Angels Essential

by Higz on May 14, 2007 11:51 AM PDT

Just picked up a copy of the new book "Angels Essential" by Steven Travers. Maybe you already know this Rev, but he thanks Halos Heaven in the Acknowledgements section at the beginning. PANTHAH.

As fas as the book itself, I'm almost done with it and it's pretty good. Lots of cool stuff on Bo Belinsky, but many other Angel greats get kind of glossed over. It also has a pretty religious bent to it, but not so much that an atheist like me is rolling his eyes.

One thing that did bug me about it is that the subtitle is "Everything You Need to be a Real Fan." As if the book is reserved for bandwagoneers or something.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nice to be acknowledged

Thanks for the tip.

by Rev Halofan on May 14, 2007 11:50 AM PDT reply actions

de nada

by Higz on May 14, 2007 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

i picked this book up

and i'm really happy. i too am almost done reading it. like you said, lots of cool things to read.

Baseball is right. Baseball works. Baseball clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

by halobaseball on May 14, 2007 1:13 PM PDT reply actions

I read the author blurb...

"About the Author
Steven Travers is a USC graduate, former Oakland A's minor league pitcher, and sports historian. Author of the best seller and Casey Award nominee Barry Bonds: Baseball's Superman, Travers has written numerous sports books and screenplays in addition to writing for StreetZebra, The (San Francisco) Examiner, and the Los Angeles Times. A fifth-generation Californian, Travers resides in the Golden State."

and decided I didn't want to read an Angel book from this guy. Why did he write this? Cause he loves the Angels or for the money?

by Sweetmeats on May 14, 2007 2:52 PM PDT reply actions

To be fair

the guy is a sports journalist/screenwriter. I think he originally got interested in it because he wanted to write a screenplay about Bo Belinsky.

Besides, why does a person who writes a book about a sports team have to love that team? Does that make what they wrote invalid?

by Higz on May 14, 2007 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure it's a good book but

I like Japanese chefs to make my sushi and Mexican chefs to make my chilaquiles.

Not that it is necessarily better but it feels more authentic to me.

by Sweetmeats on May 14, 2007 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I see.

Man, are there even any sushi joints left with actual Japanese chefs?

by Higz on May 14, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

fair enough but

imagine if one of the Aryan Nation self-important axholes who contributes to the rightwing scalperswin.com Angels message board wrote a book about the team - you would have Bill Stoneman as the enemy and Eddie Bane as the baby Luke Skywalker we must all adore as our only hope.

A hardcore fan might show a stupid bias that an objective journalist would never land on.

by Rev Halofan on May 14, 2007 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions

True to Rev...

And to Higz...

Shogun Sushi on State College in Anaheim and Kabuki at the Bella Terra in Huntington Beach do.

I would recommend hitting up Shogun Sushi before a weekday day game. All you can eat Sushi and Appetizers for 20 bucks. It's not premade either. You choose the roll and they make it fresh. Awesome place.

by Sweetmeats on May 14, 2007 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I live near Little Tokyo

21 years of sashimi made to impress japanese tourists has spoiled me.

by Rev Halofan on May 14, 2007 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions

He's an author-for-hire

who probably has no particular interest in the Angels. By the way, he's also the author of "A's Essential," "Dodgers Essential," and "Diamondbacks Essential." Here's a list of the books he's authored:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-1319797-7848632?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search- type=ss&index=books&field-author=Steven%20Travers

by G Abbes on May 14, 2007 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

To answer why the book was written

Money, money, money, monnn-eeey

I need mon-eey!

by SactoFan on May 14, 2007 5:26 PM PDT reply actions

Rev

Actually, I spoke too soon. I finished the book last night and found that you are quoted in the last chapter regarding Arte Moreno. It was a few lines about how much better for the franchise Arte is than Jackie or Disney. ("corporate synergy black sheep" et al)

by Higz on May 15, 2007 11:19 AM PDT reply actions