No comments about Steaming in.

4 comments about Standing Fast, Battles of a Champion.

1. Michelle's story is one of courage and determination. Soccer fans in particular will be interested in what she has to say, but even those who don't appreciate the sport should be touched by what she's endured.

   I especially enjoyed her teammates' input and the humorous stories about their time spent together. I'm a big fan of the Women's National Soccer Team in general and really appreciated these insights. Michelle also shares thoughtful remarks about family and team staff members who have inspired her to pursue her dreams despite her fight with CFS.

   Sometimes you don't realize how good you have it until you hear what someone else has dealt with. This book is a very worthwhile read and may even help you to organize your own priorities!




2. I am a young soccer player who suffers from CFS. After reading this book I became inspired to work even harder. It is a great read for any soccer player or anyone who suffers from CFS. A wonderful book! Thank you Michelle!



3. For those who battle hard and never quit, Michelle's story is a great inspiration and story of hope, faith and perseverance. Great details about the Olympics and the US Women's Team as well.



4. This really was an inspiring book. For anyone who has had to deal with injuries, much less a chronic debillitaing illness, this book shows how to approach such situations with courage and humor. It also brings up the importance of letting others help you through crises, whether they be teammates, friends, doctors, psychologists, or the clergy. I especially liked the insights into other National soccer team members. And it was very interesting to read about specific National team games, games which I watched in person or on television. I had no idea the struggle Akers had just to continue playing, much less competing at a high level. I would recommend this book for any athlete, whether or not they are dealing with injuries or illness, and I would certainly recommend it for young girls to show them what it means to be a committed athlete.

No comments about In the Goal With ... Briana Scurry (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies).

5 comments about El Diego: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Footballer.

1. As I grew up in Europe before sattelite TV and the Champions' League the only time I ever heard of Maradona was at the world cups. The book provides a really good account of his career for those of us who didn't know much beyond the international games, but it also reveals a lot about the man himself. Maradona's enthusiasm for the game and his story is remarkable. The book is well written and very readable.



2. Written with passion and coherence, Diego goes back to his humble beginnings and takes us all the way to being offered 100 million dollars for his commercial rights (remember it was the 80's...) ....but his story is not about money. It's about being the best and having the wits to understand it while being there....very well written (because the book was structured with a team of journalists...)....it is a pleasure to know about him straight up from him and not through somebody else's understanding of somebody else's life. Go ahead ...get it.



3. I've been waiting for the English translation of El Diego ever since I knew he wrote his autobiography and it was worth the wait. I saw Maradona in Mexico 86 and the other three World Cup he was in and also his fantastic years with Napoli. It is amazing, interesting and insightful to read the events that went on the pitch and off from the man himself. A life of controversy. No grey area for Diego who can be both hero and villian, God and Demon. I love Maradona as a footballer who gave me countless moments of beauty and excitement on the pitches. Now I get to know Maradona the man. His bad sides that the world know but he does have good sides to be admire which we don't know much about because he waited 40 years to tell. I love the book that I read it twice. It's very real and you feel what he felt as he tells all. You'll enjoy it even if you don't like Maradona but is one of the people who love the beautiful game. He takes you back in time, football wise as well. A must for El Diego fans. You don't need to read any other books about him after you read this.



4. Reading this book was sheer joy. I couldn't put it down. It oozed emotion, authenticity, honesty. Maradona has an uncanny ability to transfuse whatever he's feeling into the reader. You're devastated when he's sad, you're elated when he's happy, you want to swear when he swears (and mind you, there's quite a bit of swearing going on), you want to punch the living daylights out of people he's having arguments with. It's amazing. Really.
   
   He reminded me a lot of Senna, in that exceptional abilities aside, they seem to have common characteristics that I presume are shared by this rare breed of geniuses: an absolute approach towards everything in life, all is either black or white, there are no grey areas; perseverance until whatever goal they've set for themselves is reached; extreme competitiveness, antagonism rather, or as Maradona says "...to the death"; a deep passion for what they do, giving us a feeling that they were born to do what they do, or as Senna used to say "...it's in my blood".
   
   What impressed me was his capacity to turn negative feelings into positive energy. Truth be told, he is a very vengeful guy, the word "revenge" was repeated at least one hundred times throughout the book. However, it seems like he feeds off those feelings. Revenge, anger would always turn into major driving forces, the fuel that propelled him forward.
   
   Maradona's a rebel. He is very sentimental, he acts on impulse, he is authentic and very smart. That, coupled with his sheer brilliance on the pitch is what has endeared him to so many.
   
   An autobiography packed with footballing history, written in a language full of wildness and resentment. Maradona's laying his soul bare in a most unexpected and exceptional way. The book is characteristic of his temperamental nature and for me, that's exactly what makes it so special. Whether one likes it or not is totally beside the point.



5. Diego Maradona was a genius on the football pitch. Maradona represented Argentina in four World Cups, from 1982-1994 - and was probably good enough to make the 1978 team as a 17-year-old. For a 5-year span in the late 1980's, Maradona was the best footballer in the world, with the culmination coming in 1986 when he led Argentina to the World Cup title. Unfortunately, Maradona's legacy is a checkered one, as he is remembered as much for multiple drug suspensions as his on-field accomplishments.
   
   The first half of the book is the best, chronicling Maradona's rise from the humble Buenos Aires neighborhood of Villa Fiorito through the Argentine junior ranks to European club football with Barcelona and Napoli, and success on the world stage. Maradona writes of his strong connection to his family, and his Argentine patriotism. One of the most admirable qualities of Maradona is his strong desire to play for the national side despite the demands of club play - often falling out with managers as a result.
   
   The second half of the book is more disappointing. Maradona wallows in self-pity a bit much for my liking. Suspensions for recreational drug use (cocaine possession - Maradona is a recovering addict) and a much-publicized banishment from the 1994 World Cup for using 'performance-enhancing' ephedrine, defeats in close matches due to poor officiating, continuing conflicts with almost all managers and owners, etc. On and on. The description of Maradona's comeback from 1991 suspension is very tedious, a litany of games and goals and fallings-out.
   
   The book has internal conflicts, but ... that is Maradona. For example, he claims he was treated unfairly for his 1994 disqualification for testing positive for trace amounts of a widely-used drug - yet he signed up Ben Johnson, Canada's disgraced sprinter and brazen steroid user, as a personal trainer. Maradona accepts little responsibility for his impulsive behavior, offering little in the way of introspection. He describes Fidel Castro as his mentor figure, despite making millions (and evidently spending more millions) on the trappings of athletic celebrity - Ferraris, villas, etc in the course of a well-moneyed career. Fortunately, the book arrests a steady slide by concluding with a list of Maradona's top 100 soccer players, which was interesting.
   
   Translated from Spanish, this autobiography lends some insight into a troubled and conflicted - yet supremely gifted, proud and patriotic - superstar. Maradona's image could use some rehabilitation, and this book is a start, albeit somewhat superficial. One gets the impression that it was sanitized.

1 comments about The Wright Brothers: The Remarkable Story of the Aviation Pioneers Who Changed the World.

1. This is a great book on the Wright Brothers. It is very detailed and well written. It takes you from their births to deaths and even discusses their father and siblings. If you want a comprehensive book on the birth of flight, this is it. It is a long book, 500+ pages but reads fast like a novel. The only negatives are, it needs more pictures and the writter is from New Zealand (which means he uses some funny words). This is a GREAT BOOK.

No comments about Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Superwoman (Sports Achievers Biographies).

2 comments about Wenger: The Making of a Legend.

1. This is a superb and very readable book about Arsenal's legendary manager Arsene Wenger. The sub-title of the book accurately captures what this book is about. It delves into the people and experiences that have shaped Wenger's personality. The author has painstakingly interviewed some of the key personalities that have both influenced and been influenced by Wenger. The book also gives us insights about the network of people surrounding Wenger such as colleagues, coaches, managers - both past and present.
   
   The author does succeed, to a great extent, in explaining some of the key impressions we have of Wenger - a person who is disciplined, has a high integrity and with 'ice' exterior.
   
   Less is known about Wenger's personal life - which is repeatedly caricatured as a football video addict in this book. Perhaps, an interview with Wenger or an autobiography may provide a more nuanced and balanced portrayal of hum in the future. Hopefully, the author will updated the book in the future to include recent events - Viera's departure and the rebuilding of the first team, the Champions League Final in 2006 and of course, the Emirates Stadium.
   
   This book is highly recommended for all football (soccer) fans (who are curious about Wenger) and in particular, Arsenal fans who are intrigued by his personality but find current media reports sufficient. I think the book would also appeal to football historians and aspiring football managers.



2. This is a superb and very readable book about Arsenal's legendary manager Arsene Wenger. The sub-title of the book accurately captures what this book is about. It delves into the people and experiences that have shaped Wenger's personality. The author has painstakingly interviewed some of the key personalities that have both influenced and been influenced by Wenger. The book also gives us insights about the network of people surrounding Wenger such as colleagues, coaches, managers - both past and present.
   
   The author does succeed, to a great extent, in explaining some of the key impressions we have of Wenger - a person who is disciplined, has a high integrity and with 'ice' exterior.
   
   Less is known about Wenger's personal life - which is repeatedly caricatured as a football video addict in this book. Perhaps, an interview with Wenger or an autobiography may provide a more nuanced and balanced potrayal of hum in the future. Hopefully, the author will updated the book in the future to include recent events - Viera's departure and the re-bulding of the first team, the Champions League Final in 2006 and of course, the Emirates Stadium.
   
   This book is highly recommended for all football (soccer) fans (who are curious about Wenger) and in particular, Arsenal fans who are intrigued by his personality but find current media reports sufficient. I think the book would also appeal to football historians and aspiring football managers.

No comments about David Beckham: The Great Betrayal.

No comments about The Magnificent Sevens.

No comments about 'arry: An Autobiography.