PapaJupe2k
03-11-2004, 01:54 AM
I figured I'd post this here instead of in the books forum, to get a better response. So what are your favorite sports related books/novels. Can be non-fiction or fiction, although I usually read non-fiction.
I guess my favorite sports author would have to be John Feinstein. He wrote the book "Season on the Brink" which was later turned into a movie which some of you may have seen. It chronicled the 1985-86 Indiana Hoosiers basketball season. It was just fascinating reading and any fan of the Big Ten or college basketball in general should check this one out. He takes you inside practices, on the court for games, and at halftime in the locker room, to give great insight on Bobby Knight and his team. I guess if you hated Bobby Knight before reading this book, read it and see what you think then.:) All I can say is I thought it was a fair look at what went on and his personality.
The one I'm currently reading from Feinstein is called "The Punch". For those who haven't heard of the incident, it looks at the 1977 brawl in which Lakers power forward Kermit Washington nearly killed Rockets forward and later coach Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch. Tomjanovich running full speed to intercede in a brawl ran right into the punch of Washington who claimed he just reacted when he saw someone approaching from behind. At any rate the impact was said to have been like crashing through a windshield at 50mph.:eek: Tomjanovich was on the verge of death and spent time in intensive care before pulling through. I'm glad there are no pictures of this because I don't think I would be able to look at them. It was said that the top of his head was off aligned like a half inch with the rest of his skull and he was leaking spinal fluid from the brain. The descriptions are just gruesome and make my stomach turn. I'm just a short way into it, but he relives how it changed each of their lives forever and how they have always seemed to be intertwined since. I cant wait to get farther into it.
My next Finestein book I'm going to buy is one he wrote about the year he followed Patriot League basketball from start to finish. That will be an interesting look at small conference hoops. I cant recall the title, but I saw it in the book store when I was there the last time.
Any recommendations. Let's hear your favorites.
I guess my favorite sports author would have to be John Feinstein. He wrote the book "Season on the Brink" which was later turned into a movie which some of you may have seen. It chronicled the 1985-86 Indiana Hoosiers basketball season. It was just fascinating reading and any fan of the Big Ten or college basketball in general should check this one out. He takes you inside practices, on the court for games, and at halftime in the locker room, to give great insight on Bobby Knight and his team. I guess if you hated Bobby Knight before reading this book, read it and see what you think then.:) All I can say is I thought it was a fair look at what went on and his personality.
The one I'm currently reading from Feinstein is called "The Punch". For those who haven't heard of the incident, it looks at the 1977 brawl in which Lakers power forward Kermit Washington nearly killed Rockets forward and later coach Rudy Tomjanovich with one punch. Tomjanovich running full speed to intercede in a brawl ran right into the punch of Washington who claimed he just reacted when he saw someone approaching from behind. At any rate the impact was said to have been like crashing through a windshield at 50mph.:eek: Tomjanovich was on the verge of death and spent time in intensive care before pulling through. I'm glad there are no pictures of this because I don't think I would be able to look at them. It was said that the top of his head was off aligned like a half inch with the rest of his skull and he was leaking spinal fluid from the brain. The descriptions are just gruesome and make my stomach turn. I'm just a short way into it, but he relives how it changed each of their lives forever and how they have always seemed to be intertwined since. I cant wait to get farther into it.
My next Finestein book I'm going to buy is one he wrote about the year he followed Patriot League basketball from start to finish. That will be an interesting look at small conference hoops. I cant recall the title, but I saw it in the book store when I was there the last time.
Any recommendations. Let's hear your favorites.