Haven’t got a newsletter out in a few weeks but posted 5 reviews recently so sharing them here for anyone who missed them on Twitter. Also included the usual list of recent and upcoming sports books - extra long this issue!
In an ideal world, I’ll have another newsletter out next week with reviews of a couple of very good new 🚴 cycling books just in time for the Tour de France. Happy reading!
🥊Muhammad Ali: Fifteen Rounds in the Wilderness by Dave Hannigan. A brilliant look at Ali's post-boxing life. Captures both his unique fame and his charisma and courage in the face of declining health. The third of three great books on Ali by Dave Hannigan. Full review here.
⚾Playing Through the Pain: Ken Caminiti and the Steroids Confession That Changed Baseball Forever by Dan Good. A brilliant account of Caminiti's compelling, tragic life - a wonderful, heart-breaking, unputdownable book. Made me question how we should consider the lives and legacies of athletes who take PED. Full review here.
💉Doping: A Sporting History by April Henning and Paul Dimeo. A passionate argument that a new approach is needed to anti-doping policy in international sport. Informed, accessible and persuasive. Full review here.
🥊Fighting for Survival: My Journey Through Boxing Fame, Abuse, Murder, and Resurrection by Christy Martin with Ron Borges. A passionate, heartbreaking and compelling autobiography from the pioneering boxer. Much like Martin’s fighting style, 'Fighting for Survival' is powerful and holds nothing back. She writes as she fought – by laying all her cards on the table and scoring a knockout success. Full review here.
⚽👕Kit and Caboodle: Football’s Shirt Stories by Matt Riley. A gorgeous looking celebration of football shirts and football culture. All royalties from the book go to Exeter City Women's football team. It is being published by Pitch Publishing on August 1st. Full review here.
New Sports Books - What’s out recently or coming out soon?
⚾Charlie Murphy: The Iconoclastic Showman Behind the Chicago Cubs by Jason Cannon. Story of the the ebullient and mercurial owner of this historic franchise from 1905 through 1914 during which the Cubs won two World Series
⚾Lefty and Tim: How Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver Became Baseball’s Best Battery by William C. Kashatus. Dual biography of the Hall of Fame pitcher and catcher.
⚽ Unsuitable for Females: The Rise of the Lionesses and Women's Football in England by Carrie Dunn
⚽ Year of the Robin: Watching It All Go Wrong for Charlton Athletic and the World by Jen Offord. Covid and relegation should make an entertaining mix!
⚽ Scoring Goals in the Dark by Clare Shine with Gareth Maher. The former Irish soccer international tells her story of addiction and recovery.
⚾ The Franchise: New York Yankees: A Curated History of the Bronx Bombers by Mark Feinsand
⚾ Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original by Howard Bryant @hbryant42. Definitive biography of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, baseball’s epic leadoff hitter and base-stealer. When a great writer writes about a great player a great book should be expected!
🏀 Game: An Autobiography by Grant Hill. Promises to be an interesting read from the Hall of Fame basketballer who has also been successful off the court.
⚾ Willie Horton: 23: Detroit's Own Willie the Wonder, the Tigers' First Black Great by Willie Horton with Kevin Allen. Autobiography of the World Series winning Detroit Tiger.
🏊♂️🏅 The Watermen: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man's Fight to Capture Olympic Gold by Michael Loynd. Story of the first American to win swimming gold at the Olympics in 1908
⚽ Johan Cruyff: Always on the Attack by Auke Kok @AukeKok. A comprehensive biography of the legendary Dutchman. Different aspects of Cruyff's life have been extensively written about. This promises to be the first comprehensive English language bio since his death to try and capture his immense impact on the global game. Sadly doesn’t seem to have been published in America yet but out in the UK now.
🚴 Jan Ullrich: The Best There Never Was by Daniel Friebe @friebos. Biography of the always interesting 1997 Tour de France winner looking at his rise and his remarkable career that, despite his success, somehow never quite hit the heights that seemed possible. Half way through this and it’s fantastic.
🚴🇫🇷 Le Fric: Family, Power and Money: The Business of the Tour de France by Alex Duff. Really looking forward to history of the behind the scenes organisation of cycling's most famous race. Read this and loved it. Review coming soon.
⛳ The Long Golden Afternoon: Golf's Age of Glory, 1864 - 1914 by Stephen Proctor
⚽ The Cornerstone Collection: Sculpting The Premier League's Past, Present and Future by Stuart Quigley. A history of the Premier League in 45 players.
🥊 Muhammad Ali: Fifteen Rounds in the Wilderness by Dave Hannigan. See above!
🎾 Rafa Nadal: The King of the Court by Dominic Bliss. Comprehensive bio of the tennis player.
⚽ My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a Hall-of-Fame Goalkeeper by Briana Scurry. Autobiography from the goalie on the first great US women's soccer team.
🚴 Climbers: How the Kings of the Mountains Conquered Cycling by Peter Cossins.
⚽ When Asia Welcomed the World: The 2002 World Cup Revisited by Danny Lewis. A look back at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea (I'll always maintain Ireland could have won it!). (27 June)
⚽ The Beautiful Game and the Ugly Truth: Football's Tragic Link with Dementia by Kieran Gill. Gill has written extensively on this topic in his journalistic career. (27 June)
⚽ USA 94 - The World Cup That Changed The Game by Matt Evans @the_mevs @USA94Book. Very much looking forward to this book. For an Irish kid born in 1984, nothing will ever compete with USA 94 for my affection! Publication was brought forward to 27 June. Reading this currently and loving it.
🏀 The NBA in Black and White: The Memoir of a Trailblazing NBA Player and Coach by Ray Scott with Charley Rosen. Memoir of Ray Scott, Piston's legend who went #4 pick of the 1961 NBA draft, and became the first ever black man to win Coach of the Year as the Piston's Coach in 1974. (28 June)
Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts, opinions, any improvements I can make etc. Catch me on Twitter. More books next week!