Christmas is almost upon us, so what better time to take a look at some of the best sports books to have been published in 2020. Any of these would make a perfect gift for that sports-loving friend or family-member, so maybe you’ll find the ideal stocking-filler in our list of the top five sports books of the year.
1. The Rodchenkov Affair – Grigory Rodchenkov
Winner of the prestigious Sports Book of the Year for 2020, the Rodchenkov Affair is the inside story of how a whistleblower brought down the Russian system of doping in sports. Grigory Rodchenkov is the former head of the Moscow Laboratory which ran a state-supported doping programme, and in this book he comes clean about his role in covering up for drug-tainted athletes. Rodchenkov accepts the blame for his participation in the programme, and does not seek sympathy from the reader. Instead, the book is an honest, no-holds-barred account which lays bare the corrupt system.
2. This is esports – Paul Chaloner
The popularity of esports has grown exponentially in recent years, and if you are looking for an introduction to the subject you won’t find better than this. Paul Chaloner is an award-winning esports broadcaster, and so is perfectly placed to take you through a whistle-stop tour of the competitive gaming industry from its humble beginnings to its current status as a stadium-packing sport. Whether you already have an interest in esports or are just curious to find out more, Chaloner makes for engaging company in what is a page-turner of a book.
3. The Breath of Sadness: On Love, Grief and Cricket – Ian Ridley
For a change of pace, A Breath of Sadness is a sports book which will live long in the memory. Decorated sports journalist Ian Ridley – co-author of the lauded Tony Adams biography ‘Addicted’ – lost his wife to cancer. Lost in grief, he turned to county cricket as a form of escapism, made more poignant by the fact that each game he attends brings with it memories of times he watched games with his sports-writer wife when she was alive. Whilst this is a book about coping with grief, it is leavened by moments of humour along the way, and Ridley shows why he is regarded as one of his generation’s greatest sports scribes.
4. Champagne Football – Mark Tighe & Paul Rowan
Ireland’s popular Second Captains podcast made this their book of the year, and it is hard to argue with their choice. Champagne Football tells the story of how the Football Association of Ireland slid into chaos under the reign of now-departed CEO John Delaney. While a book about sports administration may sound like a bit of a chore, this superbly-researched history contains numerous jaw dropping moments along the way. Delaney seemed to treat his position as his personal fiefdom, with the association footing the bills for such extravagances as a Bond-themed 50th birthday party for the CEO, all the while paying him an exorbitant salary which dwarfed that of those of equivalent officials in the Spanish and Italian football associations. There’s no need to have a working knowledge of or interest in Irish football to be captivated by this impressive tome.
5. The Dynasty – Jeff Benedict
5. The Dynasty – Jeff Benedict
The ‘dynasty’ in the title of this book refers to the NFL’s New England Patriots and the extraordinary run of success they have enjoyed in recent years. Author Jeff Benedict previously wrote the definitive biography of Tiger Woods, and here he takes on American Football’s holy trinity of Coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady and franchise owner Robert Kraft. The amount of access Benedict has managed to get is truly incredible, writing the book based on exclusive interviews with more than 200 insiders – including the three main protagonists. If you are a fan of the NFL you will want to get your hands on this one, as we get an unprecedented glimpse into the minds of three of the game’s most influential figures.
Honourable Mentions
Here are some more excellently-reviewed sports books which didn’t quite make it into our top five for 2020:
- The Farther Corner – Harry Pearson
- The Hurt – Dylan Hartley
- Born Fighter – Ruqsana Begum
- A People’s History of Tennis – David Berry
- Behind the Mask – Tyson Fury
- Mud, Maul, Mascara – Catherine Spencer
- Why We Swim – Bonnie Tsui