Author's essays show love of sports plays only a part in 'Game' of life

In this book, Littlefield collects many of the best essays from his radio program. His humor is evident early on, when he wonders about the bizarre nicknames of boxers and college sports teams. He introduces us to boxer "Frank Moran, who was billed as 'the battling dentist' " and boxers "Truck Hannah, Bombo Chevelier, and Frenchy the Coal Man." Littlefield finds himself rooting for such college basketball teams as the Fighting Camels (of Campbell University) and the Fighting Squirrels (of Mary Baldwin College).

For Littlefield, sports can teach us about our families and ourselves. Many of these essays are personal, describing the author's role as a father of two daughters who play sports. In one essay, "Soccer Granddad," he takes his daughter Amy with him to the dry cleaner's. John Papadopolis, the proprietor, is also a friend and a soccer fanatic. Littlefield proudly informs the white-haired Papadopolis that Amy scored a goal during a weekend soccer game. Papadopolis literally drops what he's doing, bows to Amy, and congratulates her, handing her a lollipop on the way out. "A wise friend of mine told me that he thought we all had to find our fathers where we could," writes Littlefield. "I like the idea that this seems to be true of grandfathers as well."

Littlefield's sense of proportion is again evident in his terrific piece on marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, whom he finds trying to juggle running, work, and family a decade after becoming an Olympic champion. Living quietly in Freeport, Maine, Samuelson is busier than ever: "Training runs and her turn to drive the car pool for [daughter] Abby's swimming class. Physical therapy, and all the invitations to address all the groups, and the pesky inclination to try writing a children's book." From this stellar profile, Samuelson seems like a kindred spirit, grounded in family and work but (like Littlefield) finding much of life's pleasure in athletics.