Stories Of Oprah Book

I truly enjoyed Stephen Borelli's biography of Mel Allen and strongly recommend for all Mel Allen fans!

I loved Mel Allen, knowing him as the grandfatherly narrator of This Week in Baseball and a voice from a more innocent time. What this book did was bring him to life and explain all the other incredible accomplishments and talents.

This is a man who grew up very poor, going to four different high schools in four different states, who was hyper-motivated as a youngster to make good. He graduated from high school at 15, college at 19, and was on his way to becoming a lawyer before his sports passion led him elsewhere.

All kinds of great tidbits and stories with other legends. I didn't know he was the voice and the written word for Alabama Crimson Tide Football, mentored by a Coach Frank Thomas and a teacher and mentor to Bear Bryant. He actually gave Coach Bryant his signature fedora! He broke in Curt Gowdy and helped get him the Red Sox job. He was avidly Jewish growing up in the Deep South in a much less tolerant time. It goes on and on.

The stories from the glory days of the Yankees are priceless. And of course, I enjoyed reading about the genesis of TWIB.

I truly understand the man and his life now, with a broader perspective than from just his voice. When I picked up the book and saw it was an authorized biography written by a fan of his with the cooperation of Allen's family and friends, I was concerned it would be overly fawning. It was definitely flattering but balanced enough to give a feel for the good and the bad of him.

Not that there was much bad....... I still see him as a great man, even greater after having read this book.