4 comments about Addie Joss: King of the Pitchers.

1. I received the book quickly and enjoyed reading it. I even had an opportunity to email the author. It was a hard book to find, other than through Amazon, and I love having it, as this baseball player, though rather unknown, is a favorite of mine.
   I'm very appreciative.
   Paul Francis



2. I hadn't heard of Addie Joss when I first picked up this book. It's a small, thin book. It looked to be a pleasant way to spend an evening.
   
   In fact, it was more than pleasant. I found myself riveted to the book. A well told story about a fascinating man of the early 1900s. I liked this man I had never before heard of.
   
   I met and admired one of the great sports stars of his day, well loved and talented, easily matching the talent and skill of the greats of yesteryear I knew well.
   
   Why, then did I not know him previously? Tragedy took him early from baseball, from his family and from the American consciousness.
   
   The game is what we come to see. The players are people we hope to meet. And when we meet, we hope not to be disappointed. Addie Joss did not disappoint.
   
   Scott Longert skillfully gets out of the way and lets the story tell itself.



3. A very solid and nice effort by Scott Longert. Having myself researched Addie Joss in past, I find Longert's effort even that much more impressive. There honestly is really not much information available on Addie Joss. For the collection of research materials alone, this becomes a solid effort.

   Now to the gristle of the book's content...I found that seasons moved along very fast, too fast. I never really got a good feel for Addie Joss the person, but certainly Addie Joss the player was defined reasonably well. Addie's teammates were mentioned but not really made to be a part of the overall storyline (cast of characters, almost faceless). Before I knew it, the book had ended. Addie's death was truly as fast as anything else in the book, blunt and final.

   I'm not sure if the speed of the book had more to do with what little information actually existed, or whether it was Scott Longert the SABR-Metrician who, although statistically as sound as they come, just could not piece it all together with a sustained storyline. In the end, something honestly was amiss, and I can't quite place it.

   To see a book on Addie Joss rates a four star alone. Scott Longert should be commended on a spirited effort of bringing back one of the games classiest and greatest players. Joss in time!




4. Following the premature death of Cleveland pitching sensation Addie Joss, Hugh Keough of the Chicago Tribune wrote "He pitched good ball..."

   On October 2nd, 1908, precious few games remained on the schedule. The American League pennant was on the line. Confident Chicago spitballer Ed Walsh dueled Cleveland sidearmer Addie Joss in a baseball tilt for the ages. Befuddled by Walsh's sopping wet deliveries, Cleveland scored but one unearned run. The lanky Joss, pitching in front of the delirious hometown faithful at League Park, allowed nary a loud foul ball. Result: a 1-0 Cleveland victory and a perfect game for Joss. All the more remarkable is Longert's poignant description of Walsh and Joss sitting on a wooden bench, chatting before the game. (Cleveland and Chicago narrowly lost out in the race to Ty Cobb's Detroit Tigers).

   Baseball historian and Cleveland native Scott Longert faithful recreates this masterpiece and other remarkable pitching feats in the brief life of Adrian Joss. The versatile pitcher was also was one of the very few baseball players to have regularly penned a sports column. Felled by tuburcular meningitis at the age of 31, Joss eventually made the National Baseball Hall of Fame. So loved was Joss that a special benefit "All Star" game was staged to support Joss' widow and family.

   However, Hugh Keough's assessment doesn't stand the test of time. Joss pitched "great" ball.

5 comments about Rocky Marciano: The Rock of His Times (Sport and Society).

1. Every boxing fan should know about The Rock, the only undefeated heavyweight champion of the world in history. So is he really better than Louis, Ali or even big ol' earbiting Mike? No one can ever tell.
   
   What can be told is the sole story about Rocky Marciano. This book covers as much fighting, personal, social and cultural details one could ask for. After a while, some repetitive statements get boring. Sullivan also takes away some of his glamourous stats by stating in great detail how his fights were fixed with lesser opponents. I personally just think he filled the void between Louis and Ali, but nevertheless was a great champion.
   
   You want to relive the 50's and have a good time about reading one of the world's greatest boxers of all time? This is your book.



2. "Rocky Marciano The rock of His Times" by Russell Sullivan is a masterpiece of Sports Biography. Russell Sullivan "dosn't pull any punches " in this explosive story of a simple-man trying to make a "simple-living" in a very complex barbaric industry!
   
   Sullivan knows his subject from all sides of the ring... and out. Not only does he know boxing, he knows the human spirit that envelopes it. This is a real "page-turner" and there is a wallop in every chapter! From Carmine Vingo to Roland LaStanza, and on to Archie Moore, the bell just keeps on ringing!
   
   It's not just a story about boxing; it's a real tale about a contemporary "Lancelot" fighting his dragons from every direction.
   
   "Marciano came to symbolize early-1950's simplicity. He was indeed, the rock of his times." (p.305)
   
   Russell Sullivan does a superb job of bringing back those restless spirits at Madson Square Garden. "And in this corner, from Holyoke, Massachusetts:
   R O C K Y ...........M A R C I A N O...........!!!!!!"
   
   If, you haven't found a good book to read in a long time, don't "throw in the towel" just yet! Buy this book, it's a great read.



3. AS a boxing historian I have often seen Marciano placed in one of two groups, either Mt. Olympus or the 20th row ... boxing is a sport often divided by racial and ethnic lines and there is a tremendous Marciano fan base that irrationally places him in the Parthenon of fighters and use his undefeated record to justify it. No rational discussion of physical limitations or quality of opposition matter. Other's dismiss him altogether. What is so good about this book was that the author did a terrific job keeping rational level of perspective. He did not preach one way or the other, he reported as it was covered at the time so the content remains objective. As a result, we get an accurate, detailed account of a legendary champion and his times. In addition, we also enjoy shorter but interesting insights into many Marciano's opponents such as Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott and Archie Moore, legends in their own rights....
   
   It is a highly recommended read along the lines of "John L. Sullivan and his America" and "Papa Jack."



4. This was a good bio of Rocky Marciano. There really never was a more unlikely guy to become one the great heavyweight champions if you think about it. He had very little in the way of amateur fights and really didn't start boxing till he was in his mid 20's. He was very small for a heavyweight, even for that time. Marciano was the only heavyweight champion to never lose a fight and retire undefeated. He was one of a small handful of boxers that transcended the sport and became American icons that were synonymous with the times in which they were champion. Anybody that disparages his ring accomplishments either has an anti-white agenda or knows NOTHING about boxing. He had victories over fighters who are arguably the three most skilled, ringwise and crafty heavyweights to ever get in the ring, Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles (he beat Walcott and Charles twice) and Archie Moore. I do not consider Marciano to be the greatest heavyweight ever but his ring accomplishments can't be denied.
   
   But besides his big fights which were talked about in depth among other things it also goes into his life growing up in a poor Italian-American family. The very methodical process in which he was brought up through the ranks of the fight game after he turned pro. The likliehood that the main reason he retired was because he was sick of dealing with his over controlling manager. His penchant for being incredibly cheap and frugal. As well as his tragic death in an airplane crash.



5. By:Ryan Lemery
   This was a very good book. it was entertaining as well as informational. I especially liked how it talked about racism and the struggles of being a boxer in that era. I liked how Rocky was known as the Great White Hope. But there were a few things that i didn't like. Things such as how a whole chapter would be about one thing that didn't even pertain to Rocky. I also didn't like how Al Weill was taking Rocky's money and using it for his own pleasures.Thank god Rocky found out about it. That was pretty much the only sad part in the book. Besides the part where Rocky died in a plane crash. And on his Birthday! I think that I almost cried. I really liked this book and i think that many people should read it. It would be a good book for people with big dreams, and big hopes.

5 comments about My Old Man and the Sea: A Father and Son Sail Around Cape Horn.

1. This is a refreshing read, if the reader finds substance in rambling, meandering and occasionally convoluted story-telling, and I often do... For a short tome, the format works well - seemingly extracted (and occasionally embellished) bits and pieces of the vessel's log... but this tale really concentrates more on the father & son relationship, as well as the interplay of peripheral actors who come and go with little or no introduction (or explanation as to why they were included at all), than about sailing... The sailing is good, but the uniqueness of the engineless craft, the preparation and the actual voyage only sneaks up on the reader a shred here and a snippet there. A good nightstand book for reading a few pages now and again - and looking forward to bedtime and rejoining them on their way...



2. Do you have a son? Have you ever dreamed of a sailing
   adventure? This is a book about fathers, sons and
   adventures. David and Daniel Hays had a unusual
   partnership. This father and son team built a sailboat
   together and then sailed it through the Panama Canal
   and around Cape Horn.
   
   Just the thought of that accomplishment is enough to
   stun me to silence. But wait, as they say on late
   night TV, there's more. The narration of the voyage is
   shared in alternate chapters by the two men. They are
   each astonishingly engaging writers and very willing
   to share feelings about this enterprise and each other.
   There is no posturing in their writing, just the sense
   of hearing the voices of a particular family.
   And what voices they are! You would be hard pressed to
   find two more engaging writers. Even Dan's account
   of being rolled by a Brazilian prostitute is,you should
   pardon the expression, infectious.
   
   Ignore the snarky title. This book is much better than
   that and would make the perfect Fathers' Day gift from
   or to a man you would like to have share your adventures.
   
   --Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
   the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN 9781601640005



3. I was enjoying this moderately until right about midway (between Galapagos and Easter Island) when the language got rougher than the seas and I deep-sixed it. After reading Joshua Slocum's "Sailing Alone Around The World", (a tremendous story!) this book seemed crude and sophomoric.



4. I listened to the audio version during a cross country drive with a friend. Along the way, we found ourselves laughing at times, crying at others. Our trip had a lot of ups and downs, much like their travels- of course the amenities of driving a car cross country cannot compare to sailing a boat around the horn!Anyway, my friend identified a little more with the older character, while I identified with his son- it made us think a little more about each others perspective. Definitely the best book on tape I've ever heard.



5. David and Daniel Hays are the first Americans to sail around Cape Horn in a boat under 30 feet in length. "My Old Man and the Sea" is the inspiring true story of a father and son's 17,000-mile voyage in a 25-foot yacht named Sparrow to the bottom of the world and back.
   Although David and Dan sailed the easier route from the Pacific into the Atlantic with the prevailing westerly winds and currents they endured horrific storms that included Dan being tossed overboard during Sparrows dangerous sideways roll.
   The tale is even more impressive when you learn that they chose to sail simply, without an engine and used a sextant and compass instead of a navigational system. David explains, "Our sport is to tune our senses not our instruments."
   David and Dan's eloquent descriptions of the magnificence of the ocean and the magic of sailing brought back fond memories of my own six-month adventure hitchhiking on sailboats in the Bahamas. Like them, I was inspired to write a book titled "Earth, the Forgotten Temple." Tales concerning profound encounters with Mother Ocean and her other wilderness places need to be shared.
   Most moving of all, despite conflicts, the deep love between the father and the son shine through to warm us all.

5 comments about 23 Days in July: Inside the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's Record-Breaking Victory.

1. It seems my original review contravened the Conditions of Use. Too strong and then some I suppose.
   
   Suffice it to say, I found 23 DAYS disappointing (an understatement). In short, and shorn of my stronger and more strongly-expressed opinions, if you read Lance's BIKE and Daniel Coyle's LANCE ARMSTRONG'S WAR you'll go farther and deeper than offered in 23 DAYS. You will leave the BIKE+WAR reading experience far more informed and more involved in the inner workings of professional cycling.
   
   Dr. Kirtland Peterson



2. If you followed Lance's incredible seven Tour de France victories than this book is a good compliment to what you saw. If you never watched any of it read this book anyway to better understand the significance of such an accomplishment. Having read several other books about Lance ArmstrongIt's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to LifeEvery Second Counts and the Tour de FranceFrom Lance to Landis: Inside the American Doping Controversy at the Tour de FranceI found this authors take different but a compliment to the Lance Armstrong saga. It is hard to capture the sheer magic and intensity of the Tour de France but this book does a good job of going behind the scenes and recreating the historical event. The interviews and personal touches author John Wilcockson gives to the book brings the event to life, especially if you don't watch the tour. The day by day account was pretty interesting with all kinds of information about waht goes on during a stage. One of the things I found very interesting was Wilcockson's ability to tie the contemporary race in with the historical events of the past. With nearly every chapter he gives an anecdote about the stage from the tour's storied past; the colorful stories were a very cool touch indeed. He even gets into the plaque of professional cycling, doping, in all it's ugly manifestations. He even brings Lance under the microscope by addressing his accusers allegations in the book and Lance's rebuttal.In the end it was a great ride again reliving one of the most courageous and difficult accomplishments we have ever witnessed in sport. Recommended for cycling enthusiasts everywhere.



3. The author weaves a lot of different story lines and angles into one very solid narrative. The pictures by Graham Watson are always outstanding. His pictures are what took this book from a 4 star to a 5 star book
   
   A good counter point to this book is the work done Daniel Coyle called Lance Armstrong's War



4. This book is soo good, that it made me want to go for a long, long ride.



5. I've read almost all of the books on US Postal and Lance's reign as the 7-time Tour champ: Lance's 2 books, Daniel Coyle's masterful portrait of the champ, Matthew Berry's "Inside the Postal Bus", Samuel Abt's collections of cycling columns, and many others. The thing that stands out about this particular book, John Wilcockson's reflection on the 2004 Tour, is the historical perspective the author brings. Wilcockson has been covering the Tour since the mid-1960s, and that experience shows when he draws parallels between various events in the 2004 Tour and similar episodes in history. While I didn't find many new nuggets of information about Lance or the Postal team from this book, I did gain a much better appreciation for the history of the Tour and some of its past champions: Coppi, Merckxx, Hinault, et al. Wilcockson's writing is a welcome addition to the shelf of any serious cycling fan.

5 comments about Companions in Courage: Triumphant Tales of Heroic Athletes.

1. The reviewer who says HA! can't have read this book. Maybe Canseco's book, but not this one. I recently met LaFontaine, a man who loved his sport passionately, and like all professional athletes, was trained to ignore the pain. He now works very hard to create multimedia rooms in hospitals for very ill children. His foundation is called Companions in Courage.
   
   There's a chapter in the book about a potential Olympic medalist who didn't fight the final bout to qualify (tae-kwon-do). It was not because her opponent was also her friend, though she was; it was because her opponent had dislocated her kneecap in the previous bout. The athlete forfeited, rather than take a sure win from a wounded opponent.
   That's an amazing story, not another "pro athlete look at my pain" whine.
   
   Michael J. Fox wrote the most recent foreword. LaFontaine is always working for his foundation, and he volunteers to be part of the prize for several charities' live auctions.These prizes have included: Golf with Pat LaFontaine, Hockey lessons with Pat LaFontaine, and more.
   
   LaFontaine's book is like the man; genuine, intensely hard-working and willing to face fear head-on and try to come out the other side. I can't say enough about it.



2. The previous reviewer does not appear to have read the book. While there a fair amount of discussion about LaFontaine and his career challenges, the book focuses on anonymous, unremarkable people, who manage to accomplish absolutely amazing things. There are several themes running through the book: the crucial role fathers play in the development of their children; the importance of faith in healing families and overcoming obstacles; the power of persistence and determination in changing lives. LaFontaine comes across as a humble, thoughtful, and decent man; there is little self-promotion or self-pity in his writing. Most of the stories (and there are dozens of individuals' stories told in this book) are told in two or three pages, making it perfect for teenagers. I have used these stories in teaching my own family, and in my role as a Church leader.

   We are a nation steeped in nastiness. We spend incredible amounts of energy thinking of creative ways to tear one another down. A great man has said, "Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not acheive." Pat LaFontaine is a good and decent man, who has given much of his life to service. This book is a wonderful reminder that there are ample reasons for hope, that there is much goodness left among us. His work trancends the naysaying of people who can't get past the fact that he made his living playing professional hockey.




3. "Triumphant Tales" aims to be the inspiring tale of athletes and the misfortunes they have overcome, but instead succeeds merely at coming across as the sort of touchy-feely,pseudo-inspirational, stories that appear regularly on daytime talk-shows like Oprah and Sally Jesse Raphael. The athletes profiled in this book practically scream "look at the obstacles I have overcome," as if the mere fact that they have encountered hardships makes them simultaneously deserving of our pity and to be looked upon as heroes. The tales the athletes tell become fairly monotonous, with only the inclusion of former NHL star Pat LaFontaine accounting for the fact that this book was even published. The writing is pedestrian - even by sportswriting standards. Moreover, the book has no purpose other than to tell "Triumphant Tales of Heroic Athletes," as the subtitle states a little too obviously. The photo of the Olympic torch on the cover practically begs to be mocked, as if these writers have no sense of irony and actually believe the heroic tales they spin. What role did the NHL, television, and money play in Pat LaFontaine's repeated comebacks, despite the permanent damage that could have resulted from another concussion? This book will never tell, because that would only undermine the familiar template of innocent athlete being struck by (fill-in-the-blank illness) much too early, only to somehow overcome it in the end. Potential buyers be warned - life is too short to spend reading this book.



4. Companions in Courage is an inspiring and emotionally touching collection of the stories of how over 50 athletes were able to cope with their misfortunes. Few of us go through life without being tested either physically or mentally. Everyone who has been struck with these problems and is looking for inspirational guidance to overcome their condition should read this book.



5. This is not your typical "athlete retires, writes his memoirs" book. Rather, it is an aggregation of inspirational stories that are as uplifting as they are touching. The dynamic of the human spirit is on full display in this compilation, and it's all wrapped in a neat bow by one of sport's all-time great role models - Pat LaFontaine. If you are looking for some personal inspiration or want to raise the spirits of a family member or friend in need of "companionship" or "courage", then this is the book for you.

No comments about Sir Alex: The Story of 21 Remarkable Years at Old Trafford.

No comments about Tottenham Massive.

5 comments about To the Edge and Back: My Story from Organ Transplant Survivor to Olympic Snowboarder.

1. Chris Klug and Steve Jackson's account of the Olympian's triumphant life is an excellent example of the modern sports autobiography: Truly spoken, well-written, and a glimpse inside a sport not too many readers probably know too much about. But it's Klug's life -- so far -- that intrigues. Like Lance Armstrong, Klug has faced adversity outside of sports and conquered it, making his athletic achievement so much more important and interesting. Top-notch work.



2. This is simply an amazing story. From beginning to end, it instills a sense of wanting to go out and live life to the fullest. It has everything a great book should. This book will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate life. A great inspirational story, everyone should have this in his or her collection. This book appeals not only to skiers and snowboarders but also across generations.



3. This is one of the most motivational books I have read. If you finish reading this book and aren't totally stoked about attacking life, you need serious help.
   
   Imagine having a dream to be on an Olympic Snowboarding team BEFORE snowboarding was even accepted at most ski resorts, BEFORE snowboarding was even considered a sport. If I learned one thing while reading this book, it was to never tell a kid something is impossible.
   
   I'd highly recommend this book as a present for parents to give their snowboarding teens. It shows how dedication, hard work and never giving up on yourself can be your ticket to anywhere.



4. From the moment I picked up this book I had a tough time putting it down. This book will have you both laughing hysterically and crying. "To The Edge and Back" is not only a truly inspirational story of Chris Klug and his epic story of going from Organ Transplant survivor to Olympic Athlete; it also speaks to the history and character of the sport of snowboarding. From it's beginnings as an "outcast" sport that "will never last" to becoming an Olympic sport, "To the Edge and Back" gives us a peak into what snowboarding (and its athletes) are all about and the obstacles that the sport has had to overcome.
   
   The book tells a story of a dream, and an athlete who refused to ever let go of that dream even while facing head-on the reality of his own impending mortality. Seeing & feeling the impact of organ donation from both sides, both the donor family and the recipient, truly makes this an epic read and a story that needs to be heard/read by all.



5. Before picking up the book, everyone should be ready for an incredibly inspiring story. Having survived a liver transplant to return to a professional athletic career, and then win an olympic medal should leave anyone in complete awe. Comparisons to Lance Armstrong and his book campaign will abound. However, in "To the Edge and Back," Klug does much more than just inspire. The story is an incredible one of course, but this piece is also very well written and impeccably put together. Each of the chapters brings the reader to (and sometimes past) the verge of tears, and then moments later has one holding his/her sides in laughter. What will seem to many as a story primarily about overcoming unimaginable odds offers much more as Klug pays homage to his sport, his friends and his family. The book is clearly an influential work for Chris's primary cause of organ donation, and shows readers the importance of the medical miracle and the necessity for more organ donors right here in America. This is a must read for all athletes, but is a moving and entertaining work that should find its way onto bookshelves and bedside tables world wide.

No comments about Michael Owen: Off the Record.

No comments about Thierry Henry: The Biography: The Amazing Life of the Greatest Footballer on Earth.