eh, here's a review of that Donaghy book I wrote on Amazon, figured I'd post it here:
On the cover of Tim Donaghy's book Person Foul is a quote from the sports blog Deadspin.com, "The book the NBA doesn't want you to read . . ." I think in a rare act of altruism, the NBA and David Stern were trying to save readers some frustration. Personal Foul should have been much better. The story has all the elements of a classic, but stylistic fumbles and boring narratives drag down the book and turns reading into a laborious task.
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I found myself struggling through Personal Foul, at times even wanting to stop reading the book entirely. Throughout the book, Donaghy continually lambastes himself and his gambling habit. Considering that his choice to gamble on NBA games destroyed his life, it should come as no surprise that Donaghy refers to his gambling actions as sins and outright wrongs. But Tim misses a chance for a deeper reflection on the issue of gambling, something that is labeled a wrong in society, yet is practiced by nearly every member of it. Almost all of Donaghy's fellow referees engaged in some form of gambling, it was pervasive at his country club, and no matter what city Donaghy traveled to, a casino was only a short drive away. The notion that gambling is an inherent evil needed more examination considering the pervasiveness of gambling in society. Donaghy's choice to lie to his co-workers and family is obviously wrong, but an opportunity to examine gambling as an ill of society was, in my opinion, missed.
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Donaghy's choice to scrutinize himself has a stylistic effect on the book. We get it Tim you screwed up! Â Can we move on to another theme now? Donaghy's self-loathing is often unreflective and tiresome and when mixed with other odd stylistic habits, it becomes a chore to read Personal Foul. The only thing that kept me reading is the magnitude of the story and the tantalizing information Donaghy provides about how favoritism affects NBA officiating.
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The parts of the book that pertain exclusively to the inner workings of NBA are a joy to read for any sports fan. Donaghy confirms suspicions many people have harbored for years. Donaghy's narrative about the Mavs-Heat finals in 2006 is especially telling and it really does seem that Dwayne Wade deserves his D-Whistle knick name. It is worth it for any fan of the NBA to read this book, simply for the sections that discuss the NBA and the relationships between players, owners, supervisors, coaches, and referees.
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I would be dishonest if I did not admit that Personal Foul starts as a chore, but evolves into a page-turner. After the FBI fingers Donaghy, Personal Foul begins to become a pleasure to read. The chapter on Donaghy's time in jail is probably my favorite and it does a fabulous illustrating the regret Donaghy tries to display throughout the whole book.
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Overall, I would recommend Personal Foul for people who love sports, the NBA, or watch ESPN religiously. Donaghy wrote a decent book, but many parts of Personal Foul left me felling unsatisfied. Â Â Â Â
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