5 comments about Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson.

1. This book is about allen iverson and his life growing up in newport, virgina. It talks about his hardships and his life. Larry Platt describes him as 4 people: a raper, basketball player, a hero, and a father. It also talks about his accomplishments and goals in life. This book surpases any other sports biography I've ever read.



2. This book is about Allen Iverson and his life and how it was like to grow up where he lived. Iverson lived in NYC where people that he hated would try to start a fight with him. His friends would have to keep an eye on him. Allen Iverson then tried out for a team to keep him out of trouble. Then he started to play basketball and that worked because they weren't able to mess with him. Then Iverson grew up to be a professional basketball player. Iverson then played for the Sixers and became MVP. His life was really hard because his mom would stay on top of him but his mom was nice. Iverson then met a girl and she became his girlfriend and then they had a baby. Iverson just kept playing basketball and his wife was proud of him because he played so well and that's all about Allen Iverson.



3. This book on Allen Iverson just came far too soon.
   
   Allen Iverson is my favorite current NBA player partially b/c he shakes up the status quo -- not necessarily because he wants to make that his objective, but quite poetically, he's doing it just by being true to who he is.
   
   This book is a tale about a kid from the wrong side of the tracks, that basically struck it rich but admirably remains "the same" as opposed to "assimilating" just to make his economic & financial counterparts feel comfortable around him.
   
   No true criticism of Larry Platt's writing style. If he wanted to go deep into Allen Iverson's undocumented youth and youth exploits, that's fine too.
   
   Bottom line is this book, while it has several defining moments, just isn't a compelling enough read because it was written still TOO SOON.
   
   A.I., love him or hate him, totally revolutionized the NBA and the image it projected to Middle America.
   
   I'd love to read a book about his life when he's 50, 60 or 85.
   
   I'm sure he'll be on "60 Minutes" doing a "My Life & times" segment.
   
   Whoever writes the book about his life just before that interview will surely have a No. #1 best-seller.



4. This book delivers the confidence needed to endure any obstacle set before you. Larry Platt digs deep into Iverson's history to give you the experience no else has. Excellent read on the life of Allen Iverson.



5. One of the things I look for in a basketball biography is a person with an interesting story. Allen Iverson certainly qualifies.
   
   This biography is written by Larry Platt, the unofficial hip-hop hoops biographer and author of Keepin' It Real. Platt tells Iverson's story, starting with his mother's upbringing through Iverson's - starting with his life in the rough Newport News, Virginia ghetto, through his 2-year college stint at Georgetown and through first six seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers.
   
   The best part about the book is that it goes into detail on many of the controversial events of Iverson's life: the bowling alley incident in high school, his "practice" rant to the media, his arrest for allegedly throwing his naked wife out of his house, his rap album, his "disrespect" of Michael Jordan, and his relationship with Larry Brown. The media worked overtime to paint him as a 1-dimensional thug, but it never seemed to add up when you saw him dote over his children in interviews: this doesn't jibe for a guy who wants to be a thug at all costs. I mean, seriously, a warm spot for kids? Platt paints a more complete picture of Iverson, adding depth to the media characture. He exposes where the media screwed up by not correcting their own mistakes, and on occasion why they would hold a grudge. He explains Iverson's problems with Larry Brown (as well as Brown's with Iverson, which was mentioned numerously by the press). He also explains Iverson's close relationships with his friends and mentors.
   
   Platt is one of the best authors at explaining the hip hop generation. His writing is quick, easy, and entertaining. He goes into detail about the problems white middle class America has with embracing a hip hop superstar. However, his weakness is, just as it was with Keepin' it Real , is that he goes overboard in rationalizing his subject material. He adds depth to their character, but never paints a complete 3-dimensional picture. It appears he is too attached to his subjects to be objective. Once again, true to form, you find him reaching for straws at points - working a little too hard at canonizing Iverson. He mentions, but doesn't dwell on Iverson's unreliability to meet commitments, such as the aforementioned practice, or his skipping school, tutoring sessions, or even Magic Johnson's charity game. One of the worst sidestepping jobs dealt with Iverson's rap album. One of the excerpts from the song 40 Bars was "Come to me with faggot tendencies, you be sleeping where the maggots be." Platt does explain that rappers tell stories about life in the hood as 3rd person accounts as fictionalized characters and shouldn't be taken any more seriously than an author telling a story. Platt goes on to explain that Iverson was upset to think he offended people by his use of the word "faggot" which he says was a hip-hop synonym for "weak" without regard to sex, and he leaves it at that. I told this to a gay friend I know who likes hip hop and basketball and she said it is offense and if she used the "N" word and told Iverson, "Don't be offended by it. I use it to mean a stupid person, without regard to race" it would be equally as absurd, as Iverson's stereotype-based slurs supposedly surprised him. I believe Platt should have looked at the the gripes people had with the record, rather than just telling Iverson's rationalization and leaving it at that. This type of one-sided reporting pops up on more than one occasion.
   
   The strength of book is Platt explaining how Iverson's rough and hard background shaped him into the player that he became in the NBA. The other strength is his explanation of Iverson's marketing appeal. Since Jordan had broke into the league, the sponsors had been looking for the next Jordan: polite, non-threatening, and photogenic - the kind of African-American athlete who transcends race and makes middle class white America feel comfortable. The search had turned up empty, as Anfernee Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O'Neal were unable to completely fill the Jordan mold. Iverson refused to go along with this. He viewed the Nike-type opinion-less and harmless character like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods to be phony people who read what was handed to them and pretended to be somebody else in order to make money. Iverson insisted on "keeping it real." He was who he was and if you didn't like him, he didn't care, because making you happy isn't his priority. Reebok (his shoe sponsor) respected his wishes, and rather than find the next Jordan/Dr. J who would bridge the middle-class white America gap, they burned the bridge, but created a bigger bridge: to the youth of America, who liked the Anti-hero and could relate to Iverson, as their parents and authority figures didn't approve of their friends and their haircuts and/or tattoos. Reebok had done the unthinkable: they threw out the conventional wisdom of sports marketing and re-wrote the laws, and created the next big thing.
   
   If you are a fan of Iverson, definitely read it. If you aren't a big fan of his, but find him interesting or intriguing, and would like to learn more about him - because believe me, everything you thought you knew was wrong - then read it. If you have made up your mind that he is a hooligan and represents all that is wrong in basketball and nothing is going to change your mind, then don't waste your time. I'm not saying you have to think the guy is a pure saint, because he isn't, but there is more to him than meets the eye.

3 comments about The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues.

1. Exactly What It's title advertises - an alphabetical listings of players and personalities associated with the Negro Leagues of Baseball. Ranks with "Only the Ball Was White" and The works of John B.Holway as essntial to a study of the subject. Definitely recommended.



2. Editor James A. Riley is a renowned expert on the rich history of Negro League Baseball. His crowning achievement is honoring more than 4,000 players and those involved in management between the years of 1872-1950 in this comprehensive biographical encyclopedia.
   
   Included are biographies and statistics on each individual and team, a bibliography that lists the materials used in the research, along with a register of the interviews that Riley conducted.
   
   The Negro Leagues had a major economic and social impact in the black community, featured some of the greatest players & teams that the sport has ever had and was an integrated business on the diamond, inside the front offices and in the stands.
   
   I have always compared the play in the Negro Leagues v. the white MLB to that of the AFL v. NFL and ABA v. NBA; that it was on par or superior to the other major league. The encyclopedia is a celebration of the legacy left by those who not only challenged the institutionalized racial hatred of the times, but triumphed in ways that we can learn from and must never forget.



3. ...I question that love if you do not have this book. This is the most concise collection of biographies, stats, and information about every human involved with the development, management, and participation in every Negro League that ever existed. Even players whose first name was not known is listed with at least a few words about when they played and for whom. And the players with extensive history is detailed along with stats and other great side stories about them. There is even information on the teams in the Negro Leagues, which I found most interesting. I don't know of any other book that has as much information on the lesser-known players and behind-the-scenes people in the Negro Leagues than this one. If you are a Negro League fan, you probably already have this book. But if you are a baseball fan in general, you MUST have this book.

5 comments about Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.

1. To be honest, this was an enjoyable and quick read. The writing style of the book was not difficult and had an easy flow to it. I did like how Bethany decided to focus the majority of the book around her life pre and post- attack. Only one chapter was really geared towards the actual attack, which wasn't described in much detail at all.
   
   By doing this, she focused on her personal faith in Christ and how that strong bond with her religion and family helped her through the ordeal. Rarely did the book come off as "preachy" or pushing her religious views, except for the ending chapter. This was a nice aspect of the book, because although her faith was a heavy part of the book, it did not discourage me from reading onwards. One part of the book even addressed the fact that many people think that her family may be too religious, but she countered that with the fact that this is just part of her life. Some people may not understand it, and that does not bother her in the least.
   
   It will be interesting to see how my students react to this book. I am asking them the question of the author's purpose for writing the book, and I will be eager to join that discussion. It is a strong lesson about following your drive and determination no matter what the obsticles, but I think they will focus more on the faith aspect of the book and say that trust in Christ was her main objective.
   
   Many of my students watched the news reports and have seen the billboards with Bethany's picture and story advertised, so it is definitely a high interest story for intermediate students. The format of the book is also reader friendly because it is sectioned into shorter chapters.



2. This is good book for any young person looking for inspiration from a positive role model in our modern world of spoiled pop princesses. Bethany has a rather matter of fact attitude to her predicament, taking it in stride. I read it last year on a trip to Oahu where I got a fin to the head and nine stitches, and as I lay there bleeding I thought how horrible it must have been for her and how my problem paled in comparison. While her attitude is based on her strong religious up bring, the message is not overly strong and is fine for any one's beliefs. It does need to be down rated a star for misspelling "Trestles." Shame on the ghost writer and editors for letting such an obvious mistake go: aren't there starving surfers who could have been hired for the job instead?



3. My daughter needed a book for her school's summer reading project. She picked this book off the list because she'd heard about the author who had her arm bitten off by a shark as an 11 year old, surfing. She was able to get through it quickly and she enjoyed it even though she is not an avid reader.



4. At just 13, Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm to a tiger shark, possibly affecting her goals and achievements dramatically in her life forever. But did that stop her from surfing? Of course it didn't! Bethany has been in the water constantly ever since she knew how to swim. She says, surfing is her life and has been since she was three. Her parents have been there for her every step of the way. Bethany has two older brothers, both surfers, and a best friend named Alana, another surfer. She mentioned that without her faith in God she would have never survived and He is the reason she gets up every morning. This book really inspired me to have goals and to achieve and never give up. Bethany Hamilton is a role model to many others and I. I am glad to say that now she is a professional surfer! The sponsor that stuck with her though all the hard times was RipCurl! Bethany is a wonderful girl, daughter, sister and friend to many and I am so glad that I picked up this book and was immediately drawn to it.
   Bethany throws her soul into surfing; she was born for the board. She may have lost her arm in the attack, but she could never lose her faith in God. He was and still is her greatest hero and model. I really think that her faith motivated her to get right back in the waves.
   Bethany Hamilton's first-hand account of the full-on fight to keep surfing is worth the read all the way. This teenage autobiography would interest any type of reader. I personally think that to everyone who has read this incredible book including me, there is no doubt that this book has made an impact on peoples lives. What a great book.



5. This is a great story for all ages! It is about a girl who suffers from a shark attack and loses her arm. Bethany shows a great example of still going no matter how hard times may get. This is defidently a favorite of mine. I encourage you to read this book, it will inspire you as it did to me!

3 comments about My Bat Boy Days: Lessons I Learned from the Boys of Summer.

1. Being a Dodger fan, I was really looking forward to reading this book. The book is interesting for the first twenty pages as Steve Garvey tells about his experiences as a Dodger bat boy. However, most of the book contains a chapter on Brooklyn Dodger players and Garvey tells very little about his experience with each player. The chapters contain mostly known facts about each player. The book ends with Garvey telling about his experiences with Mickey Mantle and Al Kaline which are interesting. But for a book only containing 146 pages, only around forty pages are about Garvey's days as a bat boy.



2. This is a delight.
   
   I didn't know from 1956 to 1961, that Dodger great Steve Garvey was a bat boy for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers.
   
   He tells stories about the following showing these virtues.
   
   Pee Wee Reese leadership
   Gil Hodges dignity
   Carl Erskine honesty
   Jackie Robinson passion
   Duke Snider persistence
   Roy Campanella compassion
   Sandy Koufax faith
   Mickey Mantle fortitude
   Al Kaline perfection
   
   It captures the excitement of baseball and would be good to read to kids.



3. What a fun little book!
   
   What we've got here is a short tale from Steve Garvey about how he worked as a bat boy for a few major league teams while he and his parents lived in Florida. His father drove a bus and was hired to drive around some big leaguers during spring training. The first team he ran into was the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Boys of Summer era of the team.
   
   After this short tale of being asked to be the bat boy for a day, how much it meant to him as a boy, and how it has stuck with him ever since, Garvey speaks about a few individuals from the Boys of Summer teams as well as Mickey Mantle and Al Kaline. They are his heroes, pure and simple, and the story is presented in a pure in simple fashion.
   
   Garvey chooses a certain superlative to describe each of the players he idolizes and talks about his experience with them that illustrate the descriptive word he's chosen. Also contained within the passages are biographical stats of the players which illustrate their statistical dominance as well as the more personal qualities that made them heroes to the Garv.
   
   The prose is easy to read and relate to. For anyone that doesn't know the story of Roy Campanella or why Koufax had to retire at 31, these are also presented as part of the illustration of the virtues Garvey holds in such high esteem. It's a very short read but very much worth the time to take a peek into the idols of a man who was an idol for many youngsters once upon a time.

2 comments about Buckeye Dreams: The Tyler "Tank" Whaley Story.

1. This book is not only a must have for buckeye fans, but for everyone who enjoys reading about a refreshing & inspiring young man who is a great role model for today's youth. This book will have you chanting "Tank, Tank, Tank" & rooting for all the unknown walk-ons in the sports world.



2. Just a wonderful story and easy to read. I've already given three copies as gifts to fellow Ohio State fans.

5 comments about The Agassi Story.

1. Could not put it down. Amazing stories after stories. However, book is from the dad's perspective, which I knew to begin with.



2. This is a book about Mike Agassi and his family. Mike looks back at his past and how he produced a star tennis player. Mike, is apologetic at times, and proud in others, revealing his true nature. I enjoyed Mike's character in the Agassi story and highly recommend this book for anyone interested in raising a family, as this book is more than just a book about raising tennis stars. The book offers many good insights into parenthood and family.



3. I didn't really like the book because there was not enough about Andre really. It was 95% about his father. I guess I was mislead by the title.



4. This is a great book for Agassi fans who want an inside scoop on Andre's life. Mike is a very tough guy and tells it the way he sees it. They have been through a lot. For me, this book provides justification for the admiration I have developed for Andre over the years of watching him play and following his story. The book is a beautiful tale of determination, character, soul, and ultimately, family. It is a quick read, thoroughly enjoyable, and I appreciate Mike's efforts in making it available.



5. Being a fan of Andre Agassi, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's a bag of mixed candies - Mike's biography, real life drama of an immigrant family, story behind Andre's "rise, fall and rise" .. and more.
   If you're a tennis fan, buy this book.
   Thanks to Dominic Cobello, Kate Welsh, and Mr. Agassi.

5 comments about License to Deal: A Season on the Run with a Maverick Baseball Agent.

1. In "License to Deal," author Jerry Crasnick presents the lives and times of sports agents Matt Sosnick and Paul Cobbe, two partners who represent minor league prospects that have a good chance of making it to the majors. With the exception of Dontrelle Willis, most of the players they represent are new draftees preparing to enter the minor leagues who may or may not eventually make it to the big leagues. Crasnick explains the ins and outs of the cutthroat world of representing professional athletes including services offered to clients, proper ethical conduct, underhanded tactics that agents use to steal each other's clients, and factors that lead young athletes to change agents. In the process, he addresses how agents influence the game itself, including how they can roil relationships between players and general managers while contributing to the escalating salaries that increasingly marginalize small market clubs.
   
   Ultimately, Crasnick believes that there are two different types of agents in baseball. The first group includes big name agents like Scott Boras and Jeff Moorad who represent superstars and are primarily concerned with enabling players to obtain a greater slice of the pie from ownership. These agents believe that negotiating the best possible contracts for the game's stars will have a trickle-down effect, leading to better pay and working conditions for all players. Crasnick argues that MLB general managers collude informally to keep salaries from escalating during arbitration hearings, and that agents like Boras and Moorad do their best to combat this. The author notes that noted economist Andrew Zimbalist, consultant to the players' union and author of several books on the economics of baseball, has praised these agents for prodding the league to implement revenue sharing and the luxury tax to help small market teams. In the long run, Crasnick says that these agents combat the owners, who are essentially monopolists, and help the players, who are the real heroes of the game.
   
   On the other side are small time agents like Sosnick and Cobbe who strive to give more individualized attention to prospects before they become famous. Crasnick says that Cobbe views running a small time agency as akin to starting a new insurance company. While selling auto insurance to single men in their 20s may not be the most lucrative business, those customers will eventually want to get married, buy a house, have kids, and plan for retirement. They will want help from someone whom they can trust in order to plan their future finances. As a result, Sosnick and Cobbe tend to look for common ground with the general managers that they negotiate with. They also work hard to develop long-term relationships with their clients, helping them with off-the-field matters that have nothing to do with baseball. Unlike Boras and Moorad, these agents are viewed as the good guys, helping to mold the next generation of stars into not just great players, but great people as well.
   
   The stories that Crasnick tells about clashes between these two different groups of agents are great, but the ones that he tells involving conduct by small time agents that fall into grey areas are even better. As the sports agent world is extraordinarily competitive and cutthroat, Sosnick and Cobbe must be wary even of peers who have similar goals and philosophies that may stab them in the back at any moment. In spite of this, the two partners do a remarkable job of helping their clients and keeping the sport's, and the fans', best long term interests at heart.
   
   "License to Deal" is an excellent read for any baseball fan who wants to learn more about how agents help the unsung heroes of the game. Readers will learn that the popular stereotype that agents are motivated solely to extract money from the game is flat out wrong, and that they do a great deal to help players focus more of their energies on the game. Crasnick should be commended for shining a spotlight on this little-known, and frequently misunderstood, aspect of the sports world.



2. This book is not really what the subtitle, "A season on the run with a maverick baseball agent", recommends. It is more of a description of the Sosnick-Cobbe sports agency, Matt Sosnick's biography, Sosnick's business approach, a history of baseball agents, a picture of the cutthroat business, Scott Boras' biography, and a basic how to of the agent business. All this information is randomly spewn about. It is like a picture you look at closely and think that it looks sloppy but when you take a look at the whole thing it is a masterpiece. Read the whole book before you make an opinion.



3. Not the most exciting book out there. But if you like minor league baseball, this book's worth a quick read.



4. Despite the fact that the book seems quickly written and is organized rather poorly, Jerry Crasnick offers a fascinating study of the sports agent's life. "License to Deal" causes one to root for the up-and-coming agents and against the behemoths, like Scott Boras, that control so many of the top free agents in baseball.
   
   After reading the book, I have a new understanding of the business behind baseball and the battle for new prospects still developing in the farm systems and high schools. In recent months, Sosnick was in the L.A. media surrounding the signing of Luke Hochevar, the Dodgers' top pick this year. Hochevar's negotiations with the Dodgers were strained when he switched from Matt Sosnick's agency to Scott Boras in mid stream. (See the excellent article in "Baseball America" by John Manuel and Kevin Goldstein on September 9, 2005.)
   
   I highly recommend this book for its fascinating portrayal of Matt Sosnick and his agency.



5. When looking for good sports books, this is the kind of project that should stop you in your tracks. It is an orginal idea, well-written, and, most importantly, holds the reader's interest throughout the entire package. Well done.

5 comments about A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond.

1. We usually cautiously enter a memoir/autobiography work such as this. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find a decent writing style, excitingly detailed stories, and a sharing of intimate knowledge.
   
   The many epics in Jim Whittaker's life were outlined with sufficient detail to describe the epic, but not so much that it forced us to skip the remainder. I suspect that few secrets were not revealed about the Whittaker family.
   
   There were numerous color and black and white photos in the hardcover edition to help support the memoir, with a focus on the epic adventures and less on early family life.
   
   We give this work a rare five stars.



2. Jim Whittaker began his life with only one real difference from most of us and that is that he had an identical twin. However from almost the day of his birth onward, his life accelerated beyond what is normal for most of us.
   Mr. Whittaker enjoyed some luck in his life, particularly his ability to meet and mingle with some very powerful, influential and skilled individuals. He also enjoyed the benefit of his own hard work - from his days at REI to his climb on Everest and his efforts to put Americans on top of K2. He also had his share of bad luck, a divorce and a bankruptcy. This makes this story so much more entertaining because it is real, it is personal, it is something that could have happened to almost anyone with the drive and love of the mountains that Mr. Whittaker possessed.
   The accounts of his alpine adventures, whether on Mt. Rainier or Mt. Everest or K2, are gripping, well written and harsh reminders of why mountaineering is not a sport for the faint of heart. Jim lost many of his close friends through out his life and the mountains claimed many of them. Despite any set back however, he pushed onward. This drive doesn't appear to be the result of a lust for glory or wealth but simply an extension of the man himself. In my opinion, his greatest successes are not the mountains he climbed but the peace and love of nature, family, and the mountains that he has helped others find.
   This book is well written and easy to read and the pictures included are breathtaking (I wish there were more!). Reading this text will almost assuredly add a name to your list of personal heroes.



3. One of the truly great climbing books! The work describes this American Hero's life philosophy of learning and truly living. It describes how to take on an acceptable amount of risk and gain from the experience. I found valuable Jim's philosophy (who I met and idolized as a kid) translated into a world well beyond the mountain - into his political friendship with the Kennedy's, his professional life at REI and Magellan GPS; as well as his efforts to foster nothing short of world peace. I kept finding myself wondering if there was anything Jim had not taken on!

   The writing is considerably less melodramatic than a great number of climbing/travel logs, which is refreshing. Straightforward and clear, even when discussing the inevitable loss of life involved in mountaineering.

   A memorable quote follows: "It's about making the most of every moment, about stretching your own boundaries, about being willing to learn constantly, and putting your self in situations where learning is possible - sometimes even critical to your survival. Being out on the edge, with every-thing at risk, is where you learn-and grow-the most.




4. An incredible book. Not because of his achievments (which are very impressive), but because he shares his wisdom regarding life. This comes from a man who's seen it all, and has seen life's ups and downs. Highly recommended.



5. I'm a 20 year old guy about to graduate from college, and have thus been thinking a lot about the future and how I want to live my life.. I just finished reading the book and wrote in my journal about it, which will sum up how I feel about it pretty well:

   Wow... I just finished reading a really good book, a book that has brought together and solidified a lot of the things I've been thinking about the past few weeks. The name of the book was "Life on the Edge" by Jim Whittaker, the first american to reach the summit of Everest. When Chris and I went to the bookstore for our weekly visit, I was looking for an true-life adventure book, but I also wanted something that had a sense of "living" to it as well. I read "Into Thin Air" and it was like a drama novel, seeming almost like fiction. "Life on the Edge" hits much closer to home, describing the realities of a life well lived.

5 comments about Drive: The Story of My Life.

1. As a fan of Larry Bird, I found that this book did not meet my expectations. As one of the best trash talkers in the game, I anticipated a larger degree of wit among this writing. Unfortunately, although detailed, Bird's story comes off somewhat bland and does not encompass much of Bird's state of mind; instead focusing merely on citing the events in his life.
   
   For those seeking to learn about the life of one of the NBA's greatest champions and who also have an interest in basketball, there are some good nuggets of information available. When Bird first came into the league, for instance, he considered the three point shot as something that was well out of his range, the distance too great. Revelations such as this will come as a surprise to those who only know of his champion style heroics. Had the book contained a more significant amount of this new and fascinating information, it certainly would have rated higher.
   
   Bird certainly provides a behind the scenes look into basketball; however it lacks any noteworthy reflection from Bird on the topic. If you are looking for an inspirational piece from the mindset of one of sports great champions, you will be rather disappointed.



2. It is quite likely that this bloke from absolutely nowheresville Indiana's picture would be next to a dictionary that had an entry that said 'White Men Can't Jump'. If you can do everything else though, you can win a lot, and even get some of those Championship type ornaments to hang in your stadium and about your preosn.



3. This is the story of a person who is one of the greatest players of all time, Larry Bird. He grew up in the small town of French Lick, Indiana. He came from a very poor family of six. His mother was a hard worker and took care of the family. Larry's father, Joe, worked for little money at a shoe company. This was hard for Larry, but it got worse. His father committed suicide when he is young, which forces his mother to work two jobs.
   
   Larry didn't always love basketball. His first love was baseball. He also liked football, but these two sports didn't work for him, so he decided to play basketball. Larry didn't really start liking basketball until his sophomore year, but then he starts to live for the sport. His high school coach helped him improve his skills and during Larry's junior and senior year he goes to the state championship. After high school Larry goes to Indiana State University, where, during his senior year, they go to the NCAA championship to face Michigan State and Magic Johnson. Unfortunately, Larry lost in the most watched final ever.
   
   My favorite part of the book is the Foreword by Magic Johnson because it explains how Larry Bird changed the game of basketball forever.
   
   This book is similar to with other sports biographies. It shows how Larry worked hard to get where he is similar to Bo Knows Bo by Bo Jackson. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sports and is a fan of Larry Bird



4. A great and truly under-rated sports book. Bob Ryan (the actual writer) is a long-time Boston Globe columnist and a terriffic writer. He captures the essence of Larry Bird, from his childhood to his journey through high school and college to his emergence as both a basketball legend in the NBA and a larger-than-life sports hero in Boston. You may like this book even if you don't care for basketball. You will definitely enjoy this book if you area a hoops fan. And if you are a Larry Bird fan and you haven't read this book... shame on you!



5. Book review on Drive
   
   
   Dedication, spirit, and heart are some of the words you can use to describe Larry Bird. Larry is a small boy growing up in the rural town of French Lick, Indiana. He never thought that one game of basketball would change the course of history and send him on the road to stardom. This book takes you on a journey inside the game and the life of an N.b.a. superstar. I recommend this book to basketball fans of all ages.
   The combined themes of sadness and irony make this a great and unique novel. An example of irony is when Larry enrolled at Indiana University. He spent less than a month there then hitch hiked back to French Lick. An example of sadness happened when Larry was 19 years old. His father committed suicide so his family could have the money from his life insurance.
   There were many characters that Larry talks about in his book. He talks about his first basketball coach Jim Jones who taught him the fundamentals of the game. He talks about his siblings Mike, Mark, Linda, Jeff, and Eddie. He talks about his teammates Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. He even talks about his opponents (Ervin Johnson, Moses Malone, Julius Erving, and James Worthy to name a few).
   When he played in the N.B.A., he traveled across the country playing basketball. Therefore, their were many settings in this book. The main setting was Indiana. It was very hot there and most of the men around where he lived were farmers. Another main setting was Boston, Mass.
   I recommend this book to any basketball fan wanting to know about the game. This book brings you closer to the game and shows you the life of a basketball star. The main lesson in this book is that nothing comes easy in life. It's hard to realize how much work it takes to become successful. Read this book and you'll find out.

5 comments about Driver #8.

1. I like the fact that this was written by Dale, Jr not just someone elses words.



2. This book was great. I enjoyed the descriptions of all of the tracks that Jr. raced at and how he talked to his dad and Matt Kenseth about things that were happening at any one moment. I also enjoyed hearing how him and Tony Jr. have such an honest relationship. They may yell at each other during a race on the radio, but after the race is over they are able to go back to being cousins/friends again. They leave it all on the racetrack. Very well written book! A must for any Jr. fan!



3. This book is great! It is just like you are sitting and talking to him. It seems to be word for word what Dale was tring to say.



4. I really enjoyed reading about his experience as a driver. It is well written and not boring. Which it could have been since it is always hard to write about work. I loved watching his father race and now I get to watch him.



5. WAS A GREAT BOOK AND AM GLAD I'VE GOT IT NOW THAT HE IS LEAVING DEI