Today brings us the second installment of the Bike Tour book review. Some good reads recently on my daily bus ride home from the D. The book reading process on the bus provides a nice getaway from: the work day, the ladies sitting behind me bitching about their work day, the anguish on the face of the poor individual sitting across who is sandwiched in a two-seater with a 300+ pound individual, the deodorant challenged individuals, lady plumber butts (large ones), the loud cell phone talker, the losing gambler (bus has a stop at MGM) and last but not least, the beer spilling painter. Everything mentioned actually has happened one time or another on the bus but are exceptions for the most part. The ride is A-OK as a majority of riders are good, hard working folks looking to get home. The beer spilling painter seriously happened once. That sure wasn't coffee in his tin tumbler when the bus came to a sudden stop, the lid somehow popped off and he spilled on the lady in front of him; almost a full tumbler. I saw said painter sleeping on the sidewalk in front of the RenCen sometime after. No lie.
With that, the reviews:
- Tom Petty autobiography
Whether you're a fan of his or not, a great read of the many, many, many peaks and valleys of someone who left us too soon; yet the man cheated death a few times prior. He sure took his entertaining seriously; and it showed in his concerts.
- Trump book (exact title withheld)
I'm leaving the exact title out as the book already has enough public relations over the past year by the actions of the subject of the book. The author sure had to be in quite a few places though to capture what he has in print (insert skepticism) but boring stories aren't going to sell books, eh? Nothing too shocking in it but National Enquirer readers will enjoy it. The Prez himself didn't think he'd win the election as the author infers? Make that two of us. The son-in-law is a moron? Wow!! (sarcasm). You can just turn on the 24 hour news network, see it live and save yourselves some book money.
- The Curse - The Colorful & Chaotic History of the LA Clippers
This should be lumped in with the previously referenced book as the root of both issues lie in the leader. Donald Sterling had no clue. They say any publicity is good publicity; not in his case. The man unfortunately had no little man inside his head to tell him to keep it to himself.
Bad owner aside, the team just couldn't catch a break. The most knee injuries ever and Bill Walton's broken feet didn't help.
Good read though as each season that Sterling owned the team (roughly 30 years), you can only say "no way" in reading what went wrong each year for either him (self induced) or the team (plain bad luck).
- U.S. Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man
- Work and Other Sins: Life in New York City - Charlie LeDuff
I'm lumping these two together as they are from one of my favorite authors. Both deal with the people you don't see all clean and perfect on television; he writes of real people. The author is not afraid to walk up to anyone from a crack addict to a prostitute to a group of firemen who were part of 9/11 to a group of individuals recreating Little Big Horn, sit down with them for an extended time and learn a little bit about how they came to be. Those pan handlers weren't shaking the paper cups their entire lives.
The author was able to be part of the circus, play arena football and joined the Little Big Horn reenactment to name a few. The stories aren't about the circus, football or the war though, they're about the people behind the activity. You learn about the lives of foreign families going cross country in the circus; just getting by. The former football hero looking for that one last shot to be seen. And the group of individuals driving cross country each year to dress up and celebrate (??) the anniversary of an entire calvary getting slaughtered.
Five stars on anything this author writes.
Five stars on anything this author writes.
- Good Vibrations
Beach Boy bio from the lead singer. The 'Endless Summer' album (one of their many, many, many greatest hit compilations) back in the 70's was one of my first. The author seems to pat himself on the back more than once but when you're writing, I guess you can rationalize all you want. The author whines a handful of times on not getting enough credit for some song writing that cousin Brian claimed sole credit. We get it. You only have to tell us once that you were bitter.
We learn that Brian Wilson should have stuck to the naturals. Really? (more sarcasm). Artificial buzz is not the way large fella.
A good read overall though as it was one talented family. I had the music player on the 'Pet Sounds' album the entire week after the read.
We learn that Brian Wilson should have stuck to the naturals. Really? (more sarcasm). Artificial buzz is not the way large fella.
A good read overall though as it was one talented family. I had the music player on the 'Pet Sounds' album the entire week after the read.
- Present at the Creation: My Life in the NFL and the Rise of America's Game
The author, son of one time NFL commissioner Bert Bell, started in the business working for the Baltimore Colts ticket office, moved to the scouting department, became personnel director and eventually became general manager of the New England Patriots. That would be my dream career path in some fashion if I were to do it all over again. A great perspective on the scouting process and I understand even more what a crap shoot the draft is after the 1st Round.
Mr. M. Millen, if you're reading, you at least have to get the 1st Rounder right though and you couldn't even do that.
Mr. M. Millen, if you're reading, you at least have to get the 1st Rounder right though and you couldn't even do that.
- The Godfather
Yes, I've seen the movie a trillion times but the visual while reading is always a treat.
- Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the Corruption of America's Youth
Written in 2000 but still applies to today in some respects (unfortunately) as it talks about the shoe companies taking over the AAU basketball circuit, and the lack of background checks for some of the coaches within the program. I would hope in 18 years since the book came out that more thorough background checks are being completed; but there is no way the shoe wars will ever stop. Friend Gus' son plays AAU currently and haven't heard any horror stories so that is a good thing.
- I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy's Golden Era
Good read on the golden era of comedy in the 70's when some were making it big (i.e. Letterman, Pryor, Leno, Kaufman) and some not so much; one comedian who jumped off the roof of the club was one of the unlucky ones. A profession that if you can't take getting the heckles that go along with the laughs, you won't last.
We learn about a group of up and coming comics joining together to picket the club to protest the crappy wages (little, if any) they were getting. The owner claimed she was providing exposure for the comics to make it big so most got little or nothing to appear. It eventually worked with the comics getting their wishes but not without a little blood; and one death unfortunately.
We learn about a group of up and coming comics joining together to picket the club to protest the crappy wages (little, if any) they were getting. The owner claimed she was providing exposure for the comics to make it big so most got little or nothing to appear. It eventually worked with the comics getting their wishes but not without a little blood; and one death unfortunately.
