Beyond The Sports Huddle by Dave Mona
A Review of Mona's Take On All-Things-Minnesota-Sports and More
Most Minnesotans (and many upper-midwesterners) know Dave Mona as the straight man to Sid Hartman's often-unintentional humor on WCCO radio’s weekly "Sports Huddle" show on Sunday mornings. Listeners also know that Dave is something of a virtual sports encyclopedia. There's much more to Dave Mona than meets the ear, however.
Although nothing about Mona's 2008 autobiographical book Beyond the Sports Huddle: Mona On Minnesota comes across as tooting his own horn, he would certainly have every right to do just that. Besides co-anchoring the Sports Huddle for more than 28 years now, he has been one of Minnesota's most proactive sports enthusiasts, largely responsible for bringing Gopher football back to campus.
Mona is also a Gopher football broadcaster, president of his own large public relations firm (Weber Shandwick), part owner of a sports memorabilia chain, heavily involved in the community, popular public speaker and author.
Dave Mona's Anecdotes Diverse, Humorous, Interesting
What makes Beyond the Sports Huddle such an interesting read is the author's use of anecdotes to tie his life story (so far) together. Of course, anecdotes will get old quickly if there's not much to them, or if they all sound somewhat similar. Not a problem here. The diversity of tales, the encounters with numerous sports and broadcasting greats, and the appropriate choice of stories, will keep the reader turning pages. It's probably what makes Dave Mona one of the most sought-after speakers in the region.
Minnesotans who remember the good old days when Dave Moore was the face of local news and Twins baseball meant Halsey Hall’s voice will not be disappointed. Much of Beyond the Sports Huddle centers around Mona’s rise through the journalistic ranks, and the behind-the-scenes peeks at these and other “media-types” are priceless. Obviously, “Sidisms” –Hartman’s weekly verbal faux pas-- abound here, but so does Mona’s admiration for the legend who just keeps going and going.
Mona's Book Covers Broad Range of Local and National Figures
Beyond the Sports Huddle covers quite a variety of local sports, from the days when the Minneapolis high schools were often state-wide contenders (Dave played basketball for Minneapolis Roosevelt) through some of the great Gopher teams, Twins baseball, and more.
Reprints of some of Mona’s own published stories are especially interesting, including an award-winning (and humorous) profile of baseball card collecting and a marvelous story about a young Willie Mays (by a young Dave Mona!). Also included, at the end of the book is a 100 question Minnesota Sports Trivia Quiz for those “who think they know a thing or two about the local sports scene.”
Lest anyone think this book is of local interest only, however, how about this list for a cast of characters: Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Harmon Killebrew, Billy Martin, Bud Grant, Molly Ivins, the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Hubert Humphrey, Kirby Puckett, Mark McGwire, Harvey MacKay, Tony Oliva, John Wooden, Oscar Robertson, and Garrison Keillor (to name just some of those Mona covers personally in his book)?
Dave Mona is the author of two other books: Twenty-Five Seasons: The First Quarter Century of the Minnesota Twins and The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Souvenir Book. His Beyond the Sports Huddle: Mona on Minnesota is highly recommended sports fans or anyone interested in the region. It makes a great gift.
Mona, Dave. Beyond the Sports Huddle:Mona on Minnesota, 2008 Voyageur Press, 286 pages.
(ISBN:978-0-7603-3233-7)
Beyond the Sports Huddle by Dave Mona
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles