Andy: I’ve never been known as a “bookworm.” Give me a newspaper, and I’m happy; give me a novel, and I’m usually looking for the exit. This goes all the way back to my childhood. My parents, desperate to get me to read anything besides the daily box scores, got me a subscription to The Sporting News when I was eight. For the next two decades, I read it cover-to-cover every single week.
Now that I’m retired, two things have changed: I’ve finally found a genuine interest in books, and I actually have the time to enjoy them. If you’re looking for your next sports-centric read, here are three that kept me turning the pages.
1. Feherty by John Feinstein ⛳️
This is a fascinating, no-holds-barred look at the life of David Feherty—the pro golfer turned legendary analyst. Feinstein doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. The book is part tragic and part hilarious, tracing Feherty’s life from his childhood in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles” all the way to his jump to the LIV tour.
Feherty has faced some incredible personal demons and seeing what he has overcome to achieve his level of success is truly remarkable. It’s a hard book to put down—captivating for any golf fan, but honestly, just a great human story.
2. My Day With The Cup by Jim Lang 🏒
Every hockey fan knows the dream: winning the Stanley Cup and bringing it back to your hometown. But did you know this tradition only started in 1995 with the New Jersey Devils?
This book follows players from 18 different championship teams as they take “Lord Stanley” on the road. There are strict rules (the Cup must always be with an official keeper), and the stories of it traveling to places like Russia, Latvia, and Slovakia are brilliant. Seeing the reactions of the local townspeople when the Cup rolls into town is what sports is all about. A must-read for the hockey faithful.
3. Dandy Don Meredith by Dave Lieber 🏈
My earliest memories of “Dandy Don” aren’t from the field—he retired from the NFL in 1968—but from the iconic Monday Night Football booth alongside Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell.
This book pulls back the curtain on a man who was incredibly private despite being a massive public figure. It covers his journey from East Texas to overcoming polio, becoming a two-time All-American at SMU, and eventually leading the Dallas Cowboys during their foundational years. It’s a well-written, intimate look at a true legend of the game.
The McKinney Connection: Leesl and I actually had the chance to attend a live reading of this book right here in McKinney! Getting to hear the author, Dave Lieber, speak about Don’s life really brought the stories to life. It’s a well-written, intimate look at a true legend of the game.
The Final Pour
It’s been a fun shift moving from the morning paper to these deep dives into sports history. While I still love my daily box scores, these three books proved that sometimes the best stories happen away from the scoreboard. Since I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite among them, I’m giving the whole trio a clean sweep!
My Pint & Playbook Scorecard:
- Feherty: 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 (A Full Pour)
- My Day With The Cup: 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 (A Full Pour)
- Dandy Don Meredith: 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 (A Full Pour)
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