Some good reading out there

Posted Nov 5, 2011 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Nov 5, 2011 at 05:21 PM

As the cooler weather finally settles into Florida, there are some good books out there to pass the time indoors (or outdoors, if you enjoy crisp temperatures ...).

Here’s a sampling of a few books I will be reviewing over the next few weeks:

“War Room: Bill Belichick and the Patriot Legacy,” by Michael Holley. I am reading this one now, and it’s fascinating stuff. Because Belichick plays everything so close to the vest, it is an eye-opener to see how he does things behind the scenes, how he prepares for games—and more importantly, how his staff of assistants and scouts operate. The book focuses on Belichick, current Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, and Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, with a little Eric Mangini, Charlie Weis and Josh McDaniels thrown in for good measure.  No matter what your opinion of Belichick might be, this book will surprise and please you.

“The Bill James Handbook,” by Bill James. Expect the usual crush of statistics and anaylsis from James, the game’s biggest number-cruncher. with a few new items added. There will be a team defense chart that summarizes defensive runs saved; and a team pitching staff summary, which gives an overview of starters and relievers on a team level.

“100 Yards of Glory: The Greatest Moments in NFL History,” by Joe Garner and Bob Costas. A purely subjective book, one of those works that will spark some lively debate. Garner and Costas name the great NFL dynasties, the best NFL title games, the best Super Bowls, defensive greats, coaching greats, great quarterbacks and fantastic finishes. Of interest to fans in this area: former Bucs and Colts coach Tony Dungy is listed among the 10 coaching greats, putting him in the same company as his mentor, Chuck Noll, and greats like Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry and others. To me, cracking the top 10 in that list is the toughest; some left off include Bill Parcells, Marv Levy and Mike Holmgren. Books like these are lots of fun.

“Howard Cosell: The Man, the Myth, and the Transformation of American Sports,” by Mark Ribowsky. Oh, boy. Is this going to be an absorbing look at a broadcaster who wasn’t afraid to ask the tough questions and take an unpopular stand? Or will it be a scathing look at a bombastic announcer who more often than not, overshadowed the event he was covering? Or both? I can’t wait to start reading this one to find out. Hopefully, Ribowsky will “tell it like it is,” to borrow one of Cosell’s favorite sayings.