Cinderella Man

Schaap's biography is an effective recounting of the career of James Braddock, the Depression-era heavyweight boxer who won the world championship against heavily favored Max Baer. It is an American morality tale: the hard working blue-collar family man overcoming the womanizing playboy who squanders his superior talent. Grover Gardner tells the story well in a straightforward manner. On a few occasions, he comes close to the sound of a breathless sports announcer. But for the most part, he simply tells the story, holding the listener's attention with a sensitive, well-paced reading. The story is a social commentary on America in the 1930s and will appeal to many who have little interest in boxing. R.E.K. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

April 11, 2005
In retelling the story of a near-impossible sports comeback in 1935, Schaap intricately chronicles the history of boxing during the Depression. Jimmy Braddock, an Irish-American heavyweight who began his career as a light heavyweight, was determined to win the title until a series of jinxes hit: the stock market crashed, he broke his dominant hand and a succession of losses crushed his spirit. Schaap, host of ESPN's Outside the Lines
, goes into captivating detail on the brawny, reserved Braddock, who, at his lowest moments, was reduced to living off government relief and doing grueling work on the Hoboken, N.J., docks. But the story is as much about Max Baer, the lovably clownish and handsome heavyweight Braddock defeated as a 10-to-one underdog. The account is inspiring: no one ever thought Braddock would come back, especially against Baer, who'd previously killed two men in the ring. Braddock succeeded with the help of his manager, the short, fast-talking Joe Gould; the two were "the sport's favorite odd couple." Boxing enthusiasts will be more than satisfied by Schaap's meticulous account, which includes round-by-round details of the fight, as well as profiles of other fighters of the era. Not overly emotional, the story hits a nerve at just the right moments and features many of the same elements that made Seabiscuit
a hit. Photos. Agent, Scott Waxman. (May)

FYI:
Ron Howard's film of the same name, starring Russell Crowe as Braddock and Renée Zellweger as his wife, opens June 3.

November 1, 2005
This book is as much about Baer, the fun-loving playboy who won a championship, as it is about Braddock, the Irish American fighter who came off the relief rolls during the Depression to take the crown. "Cinderella Man" places this title match in the context not only of boxing but also of American sports, sports writing, and the larger framework of life during the Depression. Boxing in the 1920s and 1930s was the premier American sport; Jack Dempsey outearned Babe Ruth ten to one. While Baer's Jewishness was doubtful -he had only a Jewish grandfather -he wore a Star of David on his trunks when fighting the German Max Schmeling. A working-class -Fighting Irish, - Braddock rose briefly to contention before the Depression on a solid right hand alone. Baer, the more gifted athlete, was too easygoing for the fight game and lost much of his aggressive drive after contributing to at least one ring death. Having beaten the overconfident Baer, Braddock promptly lost the title to Joe Louis, but for a short while he was a symbol of hope -a people's champion -for millions of struggling Americans. Capably read by Grover Gardner, this audiobook is recommended for all libraries." -Vince Brewton, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence"

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.