Nothing that does him justice, fg. Tons of texts with facts and figures, but mostly dry and uninspired. You get all revved-up with a new title and glossy book jacket, but invariably you wanna put it down half-way through it's so dull. Hopefully, a first-rate writer will do the masterpiece that's equal to SRR's place in history.
The one that Dave Anderson did was very good IMO. a minor complaint was that you didnt feel like you knew Robinson any better, still an excellent interesting read all the same
Not knowing Robinson is not a "minor complaint" for me, N; it's the most important of all. Without a fully-realized picture -- with all the dark sides (and he had many), he doesn't breathe life. Nothing would detract from his accomplishments, but we could walk away knowing who he was. Dave Anderson's an excellent sports writer, but it takes the sensibility of a W.C. Heinz to do it. Read his profiles of Robinson, Graziano, Basilio and "Bummy" Davis.
Point taken, as the book was ghost written, i really enjoyed Robinson's opinions regarding his boxing matches and some of his experiences as a child. But it as you say it hardly focused on the SRR's misdemeanours (and there were many). Re. Heinz' work, I am hoping to start buying some of his books (especially, his most critically acclaimed one is it the professional?), as you have recommended him in the past.
It is "The Professional," and it still may be available in paperback, with dreadful artwork on the cover. You might also Google Heinz's profiles of Robinson (He did several), Marciano, Graziano, Basilio, and Al "Bummy" Davis, titled, "The Brownsville Bum". All compelling reads.
Bill Heinz is the business,his book the professional is the best Fiction on boxing Ive ever read ,and his pieces on fighters have great depth and insight,he has a knack of getting to the core of his subject and still retaining an empathy with it.
