Is This a Great Game, or What?: From A-Rod's Heart to Zim's Head--My 25 Years in Baseball

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian has spent over twenty-five years covering almost 3,000 Major League Baseball games and interviewing about that many players, coaches, managers and executives. In Is This a Great Game, or What?, Kurkjian combines his years of experience, uncanny knowledge and deep love of the game, to create a book filled with some of the most fascinating insight into Major League Baseball this side of Jim Bouton's bestseller, Ball Four. Whether he's explaining what goes through a ballplayer's mind when he faces a fastball in the chapter "My Face Was Crushed by a Bowling Ball Going 90mph," detailing bizarre rituals and superstitions performed by some of baseball's greatest players, or taking us into the locker room to see what transpires in the clubhouse of a Major League team, Kurkjian's tales are at times hilarious, other times horrifying, yet always entertaining. Kurkjian has spoken to some of the greatest ballplayers ever over the years and they have revealed details about themselves and the game they love with a candor that readers won't find anywhere else. Filled with anecdotes and fascinating insight, this is an essential book for baseball fans or anyone curious about America's pastime.

About the Author :
TIM KURKJIAN has spent his entire professional career covering baseball. He is an analyst/reporter for Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine, columnist for ESPN.com, and a frequent guest on ESPN radio.

Review :
You already know baseball's a great game. But any time you ever need reminding, pick up Tim Kurkjian's delightful new book, "Is This a Great Game, or What?"--Mike Vaccaro "The New York Post " "An informative and entertaining joy from start to finish." --Washington Times "Is this a great book or what? Hilarious, irreverent, informative." --Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe columnist, author, Reversing the Curse "You already know baseball's a great game. But any time you ever need reminding, pick up Tim Kurkjian's delightful new book, Is This a Great Game, or What?" --Mike Vaccaro, The New York Post "Tim Kurkjian has collected more delightful and insightful stories than anyone since Casey Stengel . . . like a leisurely lunch with Tim. Bon Appetit." --George F. Will "There may be no one in Tim Kurkjian's class in his ability to extract respect from his subjects, put them in historic perspective and still remain true to his passion for baseball and its people. In a jaded time, Kurkjian is not only a masterful chronicler, but someone whose peers would agree is the model of honor and integrity." --Peter Gammons An informative and entertaining joy from start to finish. Washington Times Is this a great book or what? Hilarious, irreverent, informative. Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe columnist, author, Reversing the Curse You already know baseball's a great game. But any time you ever need reminding, pick up Tim Kurkjian's delightful new book, Is This a Great Game, or What? Mike Vaccaro, The New York Post Tim Kurkjian has collected more delightful and insightful stories than anyone since Casey Stengel . . . like a leisurely lunch with Tim. Bon Appetit. George F. Will There may be no one in Tim Kurkjian's class in his ability to extract respect from his subjects, put them in historic perspective and still remain true to his passion for baseball and its people. In a jaded time, Kurkjian is not only a masterful chronicler, but someone whose peers would agree is the model of honor and integrity. Peter Gammons " An informative and entertaining joy from start to finish. "Washington Times" Is this a great book or what? Hilarious, irreverent, informative. "Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe columnist, author, Reversing the Curse" You already know baseball's a great game. But any time you ever need reminding, pick up Tim Kurkjian's delightful new book, "Is This a Great Game, or What?" Mike Vaccaro, "The New York Post" Tim Kurkjian has collected more delightful and insightful stories than anyone since Casey Stengel . . . like a leisurely lunch with Tim. Bon Appetit. "George F. Will" There may be no one in Tim Kurkjian's class in his ability to extract respect from his subjects, put them in historic perspective and still remain true to his passion for baseball and its people. In a jaded time, Kurkjian is not only a masterful chronicler, but someone whose peers would agree is the model of honor and integrity. "Peter Gammons""