These past few weeks I've had the absolute pleasure of reading one of the greatest sports books ever written; The Game by Ken Dryden. For the most part sports books are immortalized for one of two reasons. Either they are incredibly well written masterpieces or they give a detailed, intimate view of the people we know only as athletes. This book combined the two in a way I never imagined. But what makes it most extraordinary is that it's written by one of the great athletes in North American sports history AND it's literary gold.
The Game takes place over the period of a week, late in Dryden's last regular season. Early in the book he reveals that he has decided to retire at the end of the season at the relatively young age of 31. He no longer feels young and knows he is no longer playing at the top of his game. But instead of playing out the string like most athletes, Dryden chooses to retire. He wishes to practice law once he retires (interestingly enough he does just that while also writing four more books on various subjects, becomes President of the Maple Leafs, wins a seat in Parliament, and did commentary for the Olympics among other events in his spare time).
Over the course of the next week, he details everything he encounters while breaking down nearly every aspect of what he sees. A game against the Red Wings turns into a 20 plus page examination on how good teams and bad teams prepare for eachother. He details what is said before every game and the personality of the men saying it. This allows the reader to get a feel for the comradery of the team and see and understand how delicate the emotional state of the team is. While discussing the Bruins, he discusses the difference between good teams and good opponents. He then gives a detailed explanation of what kind of team the Bruins are and how they became that way. He does the same for Toronto later.
By the end of the book the reader begins to realize that the entire game of hockey has been broken down and explained to them just through Dryden's thoughts that week. He discusses the origins of hockey, it's cyclical nature, it's history, rule changes, and greatest innovations. His view on trades and the 1972 Summit Series show the unique style of thinking that made him famous. He even spends a great deal of time discussing the importance of Soviet dominance on Canadian hockey. Many have taken notice to the changes that came with the Soviet's emergence but no one viewed it the way Dryden did.
Perhaps what endears the reader most to Dryden is his commentary on how different aspects of the game make him feel about himself. He discussed the vulnerability he feels with age and the strain of constant travel through a seemingly never ending winter. But he also describes how he attempts to use a relaxed attitude in net to get opposing teams to think he could never be rattled.
What sets The Game apart from all other sports books is the complete thoughtfulness with which Dryden approaches each topic he covers. He seems to have a complete understanding of hockey and everything that goes with it. He gets what others don't get and he sees what others would never think to look for. Ken Dryden is truly a remarkable person. The Game is not only his best work; it's the peak of combined athletic and intellectual prowess. The Game is a masterpiece.
Stay Hungry My Friends
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