputes resulting in player strikes, there was collusion amongst the owners to try to keep salaries down during free agency and there were drug problems.  All of this and more is captured in this all-encompassing book by Paul Hensler.

This opening paragraph says a lot – and that doesn’t even cover all the topics Hensler writes about in the book.  There are also sections on various social issues within the game such as the treatment of female reports and women working in the game, such as female umpires.  There is mention of the first openly gay player and umpire.  There are sections about each commissioner during this period and what issues all three of them – Bowie Kuhn, Peter Ueberroth and A. Bartlett Giamatti – had to face during their tenures.  While admirable, trying to cover so much ground in one book meant each topic was highlighted instead of truly covered deeply.

As a result of that, the audience that would be most interested in the book, fans who enjoyed the game during that time, would most likely already be familiar with most of the material.  Ironically, Hensler writes the book to also make the case of how much the game grew in popularity in both paid attendance and television viewing.  On that avenue, he does succeed and does a fine job illustrating that despite all of the labor issues and other negative publicity the game faced, interest did grow.  It should also be noted that part of this could also be attributed to another aspect Hensler illustrates.  That is despite the fears of owners and commissioners that small market teams could not compete with the larger, richer clubs, several of them enjoyed success and won titles.  These included the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.  I used the Orioles here because Hensler did group them with smaller markets.

Overall, this is a decent book and Hensler covers a lot of ground.  It just may be too much ground as readers who know little or nothing about that time period of baseball may gain more knowledge than more ardent fans. 

I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Link: Gathering Crowds: Catching Baseball Fever in the New Era of Free Agency: Hensler, Paul: 9781538132005: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "The Hot Seat"

Normally, I'll only post one review per day, but during this holiday weekend, I had the chance to not only take part in my usual weekend games (basketball and golf) and watch some baseball, but I also finished two books.  This one is the second of the two, and it is a good look at college football from the eyes of a Michigan fan.  Here is my review of "The Hot Seat." 

 Title/Author: “The Hot Seat: A Year of Outrage, Pride and Occasional Games of College Football” by Ben Mathis-Lilley

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  To a person who is from another nation, American college football must be a very different sport.  There are many different aspects that a visitor may not understand, such as the tailgating, the fever that so many have for a particular school, the recruiting and the concept of a “student-athlete” representing their school. These may make one, even college football fans, wonder why so many people are so enthralled with the sport.  Slate writer Ben Mathis-Lilley makes an attempt to describe this game that is all-consuming for many fans.

He accomplishes the goal by writing about different viewpoints on why people would be so invested in the sport while he himself interrupts this analysis by writing about his own rooting interest, the University of Michigan Wolverines and their head coach Jim Harbaugh.  The title of the book, and the cover, would make one think that it is only about Michigan and the calls for Harbaugh’s ouster, hence he was on the “hot seat.” This came after the 2020 college season in which Michigan went “only” 9-3, which for that fan base is unacceptable.  Add in the fact that as the 2021 season started, a Harbaugh-coached Wolverines team had yet to defeat its arch rival, Ohio State, and you have some very upset Michigan fans and alumni.

Going beyond just the football, Mathis-Lilley looks for connections between college football fans and other disciplines to learn more about their behavior.  He interviews several people in those disciplines and analyzes their connections in topics like politics (he does show his political leanings but is fair to all political shades), psychology and even visiting other colleges to see what their coaches and fan bases do.  The two schools he writes most about aside from Michigan are Louisiana State University and Florida Atlantic University. The contrasts between the two are stark, and as one might expect, Michigan would be closer to the LSU experience because both schools have a history of success in the sport, but they are still very different.  Their coach, Ed Orgeron, also had his share of controversy and time in the “hot seat” but again, a very different circumstance.

Of course, the book follows Michigan’s mostly successful 2021 campaign, which included that long-sought win over Ohio State for Harbaugh, a Big Ten championship and playing in the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.  Mathis-Lilley writes more about his observations of fans, himself and others online, more than the games, but the reader will still get a good amount of information on the team and season.  It is just not a pure recap of the season, as that is not what the book is about.

College football fans, no matter their region or their favorite team, will enjoy this unique look at the game, the fans, and the issues surrounding the sport now.  It is at times, funny, serious, reflective and even controversial, which makes it have a little bit of spice for everyone. It may be a little hard to follow and will take careful reading, but if a reader does that, they will walk away with a better understanding of how the sport reflects its fans and vice versa.

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

Links:  Amazon.com: The Hot Seat: A Year of Outrage, Pride, and Occasional Games of College Football eBook : Mathis-Lilley, Ben: Kindle Store

Review of "Fred From Fresh Meadows"

If you read this and are a passionate fan of any sports team, then this book comes highly recommended as there is sure to be some story that you will be able to relate to when this super New York Knicks fan tells his life tale.  Here is my review of "Fred From Fresh Meadows." 

Title/Author:

“Fred From Fresh Meadows: A Knicks Memoir” by Fred Cantor

Tags:

Basketball, professional, memoir, Knicks, fans

Publish date:

November 28, 2020

Length:

155 pages

Rating:

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

There are fans of every team in every sport who consider themselves the biggest fan of their team. For the New York Knicks, it is hard to imagine anyone being a bigger fan than Fred Cantor, an attorney who is a native of New York City and has followed that basketball team for as long as he has known the game. This book, a straightforward memoir of his life as a Knicks fan, is a great read for anyone who considers themselves a fan as described above.

One of the best qualities of this book is how Cantor can find a Knicks connection for nearly every personal story he has to tell.  Whether it was taking the SAT exam after a late night of Knicks basketball on the West Coast, his wheeling and dealing with others to get cable TV and later season tickets so that he would not miss any games, or (my favorite story in the book) playing goalkeeper in a pick-up soccer game so that he could bring his transistor radio and listen to a Knicks playoff game while still participating in the soccer game, Cantor demonstrates time and time again why he should be an inductee into the Knicks fans Hall of Fame – if they ever create one.

The other aspect of the book that is very appealing is that it is relatable to other fans who have the same type of passion, even if not necessarily at the same level or with the same willingness to take risks to see or listen to games.  Anyone who can’t stand to see the rival of their favorite team win will love reading about Cantor’s extreme dislike of the Boston Celtics.  Any fan who has scraped and saved to obtain that magic ticket to a playoff game that they remember for decades will shake their head in appreciation while reading about Cantor’s favorite Knicks memory, game 5 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.  There were so many times where if a fan inserts the name of their favorite team, such as the Minnesota Twins for this reviewer, they could possibly tell the same type of story.

Those are a just a few of the reasons that fans of any team in any sport who are passionate in their following of the team will want to read this book.  Even if they couldn’t attend as many games as Cantor did or take some of the risks he took, any fan will be able to relate to the wonderful stories.  A quick read at 155 pages, it is one that will let the reader escape into his or her fandom just as much as if they were seeing their favorite team live.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)                                                                                                                                   

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/FRED-FRESH-MEADOWS-Knicks-Memoir/dp/B08P3PCBQB/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=9798567762912&linkCode=qs&qid=1613245346&s=books&sr=1-1&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sin-20

 

Review of "Bases to Bleachers"

When a social media friend who is a big a baseball fan as I am asked me to take a look at his book, I was happy to do so.  What I discovered was an excellent collection of baseball stories from ordinary people, aka fans, that are great to read.  Here is my review of that book, "Bases to Bleachers"

Title/Author:

“Bases to Bleachers” A Collection of Personal Baseball Stories from the Stands and Beyond” by Eric C. Gray

Tags:

Baseball, collection, short stories, fans

Publish date:

March 1, 2019

Length:

337 pages

Rating: 

4 ½  of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Anyone who has even a passing interest in baseball will have a story or two or ten to tell about the game.  From a simple question to his family, Eric C. Gray has taken that question and developed it into a wonderful collection of baseball stories gathered from people across the world in this book. 

A vast majority of the stories are a joy to read. Not all, but most – as is the case for any type of collection like this, there will be some stories that readers may not enjoy and that was the case for me.  As for the good-to-excellent pieces, some are funny, some are tear-jerkers, some are proud moments of accomplishment, and some involve love at the ballpark.  Not only are the stories varied in their themes and interests, so are the contributors as Gray received stories from all over the globe for inclusion in the book. 

Written by fans for fans, this excellent collection of baseball stories is sure to have something for everyone.  Because it is a collection, the book can be digested in whatever manner a reader wishes.  It can be read for a short time, picked up later and continued or a reader can read through the stories in one sitting. No matter how someone reads it, “Bases to Bleachers” is sure to be a hit with any baseball fan.

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

Book Format Read:

Paperback                                                                                                                                        

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641111798/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1641111798&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bases-to-bleachers-eric-c-gray/1132412242?ean=9781641114523

Review of "Federer and Me"

After getting up very early both mornings this past weekend to catch the women's and men's finals of the Australian Open, I was in the mood to read a book on tennis.  Luckily I found one on NetGalley for request and my request was quickly approved.  I am thankful the publisher granted it as I enjoyed this book written by a huge fan of Roger Federer.  Here is my review of "Federer and Me." 

Title/Author:

“Federer and Me” by William Skidelsky

Tags:

Tennis, professional, fans, Federer

Publish date:

May 3, 2016

Length:

272 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Sometimes a legendary team or athlete will attract many fans and some of those fans will truly fit the definition of the word that “fan” is derived from, “fanatic.”  That is certainly the case for William Skidelsky, a writer who is a huge fan of tennis star Roger Federer. Skidelsky tells readers just how obsessed he is with Federer in this humorous and self-depreciating memoir.

The book starts off with Skidelsky’s adventure in trying to obtain tickets for the 2014 Wimbledon finals where Federer faced Novak Djokovic. The manner in which he obtains these precious ducats and how he has to break the news to his wife is a hilarious story and sets the tone for the chapters in which he talks about this obsession about the Swiss tennis star.

Skidelsky calls himself a tennis nerd in the book as he writes sections on the game’s nuances such as the importance of the grip, the evolution from wood to graphite rackets and why the single handed backhand shot has nearly disappeared. These parts of the book were fascinating to me and while some casual fans may be overwhelmed with this level of detail, readers who want to find out intricate details like this will be very pleased.

There are long stretches of the book where Skidelsky talks about his life without tennis as well, and they are included to paint a complete picture of the author. But the best parts are certainly when he is talking about his favorite subject, Roger Federer.  Whether it is camping out for tickets to see him at Wimbledon, describing the agony of Federer being on the losing side of one of the best matches in Wimbledon history or getting to ask Roger questions at a press conference, any tennis fan who follows his or her favorite player will be able to connect with Skidelsky and his extreme fandom.  A fun read that is recommended to all tennis fans.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

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

http://www.amazon.com/Federer-Me-Obsession-William-Skidelsky/dp/1501133934/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454550532&sr=1-1&keywords=federer+and+me

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/federer-and-me-william-skidelsky/1122403817?ean=9781501133930

Review of "Diehards"

This was the perfect title for a sports fan like me.  I have stated many times that I am a "diehard" Minnesota Twins fan.  So, when the author's publicist sent me an email asking if I was interested in reviewing this book, I was certainly curious.  I learned more about us "diehard" fans.  Here is my review of "Diehards"

Title/Author:

“Diehards” by Chip Scarinzi

Tags:

Baseball, Athletics, fans, psychology

Publish date:

September 1, 2015

Length:

222 pages

Rating: 

3 1/2 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

Sports fans are what make the business of sports successful. Their willingness to spend their time, money and emotions in order to support their favorite athletes or teams is a trait that some ask if it is worth the effort.  This book by Chip Scarinzi explores that question by interspersing personal stories of his fandom with interviews and viewpoints of experts who try to address why some people invest so much into a hobby that is usually successful only half the time.

Scarinzi, a Philadelphia resident who is a fan of the Oakland Athletics, explains his love for the Athletics and what is does to his rational thinking, his relationship with his wife and also throws in stories of both agony and ecstasy.  These are the best parts of the book as any sports fan can see himself or herself in these stories – one just has to substitute his or her favorite team. 

The people interviewed in the book add to the stories by lending their expertise in explaining the fan’s mindset, relationship with the team as well as other people and why these fans love the games and the teams.  While the knowledge shared was interesting, I found reading these portions not as easy as Scarinzi’s stories.  This was because I am one of those diehards and like others, I believe in just enjoying the game and investing in the games and the team.  Personally, I almost don’t want to know why – it seemed to take away a little of the joy of being one of the diehards.

Despite these feelings about these parts, I do believe these are essential parts to read if one wants to learn the psychology behind these fans.  If that is the goal of the reader, then this is the perfect book for that goal.  If one just wants to read entertaining and humorous stories about fellow fans, then this book will fill that bill as well. 

I wish to thank Mr. Scarinzi and Rowe Publishing for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Diehards-Fans-Care-About-Sports-ebook/dp/B01496JQWI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445044029&sr=1-1&keywords=diehards