Flashing Before My Eyes: 50 Years of Headlines, Deadlines & Punchlines

by Dick Schaap, Mitch Albom (Introduction)

Book by Schaap, Dick

Genres: Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Journalism

497 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 2001

About the author

Richard Jay Schaap was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting and honest memoir from someone who lived a truly interesting life.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. But most of the info schaap talked about was related to baseball which was not what I expected. He would have made it better by talking about sports such as golf.

[H Dos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this book for years... taking it just a bit at a time as not to finish it too quickly. Transformative is the only word I can think of that truly describes it. His writing and experiences transcends sports, and provides one of the most vivid highlight reels of American life that I've ever experienced.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle and genial summer rain of dropped names and anecdotes that run the gamut from the hilarious to the profane to the profound. Dick Schaap was a polymath and renaissance man and in this winning memoir holds the door for you and ushers you into rooms you wish you could have been in.

[Yoshi Perkoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure quite a few people are going to call bullshit on this post, but what I'm writing is the truth. Dick Schaap was my grandfather. I lived my life for 11 years walking next to this great man, this man people loved and cherished and respected. A man who was a giant in his time, who knew "everyone". I can also tell you that he was a family man before anything else. When this book came out he took the time to come down to my school, my little suburb elementary school, and give a presentation to the class about his work and what he did as a journalist. But it wasn't just that. Hang around at his apartment, or his ranch, and people like Mohammed Ali, or Billy Crystal, or "Broadway" Joe would stop by. To me these people weren't famous, they were my grandad's friends. I never understood why people were so excited about my grandfather, his friends, all of that show biz stuff...that is until I finally sat down and pulled my copy he signed for me off my shelf and read it. I knew some of these stories already of course, but looking back at it now, with the insights he provided in this book, I feel like I only knew half of him. After finishing this book I feel as though I know him now. Not just as my grandfather, and not just as Dick Schaap of ESPN, but as the man Richard Jay Schaap. Quite honestly this is one of my favorite books I have ever read because it gave me something nothing else could, it gave me my Grandfather back over 10 years after his death. Nothing is more amazing than that.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Schapp knew almost everyone and those he didn't know probably knew him. His autobiography, while short on personal insights, is fascinating journey through the career of a journalist and writer who was the Isaac Asimov of "as told to" books. If there was ever someone who should be on your short list for "stuck on a desert island with nothing but conversation to fill your time" it should be Dick Schaap. The world is a poorer place without him and his erudite and accessible stle of revealing us through the stories of others.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes...Dick Schaap knew everyone. But its his integrity that bleeds from every page. Dick often gets overlooked when discussion about "new journalists" comes up. And true his work was not as flashy as Thompson, nor as driven as Breslin, nor as deep as Capote. But he was there putting pen to page in ways that no doubt made the others envious.

[MICHAEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

not normally a fan of name dropping, but, this book is a rollicking good time. A tour through the second half of the 1900s as seen through the lens of sports, and journalism, with stops at practically every major event, and personal glimpses into the characters that made them happen. A really great read. I recommend this to sports and pop culture fans of the 1960-90 time period.

[Yofish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Schaap knew *everyone*. And isn't afraid of name-dropping. Lots and lots of good stories here. Might have been better in print; he reads it himself, leaving room for rim-shots.

[Tom Delise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss Dick Schaap.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss and love Dick Schaap.