5 comments about Manning.

1. Excellent reading for anyone of all ages who's interested in football; especially the football family of "Mannings". This book gives us a very human side of the Manning family; their triumphs and tragedies become very real while reading this book; your heart will go out to them as just another family who's gone through so much and yet they have triumphed and given so much back to the communities in which they live. What an honorable family!



2. What a great insight to the lives of a close-knit family, who never let fame or fortune change who they are! Excellent book!



3. PEYTON AND ARCHIE AND COOPER AND ELI. THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER! ARCHIE AND OLIVIA SHOWED HOW BEING GREAT PARENTS CAN BREED GREAT CHILDREN! THIS BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF FAITH , FAMILY ,FOOTBALL, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSEVERANCE AND PURSUIT OF EDUCATION. PEYTON MANNING SAID THIS BEST!



4. 
   Manning is an ideal read for any fan of football, and sets a high bar for other autobiographies by athletes to follow. Manning is about the lives and football careers of father Archie Manning and son Peyton Manning. Archie starts off the book describing his childhood in the quiet, peaceful, but hard life in the small town of Drew, Mississippi. Archie continues chronologically by talking about his career in high school for Drew, college for the University of Mississippi, and finally his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints.
   Peyton begins his segment at the end of Archie's by starting straight off with his high school career at Newman. Peyton describes his time in high school, playing with his brother Cooper, by saying "1991 was like no other." Peyton then follows in suit by talking about his time in college at Tennessee and about his continuing career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.
   While Manning can easily entertain any fan of football or fan of the Mannings, someone who is not interested in either should not spend their time reading this book. On the other hand, fans of football or the Mannings would love every page of this book. In my opinion, the beginning of this book is very slow because of Archie's lackluster life in Drew. Although, once Archie begins to talk more about high school, the book begins to pick up by a lot. So in conclusion, any fan of football or admirer of the work of these two great football players will find this book as a very good read.



5. This is an excellent book, written by Archie and Peyton Manning. It starts of with a really painful experience for Archie, and it goes through Archie's entire life and career, and it talks about the begining of Peyton's career and most of his childhood. I would recomend this book to anyone, and to everybody who loves the Manning family, like I do.

5 comments about Namath (Icons of the NFL).

1. An entertaining book, very much a quick read, boasting fantastic photos of a true NFL legend.
   
   I found the first half of the book to be the best as after that it seemed to descend into a discussion of Namath's business pursuits (restaurant chain, movies, advertising).
   
   In a perfect world, I would have liked less publicity photos and more pictures of his football playing and more indepth on his playing.
   
   This is not a biography of the man, but more of a coffeetable look at him, which is not to say that it is bad.
   
   An enjoyable book.



2. Just like the author, this book is a winner! This makes a great gift for the book lovers and sports fans in your life. Readable and written as if a friend is telling you the stories, warm and casual without any airs. Joe Namath's appeal is timeless, his talent is revered by athletes and non-athletes, and his honesty is heartwarming. He is a good storyteller and his experiences are worth telling. Truly, an enjoyable read for anyone. This is a story of courage, pain, perseverance and commitment-to the game, to his family, and to himself. Reading about his injuries gives insight into the physical punishment and the steel discipline needed to play the game of football AND the game of life. The pictures are wonderful, too. Even the front and back inside covers of the book have pictures. It's like getting a photo album, a great story, and a bonus DVD, all in one book. Touchdown!!



3. I GAVE IT TO HIM FOR CHRISTMAS AND HE FINISHED WELL BEFORE NEW YEARS.



4. I was very pleased with this purchase. I have purchased things on Amazon previously, and can tell you that I have always admired the efficient handling of each transaction. This particular purchase was handled equally well.
   
   The Namath book has a little more significance to me, as it was a last minute purchase before Christmas and I was surprised and pleased that I was able to get as quickly as I did and at a reasonable price.
   
   Joseph DeJesus



5. This is a well-written exhaustive biography of one of the NFL's most colorful and exciting players. His tale is replete with history and fantasy and well-wishing fans.

5 comments about Power, Money & Sex.

1. I was wandering around a Gold Beach, Oregon book store last week and just happened to pick up Deion Sanders' book. I vaguely knew who he was. For some strange reason, I purchased it. Although, riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, I found his message very compelling. I am just new to the world of Jesus and have had many folks in my life talk to me about living a Christian life, but I have to say that Deion's book really TALKED to me about this issue. More than anyone else. He just broke it down in plain terms and related his story in a way that spoke to me loud and clear. Thanks Deion.



2. I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE QUITE INTERESTING AND WRITTEN WITH HONESTY. DEION HAS ALWAYS BEEN FLASHY AND FLAMBOYANT. HE PRESENTED HIMSELF AS BEING THIS WAY ALL THE TIME. HIS "PRIME TIME" PERSONALITY IS NOT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A MODEL CITIZEN ON HOW TO PRESENT YOURSELF. HE SAYS UNDERNEATH HE IS A CHRISTIAN AND HUMBLE, I HOPE HE IS. I HAD HOPED HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE DETAIL TO HIS CAREER. THIS IS WORTH READING AND ENJOYABLE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DEION AND PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER BOOK WITH MORE DETAIL AND INSIGHT INTO HOW TO LIVE LIFE.



3. Let me start off by saying I like Deion Sanders, otherwise I never would have purchased his book. And I admire the fact that the man has come a LONG way and overcome many obstacles to accept Christ into his life.
   However, I do have a major complaint - well, two to be totally honest.
   One, Deion seems to blame all his past problems on others. Even though Deion admits he was hell on wheels and self destructive for a time, he still doesn't take responsibility for many of his actions in this book. The time in Cincinnati, when he played for the Reds, when he got into an altercation with a security guard while he was riding around in a golf cart. Everyone knows Deion made that situation worse than it ever could have been, but in Deion's retelling of the story, the security guard provoked him. There are several more stories like this one, where Deion was involved in something that escalated because the other party in the dispute was out to "get him". I'm not going to say that everything that has happened to Deion is his fault, but let's be real - a lot of it is. I'm surprised, as a christian, that Deion hasn't stepped up to the plate and taken a little more responsibility for his past actions. I'm not judging Deion, but I must admit my disappointment.
   The other problem I had with the book, and this is most likely not Deion's fault but rather the authors, is that his "escapades" are glamourized, instead of downplayed. I've read several biographies written by famous people - athletes, politicians, actors, etc - and they all are guilty of this. I understand the risk you take as a writer, explaining the past deed and attempting to unfold what happened, but doing so in a manor that is interesting to the reader. When this happens, it's every easy to glamourize the story, instead of exposing it for the bad thing that it was.
   Overall, an entertaining read, albeit somewhat short to my surprise.



4. Overall, I really enjoy Deion and I was looking forward to reading his autobiography, but I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. It wasn't as 'thorough' as I thought - and his cockiness and self-centeredness really showed. I still enjoy him, and I wish him the best on his journey with Jesus.. I just pray that he's sincere.



5. I've always dug Deion Sanders.To Me he has been the Most Complete Athlete of His Time.cuz He is a Good Baseball Player&A Great Football Player.but More Importantly The Brother is Very Honest with Himself&His Surroundings.he has come full circle&has Inner Peace.this is a Great Book.

5 comments about I've Got Things To Do With My Life: Pat Tillman And The Making Of An American Hero.

1. I'm confused! I re-ordered this book (returned the defective one)and received another defective book! The pages opposite the spine of the book are jagged and have a strange, uneven, torn look. This is the second time this has happened with the same book! I need to send this one back too. Thanks for prompting this response! Disappointed in Michigan



2. This book needs to be updated with the sorry story of the abuse of a dead football player for propaganda purposes by an incompetent military and an administration bereft of any sense of decency or notion of ethical behaviour.



3. I didn't like the book. First, I was suprised by how thin the book was when I got it.There were not many pages at all.The rough uneven edges of the pages made it appear as if they had all been torn out of some other book making it look very amateurish. The story content was as thin as the book itself. There was only general information on how he died; no detail at all.I was very disappointed with it and do not reccommend it to anyone.



4. Compelling real hero stuff to realize what hell at war is all about taking a life that was so vibrant!



5. The previous book review by that Calvert guy is totally bogus. What a jerk. I read Towle's book, and while it's not one of those long, comprehensive biographies that takes two years to write, it is very informative. It's also nicely balanced in that it presnets a thorough examination of both Tillman's Army life and his football career. Sure, there was some stuff in the book that has appeared in other sources, but Towle sourced and footnoted all those. I also noticed in his Acknowledgements section that he listed something like 40 people or so he spoke to firsthand for this book. That's pretty good considering that Tillman's family and friends have been so tight-lipped about Pat to this day. This is a story that needed to be written, whether or not family and friends are willing to open up, and I think Towle did a wonderful job.

5 comments about Patriot Reign: Bill Belichick, the Coaches, and the Players Who Built a Champion.

1. I am a Steelers fan but am open to reading about any football team. This book looks at a couple of years in the life of the New England Patriots. How did they become a NFL jugganaut?
   
   This book pushes the idea that it was the coach Bill Belichick who through his great coaching ability was able to mold the team into a football powerhouse.
   
   It is a quick and easy read and one in which I enjoyed.



2. The author does a great job of bringing the reader into the locker room in what would become one of the greatest franchises in sports history. He obviously was given quite a bit of access into normally closed door meetings and areas. The book describes the games, players and coaches to an extent that grips the reader. Highly recommended.



3. In purchasing Patriot Reign, I was hoping for a thoughtful insight into modern-day, post salary-cap NFL, a la Moneyball. All in all I found the book to lack in insight. The book provided more of a description of, rather than my sought after Belicheckian rationalizations for, the ingenious roster moves and overall management of the Patriots.
   Further, Patriot Reign was directed at a mass market audience, both in its writing style and its editing; the book jumped from thought to thought, and lacked Holley's regularly-displayed cogent thought process prominent in the author's Dale and Holley sports radio show.



4. I enjoyed this book. Holley is a great writer. Good perspective of what went on behind the scenes from the football management perspective.



5. The book brought out a side of the coach you never knew about. All we see is the man on Sundays, on the sidelines. This book gets you up close and personal in the locker room, strategy meetings and players opinions. Also, interesting facts of his father's influence.

5 comments about Barry Sanders Now You See Him: His Story in His Own Words.

1. What a great Back. Rather booring book. Not too interesting at all. Very blah.



2. I was so glad to see this book and DVD come out. The story of Barry Sanders the NFL's legendary running back who played for the Detroit Lions for his entire NFL career. Barry Sanders didn't break the biggest records but, his name is mentioned as a runner up for all of them. This was mainly because Barry didn't play the game to break records. He played the game to the best of his abilities..... and his best, for those of us lucky enough to see him play, was nothing short of jaw-dropping! I know that Sanders could have broke all the records but, his modest and humble personality and upbringing would not permit any showboating. In many games where his team had a good lead he would take himself out of the game rather than pile on the garbage yards like so many others. Sanders also was able to produce a staggering amount of yards behind a mediocre front line. The Superbowl would elude him for his entire career and his sudden retirement was almost brilliant as we will never know what he could have accomplished if he played a few more years. Still if you look at his stats you will see he did break many records and left an impressive mark on the game. I don't think football has been as exciting since he retired. I know that many of today's players could take a lesson from this man in class,loyalty and good sportmanship. Even if you don't agree he was the greatest running back to play the game, he was certainly the most unique! The book is interesting and the DVD is very good but, I would have loved more footage of great runs from old "20 Blue", I'm sure they could fill a hefty DVD box set with just classic Barry runs. If your a fan it's worth picking up.



3. The greatest back of all time writes a pretty boring book. some things are interesting. I wish the DVD was better...but you could make a 10 disc set with his highlights.



4. THIS IS ABOUT FORMER DETROIT LION GREAT BARRY SANDERS. HE WROTE THIS HIMSELF WITH A LITTLE HELP. HIS STORY IS SHORT, SWEET AND VERY WELL WRITTEN. IT ALSO INCLUDES A DVD SHOWING SOME OF HIS RUNS. I THINK ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS HIS REASONS FOR RETIRING WHEN HE WAS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING THE TOP RUSHER OF ALL TIME. BARRY IS A CHRISTIAN AND IS HIS OWN MAN. THE BOOK IS FOR ALL LION AND FOOTBALL FANS. ENJOY.



5. I've been looking for a Barry Sanders highlights DVD for years.... good news - there finally is one, it comes with the book. Bad news? It's only about 20 minutes long, and doesn't show many of his spectacular runs. The book is outstanding, as it's written pretty much by Barry himself, and has great comments from other players in the NFL, giving him the praise he deserves. Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, they have entire 60 minute DVD's (and more) on their lives.... if any player in the history of football should have one, it's Barry Sanders. All in all, if you like football at all, and appreciate magic, this is a must have, from the most talented running back in the history of the game.

5 comments about LT: Over the Edge: Tackling Quarterbacks, Drugs, and a World Beyond Football.

1. I think this is a reminder of how Profesinal Athletes can take a turn for the worst. In the beginning of this Autobiography you can see the reality of the being a pro athlete. You see Lawrence in a situation were he is buying drugs and he is being held up and he is mugged. I thought this is a great way to teach people about how drugs can ruin an image and family life. This book is real it is from the eyes of probably the greatest linebacker of all time.



2. His story is a very honest and hard look at his life written by he. He goes thru this nightmares of this addiction with honesty and detail. This many setbacks and attempts at sobriety are frightening and unknown to this common man. He were a great player for many years. He have finally conquered he demons and he are now a likable and respected person.



3. Don't bother wasting your time on this book. It's difficult to believe that an individual would spend almost the entire book bragging about illegal and immoral behavior.



4. THIS IS A VERY HONEST AND HARD LOOK AT LAWRENCE TAYLOR WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. HE GOES THRU THE NIGHTMARES OF THIS ADDICTIONS WITH HONESTY AND DETAIL. THE MANY SET BACKS AND ATTEMPTS AT SOBRIETY ARE VERY INTERESTING AND FRIGHTENING. HE WAS A GREAT PLAYER FOR MANY YEARS FOR THE GIANTS. LT HAS FINALLY GOTTEN A HANDLE ON HIS DEMONS AND IS NOW SOMEONE TO RESPECT. I FOUND THIS TO A WELL WRITTEN BOOK AND RECOMMEND THIS FOR ANYONE.



5. This book is about a hall of fame football player who drugs at one point took over his life.Lt started using cocaine as a social thing, but then it got to a point that it became a daily thing. The NFL started doing random drug test's Lt would tell people to urine in a cup for him so he can cheat the drug test it wouldn't show that he used drugs. Then Lt got two strikes for failing two drug test's after he heard that if he failed another drug test he would be banned from the NFL. So Lt got serious by going to rehab and cleaning himself up. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to find out the real truth about Lawrence Taylor. Also because it's a good book to read, and its very interesting. Also to anybody who likes football. And also I would recommend it because it shows you the affects that drugs have on someone's behavior. And it gives you the real facts about Lt's drug habit.

5 comments about Namath: A Biography.

1. Kriegel does a masterful job at covering Namath for the reader. That said, I found the book way too long for the subject matter. Definitely mainline skimming after Namath retires from the Jets. The author really covers Namath's flaws. He appears to have always been an industrial strength drinker with little regard for most of his teammates and others. Not an easy person to like. Consequently, I found myself asking why am I reading all of these words about such a person. The football parts are really good, especially I would think for old line Jets fans. However, other parts are less intriguing. I've noticed that authors who are also journalists tend to think we care as much about all the details as do they. I found Kriegel's book, Pistol, about Pete Maravich is a better read.



2. Namath, through his legal mouthpiece, refused to cooperate with the author of "Namath: A Biography." A terrific researcher and writer, Mark Kriegel didn't need him. Joe left enough bitter friends, teammates, and business partners who were willing to share the lowdown on Broadway Joe. Ain't a pretty picture, but neither is pro football.
   
   This was one of the most talented and courageous players ever to step onto a football field. The author pays due homage to Joe Namath, QB. Plenty of fascinating stuff on Beaver Falls, Alabama, and Jets heroics. His athleticism was a great gift; his grit in making the most of it was unyielding. If you utterly idolized him as #12, leave that as your only memory.
   
   What this book presents is Namath as man in full; which is to say, a user without peer, a smalltown pool hustler who brought that ethos to all that touched his life. There's me, and there are the suckers. When he was finished with you, you learned it this way: your phone calls were not returned. Out. Finis. A buddy for twenty years now dying? A teammate for a dozen years? Sorry. Your services in the lifelong promotion that remains Joe Willie "White Shoes" are no longer required. Perhaps the best example cited by the author of the crassness of Namath the man was when he wanted 60G to attend a charity golf tournament organized by his Jets teammates. Unfortunately that sum would drain the total funds earned by the event. So no Joe. Not that he wanted to go; that was the point of the exhorbitant fee--he didn't need them.
   
   When the primetime hustle that was Broadway Joe finally petered out, Namath decided it was family that mattered. He had always tried to take care of his natural family, which was a broken one. But he had no practice at real life. He waited too long. He soon married a user half his age who hustled him: she left him because she wanted to be a "serious actress" and "find herself," as Kriegel painfully quotes her. This she did by ditching Broadway Joe for her own personal Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. She took the two Namath daughters with her, leaving her husband shellshocked as to how such a thing could happen to The Man Himself. He quickly returned to that which best sustained him through his desultory off-field existence: booze.
   
   Kriegel throughout makes the point that the Namath con is all part of the Big Con: The Enteraintment and Sports Sell. The original power behind Namath as Broadway Joe was Sonny Werblin, New York TV superagent and hustler extraordinnaire when he became a minority Jets owner. At the time, pro football was bringing up the rear in the American sports pantheon. Its owners still labored under the delusion they were in the football business. Namath-Werblin changed that. It was the perfect marriage in Joe's life. Joe and Sonny, Football and Show Biz.
   
   Namath's latest promotion has been his autobiography, surprisingly titled, "Namath." This was the reason Joe risked an interview late last year with Sixty Minutes, notorious for slapping the self-satisfied smiles off its subjects. No problem: his attorney likely made sure he got what he wanted, a puff-piece where he charmingly skates Oprahesque across the wreckage of his life while walking a Florida beach. Trying to stay booze-free once again, moving on metal knees and arthritic hips, the man's hustle hasn't lost a step. And he may be alone, still devoted to his daughters, but he's certainly not lonely (wink, wink). Broadway Joe lives.
   
   If you want a well-written take on Namath that is as gritty as the man and his world, read the Kriegel book. It's all about Joe William Namath, who remains one of the most extraordinary football players I ever watched. And wish I could pay good U.S. money to go back and watch again in the autumn dust of Shea Stadium, New York.



3. Great book. I feel sad for a man who peaked at 25.
   
   J!E!T!S! Jets Jets Jets



4. Everybody knows Joe Namath (okay, most people have heard of him). Of our knowledge and recollections of Namath, most go back to about 40 years ago, when he was a young quarterback on fragile knees, had a shotgun arm, a team jelling around him that lead to The Guarantee, a Super Bowl win . . . and he was Joe Namath, The Swankiest Dude in NYC, ladies at his beck and call, llama rug, fur coat, bachelor lifestyle, etc. After that, it all kind of fades to memory: years of frustration, a year with the Rams and retirement. Once in a while you'd hear about him, starring in the theater of all places, but the memory goes back to when he was 26 and an American idol.
   
   Kriegel wrote a heck of a book, cutting through the cobwebs of our collective memories to give us a much different portrait of a man than the hype had provided to us: one who cared about family, one who respected the father figures of his life, one who cared deeply and was loyal to his friends - but one who reinvented himself at various times of his life and left his old friends behind. His reinvention of his life led to marriage and a family, where he wanted a stable, loving family around him - but didn't quite achieve that. Now, the reinvention goes on - new relationships, new family relations as his children got older, but the old life he lived has never quite been shaken off.
   
   This book was written without the direct help of Namath or through his lawyer, Jim Walsh. It appears that Namath's policy is that his personal life is nobody's business but his, and I respect that: he's had years in the spotlight and what he chooses to reveal to the world should be just that which he chooses. Walsh, a lawyer who has as his sole business that of Joe Namath, requested a huge sum of money for access to Namath and his story. That I have little respect for. I think that Kriegel's version without the help of Namath and Walsh give us a much better, more honest view of the man than if Namath had cooperated in the writing and editing. The result is a book that sheds a good deal of light on a much more complex man than we thought we knew.



5. Time has a way of marching on. In every sport there are a certain amount of sport stars that made their mark not only in the history of their particular sport but upon society in general. Joe Willie Nemet (his real name)made that and more.
   
   A larger than life character is brought to life in this wonderful read. From his roots in growinup up in a rough and tumble mill town of Beaver Falls to the bright lights of Broadway. Namath had the ability to overcome many demons with a unreal atheltic arm and mind. Today's professional athlete - football, baseball, basketball - should lay down and thank the Namath's of professional sport as the ones who made it possible for them to earn these out of sight salary figures kicked around today. Joe brought not only guts and grit to his game but a dertermination and intellegence to run an offense without all the help of modern coaching input seen in today's game. They just don't make em' like the Namaths', Title's, Unitas's, and Baugh's much anymore.
   
   Rank this one up there with it's realistic approach to how it was. A fun ride.

5 comments about Chad: I Can't Be Stopped.

1. I LOVED THE INSIGHT THAT CHAD'S BOOK OFFERS SPORT FANS. IT'S ALWAYS A PRIVILEDGE TO GET A GLIMPSE INSIDE A CELEBRITY'S LIFE AND CHAD DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. AS FOR CHAD'S BRAND OF TRASH TALK, I'D ADVISE ANY PRO SPORTS FAN TO READ A BOOK CALLED 'TRASH TALK' BY ROBERT GUSSIN. IT'S A SPORTS COMEDY BONANZA. CHAD, HAVE YOU READ IT?



2. Written by "Cincinnati Enquirer" sports columnist Paul Daugherty, Chad: I Can't Be Stopped is the true-life story of National Football League superstar Chad Johnson - well known for his professional prowess, and perhaps also known for his touchdown celebrations that prompted the NFL to tighten their rules on what is considered a permissible expression of victory. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this candid story of Chad the person as well as Chad the expert football player. "Says Hue Jackson, Bengals receiver coach and one of Johnson's few confidantes, 'Chad doesn't drink or smoke. He's not a guy that has to be out among the celebrities. I don't lose sleep on Saturday nights, worrying about Chad Johnson.'" Highly recommended as an upbeat, in-depth portrait of an athlete who happens to be a positive role model.



3. This book is great. It offers a behind the scene look at the life of one of the most successful wide recievers in NFL history. Excellent!



4. Chad I can't be stopped, is and incredible book. I give this peice of work 5 stars. The way the author goes into complete depth and detail is amazing. Also the authors tell many stories which are told in Chad's his prospective about how he plays and performs in the football games. Also how he thinks he played in the steelers game in 2005 and his locker room breakdown in his point of veiw. Many of my favorite parts are when Bessie Mae talks about her grandson Chad and how she straitened him up and made him go to school. Apparently Chad did not like school at all. Chad says he made school harder than it needed to be but thanks to Bessie he made it through. Chad says Bessie Mae is the most important women in his life without her he wouldn't have made it. I also liked how the author included where Bessie grew up and how she wanted a better life for her children and that happened according to her family and Chad. I have to say though my favorite part is when he talks about his tuesdays and how when everyone eles is off work he's trying so hard to get better. Chad is a hero on and off the field and this book really highlights that. It also tells about Chad's journey to get where he is now which a successful star is. Chad is a hero but most importantly he mine and the Greater Cincinnati's too. GO BENGALS!!!!
   
   Chads biggest Fan



5. Chad I can't be stopped, is and incredible book. I give this peice of work 5 stars. The way the author goes into complete depth and detail is amazing. Also the authors tell many stories which are told in Chad's his prospective about how he plays and performs in the football games. Many of my favorite parts are when Bessie Mae talks about her grandson Chad and how she straitened him up and made him go to school. Apparently Chad did not like school at all. Chad says he made school harder than it needed to be. I also liked how the author included where Bessie grew up and how she wanted a better life for her children and that happened according to her family and Chad. Chad is a hero on and off the field and this book really highlights that. It also tells about Chad's journey to get where he is now which a successful star is. Chad is a hero but most importantly he mine and the Greater Cincinnati's too. GO BENGALS!!!!
   
   Chads biggest Fan

5 comments about Education of a Coach, The.

1. I've read several of his books (although this was my first sports book of his) and I highly enjoyed them. Maybe it's because the subject is just not a very interesting person, but this book is just terrible. He tells us material that contributes nothing; who cares about about his grandparents and his wife family? He also gushes about the subject and his family. Is everything really so great? It's as if he chose an average person at random and wrote a biography about him. The average person doesn't lead a particularly fascinating life and the resulting biography would be dull. Just because he is a success as a coach doesn't necessarily make him a good candidate for a biography.



2. I hate to pile on a fine author when the time has passed when he can redeem himself but I concur with all the negative reviews with one exception--I don't think the book's lack of appeal can be written off as due to the fact that Belichik is a boring oaf. He is that on the outside, but there's a lot more than that inside and the author just did not dig that out. The problem with the book is that there is minimal "inside" information - a little more detail about Tom Brady's development than maybe you know, and a good explanation of just how feared a player Marshall Faulk was, but that's about it. The title suggests that the subject matter is limited to the sort of background biographical stuff so maybe we should have seen this coming, but this is really little more than an expansion of the bio you might find on the Patriots website.



3. The book, admittedly, leaves a lot unsaid but then it is an unfinished story. After all the accusations,both accurtate and inaccurate,the book offers an insight into the man who has accomlished so much. Those who hate the team, hate the coach,love the man, and/or love the team should read this book to gain an understanding of Belichick and the pressures of being a successful head coach in the NFL. It's interesting to read of the people behind the man both in the past and today. Looking at the run the Patriots made in 2007 and the super bowl loss, one has a greater apprecciation of the accomplishments and failures of the man who created a true "team" after reading The Education of a Caoch.



4. "The Education of a Coach" is not only about how Bill Belichick came to win three super bowls in four years, but the people that helped shape his career along the way, notably his father Steve. The book talks about Steve's years as a coach and how Bill was involved with football from an early age. The book also talks about Bill's involvement in football in school, his first job in football, his time with the Giants, his disastrous stint with Cleveland, and of course his current stint with the Patriots. The book also touches on his relationships, for better or worse, with football insiders including Bill Parcells, Ernie Adams, and Scott Pioli, among others.
   
   As the title suggests "The Education of a Coach" is more about Bill Belichick the coach than Bill Belichick the person. There are glimpses into what makes him tick - his quest for privacy, why he doesn't do well with the media, why he treats all his players as equals - that make him even more interesting. But much of his personal life - his marriage and later divorce, his children - are barely mentioned. But that fits the way Belichick is, a very private person. And what is at the heart of this book - Belichick's football life - is fascinating. Some readers may be disappointed that there's not more about his family, but once you've read the book you realize that football is Belichick's life.
   
   Because "The Education of a Coach" was written in 2005, there is, of course, no mention of "spygate". It's hard not to think about it while reading the book and it was interesting to read about Belichick's preoccupation with studying football film. It's something he started doing at a young age with his father and is, to me anyway, one of the most interesting aspects of his character.
   
   Love him or hate him, Bill Belichick is one of the most talented and complex coaches in football. "The Education of a Coach" is a good glimpse into what made him one of the best coaches in football today. Well done.



5. "The Education of a Coach" ranks towards the top of the genre I call "sports profiles," because writer David Halberstam chose to focus on football and coaching, rather than on Bill Belichick's personal life.
   
   This authorized biography contains the usual background that includes Belichick's childhood with special emphasis on his father, Steve, who was also a football coach. It was Steve who allowed his son, Bill, to help him break down game films for the Navy football team when the youngster was still in elementary school.
   
   From this early beginning Halberstam examines the younger Belichick's career and those mentors who influenced his thinking and strategies. While making this run through Belichick's career Halberstam breaks down the coach's strategy for a few big games. As a St. Louis Rams fan I enjoyed the dissection of Belichick's ideas for shutting down Marshall Faulk in the Super Bowl.
   
   The Education of a Coach does not allow the reader to see much of Belichick outside of his persona as a student of football. Though Halberstam writes in some depth about Navy coach, Steve and his family, there are very few sentences relating to the family of the Patriots' coach, leaving the reader to wonder if Coach Bill has any kind of life outside of football. (My guess is that this omission is at the insistence of the Patriots' coach.)
   
   If you enjoy football, you will probably like this book. If you enjoy the personal details that often provide filler for such profiles (such as this player likes to eat waffles and spaghetti every day of training camp and loves the smell of a dead skunk), you will likely be disappointed by Mr. Halberstam's efforts.
   
   "The Education of a Coach" does not put a human face on Bill Belichick, but it does relate some of his philosophies on what it takes to build a winning football team.