Dan Shaughnessy Boeken

"Drawing on unprecedented access and personal experiences that would not be possible for any reporter today, Shaughnessy takes us inside the legendary Larry Bird-led Celtics teams, capturing the camaraderie as they rose to dominate the NBA. Fans can witness the cockiness of Larry Bird (who once walked into an All Star Weekend locker room, announced that he was going to win the three-point contest, and did); the ageless athleticism of Robert Parish; the shooting skills of Kevin McHale; the fierce, self-sacrificing play of Bill Walton; and the playful humor of players like Danny Ainge, Cedric Cornbread Maxwell, and M.L. Carr."--

The intense rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is explored through the lens of the infamous "game of the century" in 2003. Dan Shaughnessy revisits the longstanding curse that haunted the Red Sox since they traded Babe Ruth in 1920. He recounts memorable blunders and classic moments, like Johnny Pesky's hesitation throw and Bill Buckner's notorious error, illuminating the team's struggles before their eventual triumph. This engaging narrative captures the essence of baseball folklore and the emotional highs and lows of the sport.

Focusing on his son Sam's senior year of high school, the author explores the pivotal moments in their father-son relationship. Drawing from his own childhood experiences and interactions with legendary athletes like Ted Williams and Larry Bird, he reflects on the profound impact of sports as a rite of passage in American culture. This narrative intertwines personal growth and nostalgia, highlighting the bonds formed through shared experiences in the world of sports.