Review of "The Messi Effect"

Major League Soccer (MLS) has been in existence since 1996, but the bug didn't hit me until 2017, when Minnesota United started play as an expansion team.  Since then I have followed the league and Minnesota casually, but of course I took notice when Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023.  This is a great book on how his arrival has impacted the league. 

Title/Author:

“The Messi Effect: How the Global Legend Changed the Future of American Soccer” by Paul Tenorio

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

When a global superstar in soccer decides to play for a team in the United States, it makes for a seismic reaction from soccer fans across the world and provides American soccer a lot of publicity.  Three examples of this are when Pele arrived to play for the New York Cosmos in 1975, David Beckham arriving from England to play for the LA Galaxy in 2007 and Lionel Messi’s signing with Inter Miami in 2023.  The latter of these events is covered in this book by Paul Tenorio.

It should be noted that this book’s primary focus is not Messi himself but the business of Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level of professional soccer in the United States.  The “Messi Effect” is how his presence in MLS would affect the growth, quality of play, popularity and progression of MLS. The league has taken slow but mostly steady growth since its near bankruptcy in 2001.  There was a noted increase in many of these items when Beckham joined, a fact Tenorio notes often.

However, the connection between the two superstars of different eras is much tighter than that.  After his playing days were over, Beckham became one of the owners of the Inter Miami expansion team, thereby becoming Messi’s employer.  Why Messi decided to join Inter Miami is told in excellent detail early in the book by Tenorio and he does just as fine a job with his explanations of the inner workings of MLS ownership.

Tenorio notes how the principal owner of Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, is a visionary and forward thinker as Mas wants the league to use the power of Messi’s popularity to grow the league’s international status.  As a whole, ownership of MLS has always had a conservative view of growth and favored competitive balance, a formula what was working for the NFL.  Tenorio paints a terrific picture of these owners and how their actions were holding back the size of growth for the league.  There are changes coming that he points out, but they may be too late to complement the exposure the league is getting from Messi and the 2026 World Cup coming to North America.

I bring all these up because this is a fantastic look at not only Messi’s arrival and on-field performance but MLS as a whole – from its beginnings to its upcoming changes on the schedule and rosters.  Any fan of MLS or soccer in general will want to add this one to their library.

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: The Messi Effect: How the Global Legend Changed the Future of American Soccer: Tenorio, Paul: 9781250364173: 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 "The Rise of Major League Soccer"

Admittedly, I don't watch a lot of soccer - MLS or otherwise, save for the World Cup.  It's mainly because while I love to see matches in person, I haven't come to fully appreciate it on TV or other media platforms.  I am certainly going to try to change this, as MLS, as explained in this book, will certainly reach the status to be in the conversation with the four main sports leagues in North America.  Here is my review of "The Rise of Major League Soccer." 

Title/Author: “The Rise of Major League Soccer: Building a Global Giant” by Rick Burton and Norm O’Reily

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: Professional soccer leagues in North America have had a very spotty history at best.  Many have come and gone, but there is one league, Major League Soccer (MLS), that has defied the odds and survived a near extinction to become a league that is getting more notice and respect around the globe. Notes sports business authors Rick Burton and Norm O’Riley look at the history and future of MLS in this excellent book.

While Burton and O’Riley wrote most of the text, there are many contributions from various soccer people, from players to business people and they are welcome but also contribute to the one minor issue I had with the book – there is a lot of repetitiveness of certain topics, such as the arrival of Lionel Messi in 2023.  While his arrival is one of the biggest events in MLS history, that and a few other items are repeated by many of the guests and by Burton and O’Reily. 

But at least the repetitions are on items that are truly landmark events for the league. In addition to Messi, there has been one huge name in soccer that changed the landscape of the league. That was David Beckham – when he agreed to sign with the LA Galaxy in 2007, it caused a seismic change in the league, all for the positive. It paved the way for many other international superstars of the game to come to MLS.  Beckham’s involvement has come full circle as he is now one of the owners of Inter Miami, the MLS club for whom Messi plays.

There are plenty of great things about this book that any soccer fan will enjoy.  Burton and O’Reily look at earlier leagues in North America, including the North American Soccer League (NASL) and their brief but exciting history. The idea to bring in international superstars was also done by them, most notably Pele, when he played for the New York Cosmos. As for MLS and its bright outlook (according to the authors), there is excellent reasoning they give for this. There are a few reasons and they are all covered well, but the most notable is the contract with Apple TV for broadcast rights, given Apple’s global name brand recognition.  The other big reason is that now the generations of soccer-playing youngsters are now adults and they are taking their love of the game to the stadiums and streaming services to ensure its growth.  The authors also note the increased diversity of nationalities of American and Canadian citizens and they bring the love of soccer with them from their nations of heritage.

Add all of these up and one gets a very interesting and informative book. Not only readers who enjoy the sport, but anyone who likes reading about the business side of sports, no matter the sport, will want to add this book to their library.

I wish to thank Lyons Press for providing an advance review copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.  

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Major-League-Soccer-Building/dp/1493086715/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=

Review of "Race and Resistance in Boston"

This was a book that was outside of my usual comfort zone, and it was well worth the time to read.  It took careful reading to fully grasp the various messages being sent in the variety of essays, but it was certainly worth it.  Here is my review of "Race and Resistance in Boston." 

Title/Author:

“Race and Resistance in Boston: A Contested Sports History” edited by Robert Cvornyek and Douglas Stark 

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Trying to write a review of this book can be a challenge – just like describing the history of racial issues in Boston, especially in the world of sports.  This collection of essays is a very noble attempt to describe how various sports played a role in this discussion and how the full history can be best described as “complicated.”

Just the well-known facts can send a mixed signal to the average person – Boston teams were the first ones to draft a Black player in the NBA (Chuck Cooper, Celtics), to have a Black player appear in an NHL game (Willie O’Ree, Bruins) and the first Black coach to win an NBA title (Bill Russell, Celtics.)  Yet, the Red Sox were the last baseball team to integrate, they held a bogus “tryout” for three players in 1945, including Jackie Robinson, and the city as a whole held Black athletes to different standards.  Even legends like Russell felt that the city was less than welcoming toward them. 

This collection of essays tries to bring to light some of the lesser-known matters of the issues, challenges and successes experienced by these athletes. One excellent example is the rich history of semi-pro baseball in the Boston area by many Black teams. They not only played excellent games, some of which are described in great detail, they also faced many white or integrated teams and received praise for their play.  This was the best chapter for one of the main goals of the book – to shine the light on lesser-known athletes and their accomplishments.  That goes for their work toward civil rights and equality for all people as well as their athletic achievements.

The variety of sports covered in the book was also impressive – baseball, hockey, basketball, cricket, tennis and golf are just a few of the sports in which Boston-based Black athletes made contributions to both their sport and the fight for equality.  That was the biggest takeaway I had with this book – the sheer number of unknown athletes whose contributions have been lost in time.  It should also be noted that the subjects of equality for women, non-binary athletes and the LBGTQ+ community are also addressed in the book as well as racial issues.

The book is a more scholarly one in nature, has many notes and references and is one that a reader must read carefully to fully grasp the message being sent by the writer.  However, that time will be well spent after learning the amazing work done by these athletes.

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

Link: Race and Resistance in Boston: A Contested Sports History: Cvornyek, Robert, Stark, Douglas, McCourty, Devin: 9781496232687: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "What Is the Goal?"

Given all the news about bad behavior by parents in youth sports, I figured this book was going to be about that topic. While it touched on it, it was really about so much more. 

 

Title/Author:

“What is the Goal? The Truth About the Youth Sports Industry” by Jean Linscott and Kenneth Ruoff

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Even if one does not have children who play sports, nearly everyone is aware that there are bad behaving parents at games where youth are the players, and it has put a damper on the enthusiasm of some.  Expecting this book to be about that topic, it was eye-opening.  While parental behavior is explained, the real wealth a reader will take away from this book is how the Youth Sports Industry (YSI, as abbreviated by the authors liberally) is truly for the well-off, plays off fears of parents and has extraordinary costs for items such as tournaments that should make parents think twice before committing to a pay-to-play league or club.

The main reason for parents wanting to place their athletic children into these programs is the lure of obtaining a college scholarship for athletics, especially at a prestigious university.  The programs can be everything from elite traveling teams to tournaments and ID camps when supposedly a coach or coaches from “major” universities will be present to see the athlete in action and can evaluate these athletes.  While stopping short of calling these programs fraudulent, the book does a very good job of explaining how the return on investment for these parents – the chances of obtaining that scholarship against the amount spent on this endeavor – is usually not good.

Using their own experience as the parents of three youth soccer players, the authors do a fantastic job of explaining the true motive of these programs – money.  While because of their experience, the book is soccer-centric, the authors do explain that their information on the YSI is applicable to any sport in which universities offer scholarships to athletes.  Chapters are dedicated to the different aspects of the YSI – coaches, clubs, tournaments, and ID camps are just a few of the aspects covered in the book.

There will be some discussion about the actual games, mainly in tournaments, but that is very limited.  The closest to any in-depth discussion about the actual sport (soccer) is in the chapter on coaches and how some of them can be good in developing younger players, such as in the U-12 leagues and how some are looking to win at all costs in order to gain better paying coaching jobs.  There will also be some eye-opening accounts that parents should read closely.  The best example of this is the true cost of tournaments – these were broken down into the cost per hour of actual playing time for each player and the cost was staggering.

This is just a preview of all the excellent information and advice given to parents who are considering enrolling their young athletes into one of these programs.  It is highly recommended for these parents or anyone else interested in the workings of the YSI.

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

Link: Amazon.com: What is the Goal?: The Truth About the Youth Sports Industry: 9798990114302: Linscott, Jean, Ruoff, Kenneth: Books

Review of "World Class"

Like everyone else who follows sports, I was shocked and saddened to learn about Grant Wahl's death during the 2022 World Cup.  When I saw a book that is a collection of his writing was coming out, I requested a review copy and got it!  It lived up to what I expected.  Here is my review of "World Class."

Title/Author:

“World Class: Purpose, Passion and the Pursuit of Greatness On and Off the Field” by Grant Wahl

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: When Grant Wahl died suddenly from an aneurysm while covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the entire sports world was in shock and in mourning.  He was well known for his passion for writing about soccer and being the voice for those who were not heard.  This book is a collection of Wahl’s writing on those topics from many different sources.  His best known work was writing for Sports Illustrated, and many of the pieces are from the magazine, but there are also articles from Substack, his college classes and other sources.

What struck me the most about this collection was not the quality, as that was expected to be superior in a collection of Grant Wahl writing.  It was not that the topics were varied and not just about soccer and college basketball, the two sports that Wahl covered during his time at Sports Illustrated.  It even wasn’t that his articles would often champion causes like social justice for marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ or migrant workers.  No, what I really liked about this book and each of the articles was the passion that Wahl put into each article.  That was mentioned throughout the book – that a reader could see that Wahl was writing with a purpose.  Often, the forward of a book written by a relative or colleague of the author will state this – but in this case, it was absolutely the truth. 

There are several powerful pieces scattered throughout the book.  One of the best had nothing to do with sports and was a submission of Wahl’s when he was in college.  He wrote an account of a person for whom he held great regard – Vietnam War correspondent Gloria Emerson. It was an assignment for a non-fiction writing class, but it was so good and received so much positive feedback that it was kept amongst his other writings.  Two others that I believe should be noted are his Substack writings on the conditions faced by workers in Qatar preparing for the 2022 World Cup and his portrait of American teenage soccer player Freddie Adu, who did not live up to the hype given to him during his career in Major League Soccer and is now playing for any European team who will sign him. 

One doesn’t have to be a soccer fan to enjoy Wahl’s work on the sport.  The same goes for his other pieces in this book – if a reader simply enjoys excellent non-fiction writing in which the passion of the author is clear, then that reader needs to read this book.  

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

 

Link: World Class: Purpose, Passion, and the Pursuit of Greatness On and Off the Field: Wahl, Grant, Gounder, Dr. Céline: 9780593726761: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Soccer Grannies"

 If you have ever picked up a book, discovered it was not what you expected, but it blew you away with how good it was, then you know how I felt when I read this book on some very inspiring ladies in South Africa.  Here is my review of "Soccer Grannies"

Title/Author: “Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World” by Jean Duffy

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: In many instances, a sports team will inspire others and not because of their excellent play, their championships or even the accomplishments of some of the athletes.  Sometimes just the fact that the athletes are playing their sport and enjoying themselves is enough to inspire people and this book by Jean Duffy tells of a group of women in South Africa who do just that.

Started by Rebecca (“Beka”) Ntsanwisi to get women to exercise more after the own diagnosis of colon cancer, the group of ladies aged 40 to 80+ went from an exercise group to soccer players who enjoyed the friendship, camaraderie and exercise that improved both their physical and mental health.

The author, who is a soccer player herself, found out about the Soccer Grannies through a video that a teammate shared and from there, she was determined to get them to the United States to play in a tournament.  The obstacles faced were daunting and numerous – financially, politically, and culturally. The spirt of both the author and Beka never let those problems stop them, however.  It is hard to determine what was more inspiring – the ladies who didn’t bother following patriarchal and discriminatory social norms to play soccer or the sheer joy when everything came together and the Soccer Grannies made it to Massachusetts to play in the tournament.

Duffy worked tirelessly not only to get them to the United States but also to learn more about the ladies and wrote terrific stories about many of them.  In the risk of overusing this word, it didn’t matter whose story was told, they were an inspiration to anyone who reads the book.  It should also be noted that Duffy and a few teammates made a journey to South Africa to visit the Grannies in their native land as well and while it didn’t evoke the same awe as the Grannies’ play (and celebrations) in the United States, it was clear that the women on both continents cherished their friendships and their time together.

Whether one is a soccer fan or not, this book is one that any reader will enjoy and will also learn about some of the culture of South Africa, both the good and the bad. The story of Beka and the rest of the Soccer Grannies is one that every person, athlete or not, should enjoy.

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

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Soccer-Grannies-South-African-Inspire-ebook/dp/B0BTKJ76Y8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1680886924&sr=1-1

Review of "Dark Goals"

For a different type of book, I chose this one in a challenge for reading a book with a grey cover.  There is much more to this book than I expected - at times a bit too much but still one that I really enjoyed as it was an eye-opener.  Here is my review of "Dark Goals"

Title/Author: “Dark Goals: How History’s Worst Tyrants Have Used and Abused the Game of Soccer” by Luciano Wernicke

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: I usually chuckle when I hear people say, whether verbally or on social media, that “sports and politics don’t mix.”  That is flat-out wrong and this book by Luciano Wernicke proves that for just one sport – soccer.

Starting with Benito Mussolini. Wernicke discusses how many of the world’s most vicious tyrants used soccer to either promote their form of ruling, to make threats to players and coaches if they did not honor the country or even order some killed simply due to the results of a soccer.

Most of the matches that are used for reference are from the World Cup tournament or the Olympics, but there are some other means of using the sport for political power as well.  The Spanish dictator Francisco Franco used soccer to “depoliticize” the people of the country and therefore distract them from the terrible conditions.  Mussolini did not want Italy to enter the first World Cup tourney in 1930 because he did not want to risk having the team do poorly.  But then he lobbied for and hosted the next one in 1934.  That was to show off how well his country was doing while hiding the brutal reality, much like Adolf Hitler did for the 1936 Olympics (which are also covered in the book).

Other world leaders portrayed that used soccer as part of their iron-clad ruling included Josef Stalin, Juan Peron (through his wife Eva) and Pablo Escobar, the notorious Columbian drug lord. The writing in all chapters on these people can be dense and hard to follow at times, especially the chapter on Escobar.  Nonetheless, it is a very good look at not only soccer, but also the time period in the 20^th century when these dictators ruled both their countries and the game of football.

I wish to thank Sutherland House books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed are strictly mine.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Goals-Historys-Tyrants-Abused-ebook/dp/B0BMG7J49T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

Review of "Switching Fields"

Continuing my never-ending attempt to clean up my TBR pile, I pulled this one out that while it hasn't sat in the pile too long, it was one that was compelling enough for me to read even though it has been a couple months since the World Cup ended.  Here is my review of "Switching Fields."

 

Title/Author: “Switching Fields: Inside the Fight to Remake Men’s Soccer in the United States” by George Dohrman

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: While the United States men’s soccer team (USMNT) has made the World Cup in every year since 1990, with the exception of 2018, it has been a constant source of puzzlement why the country with such a large and diverse population is not a bigger powerhouse in the sport.  This book by George Dohrman explores why that has been the case and also takes a look at some creative ways that some are trying to address this problem.

The book starts off with that 2018 team – specifically the game in which the USNMT lost to Trinidad and Tobago that ended their chances to qualify for the World Cup. Dohrman explains that the subsequent review of why the team did so poorly sets the tone for the book and the explanation of the inherent problems for growing the sport in the United States.  Instead of looking at the entire system, there was criticism of smaller details such as the lineup used in that game.  As Dohrman noted, this missed the bigger picture that the system was the problem – making the United States “a country that should be a shark into a minnow.”

Dohrman then goes on to explain how the country’s youth soccer organization AYSO “was conceived in about ninety minutes” and how the country’s soccer development became entrenched in the Pay-to-Play model that many other youth sports follow. The issue with this model for soccer is that due to many factors, it leaves out a significant portion of the population and leaves the future of the sport in the hands of mostly white, suburban and upper middle class (or higher) players. This didn’t allow the sport to grow in other areas populated mostly by Black families or other people of color.  It also did not help that most coaches of these players were either unfamiliar with the game or if they were, they followed only the European model of play, which is very different from that in other areas where the game is extremely popular such as South America.

What sets this book apart is that Dohrman not only describes and analyzes these shortcomings, but he also highlights people and systems that buck the traditional models of American soccer in the past and are trying to bring more players of all types and backgrounds into the game.  One example, and the best story of the book, is a coach who went against the traditional pay-for-play model in Iowa, Matt Carver.  Carver’s youth allowed him to experience the game in places like Harlem and Germany and when he became a coach with his own children, he saw the flaws in the system and wanted to create a league that would not require high fees and extensive travel.  After several fights with the bureaucracy of the soccer league in suburban Des Moines, he eventually won and now has players coming to his league.

Dohrman also talks about why the women’s teams for the United States are so successful – again, mainly due to some thinking outside the box – and how the men can use ideas such as those from Carver to have more success for the USMNT.  This is a book that should be required reading for anyone who has an interest in seeing how the United States can become a nation that will use its population and diversity to its advantage in the sport of international soccer.

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

Link: Switching Fields: Inside the Fight to Remake Men's Soccer in the United States: Dohrmann, George: 9781524798864: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Messi vs. Ronaldo"

 While this book had admittedly been on my TBR pile for a few months, it turned out to be perfect timing when I picked it up.  With one of the subjects playing in the World Cup final, what better time to post a review of "Messi vs. Ronaldo"?

Title/Author:

“Messi vs. Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs and the Era that Remade the World’s Game” by Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  Discussions and debates about the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of a particular sport are common today and in international soccer circles, that discussion today revolves around two players – Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo.  Strong cases can be made for both players and this book, while very interesting, does not help someone make a case for one or the other to be considered better.

The first bit of advice for reading this book comes early – the authors state that this is not intended to be a dual biography of the two legends but instead a thorough look at their careers from playing the game early in life through their rise to their professional teams by examining the business side of international soccer and how it affected them. There is in-depth information on the two clubs that both players spent the bulk of their careers, and it is no coincidence that they are two of the most famous clubs in European soccer – Real Madrid (Ronaldo) and FC Barcelona (Messi).  Because of both the celebrity of the players and the name recognition of their clubs, Messi and Ronaldo’s rise in fame also helped bring a revolution in the business of international soccer.

Of course, the authors write about other factors that brought this about such as social media and the influx of money, especially American money, that changed the economics for many of the “super clubs” forever, but no matter what business topic is discussed, the text will circle back to one of these two players.  A reader who follows soccer leagues such as the Premier League (both players spent time with clubs in that circuit) or La Liga will find the business discussion quite interesting.  One who may not follow this subject as closely may not be as engrossed but will still learn some very interesting facts on international soccer. 

I will give an example of one that I learned about the Premier League.  Its status as one of the most profitable leagues in the world started when it signed a lucrative television contract with a similarly struggling network at the time, Sky Sports, owned by Rupert Murdoch.  Around the same time in the United States, another struggling Murdoch network, Fox, engaged in a similar contract with the National Football League.  Both leagues and both networks were never the same again.

This is not to say there is no text on the accomplishments on the field by Messi and Ronaldo – there is a good amount of that as well.  There certainly was jealousy between the two in competition for individual awards. Even the most casual of sports fans do realize the greatness of these two as their names are as recognizable as ones like Pele and Beckenbauer for previous generations of soccer fans.  If one wants to learn more about either the business of international soccer or a little more on the two players, this is a good source. 

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

Link: Amazon.com: Messi vs. Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World's Game eBook : Clegg, Jonathan, Robinson, Joshua: Kindle Store

Review of "New Kids in the World Cup"

 Every current fan of MLS and the US Men's National team owes a debt of gratitude to the 1990 US team.  Without their stunning qualification for that year's World Cup, the current state of US soccer would not be possible.  This book is a great ride with that team through qualification and the tourney.  Here is my review of "New Kids in the World Cup". 

Title/Author: “New Kids in the World Cup: The Totally Late '80s and Early '90s Tale of the Team That Changed American Soccer Forever” by Adam Elder

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: When the United States men’s soccer team qualified for the 1990 World Cup, that was the first time in 40 years that they played in the tournament.  It was such a surprise that most people associated with the tourney and soccer felt that the United States would embarrass themselves and made many wonder why they were selected to host the next tourney in 1994.  The road that team took to Italia ’90 is described in this fun book by Adam Elder.

Those readers who were not following US men’s soccer (and that would be many) at the time may be amazed to learn how different the funding, salaries and everything else that goes along with it was at that time.  There was no Major League Soccer – or any professional league in the United States since the demise of the North American Soccer League in 1985.  The team was concerned that they would not be able to continue playing the game they love. At the time, there was serious concern there would not be a US soccer team.  In 1986, after failing to qualify for that year’s World Cup, the US team played only two official matches.  It was a dark period and Elder’s writing about that time helps set up the rest of the book, which was terrific.

When the US team defeated Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, it was the culmination of an adventure of a group of men who were unknown to most, including soccer fans and media in their own country, but coach Bob Gansler knew the talent and determination of guys like Tab Ramos, Bruce Murray, Tony Meola (who supplanted David Vanole as goalkeeper) and Michael Windicshmann.  Elder’s writing about these players included using their nicknames like “Windy” (Windischmann) and “Juice” (Murray) makes the reader feel like he or she knows them on a personal level.  The stories about their games and travels, especially those in Central America when the pressure was at its greatest, was mesmerizing and have many “can’t put it down” moments.

The story didn’t end with the qualification into the tournament, although it felt like that should have been the climax of the book.  The writing about the three games played by the US in group play was just as good, even though they lost all three games. It was the same play-by-play account that Elder wrote for the qualifying games and he included quotes from the television announcers. This makes it apparent that part of the research was watching the games as well as interviews and the usual research methods.  When one considers how different media was in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, this shows the author’s dedication.

The writing style isn’t all that typical and does read as more suited for readers of a certain age, but it’s just so darn fun to read. From naming each chapter for a popular song from that era to the liberal use of the player’s nicknames, Elder has written a book that any American reader who enjoys today’s version of soccer in the United States should read.  If it was not for this scrappy bunch of players, there would not be the current high salaries for the US men’s team, there would not be the wall-to-wall media coverage and there wouldn’t even be Major League Soccer without this 1990 team.

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

Link: New Kids in the World Cup: The Totally Late '80s and Early '90s Tale of the Team That Changed American Soccer Forever: Elder, Adam: 9781496229434: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "An Economist Goes to the Game"

In order to be interested in a book, I usually need more than just the title to pick it up.  However, this title was so different and so interesting that I took a chance and ended up liking this short and informative book. 

Title/Author:

“An Economist Goes to the Game: How to Throw Away $580 Million and Other Surprising Insights from the Economics of Sports” by Paul Oyer

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: There have been many books published about the business of sport – just about all sports – in various formats, but this one was very different and very informative.  Written in several short chapter on various sports topics, this book by Paul Oyer is not only one in which a reader will learn about a different line of thinking for economics and sports, but will also be entertained as well.

While I thought the entire book was good, the best part came at the beginning when Oyer explained how some of the action on the field of play comes from theories of economics.  His example of why Michael Jordan passed up the shot that would win the 1997 NBA championship for his Chicago Bulls and instead passed the ball to Steve Kerr who hit that shot is brilliant in how it ties economic thinking and the risk versus reward logic worked for that instant. Similar scenarios and different theories are sprinkled throughout the book.

However, the bulk of the stories are written about the topics that one would expect in a book on economics and sports – ticket sales and brokers, publicly financed stadiums, and why cities are not as excited to host the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup like they used to be.  Oyer writes about these topics in a manner that anyone who has an interest in either topic will enjoy but also in plain language without a lot of advanced vocabulary in either sports or economics.  This combination, plus the variety of topics addressed, made this a book that will be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers.

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

Link: Amazon.com: An Economist Goes to the Game: How to Throw Away $580 Million and Other Surprising Insights from the Economics of Sports: 9780300218244: Oyer, Paul: Books

Review of "My Greatest Save"

While most will associate the 1999 Women's World Cup with the famous picture of Brandi Chastain, when I saw this book was offered for review, I picked it up right away as I remembered that Briana Scurry played just as big a role in that historic victory over China as Chastain did.  This is a very good sports memoir that many would enjoy reading.  Here is my review of "My Greatest Save."

Title/Author: “My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goaltender” by Briana Scurry with Wayne Coffey

Rating:  4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: When the United States National Women’s Soccer Team (USNWST) won the 1999 World Cup, most remember the famous reaction by Brandi Chastain who, after she scored the winning goal in a penalty kick shootout, she ripped off her jersey in the celebration.  What is not remembered as much is how the goalkeeper for the team, Briana Scurry, made an incredible save on one of the kicks from China that made Chastain’s winning moment possible.  Scurry’s career was very successful, and she discusses that along with her personal life in this easy-to-read memoir written with Wayne Coffey.

I use the term “easy-to-read” because aside from possibly a few soccer terms, this is written in simple, conversational language. There is plenty of humor in snippets that may sound like “dad jokes.” No matter the topic, even during her darkest time when she had thoughts of suicide, Scurry writes with a relaxed and mostly even keeled mindset.  It seemed amazing that she could discuss thoughts about jumping off a bridge into rushing water with the same process as she did about saves made during crucial international matches.

She also writes about social issues that one might expect, given that she is a high-profile Black lesbian athlete, but she does not step into any activism or strongly worded statements.  If she has very strong beliefs, they were not present in the book.  The best example is when she realized that she was gay with this statement: “…I was awakening to the reality that I was a lesbian and was totally at peace with it.  There was no reason for me to issue some sort of declaration and have it notarized and counter signed.”  She also has similar thoughts on racism as being Black, she experienced it and expressed her displeasure but stopped short of calling for strong measures.

The best parts of the book, as one might expect, is her memories of some of the better moments of her soccer career, such as the aforementioned 1999 World Cup along with two gold medals in the 1996 and 2004 Olympics.  Goalkeepers have their own sets of training, conditioning, drills and camaraderie – and Scurry brings all of those to the reader with great recollections of game action, of interactions with teammates and opponents and the joys and sorrows of important wins and losses. 

While the title might make a reader expect a book with very dramatic passages, this book really doesn’t have those – instead, a reader will go on a journey into the world of a goalkeeper who left her mark in international and American soccer and wants to share it all with the readers.

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

Link:  Amazon.com: My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper: 9781419757679: Scurry, Briana, Coffey, Wayne, Roberts, Robin: Books

 

 

Review of "Signature Shoes:

One of the goals I set for this blog when I started it over seven years ago was to review books on as many different sports or topics involving sports as possible.  This is the first book I have reviewed that is strictly about shoes and the athletes who wear them and/or have their names attached to them. Here is my review of "Signature Shoes."

Title/Author:

“Signature Shoes: The Athletes Who Wore Them and Delightful Pop Culture Nuggets” by Ryan Trembath

Tags:

Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, history, shoes

Publish date:

November 28, 2020

Length:

154 pages

Rating:

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

While most people have either heard of or owned a pair of Air Jordan’s, many may not know that that was far from the first shoe that was the signature shoe of a well-known athlete. That distinction went back a couple decades and the history of signature shoes for athletes is described in this interesting book by Ryan Trembath.

The practice of attaching an athlete’s name to a shoe began well before Nike did this for Michael Jordan.  It wasn’t an uncommon practice for tennis players (Stan Smith, Ille Natase and Billie Jean King, for example) or soccer players, especially the great Pele, to have signature shoes.  At that time, the two major shoe companies doing so were Adidas and Puma. Trembath gives the reader a brief but informative history of those two rivals and others who soon joined in the business such as Nike, Reebok and PONY.

By the 1990’s the market for such shoes became oversaturated and that is about where the history lesson in the book ends, but there is more to read than just shoes. There are also interesting facts about many of the athletes whose names were attached to the shoes as well as some pop culture tidbits tossed in at various points in the book.

At a quick 154 pages, this book is not an exhaustive history of shoes or sports, but does give the reader a very interesting and entertaining look at the industry of the signature shoe and is worth a look for any reader interested in this topic.

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

Book Format Read:

E-book (PDF)                                                                                                                                

Buying Links:

http://www.eckhartzpress.com/shop/signature-shoes-the-athletes-who-wore-them-and-delightful-pop-culture