The Maven recommends two books that all Rangers fans should read.
Fans love Rangers books and when I mentioned three that super collector Nathan Lajoie had suggested, one reader wrote back, "How about a couple of controversial ones?"
Lajoie, who has the largest collection of hockey books in the world, delivered a pair of names:
- THIN ICE: A SEASON IN HELL WITH THE RANGERS, BY LARRY SLOMAN: It's a hilarious look into the lives of a few of the young Rangers and their lifestyle away from the rink. It reads more like a tabloid piece rather than superior hockey literature. As Lajoie reports: "It's easily one of the most entertaining hockey books ever written." (Not recommended for younger readers or the easily offended."
- 2. LOSING THE EDGE: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPION NEW YORK RANGERS, BY BARRY MEISEL: The book recalls the arresting march to the 1994 Cup led by Mark Messier and the other Edmonton imports. The second half of the book delves into the almost immediate "fall" of the championship team and the not so stellar 1995 season The coach (Mike Keenan) vs. GM (Neil Smith) battle makes exciting reading.
