Before diving into the books, we’ll talk about the growth of sports books and the changes that have occurred in their nature over the years. Sports books have long been known for being less critical of athletes and teams. This trait was presumably the result of the writers’ desire to be less critical of their subjects.
Sports writers were known to get along with their subjects very well. This was because they spent much time with the players and teams during the season.Television, radio, and newspaper journalists were assigned to cover a particular team. The teams and the writers then blended to create a common ground wherein they would often overlook the shortcomings of their subjects.
Sports biographies ghost-written by the writers who covered the team were often puff pieces portraying the players negatively. Today, writers are more critical and investigative in their work. Many of them also choose to write about athletes who are not covered by the traditional media.
Journalists held no grudges towards their subjects and only focused on the truth. Sports figures would then turn to write about their games in detail. Baseball players like Jim Bouton and Jim Brosnan wrote diaries detailing their seasons. Their fellow players were disturbed by this practice, but the public devoured the books.
Rome 1960: The Summer Olympics That Stirred the World
This book is not about a particular athlete or sport. Instead, it focuses on the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Italy. The event was brought to the world’s attention due to various global events and personalities. These were the Cold War Olympics, which were viewed as a battle between communism and democracy. The Rome Olympics provided a glimpse into the future of the Olympics as it showcased African-American athletes such as Muhammad Ali and Wilma Rudolph. In Maraniss’ book, he looks back at the Olympics’ history and how it has evolved into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
The author’s biography of Seabiscuit is unique because it doesn’t contain interviews, letters, or speeches. During the 1930s, the horse was a dominant force in the racing industry. The media covered it more than other prominent figures such as Benito Mussolini and Franklin Roosevelt.
During this period, the author ran various races, where he met his match. The attendance at these events reached around 100,000 people. This book is an extraordinary biography that captures the spirit of the time. This is a must-read, even if you’ve never bet on a horse race.
Ali: A Life
The sport of boxing has been the source of numerous remarkable books, such as A.J. Leibling’s “The Art of the Deal” and Norman Mailer’s “The Mailer Experiment.” The decline of interest in boxing has been attributed to the various factors that have affected its popularity. However, Eig’s biography of Muhammad Ali is more than a boxing biography. He was a hero to many people outside of the ring. He was an avid opponent of the Vietnam War. During his life, he talked about the various cultural, racial, and political conflicts that occurred in the country during the 20th century. Eig’s biography is an extraordinary work of history.
Fever Pitch
Sports biographies are very personal, and these are the kind of books that readers will find enjoyable. Two of these authors are known for their work in fields other than sports. Nick Hornby’s novel “Fever PITCH” is fiction. However, it’s infused with his love for football and American soccer. Readers often have a hard time separating fact from fiction in this book.
The novel was released in 1992 before the Premier League was established. It’s the story of Hornby’s childhood and love for the football team, the London-based club, the Emirates.
The novel features a series of chapters highlighting a match in which Hornby has been involved. It was the basis for two movies, one released in 1997 and featuring Colin Firth as the main character. In 2005, a different version of the book was released, which featured Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. The movie, set in the US, features a different team than the one in the novel. Hornby was a part of both projects.