Book Review: "Brodeur: Beyond the Crease" by Martin Brodeur and Damien Cox

Four-time Cup finalist. Three-time champion. Two-time Vezina winner. Olympic gold medallist. The picture of poise, professionalism, stability and consistency. And now, author, recounting his youth in the Montreal suburb of St. Leonard in a French-Canadian sporting family up through his highs and lows in the NHL as a member of the New Jersey Devils and various incarnations of Team Canada. Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox helps Marty put pen to paper as he discusses what it's like working for one of the biggest hard asses in pro sports in Lou Lamiorello, playing in the shadow of the New York Rangers, being served with divorce papers when he was down 3 games to 2 during the 2003 Eastern Conference semis, the Bertuzzi incident, the 2004-2005 lockout, what led him to sign a self-negotiated six-year deal last spring, and being a Quebecer and a Canadian at the same time while playing a game which is perhaps the one thing that has kept our country united over the last fifty years.

Dirt? There's a bit. Patrick Roy is the jerk we all thought he was, Marc Crawford was in over his head as coach in Nagano in 1998, and Dominik Hasek is just odd. For two guys who played together for so long and achieved so much success together, Scotty Stevens and Marty are not particularly close. (On the other hand, my boy Kenny Daneyko comes off as probably Marty's best buddy in hockey.)

He also thoroughly examines the game on and off the ice, offering his perspective on how to make it more marketable and entertaining while maintaining an ambivalent stance about the role of the players' union.

All in all, nothing spectacular, but this is a great book for a day of travel, lazing on the beach or in front of the fire at home on a Sunday afternoon with football on in the background.

And if I ever get another Devils sweater, you can bet that the number #95 with the name "PUDDY" is going on the back. You know, support the team.

Overall rating: 7/10