Title/Author:
“Man
Versus Ball” by Jon Hart
Tags:
Memoir,
off-field, baseball, tennis, basketball, inline skating
Published:
May 31,
2014
Length:
184 pages
Rating:
4 ½ of 5
stars (excellent)
Review:
When one
thinks of a writer who participated in a sport in order to write about, many
will think of George Plimpton, who famously took the field and ice with the
Detroit Lions and Boston Bruins respectively in order to write about his
experiences. Jon Hart does that and so
much more in his very funny and sometimes poignant book “Man Versus Ball.”
The
reference to Plimpton is appropriate here because that is Hart’s nickname in
the first story in which he is a member of a semi-pro football team. While his playing time is sparse, his stories
about that season are rich with humor and personal interest stories. That is a good foundation for the rest of
the book, which has more stories of Hart’s time as a ballpark vendor, a mascot,
a ball boy at the US Open (which contained the best line in the book – “No,
Toto, this isn’t Court 18 anymore!”), and a participant in a game that was a
cross between in-line skating and basketball.
I read that chapter twice and I still don’t understand that game.
Having
been a vendor at major and minor league ballparks and arenas, Hart’s stories as
a vendor at both Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium struck a chord with me as I
could relate to practically every situation, every interaction with both fans
and coworkers and the quirks that make up the profession of the ballpark
vendor. I look back on those days
fondly, and Hart’s stories about those adventures brought back some great
memories.
If there
is a negative about the book, it was that I just couldn’t get into the inline
basketball league, but that too was a funny piece that those who are into
in-line skating would really enjoy. It didn’t diminish from the quality of this
book, which was excellent. It is a great
book for readers who enjoy sports stories off the field of play and for those
who enjoy humor or comedy.
I wish to
thank Mr. Hart for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest
review.
Did I skim?
No.
Pace of the book:
It read
quickly as the stories were not only entertaining, they were broken up into
shorter segments that made the pace of the book much quicker.
Do I recommend?
This
is recommended for not only sports fans, but anyone who likes to read humorous
stories or memoirs.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
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