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Finished Business: My Fifty Years of Headlines, Heroes, and Heartaches
Ray Didinger opens his lively memoir Finished Business with the Philadelphia Eagles’ upset win in Super Bowl LII. When the Eagles finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Didinger does his best to straddle the emotions of a working reporter and a long-suffering Philly fan. His ability to do that is why he has built up such a loyal following. Didinger began following the Eagles as a kid, hanging out in his grandfather’s bar in Southwest Philadelphia. He spent his summers at the team's training camp in Hershey. It was there he met his idol, flanker Tommy McDonald. He would later write a play, Tommy and Me, about their friendship and his efforts to see McDonald enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Didinger has been covering the Eagles as a newspaper columnist or TV analyst since 1970. Over the years, he wrote sports for the Philadelphia Bulletin and the Philadelphia Daily News . He later produced Emmy Award–winning documentaries for NFL Films before transitioning to sports talk radio and TV analysis. In five decades, across multiple media platforms, he has interviewed everyone from Hank Aaron, Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Julius Erving, Jack Nicklaus, to Mike Schmidt, as well as writing film scripts for Hollywood stars such as Bruce Willis and Alec Baldwin. He went to the White House with the U.S. Olympic team and even explored the bizarre world of professional wrestling. His stories, told in his familiar, breezy style, capture his enthusiasm for sports and his affection for the fans who still mourn the pennant that eluded the Phillies in 1964. Didinger has become synonymous with Philadelphia sports, and his memoir is as passionate as an autumn Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
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Published May 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 31, 2021
If you are a Philly sports fan, out just a fan of the history of sports in general this is a must read book. Ray Didinger is probably the most respected analyst in the Philly area. His passion for sports has served him from being a huge fan growing up to a 50 year career covering everything from the Eagles, to boxing, to Professional Wrestling. The stories he tells are poignant, and many are uniquely Philly. The cast of characters is vast and diverse. Those book truly was a joy to read!
June 16, 2021
Ray is an outstanding writer and reading he memories of Philadelphia sports over the past 5 decades was a pleasure.
July 6, 2021
This book is for the Philly sports fan. I'm a Philly sports fan. So I liked it.
Didinger's writing is (journalistically) well-crafted (that is: it's not poetry, but who came to this book looking for poetry?) and his personal experiences/honesty/insights are worthy.
There's always an intellectual shame when you admit you like sports, reduced as they often are to frat-boy machismo; but this book helps people see why they matter, especially to the Philly fan, for whom so much of their energy and passion aligns with their teams not for some superficial thing, but because Philly fandom is correlated to city pride and, therefore, personal worth. For better or worse, this is what it is to root for Philly teams and Didinger, a lifer, articulates it.
Didinger's writing is (journalistically) well-crafted (that is: it's not poetry, but who came to this book looking for poetry?) and his personal experiences/honesty/insights are worthy.
There's always an intellectual shame when you admit you like sports, reduced as they often are to frat-boy machismo; but this book helps people see why they matter, especially to the Philly fan, for whom so much of their energy and passion aligns with their teams not for some superficial thing, but because Philly fandom is correlated to city pride and, therefore, personal worth. For better or worse, this is what it is to root for Philly teams and Didinger, a lifer, articulates it.
November 19, 2022
Ray Didinger took me down Memory Lane in this heartfelt memoir of his life in sports. The book begins at Super Bowl LII but the story begins in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a small town in south-central PA nestled between the Commonwealth’s capital, Harrisburg, and my home town of Palmyra. Hershey is just a stone’s throw from Palmyra, and was the site of training camp for the Philadelphia Eagles. Parenthetically, rare is the book about the early years of the Baltimore Colts that doesn’t fondly mention Hershey; the Colts and Eagles annually played an exhibition game at Hershey Stadium in those years, a high school stadium that sat about twenty thousand fans. One of my first jobs as a teenager was at the Hershey Rose Gardens which overlooked the Stadium. One could observe the Eagles practices from the Gardens.
It was in Hershey that Didinger met his favorite player, Tommy McDonald, an outstanding flanker for the Eagles. For seven years, Didinger would be McDonald’s shadow, his “Little Brother” during two weeks of training camp. That chapter ends when Didinger enters Temple University, but reprises later.
The focus of FINISHED BUSINESS are the four major sports teams in Philadelphia: the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers. As one who lived amongst Philadelphia fans, (but was never one myself), whether in Palmyra, West Chester, Pottstown, or Womelsdorf, many were the memories stirred by Didinger. When the Eagles won their first Super Bowl championship, my first act was to call my ninth grade English teacher who was as devoted an Eagles fan as I was a Colts, and later Ravens, fan. Much of the Eagles material dealt with the various owners who rarely contributed anything positive to the Birds’ fortunes.
My favorite memory of the Sixers came in 1978 when, after my Washington (formerly Baltimore) Bullets, knocked the Sixers out of the playoffs, the play-by-play announcer for the Bullets, Frank Herzog, exclaimed loudly,
AND NOW, PHILADELPHIA, THE SIXERS OWE YOU TWO.
Didinger calls Bobby Clarke of the Flyers one of the greatest hockey players in history. Looking back fifty years, I would grudgingly have to agree. He did some amazing things on the ice. His ability to win face offs often made the difference between a win and a loss, particularly when he deftly drew the puck to Bill Barber for a quick shot, often a goal. In those years Jean Ratelle of the New York Rangers was my favorite player. The Rangers, with Marv Albert broadcasting, were victimized time and again by the Broad Street Bullies.
Last, but not least, the Phillies. While living in Pottstown, about an hour’s train ride west of Philly, I lived two buildings away from the local fire house. The fire company was named Phillies. When Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series, the horns and sirens from the fire house broke the normally quiet atmosphere of Chestnut Street. Three years later, my shouts of joy penetrated the “muted silence” of Phillies fans as my Orioles won the 1983 Series in five games.
Didinger tells about his work with NFL FILMS in which he produced many outstanding specials, writing scripts for Hollywood luminaries. How sad that this was after the era when “The Voice of God,” John Facenda was the voice of NFL FILMS. There was never one greater.
Didinger not only wrote newspaper columns and scripts, but also a play: TOMMY AND ME, about his relationship with Tommy McDonald. Indeed, Didinger was instrumental in McDonald’s belated induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
While one does not need to be a Philadelphia sports fan or a resident of Philadelphia to enjoy this book, the latter helps as Didinger often refers to communities and neighborhoods, the knowledge of which would enhance the pleasure in the reading.
Five stars slightly waning
It was in Hershey that Didinger met his favorite player, Tommy McDonald, an outstanding flanker for the Eagles. For seven years, Didinger would be McDonald’s shadow, his “Little Brother” during two weeks of training camp. That chapter ends when Didinger enters Temple University, but reprises later.
The focus of FINISHED BUSINESS are the four major sports teams in Philadelphia: the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers. As one who lived amongst Philadelphia fans, (but was never one myself), whether in Palmyra, West Chester, Pottstown, or Womelsdorf, many were the memories stirred by Didinger. When the Eagles won their first Super Bowl championship, my first act was to call my ninth grade English teacher who was as devoted an Eagles fan as I was a Colts, and later Ravens, fan. Much of the Eagles material dealt with the various owners who rarely contributed anything positive to the Birds’ fortunes.
My favorite memory of the Sixers came in 1978 when, after my Washington (formerly Baltimore) Bullets, knocked the Sixers out of the playoffs, the play-by-play announcer for the Bullets, Frank Herzog, exclaimed loudly,
AND NOW, PHILADELPHIA, THE SIXERS OWE YOU TWO.
Didinger calls Bobby Clarke of the Flyers one of the greatest hockey players in history. Looking back fifty years, I would grudgingly have to agree. He did some amazing things on the ice. His ability to win face offs often made the difference between a win and a loss, particularly when he deftly drew the puck to Bill Barber for a quick shot, often a goal. In those years Jean Ratelle of the New York Rangers was my favorite player. The Rangers, with Marv Albert broadcasting, were victimized time and again by the Broad Street Bullies.
Last, but not least, the Phillies. While living in Pottstown, about an hour’s train ride west of Philly, I lived two buildings away from the local fire house. The fire company was named Phillies. When Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the 1980 World Series, the horns and sirens from the fire house broke the normally quiet atmosphere of Chestnut Street. Three years later, my shouts of joy penetrated the “muted silence” of Phillies fans as my Orioles won the 1983 Series in five games.
Didinger tells about his work with NFL FILMS in which he produced many outstanding specials, writing scripts for Hollywood luminaries. How sad that this was after the era when “The Voice of God,” John Facenda was the voice of NFL FILMS. There was never one greater.
Didinger not only wrote newspaper columns and scripts, but also a play: TOMMY AND ME, about his relationship with Tommy McDonald. Indeed, Didinger was instrumental in McDonald’s belated induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
While one does not need to be a Philadelphia sports fan or a resident of Philadelphia to enjoy this book, the latter helps as Didinger often refers to communities and neighborhoods, the knowledge of which would enhance the pleasure in the reading.
Five stars slightly waning
September 20, 2021
Didinger devotes his short concluding chapter to being inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a writer, and in it he shares a congratulatory letter from the editor who gave him his first job as a real sportswriter. In the letter, Didinger's long-ago boss says that even if Didinger was the meanest guy around, he would have hired him because of all his talent, and even if he had no talent, he would have hired him because he was the nicest guy around. (We should all have such bosses.) And that's a good way to think about Didinger; he's got a knack for storytelling, he works hard at his craft, he has an unbelievable memory, and he's got this incredibly useful moral grid swaying mostly invisibly behind all the sports stories, keeping things in perspective.
His 'little brother' story with Tommy MacDonald, which he made into a play we should probably all see, is really remarkable. And the other chapters (pro wrestling! greatest Philly player in any sport! Jeffrey Lurie! Foreman and Ali! etc!) are worth a read as well, whether you're into Philly, or sports in general, or the history of journalism, or any mix of the three.
Here's my Didinger story, which will be unintelligible unless you're familiar with the breed of crazy people who call in to sports radio merely to try to make other people mad. So back in something like 2010 a guy called in to a show Didinger was on and proceeded to make an ass of himself. It went like this:
Guy: "Hey Ray, okay. I know you're going to go CRAZY when you hear me say this. Okay: Andy Reid's a FRAUD!!"
RD: "...Okay."
Guy: "He's a fraud! He's a terrible coach! You know Donovan McNabb doesn't even have [some obscure stat guy looked up] record??"
RD: "Well, that is true. That was [absurdly specific answer, including the player and the year involved, which was sometime in the 1950s] against the now-defunct New York Yankees."
End story. So what do you do if you have something like a photographic memory? Write and talk about sports, I guess.
His 'little brother' story with Tommy MacDonald, which he made into a play we should probably all see, is really remarkable. And the other chapters (pro wrestling! greatest Philly player in any sport! Jeffrey Lurie! Foreman and Ali! etc!) are worth a read as well, whether you're into Philly, or sports in general, or the history of journalism, or any mix of the three.
Here's my Didinger story, which will be unintelligible unless you're familiar with the breed of crazy people who call in to sports radio merely to try to make other people mad. So back in something like 2010 a guy called in to a show Didinger was on and proceeded to make an ass of himself. It went like this:
Guy: "Hey Ray, okay. I know you're going to go CRAZY when you hear me say this. Okay: Andy Reid's a FRAUD!!"
RD: "...Okay."
Guy: "He's a fraud! He's a terrible coach! You know Donovan McNabb doesn't even have [some obscure stat guy looked up] record??"
RD: "Well, that is true. That was [absurdly specific answer, including the player and the year involved, which was sometime in the 1950s] against the now-defunct New York Yankees."
End story. So what do you do if you have something like a photographic memory? Write and talk about sports, I guess.
July 16, 2021
Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library. However this book was so good, that I would have gladly bought this book in hardcover or on Kindle.
I do not listen to sports talk radio in Philadelphia. With one exception. I will listen to Glenn Macnow and Ray Didinger sports talk show on Saturday mornings at 10 AM. I will also listen to Ray Didinger’s post game analysis of Philadelphia Eagles games. Didinger is the most thoughtful and articulate sports analyst of Philadelphia sports in my lifetime.
With that being said, I loved this book! There are a lot of great stories about members of the Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, Flyers and athletes of other sports, including professional wrestling. Didinger writes about the Flyers' Stanley Cup years, Pete Rose and his contribution to the 1980 World Series, Dr. J and Mike Schmidt, who he feels was Philadelphia's greatest athlete. He covers the struggles of the Philadelphia Eagles from the late 60s till the Super Bowl championship. Didinger expresses his admiration for both Dick Vermiel and Andy Reid.
There is a very touching story about Andy Reid reaching out to Didinger when Ray's mother passed away right before an important football game. While this book points out the achievements of many of the athletes, he provides some insights (some surprising) on the kinds of men they were. He cites the heroes and those whose moral characters fell flat.
Didinger is not afraid to expresses honest opinions about Philadelphia Eagles ownership over the years. He was not a fan of Norman Braman for example. You won’t be either when you read how he ran the team.
If you are a Philadelphia sports fan of any of the professional teams, I encourage you to read this book. It's a five star read!
I do not listen to sports talk radio in Philadelphia. With one exception. I will listen to Glenn Macnow and Ray Didinger sports talk show on Saturday mornings at 10 AM. I will also listen to Ray Didinger’s post game analysis of Philadelphia Eagles games. Didinger is the most thoughtful and articulate sports analyst of Philadelphia sports in my lifetime.
With that being said, I loved this book! There are a lot of great stories about members of the Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, Flyers and athletes of other sports, including professional wrestling. Didinger writes about the Flyers' Stanley Cup years, Pete Rose and his contribution to the 1980 World Series, Dr. J and Mike Schmidt, who he feels was Philadelphia's greatest athlete. He covers the struggles of the Philadelphia Eagles from the late 60s till the Super Bowl championship. Didinger expresses his admiration for both Dick Vermiel and Andy Reid.
There is a very touching story about Andy Reid reaching out to Didinger when Ray's mother passed away right before an important football game. While this book points out the achievements of many of the athletes, he provides some insights (some surprising) on the kinds of men they were. He cites the heroes and those whose moral characters fell flat.
Didinger is not afraid to expresses honest opinions about Philadelphia Eagles ownership over the years. He was not a fan of Norman Braman for example. You won’t be either when you read how he ran the team.
If you are a Philadelphia sports fan of any of the professional teams, I encourage you to read this book. It's a five star read!
February 22, 2022
I first started watching Philadelphia sports when I was 8 years old. It was October 22, 2006, and my father turned on an Eagles game against the Buccaneers.
The Eagles held a 1 point lead heading into the closing seconds of the game. I didn’t fully understand the game of football at the time, but mirrored my father’s nerves as we watched the Buccaneers drive with the football. Our nerves turned to agony as we watched Matt Bryant kick a 62 yard field goal - only 1 yard short of the NFL record at the time - to beat the eagles as the clock hit 0.
My father slowing stood up from his seat, looked at me and said “That, Chris, is what it feels like to be an Eagles fan.”
Those nerves I felt drew me to the lifestyle of the Philadelphia sports fan. 16 years later, I consider the fandom of the 4 Philadelphia teams as part of my identity.
Ray Didinger’s “Finished Business” paints marvelous pictures of history - the ecstasy of the few times of our teams have come out as champions, and the pain and disgust of watching our teams crumble - in a way that makes me feel even more connected with the city’s team than I ever have before. From the Broad Street bullies, to the first Phillies’ World Series, and all way to the Eagles Super Bowl championship in February of 2018, Ray’s words made me feel like I was at the stadium living through it all. I cherished reading this book and will surely pick it back up to relive some of Ray’s fondest sports memories when, inevitably, the teams I love let me down. This book is a must-read for anyone who considers him or herself a Philadelphia sports fan.
The Eagles held a 1 point lead heading into the closing seconds of the game. I didn’t fully understand the game of football at the time, but mirrored my father’s nerves as we watched the Buccaneers drive with the football. Our nerves turned to agony as we watched Matt Bryant kick a 62 yard field goal - only 1 yard short of the NFL record at the time - to beat the eagles as the clock hit 0.
My father slowing stood up from his seat, looked at me and said “That, Chris, is what it feels like to be an Eagles fan.”
Those nerves I felt drew me to the lifestyle of the Philadelphia sports fan. 16 years later, I consider the fandom of the 4 Philadelphia teams as part of my identity.
Ray Didinger’s “Finished Business” paints marvelous pictures of history - the ecstasy of the few times of our teams have come out as champions, and the pain and disgust of watching our teams crumble - in a way that makes me feel even more connected with the city’s team than I ever have before. From the Broad Street bullies, to the first Phillies’ World Series, and all way to the Eagles Super Bowl championship in February of 2018, Ray’s words made me feel like I was at the stadium living through it all. I cherished reading this book and will surely pick it back up to relive some of Ray’s fondest sports memories when, inevitably, the teams I love let me down. This book is a must-read for anyone who considers him or herself a Philadelphia sports fan.
December 19, 2021
Tremendous book. It is a book with three components: one part memoir, one part commentary on sports, and one part commentary on changes in sports journalism. I grew up in Philadelphia so many of the sports stories Didinger writes about were familiar to me, as was, of course, his mentioning of Philadelphia area locations. What I was most drawn to, however, was his discussion of others sports journalists and how the business changed along with his transition from print journalism to a broadcast medium participant with a local radio station, regional cable station with focus in sports, and notably, with NFL Films. It evoked memories of reading The Evening and Sunday Bulletin, The Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Delaware County Daily Times, and briefly, The Philadelphia Journal, growing up in Philadelphia, and the many heroes of Philadelphia sports lore - players, owners, and yes, journalists.
I’d love to see Didinger write a book to provide more detail about sports journalism and its transformation in his time.
The book also reminds the reader that good print journalism remains engrossing and captivating.
I’d love to see Didinger write a book to provide more detail about sports journalism and its transformation in his time.
The book also reminds the reader that good print journalism remains engrossing and captivating.
June 25, 2023
Being a Philadelphia sports fan for over 50 years and loving the Flyers, Phillies, Sixers and Eagles, I loved reading this book. Ray Didinger wrote about how he grew up in Philadelphia, loved the Philly sports teams and how he covered and wrote about these teams during his career. He also wrote about other things that he covered, such as the Olympics, wrestling, and boxing.
Ray wrote about the interviews he had with some of the greatest sports celebrities of all time. His love for his family and for the city of Philadelphia are inspiring. Reading about so many of the other things that he did, which included being a producer, author, playwright, radio host and TV analyst was also enjoyable.
I feel that true sports fans will enjoy this memoir. His writing about his experiences has brought back a lot of great memories for me and it shows how he is, as being an intelligent, knowledgeable and objective person during his career.
Ray wrote about the interviews he had with some of the greatest sports celebrities of all time. His love for his family and for the city of Philadelphia are inspiring. Reading about so many of the other things that he did, which included being a producer, author, playwright, radio host and TV analyst was also enjoyable.
I feel that true sports fans will enjoy this memoir. His writing about his experiences has brought back a lot of great memories for me and it shows how he is, as being an intelligent, knowledgeable and objective person during his career.
December 16, 2021
Ray Didinger is an expert reporter with 50 years experience writing about sports in Philadelphia. Being a native Philadelphian, he understands better than anyone how much Philly sports fans love their teams, through the best and the worst of times. Each chapter recounts a particular important event or era of sports in the city.
This book is aimed a a particular audience. His writing is very, very good, but it's really for those who care about Philadelphia and its sports culture.
PS - Save your snark about snowballs - it was 1968, and if that's all you know about Philly sports, you're lazy and you know nothing.
This book is aimed a a particular audience. His writing is very, very good, but it's really for those who care about Philadelphia and its sports culture.
PS - Save your snark about snowballs - it was 1968, and if that's all you know about Philly sports, you're lazy and you know nothing.
July 20, 2021
I’m a year younger than Ray, so I’ve lived in Philadelphia for his whole career and experienced the sports scene from a somewhat different perspective, but close enough so that this was a trip down memory lane but with his added insight. I went to Ridley with his friend Bob McCauley who got me to join the Folsom Boys Club baseball team with him and Ray, the summer after high school.
Anyway, thanks Ray, for a beautifully written book that brought back so many memories. This is a must read for any Philadelphia sports fan.
Anyway, thanks Ray, for a beautifully written book that brought back so many memories. This is a must read for any Philadelphia sports fan.
January 28, 2025
A great Philly sports read! As expected, well written and chock full of characters , heroes, and greatness. An evenhanded modern history of local sports from the 60’s to the Philly Special. Ray was kind enough to autograph my copy after a business luncheon that he spoke at. A fine person and a splendid treasure for the City of Brotherly Love!
June 24, 2021
Rays writing never disappoints. My rating my be a bit (ok very) biased as I have been reading him almost since the beginning of his career. A fun trip down memory lane for this Philly sports fan. Recommend to Philly sports fans; fans of sports memoirs.
August 20, 2021
This is one of the best books that I have read about Philadelphia sports. Ray Didinger is a Phioladelphia legend and a wonderful radio personality and sports writer. On TV and radio, his sincerity, integrity and intelligence shines through.
October 5, 2021
As a Philly sports fan and a person that considers Ray Didinger to be the utmost expert on not only football but all sports, this book was filled with stories that brought back great memories along with introducing me to stories that I had never heard. This is a must read for any Philly sports fan
December 9, 2021
Reading a book like this reminds me of why I am so lucky to be a Philadelphia sports fan. Didinger is a Philly legend, and this book encompasses his entire career in so many great narratives. A must-read for any Philly sports fan.
April 18, 2022
Good reading for any Philadelphia sports fan from the 1960s to 2021, when this was published. Heavier emphasis on the often abominable Eagles football team, but good stories about Phillies baseball and 76ers basketball teams as well.
February 8, 2025
A required read for Philadelphian sports fans.
The writing is as genuine as the author himself. It is so full of emotion that I full on sobbed multiple times.
R Diddy is one of a kind, and I consider him one of my heroes.
The writing is as genuine as the author himself. It is so full of emotion that I full on sobbed multiple times.
R Diddy is one of a kind, and I consider him one of my heroes.
June 29, 2021
The ultimate book about Philly sports. Amazing
July 17, 2021
Wonderful memories, fascinating stories and exquisitely written.
August 4, 2021
A walk down memory lane through my sports history. Well written, thoughtful and heartfelt. Excellent!!
August 15, 2021
A great read for any Philadelphia sports fan!
November 24, 2021
Great for a Philadelphia fan
January 4, 2022
This one made me think, reflect, laugh and cry. That’s a damn good combination.
January 25, 2022
Absolute treasure! My dad would have loved this book!
September 28, 2022
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!
December 19, 2022
Terrific book by a writer I have followed for many, many years. Ray Didinger is truly a Philadelphia treasure. Hard back.
March 30, 2023
A must read for any Philadelphia sports fan. “R Diddy” is the epitome of Philadelphia sports and delivers in this piece of writing!
October 11, 2023
Absolutely phenomenal read full of incredible stories, enhanced by Ray’s fantastic writing.
December 16, 2023
Fantastic book Ray Diddy really tells great sports stories. I highly recommend this book if you are a Philly sports fan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews