Stan Hochman Unfiltered: 50 Years of Wit and Wisdom from the Groundbreaking Sportswriter

by Gloria Hochman

Overview

The late Philadelphia Daily News sportswriter Stan Hochman was known for his many zingers, such as “Harry Litwack, the stoic Temple coach, stalks the sidelines like a blind man at a nudist colony.” As a reporter, he was more interested in how athletes felt, what their values were, how they lived their lives, or what made them tick than he was about how many runs they scored or punches they landed.

In Stan Hochman Unfiltered, his wife Gloria collects nearly 100 of his best columns from the Daily News about baseball, horse racing, boxing, football, hockey, and basketball (both college and pro), as well as food, films, and even Liz Taylor. Each section is introduced by a friend or colleague, including Garry Maddox, Bernie Parent, Larry Merchant, and Ray Didinger, among others. 

Hochman penned a candid, cantankerous column about whether Pete Rose belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame; wrote a graphic account of the Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fight of the century; and skewered Norman “Bottom Line” Braman, the one-time owner of the Eagles. He also wrote human-interest stories, including features about the importance of kids with special needs playing sports. 

In addition to being a beloved writer, Hochman was also known for his stint on WIP’s radio as the Grand Imperial Poobah, where he would settle callers’ most pressing debates. Hochman long earned the respect and admiration of his subjects, peers, and readers throughout his career, and Stan Hochman Unfiltered is a testament to his enduring legacy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439917008
Publisher:	Temple University Press
Publication date:	12/13/2019
Edition description:	1
Pages:	296
Sales rank:	1,083,129
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Gloria Hochman is an award-winning author, journalist, broadcaster, and popular public speaker. She is the author of the New York Times best seller A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic-Depressive Illness, co-authored with Patty Duke; Heart Bypass: What Every Patient Must Know; and Adult Children of Divorce: Breaking the Cycle and Finding Fulfillment in Love, Marriage and Family, co-authored with Edward Beal. She is also the editor of The Age for Change: Baby Boomers Defy the Rules of Aging. Hochman is the Director of Communications for the National Adoption Center. She and Stan Hochman were married for fifty-four years.

Table of Contents

Foreword Angelo Cataldi xi

A Message from the Honorable Edward G. Rendell xiii

Introduction Gloria Hochman xv

Stan's "Zingers" xvii

Part I Baseball

Introduction Garry Maddox 3

A Scorekeeper's Final Inning 5

Sartorial Sleuthing 7

Baseball's Best Ever 9

Start the Parade without Me 12

That's Incredible-That's Baseball 15

Garry Maddox Still Wears White Hat 19

Jackie: The First 23

The Big Fall: Survivors of '64 30

Don't Play Ball 37

Tears Mix with Love for Bart 41

Cepeda Deserving of Plaque in Hall 45

Do They Really Want to Tell It to the Judge? 48

Summer in the City 52

Joe, It Wasn't as Easy as It Looked 54

Mantle Documentary Hits a Home Run 57

The Reel Richie: A Baseball Life Worth Reliving 59

Even Bumbling Bud Couldn't Rain on This City's Celebration 61

Rose Still Showing His Character 63

Dick Allen Belongs in Hall of Fame 66

Part II Horse Racing

Introduction Dick Jerardi 71

Turcotte: The Man Who Rides Superhorse 73

Ruffian Takes Tragic Last Stride 76

This Horse Has a Shadow of a Chance 79

At the Races: Right Up Shoemaker's Alley 82

Slots Could Taint Great Sport of Horse Racing 85

Seabiscuit: A Horse from the Wrong Side of the Track 88

Citation Dominated in Different Era 92

California Chrome Throws Breeding on Its Ear 95

Part III Boxing

Introductions Weatta Frazier Collins Larry Merchant 101

A Fight to Cherish 103

Drugs Topple Bitter Gypsy Joe 108

Holmes Stings Ali: An Era Ends with 11th Round TKO 113

Heap Big Night: Camacho's Indian Outfit Highlights Wild Evening 117

Low Blow: Douglas Doesn't Deserve to Lose Title 121

Artistic License 124

The Only One to Blame Is the One Going to Jail 128

Frazier's Win over Ali Stands Test of Time 131

Part IV Football

Introduction Ray Didinger 149

Vermeil Listens to Own Advice-Leaving the Eagles 151

On the Road with Leonard Tose 154

Buddy System Can Be Tough to Swallow 158

Roughly Speaking, Jaws Enjoyed Himself 161

Giles: The Voice of Experience 164

To Zubrow, the Battle Can Be Won 167

Lurie Mustn't Lose Sight of Little Things 171

He Lost a Lot, but He Loved the Game 174

Part V Hockey

Introduction Bernie Parent 179

Schultz's Shrink Wouldn't Believe Him on the Rink 181

Even Now Shero Cups His Emotions 184

Ziegler's Plan Isn't Worth a Red Cent to Snider 187

Give That Man a Stick: Clark's Finding It Difficult to Vent His Frustrations 190

Behind the Marks of a Living Legend 195

The Puck Stops Here 198

Part VI Basketball

Introduction Jim Lynam 203

Pro

Julius Erving: A Man for All People 205

Hard Hats Win Some Warm Hearts 209

Barkley Could Star on "All My Children" 212

Jordan Plays the Game His Way 215

Wilt Defends Magic Number: Chamberlain Explains Why He Tallied Bed Partners in Book 218

Magic's Love for Life Clear 222

A Reach Far beyond Court 225

College

Massimino Making Sweet Music Again 228

Temple-Kansas: Why All the Fuss? 236

Rumeal Robinson: He's Taken His Share of Shots 240

So Close, So Distant 244

Big 5: A History to Celebrate, Warts and All 247

As AD, Dijulia Perfectly Content at St. Joe's 250

Part VII Stan's World: Outside the Lines

Introduction Pat McLoone 257

Tennis and Golf

Ben, Arnie and Jack at '60 Open 259

Son Crowns the King 262

The Sugar Cane against the Rough: Chi Chi Rodriguez 264

Tiger Woods: Triumph of the Spirit 267

Front Page Reserved for Greatness 270

Controversial Entry into Hall 273

From the Heart and, by the Way, Liz Taylor

Snow White and the Dwarf 276

Love Story: Child Finds Home with Area Trainer 280

Accentuating the Positive 286

Take Five-Visit These Best Seaside Destinations for Fine Dining 289

Diverse Team of Lively 13's on Right Road 291

Let the Debates Begin: Sports Film Fest Here 296

A Rubberized Field of Dreams 299

Shonda Schilling, on Handling Life's Curveballs 301

Iguana Days and Nights … OH, and Liz Was There Too 303

They'll Come If, and When, It's Built 305

The Last Bite 308

Acknowledgments 313

Index 317

Photo gallery follows page 134