Great books about sports

[BishopMVP]

Through my Sport Management class, I came across this list of SI's 100 greatest books. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/features/2002/top_sports_books/1/ I figured people who don't read the magazine might enjoy some of the books. I've probably only read about 10-15 on the list, so I'll probably use it as a starting point this summer some.

Another one I read recently that was good, but isn't on the list, is Sometimes You See It Coming, which is about baseball.

[ice4277]

I strongly recommend number 99, The Miracle of Castel di Sangro. You don't need to be a soccer fan to read it; McGinnis tells a very compelling story from an 'outsiders' point of view, and the ending brought me as close to tears as any book ever has.

[ice4277]

dola

Thanks for pointing out the list Bishop; there are a few on there I definitely would like to give a spin.

[AgPete]

Through my Sport Management class, I came across this list of SI's 100 greatest books. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/features/2002/top_sports_books/1/ I figured people who don't read the magazine might enjoy some of the books. I've probably only read about 10-15 on the list, so I'll probably use it as a starting point this summer some.

Another one I read recently that was good, but isn't on the list, is Sometimes You See It Coming, which is about baseball.

Thanks for the link. :)

LOL North Dallas Forty was #25. I haven't read the book A River Runs Through It but I just caught the movie on cable the other day and that's a damn good movie. Makes me want to move to Montana. LOL

[Calis]

I strongly recommend number 99, The Miracle of Castel di Sangro. You don't need to be a soccer fan to read it; McGinnis tells a very compelling story from an 'outsiders' point of view, and the ending brought me as close to tears as any book ever has.

By far my favorite sports book, and one of my favorite books overall.

[3ric]

#10, Nick Hornby's "Fever Pitch" is very much recommended. A very personal, deep, and sometimes hilarious insight in the mind of a life-long Arsenal fan.

[Calis]

You know I'm wondering if I'm alone because of all the praise I see for this book everywhere.

Season on the Brink. I just didn't find myself caring for the style it was written in at all, and it was actually pretty painful to read through the whole thing. I just didn't find it to be well written. I guess I expected something different going into it, as most everyone seems to say it's one of the best.

Fever Pitch is also very very good. Among the Thugs is actually a really good read to, and a bit frightening.

[AgPete]

Anyone ever read Summer of '49? That list had some Halberstam books but left that one off. I thought it was a good book. How can you not enjoy a Yankees vs. Redsox book in the days of DiMaggio and Ted Williams. :)

[klayman]

#10, Nick Hornby's "Fever Pitch" is very much recommended. A very personal, deep, and sometimes hilarious insight in the mind of a life-long Arsenal fan.
seconded.

[corbes]

You know I'm wondering if I'm alone because of all the praise I see for this book everywhere.

Season on the Brink. I just didn't find myself caring for the style it was written in at all, and it was actually pretty painful to read through the whole thing. I just didn't find it to be well written. I guess I expected something different going into it, as most everyone seems to say it's one of the best.

Fever Pitch is also very very good. Among the Thugs is actually a really good read to, and a bit frightening.

I haven't read Season on the Brink, but I've read several of Feinstein's other books -- the ones on the ACC and the PGA tour, specifically -- and they were generally very poorly formatted. I thought he had kind of a knack for telling interesting stories in uninteresting ways.

[INDalltheway]

I would like to suggest to you guys "Why is the Foul Pole Fair?". It is a very personal story that also includes a ton of stuff that you never thought you would know. Some of it is worthless, but it is worth wadding through it to get to the good stuff.

[JeeberD]

Friday Night Lights, of course.
Shoeless Joe, the book that Field of Dreams was based on.
Basketball's Biggest Upset, about Texas Western's 1965-66 season and it's upset of Kentucky in the NCAA finals... :)

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Missing from the list: FATSO by Art Donovan. Funniest book ever.