Did you know that the University of Illinois was home to perhaps the most dominant football player of his day? Or that the Illini have won multiple national championships? Or that the Chicago Bears under George Halas were within months of bankruptcy in the early days of the league?
I wasn't aware of any of this, which made this book, The The First Star by Lars Anderson, such a fascinating read. It is the story of Red Grange, a boy who grew up in Wheaton, IL and became the most dominant football player of his day, and an athlete whose stardom briefly equalled that of Babe Ruth. Known as the "Galloping Ghost," Grange was a superstar at the University of Illinois, and his hiring by and promotion of the upstart Chicago Bears is perhaps the most influential reason for the popularity of professional football in the United States today.
If you are a fan of football, the Illini, or the Bears, I recommend this as a compelling read. John H.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
By a Basketball Fan for Basketball Fans
I like basketball, but I don't love basketball. In a normal year, I might catch 6-8 hours total of basketball on TV. I rarely will watch a game beginning to end, with the possible exception of a Morton High School game.
That said, I was surprised that I absolutely loved The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Bill Simmons is a basketball fan, seemingly from birth. He has lived and loved professional basketball for decades, and his love of the game comes out in writing that is personal, lively and funny. And, extremely well informed. He has attended thousands of games and watched more, and his memory and experience bring a dry subject to life
This book includes segments on the greatest pro teams of all time, the greatest pro players of all time, and many other items big and small, all delivered in an easy to read format. Best of all, Simmons brings his particular sense of irreverent humor to the subject. The book is littered with footnotes, most of them snarky and hilarious asides or stories related to the subject at hand.
When my daughter was quite young, we used to sit and watch Michael Jordan as he led the Bulls to their second threepeat. Reading this book was the most fun I have had with basketball since then. JSH
That said, I was surprised that I absolutely loved The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Bill Simmons is a basketball fan, seemingly from birth. He has lived and loved professional basketball for decades, and his love of the game comes out in writing that is personal, lively and funny. And, extremely well informed. He has attended thousands of games and watched more, and his memory and experience bring a dry subject to life
This book includes segments on the greatest pro teams of all time, the greatest pro players of all time, and many other items big and small, all delivered in an easy to read format. Best of all, Simmons brings his particular sense of irreverent humor to the subject. The book is littered with footnotes, most of them snarky and hilarious asides or stories related to the subject at hand.
When my daughter was quite young, we used to sit and watch Michael Jordan as he led the Bulls to their second threepeat. Reading this book was the most fun I have had with basketball since then. JSH
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Twelve year old Allegra is an exceptional violinist who spends the summer preparing for a prestigious competition where she will play Mozart's Fourth Concerto in D. As she learns to express the music she comes to learn a lot about herself. She begins by feeling like a "nothing" neither Jewish like her father nor Kansas farmer like her mother. Her emotional awareness grows during the summer and by the time school starts in the fall she realizes the many ways that everyone is connected. JES