Customer Reviews

Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Sitting down watching the Master's over the past few years, we have noticed little change in the way Jim Nantz has called the action from the tower over the 18th green. The steady, calm voice would tell the story unfolding for the audience. Ever steady, his voice made you confident that that you were indeed watching a special event. However, things were not really so steady in his life as he has had to grapple with personal tragedy in his life, but who outside of a small circle of people knew.

This year, I was not watching the final round of the Masters. Instead, I was sitting on an airplane headed for Los Angeles. But I could still here Jim's voice in my head as I read his new book, Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other (Jim Nantz with Eli Spielmen,Gotham Books, May 2008, 273 pages, ISBN-10: 1592403611, ISBN-13:978-1592403615). To me, the measure of a good book is not the words that are printed on the page, but the pictures they paint and the emotions they evoke. And as I finished the book, I sat there crying as I thought of the relationship I did not have with my now-deceased father and as I thought of my own mother battling dementia in a nursing home.

You see, Jim's book is a not a typical sports memoir. It is a story of deep love and respect for his father, and the pain of not being able to be with him as Alzheimer's disease stole the father Jim loved so much. It is the story about not being able to celebrate the high point of a career with the man you know guided and nurtured you to that point.

You will notice that I refer to the author of this book by his first name. This is because I first met him when he was starting out on CBS Sports Golf Coverage and was surprised by how he treated everyone with open arms and kindness. I did not know him as Mr. Nantz, just Jim. He probably does not remember me at all, nor would I expect him to. I have not had the pleasure of seeing him since I the Washington, DC area over 14 years ago, but this new book opened a floodgate of memories that I had not thought of in a long time.

The book is at its absolute best when he is is telling the story of the relationship he has lived with his father, and of how specific people have been father figures and role models to him over the years. The book, thankfully, is not written to be a manipulative tear jerker. But when you read what he has written and weaved throughout the book, a reader would have to be lying if they say they were not moved in some way. Without giving away the ending, all I can say is that I was hit in the gut as much by the closing as I was with his personal disclosures in the first chapter.

The book is at it weakest when some things seem to be written just for the sake of getting names into the book so nobody would be forgotten. At one point, he quickly rattles off the names of a number of CBS Sports producers and directors in one sentence, without going into more detail of his relationship with them or how they fit into the whole growth of his career. At another point, he briefly mentions "research maven John Kollmansperger." Outside of anyone at CBS Sports or elsewhere that has worked with John (also known as JK), this has absolutely no meaning to ayone reading the book. Don't get me wrong, a lot of information readers of this book have seen presented on CBS Sports startiing back in 1987 came from JK's attention to detail. Without adding additional background on JK, readers will be left to scratch their heads.

There are also a couple of areas of the book that left me, as a reader, wondering. Very little is written about the relationship between Brent Musberger and Jim. Musberger's professionalism is noted, but nothing is said about the relationship between the two men and what Jim was REALLY thinking on April 1, 1990 when the axe fell.

And then there is Billy Packer. Jim refers to Packer as a good friend, but I can't help but feel he is throwing Packer under the bus in describing an incident when Packer was on his knees and knees picking up shards of broken backboard glass so that he could use them to cash in and make money. While Jim may have felt he wrote that to help explain what makes his longtime broadcast partner tick, it only shows a side of Packer that I have heard from many people who know him personally and drives their distaste for him.

Putting these things aside, or perhaps even considering them, readers will not be disappointed by this book. Who knew that Clint Eastwood made adult films, as described by Nantz? Does anyone really know, or remember, who besides Fred Couples he shared a room with in college? And who knew that the calm person we see in Jim Nantz really has enough chutzpah to walk up and ask for what he wants, without apology?

So if you should chose to read this book, and I really think you should, enjoy the stories from the sports world that Jim tells. More importantly, reflect on the relationship you have or had with your parents, and the relationship you want to have with your children. For make no mistake about it, Jim is hammering home how important it is for children to have a strong father in their lives. I do not know if I will be able to make it over to Sugarloaf next week for the AT&T Classic, but if I do, I will make it a point to seek out and thank Jim for this book and for this oh so important message.

I have always thought that Jim Nantz had one of life's greatest gigs. He gets to do The Super Bowl, The NCAA Basketball Tournament and The Masters in sequence as well as covering the PGA and the NFL for CBS. Not bad.

Little did any of us know that he did much of it while dealing with the loss of his Dad to Alzheimer's. This book recounts that episode in his life and tells of the anguish and the pain that this terrible disease inflicts on loved ones.

Before reading this book and learning more about Jim Nantz, his family and his life experiences it has always been clear to me that he is a genuine gentleman and a caring and thoughtful person. After reading it, this is confirmed in spades.

For those who have never had to experience the heartbreaking realization of what Alzheimer's does to it's victims and their families, this book will open your eyes and tug at your heart.

For those that just love to learn some of the inside stories of what it is like to be Jim Nantz and rub elbows with some of the most interesting people around this book delivers on that score as well.

For those who hope to pick up some dirt or gossip about some of the issues and people that Nantz has been associated with during his time at CBS Sports, you will be disappointed. He may kiss, but he dosen't tell. That's not the kind of person he is.

Nantz still has a long career ahead of him and this is not intended to be an autobiography. It opens a window on his life that he wanted to share, to honor his father and tell the world what he meant to him. It does that quite well.

I am sitting here watching the Today SHow this morning and I glance up and see your book being spoken about with some photos, and then I realize how familiar you are.

My husband and I saw you and your dad in Aruba last March, We watched as you took your dads arm and walked along with him thru the sand to the water.
I said to my husband, (who lost his dad in 06' and who had always said he wanted to take his father to our home away from home- ARUBA) "Look at that man, with his elderly father, taking his pictures, watching his every step, What a wonderful place to bring him to. "Lucky Him" was my husbands reply, and as he spoke that , with tears in my eyes, I got up and went over to you and asked if you wanted a picture together. I am not usually that assertive, but I felt that I had to go over to you.
I had no idea if you were his son , a friend or a caretaker..

I am so glad I did..
Best of Luck

Well, based on reading previous reader posts, I guess I need to read the final few chapters. I put this book down in disgust after reading 3/4 of the book. Why? I have read many inspirational, yet sad family stories. This wasn't one of them! Jim seems to focus more on his career aspirations and celebrity worship/influence...rather than the influence of his family.

As the summary states, Dad gets put away in a home, and the surrogate father (GW Bush and others) takes over and fills the void. Photos of wife and daughter, but little mention of wife's influence or devotion. After reading about Jim's recent divorce/affair...and his stated reason that his "wife lost interest in his career," - I kind of get it.

If you want anecdotal professional golf stories - then I wouldn't pass this up. However, looking for inspirational stories that that align with something you would read in TUESDAYS WITH MAURIE,... well, forget it. This book does like one with a more favorable impression of former President GW Bush.. I must add that point.

I was at the library with the kids a couple weeks ago perusing titles in the biography section when one caught my eye. It was Jim Nantz's book, "Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other."

As a fan of pretty much all sports, and recognizing the broadcaster's name, I decided to give it a shot. I thought it would be interesting to hear some of the behind the booth stories that Nantz must have to offer. I was not disappointed.

In the book Nantz interviews the story of his rise to broadcasting prominence with the story of his father's battle with Alzheimer's. Repeatedly Nantz recognizes his father as the most important influence in his life and the ties the lessons from his father with his career experiences.

It is clear that Nantz has a deep love for his father. As a reader you can feel the sadness as Nantz details how his father goes from a strong man full of wisdom and love, to, as he is described in the book, 'a tortured shell of a human, a nearly emptied vessel.'

The sports side of the book is very entertaining and laced with anecdotes from celebrities in golf, football and many other sports. Nantz offers glimpses into the lives of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nickalus, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, and many others. Nantz also shares many stories of his interactions with broadcasting colleagues and two former Presidents.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It felt like a great mix of personal reflection and sports. Nantz comes across as a passionate and generous man. I look forward to hearing him on air again soon.

This was a truly fun read, hard to put the book down. The walk down memory of the key sports events in our time with some background and fun facts. Truly a fun ride that my me think of fun times with my dad and things I wished we had done together.

Jim Nantz comes off in the broadcast booth, the golf tower, the pregame show and elsewhere as a straightforward person.

And he is, as this book shows through and through.

The premise is simple. Nantz becomes the first broadcast journalist to do the Super Bowl NCAA Final Four and Masters golf tournament in the same year.

Meanwhile, during the whole run, he's repeatedly wishing that his father, Jim Nantz II (bet you didn't know "our" Jim was No. 3), stricken with Alzheimer's, could be by his side at that time, rather than just on memories, and phone calls to a confused father who may not even always know he's talking to his son.

Nantz isn't a dirt-disher, and that's clear. He IS a praise-ladeler, though, something he says he learned from his dad. Beyond the obvious and expected hat tips he gives to folks like Dick Enberg, Jim McKay, and football and golf broadcast partners Phil Simms and Ken Venturi, some more surprising people get kudos, like Deion Sanders.

Nantz also shows how he's able to put people at ease when interviewing them, drawing in part on his father's personality and in part on his relationship with his dad.

He does this all without getting maudlin.

That said, I would have liked to have seen more emotional insight, if not maudlin-level gushing. Did Jim ever, one night during that 63-day sports run, just break down and cry? How emotionally exhausted was he the first day AFTER the Masters?

It's those things that keep this book from quite going over the top into five-star territory.

You don't need to be a sports fan to appreciate this book. Despite Nantz's carefully-worded prose about the Masters, Final Four, and the Super Bowl, this book is truly about the bond that he formed with his father.

The story takes us on a journey. Nantz discovers his passion for sports and wants to share each and every moment with his father. As his father drifts into the abyss of Alzheimer's disease, he is moved and touched by the 'little things' that his Dad showed him on the road of life. I had a grandma with Alzheimer's, so I definitely understand the emptiness one feels when a loved one is distant and fading.

A great gift for first-time or long-time Dads. The most important takeaways from this book are: Appreciate the time that you have and be generous and loving, especially to close famiy.

Dan Naden
http://www.dannaden.com

Like me Jim Nantz is from the Houston area, so based on that commonality I've always been a fan. This book details a professional career that's gone very right and a personal life that's posed one significant challenge. There are points where everything that is written, said, etc. has been so perfect that you just want a strong cup of black coffee to wash the sugary taste from your mouth. Then you read the challenges with his Dad and it makes you want to tip you hat to the man and hope that I would react in the same way that he's done.

Great behind-the-scenes and name-dropping book that makes a good summer read.

Nantz seems like a really good guy. And if you're a sports fan, you'll enjoy some of the behind the scenes and inside stories no doubt, as I did. But throughout I thought it was a bit self indulgent on Jim's part, and quite a bit schmaltzy. That is, overly sentimental. At least for my taste. Am I the only one felt that way ?