The Worst of Sports: Chumps, Cheats, and Chokers from the Games We Love [Paperback]

Jesse Lamovsky (Author), Matthew Rosetti (Author), Charlie DeMarco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2007

TAKE THEM OUT OF THE BALL GAME–PLEASE!

From star running back Bryon “Bam” Morris’s interesting (and totally illegal) sideline career to the 1950s Kansas City A’s sneaky relationship with the New York Yankees; from French golfer Jean Van de Velde’s epic choke on 18 at the 1999 British Open to the infamous Cleveland Ten-Cent Beer Night riot of 1974; from Hungary’s bloody 1956 Olympic water polo match with the Soviet Union to the definitive analysis of basketball coach Larry Brown’s sartorial evolution and hoops maven Mike Fratello’s hair devolution–if it’s bad and sports related, then it’s likely in The Worst of Sports.

An uproarious collection of the most controversial and regrettable moments in major pro and college athletics, with a sprinkling of the obscure, The Worst of Sports is a compendium of abject failure, harebrained decision-making, avarice, and rank stupidity–in other words, the stuff that some athletes, and fans, are best at.

Whether you’re a casual fan or a face-painting zealot, you’ll find plenty to root for (or against) in The Worst of Sports.

“Original and funny, this book will entertain the pessimist that lurks in all of us who don’t root for the Yankees.”
–Mike Greenberg, author of Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A book this aimless and unorganized shouldn't be this irresistible, but great sportswriting trumps all. The authors—two write/edit online for a sports Web site, the third is a banker (!)—have pulled together a grab bag of intriguing, well-researched sports topics. There's the all-rotund pitching staff, which includes Mickey Lolich and Fernando Valenzuela. There's the list of franchise-killing losses, including the 1992 seventh-game Braves victory over the Pirates, who haven't recovered since. The list of worst trades, including Boston's Jeff Bagwell for Houston's Larry Anderson, and, of course, Brock for Broglio. And the list of the worst of grotesque injuries—don't ask. The Overrated section alone, which includes Joe Namath's career, Notre Dame football, and U.S.A. World Cup soccer, is enough to propel sports geeks through this book in a sitting or two. Irreverent humor makes this joy ride that much zippier. Moores, Alan

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345498917
• ISBN-13: 978-0345498915
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,627,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick Read - Very enjoyable!, October 28, 2007

By 

Brian Hall (Cambridge, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worst of Sports: Chumps, Cheats, and Chokers from the Games We Love (Paperback)

This book is a quick read and very entertaining. The stories bring back many memories from my childhood as well as memories of those 'not so great moments'that have left many sports fans shaking their heads.

It is the type of book that can be left on your coffee table to be read again and again.

With the upcoming Holiday season this would make for an inexpensive, but unforgettable gift for the 'sports junkie' in your life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stories, great writing, October 18, 2007

By 

Tom A "Phat Phree Phrequenter" (Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Worst of Sports: Chumps, Cheats, and Chokers from the Games We Love (Paperback)

These guys really know how to tell an entertaining story, and the research is phenomenal. Perfect book to keep on the back of the toilet tank (except that it is very hard to put down). Perfect gift for those whose hobbies include cynicism and schaudenfreude (or just plain laughing at idiots). Definite "strong buy."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart and funny, September 27, 2007

By 

Larry Lamovsky - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Worst of Sports: Chumps, Cheats, and Chokers from the Games We Love (Paperback)

This is a very funny book. It takes a light approach to a subject, sports, that is too often treated in a self conciously serious fashion.

It's also extremely well researched. The chapter on Marty Schottenheimer displays a keen knowledge of football, and in depth knowledge of some significant playoff games.

The books authors display impressive range. In the chapter; "Worst Trades" they range from baseball in the '70's:
"Mets trade Tom Seaver to Reds for Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, Dan Norman, and Pat Zachry- June 15, 1977"

To hockey: "The Flyers deal Peter Forsberg, Chris Simon, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, and Jocelyn Thibault (draft pick), cash and considerations to the Quebec Nordiques for the rights to Eric Lindros- June 30, 1992"

To the NBA: "St. Louis Hawks trade Bill Russell to Boston for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan." and on and on.

An impressive, funny, and enjoyable read.