Customer Reviews

The Mad Dog 100: The Greatest Sports Arguments of All Time

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

As an avid listener of the mad dog's radio program, I really wanted to read his book. After all, he plugged it at every possible moment on air for three months. It must be good, right? Not really.

This book is not for the hard core sports fan. At the same time, I can't imagine a casual sports fan picking it up either. At every turn of the page there was one big problem - no depth. There was no subject that grabbed a hold of me and consequently, I found the book boring.

Too much SF Giants and NY Yankees. He had no thoughts that made me even remotely interested. How would mad dog change the NHL? Everyone knows the dog doesn't even watch the NHL! Not even in the playoffs. Get rid of the blue line! Why didn't I think of that? I was really looking for the fire that makes his radio show special. Maybe all of those years being bored having to listen to Mike have finally taken their toll. About the only chapter I found interesting was the one where he recommends his favorite sports books. I plan on reading the ones on his list that I missed. I doubt this book will make anyone's list.

Sorry Doggie.

A long time listener of Mike and the Mad Dog radio, nothing gets me in a better mood driving on weekday afternoons that Mad Dog's high octane, intense viewpoints on everything sports. Needless to say, I was pretty excited when the Mad Dog 100 was released.

His book is vintage Mad Dog. Tackling 100 arguments of sports on a surprisingly wide and thorough range of topics, he provides arguments that are reasonable, if not correct (everyone has their own opinion), and presents many hidden factors or facts that fans don't often realize. A few reasons in particular why I liked it...

1. Not too technical. An earlier reviewer said that Mad Dog's analysis was "watered down", meaning they only scratched the very basics of a topic. I think this is actually a good thing. Why? I could follow arguments and enjoy the commentary on sports I don't know much about, such as football or track. Going into too much detail will alienate much of the book for many readers, besides it's 300 pages even with basic arguments.

2. The hidden factors. I mentioned this before- on seemingly every topic, the Dog brings up relevant facts that the reader (at least I was) wasn't aware of... the "I didn't think of that" kind of fact. For example- the fact that Gherig batted once and took the rest off the day off several times to extend his consecutive games streak, while Ripken's playing every day ofteh hurt his team but occurred because of Ripken's drive for the record are two factors in the streak debate (which was better?) that most non-religious baseball followers don't realize.

3. The authority factor. I like the fact that the Mad Dog will admit when he knows little about a sport or topic and won't try to ram an argument down your throat for these (although he will for everything else :)- he won't try to dissect a topic he knows nothing about. Same goes for his time period- Mad Dog states several times he won't comment as critically on players or periods before his time, and I respect him for that. I don't need a guy who's forty five-ish trying to examine the ins and outs of Christy Matheson's game because he wasn't even born yet- Mad Dog understands that.

I'll be the first to tell you that Mad Dog isn't right about every topic, and he can be more than a bit stubborn. But reading the book, I fully realized how smart the guy is in sports- even if you think he's wrong, he's going to bring up some aspects of ANY argument you might not have thought of. So enjoy Mad Dog 100, it's a lot of fun for those of us who ponder the great sports arguments and love talking about em...

The title of the book is partly misleading, because the 100 chapters are not so much devoted to the greatest sports arguments of all time, but 100 issues/topics of particular interest to Chris "Mad Dog" Russo phrased in the form of a question. More than a few of the topics are opportunities for Russo to vent his opinions and/or suggestions on a particular sports issue, although the bulk of the book does focus on argument issues that most sports enthusiasts have participated in one time or another. One drawback is that many lists of greatest players or games is limited to Russo's personal history, dating back to the 1960s, although a few old timers occasionally pop up in the essays.

Russo has his biases, and some of his analyses are questionable. For example, batting average is given far greater emphasis than the more reliable on base percentage for evaluating players. Some of his picks will create controversy, and some bewilderment. For example, selecting the 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff as one of the greatest when the starters, excepting Sandy Koufax, barely won more than they lost, or choosing Sammy Sosa, over Ruth, McGwire, or Bonds, as the guy you would choose when you needed a home run for one at bat. He does deserve more than a few kudos, however, when he appears to be going against the crowd when bypassing Michael Jordan as the top pick in a few categories; real sports fans agree with him that Jordan's selection by ESPN as greatest 20th century athlete was questionable. Also, selecting Alex Rodriguez over Honus Wagner as the greatest shortstop may rustle the feathers of oldtimers, but its a bold choice.

The book may have benefitted by including more statistics to back up some selections, and also including some additional background information on a few of the athletes discussed, but overall it was a quick and enjoyable read.

I have loaned this book out to three friends who all listen to Mad Dog's radio show, and we agree. This book stinks! The writing is juvenile, the ideas insipid, and the style awful. The best thing I can say about the book is that it's short. It didn't take me long to flip through the pages (most of them have lots of empty space on them) and reach the end. The arguments are short because Russo has no facts to back them up, only opinions. Russo's opinions stand alone about as well as a flamingo in a hurricane.

This is the perfect gift for a sports-nut who doesn't read, or for people who need kindling for their fireplace.

Having listened to Chris Russo since he was on little WMCA radio and watching him move on to WFAN, I was curious to see his writing prowess since his on-the-air vocabulary gets a bit jumbled sometimes. This is what I like about him, he seems down to earth and more like the callers to his show than other big ego radio talk show hosts. I decided to make the plunge and actually bought two items (the other is a great video for Little League parents called: "Backyard Baseball Drills"). The beauty of this book is that Russo writes the way he speaks. It will never make Oprah's recommended list but some of the arguments are real just like when I was a kid, discussing Mays vs Mantle. My favorite was the Dimaggio-Williams debate. This is a nice read that you can put down and pick up whenever, be it in the "can" or on the beach. Recommended!

For anyone who has grown up playing or watching all sports like me- this is a MUST read. Whether you agree with Dog or not,you're on the phone all night with friends argueing the best sports debates of all-time. Being a high school basketball coach, this book will make my 3 hr bus trips & delays in airports be much more enjoyable. The discussions will last for hours.
Dog- you put out a bible for sports buffs that not only has plenty of "BARK", but what a "BITE". Great job!! I'll be looking for your next read.

Chris Russo deliveres big time in his first attempt at writing a book. His knowledge and passion for all sports easily shines through. I learned many details that I never knew about some of the sporting worlds' most memorable moments. I also love the format of the book which allows you to browse and read in the order you would like. I have been stuck inside all memorial day weekend and Russo's work got me through it. All Mike & the Mad Dog fans must read this book. Non-listeners should run out and buy it as well. Way to go Mad Dog, not too bad for a Giant fan!

You know those great ballpark conversations you have with your Dad, or your brother or your best buddy during a pitching change in the sixth inning? That's what this book is like. Russo collects all those arguments that never quite get resolved between two sports fans. The Dog gives his take. He's smart, and sometimes he's even right-except about the salary cap.
Then it's your turn.
Reading this book (and you won't be able to put it down) is your excuse to pick up the phone and say "Hey, Dad, remember that story you always tell about the tape measure homer that Mickey Mantle hit against Kansas City? Well, I just got this new book and Chris Russo agrees with you that Mickey has more power than anybody. But I've got to still go with Sammy Sosa because..."
So buy the book, and then call home.

Of course, I would expect a book about sports "arguments" to show a little bias, but sometimes he gets a little ridiculous. I'll keep it simple with just one example: the Rangers & Islanders as hockey's greatest rivalry!?! Does he really expect anyone outside of New York to agree with him (or many hockey fans in New York like me, for that matter)? Habs and Leafs, I guess you can take your eight decades and nealy forty combined cups elsewhere...because apparently the greatest rivalry belongs to the worst of the Original 6 and an expansion team.

Radio host Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo takes a look at 100 different sports questions and controversies in this readably engaging 2003 book. Who was the greatest all-time center fielder? Linebacker? Golfer? Tennis star? What were the top championship teams in baseball, the NFL, NBA, and NHL? Should the DH stay or go? Are pro athletes overpaid? What is the USA's best sports town? Russo examines these and many other questions, injecting fact and lore with his very opinionated answers. You'll probably agree with him many times, and disagree at other times. At least that's how it was with myself and doubtless many other readers. Sadly, Russo foolishly ignores walks, on-base-percentage and defense when rating ballplayers. His statement that Willie Mays may have been the greatest defensive CF ignores how many observers rated contemporaries Curt Flood and Jim Landis ahead with the glove (but obviously not as hitters). In his look at top quarterbacks, Russo rates Joe Montana (tops) and Terry Bradshaw (4th), yet ignores that they benefitted from great teamates, unlike John Elway, Archie Manning, John Hadl, Dan Fouts, etc. Also, Russo's recommendations for fixing college sports probably could be simplified into one simple rule - all college jocks redeem their scholarships and matriculate AFTER they're playing careers end. At any rate, Russo's arguments and opinionated views are engaging, and sure to inspire at least a few hard-to-settle debates.