If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Red Wings: Stories from the Detroit Red Wings Ice, Locker Room, and Press Box

by Bob Duff, Bob Duff, Mickey Redmond (Foreword)

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most successful and unparalleled teams in the NHL, with 11 Stanley Cup victories and a perpetual playoff presence. Author Ken Daniels, as the longtime play-by-play voice for the Wings, has gotten to witness more than his fair share of that action up close and personal. Through singular anecdotes only Daniels can tell as well as conversations with current and past players, this book provides fans with a one-of-a-kind, insider's look into the great moments, the lowlights, and everything in between. Citizens of Hockeytown will not want to be without this book.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2017

About the author

Currently the sports columnist for the Windsor Star, Bob Duff has covered the NHL since 1988 and is a contributor to The Hockey News and MSNBC.com. Duff's book credits include: The China Wall: The Timeless Legend of Johnny Bower, Hockey Dynasties, Without Fear, Nine: Salute to Mr. Hockey, On the Wing: A History of the Windsor Spitfires, and The Hockey Hall of Fame MVP Trophies and Winners. Duff lives in LaSalle, Ontario, with his wife Shira and daughter Cecilia. (Courtesy of Biblioasis)

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this being a lifelong Red Wings fan. From the title I was expecting quite a bit of inside information on the club. The first part of the book detailing announcer Ken Daniels rise was good. After that though you are left wanting. Stories seem to jump around all over the place and always leave you wanting more but not in a good way. A biography of Ken Daniels is a more accurate title.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book title is a bit of a misnomer. This is more an autobiography of Ken Daniels than it is a book about the Red Wings. Ken is a great announcer, but I felt his writing style left a little something to be desired. There were some good snippets in this book that I found interesting as a Wings fan though.

[Mathieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ken Daniels is a name known all throughout the state of Michigan. He is known for his brilliant commentating and entertaining voice. Ken Daniels is the commentator for the Detroit Red Wings. So you would not expect him to write a book, and if so a good one. However, he has presented his skills in writing in the book If These Walls Could Talk.
In this book he talks about his adventures as a sports commentator and his experiences as a kid growing up in Toronto, Canada. He also tells about experiences meeting other famous commentators both from his youth and the present.
This book is more for the people who know about or are experienced in the sport of hockey. Otherwise you may not understand a lot of things he refers to. If you are one of the people however, this book could be one of your favorites. You are able to make so many connections to him. Also if you know who Ken Daniels is, it will be pretty cool to see how he grew up. This is why I rated this book what I did.

[Dominique King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and quick read by Red Wings' play-by-play TV guy. Fun stories about his time with the Wings since the late 90s, and stories about his career that also pre-dates his time with the the Wings with, among other things, the CBC and Hockey Night in Canada.
A nice thing to enjoy reading during what appears to be one of my longest hockey-watching droughts ever :(
Daniels has a lot of insights and anecdotes about many of the names I grew up seeing...and hearing stories about, too.
Sounds like he really enjoys the game, the job and those he works with, like Mickey Redmond!
Fun to see it all from Daniels' insider's view.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the title for this book is misleading. He spent the first quarter of the book talking about his early career with the maple leafs. Once he actually got into the Red Wings portion of the book it was very enjoyable. Lots of great short stories about Red Wings players and coaches and staff. Plus it had a lot of insight about what it is like to be a broadcaster.

Ken has done some amazing work for the Jamie Daniels foundation and is a great broadcaster and storyteller. Really glad he was able to write this book. Please consider supporting his charity for substance use disorder.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather simple book about Ken Daniels life and broadcasting career. His efforts are focused on his time as Red Wings play-by-play announcer from 1998-2017. He chronicles his interactions with famed Wing coaches Scotty Bowman and Mike Babcock. Memories of Joe Louis Arena and the three Stanley Cups he was around for. A nice book and a quick read with plenty of photos. If you're a Red Wings fan you'll enjoy it.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I went into this book with the wrong idea. I assumed this was going to be a book about the Red Wings and anecdotes from Daniels from behind the scenes. What this book should actually be called is “The Career and Personal Thoughts of Ken Daniels (with occasional anecdotes about the Red Wings).” I like Daniels as a play-by-play announcer, but this book comes off very self-centered and less about the team and the players.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ken Daniels. The Red Wings. A no-brainer.

This is a collection of short vignettes that tell the story of Ken Daniels’ life in broadcasting. It drags a bit in places, but overall a must read for hockey fans, particularly Leafs and Red Wings fans. Lots of good memories.

[Kyle Youngblood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected but it was still an enjoyable read with insight on Red Wings teams and Ken Daniels' life

[Dave B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this book would be more about the Redwings but it’s pretty much an autobiography of Ken Daniels, the Wings play by play announcer.

[Gunnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ken Daniels is the voice of my childhood. This book puts a fantastic story behind that voice. A must read for any die hard Red Wings fan such as myself.

[Matt Jex · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want a bunch of anecdotes without an overall plot, this is the book for you