Curl up with a good sports book

In a way, every sporting event tells a story. And although there is an immense amount of satisfaction in watching sport, there is also a certain appeal to reading the stories behind the people in the world of sports.

Over the years, literally hundreds of non-fiction books have been written about the world of sports. Here’s a few you need on your bookshelf . . .

Into Thin Air

Countless people try to climb Mount Everest every year. It’s a tremendous accomplishment, especially back in the day. But unfortunately, it doesn’t always go smoothly. In 1996, a blizzard on the worst’s tallest mountain created chaos and panic, and tragically eight people died. Jon Krakauer was there, and he writes about it in harrowing detail.

Open

Andre Agassi was one of the greatest athletes ever on the tennis court. He was also a polarizing figure. He seems well-aware of that and his autobiography seemed to pull no punches. In fact, one of the biggest takeaways from “Open” is how much Agassi came to loathe the sport that made him rich and famous.

Veeck as in Wreck

Bill Veeck is one of the most interesting, odd and possibly eccentric men to ever work in sports. As an owner, he was willing to try anything, especially if it could make him a buck. When Eddie Gaedel became the shortest person to ever appear in an MLB game, that was Veeck’s idea. He let fans vote on strategy in one game. On the less silly side, Veeck also signed Larry Doby when he owned the Cleveland Indians, thereby integrating the American League. His autobiography has the delightful, and fitting, title of “Veeck as in Wreck.”

The Game

Ken Dryden is a Hall of Fame goalie, but he wasn’t your typical athlete. He retired young, got his law degree, became a politician in Canada and, of course, wrote a few books. One of them is his memoir “The Game,” which is considered maybe the best autobiography ever written by an athlete. It’s also probably the best book about hockey ever written.

Bottom of the 33rd

A 33-inning baseball game. Can you even imagine it? It’s the longest professional baseball game of all time, taking eight hours and 25 minutes to come to a conclusion. The Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings dueled it out in 1981, a game that featured some players, like Wade Boggs, we’d come to know and some players who would never find greater glory. That’s why author Dan Barry gave the book the subtitle: “Hope, Redemption, and Baseball’s Longest Game.”

There are many more excellent sport books to choose from, but these are a few that will inspire and educate in an entertaining way.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/359DLkA