Christmas is approaching, but this column isn’t my attempt at duplicating some box store by bringing out the decorations obscenely early, thus killing the feel-good effect of December rolling around.
My reason for bringing up the holiday season is that now is the time to start dropping major hints to your better half as to which newly released soccer related books you’d like under the tree.
In my house a ‘hint’ essentially means handing over a list of the exact titles I want, and then ‘hinting’ that this is honestly what I want, and that the self-improvement book she may have seen on Ellen would not be received kindly.
Here is my list:
Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography
This could have been titled “Alex Ferguson: My Latest.” After all, there have been several books on old Fergie. I wonder if 2000’s “Managing My Life: The Autobiography” and 2010’s “Football, Bloody Hell: the Biography of Alex Ferguson” contain any other window’s into the Scotsman’s soul that the latest edition doesn’t? Maybe I’ll ask for all three.
The press has sensationalized the juice this week, from Fergie’s thoughts on Roy Keane to David Beckham to Wayne Rooney. Even poor old Owen Hargreaves gets hammered, which I just know hurts many a Canadian fan. Having had all these stories ruined for me already, I still hope to read the book and get some tidbits on the David Belion signing, Fabian Barthez’s wag stories and of course just what happened between Fergie and Jonjo Shelvey on that infamous night a year ago. Talk about page turners.
Joking aside, this is a book I need to read, and cannot wait.
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Dennis Bergkamp – Stillness and Speed: My Story
Bergkamp is one of those players that has very few critics. Even the most hardened of basement dwelling keyboard warriors would have difficulty finding a reason to dislike the flying Dutchman.
There’s no point detailing just how great of a player Bergkamp was, but I am extremely interested in learning about Bergkamp the man. On the surface he seems very different from your average footballer, and I expect that to be verified in these pages.
Above all else, I’m dying to find out the truth regarding his fear of flying.
Harry Redknapp – Always Managing: My Autobiogrpahy
I think I prefer the “My Story” feel over the “My Autobiography” titles. “My Autobiography” comes off as a little pretentious, no? It also just confirms that the author isn’t able to actually write his own book, and used a ghost writer. That of course shouldn’t come as any surprise to Redknapp followers; after all much of his defence in last year’s tax evasion trial was that he was basically illiterate.
Redknapp is a fascinating character. His charisma has often overshadowed his ability to coach football teams. Much of the good stuff from this book has already been serialized in the Daily Mail which is a shame, but I’m confident that what is left will be just as interesting.
Sid Lowe – Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Madrid
We had the opportunity to talk to Sid on our debut edition of the Soccer Central podcast this past week, it sounds like a fascinating read that delves inside one of the world’s great rivalries, and is truly one of those events that transcends sports.
James is the host of Soccer Central, airing Monday to Thursday and Sunday on Sportsnet World and Sportsnet ONE at 7pm ET. Follow James on Twitter.