In his book, The Bob Verga Shift: How One Man’s Illness Changed History and Saved Duke Basketball, Michael B. Layden chronicles the history of Civil Rights in the South, Blue Devil basketball, the National Championship game in 1966, and how each subject affected the others. The book begins by describing what race relations was like under Jim Crow, specifically in North Carolina before the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1965. The narrative progresses by discussing the rise of Duke basketball due in large part to the exploits of Bob Verga. An unapologetic Duke fan, Layden records the Blue Devil journey to the Final Four in 1966. A journey that was interrupted by Verga’s flu. This meant Kentucky, and its controversial coach Adolph Rupp, would face Texas-Western in the National Championship. The Wildcats starters were all white. The Miners from El Paso were all African American. The author contends that the Miners defeat of Rupp and Kentucky was a huge step toward racial equality in the South, and for the country, and attempts to explain why.
The Bob Verga Shift is an interesting read on two fronts: the in-depth analysis of basketball and the unique racial climate in North Carolina and Kentucky. The narrative is the strongest when the game of basketball is described. To his credit, the author does an excellent job outlining the background of the three main basketball teams involved in 1966. His incredible knowledge and analysis of the sport is an asset. His unique perspective on the racial climate in North Carolina is informative.
However, there are times in the book where his off-handed comments about specific politicians seem to distract from the narrative. More importantly, the chapters based on conjecture and “what if’s” are hard to follow because they are convoluted and repetitive. It is easy to lose the storyline amid statistical conjecture. The Bob Verga Shift would be much more effective had it remained focused on the basketball court because it was where true competition, and the triumph of equality is displayed.
I was given a free copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
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