The best sports books of 2022
The best sports books of 2022 are listed. They are books that added something special and unique to our understanding, knowledge and appreciation for the games we love. The list is not exhaustive.
Jeff Pearlman is the New York Times best selling author. His previous subjects include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Brett Favre and Walter Payton. He's also explored the rise and demise of the USFL, the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of 1990s and the 1986 New Yorkers.
Bo was a Hall of Famer in football and baseball. He was the subject of the popular ‘90s Nike “Bo Knows” ad campaign. Bo suffered a hip injury that took him off the trajectory of being a great player.
The Banner has read and discussed the biography of Jim Thorpe, written by David Maraniss. Jim is considered by many to be the greatest athlete who ever lived. He played Major League Baseball and professional football in the league that would later become the NFL. He was an archetype, a gifted athlete and a stereotype. Maransiss wrote in his preface that Thorp was the foundation story of American sports.
"Blood in the Garden: The History of the 1990s New York Knicks" by Chris Herring is a must-read for any fan of pro basketball in that era. The Knicks were coached by Pat Riley and featured Patrick Ewing, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley and John Starks. They didn't win a world championship, but they came close in 1994 and 1999. They also gave us a glimpse of Tim Duncan. Herred delves into Riley's background as a kid who was beaten up by neighborhood bullies in his hometown.
"True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson" by Kostya Kennedy is a new look at the life of the baseball player who integrated Major League Baseball in 1947. The book focuses on four distinct years in Robinson's life starting in 1946 and ending in 1972.
The rise of the Black quarterback is not a new phenomenon. It started in 1987 with Doug Williams winning MVP accolades in Super Bowl XXII. Today's Black quarterbacks are Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Geno Smith, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson. There are many books on the subject. They include "Rise of The Black Quarterback: What It Means For America" by Jason Reid, "The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II" and "Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski"
“Black Market: An Insider’s Journey into the High-Stakes World of College Basketball” by Merl Code, “The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II,‚‘Rickey: The Life of an American Original, by Howard Bryant, and ‘Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski, by Ian O Connor.
