By Rob Ficiur
Looking for something for that sports fan on your Christmas list? Here are some books I found at the Medicine Hat Coles Bookstore.  The first five in the list are… just that the first five books I saw. Marketing gurus put the books they think will sell best where people will see them first and most often. For 2011, the first five sports books that came to view were:
1. Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s Legends by Peter Bailey  (14.99)
This book has more than 100 colour photographs and a complete statistical hockey history for each player this book is a veritable who's who of future Hall of Famers.   The longer I have been a sports fan (which means the older I get) the more I find myself interested in the past heroes as in the new stars
2. Hockey’s Greatest Tragedies by Timothy Piege  (12.99)
This book does a great job at reviewing diverse tragedies that affected NHL players.  Players such as Tim Horton and Pelle Lindberg lost their lives in car accidents.  There are chapters on Theoren Fleury, Sheldon Kennedy and Mike Danton whose lives were devastated by different types of abuse.   To old time hockey fans – we know the story of Terry Sawchuk and Bill Masterton – but in this one volume we get all the sad stories.  (Hardly sounds like a happy read Christmas Day)
3.  The Lives of Conn Smythe by Kelly McFarland  (21.77)
From the 1920’s to 1960’s Conn Smythe was one of the most powerful men in hockey.  This biography looks into how he influenced both the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Having been a hockey fan for more than 40 years, I have heard of Conn Smythe through the trophy named after him, but who was he?
4. Cornered by Ron Maclean (18.69)
For more than 20 years Ron MacLean has been Don Cherry’s right hand man on Coach’s Corner.  However, Maclean has his own hockey stories to tell.  We know this won’t be an expose on his Don Cherry years since they are still on the air.  However, Maclean gives his insghts and perspectives on the careers of some of the NHL’s greatest players.
5. George Laraque the Story of the NHL’s most unlikely tough guy (32.00)
A few weeks ago this former NHL tough guy turned his back on hockey when he revealed to the world in this book that many hockey players take steroids and growth hormones.  The son of Haitian immigrants, George is now the deputy leader of Canada’s green party, Laraque has a unique hockey story to share.
After I noted the first five sports book that came to my sight, I looked for five more titles that piqued my interest.  Each of these books, for good or bad had a reason that it might be engaging to a sports fan.
6.  A Tough Guy Life on the Edge by Bob Probert (32.99)
This book was on my 2010 Christmas book list for different reasons.  Last year the autobiography had an added chapter describing the sudden death of Probert in the summer of 2010.  Few people in the prime of their life, write their autobiography and then die before the book is printed.  In 2011 Probert’s story has stayed in the public spot light when three other NHL enforcers died from what might be depression related symptoms.  Did Probert’s tough guy fighting role contribute to his early death?  While the book does not get into that – we get to read and see what this former NHL enforcer thought of his career.
7. The Devil and Bobby Hull by Gare Joyce (32.95)
As I grew up Bobby Hull was the NHL superstar. Forty years later no young fans of the game know who he is.  What happened?  No doubt his signing with the World Hockey Association Winnipeg Jets put him in the bad books of the NHL owners of the day.  However the WHA folded over 30 yeas ago, why has Bobby Hull remained outside the main stream of hockey?
8. The Lost Dream by Steve Simmons  (32.00)
Mike Jefferson was once a rising hockey star.  Agent David Frost came along promising to save Jefferson from his dysfunctional family.  After changing his name to Mike Danton, Mike made the NHL.  Danton / Jefferson will be remembered for his jail sentence of hiring a hit man to kill his agent (or his father).  No matter who you talk to about this story, it has not had a happy ending.  Hopefully Danton / Jefferson can make something of his life now that he is out of jail.
9. Go Stamps Go by Grahame Kelly  (34.95)
This was the only CFL book on the shelf the day I was in the store. Sometimes when I am in Medicine Hat, and I see all the Saskatchewan Roughriders gear, I think I am in a different province. This 2010 book describes the history and stars of the Calgary Stampeders.
10. Back in the Bigs by Randy Turner (35.00)
Four years ago I came across a fan website trying to get an NHL team back in Winnipeg.  I thought that the fan was naïve.  I guess I was wrong.  This book highlights the fall and rise of the NHL in Winnipeg.
Any of these ten books or the dozens of others available can keep your sports fan happy and entertained long after the presents are open.  (Perhaps they will be so engaged in the book they will miss that first call for dinner and there will be enough food to go around).