We are going to get to sports, pinky swear, but you certainly do not need to read my grade for the Magic draft ("OK, I guess, but what do I know?") and not much else is going on ? so this looks like an opening to talk about:
Books.
You know, the things they used to kill trees to make but now can instantly appear in some machine of yours and practically read themselves for you. What caught my eye was a website ? goodreads.com ? that includes numerous lists of "worst books ever."
And my all-time "worst book ever" is found on the list of "forced to read in school but hated." The book is "Silas Marner" by George Eliot. It comes in a disappointing 23rd, but that's probably because all the English teachers who once demanded it be read have been taken out back to be treated badly.
George (actually a woman) tells the story of Silas, a weaver in Victorian England (or so I remember). It could have been done in five pages but apparently George liked to write. When I had to read this in the 11th grade, I had no desire to learn about weaving.
Give me a break.
Of course this "hated book" list includes "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding at No. 1 and that's a great book. No, that's not my opinion, that's a fact.
But I promised you sports, so what about the best books about sports?
"Sports Illustrated" did a "Top 100 Sports Books" list some time ago that you can find at talkingbooks.dpi.wi.gov ? yes, through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. It's top four are: (1) "The Sweet Science" by A.J. Liebling, a love-horror look at boxing; (2) "The Boys of Summer" by Roger Kahn, a book I loved as a teenager because it wrote of the Brooklyn Dodgers before they were stolen by Sodom (ala Los Angeles); (3) "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton, a remarkably honest account of the 1969 Yankees; and (4) "Friday Night Lights" by H.G. Bissinger, depicting how football can consume a small Texas community.
I never read "The Sweet Science" but have read the other three and all are worth your time, especially in this "slow season" for sports (not counting police reports, of course).
And I want to pitch one more book to you that you probably don't know: "Brittle Innings," written in 1994 by Michael Bishop. It was republished in 2012 and when I checked Amazon.com this week, there were three copies available.
Friends, another pinky swear: This is the best account of Southern minor league baseball in the 1940s ever written. Here's the catch: There is a major supernatural element midway in the novel. In fact, the book probably is the only gothic horror/baseball genre mashup ever written. But it's great and you should read it.
After all, this is the slow season, remember?
NFL thoughts: NFC North
Green Bay 11-5 last year, over/under 10
Be afraid, Packer Backers, be very afraid. Somebody doesn't want you in the Super Bowl. The Pack must play San Francisco, the Giants and Baltimore from outside their division -- and all three games are on the road. The 2013 Pack were a statistical mystery: QB Aaron Rodgers led the league with a 108.0 passing rating and 39 TDs but the passing offense was just ninth. A new rushing game will be key. Pack probably are NFC favorite but I'm not so sure.
Chicago 10-6 last year, 8.5 over/under
Intriguing team to watch that could finish 7-9 or 11-5 under new Coach Marc Trestman. What can different coaching and a revamped offensive line do for QB Jay Cutler? This is a cook-or-get-out-of-the-kitchen contract season for him. And don't forget WR Brandon Marshall and his 117 receptions and 11 TDs last season. Like we said, fun to watch.
Minnesota Vikings 10-6 last season, over/under 7.5
Not likely that three teams in this division will total 31 victories again. Most likely to fall are the Vikings, who had second best rushing game and 31st passing attack last year. Starting with Week 7, the schedule is just nasty. Finally, do you really think Adrian Peterson can put up the same rushing numbers? And if he can not, do you really think QB Christian Ponder can make up the difference?
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