• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • The Sports Bookie
  • Link Page
Bob D'Angelo's Books & Blogs
On Twitter! Or email me!

Giving hockey's greatest their due

12/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Books that tout “the greatest” of a particular sport are always vulnerable to spirited debate.
​
But when it comes to hockey, it’s hard to dispute what the editors of Sports Illustrated have done. 
Picture
“Hockey’s Greatest” (Time Inc. Books; hardcover; $32.95; 258 pages) is a large, lavishly illustrated book with stunning photography and relevant stories. Their lists of greats will please most hockey fans.

The book draws from the expertise of Sports Illustrated’s writers, editors, reporters and photographers. Seven writers and editors voted on 16 categories, with 10 points awarded for first place, nine points for second, and so forth down the line.

Players were ranked by position (center, left wing, right wing, defenseman, goalies), toughness (enforcers), ability (skaters, “snipers,” clutch performers, shootout specialists) and color (most entertaining). Coaches also were ranked, along with best games, rivalries, single-season games and franchises.
An additional seven topics also were included, under the category of “Best of the Rest.”

This book follows the pattern of other SI “greatest” books in baseball, football and basketball, but with one exception. Hockey is “unabashedly international.” SI’s list includes two men who never played in the NHL —  Russian goalie Vladislav Tretiak, who starred during the 1970s; and Russian left winger Valeri Kharlamov, a 1970s star whose life was cut short by an automobile accident. Also included in the lists is Anatoli Tarasov, who coached the Soviet Team from 1958 to 1974.

Both men belong there.

I’m not going to play spoiler here and reveal the final rankings, but devoted hockey fans — and even the casual ones — should be able to figure out the top 10 players in each category. Who’s the best? In some categories it’s a no-brainer, while other subjects are open to debate.

You know that Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito are there. Who else made the grade?

That's what makes this book fun.
 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Bob's blog

    I love to blog about sports books and give my opinion. Baseball books are my favorites, but I read and review all kinds of books.

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Sports Collectors Daily
    Dave and Adam's Card World
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.