No comments about Fourth and Goal: I Had No Kicker.

No comments about Pro Football's Greatest Quarterbacks: Roger Staubach Cover (Pro Football's Greatest Quarterbacks).

1 comments about Huddle: Fathers, Sons and Football.

1. I really loved how the father in this story got behind his son, even when he picked a sport that the dad had little or no understanding of. I got that impression that, to the dad, it was not what sport his son was playing that was important, but instead it was the fact that it was his son playing that mattered.
   
   I am a high school football coach. My son is 6 months old. If he picks (heaven forbid) to not play football, I want to be able to see that the value is in whatever he does and that it should be important to me because it is important to him.
   This is a great book for all fathers to read-- especially if you think your son is going to be the best at (fill-in whatever sport or activity you want) instead of thinking that you are going to let him know that he is the best son you could have ever asked for, no matter what.
   
   This book helps to remind me of my most important job-- to be a supportive father.

1 comments about Pappy: Gentle Bear: A Coach Who Changed Football...A the Men Who Played It.

1. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Mr. Cameron's tome of Lynn Waldorf. Having lived after "Pappy's" reign as a coach and a as a coach myself, I found out, interestingly enough, how little the game has changed. There still is the organization and planning of a program, the intense rivalry and competion, sacrifice, the desire to be a part of something bigger than yourself and the realization that football is just a stepping stone for life. If you know a true "student of the game", coach, player or amateur football "historian", this is a great gift and a fantastic and inspiring read. I wish I played for Coach Waldorf.

2 comments about Dante Hall: X-Factor, Limited Edition.

1. An excellent story of how a man who was too small to play in college (much less the NFL) has excelled.



2. ...just like Dante and the Swiss Cheifs offense. He can't even beat out WRs like Sammie Parker and Eddie Kennison. Kennison couldn't even stay on his other NFL team.

1 comments about Sam Baugh: Best There Ever Was (Texas Legends Series).

1. If you are a TCU fan then what could be better than Sammy Baugh, Dan Jenkins and the FWST's own Whit Canning?

   I always knew what a remarkable QB Sammy Baugh was but what I never realized is what a remarkable man he was. If you ever wondered where the heroes went, then look no further than this book.

   When you combine the story of a true athletic legend with the wit and style of Dan Jenkins and the thoroughness of Whit Canning, then how can you go wrong?

   If you are a Frog then read this book and you will be in Frog Heaven and there is no better place to be. Rif Ram.

No comments about The Long Gravel Road To Bama: The Story Of Richard And Jimmy Grammer.

3 comments about Tom Landry: An Autobiography.

1. There are some great lessons on leadership and character in this book. Landry's strong faith and belief system helped shape the morality of many that came in contact with him. His vision on life is based on a high value system. He is a perfectionist and a great strategist who believes that preparation is always the key, which I also agree. After reading this book you will walk away with a new layer of tenacity, an increased will to be challenged, and a new resolution to embrace patience more.



2. America is a sports-crazy nation. Tom Landry's career is worth reading about because it parallels the rise of professional football in the U.S. His rise from the tiny town of Mission, Texas to building a football dynasty is inspirational because through years of losing he had the determination and faith to stick with his plan for winning. A major factor in this was his faith.
   
   Landry's narrative is also intertwined with larger historical events. His older brother Robert died during WWII when the B-17 bomber he was in disappeared over the Atlantic en route to England. At age 18, the younger Landry enlisted and eventually flew 30 B-17 missions over Europe. Another aspect of history--after President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, the Cowboys were booed at every game they played for the rest of the season, and into the next.
   
   There are some great lessons on leadership in the last chapter that are applicable in any context.
   
   For all he did, Landry certainly didn't deserve the kind of dismissal he got at the end of his career.



3. Having been a lifelong Cowboys fan I saw this book and had to read it. The first thing I found upon reading it was that total honesty of Coach Landry and the guts it took to wither all the storms life can throw at one person. I found that, even though it deals worth football, there are lessons that are applicable to everyday life. This would be a great book for all school children to be assigned to read. It shows what can happen when one person puts faith and families and principles ahead of instant gradification.

1 comments about Size Doesn't Matter: My Rugby Life.

1. I was unsure of what to expect from this book. Most sports autobiographies are ghost written, but this book has no ghost writing credit and was actually Neil Back's own work.

   The only other books of this nature I had to compare to "Size Doesn't Matter" is Mick Foley's pro wrestling autobiography "Have a Nice Day" and it's followup "Foley is Good." (Neither of these were ghost written either.. a fact he spends about 2 chapters discussing in his second book.) Other than that, I've never read a sports autobiography of any kind.

   Now, Rugby and Pro Wrestling are sports that are miles apart. Some argue Pro Wrestling isn't a sport, but I won't even get into that here. Foley's two books are genius, no doubt. Neil Back is at that level as well.

   The book starts out at his birth, as is most logical. For the first 2 or 3 chapters, he jumps between time periods quite quickly, and that is a bit disconcerting. He's talkign about when he was 5 and participating in his first Rugby match and then is suddenly talking about a British Lions tour, and is then back to when he was 5. This settles down quickly, though, and the temporal flow becomes much better.

   You need to know a bit about Rugby to truly appreciate this book, as he doesn't explain many terms at all, and doesn't really explain the importance of positions. But it doesn't matter that much.. it makes it a little bit less confusing if you know the difference between a Flanker, Winger and Hooker, though.

   He progresses through his life to right up after the disappointing British Lions tour of Australia in 2001. Well written the whole way. The only gripe I have is that Neil uses too much British jargon. He gives everyone nicknames.. Jonno, Lol, Robbo, Hilly, Catty, Backy (referring to himself), Deanno and so on. Honestly, by the end of the book, I had forgotten who "Deanno" was and had to go back thru the earlier parts of the book in an attempt to find out. He also makes references to british celebrities, which totally goes over my head... but I can't really dock him for that, as this book was more intended for a British audience, I think.

   Overall, if you're a Rugby fan.. even if you don't like English Rugby.. this book is definately one to get.

No comments about Kurt Warner: The Quarterback (Sport Snaps).