So, buy a book. It’s really OK to do that — for yourself or to fill out that Christmas list.
Even with a billion video games and multiple platforms to play them on (and as a voice- over person for a couple sports games, all that is just fine) reading is still one of life’s great joys.
In no particular order and with no intimation that there aren’t hundreds of other worthy titles, a few humble suggestions to save you from a breakdown in this season’s shopping home stretch.
Joyce Carol Oakes is one of my favorite authors. She is not known for writing about sports. However, her missive entitled “On Boxing” is a wonderful read about her growing up at the ring with her father.
Roger Kahn is a good read whatever the title. “The Boys of Summer” concerns the Dodgers of Brooklyn. It is a classic.
On that same Brooklyn subject there is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Wait Till Next Year.” She takes you down the sidewalk on a summer night with the “da bums” game filling the night from the radios on the porches. Great stuff.
“The Teammates” by David Halberstram is the story of three members of the Red Sox who travel to visit a fourth teammate, Ted Williams. He captures their hearts in this one.
Williams own classic “The Science of Hitting” is as much about the man as the bat or ball. You can just hear him roar in the pages as only Williams could.
Ken Dryden graduated from Cornell as one of the most successful college goaltenders in history. He carried that success to six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens. His book, “The Game,” may be the most thoughtful ever written about affairs of the ice.
“They Call Me Coach” by John Wooden is his thoughts on the profession he epitomized and influences to this day. The book goes well beyond the hard court. When Coach speaks, you listen.
“Only the Ball Was White” by Robert Peterson is a heart-wrenching and glorious story of the Negro Leagues and the men who played there. Those players will never receive their true due, but this book goes a long way in trying.
Jerome Holtzman covered sports in Chicago and nationally for decades, concluding his career as the official historian of the game, working with the Hall of Fame. His book, “No Cheering in the Press Box,” speaks about the writers of his day and their fierce independence. Love it.
Joe DiMaggio was the mysterious hero of America’s pastime, private while public.
Richard Cramer sought out the life fans did not see in “Joe DiMaggio: The Hero’s Life.” This is one for the night stand.
Great gifts all, these few titles are worthy of any shelf and there are many more we can all discover at a book store or library.
A plug for the libraries of our country in these tough economic times — they are a resource of immeasurable value. Any talk that finances should be cut for them is an attempt to cut the very concept of thinking.
In the course of buying a book as a gift, how about buying one for your favorite library.
Happy browsing.