Scan barcode
killstorm's review
3.0
As is usual with essay collections there are hits and misses along the way. My favorite pieces included a great item on cricket and its place in India, the nightclub death of a Denver Bronco, and the death of Derek Boogard and the impact of fighting in hockey.
Other items included in this collection varied from well written to plain and rather uninteresting. I found most of the bio pieces on current star athletes to be rather rote items without real appeal. The other essays include:
1) A by the numbers piece on Bryce Harper that I found very odd for such an interesting personality.
2) A fine item on the route Allen Iverson took to playing basketball in Turkey.
3) The death of Dave Duerson and brain injury in football. A good item.
4) Another football brain injury piece centered on Fred McNeill. I found this one quite affecting.
5) An uninteresting essay on football in Aliquippa and violence and drugs.
6) The runner Frank Shorter and his abusive father.
7) The possible increase in pain tolerance after surgery for an ultra runner with epilepsy. It's ok.
8) An item on Ron Washington the Texas Rangers manager. Interesting look at an unassuming personality.
9) The story of how a football jersey number was retired for 50 years without anyone knowing why.
10) The death of a hard living sportswriter. OK.
11) The killing of the Auburn University trees by an Alabama fan.
12) The hoax of amateurism and the student athelete
13) Another by the book item on Novak Djokovic the tennis star.
14) Another of the rather rote pieces on a current star athelete, in this case Lionel Messi of soccer (football) fame.
15) Nancy Lieberman coaching mens D-league basketball.
16) Stephon Marbury playing basketball in China.
17) Who started the high five?
Other items included in this collection varied from well written to plain and rather uninteresting. I found most of the bio pieces on current star athletes to be rather rote items without real appeal. The other essays include:
1) A by the numbers piece on Bryce Harper that I found very odd for such an interesting personality.
2) A fine item on the route Allen Iverson took to playing basketball in Turkey.
3) The death of Dave Duerson and brain injury in football. A good item.
4) Another football brain injury piece centered on Fred McNeill. I found this one quite affecting.
5) An uninteresting essay on football in Aliquippa and violence and drugs.
6) The runner Frank Shorter and his abusive father.
7) The possible increase in pain tolerance after surgery for an ultra runner with epilepsy. It's ok.
8) An item on Ron Washington the Texas Rangers manager. Interesting look at an unassuming personality.
9) The story of how a football jersey number was retired for 50 years without anyone knowing why.
10) The death of a hard living sportswriter. OK.
11) The killing of the Auburn University trees by an Alabama fan.
12) The hoax of amateurism and the student athelete
13) Another by the book item on Novak Djokovic the tennis star.
14) Another of the rather rote pieces on a current star athelete, in this case Lionel Messi of soccer (football) fame.
15) Nancy Lieberman coaching mens D-league basketball.
16) Stephon Marbury playing basketball in China.
17) Who started the high five?
wagmore's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars.
A generally uninspiring collection. Several stories about sports-related head injuries and their tragic aftermath for the athletes who sustain them.
The best single story was by Wells Tower. Funny and insightful. I'll look for more by that author.
A generally uninspiring collection. Several stories about sports-related head injuries and their tragic aftermath for the athletes who sustain them.
The best single story was by Wells Tower. Funny and insightful. I'll look for more by that author.
More...