Dominic Hoffman delivers an excellent narration of this superlative audiobook about two noteworthy high school sports teams. His cadence and tone are exactly right as he captures the excitement of East High School's 1968-69 basketball and baseball seasons, when the all-black Columbus, Ohio, athletes won two state championships. The audiobook also reflects on the civil rights activity of the period and its meaning to students, teachers, and administrators. Author Wil Haygood's text masterfully explores this momentous period. Sport is used as a metaphor for the growing sense of black pride that took root in the late sixties. The fates of individuals--Jack Gibbs, the visionary principal, and Bob Hart, the extraordinary basketball coach--and how the players and community members were affected by the tumultuous era are insightfully re-created.
Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
Duration: 16 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525642572
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Klosterman's keenness for the controversial pastime is on full display in this insightful audiobook.
Culture critic Klosterman narrates his latest audiobook, deconstructing the history and appeal of football. Klosterman's no voice pro, and this production is unpolished. But what he lacks in professional veneer he makes up for with intimate enthusiasm for his subject. Klosterman reflects deeply on his lifelong fandom, especially on how the sport has survived for so long in the public consciousness, yet faces a crossroads as public media consumption shifts drastically and awareness of traumatic brain injuries expand. The result is a rough, bare-bones listening experience, but Klosterman remains a good storyteller in any format.
Klosterman's keenness for the controversial pastime is on full display in this insightful audiobook.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282166
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
Two men from the basketball pantheon team up to deliver these biographical portraits that are less a ranking and more a snapshot of their game. Smith, a longtime sportswriter, and Jackson, the venerable coach and "Zen master," work in tandem narrating their writing. Nayib Felix sets the tone with the introductory part of each player's bio, then Smith and Jackson each weigh in with their perspectives and anecdotes. Felix is a pro. And while Smith and Jackson are definitely not polished narrators, they lend an authenticity to the audiobook. The narration covers older players from decades ago as well as modern ones. Fans will enjoy the audiobook's banter and conversation.
Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217169351
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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