Book Review: Rivals! by Richard O. Davies

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine who works in the publishing industry asked me if I’d be interested in reviewing an upcoming sports book. Free book? Free book about sports? Yes, please. A short time later, I received Rivals! The Ten Greatest Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century by Richard O. Davies, which goes on sale today.

According to the author bio, Davies “teaches courses in 20th-century American History, American Ideas and Values, and the History of American Sports.” Seeing those course titles together immediately gives the idea that this book won’t be solely about the rivalries, but also about how the rivals connect to a broader American history. In the book’s preface, Davies writes:

I have learned from teaching sports history to many bright college students that they have little understanding of the underlying events and traditions that have made prominent sports rivalries so compelling. This book is intended to provide that historical dimension, hopefully without slighting events that resonate in recent memory.

I felt it was necessary to include that passage before talking about the book in further detail because the purpose of the book is (always) necessary to evaluating the book. With the daunting task of providing and examining the historical relevance of the ten rivalries discussed—Harvard/Yale, Dodgers/Giants, Duke/UNC, Bears/Packers, Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer, Celtics/Lakers, Frazier/Ali, Chris Evert/Martina Navratilova, Ohio State/Michigan, and Red Sox/Yankees—Davies is successful. He explains how Harvard and Yale helped create modern football with the implementation of the forward pass, how the Dodgers contributed to desegregation by signing Jackie Robinson, and how Duke/UNC created college basketball conference tournaments.

Unfortunately, the strength of this book is also it’s biggest problem. It’s far too difficult, if not impossible, to thoroughly study all the intricacies of each rivalry. Every single one can or has warranted its own book that would undoubtedly dig deeper than Davies is able to in such short chapters. Rivals! is more like a crash course on sports history, and one that is enlightening in its own right.

Other books by Davies include Sports in American Life: A History, America’s Obsession: Sports and Society Since 1945, and Betting the Line: Sports Wagering in American Life.