Between the Bylines:: The Life, Love & Loss of Los Angeles's Most Colorful Sports Journalist

In the interest of Journalistic disclosure, I've known the author for over 20 years, going back to before my start as a sports writer in Los Angeles in the late 90's. I got to know Doug when he and the late Joe McDonnell co-hosted one of the most popular sports talk radio shows in LA History, "The McDonnell-Douglas Show," on a number of stations in LA. Doug's writings in the former LA Herald Examiner and the Long Beach Press-Telegram were especially fun and witty, and provided a slice of life in sports most readers never got close to. I believe I met GIllian once before she started her battle with the cancer that took her life, and I could see how much she lit up Doug's life. However, this revealing book, which I had to get as soon as I found out about it, shines a light on the private side of Doug, one I rarely got to see, and it's both gut-wrenching and heart-warming as Doug recounted the highs and lows of his star-crossed decade with her.If you've never read or heard of Doug Krikorian, you might wonder why did he write this book? I can say only, in my opinion, this was a cathartic opening of his memories of a woman who happened into his life while riding a train and left in the midst of national tragedy. The story of their meeting, on the train from Crystal Palace, was told to me by Doug himself, knowing I was something of a fan of the now-defunct World League of American Football, the NFL's innovative, but mismanaged attempt to grow the game of American Football outside North America. However, I never knew he reason why Doug had gone out there in the first place, but was revealed in the book as a suggestion by one of his friends and confidants as an offhand comment, but it ended up being a serendipitous suggestion. I knew that Doug was smitten by Gillian when he told me the story of their meeting one day in the mid-90's, sometime during their three-year estrangement, but until now, I never knew how deeply her presence affected him. But it became evident after their wedding, when he seemed on top of the world.But as the book reveals, that joy and happiness was short lived as Gillian's cancer fight took center stage. Anyone who has gone through this kind of fight on their own or supported a loved one knows how emotional sapping this can be. I know Doug was hiding a lot of this from many of his colleagues, but as we see in an incredibly revealing passage about the rare time he lashed out, in this case, his friend and partner Joe, that pain he was enduring was barely below the surface of his mercurial facade. Eventually, Gillian's battle ends tragically, ironically, on that Tuesday in September this generation can never forget. I can still recall Gillian's memorial service, and Doug introducing me to his mother-in-law, to whom I related the story of their meeting that he told me. As I told her the story, it dawned on me, the girl on the train, the girl who enraptured his attention so long he skipped getting off at his stop, was her daughter, his wife, and the love of his life.Even if you're not a sports fan, you need to read this book, because it's not just a story of a wandering sportswriter who meet Mrs. Right, it's a love story that can make a Nicholas Sparks novel feel like an issue of Archie Comics. Gillian was an amazing woman, not for how she lit up Doug's life, but for how she never stopped wanting to experience life, even as her body was struggling to endure the battle that took her life. If this ever comes to the big screen, it would be a hit.

I had the opportunity to cross paths with the author and several other sports greats mentioned in the book during those crazy early eighties when indulgences into life 'excesses' were plentiful and when everything was about booze, drugs, sex and bylines (Well, maybe not in that exact order). So of course, I was curious to find out how the ensuing years had treated one of the premier LA sportswriters of the time whose controversial Herald columns were read by many So Cal sports enthusiasts.The book provided an insightful look at the LA sports scene during that era. More importantly however, it proved the possibility of finding one's soul mate, not to mention one's self, against all odds only to face the unexpected anguish and pain associated with losing a loved one into the unknown abyss of sickness and ultimately, death. Once I started reading, I was unable to stop, finishing the book within a day. I commend the author for sharing his personal journey in an attempt to gain a better understanding of a personal destiny and in finding a renewed hope for love and happiness.Thanks for the memories, Doug, and more importantly, for exposing your vulnerability. The book is great and here's wishing you much success in the years to come.

This could have been a disappointing story with all the braggadocio about the women he dated. But it is quite the opposite as he recognizes the positives and negatives of that life and tells a heartwarming story of love and tragedy set to the backdrop of sports in LA and the country. I prefer not to discuss in much detail the story line other than to emphasize how touching this story is and how well he handles all aspects. Some parts are funny, some interesting and some incredibly touching that will have you in tears. I strongly recommend this book and don't leave this on the shelf for 6 months like I did.

Very honest account of meeting someone special a once in a lifetime chance encounter then losing her. A heartbreak true account the author also is candid about his character flaws which gives the story it's humanity. A good read.

I highly recommend......Yah I have known Doug since the 70's but I picked up his book last night and I feel like I just met the real Krikorian!

About a talented, interesting columnist... it is a good gift for a sports-loving relative who read the original columns in Press Telegram.

I have been as dedicated reader of Doug's sports column for 20 plus years and looked forward to reading this but I sure was disappointed.I wanted to read about sports not about a personal tragedy that occurred in his life.It just was not what I thought I was getting.

I've loved this guy since the 60's...Great AND heartbreaking......One of Los Angeles' best sportswriters....and he worked for the Herald-Examiner!!!!!!!!!