Robert H. Boyle collects eccentrics the way the characters he brilliantly portrays collect flies or trophies. Here gathered are twenty of his best profiles of some of the most talented and offbeat sportsmen in America. These essays, which have appeared in Sports Illustrated over the past three decades, are by turns outrageous, hilarious, and ingenious. Meet:-- Chanler Chapman, "the most eccentric man in America."
-- Joe DeFalco, who hosts a Las Vegas-type act in which he demonstrates to a crowd of 10,000 how to dress a deer.
-- John Betts, a famous fly tier who uses synthetic materials including, surprisingly, ladies lingerie.
-- Jack Gartside, a Boston cab driver who ties flies between fares (he's got a vice that attaches to his steering wheel).
-- Zane Grey, the famous novelist who lived to fish -- and was one of the finest fisherman who ever lived.
-- Dick Wolters, who came to dog training, fly fishing, and sailplaning late in life, and revolutionized them all.
Also included are: the great retriever trainer Jack Cassidy; fish-obsessed aerosol tycoon Bob Abplanalp; famous fly-tier Harry Darbee; Wall Streeter and duck hunter extraordinaire Donal O'Brien; chef, caterer, and eccentric fisherman Joe Hyde; unabashed poacher Art Broadie; former boxing manager turned fly-fishing fanatic Cus D'Amato; Lefty Kreh, the best light-tackle fisherman who ever lived; and more.
- ISBN10 1585744239
- ISBN13 9781585744237
- Publish Date 1 February 2002
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 2 February 2010
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
- Imprint The Lyons Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 248
- Language English