An interview with Canada's most famous 1960 Olympian, anti-doping kingpin Dick Pound, who finished fourth in a swimming event in Rome, may have added some perspective to the book, which follows the tragic story of the Olympics' first drug scandal, when a Danish cyclist collapsed and died after taking amphetamines before a race.

Beyond the ham-handed diplomacy, Rome 1960 earns a medal for its description of two showcase events -- the men's 100 metres and the marathon, won by a barefoot Ethiopian named Abebe Bikila. No one gave Bikila a chance to win the race, but he surprised everyone in Rome by leaving his colonial adversaries in the dust.

Time isn't on [David Maraniss]'s side in Rome 1960. Bikila died long ago, and [Wilma Rudolph] in 1994, so the reader misses out on their views of the Games. [Muhammad Ali], who has Parkinson's disease and grants few interviews, offers no input, and that's a glaring omission. These gaps keep Rome 1960 from the top of the podium.