Summer Reading

Aside from being a full-time Vladimir Putin lookalike, ESPN executive vice predsident of content John Skipper likes to read. Or so claims SportsBusiness Journal, which quizzed a dozen or so sports executives and CEO types on what books they would be taking with them on summer vacation. Skipper chose Absurdistan, by Gary Shteyngart, which is probably on loan from Bud Selig, if we're guessing. (Skipper actually seems to have the best taste of anyone on the list.) NFL executive vice president of media Steve Bornstein chose A Mind at a Time, by Dr. Mel Levine, which sorta figures. John Walsh, executive vice president and executive editor of ESPN, will be tackling Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot, by Mike Greenberg. Although we can't picture Walsh lying on the beach reading anything but Hemingway. Oh, and does it surprise anyone that Mark Cuban hasn't picked up a book in years?

Of course, none in the rank and file were contacted for the story. Except by us. Here's what some others are reading this summer:

• Bode Miller: Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. • Ozzie Guillen: An Inconvenient Truth, by Al Gore • O.J. Simpson: In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. • David Wells: The Fat Smash Diet, by Ian K. Smith. • Mike Piazza: Coming Out, by Danielle Steel.

From 'Absurdistan' To 'Innovation': Books For The Beach [SportsBusiness Journal]