I'm almost afraid to suggest some book as noir on this list.
Despite all the discussion about noir over the past few
years, I am more confused than ever as to what might qualify.
But, please, not more explanations, at least for
awhile.
John Williams mentioned David Peace's The Damed UTD. After
reading it late last year, on the this list I called it as
possibly the first football (soccer) noir. John would know
better. Definitely noir is The Great Molinas by Neil D.
Isaacs, a novel based on the life of basketball star Jack
Molinas. He starred in college, played in the NBA where he
was kicked out for gambling, became a lawyer, did jail time
and was rubbed out by the mob. As it states on the dust
jacket, "if you have to go bad, you couldn't do it with more
success than Jack Molinas." I'm not a basketball fan, but
this novel rates right near the top of my persoanl sports
fiction list.
The Jook by Gary Phillips also should qualify. The late
Barbara Serenella blurbed it as follows:
Zelmont Raines is a former Super Bowl-winning wide receiver
who has self-destructed himself out of the limelight. He's
trying every way he knows to reclaim the life of fast women
and big money. All this leads to the end zone run of his
life.
The Last Season by Roy MacGregor about a hockey goon also
might fit the bill.
Kent Morgan
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