Lots of sports facts based on stats.
The Good: Great pictures and interesting facts make this a fascinating read.
The Bad: Does Sports Illustrated Kids think women don't play sports? While the book's full of professional male sport teams -there's nothing about any professional women's sports teams - no one from the WNBA. Plus there's only a handful of women's stats. Is it really that hard? These altheles weren't even mentioned: Billie Jean King, Wilma Ruldoph, Jackie Joyner-Kersee. What does it say to the teens today about women's sports?
Here's how it could be been better:
- There was a 2 page spread on Ironmen - men who played significant consecutive games - where is the post for women?
- There was a two page spread for Babe Ruth as well as Michael Jordan - but Babe Didrikson wasn't even mentioned in the book
- There was a photo with Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals, but no mention of any woman with multiple medals.
- There were tons of NBA stats - but nothing for women. Is there no WNBA player with stats on blocking, assists, free throws, 3 point percentage...nothing?
- There's a two page spread on the fastest men in the world, but nothing about women's track.
- There is many mentions of remarkable plays in men's sports, but not in women's. What about Kerri Strug - how many steps did she sprint on a badly sprained ankle to vault the women's gymnastics team to gold?
Overall: I know this book will be popular - but I think it's giving teens the wrong view of sports. I just hope some of them look at it and ask where are all the women?
It makes me want to write a book about women's sports.
