Books Read #8 "Always outnumbered, always outgunned" by Walter Mosley.

As in black men are always outnumbered, always outgunned.

This is the first book in the Socrates Fortlow duology. It describes Socrates passage from solitary street person to foster father, full time employee and gives details on his arrival in LA. Lots of discussion about how black men regard life and the police and marriage. Also about life in Watts. A very good read and highly reccomended.

Books Read #9 "The old ball game" by Frank Deford

In honour of the opening of spring trainging I read this expanded "Sports Illustrated" article.

It examines the transition of baseball from something men went to see on their days off where they drank, brawled and gambled to America's past time. DeFord does this by telling us about the lives of Manager John McGraw and star pitcher Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants. It contrasts McGraw's working class upbringing in upstate New York and playing career with the very rough but successful Baltimore Orioles of the 1890's with college grad Matty's life in baseball in the early 1900's. The book gives much detail about baseball of that era know as the dead ball era for the lack of power hitting. Details include the transition from a game played in rickety wooden stadiums by teams that might be there next year to a two league 16 team game played in stadiums one of which is still being used today, Fenway Park.

Reccomended for baseball fans even if it fawns a might too much on the relationship of Matty and John. While two of the best at their game they only managed to win one World Series and had much personal tragedy.