Giving books for Christmas--A sports lovers dream! Getting the ideas flowing.

     Gifting is tough, people are fickle, I get it.  Historically, I've been a good draw for an in-law gift exchange.   People want to pull my name out of a hat more than they want the 1st pick in their fantasy football draft.  My extended family knows me very well on a vague basis, and has pegged my trademark personality quirks that take the worry out of any gifting.   I get books because I read, I get running stuff because I run, and I get coffee because that's what I'm always drinking.   Simple.  Best yet, all these things can be accomplished via gift card!  So while others putz with fancy bows, curious boxes, and handsome wrapping paper, I usually get the envelope with a Starbucks or Barnes and Noble gift card.  On a good year, it may come cleverly wrapped in a pair of running socks or an "I Love Coffee" mug.
    I want to save you from the same fate by looking at some good books to buy for that sports lover on your  list.  Sure, you can get a gift card, but why not invest in a real book!  Nothing says "I actually know who you are" than gifting a hand selected book that in some way speaks to someone's personal interests and hobbies.  In the next few weeks leading up to Christmas I will post some ideas of sports books, old and new, that you may want to consider when shopping for that "special" someone!  I will try to select books that can span age groups and interests.  I will offer some specific titles for various sports if you know your person extremely well or perhaps have serious fences to mend.  As always, if you have a specific gift question, please feel free to ask me, and I will round up a few suggestions for you! 

To get the ball rolling, I will start with what I got last year--for myself, that is.  Usually I am able to(conveniently) order most of the stuff I like to read through the library, but everyone knows that Santa still likes to bring some goodies for under the tree!  Here's what the elves scripted for me:
By the way-I was getting many requests for where to purchase, so I have now linked the covers up to Amazon in case you want to buy or read more about the book.
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Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
​For some silly reason I'm interested in stories about middle aged men looking to reinvent their lives!  I wonder why?

Jeremy Lin: The Reason for the Linsanity 
I know Linsanity is a little dated, by I love this guy.  He's a quality character and built his dream on faith and hard work.  How the stars aligned for his rise to the NBA is a remarkable story.  Great book for a high school kid as well.

Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association
I grew up with the ABA!  I used to have a tent with all the teams on it, with those crazy names and fun logos.  I wish I hadn't used it as a bed for our German Shepard when I was older.  This book has all the great memories from this wild hoops league that produced legends like Dr J.  A fun trip down memory lane.

Men of Granite
​I am a sucker for small town basketball stories that feature a collection of misfit kids that produce a magical season.  Towns unite, kids overachieve, and everyone is in a perfect world for a brief slice of time.

Who knows what will be on Jockbrarian's list this year!  Only Santa, and he already has the letter!