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Quick book note



James Dodson, who once taught writing at Hollins University, in Virginia, has more recently written  and Vintage has now published, a book with the grand title AMERICAN TRIUMVIRATE. Those of us with an interest in US antebellum political history will naturally read that title and expect a discussion of Calhoun, Clay, and Webster.

But the subtitle is more informative: SAM SNEAD, BYRON NELSON, BEN HOGAN, AND THE MODERN AGE OF GOLF.

Also an interesting subject. The New York Times tells me this "is a fascinating biography of three gifted, unusual men...."

It also brings to my own mind some family history. My mother and her brother, when they were kids, used to make up stories to amuse each other about a fictional character called Sam Snead, a Paul Bunyan type figure. They simply adopted the name "Sam Snead" because the sound of it amused them and fit this purpose.

Some time later, as I understand the tale, Mom was with my still-much-in-the-future Dad, and there was a radio on (in the car? the room? I'm vague on the locale). From a sports report emanating from that radio she heard for the first time from anyone other than herself or Uncle Bob's lips the name "Sam Snead."  She said, "Wow! there really is a Sam Snead!"

Dad was understandably confused by the force of revelation there.

Anyway, I'm afraid my story hasn't shed much light on Mr Dodson's book, but sometimes one just has to let the train of associations chug along the track. This post was one of those times.
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