Great Sports Books (Part 3 of 3)

This is the third entry in a three part series recommending great sports books. These reviews are authored by Ken Bungay, a lawyer who lives in Whitby, Ontario. He is also a big sports fan, knows everything about junior hockey, and loves reading sports books. So there was no person better to ask to write these entries than Ken. In all, Ken will recommend 6 sports books. He's already recommended 4 books and here are his last 2:

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Great Sports Books (Part 3 of 3) - by Ken Bungay

I am a regular follower of the Team 1200 on the Internet and a friend of the Team 1200'ssports legal analyst Eric Macramalla. When Eric asked if I would contribute a Guest Blog on the topic of favourite sports books, I was happy to oblige.

Sound and Fury - 2006, David Kindred

A biography of Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell. There are a lot of books on Muhammad Ali, and so there should be. One of the most recognized people of my era, in or out of sport. This particular book also provides a good background on Howard Cosell and how he came to be identified and intertwined with Ali. 

Clemente - 2006, David Maraniss

A biography of the late Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Fame player Roberto Clemente. Clemente was described by George Will as the Fielder of Dreams. A complete player and a quiet leader on some great Pittsburgh teams. Growing up in Southern Ontario, I used to catch all the Pirate games on WSEE tv, Erie, PA. Clemente played his entire career for the Pirates, from 1955 to 1972. He was the 1971 World Series MVP for the champion Buckos.

He died tragically during the off-season after the 1972 season, in a plane crash doing charity work after an earthquake hit Managua, Nicaragua. His relief plane crashed in the ocean off the coast of Puerto Rico. His body was never recovered. Clemente played during what I believe were the best days of baseball. Anyone who misses the days of Ernie Harwell and Bob Prince calling baseball games, like I do, will like this book.

That's it as far as great sports books - for now. If you have any of your own recommendations, fell free to share them in the comments section.