Books: Now I Can Die in Peace
By Kevin Horn
By now we all know "The Sports Guy" Bill Simmons and his love for the Boston Red Sox (as well as all things Boston). In the fall he published a book full of Red Sox columns, both from his old website and some that were posted on ESPN.com's Page 2.
The book starts off during the Nomar age of the Red Sox, where Simmons discusses how much he loves Nomar and how he could become a Boston "Pantheon" athlete. The columns then snake through Nomar's rise and falls while wearing a Red Sox uniform. All the dates the columns were posted are included, so you can see how the opinions of certain players change throughout the months/years. A great example of this is Carl Everett, who Sports Guy absolutely loves during his first month or two in Boston, then decidedly sours on later in that season when he head butts an umpire and proves to another fan base that he is positively insane. His hatred of Roger Clemens never seems to waver however.
By far the best part of the book is Simmons' editorial notes that he makes throughout the book. Throughout all his columns are simple little notes where he expands a bit on his previous points, taunts himself for making a poor prediction or, as he often does, responds with something not completely relevant or short. One of the charms of the Sports Guy is his ability to write simply like a normal person, sharing stories of his friends and family. He also shows an uncanny ability to laugh at himself and how things he writes turn out to be wrong. It's refreshing to find a writer with little to no ego.
I did however, have two problems with this book. The first is, while the subject is baseball, it is an almost 100% Red Sox book. There are mentions of other teams, but for the most part this book is completely slanted to the Sox. For Sox fans of course, this is great. I have slightly more love for the Red Sox than the Yankees, and even then it's close. If you are not a Red Sox fan, it is perhaps a tough read. The second problem is, a lot of it is material that I've already read. Although Simmons notes in the articles make an interesting read, in some cases it's not worth it.
If you are a fan of the Sports Guy, or want a slightly different perspective on the most recent trials and tribulations of the Red Sox franchise, this book is for you. Sports Guys writing is often refreshing and has a new angle, which doesn't happen often in the world of sports. I would recommend this book, unless you're a cynic like me, in which case it's a toss-up.
