Book Report

First, in my everlasting and fruitless desire to want to be loved and respected, I want to go on the record by saying I really get a kick out of Kenny Mayne the person and ESPN anchor.  That being said, I think Kenny needs to work a little on the whole "author" thing.  An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport  is Kenny Mayne's first stab at writing a book.  The title says it all and it's not necessarily a good thing.  Mayne's straight faced deliveries, dry wit, and stream-of-consciousness diatribes are what made him the sports/entertainment personality he is today, and for the most part, it has rewarded him with a very nice career.  The problem is that his style holds up and translates smoother in 30 second increments with various interruptions from other anchors and commercials.  When reading his book, that same style can seem to drone on endlessly and become quite tiring.  Mayne, himself, refers to his publishing as "not quite a book" as much as it is a "coaster" for a coffee table.  He constantly downplays his own efforts in creating the book and chides the reader for even trying to follow along.  Sadly, the reader (me) ends up agreeing with him and finds it difficult picking it up at times just to get through it.  The book isn't all bad, though.  When Mayne drops the "schtick" and starts writing from the heart about various topics close to him like his children, family, and exploits as an athlete and reporter, the reader becomes engulfed in some pretty amazing stories.  If I was Mayne's editor, I would have had him write nothing but his life and various athletes and personalities he has come across.  Mayne adds a nice touch in the book by offering "illustrations" by his two young daughters.  They are both touching and comical.  As a whole, the book falls way short of it's $24.95 asking price.  In the spirit of Kenny Mayne, I would toss him a ten($) and tell him to start again.