Comments on: Built to Last http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/ Development site for Bronx Banter Blog's upcoming look and feel Sat, 18 May 2013 03:01:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Bruce Markusen http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106006 Bruce Markusen Fri, 07 May 2010 01:21:49 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106006 Alex, just wanted to point out that I wrote a bio of Clemente (Roberto Clemente: The Great One), and am myself half Puerto Rican on my mother's side. No one would know that from my name (which is Danish) or appearance (I am white), but names and appearances can be deceiving. For what it is worth. Alex, just wanted to point out that I wrote a bio of Clemente (Roberto Clemente: The Great One), and am myself half Puerto Rican on my mother’s side.

No one would know that from my name (which is Danish) or appearance (I am white), but names and appearances can be deceiving. For what it is worth.

]]> By: Jay Jaffe http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106005 Jay Jaffe Wed, 05 May 2010 18:55:27 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106005 [12] Not to take anything away from Russell, who's a fascinating guy, but Chamberlain was pretty interesting from an intellectual standpoint. I read the long-out of print David Shaw as-told-to (Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door) a couple times when I was in high school and college, and beyond the salacious stuff about his sex life, I remember there being plenty of good stuff about race, materialism, and especially about being publicly cast as the villain throughout his career and particularly in the rivalry with Russell. Leagues rewrote the rulebooks to stop him, and until he won a championship, fans piled on him for being a selfish stat-monger the way they piled on A-Rod. It was an eye-opener. [12] Not to take anything away from Russell, who’s a fascinating guy, but Chamberlain was pretty interesting from an intellectual standpoint. I read the long-out of print David Shaw as-told-to (Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door) a couple times when I was in high school and college, and beyond the salacious stuff about his sex life, I remember there being plenty of good stuff about race, materialism, and especially about being publicly cast as the villain throughout his career and particularly in the rivalry with Russell. Leagues rewrote the rulebooks to stop him, and until he won a championship, fans piled on him for being a selfish stat-monger the way they piled on A-Rod. It was an eye-opener.

]]> By: Yankee Mama http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106004 Yankee Mama Wed, 05 May 2010 17:25:18 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106004 [11] Sorry about that, AB. Nice observation, dude! [11] Sorry about that, AB. Nice observation, dude!

]]> By: Will Weiss http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106003 Will Weiss Wed, 05 May 2010 16:48:06 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106003 [10] The best parallel to make is Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain. A bio on Russell would probably be received at the same level as Bryant's book on Aaron. But anything about Chamberlain, for so many reasons including basketball, would have greater appeal because Wilt as a personality was more popular. Basketball-heads, I believe, would prefer to read about Russell over Wilt. I would too; he's more interesting from an intellectual standpoint. [10] The best parallel to make is Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain. A bio on Russell would probably be received at the same level as Bryant’s book on Aaron. But anything about Chamberlain, for so many reasons including basketball, would have greater appeal because Wilt as a personality was more popular. Basketball-heads, I believe, would prefer to read about Russell over Wilt. I would too; he’s more interesting from an intellectual standpoint.

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106002 Alex Belth Wed, 05 May 2010 16:27:20 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106002 8) I said that about writing about Flood, not Allen. 8) I said that about writing about Flood, not Allen.

]]> By: Bluenatic http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106001 Bluenatic Wed, 05 May 2010 16:25:23 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106001 [5] That's mostly it. Fair or unfair, Aaron's star just doesn't shine as brightly as Mays' does. Aaron also never played in New York. Beyond that, Mays did a bunch of high-profile publicity appearances in promotion of Hirsch's book, and I haven't heard anything about Aaron doing that. Bryant's book has a chance, sure. It will probably be a success. But like other just-released bios on Musial and Kaline, I don't think it will hit the list. I hope I'm wrong. [5] That’s mostly it. Fair or unfair, Aaron’s star just doesn’t shine as brightly as Mays’ does. Aaron also never played in New York. Beyond that, Mays did a bunch of high-profile publicity appearances in promotion of Hirsch’s book, and I haven’t heard anything about Aaron doing that.

Bryant’s book has a chance, sure. It will probably be a success. But like other just-released bios on Musial and Kaline, I don’t think it will hit the list.

I hope I’m wrong.

]]> By: Yankee Mama http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-106000 Yankee Mama Wed, 05 May 2010 16:13:23 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-106000 [6] I agree about the pandering articles. His work somethimes feels a little overwritten, but I think he threads his ideas well. [6] I agree about the pandering articles.

His work somethimes feels a little overwritten, but I think he threads his ideas well.

]]> By: Yankee Mama http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105999 Yankee Mama Wed, 05 May 2010 16:09:46 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105999 One thing I found interesting is Barra's comment about his experience writing about Flood's life as a black player in the deep south was largely intellectual, whereas Bryant would be better able to relate to Aaron's life through his empathy and sensitivity. Still, I think Bryant is a decent writer, a fine reporter, who I enjoy reading and I'm not entirely sure why this book won't land him on the bestseller list. So far, Aaron's biography has been well-received, especially by his peers. One thing I found interesting is Barra’s comment about his experience writing about Flood’s life as a black player in the deep south was largely intellectual, whereas Bryant would be better able to relate to Aaron’s life through his empathy and sensitivity.

Still, I think Bryant is a decent writer, a fine reporter, who I enjoy reading and I’m not entirely sure why this book won’t land him on the bestseller list. So far, Aaron’s biography has been well-received, especially by his peers.

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105998 Alex Belth Wed, 05 May 2010 16:09:06 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105998 I think of Mays much as I think of Brando. They are both genius' at what they did, but seem like such shitheads in real life I don't know that I'd be compelled to read about them. That said, several people I trust have raved about Hirsch's book. I think of Mays much as I think of Brando. They are both genius’ at what they did, but seem like such shitheads in real life I don’t know that I’d be compelled to read about them. That said, several people I trust have raved about Hirsch’s book.

]]> By: Jay Jaffe http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105997 Jay Jaffe Wed, 05 May 2010 16:02:34 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105997 I've got mixed emotions about Bryant. On the one hand, I think he did a great job researching and reporting in Shut Out and Juicing the Game, though his actual prose is often somewhat labored. On the other hand, some of the recent stuff he's written over at ESPN regarding steroids — the leaks on guys like Sosa, Ramirez and Ortiz — has been some of the most sickening, pandering bullshit from a guy who certainly should know better, having dug as deep as he did for Juicing. Having said that, it's something of a relief to read good words about his Aaron book, because Aaron certainly deserves a good, definitive bio, and Bryant's first two books position him ideally to tackle his subject. I look forward to reading it. I’ve got mixed emotions about Bryant. On the one hand, I think he did a great job researching and reporting in Shut Out and Juicing the Game, though his actual prose is often somewhat labored. On the other hand, some of the recent stuff he’s written over at ESPN regarding steroids — the leaks on guys like Sosa, Ramirez and Ortiz — has been some of the most sickening, pandering bullshit from a guy who certainly should know better, having dug as deep as he did for Juicing.

Having said that, it’s something of a relief to read good words about his Aaron book, because Aaron certainly deserves a good, definitive bio, and Bryant’s first two books position him ideally to tackle his subject. I look forward to reading it.

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105996 Alex Belth Wed, 05 May 2010 15:42:18 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105996 4) Good point. Why don't you think Bryant's book will get there? Because Aaron doesn't have the star power of Mays? Just curious about that. 4) Good point. Why don’t you think Bryant’s book will get there? Because Aaron doesn’t have the star power of Mays? Just curious about that.

]]> By: Bluenatic http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105995 Bluenatic Wed, 05 May 2010 15:31:34 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105995 [1] His response, if any, should be to point at the New York Times bestseller list, which his book hit and which Bryant's isn't likely to. I'll read 'em both, though. [1] His response, if any, should be to point at the New York Times bestseller list, which his book hit and which Bryant’s isn’t likely to. I’ll read ‘em both, though.

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105994 Alex Belth Wed, 05 May 2010 15:30:27 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105994 Which one is Mailer and which one is Vidal? Which one is Mailer and which one is Vidal?

]]> By: Jon DeRosa http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105993 Jon DeRosa Wed, 05 May 2010 15:20:03 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105993 [1] Bryant and Hirsch can have the fight Aaron and Mays never had! [1] Bryant and Hirsch can have the fight Aaron and Mays never had!

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/05/05/built-to-last/#comment-105992 Alex Belth Wed, 05 May 2010 14:56:57 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=33234#comment-105992 I'm curious if Hirsch will have any public response about this. I’m curious if Hirsch will have any public response about this.

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