Ronald A. (rarendt) reviewed Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 107 more book reviews
While Willie Mays was a legendary ballpayer, I probably thought more of him before listening to this audio book than after. There's certainly no denying his athletic prowess or historic statistics, but in many ways he seems to have been almost an emotional basket case.
He was remote in many ways, and kept the love of his life waiting almost twenty years before he would commit to marrying her.
He seems in many ways to have been fairly thin-skinned and quick to take offense. When he didn't receive his probably deserved share of accolades, he carried silent resentments, even while trying to appear affable.
Even when he was the highest paid player in baseball, he would take offense if a manager expected him to live by the same rules the other players abided by.
Maybe this is all just sour grapes on my part. I was never an athlete, but was a professional soldier whose career was similar in lenght to his, even though starting and ending five years later - I served from 1956-1977. I can remember thousands of good men who risked their lives and served in some real hell-holes for very little money while professional athletes were payed quite well and idolized for playing a game at most 180 days a year. I know it's comparing apples to oranges, and I don't expect or want any more recognition than I got - just something I can't help thinking about...
He was remote in many ways, and kept the love of his life waiting almost twenty years before he would commit to marrying her.
He seems in many ways to have been fairly thin-skinned and quick to take offense. When he didn't receive his probably deserved share of accolades, he carried silent resentments, even while trying to appear affable.
Even when he was the highest paid player in baseball, he would take offense if a manager expected him to live by the same rules the other players abided by.
Maybe this is all just sour grapes on my part. I was never an athlete, but was a professional soldier whose career was similar in lenght to his, even though starting and ending five years later - I served from 1956-1977. I can remember thousands of good men who risked their lives and served in some real hell-holes for very little money while professional athletes were payed quite well and idolized for playing a game at most 180 days a year. I know it's comparing apples to oranges, and I don't expect or want any more recognition than I got - just something I can't help thinking about...
