Lombardi Dies, Orr Flies, Marshall Cries

September 14, 2015
In the solid history, Schultz (The NFL, Year One) identifies 1970 as a defining year in sports, with major stories including Vince Lombardi’s death; Bobby Orr’s Stanley Cup winning goal; the tragic plane crash that killed 75 members of the Marshall football family, including 36 players; and Willis Reed playing hurt in game 7 of the NBA finals. Heavily researched and written with a clean style, the book nicely balances the big picture with the little details. Starting with the Cotton Bowl on January 1 and following chronologically through to the death of Sonny Liston in December, Schultz paints a picture of a world very different and yet no so different from ours. For instance, Schultz discusses Jerry Smith, the first openly gay retired NFL player, and wonders what life would have been like if he had come out during his playing days. Stories like these juxtapose today’s issues with the nostalgia that permeates this sports history, making it feel as connected to the present as it is to the past. B&w photos.

September 1, 2015
Even fans who were paying attention in 1970 may have forgotten what a momentous year it was in sports. There were the three events that make up the title: football coach supreme Vince Lombardi dies of cancer, future hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr leads the Boston Bruins to a sweep in the Stanley Cup, and the entire Marshall University football team and coaching staff die in a plane crash. The momentous sports year began when Texas became the last all-white college football team to win a national title, and it ended on or about December 30, when former heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston passed away under cloudy circumstances. In between, there was the debut of Monday Night Football, Willis Reed hobbling onto the court to lead the New York Knicks to the NBA championship, and Dock Ellis pitching a no-hitter for the Pirates while allegedly tripping on LSD. Veteran sports journalist Schultz organizes his text chronologically, with one month per chapter. For each event, he provides the details in context and explains why each was significant. Long-forgotten or hazy sporting moments come into focus, and creaky sports fans can remember the day. Younger ones can wish they were there. Good fun for all.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)