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Fighting Back: The Chris Nilan Story
Chris Nilan, who grew up in the tough and gritty Irish enclave in Boston, was a feared enforcer for the Montreal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins, and the New York Rangers and a Stanley Cup champion never afraid to go into the corners or take off his gloves. He was a valued teammate whose very presence on the ice affected the way the game was played. As an enforcer and as a teammate, Nilan ranks among the greatest of all time; when the cheering stopped, however, Chris Nilan did not do well. The same qualities—his aggressiveness and high-emotion style—that proved so valuable on the ice did not serve him well when his career ended. Nilan turned to drugs and alcohol to dull his pain and nearly died from an overdose. His story is a fascinating and troubling exposé of the booze, bills, and drugs that destroy so many athletes after their careers are over. But it’s also a story of triumph, as Nilan has been the victor in his fight against his demons.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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January 17, 2014Was dying to.read this
I enjoyed this.book. I wish more time was spent on his struggles with alcohol with drugs instead of his career in hockey.
I enjoyed this.book. I wish more time was spent on his struggles with alcohol with drugs instead of his career in hockey.
February 24, 2020
This book was okay. In contrast to Bob Probert who scored multiple 20 goal seasons, and was a well rounded hockey player in addition to being an enforcer. Chris Milan was more one-dimensional,l. Outside of one decent hockey season he was mainly a trigger man or enforcer during his career.
He talks about the code but it is evident he doesn't follow it. He makes statements that he would sucker Punch, blindside and even spit on people(disgusting), in this book!! I have no respect for that type of behaviour and it certainly isn't what's needed in hockey.
Nilan did live a very interesting life however, from the tutorage of the father Ryan and the Christian Brothers to marring whitey Bulger's step-daughter, etc. I understand Nilan had a rough upbringing and hopefully he has salvaged some sort of relationship with his abusive father, who clearly left him emotionally unstable. I'm glad he seems to have turned his life around now.
He talks about the code but it is evident he doesn't follow it. He makes statements that he would sucker Punch, blindside and even spit on people(disgusting), in this book!! I have no respect for that type of behaviour and it certainly isn't what's needed in hockey.
Nilan did live a very interesting life however, from the tutorage of the father Ryan and the Christian Brothers to marring whitey Bulger's step-daughter, etc. I understand Nilan had a rough upbringing and hopefully he has salvaged some sort of relationship with his abusive father, who clearly left him emotionally unstable. I'm glad he seems to have turned his life around now.
June 13, 2022
Brutally honest!
I enjoyed the chronology of how Chris told his story. I'm a huge HABS fan who lived in Montreal during Chris' playing career! He's right Montreal fans loved him and still do. Ironically, I now live in Massachusetts, so I could also really relate to the Boston side of his story. I'm glad he's in recovery and able to enjoy this pay of his life. I know that it has been a very long road that he has traveled and will continue to travel.
career
I enjoyed the chronology of how Chris told his story. I'm a huge HABS fan who lived in Montreal during Chris' playing career! He's right Montreal fans loved him and still do. Ironically, I now live in Massachusetts, so I could also really relate to the Boston side of his story. I'm glad he's in recovery and able to enjoy this pay of his life. I know that it has been a very long road that he has traveled and will continue to travel.
career
February 8, 2018
This had all the elements of a book that I absolutely love. Hockey/crime (Whitey Bulger references and street fighting)/addiction etc. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star book for me was because there was almost too much detail about some of the hockey games - and I am a huge hockey guy. It is amazing to me how different reality and the perceived life of a professional athlete can be.
August 20, 2017
I give this book 4 stars, because I am a hockey fan, and was a fan of Chris Nilan. However....no disrespect to Chris....if I wasn't a fan, I would have had to give it a lower rating.
September 24, 2016
Chris Nilan's autobiography “Fighting Back” has a lot of things typical to those books written by athletes after their playing career. It talks about the career, mentioning a number of highlight moments and incidents with both teammates and non-hockey friends. It talks about the high points and low points of the authors' experience with team management.
Chris Nilan's autobiography “Fighting Back” has a lot of things that are NOT typical to those books written by athletes after their playing career. Let's start with his brutal assessment of some of the things hinted at in the first paragraph. Incidents: Not all were pleasant. And not all were someone elses' fault; the author takes partial responsibility in many tales and full responsibility in some, as well. Especially his drug abuse and his infidelity. (However, the description of his descent into heroin use is remarkably brief and lacking detail. What happened? How? I need more than once sentence, Mr. Nilan!)
Mr. Nilan looks at some newsworth things outside of hockey that occurred in the world that affected his life. Start with James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger. Bulger was alleged to be an organized crime boss in Boston long before he was finally indicted. When Bulger fled the jurisdiction prior to a federal indictment, he took along a friend – Nilan's mother-in-law, who had had a long affair with the man. (Nilan states that Bulger effectively was his father-in-law.) Nilan also had some tangential involvement with the priest/child abuse scandal in the Boston Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church. No, he was neither abuser nor victim, BUT some of his childhood friends and acquaintances were. And one of his long-standing friends among the clergy was among the accused. (No spoilers here as to how things turned out; suffice to say that Nilan attempted to keep a level head as to whether the former alleged child victim or the alleged abuser was telling the truth)
Chris Nilan's autobiography “Fighting Back” is missing one thing typical to those books written by athletes after their playing career – a credited ghost-writer. Either Mr. Nilan invested a lot more money in hiring someone who stayed entirely behind the scenes, or (and this is much more likely) he actually DID write the book himself.
Definitely a great read, with a lot of reminisces and background for hockey fans AND some very interesting aspects for non-hockey fans, as well.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars. Rounded up to 5 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
Chris Nilan's autobiography “Fighting Back” has a lot of things that are NOT typical to those books written by athletes after their playing career. Let's start with his brutal assessment of some of the things hinted at in the first paragraph. Incidents: Not all were pleasant. And not all were someone elses' fault; the author takes partial responsibility in many tales and full responsibility in some, as well. Especially his drug abuse and his infidelity. (However, the description of his descent into heroin use is remarkably brief and lacking detail. What happened? How? I need more than once sentence, Mr. Nilan!)
Mr. Nilan looks at some newsworth things outside of hockey that occurred in the world that affected his life. Start with James Joseph “Whitey” Bulger. Bulger was alleged to be an organized crime boss in Boston long before he was finally indicted. When Bulger fled the jurisdiction prior to a federal indictment, he took along a friend – Nilan's mother-in-law, who had had a long affair with the man. (Nilan states that Bulger effectively was his father-in-law.) Nilan also had some tangential involvement with the priest/child abuse scandal in the Boston Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church. No, he was neither abuser nor victim, BUT some of his childhood friends and acquaintances were. And one of his long-standing friends among the clergy was among the accused. (No spoilers here as to how things turned out; suffice to say that Nilan attempted to keep a level head as to whether the former alleged child victim or the alleged abuser was telling the truth)
Chris Nilan's autobiography “Fighting Back” is missing one thing typical to those books written by athletes after their playing career – a credited ghost-writer. Either Mr. Nilan invested a lot more money in hiring someone who stayed entirely behind the scenes, or (and this is much more likely) he actually DID write the book himself.
Definitely a great read, with a lot of reminisces and background for hockey fans AND some very interesting aspects for non-hockey fans, as well.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars. Rounded up to 5 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
October 6, 2020
Chris Nilan went to my high school (Catholic Memorial in Boston) a few years after I left. Fun seeing mentions of some teachers I had and then the career of an NHL enforcer. The New Kids on the Block (TKOB) went to CM too -- I wonder if they went to school together.
December 23, 2015
Chris grew up in the same neighborhood as I did. I really enjoyed the passages about Boston and Whitey Bulger. The hockey stories were a treat as well. The reason for the three stars was for the writing. It was a bit choppy. Sometimes I thought I was reading a classic "how I spent my summer vacation" essay.
December 27, 2013
Terrific book. When I was reading it I could hear Chris Nilan in my head. Great read and provides insight into all aspects of Nilan's life including his upbringing in a tough Irish neighborhood in Boston, his NHL years, as well as his struggles in his retirement years.
March 2, 2014
Enjoyed reading the story about Chris Nilan. One of my favourite players who played with the Montreal Canadiens. This is a great read and gives you a glimpse into a side of the hockey player that you don't usually on ice. :-)
April 22, 2014
An in-depth look at the life of one of my idols when I was a teenager. This man has been to hell and back (drug and alcohol) , but he has has also had incredible highs (winning the Stanley Cup). Overall a good read on the life of a pro athlete.
November 15, 2015
As someone who watched Chris Nilan is his heyday with the Habs this was an extremely interesting and informative book on his life and times in the NHL. His battles with substance abuse are honest and open. I enjoyed reading this book.
November 14, 2013
3.5 stars. A good read for both hockey fans, and for anyone who struggled with addiction, or known someone who has. I hope Chris and Jaime stay strong and sober! Good luck Knuckles!
September 14, 2014
Who doesn't like a good comeback story? Knuckles Nilan wrote his book like he played hockey.....all out and he pulled no punches. Thank you for sharing your story.
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