Short review - "Riding With the Rocketmen"

While both reading this book as part of a challenge and trying to clean out some books previously sent to me, I found this one.  Having enjoyed other books on cycling, this premise sounded very interesting. However, while the book was one that cycling enthusiasts will like, it wasn't really for me.  Here is my review of the book.

Title/Author: "Riding With the Rocketmen: One Man's Journey on the Shoulders of Cycling Giants" by James Witts

Rating: 3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review: The book was far beyond my knowledge of cycling and the equipment, training and vocabulary used. It is clear Mr. Witts uses his extensive experience in writing about the sport in order to undertake this challenge, but because I am at best a casual fan of the sport - watching some of the Tour de France and read about some of the history is about the extent of how much I follow cycling - this book was certainly not written for a reader like me.

The humor, especially the self-deprecating kind, was excellent and it was okay to read about his own adventures as he attempts to complete a leg of the famous course. But all of the technical jargon, the many people involved in his journey and the sheer volume of this material in a fairly short book made it very tough for me. I am rating this book three stars as while it wasn't my cup of tea, cycling enthusiasts will really enjoy this one and that is the intended audience, not the casual, occasional fan like me.

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

Link: Riding With The Rocketmen: One Man's Journey on the Shoulders of Cycling Giants: Witts, James: 9781399403504: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Surviving to Drive"

This is another example of a book that I am glad that I chose the audio version instead of the print or electronic version.  Guenther Steiner's humor and colorful language made this book a fun listen - I doubt it would have been as good just reading it.  It's a shame he left F1 before the 2024 season.  Here is my review of "Surviving to Drive." 

 

Title/Author:

“Surviving to Drive” written and narrated by Guenther Steiner

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Buoyed by the popularity of the Netflix series “Drive to Survive”, Formula 1 (F1) racing has enjoyed a surge in popularity and one of the personalities who fans both old and young alike is Guenther Steiner.  This audiobook written and narrated by Steiner is a very good recap of his 2022 F1 season with the Haas team.

Haas is one of the smaller teams in F1 and doesn’t have the same amount of money, resources, or personnel that some of the bigger teams do like McLaren or Red Bull Racing.  Nonetheless, they make do with what they have in order to compete and earn points each week on the circuit and Steiner’s stories give the reader/listener great insight into the workings and issues faced by a team of this size.

There is plenty of material on the two main drivers for Haas that year, Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher (son of legendary driver Michael Schumacher), as well as Haas and of course, Steiner himself.  His unfiltered recall of the races, trials and tribulations of his team are great reading.  The audio version, which I listened to, was even better as you can tell through Guenther’s voice when he was elated, or he was frustrated.  

His insight and language (not the accent, but also the colorful words he used which are not safe for children) make the stories even better.  This is especially true about the days between races.  Whether it was a story about the travel, the amount of work to get the cars ready or just venting, Steiner made the recollection of a F1 season very entertaining.

Link: Surviving to Drive by Guenther Steiner - Audiobook - Audible.com

Review of "Bingo!"

Books written by or about sports broadcasters are always interesting and this one on long-time Los Angeles Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler is no exception.  Here is my review of his memoir, "Bingo!"

Title/Author: “Bingo! Forty Years in the NBA” by Ralph Lawler with Chris Epting

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: When a team’s long-time broadcaster writes a book, there are plenty of interesting stories that can be shared and fans of that team will enjoy them immensely.  That is true no matter the sport or how successful the franchise has been.  For the Los Angeles Clippers, a basketball team with no championships and a history of mostly losing, that broadcaster is Ralph Lawler.  From the team’s days in San Diego to its move to Los Angeles and then some, Lawler has been there for many Clippers games and his stories of his time broadcasting the team (and a few with the Philadelphia 76ers) are told in this interesting memoir.

While I love many of the stories Lawler tells about the Clippers and his adventures in radio, especially early in his career, what struck me the most about his memoir was the name dropping. I suppose that in Los Angeles it shouldn’t be surprising to read that Lawler knew and befriended so many celebrities, sports and otherwise, but it was something that I didn’t expect to see.  This is primarily because the other professional basketball team in the city, the Lakers, are the ones who seem to attract all the attention.

Speaking of the Lakers, Lawler devoted one of his many side stories to the first Laker to become a superstar, George Mikan.  I mention this because throughout the book, Lawler shows how passionate he is for not only the Clippers, but for the entire history of pro basketball.  He talks up Mikan as one of the greatest players in the history of the game because he was the first big man to succeed in the NBA and it was because of him that some rule changes took effect, such as widening the lane.  As one who enjoys learning about the history of all sports and appreciates kind words about players from different eras, it was refreshing to read about a player from several decades ago be described as an all-time great. 

Of course, as expected, the best writing is about the Clippers.  While the team has had more losing than winning, when that winning came, he wrote about it with a lot of knowledge, a lot of love and even some great interviews with some of those players.  From Chris Paul to Quentin Richardson to Blake Griffin, many former players for the team are mentioned as great people for Lawler to have been around.  But he saves the most love for Bill Walton.  While Walton’s time with the Clippers may have been very short due to all the injuries he suffered, he and Lawler became very good friends.  Walton wrote a letter to the voters for the Basketball Hall of Fame to campaign for Lawler’s induction as a broadcaster.  It was successful as Lawler was named for his broadcasting and is always grateful to Walton for this.

It should be noted that the title is only one of two catchphrases that is attached to Lawler.  “Bingo!” came about when the Clippers acquired Bingo Smith, a noted three-point shooter.  Whenever he made a three, Lawler would exclaim “Bingo!” and that just stuck with him long after Smith retired.  The other catchphrase for Lawler was “Oh Me! Oh My!” and the best story about that is not how it started but how it was used to play a prank on Lawler by three members of the Clippers during their best years, the “Lob City” teams with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul as the main stars.

One doesn’t have to be a Clippers fan to enjoy this book.  Any reader who enjoys the game of basketball will want to read Ralph Lawler’s story.  It is one filled with a lot of great memories, great basketball and great relationships.

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

Link: Amazon.com: Bingo!: Forty Years in the NBA eBook : Lawler, Ralph, Epting, Chris, Walton, Bill: Kindle Store

 

 

Review of "The Education of Kendrick Perkins"

 While I usually review books closer to or after their release date, this February release was picked for me in a reading challenge, and I met the challenge.  I am glad I did as this is one of the better sports memoirs I have read, and I have read plenty.  Here is my review of "The Education of Kendrick Perkins."

Title/Author:

“The Education of Kendrick Perkins: A Memoir” by Kendrick Perkins with Seth Rogoff 

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Kendrick Perkins has made the most of his opportunity to become a professional basketball player at the age of 18.  He left his home in Beaumont, Texas for Boston as a high school player who was going to attempt to make the leap to the NBA.  He was successful in that goal, but not without bumps along the way.  He may not have become as big a star as other players who made that leap such as Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, but he did enjoy a good playing career and is now one of the more recognizable commentators on ESPN.  He not only talks about basketball but also social and racial issues.  He tackles all of those, plus his thoughts on fatherhood in this excellent memoir.

He starts the book by describing his departure from Beaumont and just from that chapter, the reader will know that this is not going to be the typical memoir, describing the author’s life from childhood to the present.  Perkins reflects on many different issues as well as basketball.  He concentrates on those issues that are important to the Black community.  That doesn’t make this book or even this memoir that unique, but it is the manner in which he speaks to those issues that makes it special.

One example of this is his comparison of the literary character Biggie Thomas to the struggles many Black men face in real life.  He also talks about these issues from a position of either a well-considered opinion or makes statements with factual evidence.  This not only lends credibility to his work, but it also shows how much he cares about the issues.  It should also be noted that he stays away from generalized statements accusing groups of people and instead concentrates on either the results of racial inequality or what needs to be addressed instead of assigning blame.  It makes for better reading even if some material may make some readers uncomfortable.

For his writing on basketball, he concentrates more on the personal relationships he had with players, coaches and management for the teams he played on – the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans.  He talks most about the first two of those teams.  He was part of the Celtics teams that made the NBA finals twice in three years and winning the title in 2008.  Notably, the teammate he talks most about during those years is Garnett, another high-school-to-NBA success story.  Perkins also doesn’t just talk about points and rebounds in his basketball sections.  As one example, his explanation of what a team must do to play effective defensive basketball was excellent.    

As one of the better sports memoirs I have read, I believe the title is a little misleading.  While Perkins may have gained an education in his life experiences, I believe this book will also provide an education to the reader, especially about the experiences of Blacks.  This is highly recommended for not only basketball fans, but also for readers who want to know more about racial issues affecting the United States.

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

Link: The Education of Kendrick Perkins: A Memoir: Perkins, Kendrick, Rogoff, Seth: 9781250280343: Amazon.com: Books

 

Guest post - “The NBA in Black and White”

 While this book has been on my radar, I received a request to post this review on my blog and frankly, I know I would not have done this as well as Syl did, so I will simply post the review and let you enjoy.  

Book Review: Ray Scott’s The NBA in Black and White

A Memoir, a Tribute to Black Trailblazers, and a Lesson in Race 

By Syl Sobel

 

Today’s basketball stars often acknowledge that they stand on the shoulders of African American players who came before them. They credit stars of the 1960s and ‘70s like Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Wilt Chamberlainfor building the foundation for today’s game and opening doors for Black athletes.  

But what about the generation of Black players before them, the groundbreakers of the 1950s who cleared a path for African-Americans in the NBA? Men like Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton who broke the league’s color barrierin 1951? Or pioneers who came after them like Hank DeZonie, Don Barksdale, Ray Felix, Jim Tucker, and the great Maurice Stokes, who labored in the trenchesat a time when the NBA had an unwritten quota on African Americans and expected them to rebound, play defense, and run the floor, but not score or overshadow the white stars?

Thanks to Ray Scott, former great NBA and ABA player and coach and a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, today’s players and fans now have a chance to remember players the NBA forgot. In The NBA in Black and White: The Memoir of a Trailblazing NBA Player and Coach, which Scott wrote with prolific basketball author Charley Rosen, we learn about all of these players and morealong Scott’s journey from Philadelphia high school star, to NBA and ABA star, to the first African-American to be selected as NBA Coach of the Year. Scott doesn’t just tell their story – he lived it with them. He is one of the last remaining links to the first generation of African American NBA players who made the modern game possible. 

Scott began his career in the playgrounds and high school gyms of Philadelphia where he competed against Chamberlain, Hal “King” Lear, Guy Rodgers, and other city legends. He went to the University of Portland where he played against University of Seattle star Elgin Baylor; to the Catskills where he, Chamberlain, and other college players competed against each other and visiting pros in summer exhibition contests; and to the Eastern Basketball League where he teamed with fellow Philly great Sonny Hill and developed his game for three years after he left Portland, and played with and against some of the best basketball players you probably never heard of, like Lear, Wally Choice, Dick Gaines, Tom Hemans, and former Globetrotters Andy Johnson (a former Philadelphia Warrior), Carl Green, Roman Turmon, and Gene Hudgins. 

In 1961, the Detroit Pistons made Scott their no. 1 draft pick and fourth overall. He played nine years in the NBA for Detroit and Baltimore, battling Chamberlain, Russell, Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed, Robertson, Baylor, and other greats of that era, averaging a double-double at 14.9 pts. and 10.5 rebounds per game. Then he ended his playing career with the Virginia Squires in the ABA where one of his teammates was a young Julius Erving. 

Scott readily traces his lineage and his development as a player, coach, and personto Earl Lloyd, who not only was the first African American to play in an NBA game, but was also the league’s first Black scout and assistant coach. Lloyd was the scout who recommended that the Pistons draft Scott, became Scott’s valued mentor as Detroit’s assistant coach, was the head coach who hired him as an assistant in 1972, and who Scott replaced as head coach when Lloyd was fired early that season. 

Lloyd was Scott’s confidante who not only taught him how to prepare and conduct himself on the court, but off of it as well. Lloyd helped Scott navigate the delicate balance of being a Black NBA player and coach in what was still a white league in the early 1960s, with many false preconceptions about Black athletes and culture. 

As the title suggests, race and its influence on professional basketball are as important an element in Scott’s story as the game of basketball itself. Scott’s career spans the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and ‘70s, and he weaves race into his story from his personal observations, insight, and involvement.

Scott’s racial consciousness was born during his childhood in Philly and matured through his basketball and life experiences. Lloyd introduced Scott to Dr. Martin Luther King during a chance airport meeting, and after King’s assassination Scott became Coretta Scott King’s bodyguard. He met Malcolm X, befriended Muhammed Ali, and played pick-up basketball in Harlem with H. Rap Brown (“a good player”).

Scott recalls how he informed his college search by identifying which college programs already had their “quota” of African American players and which played games in places that were hostile to Blacks. He explains how the Eastern League became the landing place for many great Black players who were limited by the small number of NBA teams at that time and the NBA’s unwritten quotas. He remembers how he and other Black NBA players were denied service at restaurants in some cities, and how white owners undervalued Black players and coaches thinking they required a lower standard of living than their white contemporaries.

Scott recounts these and many personal slights now not with bitterness but as teaching points.

“My purpose . . . in writing this book is to explore, and hopefully to encourage a better understanding of, a certain portion of the history of “We the people” as I have experienced it,” Scott says in the Prologue. “My ultimate aim is not to shock but to encourage readers to think.”

Scott succeeds, on three levels. First, he describes a remarkable life in which he has excelled not only at the highest levels of professional sports but also in business and community service. 

Second, he adds to the growing literature on African American basketball players who are finally getting recognition for their contributions to the game. Other recent books on this topic include Claude Johnson, Black Fives: The Epic Story of Basketball’s Forgotten Era (2022); Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein, Boxed Out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League (2021); Douglas Stark, Breaking Barriers, A History of Integration in Professional Basketball(2018); Earl Lloyd and Sean Kirst, Moonfixer: The Basketball Journey of Earl Lloyd (2011); Mark Johnson, Basketball Slave: The Andy Johnson Harlem Globetrotter Story (2010); Ron Thomas, They Cleared the Lane: The NBA’s Black Pioneers (2002); Bijan C. Bayne, Sky Kings: Black Pioneers of Professional Basketball (1997).

But perhaps most importantly, Scott sees in basketball and its history of racism a hopeful metaphor for society. “In so many ways,” he writes, “the NBA and the WNBA are showing the way for a future in which all Americans have a seat at the table.” 

To the extent one agrees that basketball has succeeded in furthering opportunities and inclusion for African Americans, it provides both lessons and optimism for the future.

 

Syl Sobel is a writer, attorney, and the coauthor, with Jay Rosenstein, of Boxed Out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League. His website is www.sylsobel.com.

Review of "Game"

 Every year around this time, I start to go back through older books on my list to review and came across this one.  Since it is nearly time for basketball to return, it felt like a good time to read "Game", Grant Hill's memoir.  Here is my review. 

Title/Author:

“Game: An Autobiography” by Grant Hill

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

To say Grant Hill has lived a charmed life would not be inaccurate, but it certainly had some bumps in the road.  From his upbringing by two successful parents (his father was Calvin Hill, an All-Pro NFL running back and his mother was a successful businesswoman) to an eventful basketball career complete with injuries and a near-death hospitalization to successful business ventures, Hill has many stories to share and he does so in this fast paced and fun-to-read memoir.

Having read this fairly quickly on an e-reader, I was surprised to see that the hardcover edition is 400 pages – it certainly didn’t read like a 400 page memoir.  No matter what part of his life Hill is discussing, he does so in a manner that the reader will enjoy as it feels like Hill is sitting next to the reader, talking to them in plain language – even when discussing basketball strategy or later, medical terminology during his injury-plagued years while under contract for the Orlando Magic.

Those years were certainly the most frustrating for Hill, as he not only laments his lack of time on the court but also expresses his displeasure at the medical teams that treated him for his ankle injuries.  One of the surgeries he underwent had complications due to infections and he nearly died in the hospital.  He eventually recovered from these thanks to the medical teams at Duke University and was even able to play some more seasons as a role player for the Phoenix Suns.

It is only appropriate that Duke was the place for his medical recovery as that was where his basketball career really took off and his star rose quickly as in his four years as a Blue Devil, Duke won one championship and appeared in two additional championship games in Hill’s four years there.  He was the third pick in the 1994 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons and immediately made an impact in the NBA as well, as his six years with the Pistons were successful for him individually but not as much for the team before he left for Orlando as a free agent.

The book is certainly not limited to his basketball career or his medical issues as he talks at length about his parents and their influence in his life, both in childhood and adulthood.  He also spends much time discussing his marriage to Canadian singer Tamia and their two daughters.  His love for hip hop music is evident throughout the book and he even dips into social and political commentary.  The latter is written quite well and even-toned which was a welcome change from the divisive dialogue of today.

One doesn’t have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this book, although it does help when he is discussing his time at Duke and in Detroit, where much of the basketball talk is focused.  The book is a great look at the man and his mostly humble personality.  I say “mostly” because he isn’t shy in sharing his opinions when they enhance the discussion.  

I wish to thank The Penguin Group for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Link: Amazon.com: Game: An Autobiography eBook : Hill, Grant: Books

Review of "The Secret Race"

One resolution that I plan on keeping this year is to clean out the older books on my shelves or e-reader clouds.  The challenge I had earlier posted was one part of this resolution - the other was simply to read some of the books I bought a long time ago, but never got to read.  This book is one of them - and now I wish I had read it as soon as it popped up on my Nook. An outstanding memoir that provides an inside look at the world of cycling and its doping scandal, I recommend that everyone reads this, even if they are not fans.  Here is my review of Tyler Hamilton's memoir, "The Secret Race."

Title/Author:

“The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France” by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle

Tags:

Cycling, performance enhancing drugs, memoir

Publish date:

September 5, 2012

Length:

306 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

The rise and fall of Lance Armstrong was a spectacular story on both ends.  The doping scandal that was rampant in the sport of cycling ensnared not only Armstrong, but many of his teammates and competitors.  One of those cyclists, Tyler Hamilton, shares his story about his time in the sport and with Armstrong (called “Lance” throughout the book, not “Armstrong) in this outstanding memoir, co-written with Daniel Coyle.

What especially struck me about the book was Hamilton’s attention to every detail about the doping that goes on in cycling.  Not just the substances used, but the nicknames given, the undercover nature of communication between athletes and doctors, the methods of taking the drugs and the benefits a cyclists gets during the races.  Whether it was Hamilton’s description of taking “Edgar” (Erythropoietin), the details of his “BBs” (blood bags) when getting a transfusion of his own blood, or the conversations between racers on the trail, this is a book that is a page-turner, no matter what the reader’s level of interest may be in the sport of cycling.

The stories of how racers would either avoid or outsmart the drug testers read like spy novels.  This level of deceit, lies and evasion could only be told by someone who lived this type of life and Hamilton does it well.  This is true when not only talking about his own doping, but also that of Armstrong and other Postal team members.  He at times seemed in awe of Armstrong (before Lance’s eventual downfall) because he was always able to find a way to talk his way out of a tough situation.

Hamilton’s story itself is also very interesting, with his own climb from riding for various smaller teams to getting a spot in the prestigious US Postal team, the one that Armstrong raced for during his record stretch of Tour de France wins, wins that have since been stricken from records.  Hamilton himself has had the same thing happen to him with his 2004 Olympic gold medal in doubt because of a positive drug test.  While relieved he was able to keep his medal when the validity of the second positive test could not be verified, he eventually came clean on his doping. 

If a reader wants to learn about the actual sport, this book is a great source to do so.  Hamilton’s description of the riders who have to set the pace for the leaders, those who ride in packs or those who have to keep pace with the lead cyclist so that leader can maintain the speed he needs to keep the lead, is full of details that make a reader feel like he or she is on the bike. 

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about the doping scandals in the sport of cycling or learn about the story of this Olympic champion whose personal and professional life took many drastic turns.  Be forewarned – once you pick up the book, you will not want to put it down.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Nook)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Race-Inside-Hidden-France/dp/034553042X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-race-tyler-hamilton/1112482596;jsessionid=B996605A850033F0C9EC1655247B2BC8.prodny_store01-atgap08?ean=9780345530424#/

Review of "Game Face"

While some people may not remember Bernard King's prowess for scoring in the 1980s, many serious basketball fans will recall his career with fondness despite being overshadowed in the minds of many by Bird, Magic and Jordan.  He was known for his privacy and he has opened up with this very good memoir.  Here is my review of "Game Face."

Title/Author:

“Game Face: A Lifetime of Hard – Earned Lessons On and Off the Basketball Court” by Bernard King with Jerome Preisler

Tags:

Basketball, professional, memoir, Nets, Warriors, Jazz, Knicks

Publish date:

November 7, 2017

Length:

360 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Bernard King is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and was one of the most prolific scorers during his sixteen year career, with his best seasons occurring when he played for the New York Knicks.  He recovered from serious knee surgery at a time when that type of injury meant the end of a career.  In addition, he was known as an extremely private person during his playing days, rarely opening up to the media about any personal issues.

In this memoir written with Jerome Preisler, King opens up about his childhood and the feelings of self-doubt that were always present in his life, even when basketball took him to places he never thought he would reach, such as college (University of Tennessee) and back home to New York.  As a Brooklyn kid, he talks about his experiences in the schools and playgrounds in the area and how he vowed to do what he could to avoid the temptations of the streets.

He also opens up about problems that plagued him during his college and professional careers, namely alcoholism and its associated issues.  He thanks his first agent for assisting him in getting the help he needed to overcome those issues as well.  King’s openness about these matters is something that he would rarely do in the public spotlight, so a reader can only imagine how tough it must have been for him to talk about these subject.  He covers a lot of ground in these areas, but there is not a lot of detail or too much anger or self-pity. These sections came across as his account of what happened, what he did to address them and not much else.

The same can’t be said for when King writes about his basketball skills, however.  It is clear how much he still loves the game and the vivid memory he has for many of his career highlights. This is true from his time playing in high school to his days at Tennessee, when he teamed with Ernie Grunfeld to form the “Bernie and Ernie Show” to his NBA career. He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets where he became a scoring machine early.  He later played for the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz before joining the Knicks where his star shone the greatest.  At each stop, he has mostly kind words for teammates, coaches and front office people.  This is true even if his experience with the team was not so great, such as his time in Utah.  It matches the rest of the book because it has a very positive, upbeat feeling even when King is discussing low points in his life.

Serious basketball fans will love the detail with which King describes the action on the court.  Whether it is describing plays that coaches draw on the board, elbows thrown by opponents such as Bob Lanier and Maurice Lucas or the sweet jump shot that made him a scoring machine, the book is chock full of game action. Casual fans who have heard about him but wish to know more will also enjoy this book.

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

 

Book Format Read:

E-book (Paperback)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Game-Face-Lifetime-Hard-Earned-Basketball/dp/0306825708/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&dpID=51G2NkUNauL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail