Customer Reviews

The Best of Frank Deford: I'm Just Getting Started...

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Frank Deford is a brilliant writer, not to mention, probably the single greatest sports' writer on the planet. He just takes sports' writing to a higher level. The Best of Frank Deford will prove this.

This book showcases some of Deford's best work as a journalist. Although some of the articles are a little dated, his style and amazing use of language still shines. The pieces included in this book are easily some of the best writng available. Any inspiring journalist could learn a great deal from this collection of writings.

Deford never holds anything back, and he is never afraid to speak his mind. I personally enjoyed the in-depth look at Bobby Knight. But, there are many other treasures in this candid book.

Overall, this is an excellent book and quite a fast read. Deford's witty and extremely articulate writing style allows you to flow right through the book. This is a masterpiece of writing, and a true pleasure for any sports' fan. The Best of Frank Deford is simply the best.

Frank Defors is arguably one of the most gifted sports writers and commentators of our times. He is able to stand back and see the big picture. this compilation of Deford's NPR spots and columns spans a wide array of sports and sports figures. I think he is best when he profiles the people in sports. There are pieces on Pete Rose, Bobby Knight, Bill Russell, Keith VanHorn and those we may not know as well. What I like best is his obvious affection for and knowledge of the history of sports. The pieces in this book ars short enough that you can skip the ones which don't grab you immediately. His outlook is wry and affectionate. Some of these pieces are Deford at his best. The majority are merely good.

Frank Deford is a most articulate, persuasive, engaging writer---perhaps the finest sports journalist writing today.

The collection of articles and commentaries contained in "I'm Just Getting Started" are from 1980 to 1999 and touch on every aspect of sports.

You get insight, irony, humor, commentary, entertainment, nostalgia and optimism as you turn the pages---all delivered in a most literate manner.

The essay on Bill Russell alone is worth the price of admission. "Frank Deford Goes Bowling" is an intriguing take on a subject seldom written up in sports pages.

Enjoyable for more than sports fans.

For anyone who enjoys Deford's witty, literate commentaries on sports and society-or those who haven't had the pleasure of reading his work-this book is a great introduction!
I have to agree that Deford's best work is found in his longer magazine articles. His work for 'Sports Illustrated' alone could fill a few volumes, and the best pieces in this volume are those 'SI' stories already mentioned by other reviewers. Personally, I would have preferred more articles and fewer NPR essays. The shorter, 'intended for broadcast' commentaries are sort of a 'Reader's Digest Condensed' version of Deford's wit and wisdom-tantalizing glimpses that leave the reader wishing he had more room to elaborate!
I especially recommend "When There Were Still Elusive Barriers"(about Bannister and Hillary), and "Got to Do Some Coachin'" (the brilliant play that encapsulizes the turbulent personal life of Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson).

I love listening to Frank Deford on NPR. He gets to the heart of the matter and uses such great vocabulary. I am not a sports fan but, as a High School teacher and Wife & Mother of 2 sports aficionados, I am interested in the History and modern day controversies that go on in sports, so I can periodically speak with some credibility with my constituents.

I bought this book for my 15 year old son, who had never heard of Deford, but is a fan of Rick O'Reilly. He loved this book and could not put it down. He has added Deford to his list of favorite writers.

My son who never met a sport he wouldn't try at least, loved this book. It was a Christmas gift, and he spent all afternoon reading it. The short essay format, similar to De Ford's radio programs, makes for a varied reading experience. and the range of subjects was, like the shows, endlessly fascinating.

DeFord continues to offer fresh looks at sports on his weekly NPR feature. In this collection of essays, he reveals himself as a fine writer, as well as an outspoken observer of the sport scene. The selection presented here should have something of interest for fans of every sport. It covers the entire field. I am completely satisfied with this book; but I am in my 80s. I give it a satisfactory rating--rather than outstanding--because it is pretty dated. The topics and athletes it covers may not mean as much to the reader who is under 50. It really would sell better in a mass market edition.

I first became acquainted with Frank Deford's writing when I read his book Alex: The Life of a Child. This book is among the best books I have ever read, reverberating not only with personal honesty and passion but written with all the love of a father for the daughter he is losing. There doesn't seem to be a false note anywhere in this book. I have re-read this book many, many times. It was this book which motivated me to read every book and column of Deford's I could get my hands on. Writing the way he does is a gift, an art, and reading his words often leaves me feeling transfixed, enlightened and emotionally moved...and played no small part in our decision to adopt a child from Romania, our own small miracle.

Athletes are a strange breed. Most of them ruin their lives over sports, because they don't realize their minds offer them other ways to engage the world. Imagine then, the 'frustrated athlete,' who never had a chance to go professional, and instead wants to spend the rest of his life talking, and talking and talking about sports. Worse still is Frank Deford, the most prissy, irritating east-coaster who fits in that category; every over-mannered word that comes out of his mouth is excruciating. He just loves to find exagerrated, cosmic meaning in the tossing around of balls. When he comes on NPR I cannot reach the off button quickly enough. One wouldn't think this would provide a viable career, but there he is.

One of the more boring and ill-thought out books I have read this decade. Deford is somewhat of a moron, yet thinks he is the gift to planet earth. I would not recommend reading this at all. I can't believe I gobbled it up at a used book store.