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Jack Whalen's avatar

‘Baseball: The Movie is a pure expression of my being. It’s about the things I love in the ways that I love them.’ Noah, I’m reading the book now, and this really comes through. It definitely makes the book! Thanks much for this.

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Noah Gittell's avatar

Thank you, sir.

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Christiana Drapkin's avatar

Yep, you wrote your book and got it published! Congrats, Noah. So there are some mistakes, you say, but no dishonesty or cheesy spin. That's good enough for me, and I enjoyed reading it. I laughed a lot, I learned more than I expected. I passed it on to my son (lifelong suffering Mets fan), I even bought a copy for my Ex (Yankees fan, what can you say). I don't really care about baseball, and not even that much about movies. But I loved reading your varied blog posts through the last couple of years, and it's opened up my own perspective. I hear your voice in your comments, your sense of humor, your sharp eye, and your take on social issues. I'm glad you took the plunge, and I'm damn proud of you, and I'm sticking to it.

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Noah Gittell's avatar

Thank you, Christiana. I feel a great big hug from you through this comment.

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Steve J. Rogers's avatar

Lion In Winter chapter in Boys of Summer is also a good take on the real Jackie, also sadly towards the end.

IIRC, Jackie in his book dismisses the movie as pretty much a cash grab and could have been made better if done years later. Sadly another attempt was never made in his lifetime.

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Steve J. Rogers's avatar

Huh? Vin still made the call on the radio. Unless you said the direct quote (I assume in Natural chapter, not up to it yet) and misattributed the TV and Dodger radio calls.

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Noah Gittell's avatar

I think it's actually in the introduction, and I specifically referenced the line, "I don't believe what I just saw," which is actually Buck. So I'm sad to say I think the critcism is appropriate.

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Pam Ingold's avatar

Noah, first of all, congratulations on the book. I read it twice and I'm glad you had so much fun on the tour. I wish I'd been able to attend one. Your book took me back to my family's own field of dreams in Niagara Falls, on a late summer night in the 60s.

You have a great attitude about the haters and the conservative voices of dissent. We need more of that.

As to "radical honestly", you've arrived at that much earlier than I ever did and let me tell you, it is so liberating. I'm assuming the circumstances in your life has brought this change about. For me, it was suddenly being free from all the authority figures in my life. Enjoy it - it's a revelation....

Looking forward to your next book.

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