By Sandy Amazeen Mar 18, 2008, 2:10 GMT
Following three disappointing minor league baseball seasons, Pat Jordan found himself teaching English, he dreamt of becoming a successful writer when he sent off a story about Muhammad Ali and the rest as they say, is history. This entertaining compilation of stories is divided into two parts, Fame and Obscurity covering some of the best and worst sports figures from 1970 to 2007 beginning with a 2001 piece about pitcher Roger Clemens. Jordan’s refreshingly straightforward manner fails every test of political correctness. He’s unafraid of casting someone in a bad light and in fact, seems to take a certain amount of delight in allowing such notable figures as O.J. Simpson to auger themselves into deep, self centered holes that reveal much about their true natures. From Jordan’s interview with Pete Rose, Jr., it becomes clear that his dad, Pete Rose was too self-absorbed to give anything emotionally or monetarily to his family earning the dubious accolade of “the world’s worst father”. Yet those familiar with Jordan’s work know him to be honest in the portraitures he creates, always allowing the interviewee’s true nature to come forward from the big names like Wilt Chamberlain and Sly Stallone as well as those who didn’t make it to the big leagues. Sports’ writing doesn’t come much better then this.
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