Description
Book SynopsisIn a career that has spanned over thirty five years, Ray Didinger has seen and written about every sport, team, and athlete that has made a mark in American and the world. In this collection of profiles, articles, and columns from his days in the Bulletin, the Daily News and through his current life on television and film, Ray Didinger takes his readers to the major moments and events that have measure the life of sports in Philadelphia, this country, and the world.
Trade Review"There is no city in America where voices of reason are in greater need-and shorter supply-than Philadelphia. Fortunately, Ray Didinger has been stepping forward for more than three decades to serve as a paragon of sanity in a town where panic is always just a missed field goal away. As this book so beautifully reminds us, Ray has always had a knack for being as eloquent as he is professional. So who the heck cares if it took him a little longer to find just the right words? One Last Read proves once and for all that it was worth the wait."
—Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer for ESPN.com and longtime Philadelphia Inquirer baseball writer and columnist
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Introduction
Part One: The Home Town Teams
The Eagles
1. Bednarik's Legend Etched in Concrete
2. Vince Papale Ain't Just Another Bum from the Neighborhood Anymore
3. Wilbert has a Mom that Frets
4. A Real Philadelphia Kind of Win
5.. Introducing Tommy McDonald at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
6. The New Dick Vermeil - Who is He?
7. Reggie White
The Phillies
8. Phillies are Rosel-less and Red-Faced
9. Maddox Takes Ride of His Life
10. Walk-ing into the Series Spotlight
11. McGraw's Retirement Tugs at Heartstrings
12. The End is Here
13. Lieberthal Receiving Good Reviews
The Flyers
14. For Hard Luck Parent, Another Damaging Blow
15. Stickle: It Could have been Worse
16. In Flin Flon, They Knew He'd be Great
17. Hextall's Goal Always was to be in Goal
18. Flyer's Shining Moment Tarnished Before Game
The Sixers
19. Moses Makes His Private Life Most Valuable
20. This One's for You, Jack McMahon
21. Erving Can't Make Sense of It All
22. Barkley Uncomfortable with Life in the Glare of the Spotlight
Part Two: American Sports at Home and in the World
Football
23. The Black Athlete: Jackie Robinson? He Wasn't the First
24. America's Team: Cowboys Corral a Nation
25. Montana Magic
26. The Shulas Always have Felt at Home Near the Gridiron
27. Elevating Frankford
28. Just a Truck Drivin' Man
29. Passing of the Chief Marks the End of an Era
30. Larry Brown: King of the Hill
Baseball
31. Aaron's Numbers Speak for Him
32. Munson: A Man of No Frills
33. The 500 Club
34. Fernando has been Touched by God
Olympics
35. Thorpe Nets Golden Debt
36. Decker Runs Armed with a Killer Instinct
37. Huber Junks Diet for Taste of Gold
38. Teti Always Seems to Stand Out on Rowing Team
1980 - The Year That Was
39. A Cure for America's BluesIs Rosie a Real Winner?
40. Flyers Lose to Islanders in the Stanley Cup Finals
41. “The Officials Killed Us,” Snider Sizzles
42. Fans Roar Tells Jack He's Back
43. Winning Makes It All Worthwhile
44. Duran Calls It Quits
45. A Real Philadelphia Kind of Win
46. Jim Plunkett's Journey Ends in Triumph
Part Three: Facts and Opinion
Profiles
47. Alcorn's Battle Over
48. Jim Tyrer Story Ultimate Tragedy
49. Their Hearts Belong to Daddy Mass
50. Hard Man to Please, Tough Man to Beat
51. Sugar Ray Pulls People Together
52. Waterboy Reaches Hall of Fame
53. Best of All Time?: Bird's Genius Puts Him in Rarified Aire
54. Climbing Capitol Hill
55. Abolition of Boxing Wouldn't be Jake
56. I'm not a Whiner
Opinion
57. Phillies Left Red-faced and Rose-less
58. NFL Should Sack Tose
59. The Real World of Professional Football
60. Working Up a Strong Hate
61. Woody Hayes Doesn't Merit an Appreciative Audience
62. A Sense of Perspective
