Fanatic: 10 Things All Sports Fans Should Do B4 They Die

The Wild Card and A Book Review

2007-09-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

I must admit it would be delicious if the Yankees caught the Red Sox and won the division just because it would knock the Sox off the perch they've been looking down from all season, and because it would be a stunning turnaround considering the boys in pinstripes were down 14.5 games in July. Ouch. But the truth is, it doesn't much matter anymore because either way (most likely) both teams will make the playoffs and neither will have home field advantage in the first round. The chase has been intriguing, but imagine how intense it would be if there were no fall back position. Win the division or stay home. People would be hanging on every pitch. Back pages would feature screaming headlines every day. Manny Ramirez would play--well, maybe. If he felt like it. He is only getting paid $18 million. Anyway, the Wild Card has been good, and overall makes things more interesting, I think, but this is one case where, the added intensity of the old days would be nice.

Enough reminiscing, though. Here's a book review I wrote for parade.com. Live link to the Fanatic home page at the bottom, so if you haven't yet bought a copy of the book, fire away.

Interview

2007-09-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

Here's the text of a Q&A I did with MVN.com for anyone who's suffering insomnia.

Also, a very happy birthday to reader No. 1. You know who you are, and let me be the first to tell you, you don't look a day over 49.

Though Experiment, Part II

2007-09-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Went on vacation and just about stayed there. Last I recall we were in the middle of arranging a hypothetical sequel, i.e. The Next 10 Things All Sports Fans Should Blah, Blah, Blah...The first five (or third five depending on how you look at it) were World Cup Soccer, Heavyweight Title Fight in Vegas, Duke-Carolina at Cameron Indoor, Australia-New Zealand Rugby, and the Bassmaster Classic (for the reasoning behind those picks, scroll down). Here then are the next five.

6. The Rose Bowl. Great tradition and festivities and pageantry that stretches well beyond the game and makes this one more than just a sports event. I remember watching the parade from the time I was a kid. I would want to catch it on a year it's hosting the National Championship, though.

7. Canadians v. Maple Leafs. Two of the NHL's oldest and Canada's most beloved teams. Their proximity to each other and there games carry the undertone of cultural and linguistic tensions adds to the rivalry. Too bad you can't still go to Maple Leaf Gardens or the Forum for this one, but the new venues will do as long as the teams are wearing those that are as iconic as anything in sports.

8. Spring Training. I'd like to spend a week in the late winter driving from ball park to ball park to see a whole string of spring games. It's not so much the whole renewal of hope cliche, but the idea of watching guys whole never have cup of coffee in the bigs playing their guts out.

9. The British Open. As a golf guy this is a hard one for me to turn down. Seeing the game played on any of the classic courses would be great, but I'd really love to make it to St. Andrews, Turnberry, Muirfield or Carnoustie.

10. Midnight Madness at UK. College basketball is a religion and the University of Kentucky, sometimes to the point where they love it so much they just about suffocate it. Still, when the university was getting ready to announce the hiring of a new coach last spring, more the 15,000 people logged on to the UK basketball message board. That kind of intensity funneled into a fun, upbeat event like Midnight Madness would have to be a great time.

Well, that's it, although I could easily rattle of a bunch more.

One More for the Road

2007-08-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

Another online review popped up today on Joy of Sox, so I decided to throw up a quick link before shipping out.

Thought Experiment

2007-08-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going away for a week so I'll leave you with little theoretical exercise: If there was a sequel, what should the next 10 events be? Trust me, no such plans are currently in the works, but if...

Here are my first five. I'll roll out the next five after I return. Meanwhile, feel free to agree, disagree, or add your own thoughts by clicking on the comments section below.

1. World Cup Soccer. My one biggest regret from the first book was not getting soccer in the mix. I've watched a quite a bit of the last two Cup final rounds and I find it fascinating, from the intensity of the games, to the passion of the crowds to the operatic drama on the pitch. The fake injuries alone are enough to keep me spellbound for weeks.

2. Heavyweight Title Fight, Las Vegas. This one is tough, because boxing has had the lifeblood sucked out of it—case in point, there are currently 54 heavyweight champions, all of them from former Soviet satellite countries—but if you could get a post-Olympic up and comer with a little momentum and one of the Klitschko brothers (I'm not sure which one is currently holding a belt or two, or that there are actually even two of them, but...) you could have a real old-fashioned, smell-of-blood-and-money-in-the-air prize fight. I'd like to see that.

3. Duke-Carolina at Cameron Indoor. The hatred, the atmosphere, the closeness of the sweaty little arena, the sight of all those spoiled morons leaving with tears streaking their face paint after the Heels stomp the Devils on their home floor. Hand me a tissue Coach Kry my little heart is breaking.

4. Australia-New Zealand Rugby. The Kiwi All Blacks are legendary and the Aussies have long-been a power. Great rivalry, unique, unfamiliar cultures, fascinating sport. Couldn't ask for much more. Dare I say, scrumdilicious?

5. The Bassmaster Classic. Another one the just missed the first edition. Hey, 15,000 people in an arena screaming their heads off while rock music blares and guys logoed out togs hold up big ugly fish can't help but be fascinating. If you can't find a few interesting stories to tell in that crowd you never will.

Boston Bump

2007-08-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

Got a nice shout out this week from the hubtrotter.com, a site devoted to travel in the Boston area. The guy who runs it is a good dude and if you live in Bean Town you should make his site a regular stop while surfing.

And while you're in Boston, light a candle for the Sox. Here come the Yanks!

New Reviews

2007-08-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Our efforts to build a grassroots campaign rumbles, well maybe stumbles, onward. Two very perceptive and highly intelligent bloggers have weighed in on Fanatic. You can get Jason Reiger's Cubs slanted insights at Goat Riders of the Apocalypse and a Villanova viewpoint at LetsGoNova.

In other news, I may be out of job soon, as it seems the sports world is on the verge of imploding. I'm not even talking about Barry Bonds, but rather about my old classmate Tim Donaghy and this Russian tennis player who might have faked an injury to lose a match in which he was highly favored and on which huge sums of money had been bet on his opponent. Both reek of outside forces attempting to influence games and if that happens, professional sports goes away and Sports Illustrated goes with it. So, you know, save me a corner of your basement to crash in.

As for Barry, I've been rooting against him for years, and when I can muster the energy to care anymore I wish he would just go away. At the same time, what's really been lost? Baseball's already been through a dead ball era, a juiced ball era, which distorted numbers, a spit ball era, sign stealing scandals, etc. The sport in many ways is already a joke and Bonds was far from the only guy using (allegedly). Even Hank Aaron, an honorable man with a social conscience and a buttload of courage, played the majority of his career in Atlanta, which is more than 1,000 feet above sea level. Does the advantage of playing half his games every year in thinner air somehow make his record less worthy. I know, that's apples and oranges. All I'm saying is the whole thing's been a cesspool for years, and we've all been bathing in it quite happily, so it's somewhat disingenuous to look around now and wonder how come we smell like shit.

Who's That Guy

2007-07-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, another proud member of Villanova's class of '89, Tim Donaghy, the NBA ref accused of betting on games. Donaghy's name sounds familiar and he looks familiar, but of course he looks like 87% of the guys who went to Villanova. And if you had a dime for every Donaghy or Donahue or O'Donnell, you wouldn't have to fix games to make ends meet. In truth, I think Donaghy might have worked a few of my intramural games, and if it weren't for his tainted officiating, The Crack Attach might have reached .500.

On another note, I filmed a 30 minute interview for a local cable access show called Beyond The Game with John Vorperian or Johnny V. Not sure I've ever talked for 30 minutes while not under the influence of alcohol but I have to say it went by much quicker than I could have imagined. Anyway, those of you in the Westchester area can set you Tivo for that gripping half hour of TV, which should hit the cable universe some time in the end of August.

Later this week we'll vote on what my next book should be, so make sure to come back.

Ripped Off

2007-07-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

So the book comes out and I'm pushing hard to get anyone and everyone to cover it. A friend agrees to send a copy to a friend of hers at ESPN.com. Maybe they'll review it or something. No. Instead, two weeks later they come out with their own list of 101 Things All Sports Fans Should Experience Before They Die. Now where does that ring a bell? Worst part is the thing had like a 500-word intro where they could've very easily mentioned the book and made everyone happy. Alas,they did not.

The Pack and The Bastard

2007-07-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Intersting news from Green Bay (sort of). One of the spots I visited while out there in the land of the eternal Danish was City Stadium, where the Packers played their first games. In other words, it's the original Frozen Tundra. Today it's actually a high-school field with only a few remnants of the structure that existed back Curley Lambeau was running the show, but it seems with team will return to its roots this year during training camp to raise money for charity. Click here for details.

On a much more fun note, the aforementioned Cynical Bastard has reviewed my book and posted about it on his blog. It's a fun read as he takes you through the experience start to finish. Funny comments by his followers too. You'll have to scroll down to the post from 7/11 to find it.

News Flash

2007-07-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

This just in: I'm not as good as Dan Jenkins. At least that's the conclusion of a high school social studies teacher who reviews books for Tampa Bay online. Actually, I think he likes the book, although it's not terribly clear. What is more certain is that the review is much more about him than it is about my book. Check it out for yourself and see if you can follow his train of thought. Oh, and in case you didn't realize, he was once a sports writer, too.

And here's another mention from the Courier-News. Doesn't seem to quite capture what the book's all about, but I'm in good company and you gotta love the big photo.

My Kind of Town

2007-07-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

It's not much, but Fanatic picked up a mention in the July 5 Chicago Sun Times, here. Every little bit helps.

Also, did the Gelf magazine reading on Thursday night, and it went well. Probably 40 or 50 people there, and I didn't drool on myself, mumble or otherwise embarrass myself. I must admit it felt a bit odd standing up there in the dark of the bar with one light shining up from the podium, a bit like channeling Mike Myers during one of the beatnik poetry scenes in So I Married An Axe Murderer. In fact, I think I started out with a bit of a staccato rhythm, but luckily it went away. In the end, it was fun. You should feel bad you weren't there...

Picking Up Steam??

2007-06-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

Another review showed up this week, this one in the Buffalo News, and again it's positive, which we like. I imagine things will slow up through the holiday weekend, but then we're gonna hit that summer beach book crowd like a load of crowbars.

There's One In Every Crowd

2007-06-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Came across this last week and it was too funny not to share. Click here then scroll about half way down and read the post titled Speaking of Stupid People.

A Real Review

2007-06-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Great new review just out in the Rocky Mountain News. If we could get a few more like that, we'll be in business.

Speaking of reviews still only two on the Amazon page. If you're moved to do so, posting your thoughts could really help. Unless, you didn't like the book. Then you should keep it to yourself.

Further Exposure

2007-06-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

This was posted last week by our friends at Playboy. Nicely written, and I'm not just saying that because it's complementary:

Send Your Dad to The Masters

Father¹s Day is this Sunday, unless of course you live in a place like, say,
Romania.

As I¹m sure many of you have, I bonded with my father over sports. Though
now we live in two different places and live two different lives, we can
always talk sports‹one minute on the phone and it¹s like I'm six years old
again and he's explaining the intricacies of the triple-option offense.
Since I won't be able to bring him to a ball game this Father¹s Day, I¹ll
send him to a number of them by giving him Jim Gorant¹s new book Fanatic: 10
Things All Sports Fans Should do Before They Die.

Gorant, who touches on the relationship he had with his father through
sports, spent a little over a year attending 10 of the most important
sporting events and captured the flavor and essence of the happenings in his
charmingly dry tone while meditating on the deeper meanings of sports and
life in general. Somehow he managed to unveil universal truths about love,
father-daughter relationships, commitment, fandom, heartbreak and purity,
all in one lazy afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Gorant¹s list:
The Super Bowl
The Daytona 500
The Final Four
The Masters
The Kentucky Derby
Wimbledon
Wrigley Field
Ohio State vs. Michigan
Lambeau Field in December
Opening Day at Fenway

I¹m not quite sure how my top 10 would shake out, but I do know I¹d want my
father in the seat next to me.

Playing Catch-Up

2007-06-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Now that the insane Father's Day push is over I'm back. In the last two weeks I've done two TV appearences and about 35 radio interviews. On the 13th we had a great Book Party, at which about 45 family, friends and neighbors came out to celebrate. Thanks to any of you who made it. Next thing on the docket is the Varsity Letters reading series. Details below:

Three sports-book authors will be speaking at a free Gelf event in New York on Thursday, July 5, at 8 p.m. Come by the Happy Ending Lounge to hear writers Jim Gorant, author of Fanatic: Ten Things All Sports Fans Should Do Before They Die; John Heidenry, author of The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-from-Behind Ball Club Won the World Series—and America's Heart—During the Great Depression; Lee Lowenfish, author of Branch Rickey: Baseball's Ferocious Gentleman; and Eric Mirlis, author of Being There: 100 Sports Pros Talk About the Best Sporting Events They Ever Witnessed Firsthand.
Happy Ending Lounge (official site, CitySearch, MySpace)
302 Broome St.
(between Forsyth and Eldridge)
212-334-9676
J/M/Z/F to Delancey
B/D to Grand Street
Look for the hot-pink awning with the words "Health Club" on it.

Doors open at 7:30.
Readings start at 8 sharp.
FREE!

Hope to see you there.

Backstage Pass

2007-06-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

So what goes on behind the scenes at the Today Show? Not to much. Nice spread of bagels, muffins and fruit in the green room. Bizarre experience in make-up, where they basically spray paint you to one uniform color. Little chit-chat before air time, Campbell Brown talking about impending 39th birthday, Lester reminiscing about visiting Wrigley when he lived in Chicago. Then it was go time, and you saw the rest. If you didn't, here's the link.

Tivo Time

2007-05-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

As of right now the Today Weekend appearance is set for 7:40 Saturday morning (that's channel 4, for those who don't pay attention to such things). If anything changes, I'll post again.

Ready For My Close-Up

2007-05-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the two-week hiatus, but things got a bit hairy. Good news on the publicity front. Looks like I'll be appearing on Weekend Today this Sunday, June 3. Don't know the time yet, but I'll update that when I get it. Also good news in that Barnes & Noble and Borders will both be stocking the book in front-of-store displays and on special Father's Day tables between this weekend and pappy's day. That's it for now although tomorrow I'll link to a few new reviews and articles that have popped up on the web.

The Force Returns

2007-05-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

Here's one reason why I've been away from the blog for the last week and a half. A little assignment, I took on for Parade.com Should have some other book news soon.

Derby Days

2007-05-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

SI.com has posted a nice chunck of the Kentucky Derby chapter. Click here to give it a read.

Senior Moment

2007-05-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

Big news. Fanatic earned a mention as a "Hot Read" on the book review page of AARP magazine. Hate to suggest it, but perhaps the subtitle added an extra bit of urgency for this audience. Just a thought.

Doesn't look like I'll have a chance to post more before the Derby, although Curlin at 7-2 has got my attention. However, I do love a long shot, which means Any Given Saturday is attractive too. Mind you, these are just my random musings about my own preferences for the race and don't in any way constitute advice (that's called covering your ass).

At any rate, I'll have a full report from Churchill Downs next week.

The Ultimate Draft Strategy

2007-05-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Just received this from a good friend regarding the NFL Draft. Too funny not to post.

"The thing I liked doing most while I tuned in on a perfectly nice spring day when I should have been outside was this: while my lovely wife recuperated from a minor medical procedure, she was a captive audience late Saturday afternoon and I flipped to ESPN whenever I could to get an update and to torment her ever so slightly. But just to show that I'm not too much of a sadist, my ulterior motive was to attempt to improve standing as her spouse: every time the camera panned over the audience and gave some tongue-wagging green-, blue-, or red-painted fan some fleeting air time, I turned to her and said "You know, you could have married that guy."