Forgive Me My Press Passes

Glynn A. Leyshon is a professor of physical education at the University
of Western Ontario, a former weekly columnist for the London Free Press,
and author of 18 Sporting Stories.

Jim Taylor of Vancouver writes a five-a-week sports column for The
Province, co-hosts a TV show, and broadcasts sports editorials on radio.
What makes Taylor a smidgeon different from most such columnists is his
constant search for the “fall-down-funny” side of what is all too
often a far too serious subject.

There are about 120 columns reprinted in the book, and given the nature
of newspapers each runs in the neighborhood of 1000 words or less. They
are like tiny glimpses through a quickly shuttered window. What you see
is what you get.

You get, for example, Taylor’s interesting version of how to make the
America’s Cup yacht race more interesting—add cannons and grapeshot.
Or his description of the pre-fight news conference with David and
Goliath; or “sic transit gloria bobby,” describing Gunilla Axen of
the Swedish National soccer team having her breasts surgically reduced
to make her a better player; or his mythical couple, the Schwartzes, who
comment on things worldly as well as sportive. Yes, an eclectic approach
to sacred sport, but funny— cleverly funny.

There is something else as well: a caustic tongue that lashes out at
the stupidity of steroids, the Olympic boycott, urine testing for
chuck-wagon drivers, and the restraint implicit in the contracts of
professional athletes. This irreverently funny adult book is especially
suited to the offbeat.