Memoirs Get New Look
Like any artist, Bob McPhee believed that his 2004 autobiography, "It Could Be Worse," could have been better.
"I was not satisfied," McPhee said, "because I realized there were so many omitted details and grammatical errors. I just felt I could have done better and that the readers deserved more."
Two years later, McPhee's longtime friend, coach and colleague, Ted Reese of Topsham, sensed the writer's lack of closure and offered his assistance as an editor and sounding board.
The result of that collaboration is about to go nationwide, USA Wrestling of Colorado Springs has agreed to publish McPhee's revised memoir — now titled "It Could Be Worse: The Rest of the Story"; It will be re-released and available by mail later this summer.
The book documents McPhee's life and career, most notably his astonishing personal and professional triumphs since suffering a brain injury in a football scrimmage as a senior at Rumford High School in 1976.
He is notable for applying his passion and work ethic to numerous youth sports — wrestling, field hockey and tennis among them — that typically did not receive widespread coverage.
His work has reaped regional and national acclaim. McPhee was inducted into the Maine Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2000 as both an athlete and journalist. The Maine Sports Hall of Fame presented McPhee with a special achievement award in 2004; other honors included a state editor of the year award from Wrestling U.S.A. magazine, a media award from the Maine Field Hockey Coaches Association, and a writer of the year distinction by the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
"Ted convinced me the story was truly worth revisiting," McPhee said. "I feel he deserves a great amount of credit. I contacted a few publishing companies, and they wanted a huge amount up front. I was quite discouraged, but Ted said he'd contact USA Wrestling, and they agreed it was worth publishing."
The book made more than a ripple in his local debut. McPhee sold more than 1,500 copies.
"It was a lot of work, but it wasn't work. I enjoyed it," McPhee said. "Ted inspired and pushed me and dug for details. He really made me think.
McPhee is accepting orders through his website, here, and by email at bigmac@megalink.net.
His mailing address is 51 North Street , Dixfield , Maine 04224.
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