Open Net: Amazon.ca: George Plimpton: Books

From Publishers Weekly

Participatory journalist (and celebrity editor) Plimpton delivers yet another insider's account of professional sports; this time, the game is ice hockey. A season with the Boston Bruins is the basis for Plimpton's absorbing personal report of what many consider the most awesomely brutal of sports. The crowds, coaches, athletes' wives and players each have their own stories, and each is recounted in a seemingly effortless, breezy, captivating style. As Plimpton learns his formidable duties as a goal-tender (a position which detailed description and hockey legend explicates is remarkably dangerous and isolated), he gathers the spirited tales and ambience of the brouhaha and brawls that belie the agility and skilland team camaraderieof the game. A winning entertainment for fans of sports, told with warmth and integrity. Photos. Foreign rights: Russell & Volkening. November 25
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the interest of ``participatory journalism,'' Plimpton joined the Boston Bruins hockey team to learn to play goalie. His sojourn with the Bruins in training camp culminated in a five-minute stint in goal against the Philadelphia Flyers. The book follows the format of Paper Lion and Out of My League , as Plimpton tries valiantly to acquire the skills of the position and comes to his moment of truth with some degree of success. Although Open Net does not have the depth and richness of Paper Lion , it clearly illustrates the difficulty in playing the very physically demanding game of hockey. Jo DeLapo, Queens Borough P.L., New York
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“A season with the Boston Bruins is the basis for Plimpton’s absorbing personal report. . . . A winning
entertainment for fans of sports, told with warmth and integrity.”

—Publishers Weekly

“[Plimpton’s] sojourn with the Bruins in training camp culminated in a five-minute stint in goal against the Philadelphia Flyers. . . . Plimpton tries valiantly to acquire the skills of the position and comes to his
moment of truth.”

—Library Journal

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Description

OPEN NET is another inimitable account of an amateur's foibles meeting the world of professional sport.
George Plimpton takes to the ice a goalie for the Boston Bruins, after first signing a document holding the team harmless if he should meet with injury or death as their amateur goaltender. He survives a game against the Philadelphia Flyers relaticely unscathed - and brings back this memorable portrait of the rough-and-tumble world of professional hockey.

From the Back Cover

In Open Net, another of George Plimpton's inimitable accounts of a fearless amateur braving the world of professional sports, Plimpton takes to the ice as goalie for his beloved Boston Bruins. After first signing a release holding the Bruins harmless if he should meet with injury or dearth as their amateur goaltender, he survives a harrowing, seemingly eternal five minutes in an exhibition game against the always-tough Philadelphia Flyers ¿ relatively unscathed. With reflections on hockey greats including Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Eddie Shore, Open Net is at once a celebration of the thrills and grace of the greatest sport on ice and a probing meditation into the hopes and fears of every man.

About the Author

GEORGE PLIMPTON is the editor of the Paris Review and writes regularly for Sports Illustrated, Esquire, and other major magazines. He lives in New York City.

Cherry said, "You have to give some indication you're not backing down. This one time, some rough guy slammed Camile Henry up against the boards. Camille, who was about the smallest guy in the league, was being held up there, just jammed in the corner, with this guy egging him on--'now what you goin' to do?--and Camile suddenly leaned forward and kissed this guy on the lip."