5 comments about Payton.

1. My son very good at sports BMX,Soccer,Football He started playing Football 5 yrs ago pop warner He follows NCCA,NFL I told him about Walter Payton & how his stile of running was simular to yours. I bought the BOOK/DVD if he would watch it at the begging of the football this year. He didnt take his eyes off the T.V . He ended the year leading scorer & played in the div. champ. game & All- Stars. My opinion on Walter Payton Great Book, Great DVD, The Best Running Back.



2. Payton
   EXCELLENT, a must have for all Walter fans. The book is very well written and I just loved it. He was an awesome man and a devoted father and husband. Well done Connie and family!



3. Great book and DVD. Highly recommended for Bears fans across the nation but most importantly, to any sports fanatic period! Walter Payton was and is the greatest sports player who ever lived! You will be inspired to do your best and never give up at whatever you do in life! A great unselfish man who did so much for others; inspiration for the world!
   Walter Payton: A True and Genuine Role Model (34)



4. This book/dvd is a must own for any Walter Payton fan. The 1 hour dvd brings back alot of memories watching Walter bust through defenses. The book is well written and gives some insight into his background as well as his character. I paid $15 less at Amazon than what this package was going for on E-Bay. The best part is that my son got to watch the dvd and see what hard work is all about and where it can get you. He could'nt believe the way Payton could "fly" in to the end zone.



5. I actually knew Walter Payton. He was my neighbor. This book is a great tribute to him, without any doubt!! He WAS as classy as you may think, too. Still hard to believe he's gone.
   
   If you are a true fan, then this book is a MUST own for your home.

5 comments about I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson.

1. A very positive role model for our youth (and adults!) Jackie Robinson was courageous man. I learned about the barriers and obstacles he faced as well as all African-Americans faced during this era. And still face today.



2. I read this book when I did a research paper on Jackie Robinson in 11th grade English class back in 2003. It was a great autobiography and I couldn't put the book down. Not only tells the story of the man as a baseball player, but it tells how he struggled being a "black man in a white world." If you are interested in baseball, civil rights, or even just want to read a good book and learn more about the time, I highly recommend this book.



3. This was just dynamite. Jackie holds nothing back. I've read a lot of baseball books, and I've read a lot of autobiographies. This was hands-down the best, period! If you only want to read about his baseball accomplishments, go elsewhere. He covers his entire life, and there was a lot more than just baseball. The incidents from other episodes of his life serve to quantify what an advocate he was, and how difficult it was to take the abuse heaped upon him in his first two seasons with the Dodgers without responding. Bravo to a well-lived life, Jackie!



4. The autobiography of Jackie Robinsons Life "I never had it made" was an inspiring book to not stop trying. I enjoyed this book as a learner of the old ages and as a young fan of baseball. Jackie inspired millions of African Americans to do what they always have dreamed of doing. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because I thought they talked too much about his life after he retired from baseball. The book talks about the hardships Jackie went through and the journey he made to become such a phenomenal athlete and role model. Some of the people that Jackie worked with were greats known as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. After retirement Jackie opens up his own charities and organizations to help the not so fortunate African Americans of today's society. I recommend this book to anyone that has trouble with their self-confidence because this book makes you appreciate your life more. Unfortunately Jackie will be remembered just because of his baseball accomplishments and not what he did off the field.



5. They say to whom much is given, much is expected. In Jackie's case he didn't ask to take on this feat- but nonetheless he accepted the mission and gave it his all- and succeeded- perhaps at the expense of his own personal life and serenity. This man had a huge task and he never shirked when it seemed to be insurmountable...the crux of the challenge was that jackie was told that he would be up against jeering crowds, small minds, hostile people that would do their best to get his goat- and that it was imperative that jackie did not resist and defend- and he upheld his end of the bargain.Jackie shows us all the high road.I am no sports fan but I did love this book- because it is about focus, strength and grace in the face of opposition, and a trailblazer personality that lit the way for many many people.

5 comments about Cabin Pressure: One Man's Desperate Attempt to Recapture His Youth as a Camp Counselor.

1. Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
   on 07/13/2008
   
   Who has not been to summer camp, even if only for a day? And as an adult, who has not sat in his or her industrial beige/grey cubicle on a clear, beautiful summer day and wished they were once again that carefree youngster jumping into a frigid lake or pounding initials into a piece of leather?
   
   Josh Wolk, a senior writer for Entertainment Weekly, decided to spend part of the summer before his wedding doing just that. He returned to his old haunt as a counselor, hoping to find his boyhood before stepping solidly into adulthood. His lighthearted look at the goings on at camp will keep you laughing. But, just as in life, all is not high-jinks and pratfalls. He is looking back at this from the perspective of twenty years beyond most of the people there. But he gives even the serious stuff a humorous edge.
   
   If you've ever been to summer camp, or even if you haven't, you'll enjoy this book. It's both funny and nostalgic, a perfect blend of entertainment. So grab your gorp and bug juice and come along for the ride. You'll be glad you did.



2. I am never at all sure why I like reading camp books. I hated the actual camp experience, due to overwhelming homesickness and general dislike of being in groups! But I love reading about camp, and this is probably the best book about it I've ever read. Josh Wolk spends the summer before getting married working as a counselor at the camp he attended for many summers as a boy. The best part of this book is that it really doesn't romantize the experience. Josh feels like a misfit much of the time, the 14 year old boys in his cabin can be very, very hard to deal with, the other counselor in the cabin doesn't pull his weight at all...but still, he has many moments of remembering what he loves about the camp. It sounds like a great camp. I have 13 and 10 year old boys, and I wish now that overnight camp wasn't out of our price range, as it sounds like it could be a wonderful experience.
   
   I hope Wolk writes more books. I'd love to hear about his life as a parent, as he seems like someone with real insights.



3. I take that title from a Frank Black song, which I think is a pretty accurate way of describing the nervous step you take into full-fledged adulthood. "Cabin Pressure" details Josh Wolk's step.
   
   I first took notice of Wolk through his terrific writing at "Entertainment Weekly." He wrote day-after commentary on the "Real World" that was so gut-bustingly hilarious my friends and I used to E-mail the highlights to each other. After a while, the writing was so good and the show so bad, we stopped watching the show and just read the wrap-ups.
   
   Wolk's best skill as a writer is his gift of observation. Give him any scenario and he can instantly break it down, expose each player's motivation, and end it all with a hilarious analogy.
   
   He brings that keen observation to "Cabin Pressure," his tale of heading back to camp as a counselor on the brink of his wedding day. Having remembered camp as a kind of innocent oasis, Josh wants to reexperience it one more time before he becomes, gulp, a husband and a father.
   
   Wolk fills us in on summer-camp life -- what he remembered from his day, what has changed, and what hasn't. The best part of the book is Wolk's interaction with the kids in his cabin. He does an amazing job of letting you know each one, whether they are charming, maddening, or depressingly and prematurely stressed-out and miserable.
   
   I don't necessarily think I bought into Josh's overall theme here -- this whole nostalgic innocence trip -- but it doesn't matter because "Cabin Pressure" is often hilarious and reading this book is like a well-spoken, really funny friend telling you his best summer-camp stories.
   
   The tone can shift from body-odor humor to some strong emotional connections with the boys, and all the while Wolk's razor-sharp observation and pitch-perfect punchlines remain.
   
   After reading Wolk in "Entertainment Weekly" all those years, and laughing my butt off, this book lives up to all of my expectations. Funny and insightful, "Cabin Pressure" is a wonderful debut book.



4. I enjoyed this book from line one. Josh Wolk is a wonderfully funny story teller. Even if you never spent any time in summer camp, you will love the stories and characters. I didn't want it to end!



5. Even though it's been 35 years since the first time I was a counselor, every year around Fathers Day I have the urge to grab my sleeping bag and head up to camp for staff orientation. This book reminded me of why that urge is still so strong - why I spent six summers of my life as summer camp staff, working 14 hours a day most days and making less than I could have working a virtually anywhere else.
   
   In the summer before he married and entered a new phase of life, the author chose to relive part of his childhood by becoming a camp counselor at the same camp he'd attended as an adolescent. Although older than the typical counselor and with a fiance waiting at home for him to finish his adventure, the authors experiences of feeling like he didn't quite fit in with the staff, his struggles with trying to stay upbeat after weeks of little sleep and hard physicial work and the silliness he shared with his campers mirror the experience of every counselor, whatever age. His story rang so true - although I worked at two coed YMCA camps rather than an all boys camp, the songs, jokes, activities and adolescent angst are universal.
   
   For those who were campers, it's a window into the mysterious life that counselors led. For those of us who staffed camps, it's a sometimes funny, sometimes touching reminder of why we chose spend our summers without creature comforts of home, making little money while living with other people's children.

2 comments about Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees' First Dynasty.

1. A great baseball book. Very well written. This is a must for baseball fans who enjoy the history of the game.



2. Many people think that by just purchasing Babe Ruth from the Red Sox that created the Yankee Dynasty. This book is a great history of the man who really created the Yankee Dynasty. The first 50 years of his life he was not involved with the Yankees but was involved with other teams as a manager and also served as the President of a minor league struggling against the odds of survival. Until Terry Francona, Ed Barrow was the last manager of the Red Sox who won a World Series with Babe Ruth as one of its stars. This is a must read of a tough man who built the first of many Yankees dynasties. The Red Sox fans curse the day the Red Sox owner sold the Babe to the Yankees, but they should be aware the most damaging blow was losing their manager, Ed Barrow to the Yankees. For the students of the game, this is a must read. Even the Red Sox Nation should read this book to understand more of their history.

3 comments about Odysseus' Last Stand: The Chronicles of a Bicycle Nomad.

1. I take my hat off to Dave for pulling this off. He travels 40,000 kms across some of the most inhospitable, yet sometimes beautiful terrain in Japan, China, Nepal, India, Australia, South East Asia, Turkey, across many countries in Europe and finally, through his homeland, the US. He lives in some of these countries for varying periods of time and his entire journey takes 8 years to complete. It is an amazing story of the man and his diverse experiences with humankind. A must read for those who love adventure.



2. I've read a fair number of cycling oddessy books because I like the topic. Admittedly, within this genre, it can be rare to find a book that is well written, and even rarer to find one with a compelling narrative. However, this gem scores well on both accounts. The author has a lot of material to draw from, as he describes a 7 year adventure around the globe that takes him to some pretty rough but exciting places. More importantly, the events the author faces have a deep impact on him. He conveys this with thoughtfulness and intelligence, but the text is never preachy. This book does offer a unique and honest perspective on world travel however. The events described really stuck with me after I had turned the last page, and I was sad to see the adventure end. For me, "Odysseus' Last Stand : The Chronicles of a Bicycle Nomad," represents the best of the genre. For a more humorous collection of cycle travel anecdotes, Kurmaskie's Metal Cowboy is quite good.



3. In 1992, Dave Stamboulis began a bicycle trip that was to last seven years and 40,000 kilometers around the world. Odysseus' Last Stand: The Chronicles Of A Bicycle Nomad his his account of his adventures as he bicycled through obscure countries and foreign cultures, taking in all the sights, sounds, and teeming life that can be viewed from the slower and more intimate pace of a bicycle. What motivated Stamboulis to his epic odyssey was the need to slow down in a world that was moving every faster, and to explore the role that the bicycle plays in peoples' lives around the world. Odysseus' Last Stand is also a candid and informative study of an attempt to find his place in a world that is a complex web of tensions between ancient traditions and technological/industrial progress, value differences between the developed and the developing countries. Along the way we are treated with insights, compassion, and a great deal of humor. Enhanced with eight pages of color photographs, Odysseus' Last Stand: The Chronicles Of A Bicycle Nomad is especially recommended reading for armchair travelers, as well as anyone who has thought about traveling the world along the lesser known paths.

5 comments about Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran.

1. This is an outstanding biography about arguably, one of the best boxers to ever walk the planet. Author Christian Giudice did his homework and presents an amazing story of the mythical character, the legendary persona and ultimately, the man, Roberto Duran who held championship titles in four different weight classes. The book includes many black and white photographs taken from different periods in his career as well as rare family photos. Included are the classic match ups featuring him and his foes in action and some just mugging for the camera. Let me say, right away, that I was a big Roberto Duran fan. This book appeals on many fronts though even if I was just a casual boxing fan. Having seen him box in person(Leonard vs.Duran III)and followed his career it was a walk down memory lane but with new insights into the ins and outs of the fights. I was pleased to find out that the infamous "no mas" is probably nothing more than a sound bite taken out of cotext. The full sentence reveals that he didn't want to fight with the clown Leonard anymore, (hence the "no mas"). At the time I thought that he was just frustrated and didn't want to chase him around anymore;in other words, he felt like fight or go to dancing with the stars. There was also more to this story, cocerning his health, his diet and his preparation that shined more light on what was a confusing situation. It seems Duran was never one to shy away from controversy. He lived extravagantly between fights, balloned in weight and fought some of the best world class fighters and some real bums. Waht cannot be denied was his ability and his charisma, especially amongst the Latino community. The book begins with his early years, his trials and tribulations. The poverty rags to riches story is detailed, the colorful characters that influenced him,as well as his protagonists and allies in his rise to fame and fortune. He was flamboyant to the max, he wrestled with a pet lion, knocked out a horse with a punch in his youth(supposedly) and was a womanizer. In spite of all his shortcomings he rose to top of the boxing world and won titles in numerous weight classes. There will probably never be another Roberto Duran. In this book it is all told, the good and the bad. If you were a boxing fan during the eighties you gotta have this book. If you're new to boxing check him out on classic fights. He was an amazing boxer who was vicious yet loveable. If it sounds like I have or had a man crush on Duran, you're probably right. I loved the man, he was the ultimate macho boxer. Highly recommended for all boxing aficionados.



2. Teachers of fiction often make the point that contradiction makes for colorful, rich characters. Christian Giudice's biography of Panamanian boxing champion Roberto Duran in Hands of Stone certainly validates this claim in the realm of reality too. Duran won world titles in four different weight divisions and fought in five decades with a record of 104 wins in 120 fights and 69 knockouts. He is regarded by almost all boxing writers and insiders as one of boxing's all-time great champions. But Duran is still best remembered for his "no mas" welterweight title rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard in the New Orleans Superdome in November, 1980, when he quit at the end of the eighth round. The boxing world has since tried to make sense of Duran's smoldering macho persona, juxtaposed with the unthinkable act of quitting in the middle of a championship fight.
   
   To Giudice's credit, he doesn't over-psychologize, and lets those closest to Duran and the fight itself do the explaining. In fact, Giudice lays out his motivation to write the book in a thoughtful introduction - the book evolved as a matter of his own personal pursuit to answer the question of how and why "no mas" happened. What follows is the biography of a man who is not so much complex as he is certainly contradictory.
   
   Duran's early days are fascinating. From relatives with colorful classical Greek family names like Socrates (an uncle who had uncommon punching power) and Alcibiades (Duran's younger brother whose tragic death he claims his mother never got over), to stories about his early Dickensian street-mentor Chaflan, and the three different versions of his reputed knockout of a horse at the age of sixteen, Duran's early days in the slums of Chorrillo in Panama City make for great reading. Indeed, Giudice's biography is foremost a book for rabid fight fans who revel in boxing's rich trove of gritty stories about survival in and out of the ring.
   
   Giudice describes how enigmatic international businessman Carlos Eleta, from whose property Duran used to steal coconuts, saw Duran fight and became his financial backer. Duran ultimately ascended to the lightweight championship by defeating Scotsman Kenny Buchanan in 1972, despite a controversial foul by Duran. By the beginning of 1980, only Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard had more boxing star-power in terms of persona and charisma - Duran's snarling coal-eyed machismo was unparalleled. With a record of 72-1, he had mopped up the lightweight division and was a tremendous crowd pleaser, staging fierce and unprecedented training sessions with rope-skipping artistry and powerful hitting and had unsurpassed killer instinct in the ring.
   
   Giudice then tells of Duran's greatest triumph, a masterful fifteen round unanimous decision over former Olympic superstar and undefeated welterweight champion Sugar Ray Leonard in their bout in June, 1980, in Montreal. Following this are the details of the infamous "no mas" rematch with Leonard in November of the same year in the New Orleans Superdome, and, finally, his path to redemption in the latter half of his career where he fought brutal battles with some of boxing toughest warriors, including Wilfredo Benitez, Carlos Palomino, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Pipino Cuevas and Iran Barkley.
   
   "No mas?" Guidice lets boxing writers, other fighters, boxing trainers reactions to and/or explanations of Duran's "no mas" debacle. The list includes, among others, boxing trainers Manny Steward, Angie Dundee, Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown; writers Budd Schulberg and Bert Sugar; boxers Jose Torres and Carlos Palomino and Sugar Ray himself and many others. Duran, while never hurt during the fight, was clearly being humiliated by Leonard, who had changed his "stand-and fight" tactics from the first fight, having admitted that Duran's insults to him and his family got to him mentally. Duran's drinking, eating and conqueror's victory parties went on for weeks after the first fight and he had ballooned to at least forty pounds, maybe more, over the welterweight limit. Leonard, after serious soul-searching about losing the first fight, stayed focused and trained hard, believing, unlike almost everyone in his own training camp, that he could defeat Duran in a rematch. Duran, nowhere near the shape he was in for their Montreal brawl, had to lose twenty pounds in the last two weeks before the fight to meet weight. Unable to cut off the ring on the skillfully adept and supremely conditioned Leonard who would stick and move, Duran became more and more frustrated. Worse still, Leonard began to taunt Duran, stuck his head out, wound his right hand around like a pinwheel, and then snapped a jab in Duran's face. An impulsive act of abject frustration and most likely self-acknowledgment that he couldn't win and with the possibility of being knocked out by his hated rival, Duran said to referee Octavio Meyran in Spanish, "I'm not going to fight this clown anymore." The ref, not comprehending that Duran was actually quitting, allowed the fight to continue. When the ref signaled the two fighters to continue after Duran had turned his back, Duran, according to the referee, then uttered "no mas." Leonard, at first confused, then realizing Duran had quit, celebrated. When American broadcaster Howard Cosell, who was announcing the fight, heard only "no mas," these two words were forever engraved into the lexicon of Duran's legacy.
   
   There were claims by Duran and others of stomach cramps as the reason for Duran's quitting. Panamanian journalist Juan Carlos Tapia commented: "He was simply not prepared for the fight. Leonard was beating him bad and Duran said that nobody will knock me out." According to Giudice, Duran seemed in denial of the gravity of his quitting, celebrating with friends and Panamanian military groupies that night. He didn't return to Panama for several weeks but on returning, he found his national hero's status suddenly turned to national scorn with his fans throwing rocks at his home and defacing his mural on Avenida Balboa in Panama City. Duran, who thrived on his connection to the people of Panama, went into a huge depression before he soldiered on for twenty more years in the fight game, not retiring until 2002.
   
   Giudice describes Duran outside the ring as a man who genuinely loved his family and friends, salsa music, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, and a good time, just as he loved a good fight. A man of great courage and self-discipline, he could also let himself go to excess eating, drinking, partying with friends and women late into the night. His wife, Felicidad, and his soulful identification with the people of Panama were the constants in his life. Though he made and lost millions, Duran, according to Giudice, never forgot his roots in the slums of Chorrillo. And, in a strange twist of irony, the U.S. military was responsible for destroying his old neighborhood as result of a fire caused in the 1989 military operation to depose Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
   
   Giudice's writing reveals his own affection for the people of Panama, the tough characters in the boxing world and Duran himself. I was frustrated for lack of an index, and imagine other readers would be too, particularly since this biography will appeal foremost to ardent boxing fans who love insider's trivia. For those aficionados, however, Giudice has presented the first comprehensive biography in English of one of boxing's and the sports world's most dynamic figures as well as pulled together the most comprehensive commentaries by authorities regarding Duran's "no mas" fight. There are other great tidbits including Panama's colorful boxing history, intrigue surrounding Carlos Eleta's role in the United States, Panamanian politics surrounding the 1989 invasion, and much more. For all of Giudice's exhaustive research, interviews, anecdotes and information, I found his first chapter and the latter part of the last chapter the most compelling. Like many who are enamored of and write about the world of boxing, the collision of realism with the Cervanteseque romantic in the author is ever present throughout the biography. He writes in the latter part of the last chapter about Roberto Duran today:
   
   Roberto Duran's hands are soft, fleshy maps of a life of fighting in streets and rings. His knuckles are ghastly bumps, narratives of the men who confronted him. The man- father fiend and son - has lived in extremes. He has stood with presidents dined with world figures, danced with goddesses, defeated poverty, partied with celebrities, sipped the worlds best champagne, driven expensive cars. Draped himself in rare jewelry, and brawled and bested the world's toughest men. He thrived among crowds. When his people turned away, he turned inward; when the world called out, he soaked in its luxuries, still hear its additive call. All fighters do. As his skills reflexes and skills slowly left him he tilted at ghosts that no longer existed.
   
   We impose narrative on events to make sense, often elevating single moments as "defining," as the words "no mas" have become indelibly identified with Duran. Giudice's biography challenges the reader to say "no mas" to "no mas" and "mas" to allowing icons to become once again the contradictory flesh-and-blood human beings we all are.



3. My sons and I have had the honor of meeting Mr. Duran in person, in Prescott AZ and he is truly a legend inside and outside the ring. His kindness to my sons, who are amature boxers themselves, is without words. I remember as a young boy seeing him fight and any man who stood toe to toe with him was in for a short night. The book gives the reader the insight of a man who transended boxing, who cared for all the men he faced in the ring and never forgot where he came from. He was fearless in the ring yet wrongly protraded as a villian, his story is a must read and I feel privilaged to say that I have met the hands of stone!!



4. IF you wnat to know learn about a great Boxer this is for you!



5. This book is riveting, especially if you are big fan of Roberto Duran like I was growing up. The author does a great job in filling in all the details of Duran's childhood and entire boxing career. From fight to fight, you feel that you are actually inside the trainning camp with Duran while he prepares for his next big fight! - you really get a sense of the true Duran, the boxing world and the business of the sport. If you love boxing like I do and Roberto Duran - you will not be able to put this book down.

5 comments about How to Be Like Mike: Life Lessons about Basketball's Best.

1. Great book on MJ. This book really goes in depth about the personal character of MJ. Also a very motivating book, especially how it describes the work ethic of MJ. I refer to it here and there when I need to pick myself up in life. Fun read.



2. I am 39 years old. I have read literally thousands and thousands of books in my life. This is the BEST book I have ever read. After you read this you will wan to go out and ACCOMPLISH something. Just the quotes in the book alone are worth the price. If you have a teenager who plays basketball, buy him or her this book. But you dont have to be an athlete to love it. THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.



3. This book was totally awesome. The author showed what a true leader Mike really is. There were so many examples of how his leadership helped so many people. Not only in sports, but in everything, leadership is extremely important.



4. Pat Williams' book "How to be Like Mike" is a tight, focused book about what it takes to succeed. The lessons are modeled on the philosophies of Michael Jordan and there is much to be learned from MJ.
   
   My only complaint is that the book tends to falter when author Pat Williams inserts his own family stories. Williams comes across as an authoritarian father who demands that his children do things his way. He seems to bristle at the idea that not every person thrives on competition or wants to model his or her life around an athletic paradigm.
   
   Still, if you can move beyond Williams' interjections, the remainder of the book is a gem.



5. Fantastic book! Great lessons for anyone with any ambition in sport or indeed life. Mike is a role model for many people, and hearing about Mike from other people's experience of him, just make's you understand what made him so special

5 comments about Driven from Within.

1. This book overall was pretty good, the only pitfall are the pages where they talk about brand Nike. They overembellish the brand/product a bit. Other than this there is some good stuff on the MJ persona in this book. I enjoyed reading some of the stories about him and also his personal views on many things. Good read for any Jordan enthusiast.



2. Through captivating vocabulary usage the already stunning story of basketball legend Michael Jordan comes to life in "Driven from Within". This well written hardback includes a multi-perspective look into the life and times of the former Chicago Bull. The majority of the story is told of course by Jordan himself but with most of his recollections comes the outside standpoint of someone who was either close to Michael back then or close to Michael today. This provides the reader with a second opinion, so to speak, on all of his experiences and achievements. It also helps the reader to perceive Michael as a reliable source to "tell it like it is" due to the fact that he has many of his close friends and relatives explaining their own angle on what happened during Michaels seemingly never-ending journey to superstardom.
   
   "Driven from Within" discusses Jordan's work ethic both on and off the court. In the beginning Michael talks about his childhood, growing up in North Carolina. He discusses how he began playing basketball and how hard he worked at it in high school. It then briefly touches upon college before going into the really fascinating portion of his life. The bulk of the book is dedicated to the stories of his Brand Jordan products and how they were imagined, created, and marketed. He frequently talks about how the elements of his "game" influenced his shoes during the design process. It is repeatedly stressed how it was really important to him that each new shoe he put out was better than the last. One of the more intriguing parts of the book is when he tells his people at Nike that high tops are goods for ankle support but too heavy and low tops are light but have no ankle support at all. They came up with the revolutionary mid top basketball shoe now used by most NBA professionals.
   
   With most retired professional athletes turning to others to write about their former experiences Jordan takes it into to his own hand being the primary author of this well-written and greatly entertaining book. Michael Jordan is obviously a sports Icon and "Driven from Within" does him a great justice. It's a great read for any sports fan and anyone who enjoys a book about hard work, dedication, and achievement.
   
   - Written by Greg Tavares



3. I gave this book to my little brother who loves both basketball and Michael Jordan and he loved it!! It was full of stories, pictures and inspirational quotes. The best part about it is that it was written by Jordan himself. I would highly recommend this book.



4. The product came in a timely fashion and delivery was not a problem. I was a little disappointed in the quality of the book when it came. The inside was nice but the outside jacket looked as if the book had been used. I don't know if it moved around a lot in shipping but it did not have the newest look.



5. Learn about Michael Jordan's life and how his inner drive helped him succeed in basketball, business, and life. You'll be inspired and motivated.

5 comments about Is This a Great Game, or What?: From A-Rod's Heart to Zim's Head---My 25 Years in Baseball.

1. This is a great book. For those fans of Tim Kurkijan, you can't go wrong on this read. Bought it for my husband, not only did he enjoy it, but I did too. great wit and a real fun book.



2. 
   Long-time baseball writer and commentator Tim Kurkjian shares a great collection of off-beat and insightful baseball stories in his book. Kurkjian's love for the game and what he does comes through loud and clear.
   
   Kurkjian covers a wide range of topics, including scouts, coaches, managers, spring training, being hit by the pitch, humorous incidents and much more. His stories are fresh, tightly written and entertaining.
   
   This book focuses on all the reasons why you love baseball and why you know it's the best sport.



3. Tim K. found the essence of the game of baseball. His passion and love of the game come thru in this book. If you are any kind of a fan of baseball you will really enjoy "Is This a Great Game or What."



4. I am a baseball enthusiast and have read a lot of books on the subject. But this book had to be one of the best. Tim Kurkjian gives us a behind the scenes look not just at the sport of baseball, but the characters behind the scenes that make it the great sport it is.
   
   There are a lot of funny stories not just about the players, but also the managers, agents, GM's, owners and scouts. You name it, and there is a story about it.
   
   What makes baseball to me such a great sport are the athletes that are involved. And baseball players have to be the goofiest and funniest there are out there. And Tim Kurkjian captured that perfectly in this book.
   
   Writing about baseball and being around the game his whole life, I can't wait for the next book to come out and I will be the first in line to buy it.



5. This is the best baseball book I've read in a long, long time.
   
   With this slim volume (it could have been twice as long and I still wouldn't have had enough...) Tim Kurkjian vaults ahead of his peers to become one of the pre-eminent baseball writers alive today.
   
   His elegant yet conversational style comes across beautifully on the printed page. It is so easy to read, yet many of his descriptions or turns-of-phrase are nicely constructed, poetic and hilarious.
   
   His arguments...baseball fans LIVE for arguments...are so concise yet clear-cut, that I will tell you there is no question who's a better baseball player, Ruth or Bonds. It may be obvious to you, yet Kurkjian's theorem is iron-clad, and funny as all get out.
   
   The theoretical question as to how many baseballs would an average person hit off the average professional pitcher...the answer, unequivocally, is zero...is answered SO unequivocally that it's brilliant in its' brevity and wit.
   
   There are great lines and great stories on each and every page of this book. I was actually sad when it was done.
   
   I will buy every single baseball book Mr. Kurkjian writes, for the rest of his career, based on this one book.
   
   It's that good. By a mile.

5 comments about Mia Hamm: On the Field with... (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies).

1. Mia Hamm
   
   Mia Hamm was a talented soccer player. As a toddler she lived in Italy, that is how she discovered her love of soccer. Her dad was a marine and so she moved around frequently. During High School she decided to focus on soccer, and so all through High School and college she played on her schools' teams. Mia graduated college in 1994 and married her college boyfriend, Christian Corey. After that, Mia and her team went to Sweden to defend their world cup title. IN 1998, she was named America's best female athlete.
   
   My book, On the Field With Mia Hamm, gave me lots of information about Mia. The cover page is green with a colored picture of her running down the field with the ball. This book is organized into chapters and that made it a lot easier to sort the information about Mia. In the middle of the book are nine colored pictures of Mia and her teammates. In would have made the book easier if there were more pictures, though. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves soccer!
   
   
   



2. Very good review of a current sports star. Easy for my 7 year old daughter to understand and keep her interested.



3. I would recommend this book not only to people who love soccer, but to everyone who enjoys a true story about a great athlete and role model. The story of Mia Hamm is basically about how she was introduced to soccer and how she follows her dream to be the best women's soccer player in the world.



4. On teh field with Mia Hamm by Matt Christopher was a very goodbook. I didn't have a very good idea who Mia Hamm really was though.The only thing I know is a professional soccer player. I aw the book and it looked pretty interesting. I'm about a quarter of the way through the book and I'm liking it so far. Usually I don't read books , let alone a whole book.



5. This book is by far the best i've ever read. It has great pictures and has lots of info on Mia. I think she is the best player i've ever seen. So this book was very interesting. If you love to play soccer, and enjoy watching and learning about Mia , this is THE perfect book! Once you start reading it, you won't stop reading until you've finished! SO GET OUT THERE,GET OFF YOUR BUTT, AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, AND READ!