5 comments about Holding Serve Persevering On And Off The Court.

1. I've read quite a few books in my day and this was by far the worst.
   I felt like he was writing to 8 year olds.



2. I've missed Michael Chang since he retired from pro tennis. I always enjoyed watching him, not just because I like pro tennis, but because he was always so unabashed about his devout Christian faith.
   In "Holding Serve," he talks about his childhood when money was often tight, how he and his brother Carl discovered tennis, and everything their parents did to develop Michael and Carl's talents. Michael remembers his junior tennis days when he first met Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Jim Courier.
   In 1998, after years of being one of the world's top players, Michael Chang suddenly fell into a big downhill slide. He dealt with some injuries, and even when he was able-bodied, he started losing in the early rounds of several tournaments. His ranking dropped way down, and never got back up to what it was. Michael is very frank about was a frustrating time that was. It's obvious he wishes he could have won more than one grand slam title.
   Michael Chang talks about his Christian beliefs and his moral values without sounding preachy.
   Since retirement, I understand Michael has been busy with the Chang Family Foundation.



3. I finished this book within a day. This is by far one of my favorite book. Michael was very humble and personable throughout the book. I felt like I know him so much after finish reading Holding Serve. Not knowing how much hard work it takes to become No.2 tennis player, this book brings inspiration and true understanding of the tennis world. Young tennis player will be inspired and touched by his stories.
   
   I am also impressed by Michael's faith and his close relationship with his family. You will appreciate the role of his parents and what a sacrifice they made in order to fulfil his tennis dream.



4. It's such a great book that I cannot wait to finish the book over the weekend, eventhough I have an exam on Monday night. I really learn a lot about Michael Chang from this autobiography -- as a person and the kind of challenges he endured and conquered in his pro years. I also learned something about the other tennis greats from his friendship with them. I am especailly touched and inspired by the Love in the Chang Team. Great job! Michael.



5. Michael Chang is a remarkable individual! I still remember watching Michael play that incredible match against Ivan Lendl in the 89 French Open and then defeating Stefan Edberg in the final after going down two sets after winning the first! Talk about steely determination! And to win a grand slam event at age 17! Amazing! The book is a fascinating read and contary to "a readers" rather inane opinions on this review site, I felt that Michael was truly honest and forthright about his beliefs and I never felt that he was "cramming" his beliefs on anyone..I just have high respect for the fact that he stood his ground and never compromised his values..We need more role models like Michael Chang..especially in the world of sports!
   
   Michael talks about his relationships with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras and how they all came up in the junior ranks..Pete and Andre used to stay overnight with Michael's family on occasion when they crossed paths and Michael seemed very secure in his relationship with the two tennis greats! (I'm sure there is mutual respect among these tennis greats!!) His anecdotes about John McEnroe and many other players are quite interesting and humorous so I did not understand "a readers" previous comments about "not mentioning other players" at all..
   
   Michael is deferential and respectful about his career in tennis and never bad mouths any of his opponents or fellow players..instead he gives a lot of them credit for his development as a professional..especially John McEnroe's demolishment of him in the French Open in '88..he learned from the experience..and even went on to state that he earned McEnroe's respect later on when he took him out for the first time at the 1992 US Open..
   
   Michael's description of his matches and how he developed as a young tennis professional gives you a great deal of insight into all the hard work that goes into attaining the level of tennis he produced..especially in the year 1996 when he was ranked as high as No 2..I remember clearly the semi-final match he played against Andre Agassi in the '96 US Open where he took him apart in 3 straight sets..only to lose the next day to his rival..Pete Sampras..if he had won that match he would have been No 1 in the world! Although that would have been nice, Michael did not dwell on it and what makes the book an interesting read is that Michael gives you a quite a bit of insight into his world and his influences..which is what most autobiographies are designed to do...he states what he felt were the most important things in his life..his family..and that he felt truly "blessed" to have had all the opportunities he had and to be on the "world stage"..he stresses the fact that he lives by "the golden rule" and never succumbed to the temptations that being a world class tennis star can bring!
   
   I have been a fan of Michael's since the beginning of his career and throughly enjoyed his insightful book..I highly recommend this book for tennis fans and all sports fans for that matter!

5 comments about The Hardy Boyz: Exist 2 Inspire.

1. I read this book as soon as it came out, and things in the career of the Hardy Boyz has changed a lot since then. However, this book was fabulous. I loved learning more about them, their matches, their family and their career. I think it's a great book and any wrestling fan needs to read this. Even if you aren't a wrestling fan this book might turn you onto wrestling.



2. This book was great. The format made it seem as you were sitting in someones livingroom just talking to these guys. It gave you a totally different look at these two young men. In all the interviews I have seen it seemed like they always get along and agree with each other. It was refreshing to see that they both have varying opinions on many things. Just like most brothers. It was a very good read.



3. When i got this book i really loved the beggining when they meet everyone
   to when they made omega,their mom died when matt was 12 and jeff was 9 and their father had to take care of them.They first made their own wrestleing ring out of a trampoline.



4. This is another, in a long line of, insightful autobiographies of a revolutionary force in the recent resurgence of pro wrestling over the last 10 years. The Story of the young duo of Matt & Jeff Hardy is a compelling one. I recommend this to anyone who loves wrestling and any one loves watching these guys perform.



5. Ive been a huge fan of the Hardyz for a long time, and when I bought this book, I thought it would be about their lives outside the ring. I was wrong.
   
   The start of the book is great. But about halfway through, it just loses momentum. They go to far into detail on the matches, and it just gets very boring. Also, as I mentioned earlier, they have about 5 pages talking about their lives outside of the WWE.

5 comments about The Gracie Way: An Illustrated History of the World's Greatest Martial Arts Family (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series).

1. "The Gracie Way" is a serviceable history and tribute to the first family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Each stand-alone chapter profiles a member of the Gracie clan, starting with Helio and finishing up with Renzo. The book is lavishly illustrated with quality color photos - nearly coffee table book quality.
   
   For anyone interested in BJJ, the Gracies or the history of the UFC, this is a fun read.
   
   Other reviewers have commented on the bias in the book, and this is a valid criticism, though nit fatal. Author Kid Peligro is obviously enchanted with the Gracies and so he tends to mythologize their every move. The few defeats suffered by Gracies are dealt with in a way that suggests that "they was robbed" or that the fix was in. Peligro makes no pretense of objectivity. Still, this does not render the book useless in my view.
   
   "The Gracie Way" was perhaps written before Royce fought Matt Hughes, who rag-dolled him. It also does not address the issue of Royce testing positive for steroids after one Elite XC event. (Perhaps the BJJ success was not due solely to drinking acai juice!!).
   
   Whether you feel the Gracie legacy is tarnished or burnished, "The Gracie Way" is a worthwhile read for historians and fans of BJJ and MMA.



2. Kid Peligro nails it from an (almost) insider's perspective. As someone who started training with the Gracie family before there was even a UFC, I believe Kid is dead on with his take on the family and the martial art of Brazilian jujitsu. A lot of MMA fans today don't even realize there would be no UFC (or formerly Pride, or any other MMA organization) without the Gracies. Must read for Gracie and MMA fans.



3. I thought I knew somethings about the First Family of Mixed Martial Arts, But this book tells almost everything. Their truimphs,tragedies and hopes for the future. If your a fan, Than this book is worth reading.



4. I love the mystique surrounding the Gracie family martial arts. I was enthralled with Royce Gracie as a kid, and still revere him as a hero of sorts. So, I really enjoyed this book, mostly because it talks about something there is simply not much literature written about.
   
   That said, it is biased. It's okay to lose, and Kid P. should recognize this. All the greatest fighters in the world have lost, or certainly end up losing, eventually. Muhammed Ali lost his share of matches, but always fought to stay on top. He eventually didn't, but he revolutionized boxing and more because of his greatness.
   
   The Gracie's are the same way. Like it or not, the Gracie's changed everything, and made today's fighters what they are. They popularized vale-tudo fights, and taught the world (without reserve) their style. It constitutes half of MMA today. Without it, MMA would be Tank Abbot slugging it out with Ken Shamrock, or whatever.
   
   This celebrates the Gracie family in a non-academic approach. Get it, enjoy it.



5. Despite ranking the book 3 stars out of 5, I will go ahead and say that this book is a must have for anyone practicing brazilian jiujitsu. I have been into the sport for years, and I truly value my copy of this book. The pictures are beautiful, and I love how the chapters are broken down into each of the brothers/cousins. However, I believe the stories on each of the brothers seem a bit fabricated. They may be real, but the diction employed by the author seems to exaggerate and stretch the truth. Peligro is a great writer. With his skills, I believe he could have done a better job on this book.

5 comments about Totch: A Life in the Everglades.

1. My first impression of Totch after only 10 pages wasn't very good. But I gave it a chance and I am glad I did. I have kayaked/camped at most of the places he lived and visited in the book. Reading about his experiences and how life was back when he was growing up and relating to my experiences was wonderful. His easy way of telling stories reminded me of some of the people I've met and camped with down in the Everglades - possibly one of those strangers was him...
   
   I totally related and understood most of his situations with nature, mosquitoes, and the weather. Yes, he did some illegal things but you would have to have been raised in the area or at least know the area and the people to really understand.
   
   Highly recommend for anyone who has explored the area and for those interested in the history and how life was in the area.



2. I received this book after a family member visited Totch country. As an avid historian I immediately dived in to this book and never looked back. It was an honest look at a "time forgotten" by a man who presented his life as it was, the good & the bad portions. Don't hesitate to buy this and take a journey with Touch. This is the real Florida & not the Disney version.
   I am making a special trip to Florida in January of 2008 just to visit this place with my two young boys!



3. This book is a wonderfully informative and touching story of a great and honorable man. Through Totch we learn of a nearly forgotten way of life and we see the Everglades as it used to be. I appreciate his honesty and plainspokeness and I'm thankful Totch made this book to preserve an important history. I also recommend the three movies made about him: Totch Brown's tales of the Everglades and 10,000 islands, The Everglades outlaw Totch Brown, and Yesterday's Everglades.



4. Any south Florida history buff will want to add "Totch' to their collection.



5. Don't be misled by Peter Matthiessen's forward, this one is not for the ecologically friendly faint-of-heart. Totch was a one man ecological disaster, constantly on the move wrecking havoc on the wildlife wherever he went. His life of slaughtering animals for personal profit was a willful life choice, hardly dictated by the times, as he claims in his self-serving attempts to justify his pogrom against nature. His self-indulgence was carried to the extreme by illegally poaching thousands of alligators in the protected Everglades National Park in defiance of the laws of man and nature. The purpose for his illegal acts was personal profit, to skin the animals, only using their hides. Their dead carcasses, several hundred in a period of a few days, were dumped into the water to rot. This was hardly an act of survival. He did this because he wanted to, not because he had to. There are several other books, more accurate, better written, and less self-centered, that better describe the early pioneers of Southwest Florida. Rather than augment Totch's bloody legacy by buying his book, I encourage readers interested in the Everglades to look elsewhere, and leave Totch's book describing his carnage against nature to rot, like one of his skinned alligator carcasses, on the ash pile of despicable acts by the self-indulgent.

5 comments about Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography.

1. This year our baseball team (comprised of 13-16 yr olds) decided end of year trophies would be a little juvenile for the boys. The coach let me know about this book and thought it would be a good idea to give each of the boys one for the end of the season gift. We did and it was very well received! An amazing book for anyone that aspires to do something more with their life!
   
   Well written and very easy to read! I highly reccomend!



2. This book provides an excellent insight into the life of Lou Holtz and his motivational attitude on life. His dry humor will make you laugh, his thoughts inspiring, and make you think W.I.N. for those tough decisions in life.



3. Lou listed some great stories.
   
   In fact that is one reason why this is a great book, because Lou is an AWESOME story teller.
   Listen to the audio book as you read, Lou narrates this book very well.
   
   Lou has lived an amazing life.
   He just got it done, no matter what he does.
   Anyone can pick up some great tips about being more successful from this book.
   
   Paul



4. This is an excellent read! You won't want to put it down and it will make you do some self examination.



5. An inspiring memoir full of famous personalities from sports and politics. Lou's humble beginnings and deep-rooted faith in family and religion took him to the top of the college football world and into the circles of many of America's most famous leaders. This is quite a guy.

5 comments about Man in the Middle.

1. a great book. shows what happens when a person can't be their real authenic selves.



2. I purchased this book prior to attending a presentation that Mr. Amaechi made to a large group of educators (I didn't get to read the book until after hearing him speak). He is an outstanding orator and not quite as good a writer. I enjoyed his book, but was disappointed that he didn't spend more time discussing his struggle with his sexuality. The book spent too much time talking about his b-ball career and his time with the NBA. I found his work and efforts to help kids to be of note. I also appreciated his openess to speak of his relationship with his mother. Additionally, I enjoyed where he writes of not having the natural talent to play b-ball and yet how hard he worked to achieve the success that he found on the court as a pro player. Not my favorite read but one I appreciated nonetheless.



3. This book is very predictable and doesn't really challenge the reader to think. Mr. Amaechi must not have had a very motivated (or creative) ghostwriter. Anyway, this is the memoir of an NBA star that comes out of the closet, John Amaechi. Mr Amaechi tells his life story of a child growing up overseas. He also discusses his NBA career and his eventual (and very predictable) acceptance of his own sexuality. Of course, he also describes the [...] he faced on a daily basis. But in 2007 this story is somewhat of a cliche, isn't it? Think about it. Macho man decides to come out of the closet and tell everyone that he is a [...]. He expects America to welcome him with open arms because we are all created equally. Right? Do you want to know what type of book I would like to read. I'd like to read a book that candidly discusses all of the b-i-g-o-t-r-y within the g-a-y community. All of the self-hatred, all of the socioeconomic division and all of the blatant ageism and fascism and elitism. Just like most of America, the g-a-y community is not different in this regard. If you're not a rich, w-h-i-t-e person with a nice home and a nice car then you're nothing. And there's the real rub, because the same people that are screaming about equality are the same ones that will back-stab their own. Maybe one day someone will have the courage to write a real book about g-a-y issues, because this a real problem that is plaguing the [...] community. Until then, there's still always books about millionaire basketball players.



4. From reading this book, it was not clear as to why Mr. Amaechi took the time to write it. He appears guarded about most of his life experiences except those involving his mother. A positive aspect about this book was that he spared the reader salient details about most of his personal sexual activities. Amaechi being an interacial mixture was of far more interests to me.



5. I originally thought this was another tell-all book on the secret lives of downlow basketball players. But it wasn't and this is a good thing. John goes into great detail explaining his distraught childhood in Manchester to becoming one of the best players in the NBA. It is quite inspiring reading his life experiences. This is a great book for someone who may think they don't amount to anything great. Pick up this book and begin a new outlook on life.

4 comments about Tiger Woods: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies).

1. Tiger is probably the greatest golfer of all time. He's has great poise and dignity on and off the greens. If only we could all live up to his exceptional qualities. This is a magnificent biography. I cherish it.



2. I was looking more for the values and principles Tiger Woods used to build his gaem. It covered some of this.



3. this Book is very well documented&put together. Tiger Woods is the Baddest Golfer Ever. He is a Standard in sports with his Dominance,but as a Person He is a ground-breaker in the World of Golf. this Book speaks on His Impact as a Golf Player&also the Social Impact his pressence has had on the sport. Tiger is unstoppable. His Father gave him the edge&Tiger ran with it. RIP to His Pops.



4. TIGER WOODS: A BIOGRAPHY brings the world of golf in general and the achievements of Tiger Woods in particular to life, providing a biographical which examines his participation in the sport, its particular demands, and how he lived up to his potential. A timeline of events highlights the high points, while discussions of Afro-American rights and PGA requirements provide the well-rounded background.

5 comments about Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made.

1. This book not only offers the most incisive portrait of Jordan, the Bulls championship years, and the NBA of that era, but is also wonderful Halberstam, who tells the story with an epic sweep. Simply a beautiful work from cover to cover.



2. Nike turned Michael Jordan into a dream. Nike funneled in 1984 all of Nike's advertising resources in one player instead of in several teams. Nike made Michal Jordan a cultural icon and featured him as a star amidst other entertainment stars. And in the beginning Jordan didn't even like Nike sneakers. He preferred Adidas. Ultimately Nike paid Jordan in roughly 1 million dollars a year for five years. In 1984 no one realized that Nike was getting one of the great bargains of the time. Nike was a shoe company in great trouble. Michael Jordan saved Nike by his appeal to the youth. In the mean time basketball benefited from satellite reception that was just opening the world of cable television. Satellite reception facilitated cheap broadcasting. Bill Rasmussen obtained channel space on a communications satellite. His ESPN opened new broadcasting opportunities for basketball. In Playing for Keeps David Halberstam tells the tale of Michael Jordan in the broader cultural context. In this book Halberstam displays his usual journalistic skills. But somehow I missed the emotional involvement of his other books. The Summer of 49 and The Breaks of the Game learned me more about the relevance of sports.
   
   Luuk Oost



3. As someone very familiar with Michael Jordan's career I was startled by all the new bits of information crammed in this book. Its clear Halbertstam did his homework. He employed an exhaustive interview process that yields so many new anecdotes and perspectives of Michael Jordans career. I particulary enjoyed all the stories of Jordan showing flashes of greatness early on while being recruited by North Carolina. The book makes it clear that even at those early stages while no one could predict what was to come, those around Michael had never seen anything like him.
   
   Halbertstam also reveals the background story for many of those surrounding Jordan during his run with the Bulls. Namely Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Jerry Krause, Jerry Reinsdorf, and others. He delves into their lives, paints a picture of their character, and allows you to understand what motivated all these contrasting personalities along the way.
   
   It must be noted that the writing of David Halbertstam is just incredible. If you're a fan of Michael Jordan or just basketball this book is a must read. The subject could not be approached by a more accomplished author.



4. 
   I'm not a big Halberstam fan, and this book didn't change that opinion.
   
   The subtitular "world that he [Jordan] made" is never really explored in any depth, and this is a surface-skimming bio of Jordan with the addition of some mini-bios on major figures in his life (David Falk, Dean Smith, Phil Jackson, etc.).
   
   The research is limited and insight is scant as Halberstam leans heavily on material already published, pulling entire sections of the book (e.g., his thumbnail bio of Jackson) from the subject's own earlier book. He returns to quote the same two or three sports writers time and again (Sam Smith - Chicago Trib and Jordan biographer - OK, but Bob Ryan - Boston Globe - a dozen quotes???).
   
   "Playing for Keeps" is a fast-reading Jordan sketch, a 400 page magazine article, during which Halberstam defers to Jordan too frequently: no real examination of the gambling, glossed over recount of James Jordan's murder, no meaningful exploration of Jordan the global commercial icon.
   
   For my taste, this book is another disppointment from Halberstam.



5. Halberstam does it again. With a keen eye and a knack for pulling the reader in, David Halberstam is one of our great modern writers. Just when you thought you knew Jordan, "Playing for Keeps" shades new light (not all of it flattering) on our greatest modern basketball player.
   
   Well worth it.

5 comments about True Speed: My Racing Life.

1. Gave this book to our Son so we will see if he enjoyed it after he has time to read it. Thanks for shipping it in a timely matter.



2. Its Christmas 2007 and I am a big Tony Stewart fan. I received this book from family and wasnt all that thrilled since it only goes up to 2002 and to be honest I know absolutely nothing about dirt racing, sprint cars, midget cars, USAC, IRL, or Kart racing.
   Well I do now.
   I started glancing through the book and got hooked. Its written by Tony (with another writer Mark Bourcier ) so its in his own words. Its Tonys thoughts and memories. It gave me a huge insight into a racer I thought I already knew a lot about. I really enjoyed reading it, from his start as a child up to his NASCAR career. It has a lot of comments from a lot of people he has met in his life as a racer and a regular guy. If you are a Tony fan or a racing fan, this is really a good read. I doubt if hes this open now but he is just as honest and he hasnt changed his feelings.He discusses his honesty and troubles and fans and lots and lots of racing. I knew he was good but after reading this I came away more impressed than ever. I plan on checking through Amazon for more. more. more.



3. I loved this book. It was very entertaining. It really held my attention. As a matter of fact it only took me a week to read it all. That is pretty good for me and always a sign of a good book. I highly recommend it. It had some pretty funny stuff in it.



4. this book is a great tool for those wanting to know just how someone as talented as Tony Stewart got where he is. Its a book on racing and stays out of being too personal.



5. Well, I would think it would be a great book, however, I have been waiting for more than two (2) months for Amazon to sent it to me. I hope those of you who order it have months to wait for it to be shipped to you. Good luck and happy racing!

5 comments about Yogi: The Life and Times of an American Original.

1. Former feature writer for "Mirror" magazine Carlo DeVito presents Yogi: The Life & Times of an American Original, a solid biography of one of America's most successful sportsmen. the celebrated Yankee baseball team member Lawrence Peter Berra, a.k.a. "Yogi". The son of Italian immigrants, Yogi overcame his short height and taunting from his teammates, opponents, and the media to earn a phenomenal three MVP awards, ten World Series championships, and an assortment of catching records. Yogi's career in baseball didn't end with his retirement; he went on to manage a team from league of the World Series. He encountered famous people ranging from DiMaggio to Hemingway and Sinatra, inspired an enduringly popular cartoon character (Yogi Bear), and even enriched the American lexicon with an assortment of malapropisms. A handful of black-and-white photographs enrich this down-to-earth chronicle of one of baseball's most beloved celebrities.



2. There is, and always will be, only one Yogi. And thank heavens that he's still with us. The Hall of Fame Yankee catcher and everyman philosopher is brillently covered in this wonderful book. If you are a fan of baseball, the Yankees, or just love Yogi, you gotta have this one.



3. I have to admit some bias first. Yogi has been one of my favorite Yankees forever, I love baseball books and I know some of the people involved in this book. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful read, a trip from a St. Louis neighborhood to the big leagues, the Big Apple and a look at one of the biggest hearts in sportsdom. Though I've gotten the Yogi story in bits and pieces before, I still enjoyed reading it. As the man himself would say, "It's like deja vu all over again." If you love baseball, read this book!



4. I only knew Yogi as the cuddly master of the malaprop who had played some ball years ago. What I learned is that he's one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of sports - and a pretty shrwed businessman, too. A well written and ubiased bio that's must read for any baseball fan and recommended for anyone who wants to read the story of a guy who came from nothing to become an American legend.



5. ** BASEBALL HALL OF FAME ** 3 MVP AWARDS ** 21 WORLD SERIES (14 AS A PLAYER - 2 AS A MANAGER - 5 AS A COACH) ** 10 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AS A PLAYER - 3 AS A COACH ** 15 ALL STAR GAMES ** 285 LIFETIME AVERAGE ** 358 HOMERUNS ** 1,430 RUNS BATTED IN **
   
   That is YOGI BERRA!
   
   ** "NOBODY GOES THERE ANYMORE; IT'S TOO CROWDED!" ** "IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER." ** "ALWAYS GO TO OTHER PEOPLE'S FUNERALS; OTHERWISE THEY WON'T COME TO YOURS." ** "BASEBALL IS 90 PERCENT MENTAL THE OTHER HALF IS PHYSICAL."
   
   This also is YOGI BERRA!
   
   I am not a Yankee fan, but I am an "old-school" baseball fanatic. And any true "die-in-the-wool" baseball fan will enjoy this detailed recollection of when baseball truly was the "National Pastime". This biography covers Yogi and his family's life from the time his Italian parents landed on Ellis Island. It chronicles his growing up in a mostly Italian American neighborhood up on "The Hill" in St. Louis, where one of his best friends was a mediocre future Major Leaguer, who would hit it big in radio and TV Joe Garagiola. Joe's future success was neatly packaged around stories of his youthful days with Yogi on "The Hill". Yogi's Father Pietro was hard working, loving and a stern disciplinarian in the house. He thought playing baseball was a waste of time, and of course no way to make a living. Yogi's three older brothers, Anthony, Mike, and John, were all good baseball players and had been offered tryouts and contracts with professional teams. But Pietro would not hear of it and did not allow it. When Yogi was in the eighth grade he had no use for school and wanted to quit school and go after his dream of playing Major League baseball. Though Yogi feared his Father's wrath he confronted him with his desire and dream. It became a family war that eventually even included the family's priest. Pietro finally relented as long as Yogi got a regular job to contribute to the family's livelihood while he tried to get a baseball contract. Yogi sold newspapers, where his favorite customer was his baseball idol (And my mother's favorite player.) Joe "Ducky" Medwick. He also had a few factory jobs. Then he was signed by the New York Yankees, and the rest as they say is history. When he reached the big leagues, Joe DiMaggio was the undisputed leader of the team but within a few years as Joe's career came to an end the Yankee torch was passed from Joe to Yogi. A lot of baseball revisionists say it went from DiMaggio to Mantle but that isn't so. The history of uncrowned Yankee leadership actually went from Ruth to Gehrig to DiMaggio to Berra to Mantle. Yogi not only became known as one of the greatest clutch hitters in history, but he was also one of the greatest "bad ball" hitters in history, so it was extremely tough to pitch to him in crucial situations. His ten world championship rings as a player is unmatched in the annals of baseball history. One extremely sad part of this story is all the abuse Yogi took because of his looks and "supposed" lack of intellect. Yet he is probably the most successful Yankee in history after his playing days. This story also conjures up many of the old fan rivalries of the 40's and 50's between the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. Since the Dodgers and Yankees played each other seven times in the World Series during this period there is a lot of information about Yogi's competition with Roy Campanella, another catcher with 3 MVP's right across town in Brooklyn, and some wonderful quotes by Jackie Robinson as to Yogi's greatness. This story covers it all from Casey Stengel to Yogi's refusing to return to Yankee stadium for fourteen years after his firing by George Steinbrenner. Yogi was one hell of a ballplayer and reading about it was "LIKE DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN!"