2 comments about Rush to Judgment: The Simeon Rice Story.

1. Simeon Rice has been my personal favorite player since he started playing for the Fighting Illini bck in 1994, and he has continued to be now that he is playing for the Buccaneers. This book has really opened my eyes to what goes on in the mind and life of an NFL player, plus it shows that he's actually a human being, and not just a product for someone to exploit. It's fantasic!



2. What a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turdWhat a steaming pile of turd.He is a stupid idiot. No one can understand him through his hill billy drawl. ps my name is george newbould i live in dorchester on thames, oxford, england. +44 7766587952 Give me a call for a great new friend.

5 comments about Marcus: The Autobiography of Marcus Allen (Marcus).

1. I really enjoyed this well written summary of Marcus Allen's life and his extraordinary career in football. If you are at all interested in football, this book would be a great choice. He starts from the beginning telling us about his family and his hometown. He then describes his life as a high school football player. He goes on to talk about the transitions he had to make on the field from defensive back to quarterback and then to running back later on in his career. Marcus really goes in to depth when he describes his years at U.S.C and the heisman trophy. He emphasizes his dedication towards his health and the team. Marcus says in the book that playing backup to Charles White helped him more because he got to see greatness right before his eyes in Charles. Charles describes the felling of being drafted to the Oakland Raiders. Marcus shows his dislike towards the teams manager Al Davis and describes conflicts between the two. Marcus goes into great detail of the games and the situations that occur off the field on both the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. It is very interesting to see the relationship between Marcus Allen and Mr. and Mrs.OJ Simpson. He talks about the OJ trial and how he handled it.



2. I REALLY ENJOYED READING THIS. MARCUS DOES A GOOD JOB DESCRIBING HIS CAREER WITH THE RAIDERS AND CHIEFS. HIS CRITICISM OF AL DAVIS AND RAIDER ORGANIZATION IS EXTREMELY INTRIGUING. ALSO INTERESTING IS HIS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE OJ MURDER TRIAL AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH OJ AND HIS WIFE. THIS IS WELL WORTH YOUR TIME.
   A MUST READ.



3. After reading this book, I was amazed at the things that went on between Al Davis and Marcus. How Marcus stayed in Los Angeles that long amazes me. This book covers Marcus' life before football, during high school, at USC and the heisman, and being drafted by the Raiders and then ending up at Kansas City. Marcus talks about the O.J. fiasco and how it changed his life. This book is excellent for any football fan and shines light on the dark side of being a Raider.



4. This is not your typical Professional Jock Worship book, primarily because (1) very little of the narrative is taken up with descriptions of individual games or plays, (2) Carlton Stowers is an excellent writer who portrays Marcus well, and (3) Marcus himself is an intelligent and thoughtful person who has had a fascinating life to date.

   The real heroes of this book are Marcus' parents, Harold (Red) and Gwen Allen, who put the necessary time and effort into providing their children with the integrity that has made Marcus successful.

   This is a book of contrasts and conflicts, the first of which are with Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders. Marcus despises Al and is candid in describing his reasons. Anyone who is not familiar with Al Davis might think Marcus is exaggerating, but those who are familiar with him will find the criticism reasonable, if not understated. Corroboration for his descriptions of Al's eccentricities may be found in "Slick: The Silver and Black Life of Al Davis" by Mark Ribowsky [ISBN: 0-02-602500-0], a highly entertaining biography that is now out of print but may be available through a used-book service.

   The other interesting contrast is that between Marcus and his friend O.J. Simpson. As Marcus described Nicole Simpson's death and the subsequent murder trial, I kept asking how these two men, similar in so many ways, could have ended up so differently. As I said at the outset, the real heroes of the book are Marcus' parents.




5. He shows an amazing insight into what really goes on in the dirty world of american football. To the specifically vindictive nature of Al Davis towards Marcus, to the heartfelt news which so totally devasted him upon learning of the revelation of O.J.!! Written we a great deal of intelligence almost as if he was a best selling novelist. Definitely makes you support the Chiefs whenever they play the Raiders, even though i support the Seahawks. Maybe now Marcus has retired he will put pen to paper more often, I certaintly will purchase any of his material.

2 comments about The Need to Win: Football from My Own Heart.

1. Otis Taylor tells his life story in his honest way. He really was a great player and he knows that and tells you so, but it mostly doesn't come off as too arrogant, just honest.
   Taylor does a great job covering his life through the early seventies. He enjoyed a lot of success, as did his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. He provides some thought-provoking glimpses into racism and teamwork in a turbulent era.
   My only real complaint is that the book seems to quickly run out of steam as the Chiefs and Taylor fade. I would have loved to learn more about such a great athlete fading and accepting his career's end. I can handle his openness about his greatness, but how about when the greatness starts to diminish? The book does pick up a bit when Taylor discusses his post-playing career.



2. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT FORMER KANSAS CITY CHIEF GREAT, OTIS TAYLOR. I LIKED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF THE HONESTY AND SINCERITY OF OTIS TAYLOR. HE DOES A NICE JOB OF TELLING HIS LIFE STORY INCLUDING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HANK STRAM, LEN DAWSON AND MANY OTHERS. I THOUGHT OTIS NEVER GOT THE CREDIT HE DESERVED AS ONE OF THE GREAT WIDE RECEIVERS OF HIS TIME. HALL OF FAME SHOULD INCLUDE HIM. A REAL NICE READ FOR CHIEF AND FOOTBALL FANS. RECOMMENDED.

No comments about Simply Devine Missouri Limited Edition.

1 comments about I Remember Paul "Bear" Bryant: Personal Memories of College Footballs Most Legendary Coach As Told by the People Who Knew Him Best.

1. Paul "Bear" Bryant was a football coach rightly beloved by fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide, for his team won six national championships, thirteen Southeastern Conference titles, and twenty-four consecutive appearances in bowl games from 1959 through 1982. Those who knew him best continue to love him, and Al Browning's I Remember Paul "Bear" Bryant is heartfelt testimony to that love. Dozens of his friends and acquaintances, from former football players to childhood friends to family to opponents on the field reminisce in their own words the man they knew. I Remember Paul "Bear" Bryant tells of a master of reverse psychology; a steely disciplinarian; and a truly kind human being beneath the tough-as-nails exterior. Paul Bryant has moved on from this life, but he will not be forgotten. Recommended for anyone who would wish a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest football coaches who ever lived.

No comments about Catching Dreams: The Autobiography of William E. Pellum.

3 comments about I Remember Bud Wilkinson: Personal Memories and Anecdotes About an Oklahoma Sooners Legend As Told by the People and Players Who Knew Him (I Remember).

1. Bud Wilkinson's name isn't mentioned with college football coaching legends like Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Paul 'Bear' Bryant, Woody Hayes, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner or Tom Osborne, but it should be. Wilkinson became a head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners in 1947 at the young age of 31. Seventeen years later he retired from coaching in 1963 at age 47 after winning three national titles in 1950,1955, and 1956.
   
   Along with the titles, his coaching career included one win streak of 31 games and another spanning over four years at a record-holding 47 games. (So, how does won go on a 47-game winning streak and only win two national titles? The answer is in the book.) At one point Wilkinson's win/loss record stood at a incredible 94-5-2 over 101 games - a feat that will never be duplicated.
   
   'I Remember Bud Wilkinson' isn't a book about Bud Wilkinson's life as told by the author. Instead the story of Wilkinson's life is told by the people who knew him throughout his life. Included are comments from notable names such as Curt Gowdy, Keith Jackson, Barry Switzer, Jim Hart, and Ara Parseghian.
   
   The first part of the book contains stories from coaches and players during his career at Oklahoma. We are treated with several anecdotes about Wilkinson's coaching philosophy from how he handled his players to how he organized his practices. The stories give the reader a good idea of who Bud Wilkinson was as a person and how he developed the Sooners into the stuff of legend. At times, the stories are inspiring and may serve as guidance to young people - I realize this sounds a bit corny - on how to conduct themselves.
   
   The stories after Wilkinson retired from coaching and became a broadcaster tend to be more light-hearted. You're treated to a different side of Wilkinson and simultaneously what the early days in college football broadcasting were like.
   
   Some of the better ones include:
   
   * Keith Jackson recalling an experience when Bear Bryant was to assist in a broadcast. Bryant showed up 'pretty well greased', commented very little and eventually ended up nodding off while Wilkinson was forced to work him in and out of the broadcast.
   * Barry Switzer telling a story about how Wilkinson spent the night in a hotel room serving drinks to Woody Hayes, Bob Devaney, Bear Bryant, and Duffy Daugherty.
   * How a television cue mix-up lead to the Air Force Falcon flying off before the broadcast started. How another mistake left Wilkinson and fellow broadcaster Chris Schenkel shouting over the top of a marching band at the beginning of the first Peach Bowl broadcast.
   
   The last part of the book deals with Wilkinson's two-year with the St Louis Cardinals as a NFL head coach. Stories here relate why Wilkinson failed, how the Cardinals were run as an organization. The end of the book includes "In His Own Words" - which weren't nearly as interesting as the other stories throughout the book. The book then concludes with a history of Wilkinson's win/loss record throughout his career.
   
   'I Remember Bud Wilkinson' is a pretty fun read. It's also an easy read. The stories are interesting whether they're about football, broadcasting or Wilkinson's short-lived NFL career. You get a full view of his life and an understanding of the world in which he lived. The book isn't just for Oklahoma Sooners fans - it's for anyone who would like to know more about college football history and one of the greatest unsung coaches to shape the game.



2. I have always had great respect for Bud Wilkinson as a football coach and as a leader of men, I did not need to read a book where everyone who speaks of him lauds him needlessly and dumps sugar all over his legacy. I read "The Undefeated" by Jim Dent. It was all about Coach Wilkinson and his fabled OU football program. THAT, was a brutally honest account of the REAL Bud Wilkinson. I DO want to read about the real man that Coach Wilkinson was, not some perfect "god". I have total respect for Coach Wilkinson, no matter what human imperfections he may have had. I did enjoy "I Remember Bud Wilkinson", but it was WAY too candy-coated. If you're looking for an HONEST portrait of Coach Wilkinson, you won't find it in this book.



3. It is a fun book to read because it tells the reader how Bud Wilkinson was a football coach for young men that only players on so many other teams could only dream about. Bud Wilkinson was a coach who enjoyed the game and enjoyed practice aand he let his players do the same!

3 comments about Alex Smith: The Story Of The University Of Utah's Unlikely Star Quarterback.

1. the story of Alex Smith is a great story about a kid who always played second fiddle, but when he got the chance to sign, he took full advantage.
   
   Smith went to Helix high school and in 2 years lost 2 game as the starting QB leading his team to 2 straight state titles.
   
   Smith wasn't the story however, his teamate was.
   Running Back Reggie Bush, who later signed to play at USC.
   
   Smith had only 2 offers, 1-Michigan State 2-Utah
   
   Smith declined Michigan State because his uncle was the head coach, and fearing a political backlash, Smith chose Utah.
   
   at Utah, Smith was at the very bottom of the depth chart and even thought about transfering out, but destiny was on Alex's side.
   
   on the last play of the game against Texas A&M, Utah's starting QB got hurt, and Smith took over. his first start was against California and Smith lead the Utes to a win over the ranked Cal.
   
   in 2 years, Smith lead Utah to a 21-1 record and from the unknowns to a powerhouse football team.
   in his junior season, Smith had just about everything you could ask for short of the National Title.
   
   Utah finished 12-0, ranked #5 in the Nation, and was the first Non-BCS team to make it a BCS game.
   
   Alex Smith ended his junior year leading Utah to a 35-7 win over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl and took home MVP of the game, finishing 29 of 37 for 328 yards and 4 tds.
   
   Smith was a Heishman Trophy finalist and was named by The Sporting News as the college football Player of the Year.
   
   i really hope there is a revised story, because it pretty much ends where Alex makes his decision to go pro, which was a no brainer.
   
   Smith ended up becoming the #1 overall draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
   he threw his first TD pass in his 150th pass attempt, finishing the season with 1 td and 11 ints.
   
   Alex wore #11 and was in the #1 pick in the NFL Draft. pretty crazy numbers hu?
   
   the Alex Smith story is really fascinating. he's not a showboat, or a gloater. he's a very humble guy who knows where he came from.
   
   great story.



2. The story of Alex Smith and his meteoric rise to the number one NFL draft choice is a superbly inspiring story, written by a very talented young author. It is laced with humerous anecdotes and interesting insights into Smith's homelife and his first 20 years.



3. Wow! This is a compelling story, for young and old. Heather is an amazing storyteller, and does a masterful job of sharing the story of Alex Smith as he follows his dream of playing football in the NFL. It is full of fun and anecdotal excerpts from his childhood, and a detailed review of his march to an undefeated 2004 season, leading the University of Utah football team. I couldn't put it down, and read the whole book in one sitting (two weeks before his going first pick in the NFL draft). Now, I can't wait for the sequel covering his 49er years!

No comments about Great Running Backs: Football's Fearless Foot Soldiers.

2 comments about All Heart: The Autobiography of Michael Pinball Clemons.

1. "All Heart" is not only the title of this book, but also an apt description of Michael Clemons. The book is written by Michael himself and he handles himself in this book with the same grace and dignity with which he plays football and lives his life. Clemons is a player who always speaks well of others and those who know him only from media interviews might expect this to be a sugar-coated book. Not so. Michael speaks honestly about the people and issues he has encountered in football. How can this man be so happy all the time? Read the book and you'll know his secret!



2. All Heart, the new book from Michael Clemons, gives us an insight into one of the finest athletes and human beings on the Canadian sporting scene. Pinball shows us again what a wonderful guy he really is. The antithesis of the modern pro athlete, he combines talent, humanity, humour, and class. All Heart is a journey through the professional and personal growth of an all-time Argonaut. You''ll see why this man is always smiling !!