5 comments about The Bowden Way: 50 Years of Leadership Wisdom.

1. Underneath the southern hospitality is a man who understands the importance of taking risks and managing those risks. I think what makes Bowden unique is his ability to keep his ego in check with a sense of humility and gratitude that's rare in leadership today. I always got the feeling that he's grateful for being in the position where he is today, be it family or his coaching career.



2. I'm a Penn State grad and fan, but I enjoyed Bobby Bowden's leadership book. It's very easy to read and has lots of good advice. Also, I respect his religious beliefs and that he openly shares them throughout the book. This is a good leadership book!



3. I have read Maxwell and a host of other leadership books, but there is a world of difference between a consultant or a middle-manager telling you about leadership...and the winningest coach in college football telling you about leadership!

   The thing I liked the most is that rather than vague affirmations or ambiguous principles, Bowden gives us SPECIFIC, hard-won advice regarding handling staff, planning for success, etc.

   The fact that he has done so remarkably well--with his job "on the line" based on each season's performance, not to mention every time he plays a strong rival--Bowden gives us a CEO/Chairman of the Board-level view of how to handle matters.

   I bought it because I am an FSU fan. I kept it because it was the best book on leadership I had ever read.




4. On the football field Bobby Bowden is king! He is also a very inspirational and motivated person. This book is amazing, in ALL aspects. You don't have to be a Florida State or even a football fan, this book goes so far beyond any sport. This book basically tells you how too live a better life, and Bobby Bowden obviously has a awesome one.



5. i would recommend this book to anyone who has to manage people in any capacity...from managing your children to managing your employees...Coach Bowden has proven himself to be a true leader both on and off the football field.

No comments about The Saints, the Superdome, and the Scandal.

No comments about Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach.

2 comments about Ernie Davis : The Elmira Express, the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner.

1. The Elmira Express (on which the movie, The Express, is based) may not be the most literary piece of work ever written, but it the real story of Ernie Davis' legacy. The movie may make for good "family viewing", but this book explains the TRUE story of just how brave, unselfish and caring this young man was, right up until his death. The book explains the indepth accounts of not only Ernie Davis' plight, but also of those who coached him, loved him, and experienced his untimely death. If you have a teen-ager, please try to get him (or her) to read this book. It may just change your child's view of the world. Well... OK...Just maybe.



2. This isn't the greatest book, but a very good and emotional read about a guy that a lot of people should strive to be. Hopefully the movie coming out next year will capture the true heart of Ernie Davis.

5 comments about Touchdown Alexander: My Story of Faith, Football, and Pursuing the Dream.

1. An entertaining, easy to read account of a young man who put God first from an early age. He truly is a blessed man and gives encouragement and insight into what really matters, even with all that this world has given him.
   
   Good idea for Father's day ladies!!!



2. This is a great book for a teenager to read. It tells about the attitudes and actions a young person should exhibit if they want to live a pure, fulfilling life.



3. This is a great gift for any Seahawks fan. My husband got it for Christmas and it was highly appreciated. It's also a good book for those interested in Sports + Faith, a commonly debated issue lately.



4. We seem to be constantly bombarded by the media reporting assaults, rapes, even shootings by athletes. To be able to read a book about the wonderful God-filled life of one of the most honored football players was a most pleasant delight. Shaun Alexander, through his high school, college, and professional career has not only been an inspiration to his family, friends and fans, but also his teammates and even his on-the-field opponents. On the personal side, my son is the chaplain for the Auckland, New Zealand, rugby team. He holds Bible classes weekly, which half the team attends. I have supplied him with several copies of Alexander's book, as these professional rugby players are always curious to hear about U.S. football players. What a great example to let them read about the exemplary life of Shaun Alexander.



5. I am not a Seattle Seahawks fan. I am not a big NFL fan. I am not an Alabama fan. But I am a huge Shaun Alexander fan. Records are special because only person has accomplished it. That is what makes many athletes special, but a year after Alexander broke the record L.T. broke his record. So the TD record is not so special for Shaun, but in his book he talked about his life. His life is pretty speical. Never been drunk, never smoked, and he waited until he was married to have sex. WOW! I wish I could have given my wife my virginity for her wedding gift. Shaun Alexander is a great role model. Not because he played for Alabama.Not because he had the TD record. Not because he played in the Super Bowl, but because he is a child of the most high King. God Almight. The great I am. Not too many people let alone athletes can truly say they live their life everyday to give God Glory. I'm not putting Shaun on a pedestal, I'm putting the God that lives in him on a pedestal. I want to be like Jesus, and I enjoyed reading about a professional athlete who wants the same.
   
   www.williespears.com

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.

No comments about Captain Crash and the Dallas Cowboys.

5 comments about All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and The Miracle Season.

1. I had read this book after INSIGHT FOR LIVING promoted it. And I did enjoy it since after the Atlanta Olympics the games had whetted my need for seeing exciting competition on TV and I started watching por football again for a few years. It also gave me and my therapist Lisa something to talk about besides movies.
   I am reminded of a Vince Lombardi training film we had to watch in Army Basic Training at Ft. Dix, NJ on the subject on Second Effort, and how persistance pays off. That and how my Drill Sergeant had once told me "Stick to Your Guns when you know you are right".
   I liked how the rich sucessful Kurt had shared with us that his wife and he got food stamps at one time. And like he said, people give you hate even over using them-not to mention little harassment by food Stamp cashiers like trying to deny your stamps because they thought your signature did not perfectly match the one of your ID card!
   I know after I had read his book I used to joke to myself that if ol' Kurt has a bad season or two, he will find himself on food stamps again! And after that thought, he did injure a finger on his throwing hand, ended up a second stringer and then was traded to the Arizona Cardinals-a bad break!
   I did feel bad for Kurt when Gordon Robertson had grilled him on THE 700 CLUB about him "living in sin" with his fiance Brenda. And how he met her in a bar. You can see that this man does not put on an air of pretend spirutality. I thought of a chapter from an INSIGHT FOR LIVING study guide "Portrait of a saint, warts and all!
   When I wrote a Christian Witness for my first attempt at writing as was recommended in a John Irving novel, Word publisher was honest with me and said that Christian Witnesses do not sell very well unless the author is a celebrity or media minister. I am sure it is his pro football career that got his book in the door.
   I was sort of propehetically thinking about the words of Solomon from Ecclesiastes "The race is not to the swift, the battle is not to the strong, but time and chance overtake them all!"
   This is a good illustration of that as well because Kurt went to a small college, did not make it into the NFL right away,and had to gain experience in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. If I remeber right he even said he sat the bench in college as well!
   I thought maybe God was showing me from my hard times that anyone can find themselves on welfare, no matter how smart or educated they were. You might even just be somone suffering from some sort of discrimination-like you don't fit inb with the crowd! I had seen on a news magazine how a man from Europe with a PhD in Psychology had found himself on welfare for five years after a patient falsely accused him of sexually mollesting him! During the Clinton Administration even the News Radio station WCBS had a public service commerical FOOD STAMPS; CHECK IT OUT. And this was an all news radio station in New York City which professionals listen to.



2. Kurtis Eugene Warner first came to my attention
   when I saw him play in two ArenaBowls. I knew
   right then that some brave NFL Coach (turned
   out to be Dick Vermeil) would pick him up and
   Warner would lead that team to the Super Bowl!
   
   Rank this book up there with Roger Staubach's
   First Down and Lifetime to go! Great shots of
   Kurt during his Arena Football days, as well.
   
   Brenda and Kurt are a fine couple which show
   how good MOST ALL AMER-I-CAN couples used to
   be before the Femininst-Facsist cabal & Playboy
   mentality in Men took over the minds of a goodly
   portion of the Americans of the last few genera-
   tions.



3. In general,I don't review biographies of athletes, because they are what you'd expect them to be, self-serving. So, other than Deion Sander's book, this is the only one I've reviewed.
   The reason for this review is simple...I highly respect Kurt Warner, and his book is actually pretty darn good. Is the fact that I respect and admire him the reason I rate this book so highly? Perhaps, but I'd like to think it's more to do with the actual story than the man.
   This book isn't self-serving to the degree that one would anticipate, largely because I think Kurt was a little overwhelmed with what he accomplished in the miracle season (this book was written just after the Ram's Super Bowl victory, so I believe Kurt was still under the afterglow). Having said that, however, I do believe if the book was written now that it would be quite similar, due to the fact that Kurt's faith has kept him humble.
   The background on his life and his days in the Arena League were surprisngly interesting, but the highlight of the book is his time with the Rams during the 1999 season. If you are a Rams fan, it's a great way to re-live a monumental moment in St. Louis history that, at the time of this writting, looks more and more like it will not be duplicated.
   I would, in light of the last few seasons which have seen Kurt hurt, benched, waived, and in a new uniform in New York, like to see Kurt write ANOTHER book, detailing how his faith has helped him through those ordeals that took him from the King of the Hill in St. Louis to baby-sitter for Eli Manning in New York. THAT would be a hard read, because as I mentioned before my fondness for the man, but it would be MUCH more interesting, and I think would have a larger impact in terms of people looking for faith inspiration in the midst of turmoil.




4. All Things Possible is the autobiography of football star Kurt Warner. Though in the media his story is often related as a meteoric rise to stardom, we learn that it was only through time, perseverance and God's grace that Warner ever got a chance to live out his dream.
   

   I was drawn to Kurt Warner's story for several reasons. First, I am a fan of the St Louis Rams, the team with which Warner has had his success. Second, I love stories about underdogs, and Warner's story is just that. Third, I love to read about other Christians and the experiences that shaped them.
   

   Kurt Warner was an underdog and no stranger to rejection. For years he faced rejection as he tried to live out his dream of playing professional football. He was turned down by the major colleges, eventually ending up at the University of Northern Iowa where he spent three years being a backup and only one year leading the team. When he graduated he went undrafted in the NFL entry draft and was passed up by every professional league. This went on for several years until finally he accepted a position as quarterback in the lowly Arena League. After two seasons of leading the Iowa Barnstormers, he was given a chance to play in NFL Europe and finally, at the age of twenty seven, was picked up by the St Louis Rams. He spent his first season in the big leagues as a third string quarterback and saw action in only one game. By the 1999 season he had moved up to the position of backup quarterback, and after an injury to the primary quarterback, found himself right where he wanted to be. He was untested, unproven and no one believed he would make an impact.
   

   Who could have foreseen the season Warner would have? Warner's 1999 season was one of the most successful seasons ever for a quarterback and the most successful for the Rams as Warner led the team to a Superbowl victory while picking up the league's Most Valuable Player award.
   

   Kurt Warner is a Christian and credits his faith for his success. He never misses an opportunity to tell others about his faith and is probably the most vocal Christian professional athlete.
   

   Though I enjoyed the story, I found the book poorly written. It used many colloquialisms and it is not unusual to read sentences such as, "They were like, `Yeah right.'" He also speaks about being "totally bummed out." Warner also comes across as a tad pretentious and proud. I believe he is a humble man who is well aware of Who is responsible for his success, but does not always convey that as accurately as he might like.
   

   All-in-all this is an enjoyable book and represents what is hopefully only the first chapter of Warner's career. He is a man who has faced countless hardships and has persevered in faith. If sports figures are to be role models in our society, I am glad that there are men like Warner who proudly proclaim their faith.
   

   Note. The book ends at the end of the 1999 season. The next season Warner was very good, but missed several games due to injuries. In 2001 he again led his team to the Superbowl but lost the big game when New England scored a last-second field goal. In 2002 he missed more than half the season to injuries and looked very bad when he was playing. In 2003 he won the starter's job, but played terribly and was benched after the first game. It is expected that 2004 will find him on a new team where he will have the change to be a starter once again.




5. I generally dislike autobiographies in general, and athletic autobiographies in particular. I just believe it takes a really unique individual to convey their story as objectively as possible. But, my wife's best friend, Sarah, gave this book to me about a year ago (she loves Warner and the Rams) and I've finally gotten around to reviewing it.

   To his credit, Warner is very upfront about a lot of things, notably his religion. He is a very devote Christian and it is nice to see someone stand up for their beliefs in an age where a lot of people literally hide their beliefs. And his story is rather compelling; a quarterback who came from nowhere to lead his team to an NFL championship.

   But, there's a recurring problem with these books. They always seem very rushed and it seems that either the winning coach or the winning quarterback from the Super Bowl each year is expected to hurry their life story onto the market. The problem is, these guys generally still have a lot of life left to live, so why not wait until they are retired (as in retirement age, not just retired from their sport) to tell us their life story? I know, I know, in fifty years no one may even rember Kurt Warner, so I guess you strick while the iron is hot. But I would almost much rather read about how he is dealing with his current struggles in the NFL, rather than culminating with his crowning moment.

   Like most of these type books, it's relatively short on intropestion. But it is a bit above average for an athlete's autobiography, made more interesting by the struggles Warner and his wife faced before he finally made it in the NFL. If you are a fan of Warner, you'll love it. Otherwise, its an okay read on a day at the beach.

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

No comments about Paul Brown: The Man Who Invented Modern Football.