Mystery writing doesn't get any better than this. It's the sort of book you can read five times and always find something new. Thanks, Mike.

I couldn't seem to put this book down. Lupica seems to surpass himself in each book I have read that he has written.

This is the story of the most famous and outspoken member of the Great Yankee Teams of The Late 1970's. This book will take you from Reggie's childhood to his days with the Oakland A's, The Baltimore Orioles, The Yankees, and the California (now Anaheim ) Angels. You will read his version about his quotes to the press, his relationship with Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner. A must for all Yankee Fans.

The book talks about the 1987 baseball, football and basketball seasons in New York. Lupica's sections are interesting analyses of the various suplots that make up a season and Goldman provides some hilarious "Fan Notes," which, in my opnion, make the book a keeper. If you are a New York sports fan, expecially a baseball one, give this book a try.

I will refrain from using lots of sports cliches to describe this book...but the temptation is there.

This is very good collection of mystery writers and (for reasons I fail to grasp) Mike Lupica. I have read the works of over half the authors and a big fan of some of them.

The book was a pleasant diversion from the normal selection of mysteries and thrillers I read...especially as the major league season winds down.

Most of the stories were quick reads with a couple of surprise endings. Short stories are a different way to enjoy a writer when you are used to the whole novel. It was amazing to see how well some of these novelists could develop characters and plot in such a short format.

I found the stories by Michael Connelly, Laura Lippman, Elmore Leonard, Henry Slesar, Troy Soos and Robert Parker the best. Other than the Lupica the only other one that I found lacking was the one by K.C. Constantine.

Now this is what I call mystery book. It has all the elements of a fantastic read. Thank Otto Penzler well done.

As a mystery writer with my debut novel in initial release, an author of numerous short stories published over the years, and an educator who regularly teaches the writing of short mystery fiction within the California State University system, I believe Otto Penzler did an excellent job assembling original mystery stories for MURDERERS' ROW. This anthology features big name authors such as Lawrence Block, Robert B. Parker, Michael Connelly, and Thomas Perry. The collection covers the subject of baseball from a variety perspectives ranging from Little League to the Majors and from benchwarming little boys and baseball parents to historic superstars and sports agents. Highlights include "Harlem Nocturne" by Robert Parker, a story featuring some fellows named Rickey and Robinson and "Pick-Off Play" by Troy Soos starring his series character baseball journeyman/everyman Mickey Rawlings. I recommend MURDERERS' ROW for any mystery reader interested in baseball (as all good people are).

Mike Lupica has "the ear". He also has a whole lot of talent in writing engaging sports fiction. If you are a Red Sox fan, (as I am) you will especially like the insights into what we go through every year. If you are a baseball fan you will also love this "inside look" at what goes on behind the scenes at the major league level. The story line in not unique. Forty year old former star pitcher (Showtime Charlie Stoddard) who's arm is shot finds a "guru" who restores his physical prowess and tries for another shot at "The Show." His former catcher is now the Manager of the Red Sox. They are both in love with Grace MacKenzie. Charlie had the good fortune to marry her and the bad judgement to cheat on her - big time - so she is now his ex - and the mother of their son who is the newest phenom for - guess who - the Boston Red Sox. Grace and Charlie still talk. The son hates Charlie and carries enough hate for both himself and his mom. The Sox had a big lead on the hated Yankees, but as the season draws to a close - the lead has shrunk. Mixing these characters and many others into the pot in a believeable and entertaining way is something that Lupica has done in a most entertaining fashion. You will smile, you will laugh out loud and you will hate to put this book down until you finish it.

I thought this book was absolutely wonderful. After being introduced to Lupica's earlier work, I have been hooked. When I heard he was writing a book about baseball, I patiently waited until the release date, and bought it the minute came out. I was not disappointed, as this book brings to life real sports life. As someone who grew up a sports fan, and spent five years with a collegiate team, his characters are perfect, as I can see people from my own experiences in the book. Although some have complained about too much of a happy ending, I feel that the story flowed really well, and the ending wasn't as cheesy as people made it out to be. As a fledgling sports reporter and sports fiction writer, Mike Lupica is definitely someone I can look up to and shoot for.

"Wild Pitch" is definitely Lupica's best sports novel. It starts a little slowly, but when Showtime Charlie Stoddard the 40-year-old comeback kid finally gets his start with the Red Sox, the story kicks into high gear.

A whole array of colorful characters project Lupica's view of the game and those around it. Mo Jiggy, the gangsta rapper from "Bump and Run" who became a big time agent in "Full Court Press", is back for a cameo. The main voice of irreverence, however belongs to Pooty Shaw, the hard hitting catcher whose baseball millions have attracted an endless string of beautiful girlfriends with attitude. We also get to meet Booker Impala Washington, the limo driver who's really the brains behind the new Red Sox owner. The main story revolves around Charlie and his inscrutable trainer Chang, which will remind you a lot of Kevin Costner and Cheech Marin in "Tin Cup". As it builds to a close, you will realize that there's not enough time for a real sappy storybook ending. Lupica finds the perfect touch to wrap it up.

There are a few bumps along the way. Lupica seems to insert a brand name on every other page giving you the feeling that you're watching those rotating ads in the ballpark, spinning at warp speed. There's a little too much baseball trivia, like three solid pages on the history of the left field wall at Fenway. The references to Elaine's and T.J. Tucker's make it read like a Dan Jenkins knock off at times, and the word games around the Grace MacKenzie character - Amazing Grace, goodnight Gracie, Grace under pressure - are a little too cutsie.

All in though, it was a five star read.

MAD AS HELL is a great book for those of us (the fans) who know of an owner or who thinks the salaries of players have gotten to high. Being a Clevelander myself I loved the excerpt where Lupica rips on the owners, specifically Art Modell and Marge Schott. Mike Lupica has this uncanny ability to put into words all that I've felt was wrong with players, owners, agents, front offices, and the way the fans still pay the outrageous salaries. Lupica doesn't limit his critism to only baseball and football. He lets into all professional sports and even hits college sports with vengence. It isn't hard to get past the fact that the book is slightly dated. The themes transends time. I really enjoyed the book.

Mike Lupica's scathing observations of the corruption running rampant in modern sports is eye-opening, funny, quick-witted, and somewhat irreverant. I couldn't put this outstanding book down, and as a concerned sports fan, I found myself agreeing with 80% of what Lupica had to say. The great thing about this book is that it not only lays out most of the problems that are becoming epidemic in sports, it suggests possible things that we can do about them. The most interesting is Lupica's suggestion that a consumer organization that looks out for the interests of fans be developed, with someone such as Mario Cuomo or Ralph Nader at the helm. After reading this book, I'll bet you will want to write to the address given to get this organization going, because Lupica will get you feeling mad as hell, that is IF you have a heartbeat and are a sports fan. I have read other books dealing with the dark side of sports (mainly baseball books such as Lords of the Realm), and I found that I had the most fun reading Lupica's book. For any fan who has a visceral feeling that something is terribly wrong with sports in America, but is unsure how to put it in words, I'd suggest starting with this book. You'll be glad you did

A book for the fans by a fan. A bible for what is wrong with sports. This book made me feel like someone cared that athletes, and owners were destryoing sports with money and egos. I know I was Mad As Hell. Still am! However I know someone is one are side. I want to take back the game. We pay their salaries. They work for us. Right Mike?

If you are a baseball fan, then this compilation as put together by the N.Y. Daily News is a must have.The depth of their files, as shown in this book, comes through to allow those fans of Joe D. to relive both the good and not so good times of a grand career. With his passing, a certain style and grace was lost to us all. This book will go a long way in helping us remember it.

If you're looking for a historical recounting of the summer of '98 in baseball (as so many of the other reviewers apparently were), this isn't it.

Instead, this is really the story of Lupica and his sons (with occasional appearances by his dad and wife). It tells how the events of 1998 impacted them, where they were at important times, etc.

If you're looking for history or for an account following the players, look elsewhere. If you'd like to read a fascinating, if slight, view of the impact of the Great Homer Race on a family of baseball fans, you'll love this book.

I, too, just finished this book in one sitting. It brought back memories of this past '98 season as well as memories of my own family, my three boys who all went through Little League and beyond, and their father who had been their coach. Our family has a bond partly due to baseball. One son at 52 is still playing tournament baseball, the another son is managing a Little League team. Lupica's accounts of the collection of baseball memorabilia and baseball cards parallels the goings on of my sons and their three sons. It was a delightful read for me. Not everybody's cup of tea, perhaps, if one is not a "baseball family," but perfect for a family that loves the sport. Good going, Mike Lupica

To date, there have not been many worthwhile words written on what could be the most magical season in all of sport. Mr. Lupica captures the emotion and excitement of the 1998 baseball season like it happened just yesterday. I found myself unable to put this book down and I am dead tired because of it. I literally read this book cover to cover in one sitting. Lupica does a magnificent job of recreating the season from a genuine family perspective. I highly recommend this insightful look back at America's pastime.

First off let me say that I am a big fan of Mike Lupica's. I read everything he writes and I buy the Daily News whenever I see he has a piece in that paper. That said.......... I was disappointed in Bump & Run. I did it find it somewhat entertaining and an easy read but I never felt engrossed in the story. At times I felt that I was reading it just to get through it. I always felt that I was just reading a book. The weaving of the fictional with the factual although done seamlessly made the story seem more fictional than had he used fictional names for the teams, owners, and the never ending parade of celebrity references. I felt the story line followed fairly predictable patterns and what plot twists there were resolved themselves quickly, with no further complications and no real bearing on the story. I felt that the resolution to "the Jammer's" problem was predictable and evident fairly early in the story. Many of his other works rate ahead of Bump and Run. It is an easy read and probably a perfect beach book but little more. Don't let this book dissuade you from reading his other works.

Mike Lupica is one of the best sports' journalists in the country. His articles are informative and well written. This novel is not far behind.

Bump and Run is a hilariously funny novel about "Jammer" Molloy taking over 50% ownership of his father's porfessional New York football team. Having been the "go-to-guy" for a large, successful resort in Las Vegas, the NFL shouldn't be a problem, or at least, that's what one would think.

Lupica masterfully intertwines a multitude of interesting characters, each one with a seemingly more ridiculous name. The writing is excellent, as always, and the storyline has a nice steady flow to it. He meshes his characters with recognizable names from the NFL, which adds a really nice touch. His language is so descriptive, and each scene is so detailed, that you sometimes forget that this is just a novel.

Above all, Bump and Run is quite funny. Lupica uses his intellectual wit and dry sense of humor in making one fantastic book. This novel is not just for sports' fans. It's for anyone that really likes to read good books. This book is a winner.

Sure, Mike Lupica owes a debt to Dan Jenkins. But, really, how many sportswriters don't? Sure, the pages turn pretty quickly. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Sure, a lot of the characters are caricatures. But, then again, isn't pro football? For those who argue that the NFL isn't like this, why is it that the NFL and its denizens are portrayed in much the same way in every book I have read by a sportswriter who has covered football? Or, for that matter by a former football player - i.e. Peter Gent's excellent North Dallas Forty?

All that aside, why should you read this book? Because it is written by an excellent sportswriter and it is thoroughly entertaining, engaging and FUN.

As a working sportswriter, like myself, the author should know that there is not a single player in today's NBA who would knock an opponent to the court, then utter the words: "You went down harder than the Hindenberg!" I doubt whether there is a single active pro basketball player that could even identify the Hindenberg, let alone use it as a taunt. (Who edited this novel?)

That sort of preposterous dialog -- and the hackneyed romance between Dee and her coach -- made it difficult to fully to enjoy Lupica's well-intentioned little fantasy.

After howling in Bump and Run, I couldn't wait to listen to Full Court Press.

The first half of the book continues at a great pace with a slew of colorful characters. The last half was a let down. I enjoyed it, however, it wasn't as crisp as Bump and Run.

With that being said, I would still recommend either buying or listening to this story.

Mike Lupica's "Full Court Press" is a sports fantasy in which the flamboyant owner of the worst team in the league signs the first woman to play in the NBA. Dee Gerard is the illegitimate daughter of a New York playground legend and a star in Europe who impresses a scout for the New York Knights. If you hear echoes of the real world twisted this way and that (Dr. J's daughter, Nancy Lieberman, etc.), then you realize that is part of the game here (is Dee's teammate a "nice" Dennis Rodman?). Try not to get caught up in figuring out if you are dealing with stereotypes or Frankenstein like creations composed of the parts of various real people.

Understandably Lupica has to tweak things to put Dee in a position to play in the NBA once he sets up the desperate franchise idea: she is basically a female John Stockton (sees the court, knows the game, can make the pass) with a healthy injection of Globetrotter style and flair. She is also the fastest woman ever to play basketball, which works for me as the secret ingredient. However, in terms of the story "Full Court Press" reminds me of the old Sammy Davis, Jr. joke: Sammy is on the golf course and somebody asks him "What's your handicap?" Sammy does a double-take and points out that being a one-eyed, Jewish, black man is handicap enough. Lupica saddles Dee with similar baggage: she is having an affair with her coach and sometimes she gets what is basically acute stage fright. So being a woman is, ironically, the least of her problems in this book. Fortunately she is pretty much the most level headed person in the book and so most readers will be inclined to wish her well and remember this is a sports fantasy, not a social argument (Earl Monroe says it will happen one day; anybody out there got the chops to argue with the Pearl?).

I watch ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" on a regular basis, so I have to admit that the Mike Lupica who wrote this novel does not "sound" like the same one who goes from articulate rationality to passionate diatribes at the drop of a hat (or one liner from a cohort). There are insights into the world of sports in general and professional basketball in particular (they might not know the game, but these kids today are FAST) scattered throughout the book, and I found a really good insult for somebody from a farm I would dearly love to use someday. Certainly Lupica has a feel for the game (so does the dust cover, where the basketball feels like a basketball). The resolution leaves a lot to be desired, but the journey is fun and it is a good read. "Full Court Press" can keep you occupied during the first three quarters of a NBA playoff game when nothing is happening.