Selective Readings

ONE STRIKE AWAY - Dan Shaughnessy - How much did that ground ball cost you? The ground ball that dribbled through Bill Buckners legs cost Red Sox backers a pretty penny. With a series line at 8 1/2 -2 favoring the New York Mets and the Red Sox favored in Game 6  at line of E-6  Red Sox backers were poised to cash in on a hefty payday.  A $100 dollar bet on both events would have netted the Red Sox betters $280. Instead, 3 days later they owed the man $220, provided they left game 7 alone. This book tells the story of the whole season beginning in spring training right up until the bitter end. It lets you decide who really cost the Sox their first World Series since 1918. Billy Buckner, Bob Stanley, Rich Gedman, Roger Clemens, Calvin Schiraldi and John MacNamera are all likely suspects. Its an enjoyable enough book though reminding us of Oil Can Boyd, Dave Henderson and the rest of the 1986 team.

AND DIE IN THE WEST - Paula Mitchell Marks - Where these guys law men or degenerates. How would you like these drinking, gambling madmen to protect you? They cashed in on the gold rush big time. Running saloons and faro games is where they made their money. In fact the whole OK Coral incident began because of a card game Doc Holiday was involved in. Ike Clanton accused Holiday of cheating and that's when the fun started. This book goes into great detail about the events leading up to the gunfight and the bloody events that followed.   

THE FAB FIVE - Mitch Albom -If you like college basketball you'll love this book. These guys are a scream! They actually have quite a sense of humor. Reading the TRASH TALK in this book you can almost hear it. To bad Michigan never won the NCAA championship while they were there. Chris Webber and Juwan Howard ended up making it big but not until the biggest bona in college hoop history was pulled. Dont feel bad for them though they are doing fine now.