Dan Coughlin's Pass the Nuts

He's Baaaaaack!

And for all of us who felt sad when we finished Dan Coughlin's first book Crazy, With the Papers to Prove It: Stories About the Most Unusual, Eccentric and Outlandish People I've Known in 45 Years As a Sports Journalist
because we wanted more, relief is here.


Pass the Nuts: More Stories About the Most Unusual People and Remarkable Events from My Four Decades As a Sports Journalist is the same format as the first book - lots of short (typically 2-6 pages) stories of interesting people set in a Cleveland that many will remember.


Coughlin not only lived these wild stories but has the ability to tell them so well that you can almost smell the stale beer and cigar smoke as you read them.

You will read stories of the big names in Pass the Nuts. People like George Steinbrenner, Ted Turner, LeBron James and NFL Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson and his close personal friend Elvis Presley.

But you'll also get tales of lesser-knowns that will have you smiling, shaking your head and asking "Did they really do that?" Times sure have changed.

I particularly liked the stories from legendary Cleveland watering holes and restaurants like the Theatrical, Blue Fox, Carney's Bar and Pat Joyce's Tavern. These also lend credibility to the book.

For example, I have friends who were at the Theatrical that St. Patrick's Day when former Indians owner Dick Jacobs covered everyone's tab for 3 hours. Likewise, my uncle spent a lot of time at the Blue Fox and his stories are consistent with Coughlin's.

It's another fun book from a fun guy.





Pass the Nuts review

Dan Coughlin Profile

Even if you haven't run into Dan Coughlin at a bar or read the hilarious stories in his book, you can tell just by looking at him that he is a fun-loving character.

The official ClevelandSeniors.Com profile of Dan Coughlin is now up.

There is also a page of photos of Dan Coughlin with people like Don King (in photo above), Lou Holtz, Mario Andretti and Clevelanders like Nev Chandler and Casey Coleman.

He has some intersting comment about Art Modell, Lebron James and modern sports in general.

Cleveland Sports with Dan Coughlin

I get a ton of books to review and I know all my local librarians names because I visit so much. Yes, I read a lot.

This book stands out because it is like sitting around a bar listening to a great story teller with lots of juicy inside information.

Coughlin spins stories about Muhammad Ali, Blanton Collier, Woody Hayes,Doug Dieken and dozens of other sports characters.

His chapter on Art Modell and moving the Browns is a must read - should we be vilifying Mayor Mike White instead of Art?

It was a blast to read about the old places (Hollenden House, Theatrical, etc), events (Beer Night, the Charity Game) and institutions (Plain Dealer vs Press, WHK and Gary Dee, etc.)

Read my complete review

Better yet, read Crazy, With the Papers to Prove It: Stories About the Most Unusual, Eccentric and Outlandish People I've Known in 45 Years As a Sports Journalist