Reviews

Bluegrass Baseball

“Bluegrass Baseball” takes a survey on the minor league baseball landscape in 2010. As documented in the book, only a small percentage of baseball hopefuls will earn a call up to the Major League. Minor league baseball survives by selling tickets, and providing fans with an affordable family entertainment option. One of the attractions of […]

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Bushwhackers

In “Bushwhackers,” the author explores the impact guerrilla warfare had on Kansas and Missouri during the civil war. Beilein’s assessment is that the Bushwhackers were murderers first, martyrs second. He contends that journalist John Newman Edwards was a propagandist for the south, and portrayed the Bushwackers as reluctant killers, with heroic virtues. Edwards is commonly

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Breaking Through the Lines

We celebrate Jackie Robinson for breaking the color barrier in baseball, however, Marion Motley broke the color barrier in football first, and unfortunately, many fans don’t recognize the talent and accomplishments of this unsung trailblazer. Motley was one of the remaining two way players, playing fullback on offense and linebacker on defense. He was so

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The Last Outlaws

One the America’s old west most darling and notorious gang of bandits, The Dalton Gang, is the subject of Tom Clavin’s latest masterpiece. Clavin does an excellent job of separating fact from fiction, which can be a challenge when examining these often mythologized figures. While the Daltons had many friends that protected them, they were

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Howard Cosell

He may have been a polarizing character, but love him or hate him, you can not deny the legendary career of Howard Cosell. For being the man that told it like it is, Cosell received death threats and at times, required armed guards for protection. He was labeled as transformative and subversive, and undeniably, changed

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Mavericks, Money, and Men

Charles Ross does a superb job breaking down the color line in professional football in “Mavericks, Money, and Men.” The NFL closed the door to black athletes, and gradually (and reluctantly) changed their policy over time. The last team to include a black player on their roster was the 1962 Washington Redskins. Attorney General of

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The Speed Game

Paul Westhead became the poster boy for the fast break system. As Westhead states in “The Speed Game,” he was never afraid to experiment, and push the envelope. The coach was told he had to be crazy to fully embrace the fast break, an exciting system Westhead learned in Puerto Rico. A division II coach

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Paths Crossed: Heart Shots

Clif Edward chronicles the crime spree of two lawbreakers that were responsible for ending the lives of two state troopers and causing a wild ten hour chase that started in Michigan, and finally ended in Indiana. One of the villains served time for raping a nine year old child, before recruiting a true partner in

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