No comments about Sports Illustrated The Hockey Book.

5 comments about Playing With Fire.

1. My husband who is not an avid reader but a sports enthusiast expressed a desire to get this book. I, however, read daily and found it lying around the house. The heart break written in these words is palpable This young man was set adrift in life with no conscience, love, or coping skills. The pain he has endured is immense. It is amazing that he ever made it to the levels he did in professional hockey. The book does not challenge the mind, the writing is minimal and harsh, but the pain he has endured is evident. There is a lot of disturbing course language and sexual content. However, this is likely an accurate reflection of his upbringing and life experiences. It is interesting to see the depths of despair a human spirit can flounder into. I wish him the best in his new life of sobriety and hope he has peace in the future. Theo Fleury describes the pain of sexual abuse, drug use, fame, fortune, and depression in heart wrenching detail and you do feel sorry for him despite his successes because he also has had so many many failures.



2. If you're a hockey fan, you'll love it. It's very honest, open and and a bit shocking on what goes on in players lives. It's a must read, I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days!



3. This is a great autobiography just because of how open and honest Theo is throughout the book. He doesn't hold back when talking about his life's successes and failures. If you're a hockey fan then this is a must read book, but the non-hockey fan may get bored in some of the chapters that he writes about his big games.



4. One look at Theo Fleury and it's apparent what would be held against him his whole hockey career--5'6"! What's not apparent is the quick feet, great hands and scoring touch, and a fire inside to show you, by any means necessary, that he can and will beat you!
   
   This book is the classic story of the undersized kid from Russell Saskachewan, who tore up junior leagues and minor leagues, to stand on top of the world in the NHL with Lord Stanley's Cup and over 450 career goals. Oh yeah, throw in a gold medal. Theo guides you through his life and career, telling funny stories from the road and locker rooms, like you were hanging out with him at some bar. He speaks candidly about his insatiable appetite for partying that cost him several relationships and ultimately his career, but really makes no apologies for it. His life does come full circle with happiness and sobriety, but the books never breaks into "self help" mode.
   
   A few things I really enjoyed about the reading of the book: All of the chapters are very short, but the book itself is a good length. I like to read in short bursts, so this was perfect for me. There was also a good mix of road stories and life history. Theo was always very open and honest about his feelings. If he thought an opponent was a dirt bag, he definately did not mind saying it. The book was a very easy, interesting read and should be a manual for anyone that was ever told they were too small!



5. A very entertaining and motivating read. I great behind the scenes look at the REAL NHL.

No comments about The Ovechkin Project: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hockeys Most Dangerous Player.

5 comments about Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts.

1. Ballad of the Whiskey Robber is a madcap, belly-shaking tale of post-Communist Budapest's first and most famous hapless bank robber, Attila Ambrus and the equally incompetent efforts of the police to catch him.
   
   Cross a "wild and crazy guy" Festrunk Brother with "Catch Me If You Can" Frank Abagnale, Jr. and add a dash of Paul Neuman's movie Slap Shot and you'll only begin to get a sense of this zany but true tale of a lovable tough Hungarian hockey goalie with an indomitable spirit who, when the drab, corrupt, uncaring world was falling apart all around him, impetuously embarked on a new profession.
   
   Rubenstein's tale is well-researched and fully of witty turns of phrase such as "the sweet smell of a triple-cream torta hung in the air like a good idea." Ballad of the Whiskey Robber is a true crime caper that's comical, poignant and great fun to read.



2. This biography of Attila Ambrus, famous Hungarian bank robber, has enough "hold my beer" moments to satisfy any Jeff Foxworthy fan. The part-time hockey player (The Chicky Panther) happened into a life of crime in the void created by communism's fall in 1990s Hungary.
   
   I kept thinking of the old Aykroyd/Martin "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" skits on SNL - imagine if they became bank robbers! It didn't help that Ambrus's pursuers were police with little or no resources (they worked part-time at jobs like dance instructors or coroner's assistants to make ends meet).
   
   Rubinstein never lost my interest and kept a funny (but not snarky) tone throughout, which made it obvious why the Hungarian people adopted this bumbling drunk as a national folk hero.



3. This is one of those rare great books that can't be categorized. Is it a sports comedy, history lesson, detective novel, love story, or fairy tale?? YES.
   
   This labor-of-love literary debut mixes ingenious creative writing techniques with reader-friendly prose to weave a story that pulls you in and keeps you in. It's a story too credible to be fiction, too incredible to be non-fiction. It's a book so fun, so entertaining it should be, must be made into a movie and mini-series.
   
   Take a bow, Julian Rubinstein. You've earned it.



4. This story is so wildly absurd and relentlessly ludicrous you cannot help but chortle every few pages. I kept thinking, this has to be an urban myth. Apparently not! Viva Attila Ambrus!
   
   The only sad thing is comparing Attila's bank robbing career with the institutional corruption and crushing poverty the book describes as rampant in Hungary.



5. Interesting story, but the writing is distractingly bad. Instead of being a gripping tale of comedy and chaos, this book reads like wannabe Hungarian noir.

5 comments about So You Want to Play in the NHL : A Guide for Young Players.

1. I actually bought this book from the Dan Bylsma WEB site. THe book was sent autographed to my son for this past Christmas. Most of the content is directed toward kids interested in playing hockey and who have questions from how do I do a certain drill to what if my parents are embarrasing me. My 8 year old enjoyed the book very much and continues to read it again and again. I still pick it up as well. If you haven't read the first book "So Your Son Want's to Play in the NHL", another great read.



2. After receiving the book, I read it throughout the day as opportunity presented itself. I hated to put it down when I had other stuff to do. I felt like I was being forced to leave the game before it was over. I was enchanted by the book as if I'd never read it before, thrilled to play a role by helping with it and to be mentioned in this wonderful contribution to amateur hockey. As I read it, I thought about my roles as a father of a young player, as a coach, and as a coaching educator for USA Hockey. Two overwhelming thoughts came to mind as I read the printed version of the book. The truth conveyed by the material and the fact that at times I fall short of the goals conveyed by that truth from a child's perspective. Even though I speak or write about and teach many of these things quite often, I found myself addressing my mistakes in each of my roles as I read the book. But, even as I found myself addressing my mistakes, I was simultaneously using the ideas in the book to reaffirm many of my beliefs or to assimilate these ideas to address issues from a different perspective. And as stated in the book, perseverance is a key to success. Taking responsibility is a key to success. Learning from mistakes or failure is what truly makes you better. "So You Want To Play In The NHL" has given me additional impetus in my goal to constantly strive to improve as a father, a coach and a coaching educator. Thank you for taking the time to inspire even us older hockey guys with a book written for kids, because really, we are all still kids at heart! By addressing the issues from a kid's perspective for kids, I believe you have succeeded in reaching adults as well. The heart of this old kid is much better as a result of the time and effort you have taken to share your thoughts with the hockey world. This new book, "So You Want To Play In The NHL", for kids, and the existing book for adults, "So Your Son Wants To Play In The NHL", set the standards by which all of us in the sporting world should continually strive to achieve. Cordially, Terry Vayda USA Hockey Associate Coach-In-Chief (Southeast District--Florida)



3. As a coach and someone who knows the personal dedication it takes to achieve life's goals, this book confirms everything I have done in my life and teach to the players on my team. This book is more than a book about hockey. It spells out a recipe for success in life, in and out of hockey(or any team sport for that matter). Every page has something that will inspire you and remind you what is important in life. I am making this book required reading for my team because it confirms everything I have ever said in the locker room and to parents. While this is one man's journey through life to the NHL, the story is one shared by most people in the struggle to define who they are as the grow up and to achieve the goals that they want.



4. As the father of a 9-year-old, I am delighted that my son has selected Dan Bylsma as one of his role models. Dan (Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the National Hockey League), and his dad's most recent collaborative literary achievement, "So You Want to Play in the NHL" is an honest and straight-forward discussion about Dan's uncompromised determination to become a professional hockey player, is set against a backdrop of objectivity and seemingly insurmountable odds. The book embodies a wonderful and powerful message, that hardword and determination are the cornerstones of personal, as well as professional success. I highly recommend this book to all aspiring young athletes, their coaches, and parents.



5. As the father of a 9 year old son, I am proud that my child has selected Dan Bylsma as one of his role models. Dan and his father's latest collaborative literary achivement is an honest and straightforward study of the role of athletics in a young persons life. The fire and passion of competitive sports at the highest level, measured against a backdrop of incalculable odds of achieving professional success is difficult, if not seemingly impossible to reconcile. Nonetheless, Bylsma's book "So you want to play in the NHL" deserves commendation for having done just that. I strongly recommend this book to any parent or child who participates in sports and who is fortunate to have the courage to dream.

3 comments about Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask.

1. As a goaltending fan I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Interesting way of alternating chapters between his progress towards the dream of making it to the NHL and the chapters rapidly moving towards his tragic and fatal accident. Based on the account Pelle was clearly full of life and a wreckless driver. Whether he drank heavier and more often than family and friends believed is only speculation at this point. He was nevertheless a pioneer for the many European goaltenders who have come after him (especially Sweden and Finland) to play in the NHL. I would grad it 4.5 stars because of several typographical errors throughout the book but I enjoyed it as much as other goalie books like Roy, Bower, Tretiak and Sawchuk. Different books, different men, different personalities but all excellent goaltenders. Most interesting piece of goaltending trivia is the fact that Pelle had problems with dehydration during games and was the first goalie to have a water bottle on his net and the fact that opponents coaches were upset by this !!



2. This was an excellent book. A must read for any sports fan. The story of someone who had all of his dreams come true and tragically had them all slip away. There is a lot about the story that I was unaware of. Pelle was a great person and amazing goalie. Who knows how many more cups the Flyers could have had if he was not taken away from us. I wish there could be a movie made about this story.



3. Sunday, November 10, 1985. Back then, I was a 14-year-old hockey player living just outside Buffalo, New York. It was early in the evening when my father walked into the living room where I was sitting and told me that Pelle Lindbergh, the goaltender for my beloved Philadelphia Flyers, was in the hospital following an accident.
   
   In those days there was no quick Internet link, no accessing the Flyers web page or the Philly papers for news. You simply had to wait for the news to come on the TV. Fourteen-year-old boys tend not to think the worst will happen to their sports heroes, and so with a naïve hope I waited and watched. Reports were slow, and ultimately it was announced that Lindbergh was brain dead. He was kept alive long enough for his father to arrive from Sweden a few days later. His life support was then shut off, his organs were donated, and he was gone forever. Hard as it was, the hockey world --- and my 14-year-old world --- had to move on.
   
   Bill Meltzer and Thomas Tynander teamed up to write PELLE LINDBERGH: Behind the White Mask. In Sweden, Lindbergh's home country, the book was a bestseller. The English translation is here now, and it provides incredible insight into his youth, his dream of playing in the NHL, his passion for speed, and the devastating effect his fatal accident had on everyone around him.
   
   Meltzer and Tynander show us a young Göran Per-Eric "Pelle" Lindbergh growing up as an active and hockey-obsessed boy in Sweden. His gifts were recognizable early on, though he lacked the drive in practices to push himself. Despite his disinterest in practice, Lindbergh excelled in games and ultimately secured a spot on the Swedish National Team. While this was an enormous success, Lindbergh wanted something more: playing in America's National Hockey League, which became a reality in 1979 when Philadelphia drafted him to play for the Flyers. This was a dream come true for Lindbergh since, as a boy, he idolized famed Philadelphia goaltender Bernie Parent, who became his friend and mentor. But their friendship went beyond the ice, and Lindbergh often called the aptly-named Parent his "father" in America.
   
   The following year, Lindbergh earned himself a spot on the Swedish Olympic hockey team, playing at Lake Placid. He was disappointed to come away with only a Bronze from the Games, but he took great pride in knowing that his was the only team that the U.S. "Miracle On Ice" squad did not defeat (they tied 2-2). Later in life, Lindbergh and Jim Craig, goaltender for the 1980 U.S. team, would become friends, joking with each other about that game. Do you recall that iconic image of Craig with the American flag draped over his shoulders as he looked for his father in the stands? It should tell you all you need to know about Lindbergh that Craig gave him that flag as a gift.
   
   Throughout PELLE LINDBERGH, what becomes abundantly clear is that, despite his own personal drives and passions to succeed and play in the NHL (specifically dreaming of playing for the Flyers), Lindbergh was a genuine and giving person not prone to brushing off his fans or his friends. He volunteered his time and money to hockey camps in Sweden, held up team buses to sign autographs, and was an easy-going friend and teammate who enjoyed a good laugh, even at his own expense. It easily could be said that Lindbergh simply loved life.
   
   Still, for the beauty with which Lindbergh pursued his life, there is to be found immense sadness and even anger at the unfortunate and preventable manner of his death. After a long night out with teammates, Lindbergh, who had been drinking, slammed his turbo-charged Porche into a wall. It was a rare thing for Lindbergh to drink, and even rarer for him to get behind the wheel afterwards. No one will ever know why he did what he did that night. Couple his impairment with his dangerous speeds --- he was routinely stopped for speeding, and people were scared to drive with him --- and it seems it was only a matter of time before this incredible talent would be laid to waste.
   
   And he was such a talent: he led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, he was a First Team NHL All-Star, he was named to the All-Rookie Team, and he was the first European goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy honoring the top goaltender in the NHL. At the time of his death, he was showing signs of eclipsing his previous successes, which was recognized by fans who voted him to the All-Star Game posthumously --- the first time this ever happened in any major North American sport.
   
   PELLE LINDBERGH excels at stripping down Lindbergh's story and splitting it into its two key parts: the joy of his life and the tragedy of his death. The chapters rotate between his childhood and the night of November 10th and the events to follow, immersing you in a constantly rising and falling tale where you experience the delights of goals achieved with the heart-wrenching ache of a life lost. What it lacks for in smoothness and flow, it more than makes up for in honesty, forthright emotion and insight.
   
   Taken as a whole, this book is not about Pelle Lindbergh the hockey player per se (though that role is a key component), but rather about Pelle Lindbergh the boy, the man, the son, the friend and the fiancé. Coaches, players, friends and family all contribute to the legacy he leaves behind, sharing their laughs and their joys but also their frustration, sadness and anger at his unwillingness to use better caution behind the wheel.
   
   Flyer great Bob Clarke said at the time, "You don't replace a Pelle Lindbergh." And he's right. After all these years, his family and friends still lament his passing. In Philadelphia, goaltenders come and go --- some excellent, some not as much --- but there has always been a shadow in that crease seemingly moving of its own design, reminding us of the loss to the game.
   
   Closing PELLE LINDBERGH after its final pages will leave you wondering what could have been had Lindbergh not been taken from us so early, so unnaturally. If only...
   
   --- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard

5 comments about So Your Son Wants to Play in the NHL.

1. Hockey is just a goal, but the means of achieving that goal has nothing to do with a puck, a stick, a drill, a team, a coach (unless you count Family as "coach").
   
   It's all about the proper way to raise a family, especially boys. Author Jay Bylsma is father to 4 boys, the YOUNGEST of which is co-author Dan Bylsma, and how their family, life experiences, and good values yielded a result they all hoped for, but was NEVER the PRIMARY objective of their lives.
   
   Highly recommended for any father of a son, or even for an older (high school/college age?) son who can understand the purpose of family and why sometimes (many times), when things don't go as planned, you still gotta work hard to achieve ANY goal.



2. I e- mailed the seller twice & never got a response either time . When I received my confirmation I saw that the delivery address was not correct, since I wanted it mailed to my son at his college, who needed the book ASAP. I immediately ( within mionutes) of buying the item send the seller the correct address. No response! It took 10 days to receive the book from Maryland to New Jersey. The book should have gone to Maryland, where my son goes to school. Instead it came to NJ & I had to ship it to Maryland myself, costing more money & more time .
   I was not a happy person !



3. Since reading "So your son..." nearly two years ago, through various routes, my son and I have become good friends with both Dan and Jay Bylsma and the rest of the Bylsma family. I can honestly say that these guys really do "walk the talk" by putting into practice what the book says. It's a great read if you're a hockey fan but its not just about how one of kid made it to becomming a professional sportsman - their emphasis on a moral compass, sound family values and good educaton really can be used as a practical guide to parenting. Kids don't come with an instruction manual and most of us parents need all the help we can get! I would suggest to anyone wanting a "how do you do it" guide to practical, commonsense, no nonesense child rearing "GET THIS BOOK!" and read it. Great stuff!



4. It's not easy raising a successful athlete, and it is even more difficult raising a successful adult. Your Son Wants to Be in the NHL shows us a young adult who seems to have become both. It tells the tale of how Dan Bylsma grew from childhood success to success in the NHL. More importantly, it shows us how a boy can grow into manhood and become a person you would like to have as a neighbor.

   OK, the first few chapters, when the never ending succuesses of the Bylsma boys in athletics became almost as difficult to read as the phone book are a bit numbing after a while. Once parental pride calmed down the book turned into a compelling look at how difficult it is for a parent to find balance in their children's lives, to teach life lessons as well as sports techniques and to turn out a good person who also happens to be an NHL player.

   The struggles Dan had after leaving home at such a young age are dealt with forthrightly, which multiplies the shock you feel at stories of sexual abuse and the physical sacrifice players at the lower minor level make to reach the NHL. That shock is no stronger than when the reader learns that Dan and his wife lost their first child just as he was establishing himself in the NHL.

   This book gives the parent of an athlete much to think about. In a society where it seems more and more boys go through life without their fathers this book shows you that those boys lose something that may be irreplaceable.




5. I highly recommend this book to any father, coach or athlete of any age. I think if I had read it in high school, it may have changed my outlook on sports and life. The book takes you from a player and his father's beginnings in sport, through other people's (parent's) interferences to show how following one's goals can lead to success.

5 comments about Eleven Seconds: A Story of Tragedy, Courage & Triumph.

1. Living in NH, my family was privy to the rise of Travis Roy. Our television antenna received Maine stations and we became familiar with his local fame. We felt pride for his accomplishments in receiving a place with the Boston University hockey team. I can still remember the heart sinking moment when I flicked on the news the night after his accident. That eleven seconds was played and re-played over and over again. As a parent, tears of empathy streamed down my face as Travis' dad made his way onto the ice.
   
   Travis recently came to speak at my son's high school. The audience was riveted by this young man who had found his way from tragedy to triumph. The love of his family had become a pivotal point in his struggle to maintain dignity, courage and strength. I was humbled that my son was given the opportunity to bear witness to such inspiration. This whole experience struck home when my dear friend's son would suffer a similar fate.
   
   Standing on the edge of beautiful Lake Geneva, less than 24 hours into his semester abroad, this 20 year old boy would dive into shallow water and hit bottom. His head struck with such force that he shattered C6 and rose to the water's surface as a quadraplegic.
   
   My husband and I have read Eleven Seconds to gain perspective in understanding "the new normal", as my friend puts it. The astronomical health costs and consideration to life time care. It is a daunting process that literally becomes a full time job. Travis allows insight to all aspects to the world of quadraplegia. He is completely forthcoming and generously honest. This gives the reader front seat vision to his journey. Something as simple as drawing a breath of air and clearing your throat becomes an obstacle to conquer. Amazing grace.
   
   I recommend this book to anyone who suffers internal conflict. We are all given opportunity to make choices, good and bad, everyday. Therefore, each day is ripe with possibility. Eleven Seconds provokes the reader to look inside his/her own heart and realize its power. Make each day count.



2. Overall I was pleased with this item, my only disappointment was that it was being sold as "new" but it had water damage or something on the top of the pages.



3. I would love to review this product, however, it is now well over a month and I have yet to recieve it. I would love to know where it is and why it is taking so long. I ordered it on June 12 and my credit card was billed that day but I have not yet recieved the product. I am very disappointed.



4. Travis Roy is an inspirational man, he tells everyone about the emotional state that he was through during the whole entire situation. He created a foundation that didn't just help him but helped others with the same situation. Before reading this I didn't know the process of paralysis victims, but after I was fully aware of what paralysis victims went through emotionally and physically.
   
   It is a great story for people that don't even really like hockey because any person could get paralyzed any given day. So after reading this story it made me aware of how a single mans pain can express the words of thousands.
   
   The reason why I recommend this book is because it is the story of a man that enjoyed everyday life before being paralyzed, then after 11 seconds of hockey his life completely changed, but he fought through the pain and lived everyday to the fullest and always kept his mind looking positively. He wants to walk again and keeps thinking that he can, one thing that could possibly just keep him going everyday.
   
   So this is a must read for everyone, I strongly recommend it because it makes people explicitly aware of what paralyzed people go through. After reading the book it will make you look at people in wheelchairs differently. If you do choose to read this book, enjoy it and keep in mind that Travis Roy is much luckier than many.



5. I read this book in two days! Travis Roy is an incredible person who has lived through a tragic experience. I applaud him for setting up a foundation to help other people with spinal cord injuries. As a teacher, I would love to have him speak at my school!

5 comments about Open Ice: Reflections and Confessions of a Hockey Lifer.

1. I enjoyed this book immensely.
   
   Falla shares his love and appreciation for the game with a generous spirit. There are essays about some of hockey's immortal players, franchises and arenas, and reminiscences about what the game has meant to his own life - as a fan, sportswriter, amateur player and father.
   
   It all intertwines. There's no separating the personal and professional with Falla.
   
   He's like a tour guide who, after an entertaining history lesson, invites you home afterward for dinner with his family.



2. I received this for Christmas and before I had a chance to read it my dad had it read. The book was a great read.



3. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK. MR FALLA HAS PUT INTO WORDS HOW I FEEL ABOUT HOCKEY. HE REALLY CONNECTED WITH ME. I BOUGHT THE BOOK WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED, AND READ IT IN A RECORD PACE. I WAS VERY DISSAPOINTED TO LEARN THAT HE HAD PASSED, AND WISHED I COULD'VE MET HIM TO TELL HIM HOW MUCH THIS BOOK MEANS TO ME. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTEREST IN HOCKEY. YOU GET A GREAT DEAL OF APPRECIATION FOR THE RICH HISTORY OF HOCKEY....AND THE PASSIONED FAN. THANK YOU TO MR. FALLA, AND HIS FAMILY FOR SHARING SUCH GREAT MEMORIES.



4. I will preface this by saying I have only read a chapter of this book. I am one of the people that helped him buy his new skates. He was a pleasure to talk with. Though I am not a hockey fan, I did enjoy listening to his stories. He was in the store for probably about an hour, maybe a little more just talking and trying on skates, but it was an hour that I still talk about to this day. I was saddened to hear of his passing and my sympathies go to his family.



5. Quite simply, one of the great collections of stories yet written about any sport. As a quite avid reader, I usually find myself ripping through my current effort in hopes of getting to the next book straight away. But this afternoon was different. After reading one or two of the chapters, I would place the book on my coffee table and consider what I had just read. When I could not bear it any longer, I picked up where I left off.
   
   Made more poignant due to the recent passing of Mr. Falla, "Open Ice" is breathtaking writing all the way through. I have my favorite stories, such as the funeral for Canadians legend Maurice Richard (you will learn the correct pronunciation of his name herein, as I did), but this is one book that will live forever in sports fans memories, as well as in the hearts of lovers of great writing. Thanks to you, Mr. Falla...

5 comments about The Game.

1. This is a reflective, philosophical, and articulate account of a glory period in the life of one of the greatest teams in the history of the sport, and it's told not by a sports writer but by one of the people at the heart of the action, in his own words, no ghost-writer. Oddly, he doesn't describe it that way; he makes being the starting goaltender of this best of teams of its time seem almost ordinary. It's his reality, to mull over and make decisions about, not least of which being how long to continue. While anyone can probably understand that it's better to quit while you're winning than to become an embarrassing has-been, it's no small thing to walk away from such a career while you're still winning Stanley Cups. As other reviewers have said, Dryden humanizes not only himself but his teammates, and gives portraits of other hockey teams and towns and audiences. So seldom do you get such a thoughtful first-hand account of great sport, The Game is a treasure for fans of hockey, athleticism, and human achievement.



2. I have no idea what people like about this book. I'm a huge hockey fan. I grew up in Montreal in the '70s -- I LOVE the Canadiens - especially of that era. But this book is powerfully bland. Stupendously vanilla. Ostentatiously uninteresting. I agree with the reviewer Zeiler -- I wanted to like this book. But, I don't care that Dryden felt "liberated" roaming the streets of the Village in New York, or that Dough Riseborough was a truly "nice" guy. Ugh. If you want a great sports book, read Jim Bouton's "Ball Four". At least it opened your eyes to the underbelly of baseball. Dryden is a lawyer and it's written like a lawyer would write -- there's nothing here anyone would object to, so he had no fear of being sued!



3. I also would put it on a list of best book written, period. The author not only relates his own career in its last season but intersperses with it extraordinary observations about hockey, sports and life in general. This is a must read for any sports fan let alone any hockey fan.



4. I just finished reading this book, and to put it in one word: it is great.
   Being a hockey fan, it was very interesting to learn more about one of the greatest teams in history: the 70s Montreal Canadiens.
   However, its true strength is not this, but how it presents the history of hockey, the evolution of the game, the impact new rules had on it. I think it also gives a good picture of a pro player's life in the 70s.
   Dryden has a great style, he has a very deep knowledge of the game and its history, and he writes in a very readable style. I can only recommend it to everyone interested in hockey.



5. Like reviewer Zeiler, I too tried hard to like this book, but cannot. After struggling thru 180 pages I had to put it away. The rambling wordiness drove me crazy and ran an otherwise good topic into the ground. The short impressions of Houle, Robinson, Shutt, Lafleur and others were the best parts, the rest tedium. I've read "Home Game", a joint effort of Ken Dryden and Roy MacGregor and you can definitely tell when author Dryden has the podium. The style is very evident. Those who think this might be the greatest sport book ever, take a look at Jack Falla's "Home Ice" and "Open Ice" or Brian Kennedy's "Growing Up Hockey". The measure of a great author is the ability to effectively convey ideas in the fewest words, each word seemingly selected for that purpose. This describes Jack Falla and Brian Kennedy. Not so author Dryden.