Review of "The W"

Tamryn Spruill’s The W: A History of the WNBA offers a rich, narrative-driven account of how the league survived early challenges, evolved through franchise upheaval, and emerged as a powerful cultural force. Her reporting balances celebration, critique, and social context, making the book both informative and engaging. For anyone interested in the WNBA’s history and impact, this is essential reading.

Title/Author:

“The W: A History of the WNBA: How the WNBA Survived, Evolved and Changed Professional Sports: by Tamryn Spruill

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Women’s basketball has never been more popular, and the WNBA is currently enjoying some of the strongest attendance and viewership numbers in its history. In The W: A History of the WNBA, Tamryn Spruill guides readers through a comprehensive and engaging chronicle of the league’s evolution.

Spruill begins with the league’s launch in 1997, noting that the WNBA entered the landscape alongside the rival American Basketball League (ABL), and that the NBA’s financial support was crucial in the W’s early years. Each chapter follows a consistent and effective pattern: off‑season developments, franchise movement, draft selections, season highlights, playoff results, and award winners. Presented in a narrative rather than statistical format, this structure makes the history accessible and enjoyable.

A standout element of the book is Spruill’s reporting on franchises that folded, relocated, or emerged. She praises owners and league leadership when warranted and does not shy away from criticism when she believes poor decisions or injustices occurred. Her discussion of the Houston Comets—winners of the league’s first four championships—ceasing operations due to ownership issues is particularly compelling, as is her later coverage of the league’s handling of the Connecticut Sun sale and the planned return of the Comets in 2027.

Spruill also addresses the WNBA’s role in social justice movements, from Black Lives Matter to women’s rights, while examining moments when league leadership appeared out of step with its players. Although most of her arguments are grounded in factual reporting, there are a few instances where her conclusions feel less certain. One example is her framing of the Sacramento Monarchs’ demise as evidence of sexism in sports; given the long history of owners leveraging taxpayer-funded arenas across all professional leagues, that situation felt more like a familiar sports-business standoff than a gendered injustice.

These moments are rare, and Spruill’s overall approach to difficult subjects is thoughtful, well-supported, and illuminating. For anyone interested in the WNBA—its past, present, and future—this book is highly recommended.

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

Link: Amazon.com: The W: A History of the WNBA: How the WNBA Survived, Evolved, and Changed Professional Sports: 9781419758812: Spruill, Tamryn: Books

Review of "Football"

Every so often, a book shows up on the new‑release shelf that feels like it was placed there specifically for me. That was the case with Chuck Klosterman’s Football. I’d read his music writing before and always appreciated the way he blends cultural insight with humor, so seeing his name attached to America’s most popular sport was an easy invitation. What I found was a book that approaches football from angles I didn’t expect — and that’s exactly why it works.

Title/Author:

“Football” by Chuck Klosterman

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Not knowing Chuck Klosterman had written a book on football, I was genuinely surprised to find Football sitting in the new‑release section of my local library. Having enjoyed his books on music — especially his ability to blend cultural insight with humor — I picked this one up immediately. I wasn’t disappointed. Klosterman writes about the most popular sport in the United States with the same mix of knowledge, wit, and offbeat perspective that makes his rock‑music criticism so memorable.

The topics he covers are wide‑ranging, touching on the NFL, college football, and even a full chapter on the Canadian Football League. That CFL chapter, “The Cottage Life,” is a perfect example of how Klosterman approaches the sport. He walks readers through the quirks that differentiate the Canadian game from the American one — the 110‑yard field, the one‑point “rouge,” twelve men on the field, and the three‑down rule instead of four.

It’s that last rule that sparks one of the book’s most entertaining digressions. Klosterman uses the three‑down system to compare football to the Deep Purple song “Smoke on the Water,” to argue that four is the “perfect number” (with Walter Camp conveniently supporting his case), and even to riff on colonialism. This leads to my favorite line in the entire book: “It’s not as if Bud Grant attacked the CFL with a cavalry and the Canadian players lost their minds when they saw horses for the first time.” It’s a perfect example of what Klosterman does so well — blending humor, cultural commentary, and football’s place in modern society.

This is just one of many topics Klosterman tackles with the same mix of curiosity and sharp observation. He writes about the racial makeup of various positions — not just the number of Black quarterbacks, but also how few white running backs have led the league in rushing, with Christian McCaffrey as a notable exception. He discusses Colin Kaepernick, debates who should be considered the greatest player of all time, and explores Friday Night Lights across its book, movie, and television versions. These are only a handful of the subjects he pulls into the larger conversation about what football means and why it matters.

A reader doesn’t need to be a football fan or possess deep knowledge of the game to enjoy this book. Klosterman’s ability to make the sport feel culturally expansive — and often very funny — is what makes Football such an engaging read.

Link:  Amazon.com: Football: 9780593490648: Klosterman, Chuck: Books

Review of "Rising Tide"

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

Title/Author:

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

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Review of "Metropolitans"

Having had a good deal of reading time while riding the train to and from a recent conference, I'll be posting a few reviews in the next few days. First up is this interesting book highlighting the connection between the New York Mets and the working class. 

Title/Author:

“Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle and the People’s Team” by A.M. Gittlitz

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: When the New York Mets started play in 1962, they were not the first New York baseball team to have the team nickname of “Metropolitans” (not the official name, but many will call them that) nor were they the first team that captured the hearts of many of those in the middle class over the “richer” teams like the Yankees.  This book by A.M. Gittlitz captures that connection between those citizens and the baseball team.

The book’s strengths are Gittlitz’s research and the passion for which he writes about the subject, whether it is baseball and the Mets or about the working class and the struggles they have with the political landscape, among many other things. I felt the writing and description of the early Metropolitans and the battles that players had to either form a union or field competing baseball leagues to go up against the National League in the late 19^th century was the best aspect of the book.

He also does an excellent job of showing how the Mets of the 1960’s, capping it off with their 1969 championship, resonated with people who may not have cared one bit about baseball but showed how those who have been down for so long can still be successful.  He goes deep into that topic as well as the other Mets teams, especially the 2000 team that lost the World Series to the Yankees.  They too had connections with the middle class according to Gittlitz.

Where the book was a bit of a downer while reading it was the addition of much political commentary.  This isn’t to say that I am one who says politics and sports don’t mix – they indeed do.  It isn’t also because I want to insert my own political opinions while reading or writing this review because it doesn’t matter – what matters is how Gittlitz writes about his views and they come across as strong, consistent and passionate.  I was only surprised at how much of the book discussed political issues without talking at all about the baseball connection.  Nearly every sports book about a particular team, player or era will at least give a few sentences to the social and political climate at the time – this one goes well beyond that.  And to the author’s credit, he does a very good job of laying out his beliefs and why he feels that way.

Overall, while I was surprised at the level of detail and how well connected the author put the Mets with the working class, it was quite an interesting book to read and one that is recommended not only for Mets and baseball fans, but also for readers who wish to read about politics and class struggles as well.

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

Link: Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People's Team: GIttlitz, A.M.: 9781662603006: Amazon.com: Books

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 “The Greatest Summer in Baseball History”

Continuing with my baseball theme to start the new season, this was an audiobook I started on the bus trip back from the Mets home opener and finished a couple days later. Title is a little over the top, but the book is solid. 

Title/Author: “The Greatest Summer in Baseball History” by John Rosenberg, narrated by Barry Abrams

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 1973 was an eventful year in both baseball and America. For the latter, several important events that would affect the nation took place. The withdrawal of American troops in Vietnam, the Watergate hearings, and the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision were among the most notable of these. In baseball, the New York Yankees were purchased by a Cleveland shipping company owner named George Steinbrenner, a legendary player played his last season while another chased a hallowed record and a team that frequently fought amongst itself was trying to repeat as champions. That is the setting for this book by John Rosengren. 

Having listened to the audio version, the narration by Barry Abrams is definitely one of the strengths of this book. His telling of some of the major stories in both America and baseball was excellent. Whichever topic was discussed, Abrams did so in a no-nonsense manner that came across much like the news anchors at that time (though non of them were ever mentioned in the book).

The title seems a little hyperbolic as while there were some excellent storylines in that 1973 baseball season, they didn’t feel to be so much better than other years. To his credit, Rosenberg doesn’t compare them to big stories in other years. He sticks with a few topics and covers them thoroughly. These would be the ending of Willie Mays’ career with the New York Mets, Hank Aaron’s pursuit of the all time home run record of 714 by Babe Ruth, the introduction of the designated hitter in the American with a focus on Orlando Cepeda of the Boston Red Sox, and the new Yankee owner who immediately let it be known it was his way or else.

On this last topic, this was the best mix of sports and social or political events of a year or era that I have read in a book of this type. Steinbrenner’s eventual conviction of illegal campaign contributions, especially to President Nixon’s 1972 re-election bid, tied in nicely with the writing on that summer’s Watergate hearings. While not quite as easily done, there are good connections between baseball and these events throughout the book.

As with any book on a baseball season, this climaxes with the World Series. The Mets and the Oakland Athletics played an exciting seven game series won by Oakland to give them back to back championships. The many storylines made by the Athletics, their star Reggie Jackson, and their universally disliked owner Charlie Finley are covered well, as was the unbelievable comeback by the Mets who were left for dead in August only to win the National League East title, then upset the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS. Of course, the Willie Mays saga is included and overall, the coverage of the baseball is very good, even if it is a bit repetitive on some facts and descriptions. 

Any reader who enjoys books on certain years or seasons in baseball with plenty of social or political commentary will want to check this book out. Highly recommend the audio version. 

Link: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Greatest-Summer-in-Baseball-History-Audiobook/B0C2W37Z93?eac_link=SMHsVJ6gcDX2&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0C2W37Z93&qid=X1m21vL1JG&eac_id=141-2071635-4315628_X1m21vL1JG&sr=1-1 

Review of "1978"

Continuing with the posting of baseball book reviews to start the 2025 season, this was an enjoyable read about the 1978 season.  It was much better reading than watching my team start the season 0-3!  Hopefully they turn it around soon - meanwhile, here is my review of this book. 

Title/Author:

“1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era” by David Krell

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

In 1978, baseball and the social culture of the United States were both undergoing significant changes.  In social circles, disco was the most popular genre of music, there were actions taken to advance the causes of feminism (one of which involved baseball, allowing female sportswriters access to baseball locker rooms), and many movies and television shows showcasing new talent. 

In baseball, however, the change really brought something that was not so new – the two best teams in 1978 were the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Like the previous year and many times in previous decades, they faced each other in the World Series.  This book by David Krell examines the paths the two teams took to get there and also takes readers into the details of many popular movies, television shows, musical artists and some social issues as well.

Krell never gets too deep into any one topic, not even the baseball as many of the stories told about the Yankees, Dodgers or other teams are never too lengthy – they are just long enough to get the message across about what were the results.  A great example of this is how the Yankees won the American League East division over their rivals, the Boston Red Sox (another team that has a good amount of coverage).  While the chapter on September (there’s a chapter for each month) mentions the “Boston Massacre” when the Yankees swept a four game series at Fenway Park to complete a comeback from 14 ½ games behind the Red Sox, there is little else about this comeback save for the first story in October about the tie-breaking game played by the two teams.  

For other subjects, it’s the same style.  Whether talking about a new comic genius named Robin Williams appearing on “Happy Days” as Mork from Ork, movies such as “Grease” or news events such as the assassination in San Francisco of supervisor Harvey Milk and George Moscone, Krell has the same style – enough coverage for the reader to understand the story, but not too much detail where the reader may lose interest.  This is especially important to readers who experienced these events as they will bring back memories and maybe even add something they did not recall.  The book’s style certainly would appeal to these readers who lived through that baseball season.

While not completely about the 1978 baseball season, this book is nonetheless an enjoyable and quick read for fans of the game in that time – the beginning of free agency, the re-emergence of the Yankee-Dodger rivalry and some other events that made that season memorable for many fans.

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: 1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era: Krell, David: 9781496239600: Amazon.com: Books

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 "Life in Two Worlds"

Knowing I would be in my car for a few hours when I drove to New Hampshire, I decided to download a book for the trip.  This one has been on my TBR for a while, so figuring it was time to take it off that pile, I listened to it and finished over the weekend trip.  Here is my review of Ted Nolan's memoir. 

 

Title/Author:

“Life in Two Worlds: A Coach’s Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back” by Ted Nolan with Meg Masters, narrated by James Malloch

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

In 1997, Ted Nolan was named the Jack Adams Award winner which goes to the Coach of the Year in the NHL.  He guided the Buffalo Sabres to a surprise division title and made it to the second round of that year’s playoffs.  But in the offseason, the team offered a contract that he (and everyone else) felt was an insult and he did not return to the team.  His story of his life in the NHL as both a player and a coach, as well as his life growing up in a First Nation reserve, is told in this great memoir narrated by James Malloch.

I usually prefer memoirs narrated by the author/subject, but in this case, Malloch gave a strong performance and while I knew this was not Nolan speaking, it certainly felt like it was Nolan describing not only the cruelty and racism (some subtle, some not so subtle) while playing or coaching hockey, but also of the pride he had in his heritage.  While this did include some well-known bad treatment of students at schools on reserves, this only strengthened his resolve to live his life the way his heritage taught him and to show that he and other indigenous people belonged in the world of hockey.

Nolan frequently mentions that it is important for those who have been affected by racism to tell their stories and it is just as important for those who haven’t been affected to listen. This was the biggest takeaway of the book for me, as he did this without the same type of stories that other activists share.  Instead, he blended this with his hockey career.  First with his playing days for the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (where he later coached after the NHL and was very happy with that job) and later the NHL Detroit Red Wings, then in his coaching career where he had two stints with the Sabres sandwiched around a stint with the New York Islanders, Nolan’s message never was far away. 

This was one of the better hockey memoirs that I have read or listened to, and I do recommend this for any hockey fan.  From outposts like Glens Falls, New York to the bright lights of cities like New York and Detroit, Ted Nolan (and his two sons who also played in the NHL) have brought pride and hockey schools to the First Nation in efforts to bring the game to underserved populations. 

Link: Amazon.com: Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back (Audible Audio Edition): Ted Nolan, Meg Masters - contributor, James Malloch, Viking: Books

Review of “Baseball: The Movie”

 With the nominations for the 2024 Casey Award for the best baseball book of the year, I have decided to give each one of them (or as many as I can) a look. This one about baseball movies is a finalist and I admit to having mixed feelings about it. Here is my review of “Baseball: The Movie.”

Title/Author: “Baseball: The Movie” by Noah Gittell

Rating:  3 1/2 of 5 stars (Okay)

Review: As one who will watch any movie with a baseball theme, when I saw that not only there was a book about baseball movies, but it was also a finalist for the Casey Award for the best baseball book of 2024, I had to check it out. After reading this book by Noah Gittell, I have mixed feelings about it at best. 

I’ll start with my disappointment to get that out of the way. Some of the critiques felt very preachy to remind the reader about baseball’s racism and sexism in its history and also to pick apart some of the movies to find anything that might not stand up to 2024 moral and social scrutiny. I’ll use two of my favorite movies for this section. While Mr. Gittell mostly praises “A League of Their Own” he did have to mention that the baseball scenes had to be realistic since the mostly male establishment would criticize it if those portions didn’t seem realistic. Couldn’t we just enjoy the movie for the excellence it had without that comment?  He also was very harsh on his chapter on “The Sandlot.”  While yes, the scene where Squints fakes drowning in order to kiss lifeguard Wendy Peffercorn can be labeled as sexual assault, I guess it’s not okay to just enjoy a movie with scenes that many people MIGHT fantasize about. And of course, even though the best player is a Latino, the lack of a Black player seemed to bother the author enough that he had bring that into the discussion.

This kind of commentary is a shame to me because when he is writing just about the movie or the baseball, he has excellent commentary. I felt the best of those are about two other movies I really enjoyed, “Pride of the Yankees” and ”Little Big League.” While my enjoyment of the latter might be biased since I am a Twins fan, I really liked how Mr. Gittell mostly praises this movie for its use of today’s analytical thinking in the game before it was common. His description of the scene where young Billy, while managing the Twins, is talking to one of his coaches on situational baseball. More text like this and less about the social shortcomings in the movies would have made this book much more enjoyable for me. At best I give this 3 1/2 stars. 

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Movie-Noah-Gittell/dp/1637272642/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "The Fenway Effect"

This is an upcoming book by a well-known MSNBC reporter about the cultural influence of the Boston Red Sox and even though I knew that the Red Sox were beloved by many, I didn't realize just how many connections in non-baseball areas the team had.  I learned a lot and enjoyed the book as well. 

 

Title/Author:

“The Fenway Effect: A Cultural History of the Boston Red Sox” by David Krell

Rating: 

4 ½ of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:  The Boston Red Sox have a special place in the hearts of many New Englanders.  Even those who don’t follow baseball closely seem to have their emotions tied together with the ups and downs of the area’s baseball team. This book by David Krell explores some of those connections and why the Red Sox are an important part of the fabric of Boston.

The book explores many different aspects of this grip that the team has on the culture of the area.  Not only are the important baseball games covered (Game Six of the 1975 World Series, Game Six of the 1986 World Series, the “Boston Strong” game after the Boston Marathon bombing where David Ortiz gave his famous speech) but connections in the community and in other forms of entertainment are discussed as well.  For the latter, examples of this is the television show “Cheers” and it’s main character Sam Malone who was a pitcher for the Red Sox before opening his bar and “Fever Pitch”, the romantic comedy with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon, who plays a die-hard Red Sox fan.

Something that is worth noting is that topics that originated from a source other than the Red Sox are also included and proper credit, when due, is given. The best example is one of my favorite topics in the book, the Jimmy Fund. For those who don’t know about it, it is a very popular fundraiser for research into children’s cancer.  It was inspired by a child cancer patient in 1948 and the “Jimmy” name is fictional, although the real name of the child is later revealed. But while this charity is well-connected with the Red Sox and legendary Red Sox player Ted Williams often visited patients without publicity, this was not originally a Red Sox staple.  “Jimmy” expressed a desire to see his favorite baseball player, Billy Southworth.  At the time, he was the manager of the Boston Braves, so the Jimmy Fund was started by the Braves.  There are other connections to the Braves and plenty of mentions of the other professional sports teams in Boston.

The fan experience should also be included in this book and it covers many different areas of the region and various ages.  This was my only disappointment with the book, although not because they were included.  Indeed, this book would be incomplete without hearing from people on why the Red Sox are so important.  But reading them in one chapter as they were organized felt like they were staring to sound the same.  Of course, they were not – and for other Red Sox fans, this might resonate more greatly, but for me, they just started to feel like the same story but told in different ways.

That doesn’t take away anything from the book as it is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and it is complete for everything from the Red Sox ballpark before Fenway Park (Huntington Avenue Grounds) to the iconic Citgo sign seen over the Green Monster, this book is one that any baseball fan who understands what the Red Sox mean to the New England region will want to read.

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

Link: The Fenway Effect: A Cultural History of the Boston Red Sox: Krell, David: 9781496232335: Amazon.com: Books

 

Review of "Black Ball"

As I very slowly work my way through older titles, this one is one that any basketball fan might want to take a look at.  Here is my review of "Black Ball." 

 

Title/Author:

“Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA” by Theresa Runstedtler

Rating: 

4½ of 5 stars (very good)

Review:  

The decade of the 1970’s was a decade of both progressive change and a decline in the interest of mostly white fans of professional basketball.  Some call it the “dark age” of the sport, but this book by Theresa Runstedtler tells why that is not necessarily the case.

The book has some great prose and well-written sections.  One example is when she is writing about the American Basketball Association (ABA), a short-lived but very important professional league that directly competed for players against the more established NBA.  She writes that the red, white and blue basketball the league used was not the only example of a change of color.  This passage is typical of the language used in the book: “Little did ABA team owners realize that their upstart league would change the color of the game in more ways than one. It would soon be the incubator for a new style of pro ball - black ball - and its existence would help spur black players to lead a more forceful push for higher compensation, better contract terms, and more control over their careers."

This prose is not the only excellent feature of this book as it is well-researched and the arguments presented are backed up well with factual evidence.  More than just basketball, issues that either are directly part of civil rights and racial justice or tangentially related such as labor relations are discussed in great detail.  While that is the main focus of the book, it also describes how the game itself changed.  With more Black players gaining jobs in both leagues, especially the ABA, the game changed from set plays and jump shots to a more freewheeling style with dunks and creativity. 

All of this is told with racial integration and justice as a key theme and for the most part, Runstedtler is very convincing and will make a reader think, no matter their race.  The only downfall of this argument was the last section about a punch thrown by Kermit Washington, a Black player, on a white player, Rudy Tomjanovich. Having seen that game and also having read other sources about the two men and the incident, there isn’t much agreement about the racial aspects of this and sadly, this isn’t of the same high quality as the rest of the book.  However, don’t let that one chapter discourage you from reading this one.  Anyone interested in civil rights or basketball from that era will enjoy it.

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

Link: Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA: Runstedtler, Theresa: 9781645036951: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Degrees of Difficulty"

 Admittedly, I rarely pay attention to gymnastics aside from the years of the Olympics, but this book caught my attention.  I had it sitting on my TBR pile for too long as once I finally picked it up, I enjoyed it.  Here is my review of "Degrees of Difficulty"

Title/Author:

“Degrees of Difficulty: How Women’s Gymnastics Rose to Prominence and Fell From Grace” by Georgia Cervin 

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:

Unless one is a student of the history of the sport of gymnastics, there is probably little chance that person has watched the sport outside of the Olympics.  That would be a shame for the sport has quite an interesting history and touches many of the social issue challenges that are being addressed today.  This book by Georgia Cervin covers many of these topics as well as some political history as well.

From the Cold War in the 1970s up to the sexual assault cases of Larry Nassar and others, Cervin doesn’t leave any issue relevant to gymnastics untouched.  She does a good job of tying in the sport’s issues to the larger picture of the day.  This is the case whether it was gymnastics being used as a means of diplomacy during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union or whether attempts at making the sport more diverse are successful.  On the latter, Cervin highlights the accomplishments of gymnasts of color such as Dominique Dawes and Simone Biles.

This is a scholarly work and reads as such, with each chapter organized by an introduction, body and conclusion. There are not a lot of personal biographies, but in addition to the aforementioned athletes, Cervin portrays other well known gymnasts such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci.  The latter two are especially prominent in Cervin’s discussion about how the sport changed in its scope from artistic ability and the femininity of the gymnasts.  This parallels the expanding role women were playing in all areas of society.

There are also chapters that are strictly about the sport and not with any comparison to social or political issues.  The scandals involving scoring and the “disappearance” of the perfect score of 10 are topics in which Cervin discusses with just as much knowledge and depth as she does the social and political topics.

This book is well worth the time and effort to read.  If one is not well versed in gymnastics, it might take a little more time for the reader to fully understand the topics, but that reader will learn a lot about the interesting history of this sport.

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

 

Link: amazon.com/Degrees-Difficulty-Gymnastics-Prominence-Society-ebook/dp/B095CQ4KVT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=