Nailed!
The Improbable Rise and Spectacular Fall of Lenny Dykstra
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Nailed! is a dramatic biography of Lenny Dykstra -- the heroic center fielder for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies in the '80s and '90s whose gritty play earned him the nickname "Nails." Dykstra's unlikely post-baseball rise in the business world is a success story that is only matched by the sordid tale of his ultimate downfall.
From famously receiving financial guru Jim Cramer's ringing endorsement as "one of the best" stock prognosticators, to hanging out with Charlie Sheen and numerous prostitutes, to holding court in his 15 million California home, Dykstra lived a highflying lifestyle. He was the toast of the business world before his litany of crimes were detected and his empire began to unravel in 2009, leading to a conviction and prison sentence in 2012 with more charges pending.
Through compelling storytelling supported by extensive research and documentation -- including interviews with many of Dykstra's friends, family, and business associates -- Nailed! Peels back the layers to reveal that the criminal charges of grand theft auto, identity theft, vandalism, lewd behavior, sexual assault, are just the tip of the iceberg. This is an engaging read of a sports and business hero gone bad.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Financial journalist Frankie (Newsday, The Financial Times) spins a dizzying, multifarious tale of his employer, mentor, and childhood hero: the mercurial outfielder-turned-stock-market-wunderkind-turned-criminal formerly known as Leonard Kyle Leswick. This is a decadent, debauched journey with nary a normal moment. From his humble beginnings littered with troubling social behavior " hijinks expanded beyond hurling turds" the little grinder never lacked selfish ambition. Dykstra's desire to make a quick buck became toxic later in life, wherein he spurned everyone close to him. And despite sporadic "random acts of generosity", his self-destructive habits result in imprison-ment, where the big-leaguer is depicted exposing himself to passersby through a bed sheet. In mythol-ogizing Dykstra, Frankie is at times ebullient, but this account is replete with horror stories. A refusal to pay employees is unforgiveable, but propositioning potential employees for sexual favors is perhaps the most egregious example of Dykstra's depravity. It's unclear whether this is all a ruse, whether this is just another of #4's games the text reads as an absolution of sorts. A lackadaisical, "boys will be boys" attitude is smattered throughout; it echoes another of Dykstra's get-rich-quick schemes, printed on glossy stock and delivered to every athlete in town.
