Booklist Reviews
Jim Murray wrote more than 10,000 columns for the Los Angeles Times between 1961 and 1998. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 and was named Sportswriter of the Year 14 times. At his peak his column was syndicated in more than 200 newspapers. Murray always believed that the best sports columns are about people rather than the games, yet he wasn't an outsize or especially compelling personality himself. In short, he was a perfect observer, which was, after all, how he described his job. Of course, it helps to be an extraordinary writer as well, with a sharp wit and keen sense of irony. Journalism professor Geltner relates Murray's life with the same raised eyebrow and bemused smile that seemed to infuse so many of Murray's columns. And, in fact, Geltner includes numerous excerpts from Murray's writings throughout the text. Sadly, it's unlikely that Murray's wit and literary flair would attract much of an audience in today's world of insta-media, but Geltner deserves praise for reminding us just how perfect Murray was for his time. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.