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Never Ran, Never Will: Boyhood and Football in a Changing American Inner City by Albert Samaha
emkir's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Extremely interesting story of football in an inner city. Really enjoyed the descriptions of every person and the update at the end of these kids. Struggled a little listening to this on audio because there were so many different people. I felt the descriptions of football games to be a little unhelpful, as I thought this book was more about their lives rather than play by play description of the games.
dreesreads's review
3.0
For this book, Samaha followed a Pop Warner football team form 2013-2014. Based in Brownsville, Brooklyn, the club has a storied past, but the concussion issue is causing all area teams to struggle for players. Focusing on the coaches, several of the best players, and the families, Samaha examines why these kids are playing, why their parents let them, and what they think about it all.
Brownsville is a rough neighborhood, and while some of these kids live there, some are the sons of dads who made it out, typically due to football. Football can get you into a good public high school, or even a private one. A good high school means graduating and the possibility of a good job. Or a college scholarship. And they like it. Just because these kids or their parents are from Brownsville does not mean they don't have hopes and dreams--but football doesn't protect them from the lure of the streets. They play football because it is a foot in the door, but there are easier ways to make money quickly, and one goal of the coaches is to keep the kids occupied and on the straight and narrow. I found the book got a little repetitive, with another practice and the same drills same dads, same shouts, another game, same things. I know this is how it is, having been a soccer mom. Repetitive.
Samaha follows up in 2017, when the main group of kids is in 10th grade. They are in high school. I found the follow up chapter to be weak--partly due to only few kids being covered, partly due to it only being 3 years later. These kids are in high school right now! He also follows up with a few coaches, but again, I wanted more.
This book is certainly interesting, but will be most interesting to people who like reading about football, youth sports, rough neighborhoods, and school choices.
Brownsville is a rough neighborhood, and while some of these kids live there, some are the sons of dads who made it out, typically due to football. Football can get you into a good public high school, or even a private one. A good high school means graduating and the possibility of a good job. Or a college scholarship. And they like it. Just because these kids or their parents are from Brownsville does not mean they don't have hopes and dreams--but football doesn't protect them from the lure of the streets. They play football because it is a foot in the door, but there are easier ways to make money quickly, and one goal of the coaches is to keep the kids occupied and on the straight and narrow. I found the book got a little repetitive, with another practice and the same drills same dads, same shouts, another game, same things. I know this is how it is, having been a soccer mom. Repetitive.
Samaha follows up in 2017, when the main group of kids is in 10th grade. They are in high school. I found the follow up chapter to be weak--partly due to only few kids being covered, partly due to it only being 3 years later. These kids are in high school right now! He also follows up with a few coaches, but again, I wanted more.
This book is certainly interesting, but will be most interesting to people who like reading about football, youth sports, rough neighborhoods, and school choices.
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