Good Books Involving Sports [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

View Full Version : Good Books Involving Sports

MylesKnight

09-20-2006, 12:14 PM

My Girlfriend picked up the title, Foulball - My Life and Hard Times Trying to Save An Old Ballpark, by Jim Bouton (Author of Ball Four - I haven't read this but will soon), at a used bookstore last week, and I must say that I am enjoying it immensely. Definitely an eye opener about small town government and the amount of money spent on sporting facilities by American Taxpayers nowadays.

Does anyone have any recommendations of any other solid sports-related books to check out? I've read a few over my time but I'm sure I've missed some good ones.

molson

09-20-2006, 12:33 PM

SI came out with a "top 100 sports books" list a few years ago, I still occasionally refer to it:

hxxp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/features/2002/top_sports_books/1/

SirFozzie

09-20-2006, 12:42 PM

read ball four. NOW.

Then Instant Replay by Jerry Kramer

ISiddiqui

09-20-2006, 12:50 PM

First we have to know what sports you like. I have a few soccer books I could recommend, but it'd help if you liked the sport first :D.

Molson, thanks for the link!

Northwood_DK

09-20-2006, 12:57 PM

I have just finished "Moneyball" and have "Why my wife thinks Iam an Idiot" waiting next.

Lathum

09-20-2006, 12:58 PM

the curious case of Sid Finch was fun.

If you like more non fiction PM saldana, he has the largest collection of sports books I have ever seen. Fiction and non fiction.

MylesKnight

09-20-2006, 01:01 PM

ISiddiqui

09-20-2006, 01:23 PM

Well for soccer books, I'd recommend "How Soccer Explains the World" by Franklin Foer and "Football Against the Enemy" by Simon Kuper (there is a "Soccer Against the Enemy", but that's just for dumb Americans who get confused with "Football" in the title and all they did was change ever mention of 'football' with 'soccer' in the book, which leads to strangeness when you see the words "American soccer" when they are refering to the NFL).

Both are great books detailing how politics is deeply injected into soccer.

NoMyths

09-20-2006, 01:24 PM

The Universal Baseball Association.

SirFozzie

09-20-2006, 01:26 PM

Yes, thanks a bunch Molson for the link.. SirFoz, I see you are from Mass. Any personal info you have on the topic of the book I'm reading currently? Foul Ball takes place in Pittsfield/Berkshire County.

As for sports books, hey I'm up for pretty much anything.. As for soccer, I've read The Miracle of Castel di Sangro and A Season with Verona, but I have not picked up Fever Pitch yet.

Thanks!

On another note, it's sad to see how far the Castel di Sangro soccer franchise has fallen since that time.. They are now basically a Rec League Team so to speak, playing at what may be the lowest organized level of soccer in Italy.

That's more in Western MA then where I am (I'm in eastern MA, if you look at a map, I live roughly where the border with Rhode Island stops going North and starts going west.).. but the vibe I got from googling stuff after reading Foul Ball ..

After a certain point, it became sheer bloody-mindness from the town.. the first part was an attempt to enforce THEIR view on the city (they are/were an insular group, with one city newspaper tied in with the city government, all heavily connected with the industry that was in that town for so long)

At some point it became more spiteful from the city, that even if it was to benefit the city, they were not going to let him win, no matter what. They cut off their nose to spite their face

SirFozzie

09-20-2006, 01:27 PM

If you're an American soccer fan, try Once in a Lifetime, the story of the Cosmos (yes, the one that got turned into a movie and is on ESPN 2 tonight)

FrogMan

09-20-2006, 02:34 PM

Yes, thanks a bunch Molson for the link.. SirFoz, I see you are from Mass. Any personal info you have on the topic of the book I'm reading currently? Foul Ball takes place in Pittsfield/Berkshire County.

wow, I lived and worked in Pittsfield, MA for almost a couple of years (mid 96 to mid 98 or about), heck my oldest son was born in Pittsfield. :)

This book has just moved into my list of books I should try to get my hands on. Can't say I can help you much with the city though as I think I went to Wahconah park once maybe, and I never really paid attention to city politics, as I knew I was coming back to Canada once my contract was done...

I keep a list of all the books I've read over the years, many of them are sports related novels/books. I'll post it from home tonight. It's got the ISBN numbers on it, so you could check some of them out, may be some stuff you've never heard about.

Thanks to Molson for the list too, very interesting list...

FM

FrogMan

09-20-2006, 02:36 PM

dola, a quick check at boockloseouts.com reveals they have over 200 copies of that Foul Ball book. Added it to my cart and will order it at some point when I next purchase some book there. :)

FM

cougarfreak

09-20-2006, 03:15 PM

If you're a baseball fan.........I'd highly recommend "Men at Work" by George Will. Great book. Three nights in August was pretty good too. The one Feinstein wrote on the Indiana basketball team was good too........the name slips my mind at the moment.

SirFozzie

09-20-2006, 03:15 PM

A season on the brink

Icy

09-20-2006, 04:04 PM

What about sports books real or fictional based on players lifes? Something like the 1st person dynasties written for sports sims here or in GDS or OOTP forums.

I really love those dynasties and i would love to read good books telling the lifes of sportmen, real or fictional, like the baseball movie "the natural" or "Friday night lights" or "Hoosiers" or "Rudy" or "Any given sunday" etc, stuff like that.

MylesKnight

09-20-2006, 07:39 PM

I do enjoy Feinstein's work.. He's written quite a few more, but I've read these five thus far..

A Civil War (Army v. Navy Football)
The Last Amateurs (Patriot League Basketball)
The Punch (Rudy Tom/Kermit Washington NBA)
A Good Walk Spoiled (PGA Tour)
The Majors (Golf)

Other titles I really enjoyed;

Loose Balls (A History of the old ABA)
Big Game, Small World (Basketball Stories, Globally)
Where Dreams Die Hard (Texas HS 6-Man Football)
Fixed: How Goodfellas Bought BC Basketball (College Basketball)
Rites of Autumn (College Football History)
Keeping the Faith (College Football's Worst Team - Trinity Bible College, ND)
The Sweet Season (College Football - St. John's Univ., MN)
The 50 Year Seduction (College Football, TV, BCS)
Missing Links (Golf Comedy)

FrogMan

09-20-2006, 07:52 PM

Here's the list of sports books I've read so far. I see many of whom you've already read but anyway, if that can help you, here goes:
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 342pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=456 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 162pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7899" width=216><COL style="WIDTH: 115pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5595" width=153><COL style="WIDTH: 65pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3181" width=87><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 162pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=216 height=18>Title</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 115pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=153>Author</TD><TD class=xl25 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 65pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=87>ISBN</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=18>Pros and Cons</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Benedict, Jeff</TD><TD class=xl28 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0446524034</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Friday Night Lights</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Bissinger, H.G.</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0060974060</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Bringing the Heat</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Bowden, Mark</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0679428410</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Toss</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Esiason, Boomer</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0451408748</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>A Civil War: Army vs Navy</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Feinstein, John</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0316278246</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Wives Room</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Gardocki, Sally</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">1570281580</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Dark Side of the Game</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Green, Tim</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0446520330</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Double Reverse</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Green, Tim</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">044652333X</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Ruffians</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Green, Tim</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0312953887</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Red Zone</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Green, Tim</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0446607568</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Outlaws</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Green, Tim</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0061012130</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Titans</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Green, Tim</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0446606367</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Rough Trade</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Hartzmark, Gini</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0804118299</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>You're Okay, It's Just a Bruise</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Huizenga, Rob</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0312136277</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Rude Behavior</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Jenkins, Dan</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">044023560X</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Forever Season</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Keith, Don</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0312146035</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Balls</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Kincaid, Nanci</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0385334532</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl30 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 162pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=216 height=17>Fourth Down</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Klein, Dave</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0312863705</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Last Call: Memoirs of an NFL Refereee</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Markbreit, Jerry</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">1583820302</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Glory for Sale</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Morgan, Jon</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">096312465X</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Football Hall of Shame</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Nash, Bruce</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0671745514</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Big Show</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Olbermann & Patrick</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0671009192</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Paper Lion</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Plimpton, George</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"> </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>If I Don't Six</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Reid Elwood</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0385491204</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Another Season</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Stallings, Gene</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0767902556</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Illegal Motion</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Stockley, Grif</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">0684803550</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD class=xl26 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>The Gridiron Game</TD><TD class=xl27 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Wimmer, Dick (editor)</TD><TD class=xl29 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3 0.5pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">157028153X</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I've like most of them, don't really remember one I didn't finish because I hated it...

FM

rowech

09-20-2006, 07:58 PM

My favorite sports books depending on the sport:

October, 1964 David Halberstam -- great comparing of Cardinals and Yankees as they make their way to the series.

When Pride Still Mattered -- David Marinass -- biography of Lombardi. Simply an amazing book.

Rites of Autumn -- not a read through book but a very cool book on the history of college football.

Season on the Brink -- great inside look at a basketball season under Knight.

America's Game -- Macambridge -- just a fantastic history of the NFL. Learned so much by reading this book.

The Heisman -- cool book about some of the heisman winners. Probably wouldn't tell you to buy it but a good book.

The Last Good Coach -- Bear Bryant biography -- not at the level of the Lombardi book though.

Bill James Historical Abstract -- lot to the book and a lot you'll disagree with but a great read.

Wooden's little blue book -- a great book if you're into coaching.

My favorite of all of them is probably Lombardi's bio or America's game. Just a couple of great football books.

SirFozzie

09-20-2006, 07:59 PM

A Civil War: Army vs Navy Feinstein, John 0316278246

AWESOME book

bbor

09-20-2006, 08:03 PM

Anything by Fienstein.

'Somewhere in Ireland a village is missing it's idiot' by David Fehrety was good for a laugh.

cthomer5000

09-20-2006, 08:04 PM

Moneyball (enough said on this from others... great book)

The New Thinking Man's Guide To Pro Football (Paul Zimmerman AKA Dr. Z of Sports Illustrated)
-
This book is out of print but you can find it fairly easily on half.com. It's WELL worth the read for both a read on the evolution of the game but most of all for the stories. I found myself laughing out loud regularly from quotes and stories, and i've re-read the book a few times.

Celeval

09-20-2006, 09:10 PM

Fever Pitch. No, it's not actually about the Red Sox.

ISiddiqui

09-20-2006, 09:44 PM

Yeah, it's about a far worse team ;).

lcjjdnh

09-21-2006, 01:53 AM

If you're an American soccer fan, try Once in a Lifetime, the story of the Cosmos (yes, the one that got turned into a movie and is on ESPN 2 tonight)

Did anyone watch this? I, for one, thought it was excellent and plan on picking up the book soon. Even non-soccer fans I watched it with thought it was extremely well done.

It's a shame they couldn't get Pele to speak (I believe I heard he was asking for too much money), but still a very cool documentary. It's facisnating to see how popular the sport was here for a while.

There were some great tales about both on-the-field and off-the-field stuff and some cool clips of Pele. The dynamic between Chinagila and the rest of the team was also very interesting, as is how all those involved in that mess talk about it now. I thought even the soundtrack was teriffic.