My ten greatest sporting reads

The power of language is something that is celebrated every day on The Roar. When combined with one of the most passionate human endeavours, sport, magic can happen.

As I worked my way through Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson’s recently published biography and tried to find a place to stick in on an ever expanding bookshelf, I noticed a few older titles that brought back a tonne of good memories.

This got me thinking about the best sports-themed books I have come across over the course of my life.

The list is not meant to be a judgement of the best titles ever, merely the best that I have come across and had the pleasure of reading. I would love to be introduced to other titles that I have yet to encounter and perhaps other Roarers might feel inclined to share.

So without further ado, here they are.

#10 – Incredible Achievements in Sport, 1982, Edited by David Lord
This is still one of my favourite books to dip into while on holidays over the summer months.

Legends of journalism such as Ian Wooldridge, Jim Murray and Frank Deford all contribute a chapter (ten in total) to a glorious celebration of the games that people play and many of the amazing stories behind them.

Each author looks at a handful of their favourite moments across a wide sporting palate.

Deford’s handling of the Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell NBA rivalry, Wooldridge’s recount of Franz Klammer’s epic downhill performance at the 1976 Winter Olympics and Don Cameron’s vivid description of New Zealand’s first ever cricket victory over the English on home soil at the Basin Reserve, are standouts.

#9 Spun Out – The Shane Warne Story, 2006, Paul Barry
A world away from the self-serving nonsense published in Shane Warne’s biography, Barry delves into the twisted psyche of a sporting genius and paints a portait of a spoiled brat hell-bent on rebelling against the establishment – all the while somehow maintaining a level of performance in leg spin bowling unseen in the history of cricket.

#8 A Good Walk Spoiled – Days And Nights on the PGA Tour, John Feinstein 1996
Feinstein has built a masterful body of work across major American sports such as baseball, football and golf, his insightful exploration of life on the PGA tour is fascinating. He follows a diverse selection of players, such as the enigmatic Greg Norman and workmanlike Nick Price, all the way down to the journeymen such as Paul Goydos.

The author takes us through the tough realities of Q-School, the financial stress experienced by battling professionals and the glory of success on the world’s biggest golfing stage.

#7 El Magic – The life of Hazem El Masri, Bill Woods, 2009
Woods captures one of the most romantic rugby league stories in the game’s history as a young Muslim boy is introduced to a completely foreign game by a friend and goes on to become the greatest point scorer Australian rugby league has ever seen.

The background story to the man himself is incredible, from a war torn upbringing, a difficult period of adjustment in Australia and a constant battle to prove himself, being small of stature, El Masri’s tale of persistence is an outstanding lesson that all Australians should be familiar with.

#6 The Way of the Shark – Lessons on Golf, Business and Life, Donald T Phillips, 2007
No athlete has offered more to the Australian media than Greg Norman. The diverse opinions surrounding the ‘brand’ that is the Shark range from sheer contempt and hatred to hero worship and adoration.

Phillips explores both the personal side of the Shark and the corporate giant that deals in turf, wine and restaurants among other things. This is a brilliant insight into a fascinating man that adds mystique to an icon of Australian and world sport.

#5 A Clean Break – My Story, Christophe Bassons with Benoit Hopquin, 2014
Bassons become known as ‘Mr Clean’ in the peloton around the time of Lance Armstrong and the domination of the U.S Postal Team. His open and candid account of his own journey in cycling and refusal to dope, albeit for that one time, is a compelling insight into just how far a clean athlete can go when competing against ‘dopers’.

A wonderful personal story of a man prepared to stand by his principles while being personally threatened and intimidated by some of the world’s best.

Tales such as Armstrong’s cut-throat gesture caught live on air mid-race and the physical encounter in a public bar instigated by Armstrong are eerie to read. The seven-time tour winner’s psyche is unlocked and explored against a back drop of Bassons’ struggle to fulfil his potential without the aid of PEDs.

#4 The Little Red Book – Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf, Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake, 1992
If you haven’t read this slim volume of truisms and advice on golf and life, you are yet to experience the wisdom of a wise old sage who had the ability to say so much in so few words.

With a litany of golfing superstars under his wing over the course of more than half a century, Mr Penick deals more with the psychological side of the game as much as the physical and puts an ancient and time honoured game into a mind altering perspective.

The simplicity of his teachings is confronting. In an age of science and analysis that seems to erode the purity of the games we play and promote a mechanical approach, Penick strips golf back to a rudimentary endeavour where the mind, habits and routines set the cornerstones for success.

#3 Open, Andre Agassi, 2009
The fascinating curiosity that is Andre Agassi is stripped back in this forthright autobiography where his hatred of tennis is explained. The horrific abuse and single mindedness of his father is presented warts and all and Agassi reflects on his time in the game as being workmanlike and cold.

The amazing story of Agassi and Marcos Baghdatis on aligned massage tables after an epic encounter at the Australian Open is one of the most moving sporting tales I have come across.

#2 The Straight Dope – The Inside Story of Sports Biggest Drug Scandal, Chip Le Grand, 2015
The immense research done to compile this enthralling summary of the Essendon drug scandal is worthy of merit in its own right. The detailed accounts of the different parties involved at club, AFL and media level, form a completely confusing and convoluted picture of the entire period.

The lasting thought is one of disappointment that we will probably never know the complete truth. Stephen Dank and a few others appear as demons and appalling influences yet the players are presented as the ultimate victims; abused by the system and ill-treated by their own club.

#1 Broken Open, Craig Hamilton, 2007
While not being a sporting book in the true sense of the word, Broken Open is a raw depiction of an everyday man’s battle with mental illness and demons that threatened to destroy his whole world.

ABC Grandstand commentator Craig Hamilton opens up about his breakdown just prior to the Sydney Olympics where his manic behaviour saw him hospitalised. His bi-polar diagnosis is treated honestly and vividly in the book, and we can all learn much from his story.

In light of the current issues surrounding our mental health as a nation, this could just be one of the most important sporting themed books ever written.

So, there we are, ten of the best I have read and I can passionately endorse all of them. I’d love to see your selections.