The Mo Better Jaguars of Brownsville in Brooklyn, N.Y., are a longtime Pee Wee football powerhouse. Under the direction of Coach Chris Legree, they dominated the local scene for years. But the program has struggled recently: growing concerns about concussions and creeping gentrification are only two of the pressures it faces. Journalist Albert Samaha spent two years shadowing the Jaguars--players, parents and coaches--and researching the challenges facing the boys and their beloved sport. The result is an insightful dive into Mo Better's triumphs and travails, filled with as much heart and grit as the boys who run through its pages.
Samaha delves into the stories of several players: Oomz, the tough-minded son of a Mo Better legend, who shares his father's nickname; Isaiah, a running back whose academic smarts are equal to his football skills; and Hart, a thoughtful lineman who works as hard as his less privileged teammates. Samaha also vividly portrays Chris and his assistant coaches, who grew up fighting the pressures their boys now face: substandard schools, tough family situations, the lure of Brownsville's street culture. Most Mo Better parents believe the neighborhood helps toughen up their sons for future challenges, but they also want their boys to make it out. Samaha explores these conflicting desires while recounting the action of practices and games with the sharp eye of a sportswriter. Packed with smart social commentary, sobering facts and the fierce joy of the game, Never Ran, Never Will is a complicated yet hopeful story of football and community. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams