Don Laible of the Utica Observer-Dispatch spoke with both Bill and me and posted his story today:
What makes Don't Let Us Win Tonight so captivating is how meticulously Wood and Nowlin walk readers through the divisional series, league championship series, the Series, and of course, the celebration. The playmakers and those associated with the Red Sox are telling the story. ...
Think of a SportsCenter program, loaded from commercial break to commercial break with quotes and game updates from the divisional series to the World Series four-game sweep of St. Louis, now you know what you're getting with Don't Let Us Win Tonight. ...
You're invited to relive the baseball party of a generation, all over again, in the pages of Don't Let Us Win Tonight.
Good review! Yay.
ReplyDeleteBad rewriting of baseball history, in first sentence. Boo.
Ah, Utica. I wonder if Saranac's black forest schwarzbier is still as good as I remember.
ReplyDeleteWe went to a minor league game there, about a million years ago.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be back soon (driving through) on your way to Cooperstown to see Pedro inducted.
ReplyDeleteMentioned in latest issue of Boston Magazine:
ReplyDelete"Ten years after the Sox creamed the Cardinals in the World Series, two sportswriters look back on how a team that hadn't won a championship in almost a century raced to the top of the heap. Wood and Nowlin mined accounts from everyone involved, from players to administrators to the doctor who saved Curt Schilling's ankle."
Hmmm, if we were going to Pedro's induction, I think we'd have to be making plans now, right? Feels unlikely at this moment.
ReplyDeleteFantastic, Allan!
ReplyDeleteI've only made it through the first game of the ALDS but I'm enjoying it immensely.
I just wanted to mention that I'm enjoying the book too. It's the only book I've read having to do with the 2004 run that actually seems like great care was put into weaving a narrative and inspire emotions. (I've only read two others, so not a large sample size. Still, the well-known Stephen King/O'Nan collaboration felt half-assed and the Shaughnessy/Francona book felt soulless and workmanlike.)
ReplyDeletethe well-known Stephen King/O'Nan collaboration felt half-assed
ReplyDeleteAgreed, in theory it sounded great but the end product was hackneyed. King had several gaps where he wrote nothing for weeks but was given co-author credits simply to sell more books.
Already being familiar with Allan's writing style and approach made this purchase very easy.
I was also hugely disappointed with O'Nan/King. Having two truly knowledgeable fans writing about that season would have been stupendous, but they both struck out with Faithful.
ReplyDeleteI've only made it through the first game of the ALDS but I'm enjoying it immensely.
ReplyDeleteWow. That bodes well for your future enjoyment, since the ALDS is (relatively speaking) just something to get through to get to the really good stuff.
I am loving every minute of it!
ReplyDeleteI'm through Game 4...incredible. I was hoping to get to Game 5 this past weekend, but didn't have the time. I read while watching the game on DVD. Well, I read a section, watch it, read it again, watch it again...etc.
I'm a little further along now; I've made it through the ALDS and the preview of the ALCS.
ReplyDeleteI also picked up my season tickets last night - 15 games at Fenway this season starting with Opening Day! Woohoo!!!
I read while watching the game on DVD. Well, I read a section, watch it, read it again, watch it again...etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I'll have to dig out my copy and do the same, although not during my first read-through.
I will be on WTIC (Hartford, CT, sports radio) tonight between 6 and 7 PM. You should be able to listen here.
ReplyDelete