Sports Books Geared to All Tastes
Sports Book Review

by Harvey Frommer

  One thing about the world of publishing - it has the knack for producing sports books geared to all kinds of different tastes. Three under review here are "The Boston Celtics Encyclopedia" by Peter C. Bjarkman (SportsPublishingInc.,$34.95, 246pp.), "The Complete Office Golf" by David Owen (Workman, $14.95, 96pp.) and "The Complete Sailing Manual," by Steve Sleight (DK Publishing, $30, 320pp.)

The great glory days for the Celtics may be a thing of the past but Bjarkman's opus reminds us in words and pictures of what once was. From its opening chapter on the Celtic Mystique through The Russell Era all the way into Statistical Appendices - the book is loaded with the kind of information basketball fan (and especially Celtic fans) will savor.

Bjarkman has published more than 35 books, and this is one of his best focusing as it does in great depth on the NBA's most storied franchise. We are there through many magic moments, with memorable journeymen as well as major stars. A celebration and an archive, "The Boston Celtics Encyclopedia" belong s in a place of prominence on your basketball bookshelf.

"The Complete Office Golf" by David Owen, a golf humorist and writer is one of the most unusual books this reviewer has ever seen. Bound into the book are nine color punch-out, reusable golf holes, an Official Office Golf Association membership card, a customized bag tag and three scorecard templates. No kidding! In short, this highly user friendly book has just about everything needed for one to play golf in the office on the remarkable 9-hole office golf course.

Owen plays office golf at the "New Yorker" where he is a staff writer and at "Golf Digest" where he is a contributing editor. So he has a lot of practice in the game his highly original book is all about. If golf is your game -- "The Complete Office Golf" - - is your book  For browsing, for adorning a coffee table, for gaining new insights into a magical sport -- "The Complete Sailing Manual," is the work for you. With a foreward by Olympic Gold Medallist Jonathan McKee, this beautiful book is worth possessing even if you are not a sailing fan. It has everything you need to appreciate and understand the sport including over 750 full color images and detailed artworks.

The author Steve Sleight is a former British national champion and experienced sailing instructor, His love of sailing and deep understanding of the sport comes thro8uigh page after page in simple language. Even the most die-hard land lubbers can find something to love in this book.

BOOKENDS: Set for April 22 publication by Houghton Mifflin is "The Mystery of Golf" by Arnold Haultain - an exploration of man's age-old love affair with golf. "Havana Heat," a novel by Darryl Brock (Total Sports, $24.95) is ready to hit the bookshelves this spring. It tells the tale of early 20th century pitcher Luther "Dummy" Taylor, one of the first deaf-mute players in the major leagues.

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