Book Review: 'A Course Called Ireland' by Tom Coyne

by Bryan Wright

Now that Calgary is firmly into the winter season, I thought it time to talk about my summer passion, golf.  Well, not necessarily about golf, but rather a book about golf.  Several months ago I read a book entitled A Course Called Ireland by Tom Coyne.  With the sub-title ‘A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee,’ it chronicles the author’s four month journey golfing and drinking in Ireland.  Of course there are no shortage of books on the subject, so Coyne threw in a tiny caveat; he walked from course to course, circling Ireland, over 1,000 miles, on foot.

Obviously this book is aimed at the golfer in the crowd, but it’s as much about Ireland as it is about golf and could be classified as a travelogue as much as a golf book.  Instead of a shot by shot account of his over 55 rounds, he instead focuses more on the people he meets, the towns he visits, and the rigors of walking such a distance.

Book Review: King of Russia by Dave King

I read another hockey book this week, again with a Calgary Flames connection; King of Russia by Dave King.  King, who coached the Canadian national team for almost ten years and coached the Flames for three seasons, was the first North American coach in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.


The book reads as a journal from King’s season in Russia, while he coached Mettallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, from the start of training camp (in July!) through the end of the season in April.  He details his difficulties with language and cultural barriers, and his relationship with the players (including a 20-year old Evgeni Malkin), all the while chronicling his team’s season.

Heading into this book, I was quite interested to learn about playing hockey in Russia.  I’ve heard so many stories, be it about mafia connections, briefcases of cash, or dodgy arenas.  It’s always seemed like such a culture change for anybody who goes over there.

Book Review: Playing with Fire by Theo Fleury

I finally got around to reading one of the most notable hockey books to come out in a few years, Playing with Fire, by Theo Fleury.  Growing up, Fleury was one of my favourite players.  Of course he was.  Everybody loved the way he played the game; scrappy, quick, and tough.  He was one of the best players in the league, and for a few seasons, pretty much the only bright spot on the Calgary Flames.  But after being traded from the Flames to the Avalanche, his star sure fell, and fast.  And that’s what Playing with Fire is about; Fleury’s fall from grace and why it was basically inevitable.


Most already know the story, so in terms of any major new developments, there aren’t any.  But the book does offer an excellent behind the scenes look at what was happening to Fleury during his rise to fame in junior hockey, his ascent to the NHL, and his eventual downfall.  While most may know the story, they may be surprised at the extent of his problems.

Without a doubt the most notable chapters would be those concerning the abuse he suffered at the hands of his junior coach, Graham James.  While the fact that Fleury was abused is already known, the book explores how it began, how it happened, and how he dealt (or failed to) with it.  Obviously it was a life altering experience, with a profound effect on who he was and who he would become.  At times these chapters are a little difficult to read, purely because of the subject matter, but I must hand it to Fleury for having the courage to come out and talk about something of this nature, so openly.  Few are able to do the same.

Book Review: Moneyball by Michael Lewis

There are two things I spend the majority of my free time on; reading and sports.  Of course these aren’t two mutually exclusive activities as there is no shortage of books about sports.  I then occurred to me I should be  writing about the sports books I read.  So, without further ado, I give you the first in a series of weekly TSR book reviews, starting with Moneyball by Michael Lewis.

The movie “Moneyball” has been out for a couple of weeks now, and I haven’t seen it.  But, I finished reading the book on the weekend, and the book is always better than the movie.  Always.  There are no exceptions.  Deliverance was close, but the book was still better.  I am really interested to see “Moneyball” now however.  But I digress, I just read the book, and it was great.