PERSONAL FOUL: Coach Joe Moore vs. the University of Notre Dame

When Bob Davie took over the high-profile Notre Dame football program at the end of the 1996 season, he fired his predecessor's esteemed, long-time offensive line coach, Joe Moore. Though Davie was free to choose any coach he wanted, he specifically cited Moore's age—64—as a factor in the decision. After further disrespect from Davie and the university, Moore decided to sue Notre Dame for age discrimination. Lieberman was Moore's lead attorney; his book is a no-frills account of the lawsuit. His personal regard for the coach helped his efforts in the courtroom, but it doesn't help his book: he puts Moore on a pedestal and ends up writing a one-sided story. ("Honesty—more than any other virtue—mattered to Joe," he gushes.) The book is intriguing for its close look at the suit and at Lieberman's own legal stratagems (including his choice of courtroom clothes that would contrast with the duds of Notre Dame's legal team, curry favor with the jury and play upon what he hoped were its blue-collar sympathies). The book includes some embarrassing revelations about Davie's past and about the conduct of some Notre Dame students, but few tidbits emerge that have not already been widely reported. While Lieberman does an adequate job of telling his side of the story, his is hardly a complete or impartial perspective on the case. B&w photos not seen by PW. (Aug.)

Forecast:A good legal drama is hard to resist and Notre Dame's football fame should help sell this one, though a September—beginning of football season—release would have made more commercial sense.