SOUND AND FURY

Dick Hill tackles the job of bringing both the nasal, ebullient Howard Cosell and the smoky-voiced, equally ebullient Muhammed Ali to life in a creditable performance. Hill seems to warm to the task as this long biography unfolds, his inherent vocal quaver initially adding an unintentionally sorrowful note to the well- written content. Once the sprawling lives of Cosell and Ali begin to unfold--loaded with color, ribaldry, and ego--Hill’s performance improves, bringing rollicking entertainment value. This happy development continues for most of the audiobook, resulting in a worthy chronicle of two friends who climbed from obscurity to greatness, and to its sad aftermath, together. D.J.B. 2007 Audies Award Finalist © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]