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Post by humbug on May 6, 2006 11:23:47 GMT
In no particular order:-
Out Of Our Skins by Liam Hayes
Only A Game by Eamonn Dunphy
Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage
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eamo
Ger Loughnane
Posts: 331
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Post by eamo on May 7, 2006 12:14:01 GMT
Not a big reader in general so cant really contribute here. I did read an extract from a book on the Brazilian footballer Garrincha. His story was incredible. He was born a cripple and went on to be one of the best dribblers of all time. Apparently he is regarded by Brazilian people as the greatest footballer ever, ahead of Pele. He also lost his virginity to a goat (yes goat) and bedded thousands of women. He was meant to be hung like a horse! He was a serious alcoholic and thats what killed him. Apparently the cause of death on his death cert said 'alcohol poisoning - source unknown'. He was on the 'Toilet Duck' like Father Jack...
Just on Pele, Big Phil Scolari went way up in my estimation after what he said about him. He said that 'it seems to me if you want to win the Chapionship then you do the opposite to what Pele says'. So true.
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Post by whyohwhy on May 8, 2006 7:49:30 GMT
In no particular order:- Only A Game by Eamonn Dunphy Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage Both mighty books, read them both in the last couple of months. Kimmage's is particularly excellent |
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Post by therock67 on May 8, 2006 8:28:53 GMT
In no particular order:- Out Of Our Skins by Liam Hayes Only A Game by Eamonn Dunphy Rough Ride by Paul Kimmage I didn't really like Only A Game but I think I probably expected too much from it when I read it. A Rough Ride is a superb book - one of the best books I've read from any genre and should be compulsory reading for Irish sports fans. I still rage when I recall how Gay Byrne implied he was a traitor on the Late Late for not absolving Roche and Kelly from any blame. A Seaon on the Brink and Civil War (Army Vs. Navy) are excellent books by John Feinstein. |
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Post by iamthelaw on May 8, 2006 8:45:28 GMT
"The Picador Book of Sportswriting" - edited by Nick Coleman & Nick Hornby
Includes extracts from "Only a Game", "Fever Pitch", Mailer's "The Fight" and many other greats, but also some more obscure pieces; the story of bodybuilder Steve Michalik's drug abuse & its consequences is particularly unforgettable.
"Dark Trade - Lost in Boxing" - Donald McRae
Also, his book "Winter Colours" isn't as powerful but is still the best rugby book I've ever come across
"Football against the Enemy" - Simon Kuper
Especially for the opening chapter on Holland-Germany
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Post by therock67 on May 8, 2006 8:59:56 GMT
[quote author=iamthelaw board=general thread=1146914627 post=1147077928"Dark Trade - Lost in Boxing" - Donald McRae
Also, his book "Winter Colours" isn't as powerful but is still the best rugby book I've ever come across
[/quote]
I was trying to remember that guy's name. Winter Colours is by far and away the best rugby book I've ever read and it's a pretty decent account of a white man's view of apartheid South Africa as well. I've been meaning to read that boxing book for ages.
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Post by bandage on May 8, 2006 22:56:21 GMT
Actually read Only A Game for the first time last week on holidays. I was also slightly disappointed given its reputation as being the inspiration and forerunner to Fever Pitch. I thought Fever Pitch was a smashing sport's book and given my interest in Manchester City I liked Colin Bernstein's Manchester United Ruined My Life albeit it being one of the many books written in the afterglow of Fever Pitch. Shame about the title also.
Rough Ride is a superb book and I must read it again. A really fascinating insight. I read the Liam Hayes book a good few years back and it doesn't stick in the memory - I actually don't really enjoy his style of writing in the Tribune either. The best GAA books I've read are I Crossed The Line, the Liam Dunne autobiography and Last Man Standing by Christy O'Connor, the former Clare sub keeper who followed the 2004 hurling championship from the perspective of the 12 keepers. A superb insight as the keepers really opened up to him seeing as he's one of their own. An absolutely cracking read.
Meaning to read Jimmy Burns' book on Barca having enjoyed his one on Madrid. Also inspired by Freddie Flintoff's autobiography though mainly by the deeds of the man rather than the writing.
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Post by iamthelaw on Jul 2, 2006 22:01:16 GMT
Just finished an excellent book on American football called "Friday Night Lights", by HG Bissinger. Amazing story, about this little Texas town whose only source of pride is the accomplishments of their high school football team.
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Post by iamthelaw on Jul 12, 2006 0:06:52 GMT
Further to my post on another thread, "Calcio" by John Foot is a brilliant book on Italian football. Bought it and Paddy Agnew's "Forza Italia" when the azzurri beat Ukraine, with the plan that if they won the World Cup I'd be up to speed. And Agnew's book passes the time alright, but Calcio is in a totally different league.
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Post by therock67 on Jul 12, 2006 16:36:24 GMT
I bought Dark Trade the other day Law really looking forward to it - just finishing my current book at the moment.
Speaking of sports books, I lent Celtic Minded to bandage the other week - wonder how he's getting on with it...
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Post by bandage on Jul 12, 2006 22:54:50 GMT
I bought Dark Trade the other day Law really looking forward to it - just finishing my current book at the moment. Speaking of sports books, I lent Celtic Minded to bandage the other week - wonder how he's getting on with it... Getting there rock, getting there. Just finished the Tommy Gemmell essay there - it was really informative to read his account of what it was like as a Protestant to come into the Celtic team in the 1960s and then win a European Cup with them. Also, very interesting to read his powerful feelings on what he's adamant was blatant sectarianism and discrimination against Celtic and their supporters especially considering he is non Irish and non Catholic. Some of the individual accounts are obviously going to be better than others and there are a couple that a little samey but overall there's been some excellent stuff in there so far. The author's section at the start is also very good imo and I'll point people towards that the next time some idiot has a go at Irish people for supporting Celtic because 'they've nothing to do with Ireland'. |
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Post by iamthelaw on Jul 16, 2006 0:54:36 GMT
Another one for you Bandage, to inspire you towards your real career: Sports Illustrated's "Fifty Years of Great Sportswriting".
A substantial selection of the best feature articles to have appeared in the magazine from 1954 to 2004, including Faulkner, Steinbeck, Don DeLillo and George Plimpton. I'm only 100 pages (7 articles) into what is a 550 page book (and haven't yet read any of the pieces by those writers that I know), but so far it's fantastic.
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