Wednesday, 14th November 2007 at 10:39 pm

Keohane’s book joins the Christmas queue

The past weekend saw a blur of media response to Jake White’s much-anticipated autobiography, ‘In Black and White’, a book that’s unlikely to further endear him to the Watson family, the Presidents Council, or the crowd down at SARU. Three good reasons to hope it’s in Feverpitcher’s stocking come Christmas morning; there’s competition on the horizon, however, from what could turn out to be this season’s feelgood gift.

Maverick journo Mark Keohane has had a colourful relationship with the game, highlighted by his spell as Harry Viljoen’s valet, which ended in a high-profile resignation in the subsequent Straeuli era; now head honcho at Highbury Safika, he oversees SA Rugby magazine, the phenomenally successful www.keo.co.za, and - for the duration of the World Cup - rugby coverage for the Independent Newspapers group. Which leads to the coffee table publication in question…

‘Champions of the World: Seven Magnificent Weeks’ promises to be a gushing account of the World Cup triumph, photographs laden with pathos running alongside adoring copy. And why not - sentiment ran riot after Paris, and capturing it as such makes perfect sense. The foreward from Jake White adds to the authenticity of the publication, and sets up Keohane’s Christmas target as a colourful rival for White’s own autobiography. Feverpitcher will be buying both - and will doubtless get several more copies come December 25.