Outstanding book - what a life Jim Gray has lived. A compelling read for any sports fan and a master class for those in the sports industry on how to do it right.

5 ⭐️s for Talking To GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard by Jim Gray
⠀
Synopsis:
Talking To GOATs is a collection of short stories about the greatest athletes of all time. The book expands Jim Gray’s entire career as he delivers inside stories of memorable moments with athletes including, Muhammad Ali, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Barry Bonds and Pete Rose.
⠀
My Thoughts:
Taking To GOATs filled with big stories, about big names and big controversies. I loved the opening chapters as Jim shared personal never told before stories of Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. Both chapters were awesome and after reading them, knew I was going to fall love Jim’s narrative.
⠀
What makes this book so special is that Jim has all the juicy, inside scoop. As a sports commentator and journalist for forty years, he has been present for many of the most memorable moments in sports history. From the infamous ear biting Tyson vs Holyfield match, to the bombing of the Atlanta Olympic Games, and the steroids scandal that rocked the world of baseball, Jim was there and now he is taking us with him inside the stories.
⠀
I found his high level of transparency welcoming. He admits to not liking some individuals (Phil Jackson to name one), and having a big heart for many others.
⠀
I enjoyed reading touching stories about Kobe Bryant, Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela. And was pleasantly surprised to learn about his support of Metta World Peace aka Ron Artest.
⠀
This fast moving memoir reads like Jim’s personal diary. Each chapter is compelling and riveting. The stories are comprehensive and purposeful. I highly recommend this book to sports lovers everywhere! It is a gem you most definitely want to have in your library.
⠀
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 ARC 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 .

I picked up this book with great anticipation, hoping to learn more about the GOAT's and their lives. For the most part, that wasn't the case for this book. Instead, it was all about the author and how many friendships he has made from interviews and how he handled some unpopular and unsavory characters such as Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and Mike Tyson. It is entertaining and drops a LOT of names beyond just those that Mr. Gray has interviewed, but after awhile it reads more like a celebrity tabloid instead of a good memoir.