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Scribe: My Life in Sports
Ever since he joined the sports department of the Boston Globe in 1968, sports
enthusiasts have been blessed with the writing and reporting of Bob Ryan. Tony Kornheiser calls him the “quintessential American sportswriter.” For the past twenty-five years, he has also been a regular on various ESPN shows, especially The Sports Reporters , spreading his knowledge and enthusiasm for sports of all kinds.
Born in 1946 in Trenton, New Jersey, Ryan cut his teeth going with his father to the Polo Grounds and Connie Mack Stadium, and to college basketball games at the Palestra in Philadelphia when it was the epicenter of the college game. As a young man, he became sports editor of his high school paper-and at age twenty-three, a year into his Boston Globe experience, he was handed the Boston Celtics beat as the Bill Russell era ended and the Dave Cowens one began. His all-star career was launched. Ever since, his insight as a reporter and skills as a writer have been matched by an ability to connect with people-players, management, the reading public-probably because, at heart, he has always been as much a fan as a reporter. More than anything, Scribe reveals the people behind the stories, as only Bob Ryan can, from the NBA to eleven Olympics to his surprising favorite sport to cover-golf-and much more. It is sure to be one of the most talked about sports books of 2014, by one of the sports world's most admired journalists.
enthusiasts have been blessed with the writing and reporting of Bob Ryan. Tony Kornheiser calls him the “quintessential American sportswriter.” For the past twenty-five years, he has also been a regular on various ESPN shows, especially The Sports Reporters , spreading his knowledge and enthusiasm for sports of all kinds.
Born in 1946 in Trenton, New Jersey, Ryan cut his teeth going with his father to the Polo Grounds and Connie Mack Stadium, and to college basketball games at the Palestra in Philadelphia when it was the epicenter of the college game. As a young man, he became sports editor of his high school paper-and at age twenty-three, a year into his Boston Globe experience, he was handed the Boston Celtics beat as the Bill Russell era ended and the Dave Cowens one began. His all-star career was launched. Ever since, his insight as a reporter and skills as a writer have been matched by an ability to connect with people-players, management, the reading public-probably because, at heart, he has always been as much a fan as a reporter. More than anything, Scribe reveals the people behind the stories, as only Bob Ryan can, from the NBA to eleven Olympics to his surprising favorite sport to cover-golf-and much more. It is sure to be one of the most talked about sports books of 2014, by one of the sports world's most admired journalists.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
31 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 5, 2015
A more accurate title for this book would have been: Scribe My Life as a Boston Celtics Fanboy. The first 45 pages inform the reader on how Bob Ryan made it from his youth in Trenton, New Jersey to becoming a sportswriter at the Boston Globe at the age of 23. From there the book is focused on pandering to sports fans who adore the pro teams of Boston, mostly the Boston Celtics. According to Bob Ryan, John Havlicek was the greatest NBA player of his day (1962-1978). ( I am not kidding ). He also asserts that Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins was the greatest NHL player of all time. ( yes, he has heard of Wayne Gretzky ) A lot of space is devoted to other Boston favorites: Dave Cowens, Tom Heinsohn, and Doc Rivers.
Here is what he says about pro football: "If they stopped playing football in the next five minutes it wouldn't bother me at all."
The chapters are pieced together as if he grabbed some of his longer columns and just threw them together. There is overlap that he neglected to edit out. In chapter 7 he discusses the 1971-1972 Celtics and says of the Knicks: "the Celtics had no answer to Dave DeBuschere". In chapter 14 he goes over the 1971-1972 Celtic season again and says: "they had no answer for Dave DeBusschere". You get the idea. Maybe his editor should get some of the blame here.
Chapter 29 is titled - Can't Live Without Music. It has nothing at all to do with sports. Bob Ryan explains that he just wanted to show his readers that he is not solely interested in sports. Good for you Bob.
After forty-five years with the Globe covering sports I was hoping for something more from Bob Ryan.
There is really very little in the book that covers the last twenty years of his career. It is mostly the first twenty-five years starting in 1969. So, if you want to catch up on the Celtics of John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird you might be interested in Scribe. For anyone else, I would pass on this book.
Here is what he says about pro football: "If they stopped playing football in the next five minutes it wouldn't bother me at all."
The chapters are pieced together as if he grabbed some of his longer columns and just threw them together. There is overlap that he neglected to edit out. In chapter 7 he discusses the 1971-1972 Celtics and says of the Knicks: "the Celtics had no answer to Dave DeBuschere". In chapter 14 he goes over the 1971-1972 Celtic season again and says: "they had no answer for Dave DeBusschere". You get the idea. Maybe his editor should get some of the blame here.
Chapter 29 is titled - Can't Live Without Music. It has nothing at all to do with sports. Bob Ryan explains that he just wanted to show his readers that he is not solely interested in sports. Good for you Bob.
After forty-five years with the Globe covering sports I was hoping for something more from Bob Ryan.
There is really very little in the book that covers the last twenty years of his career. It is mostly the first twenty-five years starting in 1969. So, if you want to catch up on the Celtics of John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird you might be interested in Scribe. For anyone else, I would pass on this book.
April 8, 2018
I ended up borrowing this from a friend...I somehow failed to notice it when it came out. I really like Bob Ryan. He isn't completely and totally retired from the Globe, and I look forward to his columns which seem to come on most Sundays. He's really fun to read. And I tend to agree with him on almost everything, which is not the case with everyone (ahem...Dan Shaughnessey).
This has lots of great stuff on the 70s and 80s Celtics, which was Ryan's beat from the time he was a 22 year old intern until basically whenever he decided to step away. I didn't know very much about the 70s teams, so that was fun. And then he includes little chapters about his favorite moments as a sports writer, and I liked all of those - good stuff about many different Olympics, and golf tournaments, and college basketball. Stuff I don't know much about. I knew the Red Sox and Patriots stories (most of them), but they were still interesting.
This has lots of great stuff on the 70s and 80s Celtics, which was Ryan's beat from the time he was a 22 year old intern until basically whenever he decided to step away. I didn't know very much about the 70s teams, so that was fun. And then he includes little chapters about his favorite moments as a sports writer, and I liked all of those - good stuff about many different Olympics, and golf tournaments, and college basketball. Stuff I don't know much about. I knew the Red Sox and Patriots stories (most of them), but they were still interesting.
November 24, 2014
Just kinda disappointing given what a fan of Bob Ryan I am. He seemed to get bogged down too much in the minutia of the things rather than the larger aspects that gave the things value.
November 18, 2014
As a new transplant to Massachusetts, I'm familiar with the later stages of Bob Ryan's career, mostly focused on his work with ESPN. I never read his writing about the Red Sox or Celtics. I picked up this book to learn more, and in places I did learn more. The book was mostly small stories or chapters of opinions following some reflections on Ryan's early life. I think most authors are allowed to indulge their upbringing, but just like with his TV work, Ryan brings his usual hyperbole to even a little league game. I could hear him emphasizing words in his usual tone as he wrote about his youth, which was admittedly hard to read through. While there are some nice reflections on his time covering sports, many of the chapters didn't feel complete - more like a brief window into his experiences or thoughts, including some info on the sequence of events. I'm not sure if this context helped. Overall, I learned more about Ryan but didn't love the book.
September 25, 2017
This book shows how a reporter can get too close to the team he covers. He was friends with many of the Boston Celtics when he was covering them for the Boston Globe. Because of that, his opinions are pretty absurd. Examples: John Havlicek was a better all-around player than either Oscar Robertson or Jerry West. Really? Or Dave Cowens was the best center of his generation. Seriously? I'm surprised Bob Ryan had the beat for so long. Ryan helped write Cowens' retirement letter. Oh, he also helped Havlicek write his autobiography. He hung out with many of the Celtics. Where's the journalistic integrity? I thought the book would have better tales from the road but it was pretty routine.
January 1, 2015
Always introduced as "The Quintessential American Sportswriter" on the Tony Kornheiser radio show, Bob Ryan's memoir conveys his great love of sports and chronicles his nearly 50 years covering the Boston and National sport scenes.
November 2, 2014
A few interesting stories of people the author knew. But there wasn't enough in the author's personal background to sustain a book.
April 11, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “HIS PEN WAS MIGHTIER THAN HIS BAT… AND HIS JUMP SHOT!”
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Longtime sportswriter… author… and television commentator… Bob Ryan spins a memoir that at most times… is interesting and fast moving… but at periodic junctures becomes a little… bombastically self-serving… when he vehemently states who he thinks is the greatest of all-time in different sports… different… time periods… and… surprise… surprise… almost always is a Boston player.
Putting aside that one “hitch” in his swing… (Hitch in his pen?)… this is mostly an enjoyable ride for any seasoned sports fan. Along with paying homage to many of the sports world’s greats… (a few outside Boston)… he also shows reverence to many writers who preceded him… and wrote concurrently with him. From his longtime friend Peter Gammons… to his idolization of the great John Updike… and includes Updike’s penchant for post card communications. The author as a child loved sports… and he loved writing… and he found out early… that he was way better in one… than the other.
There are chapters that revolve around everyone from Dave Cowens to Ted Williams to Red Auerbach to Larry Bird to “The Dream Team” to Jordan versus LeBron… and even to the “Curse of the Babe” (see closing note). My favorite chapters were the one on Dave Cowens… which really highlights and reactivates the thought process… as to what a unique individual Cowens was… off the court… as well as on. It was really refreshing to be reminded of his character as well as his athletic abilities. Another great chapter was the in depth look at Chuck Daly.
Putting aside the author’s intermittent self-righteous “all-time” proclamations… there is one quote he makes in his chapter comparing Michael Jordan and LeBron James’ career arcs… that is absolutely spot-on… and couldn’t be summarized any better: “Michael had to learn to share; LeBron had to learn to stop sharing so much.” To me… one of the most endearing parts of the book’s “personality”… is that Ryan… unabashedly throughout… makes it clear that he is a one-hundred-percent-complete-sports-fan… as well as a sportswriter/commentator… and that is perhaps the underlying good-time feel… that permeates throughout the entire book… regardless of the subject or the sport.
Note: I have a question for either the author or another reader. I may wind up being embarrassed because the answer might be obvious… but it’s killing me that I can’t figure the following out. (Unless it’s one of the largest most embarrassing double typo-mistakes I’ve ever come across) At the end of the very short chapter entitled “Ending the Curse” (regarding the curse of Babe Ruth and the Red Sox) on page 244… the author writes:
“No other game routinely allows you to connect a player born in 1995 with a player who died in 1908, and have the comparison make any kind of sense at all.”
Babe Ruth was born in 1895 and died in 1948. If that isn’t what the author is referring to… I would like to know what it is?? Because I just re-read the chapter and see no hint of who he’s referring to. If the answer is so embarrassing to me and I should have easily known I’ll delete the ending of this review.
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Longtime sportswriter… author… and television commentator… Bob Ryan spins a memoir that at most times… is interesting and fast moving… but at periodic junctures becomes a little… bombastically self-serving… when he vehemently states who he thinks is the greatest of all-time in different sports… different… time periods… and… surprise… surprise… almost always is a Boston player.
Putting aside that one “hitch” in his swing… (Hitch in his pen?)… this is mostly an enjoyable ride for any seasoned sports fan. Along with paying homage to many of the sports world’s greats… (a few outside Boston)… he also shows reverence to many writers who preceded him… and wrote concurrently with him. From his longtime friend Peter Gammons… to his idolization of the great John Updike… and includes Updike’s penchant for post card communications. The author as a child loved sports… and he loved writing… and he found out early… that he was way better in one… than the other.
There are chapters that revolve around everyone from Dave Cowens to Ted Williams to Red Auerbach to Larry Bird to “The Dream Team” to Jordan versus LeBron… and even to the “Curse of the Babe” (see closing note). My favorite chapters were the one on Dave Cowens… which really highlights and reactivates the thought process… as to what a unique individual Cowens was… off the court… as well as on. It was really refreshing to be reminded of his character as well as his athletic abilities. Another great chapter was the in depth look at Chuck Daly.
Putting aside the author’s intermittent self-righteous “all-time” proclamations… there is one quote he makes in his chapter comparing Michael Jordan and LeBron James’ career arcs… that is absolutely spot-on… and couldn’t be summarized any better: “Michael had to learn to share; LeBron had to learn to stop sharing so much.” To me… one of the most endearing parts of the book’s “personality”… is that Ryan… unabashedly throughout… makes it clear that he is a one-hundred-percent-complete-sports-fan… as well as a sportswriter/commentator… and that is perhaps the underlying good-time feel… that permeates throughout the entire book… regardless of the subject or the sport.
Note: I have a question for either the author or another reader. I may wind up being embarrassed because the answer might be obvious… but it’s killing me that I can’t figure the following out. (Unless it’s one of the largest most embarrassing double typo-mistakes I’ve ever come across) At the end of the very short chapter entitled “Ending the Curse” (regarding the curse of Babe Ruth and the Red Sox) on page 244… the author writes:
“No other game routinely allows you to connect a player born in 1995 with a player who died in 1908, and have the comparison make any kind of sense at all.”
Babe Ruth was born in 1895 and died in 1948. If that isn’t what the author is referring to… I would like to know what it is?? Because I just re-read the chapter and see no hint of who he’s referring to. If the answer is so embarrassing to me and I should have easily known I’ll delete the ending of this review.
August 9, 2021
Fantastic! Bob is a living legend. I wish I could have an old-fashioned sleep-over with him, just the 2 of us, pullin’ an all-nighter, drinking Pepsi’s and pretending it was keeping us up, giggling as we try not to wake my parents…..all the while listening to story after story after story about all my heroes, the guys I’m too young to have seen, and all the madness in between. Classic Boston fan at heart too. Our kind are slowly dying off with every handshake at center ice, hug on the opposing sidelines postgame, and jersey-swap after the game. Ugh. It was all so much more fun when it felt like it meant everything! But like everything, time-money-and old age I guess takes away the magic. I’m sounding like my Grandfather now I know. Or maybe cause I just read Bob! Lol. Great read folks. If your a sports fan you’ll love each page as they turn. Thanks Bob. Now write another one!!!!!
May 21, 2019
Really enjoyed this book--all the Boston sports and athletes I grew up watching and admiring. The Larry Bird chapter is excellent. So many details from the sports world that I had forgotten about were brought back in an admirable way. Years ago, the Bruins played a game in which there were no penalties. For the life of me I couldn't remember what game that was, and Google didn't help. But there it was on page 253--Bruins versus Tampa Bay. One of the best games I've ever witnessed. Thanks, Bob!
I debated whether to give this the five stars it should have had, but typos and grammatical errors bumped my decision down to four. It didn't take away from the overall smoothness of the read, but there was one recurring grammatical faux pas that got on my nerves. Otherwise, well done, Bob Ryan.
I debated whether to give this the five stars it should have had, but typos and grammatical errors bumped my decision down to four. It didn't take away from the overall smoothness of the read, but there was one recurring grammatical faux pas that got on my nerves. Otherwise, well done, Bob Ryan.
June 16, 2020
Good book about Bob Ryan's days covering the old Celtics teams as well as a few Red Sox teams. I was surprised to know that he also covered some Olympic games, so those were interesting chapters to read as well. I will say that, after the Celtics, Sox and Olympics, the book slows down a bit as Ryan talks about all sorts of sports that he either briefly covered or didn't cover at all. Ryan also has a penchant to mention every person that had been involved in his early and working life, which might feel like he's name dropping except one doesn't know who the people are/were. Still, a very enjoyable read about someone who has had a very impressive and extensive career.
March 24, 2020
I’m mostly familiar with Bob Ryan from listening to him on the Sports Reporters podcast. When I saw that he published Scribe within the last few years, I was interested in reading this autobiography.
Even though I’m a little younger than Bob, and even though I’m from NYC, not Boston, I still really enjoyed this book. His stories of the NBA, MLB, Olympics, etc, all make for an interesting read and bring back memories. As someone who loves sports and lives somewhat vicariously through sportswriters, I thought it was great!
Even though I’m a little younger than Bob, and even though I’m from NYC, not Boston, I still really enjoyed this book. His stories of the NBA, MLB, Olympics, etc, all make for an interesting read and bring back memories. As someone who loves sports and lives somewhat vicariously through sportswriters, I thought it was great!
April 11, 2018
Oh boy, is he a talker, but an interesting talker, and one gifted with an impressive power to recall the details of games and events covering his 50 years in sports. And yes he can write, too. My favorite parts of the book involve the 1969-1979 Celtics. They won two championships during that interregnum between the retirement of Bill Russell and the drafting of Larry Bird, yet it’s become a bit of a forgotten era in some ways.
March 27, 2023
As a fan of Bob Ryan on Sports Reporters, Around the Horn and, occasionally, PTI, I anticipated a great read. Unfortunately, I would rank this as a good read, not great.
I felt that in too many instances, Mr. Ryan got bogged down in the minutia.
I enjoyed reading so many names from the past, but my expectations would have been met by longer versions of the "Short Takes".
Please don't get me wrong. This was an enjoyable read.
I felt that in too many instances, Mr. Ryan got bogged down in the minutia.
I enjoyed reading so many names from the past, but my expectations would have been met by longer versions of the "Short Takes".
Please don't get me wrong. This was an enjoyable read.
December 8, 2021
Pre Internet and IPad the newspaper and magazine were the go to sources for sports information. Bob Ryan may very well be the full Mt. Rushmore of sports writing by virtue of quality and longevity. Nice read, enjoyed the Celtic / 76er’s stories. GCL Book Sale
May 25, 2022
I've been reading Bob Ryan's sports writing since I was 18 years old, and it was a pleasure to read this (long) reminiscence of his life and career. He shines in the moments he writes about the Celtics in particular. Fun times, if you're a partisan of New England athletics.
Read
October 11, 2023Bought this one ages ago but just got around to it. A series of vignettes by legendary Boston sportswriter Bob Ryan. Took a little while for me to get into this, but once I acclimated I found it very cute. Like having your grandfather tell you meandering stories from his time growing up :)
April 19, 2019
Ryan's writing lends itself better to a column than an autobiography. Hard core Boston sports fans will find some entertaining insight into Cowens and Orr but little else to recommend reading this.
April 3, 2020
You would like this book if you like Bob Ryan AND you like Boston sports over the last 40 or so years.
July 11, 2023
Not that different than any book of sportswriter memories, but my anti-Boston bias further undermined my enjoyment.
May 15, 2024
Autobiography of the local institution Bob Ryan. Enjoyed this.
June 17, 2015
http://www.themaineedge.com/sports/th...
As a sports fan growing up in New England, there are a few voices that have been familiar to me ever since I started venturing beyond the pages of my hometown newspaper to learn more about the teams that mattered most to me.
The sportswriters at the Boston Globe played a particularly vital part in the expansion of my fandom. From the early days of seeking out the papers in the public library to later years actually shelling out my own hard-earned at the newsstand to the internet searches of the 21st century, I have been seeking out those voices for more than 25 years.
Bob Ryan was there for me right from my beginnings.
In his new autobiography “Scribe: My Life in Sports”, Ryan shares the story of his decades-long career. Whether discussing his time working at the Globe or his nearly three decades as a well-known ESPN personality, the one thing that always shines through is this:
Bob Ryan is doing what he has always wanted to do.
From his youth in Trenton, New Jersey, Bob Ryan always loved sports. And even in those formative years, he knew that he wanted to write about them. Starting with his time at Boston College – where he was fortunate enough to overlap with new coach (and Boston Celtics legend) Bob Cousy – Ryan gradually became a Beantown mainstay, part of the sporting fabric of the city of Boston for well over four decades.
“Scribe” takes the reader along as Ryan discusses his stretch on the Celtics beat – starting in the 1970s, he was privileged to cover a number of Celtics championships, as well as become close with some of the greatest players ever to wear the uniform. When it comes to individual players, Ryan spends most of his time on two – Dave Cowens and Larry Bird – and shares a remarkable degree of insight regarding their play. Of course, plenty of other Celtic legends get their time in the sun; Tommy Heinsohn, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, KC Jones … the list goes on and on. Ryan’s first love has always been basketball – a love that is reflected throughout the pages of “Scribe.”
But it wasn’t just the NBA that brought out the best in Ryan. The book also explores the vast amount of time he spent writing about the Olympics – he covered the Games 11 times. While the majority of ink is spilled on behalf of the legendary 1992 USA basketball squad – the Dream Team – Ryan also shares his deep and abiding affection for the Olympics in general. It’s in these moments that his status as a fan of pure sport shines the brightest, though he is also unafraid to denigrate the more politicized and corrupt aspects of the bureaucratic side of the Games.
Ryan also shares a bit about his time spent on the air, particularly his work on ESPN as part of “The Sports Reporters” and as a major player on “Around the Horn.”
“Scribe: My Life in Sports” would be a compelling read regardless, but the fact that Ryan’s passionately literate voice can be heard throughout elevates it to a different level altogether. Anyone who has ever been captivated by a Boston team or been captured by one of Ryan’s columns owes it to themselves to read this book. Coming as it does from the quintessential American sportswriter, it’s no surprise that “Scribe” is an articulate, engaging and utterly fascinating read.
As a sports fan growing up in New England, there are a few voices that have been familiar to me ever since I started venturing beyond the pages of my hometown newspaper to learn more about the teams that mattered most to me.
The sportswriters at the Boston Globe played a particularly vital part in the expansion of my fandom. From the early days of seeking out the papers in the public library to later years actually shelling out my own hard-earned at the newsstand to the internet searches of the 21st century, I have been seeking out those voices for more than 25 years.
Bob Ryan was there for me right from my beginnings.
In his new autobiography “Scribe: My Life in Sports”, Ryan shares the story of his decades-long career. Whether discussing his time working at the Globe or his nearly three decades as a well-known ESPN personality, the one thing that always shines through is this:
Bob Ryan is doing what he has always wanted to do.
From his youth in Trenton, New Jersey, Bob Ryan always loved sports. And even in those formative years, he knew that he wanted to write about them. Starting with his time at Boston College – where he was fortunate enough to overlap with new coach (and Boston Celtics legend) Bob Cousy – Ryan gradually became a Beantown mainstay, part of the sporting fabric of the city of Boston for well over four decades.
“Scribe” takes the reader along as Ryan discusses his stretch on the Celtics beat – starting in the 1970s, he was privileged to cover a number of Celtics championships, as well as become close with some of the greatest players ever to wear the uniform. When it comes to individual players, Ryan spends most of his time on two – Dave Cowens and Larry Bird – and shares a remarkable degree of insight regarding their play. Of course, plenty of other Celtic legends get their time in the sun; Tommy Heinsohn, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, KC Jones … the list goes on and on. Ryan’s first love has always been basketball – a love that is reflected throughout the pages of “Scribe.”
But it wasn’t just the NBA that brought out the best in Ryan. The book also explores the vast amount of time he spent writing about the Olympics – he covered the Games 11 times. While the majority of ink is spilled on behalf of the legendary 1992 USA basketball squad – the Dream Team – Ryan also shares his deep and abiding affection for the Olympics in general. It’s in these moments that his status as a fan of pure sport shines the brightest, though he is also unafraid to denigrate the more politicized and corrupt aspects of the bureaucratic side of the Games.
Ryan also shares a bit about his time spent on the air, particularly his work on ESPN as part of “The Sports Reporters” and as a major player on “Around the Horn.”
“Scribe: My Life in Sports” would be a compelling read regardless, but the fact that Ryan’s passionately literate voice can be heard throughout elevates it to a different level altogether. Anyone who has ever been captivated by a Boston team or been captured by one of Ryan’s columns owes it to themselves to read this book. Coming as it does from the quintessential American sportswriter, it’s no surprise that “Scribe” is an articulate, engaging and utterly fascinating read.
August 26, 2015
Bob Ryan has written his life's story in a way that made me forget one man was talking about his own life. From his childhood in Trenton NJ through college and his career at the Boston Globe, Ryan's life has revolved around sports. Though he justifiably prides himself on his knowledge of basketball he has an extensive career as a baseball, football, and golf writer. In addition, he has travelled to the Olympics and covered international basketball. The latter experience widened his view of sports around the world. No doubt he opened the eyes of his readers when he realized that playing for one's homeland in an international event is much more serious than playing for a trophy in front of the hometown crowd in America. He has witnessed so many major moments in the history of sports that he made me forget that he was present at all of those events. The book reads like an overview of the high points of most of the major sports in America. He is also keenly aware of the foundations and fundamentals of the games he writes about. Above all else though he is more than content to consider himself a fan and his love of sports shines in this memoir.
Even readers who only have a passing interest in sports will find something to like in the pages of this book. For the avid-even rabid-fan the author has many opinionated views and he is able to defend them with vigor.
Even readers who only have a passing interest in sports will find something to like in the pages of this book. For the avid-even rabid-fan the author has many opinionated views and he is able to defend them with vigor.
February 20, 2015
The book the Scribe is about the life of sports writer Bob Ryan, and how he got into becoming a sports writer and the people and athletes he met along the way. He talks about his time covering the Celtics, the Red Sox, the Olympics, and the good and the not so good. He is I must say a true Boston person because he thinks that certain Celtic teams are the greatest ever in the history of the NBA and though I may disagree that does not take away from this book. I liked the part about hockey and the short section on Bobby Orr, and I do agree with his take on college hockey back in that area is probably the best for games in a small to see so many games, plus you have the frozen four. His take on baseball was nice and how he enjoyed traveling to the games with his wife was a nice change of pace and that they bought tickets for the last three games at old Tiger Stadium to see the games together gave the book a nice personal touch. There are some other stories like that as well. He also goes into how he got into working at ESPN and how that changed his life as far as being recognized. Overall I thought this to be a good book. I got this book from net galley.
September 12, 2014
I won this book via a Goodreads giveaway. I am a baseball fan and this book focuses, in large part, on basketball, but it was still enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the part about the Olympics he covered.
Bob Ryan is a good writer and I felt he cared a lot about how the game was played as well as the players. That shines through in his writing. I think the word I'm looking for is integrity. He writes about people that played the game the right way rather than using underhanded tricks as some will always try to do.
The only quibble I had with this book is the layout of the chapters. I felt they could have been arranged in a more cohesive fashion as I felt the stories jumped around a lot. Maybe that's just me though.
I always wish these rating systems allowed for a partial star because I would have given this book around 4.5 or 4.6 rather than 5, but I felt 5 stars was more fair than 4.
Bob Ryan is a good writer and I felt he cared a lot about how the game was played as well as the players. That shines through in his writing. I think the word I'm looking for is integrity. He writes about people that played the game the right way rather than using underhanded tricks as some will always try to do.
The only quibble I had with this book is the layout of the chapters. I felt they could have been arranged in a more cohesive fashion as I felt the stories jumped around a lot. Maybe that's just me though.
I always wish these rating systems allowed for a partial star because I would have given this book around 4.5 or 4.6 rather than 5, but I felt 5 stars was more fair than 4.
January 19, 2015
The most vivid and colorful voice on Around the Horn has many excellent stories in here, especially if you are an NBA fan. There is an element of provincialism with Trenton and Boston, but the benefit is that means great Celtics stores. When a career spans fifty years in sports, there are bound to be some awesome stories. My favorite is Ryan making a substitution in an NBA game. He is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world about the NBA.
That does not negate the fact that he is a troglodyte with his hands over his ears when it comes to sabermetrics. He made the transition to liking soccer and the World Cup after his scorching of the tournament in 1994. That was not covered in the book. Neither is his current distaste for stats people. It is aggravating, but he exists for me to cover basketball and that is what I got.
That does not negate the fact that he is a troglodyte with his hands over his ears when it comes to sabermetrics. He made the transition to liking soccer and the World Cup after his scorching of the tournament in 1994. That was not covered in the book. Neither is his current distaste for stats people. It is aggravating, but he exists for me to cover basketball and that is what I got.
January 13, 2015
It is too bad that Mr. Ryan wants to just rehash Celtic and Bruin seasons with mere statements of scores, assists and other statistics without much insight. It might be better to hear about his life, his techniques, his meetings with remarkable people. His chapters on Red Auerbach and the Olympics were the best, but a memoir of his era of the Red Sox without a single mention of Roger Clemens or his impact on the City of Boston is curious. Mr. Ryan reads very well, but one just wishes he had more to say. Enthusiasm, his self proclaimed greatest virtue, is not enough. His acknowledgments alone take up about 10 minutes of the audible version and mean nothing. One likes the guy, but his memoir is a disappointment.
July 6, 2015
This is a book for sports fans in general, NBA fans more particularly, and Boston Celtic fans specifically. Mr.Ryan covered area sports for 40+ years for the Boston Globe as a reporter and columnist. His knowledge of the teams and the personalities involved makes for interesting reading. He covered the Red Sox Impossible Dream years, the Celtics juggernaut of the 1980's as well as Olympics, Ryder Cup competitions and TV sports as well. Not being an NBA fan myself, the book dragged in those chapters. He made up for it though with fascinating portraits on Red Auerbach, Havelcheck, Bird and Cousy. Look for good stuff too on the early days of the Patriots and his challenging POV on the NFL. A classy man who continues to write class material.
September 24, 2014
(PREVIEW COPY: THANKS TO GOODREADS NON-FICTION/SPORTS DRAWING CONTEST)
The active experience a book provides your mind and spirit is sublime.
This was a truly enjoyable read. Mr. Ryan is one of the most famous sport reporters in the business for
a very good reason, he is an engaging, intelligent writer. His most notable contribution to the sports
world is his long and distinguished reporting on the Boston Celtics. You need not be a Celtics fan
to appreciate his hard work, verbal skill, and passion for the game. This is a must read for any passionate
sports fan in an era when the newspaper sports reporter legends appear to be fading over the horizon.
The active experience a book provides your mind and spirit is sublime.
This was a truly enjoyable read. Mr. Ryan is one of the most famous sport reporters in the business for
a very good reason, he is an engaging, intelligent writer. His most notable contribution to the sports
world is his long and distinguished reporting on the Boston Celtics. You need not be a Celtics fan
to appreciate his hard work, verbal skill, and passion for the game. This is a must read for any passionate
sports fan in an era when the newspaper sports reporter legends appear to be fading over the horizon.
April 11, 2016
Growing up in Massachusetts in the late 60's and 70's, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Boston Globe sports section, especially Bob Ryan and his coverage of the Boston Celtics, my all-time favorite team. The Globe Sportswriters were the best and Bob led the team.
Having lived in California for over 30 years, it was refreshing to relive some of those great Celtic memories (along with Red Sox, Patriots, etc.) of that era with one of the great sports storytellers. Lots of memorable stories, including Ryan's early years in New Jersey and his love and coverage of others sports including the Olympics and golf. A must read for Boston--and all-- sports fans.
Having lived in California for over 30 years, it was refreshing to relive some of those great Celtic memories (along with Red Sox, Patriots, etc.) of that era with one of the great sports storytellers. Lots of memorable stories, including Ryan's early years in New Jersey and his love and coverage of others sports including the Olympics and golf. A must read for Boston--and all-- sports fans.
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