Re: Best and worst sports autobiographies?

by PeterCS on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 05:28

There are quite a few sports autobiographies that should go straight to the FIction shelf.

by mynah on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 05:38

Brass Monkey wrote:
mynah wrote:Agree - the best ones are usually written post-career, when you can look back fairly dispassionately and mention controversies without actually undermining the current order and your future career options.

I found Steve Waugh's autobiography interesting for a number of reasons: It was well-written and sometimes humorous, critical at times without being an "Everyone is unfair to me, so now I'm taking revenge on all the c*nts I've played with" whinefest, it covered matches and series I'd followed with interesting and sometimes surprising perspectives, it included a nice balance between personal and professional life, and it provided a much deeper insight into someone I'd actually spent time with and interviewed (albeit only for some 20 minutes).

TBH, I'm probably a little racist. I haven't read many Aussie ones. You interviewed the selfish red ink hunting dubber?

I interviewed both Steve and Mark for a local magazine. From my brief meeting, I got the impression of Steve Waugh as quite an intense individual, though one with a mischievous spark in his eye. TBH, I found him slightly scary. Although he wasn't captain yet, he was clearly a natural leader. (Interesting to read that he roomed with Imran Khan very early in his career and was too shy to speak to him...) Mark seemed much more easy-going.

by PeterCS on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 05:42

Ah, I knew it.

That Snake Eyes look was just a front all along. To cover up his natural shyness.

by Brass Monkey on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 05:51

PeterCS wrote:When is David Sales' autobiog coming out? "Grim Wood Up North"

It's out. It's a cracking read full of brilliance, real excellence. No f*cker's picking it though and people say it's because it's quite a fat book.

by Brass Monkey on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 05:53

mynah wrote:I interviewed both Steve and Mark for a local magazine. From my brief meeting, I got the impression of Steve Waugh as quite an intense individual, though one with a mischievous spark in his eye. TBH, I found him slightly scary. Although he wasn't captain yet, he was clearly a natural leader. (Interesting to read that he roomed with Imran Khan very early in his career and was too shy to speak to him...) Mark seemed much more easy-going.

Ah right, it's as I'd expected with them both then Very Happy

Did you get a mention in his autobiog? Is that really why you read it??

by mynah on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 06:40

I did read carefully when he got to his relationship with the press. Wasn't so much worried about myself as about my photographer, who hated Aussies, made no secret about it, and made remarks like, "Okay open your eyes, smile, wider!" Which provoked Steve to ask, "What do you want wider? Our eyes or our mouths?"

by taipan on Fri 10 Feb 2012, 09:36

Brass Monkey wrote:Don't Tell Kath

Actually I found that to be a reasonable read.

Okay he turned into a jingoistic wanker thereafter

by Brass Monkey on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 00:16

mynah wrote:I did read carefully when he got to his relationship with the press. Wasn't so much worried about myself as about my photographer, who hated Aussies, made no secret about it, and made remarks like, "Okay open your eyes, smile, wider!" Which provoked Steve to ask, "What do you want wider? Our eyes or our mouths?"

Too busy squinting eh...

by Brass Monkey on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 00:16

taipan wrote:
Actually I found that to be a reasonable read.

Okay he turned into a jingoistic wanker thereafter

There was a lot of interesting stuff in it, he just came across as pretty arrogant.

by mynah on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 07:24

Brass Monkey wrote:
taipan wrote:
Actually I found that to be a reasonable read.

Okay he turned into a jingoistic wanker thereafter

There was a lot of interesting stuff in it, he just came across as pretty arrogant.

Who?

by taipan on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 07:39

Botham

by mynah on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 08:03

Hmm, you don't have to come across as nice to write what could be considered a good autobiography... Though if you don't, the effect you achieve may not be the one you hoped for.

by PeterCS on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 08:21

Brian Moore's autobiog was interesting for a while .... eventful youth too.

Have to admit I didn't finish it, once he got into the detail of the career step-ups.