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Title: Is This a Great Game, or What?: From A-Rod's Heart to Zim's Head---My 25 Years in Baseball
ISBN: 0312362242
Author:
Tim Kurkjian
Publicate Date: 2008-05-27
Publish: 2008-05-27
List Price: $14.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $8.36
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $8.25
Amazon Merchant Price: $10.17
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| Customer Review: |
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1: One Of The Most Entertaining Baseball Books Ever
Tim Kurkjian had a name and face I recognized from a few appearances on ESPN but I really didn't know much about him until this book. Now, if I hear Kurkjian is going to be on shortly to talk baseball, I keep the channel where it is because I don't want to miss what he has to say. Suddenly, he was my favorite baseball commentator.
Not only is Kurkjian totally honest, but he's insightful, really knows the game, has a lot of common sense, and with this little kid-squeaky voice, he's fun to hear. There's only one thing better: this book, in which almost every page is entertaining, filled with short stories.
The more you love baseball, the more you'll enjoy this book and the author, who isn't afraid to say anything that pokes fun at himself, such as being such a statistics nerd. I mean, who else has clipped out all the boxscores of baseball games and kept them in a book for 30-plus years?
There is hardly a topic he doesn't discuss in here, from weird players to steroids. Some of the topics are ones I have never read elsewhere, such as ballplayers dealing with fear when coming to the plate, just like Little Leaguers. Still, most of the book is humorous and I lost count how many times I laughed out loud.
Kurkjian is someone who obviously loves his job, talking and writing about baseball.....and it shows on every page..
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2: OK
I like Tim Kurkjian. I listen to him on Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio. I see him on Baseball Tonight. He seems like an imminently likable guy. And, like another reviewer, I really wanted to like this book. I'd put off reading Game of Shadows until this summer and I thought, "What better book to read about the good side of baseball after reading about the, well, shadowy side of baseball of Barry Bonds and others cheating via steroids?"
That said, I tried three times to finish this book but just couldn't do it. The stories are just too rah-rah, sis-boom-bah for me.
Kurkjian clearly loves what he does and some of his stories are great. But others, whether they are true or not although I have no reason to doubt the gist of them, are just silly. For example, with a child's gleam Kurkjian goes on about how intensely competitive Cal Ripken, Jr. is; he's so competitive, in fact, that during his Iron Man streak he challenged steep steps in single bounds at the risk of turning an ankle and therefore ruining his consecutive-game streak. I'm not sure this story is one to be admired. Other stories include players that risk injury "for the love of the game." I shouldn't tell Ripken or any professional ballplayer what to do; my point is that Kurkjian's stories are so glossy that he fails to look objectively sometimes. Some of the stories of greatness could easily qualify the player for a diagnosis of OCD.
But then, maybe that's why I'm a schmuck and Kurkjian is on TV and Ripken's a Hall-of-Famer.
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3: Yes, it's a great game --and a terrific book--
This book was extremely enjoyable and I highly recommend it to any baseball fan. Kurkjian writes with passion and love for the game of baseball. His stories are delightful: from the player (I think Jay Bell)who never heard of Mickey Mantle to the kid who gets an autograph from "some guy Stan Musiel or something" to Cal Ripken's extreme competitiveness, you will laugh out loud. He also has a scary, but interesting chapter on hitters and pitchers who get hit by the baseball and how they react. I cannot recommend this too highly.
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4: Baseball made fun
This is a great book. For those fans of Tim Kurkijan, you can't go wrong on this read. Bought it for my husband, not only did he enjoy it, but I did too. great wit and a real fun book.
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5: A great reminder of why you love baseball
Long-time baseball writer and commentator Tim Kurkjian shares a great collection of off-beat and insightful baseball stories in his book. Kurkjian's love for the game and what he does comes through loud and clear.
Kurkjian covers a wide range of topics, including scouts, coaches, managers, spring training, being hit by the pitch, humorous incidents and much more. His stories are fresh, tightly written and entertaining.
This book focuses on all the reasons why you love baseball and why you know it's the best sport.
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