Running with the Big Dogs

 Talking to GOATS – Jim Gray (William Morrow)

There are times when I can honestly say that after nearly 25 years in the news and sports media, that I am embarrassed by much of the current crop of broadcasters. Sports media in particular, has become a full on dumpster fire; full of preening nitwits full of stupid opinions about politics and the world, and high opinions of themselves. Even longtime talents like Bob Costas have become insufferable assholes who seem to be bent on focusing on anything and everything but sports.

One of the few bright and consistent spots in sports broadcasting is and remains, Jim Gray. For over four decades, Gray has turned his focus to the proposition that sports, is a metaphor for life, all the while never losing sight of the fact that he is a sportscaster. Gray brings the world of sports into sharp focus with his new book Talking to GOATS, taking readers inside his relationships with some of the greatest of all time (hence GOATS) that he built on trust over his long career.

Gray is the perfect mild-mannered foil to these often flamboyant, high flying greats, who bring not only outsized talent and success to their side of the table. With so many folks looking to take a piece of these superstars either physically or financially, trust is difficult commodity to build under the best of circumstances. With easily recognizable names like, Jordan, Ali, Tiger, Kobe, LeBron and Brady, to name a few, Gray’s track record of being a tough but fair interview and a consummate storyteller as allowed him to garner unprecedented access to legends.

It isn’t the subject matter that sets this book apart from so many other sports books; it is Gray’s often very personal insights about what went into the interviews collected in Talking to GOATS are what set this book apart. Perhaps the most stunning revelation in the book comes at the very end, when Gray posits the chapter title “I am NOT writing another book.” While this book covers his checkered career and the event and personalities he has interacted with over time about a well as you can, that he won’t do another is disappointing.