4 comments about All My Octobers: My Memories of 12 World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball.

1. All My Octobers is a great book, full of great moments and great players in Major League Baseball's greatest classic, The World Series. Told in the first person by the late baseball legend and New York Yankees powerhouse centerfielder Mickey Mantle, these stories of the World Series are natural and authentic. It's up close and personal, right from the dugout at Yankee Stadium. From his first series in 1951, playing with The Yankee Clipper, Joe Dimaggio, right through to his last in 1964 against the St. Louis Cardinals, where Mantle hit three home runs to set a career World Series record at 18. Mantle still holds that record, along with runs scored (42), and runs batted in (40). Of course, he writes about the excitement on the field during the games, but he also gives us some personal tid-bits and his thoughts on the games and players. He tells us that some mistakenly thought he was giving Joe Dimaggio the cold shoulder, but in truth, he just didn't feel it was his place as a young player to be so forward with a legend like Joltin' Joe. He recalls conversations with Casey Stengal and Yogi Berra, the all-night drinking sessions with Whitey Ford and Billy Martin, and how he watched Roger Maris hit his record breaking 61st home run on television from a hospital bed, while sidelined with a hip infection. Each chapter is devoted to a different World Series, and every one is remembered fondly and precisely by Mantle. These were the glorious New York Yankees' dynasty years, back when The Bronx Bombers ruled Major League Baseball, and the world was a different place. All My Octobers is a very interesting and intimate look at the best of baseball during that magical time.



2. I was a Big Mickey Mantle fan back when he first came up to the Yankees as a 19 year old.
   He immediately had an impact on me. As a young boy he was my idol.
   
   I just began reading the book, and am already impressed with all the won- derful memories of the great Mickey Mantle.
   
   The book is great!, and I expect no less, as I continue to read on.



3. Love 'em or hate 'em, the New York Yankees are an integral slice of Americana. The superstars seem to shine brighter there than in other markets. They transcend sports and become a part of American life. From Ruth and Gehrig's dominance of the Roaring 20s to Joltin' Joe Dimaggio's hitting clinics of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, to Mantle and Maris in the 60s, and finally the resurgance of recent days, the baseball world hangs in the balance of what the Yanks ultimate destiny is on a yearly basis.
   
   With the exception of Ruth, it is entirely possible that no one figure captured the baseball world's imagination to the same degree as Mickey Mantle. From his humble beginnings to his majestic homeruns, "The Mick" had something for every baseball fan and he displayed it all while wearing the famed pinstripes in a total of 12 World Series.
   
   Not every World Series was won and Mickey certainly illustrates that he was far from perfect, both on and off the field. It's a wonderful look back to the Golden Era of baseball and an inside perspective of an age of sports that will never be seen again.
   
   Fully recommended!



4. An interviewer asked Yogi Berra to do word association. The interviewer's first words were Mickey Mantle. Yogi's association was - What about him?

   Mickey takes us through his World Series appearances - 1951 when he permanently injured his knee, 1952 when Jackie Robinson told the press that Mantle beat the Dodgers and that the Yankees didn't miss DiMaggio, 1953 with Mickey's tape measure homeruns, 1955 when the long suffering Brooklyn Dodgers won their only World Series, 1956 when the umpire gave Don Larsen that final strike, 1957 when Yankee reject Lew Burdette beat the Yanks, 1958 when Bob Turley returned the favor by beating the Braves, 1960 when Casey failed to use Ford 3 times against the Pirates, causing the most heartbreaking disappointment in Mantle's baseball career, 1961 when Maris outpaced Mantle and substitutes won the World Series, 1962 when McCovey lined out to Richardson, 1963 when they ran into Koufax-Podres-Drysdale-Koufax, and 1964 when Whitey had a sore arm and couldn't pitch to St Louis.

   Mickey blamed himself for failing to do rehab on his legs. He endured constant pain, and it was a miracle that he had a baseball career at all. He rated himself as equal to Mays in fielding, faster than Mays on the bases, but without the longevity.

   If you look at the incredible Yankee dynasty of the 1950s you see a team that wasn't great on paper. The Cleveland Indians were at times as good or better. The Brooklyn Dodgers had much better hitting. It wasn't like the awesome Yankee teams of 1998 and 1999. The Yankees of Mickey's day had no business winning so many pennants and world championships. What they had was Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Gil McDougald, and above all Mickey Mantle.

   Did you ever see him swing a bat? He hit the ball harder than Babe Ruth. He had the best swing in history, combining the grace of Ken Griffey Jr. with the power of ...... of nobody but Mickey Mantle. McGwire is a deep popup artist like Babe Ruth was. Mantle would drive the ball through a brick wall. He was the most powerful hitter who ever lived, and had the Olympic class speed of Rickey Henderson.

3 comments about Billy Williams: My Sweet-Swinging Lifetime With the Cubs.

1. I adored this book. But then, I can recite the starting lineup for the 1969 Cubs. Make no mistake about it, that very special, charismatic and heartbreaking team is at the center of this book. Williams talks about Sammy Sosa, touches upon his time with Ryne Sandberg, but for the most part, this is about Kess and Beck, Santo and Pepi, Leo and Fergie and Mr. Cub, and all the other Wrigley Field heroes of the mid 60's and early 1970s. If those names don't warm your heart and make you smile, I'm not sure this book will hold your interest.
   
   Billy Williams has some terrific stories to tell about how prevalent racism was in America, and in sports, in the recent past. He reports them in austere language that somehow increases their impact. But I wish there was more about the day-to-day life of a ballplayer, and especially this extraordinary man. So many of his stories include this player's first wife or that player's new wife or so-and-so's divorce, yet Williams and his wife faced the same struggles and have been married for decades, successfully raising four daughters and doting on grandchildren Maybe it's because I'm a chick and I love a love story, but I would have enjoyed a few insights into their enduring union.



2. Williams is not shy in telling about the discrimination he and other people of color experienced during his minor league and major league career. I enjoyed his recollection and feelings regarding the Cubs' 1969 collapse and his memories of a large number of his former teammates.



3. It is an honor to be the first person to review this excellent book about the life of Billy Williams. In an age of baseball books called Vindicated and stories of steroids and other sordid aspects of the game it is refreshing to read this book about a player who exemplified class and a love for the game of baseball and a love for one woman his entire adult life.
   
   I am a lifelong Cubs fan and I began following the team in around 1965 when I was 7 years old. Everyone knew about Ernie Banks back in those days but Billy Williams was a very unsung hero of those teams. I once saw him get 5 hits in one game.
   
   In the book Billy is pretty outspoken about the racism he encountered as he moved up in the cubs organization. He came very close to quitting for good and what a shame that would have been if Buck O'Neill hadn't tracked Billy down and brought him to his senses.
   
   My favorite chapter was one where Billy goes down a long list of his cubs teammates giving us glimpses into what it was to be a baseball player before the years of free agency and exorbitant salaries.
   
   Billy also talks about his time with the Oakland A's just after they had won their three championships in a row.
   He discusses his desire to manage in the major leagues and his years of coaching for the A's and the Cubs and his experiences with Sammy Sosa during the 1998 season.
   The book concludes with the text of Billy's Hall of Fame speech.
   If you followed the Cubs during the 60's and 70's this book will be a nice trip down memory lane.

5 comments about The Game of My Life: A True Story Of Challenge, Triumph, and Growing Up Autistic.

1. This book was awesome, I could not put it down. You can really tell that he wrote it. It makes you understand what goes on in his head.



2. Jason McElwain's autobiography is well written and informative.
   It describes the essential details of his life. The book presents
   interviews with the most important people who have interacted with
   Jason. It is highly recommended reading.
   Jason's coping with his autism is relieved by his pleasure of
   playing basketball. Jason in one basketball game colossally surmounts
   being autistic by being artistic with his incredible three point shooting
   accuracy. He sinks a total of twenty points with six three point shots and a two point field goal( where he mistakenly was standing on the three point line ) within the last three minutes and nine seconds of
   his team's game. This performance was so incredibly phenomenal Jason's
   life story is currently being developed into a national movie release.
   One facet of Jason ( "J-Mac's" ) personal basketball practice
   ( "shootarounds" ) was never revealed in his autobiography that might
   potentially be interesting to the public is his personal "best" basketball
   shooting statistics and records. What percentage of three point shots
   and free throws did Jason sink in practice? What were the most consecutive
   three point shots or most consecutive free throws Jason ever sank in practice? What was the longest practice session shot Jason ever sank? Did Jason ever sink or perfect any practice "trick shots" or any other trick basketball handling or dribbling skills such as spinning the basketball upon his finger? I am an internationally famous basketball trick shooter and inspirational and motivational speaker named JIM "TRICK SHOT" LISTER.
   I sink many of the most unusual and most difficult basketball trick
   shots in basketball history with an astonishingly high degree of accuracy
   despite shooting the basketball with a crippled right shooting hand.
   My own personal basketball triumph over adversity is considered
   by some basketball experts to be one of the greatest true basketball stories of all time.
   I personally rate Jason McElwain's heart-wrenchingly and tear-jerkingly basketball triumph-over-an-obstacle accomplishment as the
   single greatest true basketball story of all time!!!



3. RECEIVED THIS BOOK VERY QUICKLY. GREAT CONDITION. REAL BARGAIN. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SELLER!



4. Many people probably remember hearing about Jason McElwain on the news back in 2006. He scored a record six three-point shots for his high school basketball team. That might not have been outstanding for a superior high school player, but Jason was the team manager, not a first string player. And, in addition to that, he was a young man diagnosed as autistic.
   
   In THE GAME OF MY LIFE, Jason McElwain tells his story. He shares what he recalls from family stories about his early childhood years, unable to communicate or even tolerate his mother's loving touch. Extensive medical testing resulted in a diagnosis of severe autism. With the help of dedicated parents, Jason was able to learn coping skills and manage many of his autistic outbursts. Sports provided a focus point and an outlet for his energy, and ultimately earned Jason his moments of fame.
   
   Jason's unique voice can be clearly heard as he tells his memories of early treatments thought to reduce the symptoms of autism. He explains the frustration of moving from one school to the next as school administrators searched for the best programs to help him. As Jason became interested and involved in a variety of sports, he found not only friends, but also a way to achieve success. Always in touch with reality, Jason knew his skills were adequate but not exceptional, and his success came as a chance to just be part of a team. But with the care and concern of his coach and teammates, his part on the team gave him the chance of his life and memories that have changed him forever.
   
   THE GAME OF MY LIFE is an inspiring story about living with an increasingly common condition. It is an excellent book for teens suffering with autism or connected to someone with the condition. Jason's positive, up-beat personality is refreshing, as well as direct and realistic.
   
   Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"



5. After seeing the tail end of Jason's recent appearance on "Larry King Live", I immediately went on line to buy "The Game of My Life". Jason's compelling story kept me up past 2:00 a.m. last night because I couldn't get enough of his unique ponderings on the importance of "focus" and his astonishing feat [20 points in just over 4 minutes of playing time!] on the basketball court.
   
   Many parts of his narrative made me smile while others moved me to tears. I was even reminded of the brilliant screenplay penned by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for their 1997 breakout film, "Good Will Hunting".
   
   I can't wait to see the movie based on Jason "J-Mac" McElwain's life and to see who plays the lead role. If I were directing, I would cast J-Mac to star as himself!

5 comments about Tony Romo: America's Next Quarterback.

1. If you're looking to learn more about Tony Romo's pre-NFL days, you'll probably be disappointed. While the book does touch on that information, the bulk of the book consists of (a) recaps of the Cowboys' journey to finding its next great quarterback, (b) recaps of the games in Romo's first two seasons as a starter, and (c) full-page color photos (there's one on nearly every spread).
   
   Plus, the typos and grammatical errors are plentiful. Even running spell-check would have caught some of them. No "editor" read this book prior to publishing, that is obvious. Readers deserve better.



2. Good information on Tony Romo's short career. The only downfall was some editing problems, i.e. spelling. Overall a good book.



3. I am not pleased with this product. The description said NEW and I just received it and the cover is scratched up badly. This is not what a NEW product looks like to me.



4. This book is an easy and quick read. It provides both a photographic and descriptive background, with insight into the man behind the helmet.
   
   A must buy for any Tony Romo fan.
   
   Very enjoyable!



5. Very many excellent pictures. General introduction to the Dallas Cowboys. Very easy to read. Paperback cover, but thick. Thick nice paper. Very colorfull, good setting, and well presented. Starts with young high schooler Romo and finishes with his greatest 2007 performance with the Cowboys up to his new contract extension of $67.5 through 2013. As the author states: "Tony Romo, the player that no Division I wanted, and the one I-AA program that did offered only a partial scholarship. Tony Romo, the player 32 NFL teams passed on the draft seven times each. Tony Romo ... America's Next Quaterback." With diligence, working hard and belief, you can reach farther than the stars. Excellent example for young readers. Tony Romo is a leader. Buy it! Enjoy it!

3 comments about For the Love of Hockey: Hockey Stars' Personal Stories.

1. I was very pleased, item was as described and it made my husband very happy when I gave it to him!
   Thank you



2. This is a great book for us hockey fans. The stories are short and interesting. Notable players from the history of hockey as well as current players are featured. Let's face it, we want to know everything about our favorite players, some of these stories are surprising.



3. This book is necessary for all true hockey fans. The book tells the stories of some of the great stars of the game from today and yesterday. The best part of the book is that it is written in their own words.

5 comments about Winston Churchill (Penguin Lives).

1. I've never been a big fan of Winston Churchill, but after reading esteemed historian John Keegan's succinct biography of the man, I must say that I like AND respect him just a little bit more. Keegan himself confesses that he never thought much of old Winston until he stumbled across an old recording of his speeches (in NYC of all places) and realized what a gifted and inspirational orator and leader he was. He led his beloved Britain through her darkest hours in modern history, to a victory that was anything but assured. The people seemed to genuinely love him, and his sentiment was seemingly mutual.
   
   His years as Prime Minister during WW2 are the most well known, but Churchill led an amazingly full life, and his life of public service began way back in the late 19th century. Keegan describes how the young Winston, who did poorly in school, but had an undeniable intelligence, educated himself in politics, history and the English Classics. He was a romantic who was in love with his small island nation, and he dedicated his life to it. He was a brave soldier who served in numerous wars, including WW1, and while it would be fair to say he was a little too fond of war, he was no different from the average English officer of the time in this regard. In my eyes, his major fault was his hypocrisy. It just seems hard to reconcile his staunch imperialism with his constant talk about the virtues of freedom and liberty, and how Britain was the main proponent of such things. I would have liked for Keegan to address this point a bit more, but for such a short biography, I can let it slide.
   
   I was intrigued to learn that Churchill and IRA founder Michael Collins were on friendly terms and greatly admired each other. In fact, Churchill apparently had a "gut sympathy for fighters" which is why he had more respect for the Irish and Boers of South Africa than he did for Ghandi and his passive movement in India.
   
   Anyways, the book is extremely well written and entertaining, and I found it to be an overall excellent introduction to the life of one of the most important figures of the 20th century. 4.5 stars.



2. In 1895 when his father died, the sickly and indifferent 21-year-old military cadet Winston Churchill was flat broke, the legacy of a father who was a compulsively extravagent wastrel.
   
   Lord Randolph had been syphilitic since early youth. His mother, American-born Jennie Jerome whose father was a stockbroker and part-owner of 'The New York Times', was always attracted to men other than her husband or her sons (Winston, born 1874, and John Spencer, born 1880). In modern terms, they were trailer trash; in Phoenix, Sheriff Joe would have set aside a bunk in his tent-city jail for Winston.
   
   But, instead of slums, Winston was born and brought up in Blenheim Palace, built 1704-22 and still one of the great estates of England. American ex-presidents get palatial libraries as their memorials; the British rewarded their leaders with mansions and great estates. Blenheim Palace was one of the finest, far better than the estates later awarded to Nelson and Wellington.
   
   Perhaps it was the milieu of Blenheim Palace, but Churchill matured into a man absolutely convinced of the majesty of the British virtues of patriotism, loyalty, courage and fair play. For him, being British meant manliness, courage, tenacity and ultimate moral decency. It resonated with the vigorous American spirit of Theodore Roosevelt and the beauty of the strenuous life.
   
   President George Bush is reported to keep a bust of Churchill in the Oval Office; perhaps as a reminder of the complete contrast to himself. Bush ducked the Vietnam War in the Texas Country Club Air Guard; Churchill eagerly sought war, even though he hated it.
   
   Like Ulysses S. Grant, Churchill was a gifted wordsmith instead of a stumblebum. He free-lanced as a journalist while serving as a British officer and was sometimes earning 20 times his military pay. He never stopped learning, he wanted facts, order, reason. His mother sent him crates of books while he was on duty, and he devoured them all.
   
   Gen. Sir Herbert Kitchener described him as a "medal-hunter" and "self-advertiser" who was "super-precocious" and "insufferably bumptious." It was a good assessment. But, the public loved his books and even the Prince of Wales praised him. Whatever one thinks of Churchill, his career and successes are due to his own effort, intelligence, work and nerve.
   
   In brief, this is the story of a man who might well have ended up as a Soho souse, but instead became the greatest man of the past century. He did it through his own efforts, not because of Daddy's friends, money or ability to pull strings.
   
   This book defines the character of a great man.



3. Doubtless this biography is insufficient to really understand Churchill, but for those who are fairly ignorant of the man, it provides a useful quick sketch, and perhaps a jumping off point for further reading.



4. Let me make clear at the outset that I am no historian. Indeed, I wouldn't even qualify as an amateur historian. I am just your average 30-something fairly ignorant reader living a period of love for more or less recent history. Given this premise, I found this little book quite perfect for what I was looking for.
   
   This is a short, entertaining, and VERY well written biography of one of the greatest men in the 20th century. Because of the serious limits of my knowledge on the subject, I certainly cannot judge on the accuracy of the reports. However, to the best of my knowledge, the author is considered a reputable WWII historian. Indeed I liked this book so much that I also purchased his history of WWII. You can read this book in a day, and it will entertain you like a good novel, while also informing you as few novels would do.
   
   I would not pay too much attention to those reviewers that complain about this book not delving into Churchill's shortcomings as a man or as a politician. This is a very small book, about 190 small-format pages. You can hardly expect a comprehensive treatise from such a book. Also, I suspect that emphasizing Churchill's shortcomings would be like emphasizing Hitler's moments of tenderness with his lovers or with some German children during the Nazi regime. I mean, they surely happened, but it's not what you want to spend pages on, if you have only limited space to devote to the topic, isn't it? Besides, even if the Churchill that emerges from this book is certainly a truly great man, he does not emerge as a perfect great man. To me that was enough, and I am glad I read this book.
   
   I am grateful to the author, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a short, beautifully written biography of this man, to whom I certainly owe something...



5. Publisher's Weekly is entirely mistaken, in their comments above, in suggesting that Sir Winston Churchill once belonged to the Labour Party.
   
   He never did, of course.
   
   Churchill did, however, cross the floor to join the Liberal Party, often making common cause there with his Liberal ally David Lloyd George. He left the Liberals and returned to the Conservative Party (at first, as a "Constitutionalist") in the 1920's...
   
   Alan D. Hyde

5 comments about All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and The Miracle Season.

1. I had read this book after INSIGHT FOR LIVING promoted it. And I did enjoy it since after the Atlanta Olympics the games had whetted my need for seeing exciting competition on TV and I started watching por football again for a few years. It also gave me and my therapist Lisa something to talk about besides movies.
   I am reminded of a Vince Lombardi training film we had to watch in Army Basic Training at Ft. Dix, NJ on the subject on Second Effort, and how persistance pays off. That and how my Drill Sergeant had once told me "Stick to Your Guns when you know you are right".
   I liked how the rich sucessful Kurt had shared with us that his wife and he got food stamps at one time. And like he said, people give you hate even over using them-not to mention little harassment by food Stamp cashiers like trying to deny your stamps because they thought your signature did not perfectly match the one of your ID card!
   I know after I had read his book I used to joke to myself that if ol' Kurt has a bad season or two, he will find himself on food stamps again! And after that thought, he did injure a finger on his throwing hand, ended up a second stringer and then was traded to the Arizona Cardinals-a bad break!
   I did feel bad for Kurt when Gordon Robertson had grilled him on THE 700 CLUB about him "living in sin" with his fiance Brenda. And how he met her in a bar. You can see that this man does not put on an air of pretend spirutality. I thought of a chapter from an INSIGHT FOR LIVING study guide "Portrait of a saint, warts and all!
   When I wrote a Christian Witness for my first attempt at writing as was recommended in a John Irving novel, Word publisher was honest with me and said that Christian Witnesses do not sell very well unless the author is a celebrity or media minister. I am sure it is his pro football career that got his book in the door.
   I was sort of propehetically thinking about the words of Solomon from Ecclesiastes "The race is not to the swift, the battle is not to the strong, but time and chance overtake them all!"
   This is a good illustration of that as well because Kurt went to a small college, did not make it into the NFL right away,and had to gain experience in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. If I remeber right he even said he sat the bench in college as well!
   I thought maybe God was showing me from my hard times that anyone can find themselves on welfare, no matter how smart or educated they were. You might even just be somone suffering from some sort of discrimination-like you don't fit inb with the crowd! I had seen on a news magazine how a man from Europe with a PhD in Psychology had found himself on welfare for five years after a patient falsely accused him of sexually mollesting him! During the Clinton Administration even the News Radio station WCBS had a public service commerical FOOD STAMPS; CHECK IT OUT. And this was an all news radio station in New York City which professionals listen to.



2. Kurtis Eugene Warner first came to my attention
   when I saw him play in two ArenaBowls. I knew
   right then that some brave NFL Coach (turned
   out to be Dick Vermeil) would pick him up and
   Warner would lead that team to the Super Bowl!
   
   Rank this book up there with Roger Staubach's
   First Down and Lifetime to go! Great shots of
   Kurt during his Arena Football days, as well.
   
   Brenda and Kurt are a fine couple which show
   how good MOST ALL AMER-I-CAN couples used to
   be before the Femininst-Facsist cabal & Playboy
   mentality in Men took over the minds of a goodly
   portion of the Americans of the last few genera-
   tions.



3. In general,I don't review biographies of athletes, because they are what you'd expect them to be, self-serving. So, other than Deion Sander's book, this is the only one I've reviewed.
   The reason for this review is simple...I highly respect Kurt Warner, and his book is actually pretty darn good. Is the fact that I respect and admire him the reason I rate this book so highly? Perhaps, but I'd like to think it's more to do with the actual story than the man.
   This book isn't self-serving to the degree that one would anticipate, largely because I think Kurt was a little overwhelmed with what he accomplished in the miracle season (this book was written just after the Ram's Super Bowl victory, so I believe Kurt was still under the afterglow). Having said that, however, I do believe if the book was written now that it would be quite similar, due to the fact that Kurt's faith has kept him humble.
   The background on his life and his days in the Arena League were surprisngly interesting, but the highlight of the book is his time with the Rams during the 1999 season. If you are a Rams fan, it's a great way to re-live a monumental moment in St. Louis history that, at the time of this writting, looks more and more like it will not be duplicated.
   I would, in light of the last few seasons which have seen Kurt hurt, benched, waived, and in a new uniform in New York, like to see Kurt write ANOTHER book, detailing how his faith has helped him through those ordeals that took him from the King of the Hill in St. Louis to baby-sitter for Eli Manning in New York. THAT would be a hard read, because as I mentioned before my fondness for the man, but it would be MUCH more interesting, and I think would have a larger impact in terms of people looking for faith inspiration in the midst of turmoil.




4. All Things Possible is the autobiography of football star Kurt Warner. Though in the media his story is often related as a meteoric rise to stardom, we learn that it was only through time, perseverance and God's grace that Warner ever got a chance to live out his dream.
   

   I was drawn to Kurt Warner's story for several reasons. First, I am a fan of the St Louis Rams, the team with which Warner has had his success. Second, I love stories about underdogs, and Warner's story is just that. Third, I love to read about other Christians and the experiences that shaped them.
   

   Kurt Warner was an underdog and no stranger to rejection. For years he faced rejection as he tried to live out his dream of playing professional football. He was turned down by the major colleges, eventually ending up at the University of Northern Iowa where he spent three years being a backup and only one year leading the team. When he graduated he went undrafted in the NFL entry draft and was passed up by every professional league. This went on for several years until finally he accepted a position as quarterback in the lowly Arena League. After two seasons of leading the Iowa Barnstormers, he was given a chance to play in NFL Europe and finally, at the age of twenty seven, was picked up by the St Louis Rams. He spent his first season in the big leagues as a third string quarterback and saw action in only one game. By the 1999 season he had moved up to the position of backup quarterback, and after an injury to the primary quarterback, found himself right where he wanted to be. He was untested, unproven and no one believed he would make an impact.
   

   Who could have foreseen the season Warner would have? Warner's 1999 season was one of the most successful seasons ever for a quarterback and the most successful for the Rams as Warner led the team to a Superbowl victory while picking up the league's Most Valuable Player award.
   

   Kurt Warner is a Christian and credits his faith for his success. He never misses an opportunity to tell others about his faith and is probably the most vocal Christian professional athlete.
   

   Though I enjoyed the story, I found the book poorly written. It used many colloquialisms and it is not unusual to read sentences such as, "They were like, `Yeah right.'" He also speaks about being "totally bummed out." Warner also comes across as a tad pretentious and proud. I believe he is a humble man who is well aware of Who is responsible for his success, but does not always convey that as accurately as he might like.
   

   All-in-all this is an enjoyable book and represents what is hopefully only the first chapter of Warner's career. He is a man who has faced countless hardships and has persevered in faith. If sports figures are to be role models in our society, I am glad that there are men like Warner who proudly proclaim their faith.
   

   Note. The book ends at the end of the 1999 season. The next season Warner was very good, but missed several games due to injuries. In 2001 he again led his team to the Superbowl but lost the big game when New England scored a last-second field goal. In 2002 he missed more than half the season to injuries and looked very bad when he was playing. In 2003 he won the starter's job, but played terribly and was benched after the first game. It is expected that 2004 will find him on a new team where he will have the change to be a starter once again.




5. I generally dislike autobiographies in general, and athletic autobiographies in particular. I just believe it takes a really unique individual to convey their story as objectively as possible. But, my wife's best friend, Sarah, gave this book to me about a year ago (she loves Warner and the Rams) and I've finally gotten around to reviewing it.

   To his credit, Warner is very upfront about a lot of things, notably his religion. He is a very devote Christian and it is nice to see someone stand up for their beliefs in an age where a lot of people literally hide their beliefs. And his story is rather compelling; a quarterback who came from nowhere to lead his team to an NFL championship.

   But, there's a recurring problem with these books. They always seem very rushed and it seems that either the winning coach or the winning quarterback from the Super Bowl each year is expected to hurry their life story onto the market. The problem is, these guys generally still have a lot of life left to live, so why not wait until they are retired (as in retirement age, not just retired from their sport) to tell us their life story? I know, I know, in fifty years no one may even rember Kurt Warner, so I guess you strick while the iron is hot. But I would almost much rather read about how he is dealing with his current struggles in the NFL, rather than culminating with his crowning moment.

   Like most of these type books, it's relatively short on intropestion. But it is a bit above average for an athlete's autobiography, made more interesting by the struggles Warner and his wife faced before he finally made it in the NFL. If you are a fan of Warner, you'll love it. Otherwise, its an okay read on a day at the beach.

5 comments about I Live for This!: Baseball's Last True Believer.

1. Do you bleed Dodger blue? Tommy does. If that's your blood color, don't miss this breezy look at the many ages of Tommy from little kid through to the 2008 season when he managed the last game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach.
   
   Tommy Lasorda is a unique combination of loyal supporter, brash striver, outrageous motivator, kid with a chip on his shoulder, big-hearted helper, insecure human, foul-mouthed jerk, and adoring pal. The size of his heart is what stands out from this biography.
   
   I decided to pick up the book when my sister recounted a story about some shenanigans at one of the Dodger minor league clubs a few weeks ago. She told me that she would straighten it out. I asked her how. She said, "I'll tell Tommy the next time I see him."
   
   Naturally, I asked her when she sees Tommy and she replied that he often comes to the minor league team's games. She often chats with him there.
   
   If you want an objective look at baseball, the Dodgers, the modern game, or anything else, go elsewhere. This book is for those who loved watching Tommy Lasorda manage.
   
   I was never so moved by baseball as when Tommy's crew won the 1988 World Series with a bunch of players most other teams would have sent to the minors. But they all believed and they achieved. I still tear up thinking about that series and the incredible courage they displayed.
   
   I also owe Tommy and the Dodgers for letting me watch them win the 1981 series in Yankee Stadium. I didn't know Yankee fans could be so quiet.
   
   Bill Plaschke knows Tommy and does a good job of mixing up today, yesterday, stories about the old times, and what Tommy plans to do next into the same stream of consciousness. It's like being with Tommy.
   
   May God bless Frank McCourt for buying the Dodgers and putting Tommy back into the middle of things where he belongs.



2. I have seen Plaschke on TV and met Tommy Lasorda at Dodger stadium one time as we past his limo heading into the park. This was after his managerial carrer was over. My wife was a nurse working when Tommy's wife wsa treated at Centinela hospital i 1991. He stopped to talk to us and sign something for us but said he was in a hurry. My wife mentioned his wifes's hospitalization and we got into a nice friendly conversation before he left. As related in the book, Tommy was himself hospitalized at Centinela in 1996 for a heart attack. So even though I was a Yankee fan and relished in the Yankee victories over his Dodgers in 77 and 78, I found him to be very nice, funny and endearing.
   
   That type of personality comes through in this book as well. But early on we learn about his idiosynchrosies and the story meanders. It is hard to tell where Plaschke is trying to go with this.
   
   I was thinking about a possible two star review or at most a three. But things got interesting as I moved toward the latter chapters. I learn how he managed to get the Dodgers to sign Mike Piazza and how Lasorda helped mold him into perhaps the greatest slugging catcher in baseball history.
   
   But the most interesting part for me was to read how he took advantage of the moves Fred Claire made to revamp the team after a dismall 1987 season to build a world champion. Kirk Gibson and Orel Hershiser were the key players and under the leadership of Gibson Lasorda could lay back and let Gibby motivate the rest of the players. So Tommy shut down his usual pep talks and ket the team run on automatic pilot to take the West Division championship. However when the got to the NLCS they had to beat a strong Mets team that had beaten the dodgers badly in their regular season games. It was the way he managed motivated and handled pitchers like Oraszco and Hershisher that got them through a tough seven gane series. In the world series they faced a very formidable Oakland team led by bash brothers McGwire and Canseco. The way he used Kirk Gibson in game 1 produced one of the most dramatic game winning homeruns in the history of the World Series.
   
   Inside strategy and motivational tricks that Lasorda used to bring out the best in all his players is what makes the book interesting, So I give the book four stars for showing this and the many facets of the complicated personality that is Tom Lasorda.
   
   Also interesting and a point I did not know was that as a player in 1957 his beloved Dodgers traded him to Kansas City (the choice was keep Lasorda or keep Koufax) and since Kansas City traded players to the Yankees so much he quickly was traded to the Yankees and was immediately sent to their AAA farm team in Denver, the Denver Bears. In Denver Lasorda learned a lession in managerial psychology from his manager Ralph Houk and this affect the way he treated players throughout his managerial career.
   
   Another very interesting point was how his loyalty was tested when in 1976 he was offered a nice contract to manage the Montreal Expos but turned it down. He knew that Alston would be retiring soon and he felt that he had built up relationships with the current Dodger player who he had managed in the minors that my serve him to have a good shot at becoming the Dodger manager. His thinking was absolutely right and in 1977 he was picked to replace the retiring Alston as the Dodger manager.
   
   The story has a happy ending with Lasorda leading the USA baseball team to the Gold medal by shutting out the favored Cubans 4-0 in the final.
   After this a Bostonian decides to buy the LA Dodger franchise and bring Lasorda back into prominance wheras the previous owners from FOX had ignored this Dodger icon.



3. I know that Tommy Lasorda is a fun, lovable guy. I've heard interviews with him that made me want to learn more about him. So I picked up this book. And I have to say, I really wish I hadn't. I'm not sure why, but Bill Plaschke has painted Lasorda as an out-of-place, annoying, irritant who uses lies as a motivational tool and routinely accepts paid speaking gigs without bothering to prepare what he is going to say. And somehow, Plaschke seems to think that this makes Lasorda more lovable? Maybe he just didn't realize what he was writing. Anyway, I disliked Lasorda more and more as I continued through the book, and afterward I actively had to distance myself, remind myself that the author is creating the image, and try to return to my previous notions of who the great Tommy Lasorda really is. Thankfully, I have been able to do that. Phew. I don't recommend reading this one unless you are prepared to try to do the same though.



4. I live for this is a good bio of Tom Lasorda.This book is full of good stories from His childhood growing up poor to recent times. There are jokes worth borrowing, the one about the Pope and the Taxidriver is a classic. Tom Lasordas carrer as a player was good in the minors with 5 stops Montreal. In the majors bad luck and injuries limited His time in the majors. Preacher Roe gave Him good advice and at a low point Pee Wee Reese is the only one to talk to Him. Lasordas approach to managinng was shaped by two managers one who was cold and one who was freindly and encouraging. The team Tom Lasorda hates the most isnt The Yankees or Giants its The Cuban olympic team. Theres a hopeful optimisum, warm sense of humor here, its easy to see why He lasted and is a fan favorite. This book is easy to read, inspirng and entertaining.



5. This book about Tommy Lasorda is GREAT! I could not stop reading it and I didn't want it to end! It has everything going for it! It's funny. It's sad. It's inspiring! It's full of positive thinking and never giving up stories! I love the way it goes back and forth between present day events and Tommy's past. I've always liked Tommy Lasorda and after reading this book, I love him! What a great guy! Though the World Series wins are great, winning the Olympics is AMAZING! This book is for EVERYONE. You don't have to be a baseball fan. The stories are life stories and apply to all of us. I highly recommend this great book!

5 comments about Ali Rap.

1. This is a fun, quick read that is, more than anything else, a collection of memories created by one of Ali's closest friends. By that I mean it feels very much like a scrapbook put together by a loved one.
   
   George Lois went through many of Ali's biggest skirmishes, both in and out of the ring, with him. Because of this, he's able to put together this collection of quotes, pictures, interviews, etc and make it into not only something that I think Ali himself would love to read, but any fan of the Ali will leave on the coffee table in the hopes that everyone who sees it will pick it up.
   
   Ali is easily one of this generation's greatest sports (and world) heroes, and this book highlights an aspect we all knew was there but seldom dwell upon or look too much into. Not only was he a fighter, but he was a poet and a master wordsmith. He had so many great one-liners and sing-song taunts and rants, it's no wonder people couldn't wait to ehar what he said next.
   
   But don't get this book expecting any substantial biographical information on Ali, because that's not the point.



2. I am soo happy I bought this! The quotes are awesome but the layout design and pictures are amazing! You can read it through or just flip to random pages and it is just as interesting. There is a caption explaining the circumstances for each quote so even if you know nothing about Ali you'll understand. This is definitely worth the money. GET IT!



3. This is a compact book with great graphics with a whole slew of Muhammed's sayings contained within. If you are a collector of Ali stuff , this is a great addition to your library.



4. There are scores and scores of books written about the greatest athlete of our time, Muhammad Ali. In fact, Ali is the the most written about athlete ever. He has gone from being the most hated man in America in 1967 to the most revered today. Spanning his glory years, authors literally tripped over themselves to explain and reveal the complex and amazing person that is Muhummad Ali. An Ali book collection can easily consume an entire bookcase, afterall, his life and career have been disected by dozens and dozens of writers, from Norman Mailer to Howard Cosell to George Plimpton.
   
   To celebrate Ali's 65th birthday, comes the release of "Ali Rap". Contrary to what other reviewers have written, I find this to be a completely useless book. (I may have spoken too soon labelling it useless, as it may make a good paperweight as it is relatively small in size but thick). I "read" it in one brief sitting and was completely unimpressed. Don't waste your money on this assortment of Ali poems and sayings.
   
   The "book" is a collection of Ali's poems and sayings with pictures that are mostly appropriate to the meaning of the poem or occasion. The pictures are not that special, there being many other much better done Ali photograph books. And the poems are all ones that the Ali fan has heard before. The only unique quality of this book is that the poems are all brought together in one volume.
   
   The price is outrageous in my opinion for something with so little content. Literally, I went through this book in about 30 minutes. There was nothing that intrigued me about it or make me want to read it again. I am hoping to donate it to the library or sell it at a garage sale.
   
   I am a HUGE Ali fan and have read dozens of Ali books and this is clearly the worst of the worst. Avoid it - it will disappoint you if you are looking for something to understand the heart and soul of M. Ali. Instead, buy the DVD Ali Rap - now that will grab your interest. This book is a mere afterthought.
   
   Save a tree - don't buy this book!
   
   Jim 'Konedog" Koenig



5. I bought this book on impulse and love it from the first page. I was born the year Ali fought the "Rumble in the Jungle" and grew up on old clips my dad had on VCR. I was so engrossed in the book that I read it while trying to drive and I almost ran off the road. I doubt Ali was the originator of rap. As I read, it seemed to me that while it appeared he was able to rap at the drop of the hat, I suddenly realized that Ali probably spent hours trying to write this stuff down before quipping it in front of the media. He wanted it to seem natural. One of my all time favorite books. Strongly recommended.

5 comments about This Game of Ghosts.

1. Joe Simpson has a talent for describing his mountaineering adventures, best captured in the fascinating Touching the Void. As Ghosts shows, however, he's perhaps even more adept at writing about adrenaline and danger in general. The book is a loosely-organized, chronological narrative of biographical events (too non-linear to be considered a true biography) and essays on the psychology of risk.
   
   The non-climbing accounts are more varied and entertaining, and less wordily technical, than tales of rope lengths and crampons (especially tough without the glossary that Void provided- I couldn't tell belaying from abseiling if it hit me over the head with a piton). They include descriptions of a fight with professional thugs at a party in his native England; getting buried in an avalanche; a car wreck with friends, in surreal and slow-motion detail; a harrowing ride to a hike along the Silk Road (Pakistan/China) from a drug-addled, sleep deprived driver; and goofy thrills sought out of boredom between mountain adventures, like stealing food and sledding ski jumps on cafeteria trays. That much adventure doesn't occur without attendant injuries and near-death experiences, reports of which are detailed in rubbernecking detail. The story of Simpson's rescue, recovery, and hospital visit after the Siula Grande events which formed Touching the Void is a fascinating companion piece to that book.
   
   Simpson strikes the right tone throughout Ghosts: objective enough to give the proper detail and perspective to his wonderful adventures, yet granting real insight into the often selfish and reckless thought processes of a thrill seeker. He recognizes the folly of his passions, and the high toll they have taken in the form of friends' lives. However, Simpson long ago learned to suppress fear and accept his risky choices, without rationalization or need to attribute any virtue to his acts other than gratitude for the amazing things he's seen and done. Readers are grateful he put pen to paper to chronicle them.



2. Its amazing what Joe has been trough and lived to tell. This book is simply great for the mountaineer as well as non-climbers. Just get the book, you will not be disappointed.



3. From Simpson's introduction to this book we realize that it is perhaps fear, and overcoming fear and the accompanying exhiliration that drives him. Or is it?
   Touching the Void was a brilliant book, detailing a horrific climb and fall in the Peruvian Andes. But at the end, you do wish you could know more about this guy. This Game of Ghosts fills in the blanks. Beginning with his upbringing as the youngest of 5 children, we get to come along as he is introduced to climbing, and adopts it more as a lifestyle than a hobby. Simpson comes of age literally and figuratively in this book. His writing is more polished than in his first book, he is older and wiser, and has gone on to experience more peaks, more true friends, more loss. He explores these things in an effort to describe the allure climbing holds for him, while admonishing us not to assume all adrenaline junkies are the same.
   Don't worry, this isn't a philosophy book. It's chock full of fantastic adventures and once again we get to accompany him to dangerous places where we feel the cold, the fear, and the companionship of like minds. This is a must read for anyone who liked Touching the Void. Highly recommended.



4. Although the story is not as dramatic as his "Touching the Void", the writing style is better and Joe gives us an inside on his life and his climbing. He is honest and and paints a colourful portrait of his life and encouters with danger. His story includes a funny cast of climbers who share the same lifestyle and sport.

   His life stories are funny and interesting. However he also deals with the dark side of climbing, the loss of his comrades. Joe is honest and shares with us his recollection of his life after the accident. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.




5. This is a delightful book. Not that the writer's more well-known TOUCHING THE VOID is badly written; it isn't, and it remians on my short list of the best mountaineering/adventure books I've read. But in THIS GAME OF GHOSTS Simpson stretches out more fully, more autobiographically (is that a wrod?) in an attempt to explain (to himself, to the reader) what it is about climbing that is so attractive, so essential to his existence. While he is honest almost to a fault, Simpson is smart enough to not fall (no pun intended) into the cliches and pseudo-mystical parrot talk that waters down an awful lot of mountaineering lit. For Simpson, there is no short, definitive answer as to why he is drawn to steep, icy mountain walls. On the other hand, the whole book is an answer to this question, which he poses, dismisses, returns to, and obliquely answers over and over.

   This is not just a good mountaineering book; it is a bood book, period. At first I thought Simpson was being a bit self-indulgent by detailing his early life. ("Who does this guy think he is?" I asked myself. "This isn't Winston Churchill or even Frank McCourt, but an unknown Brit who thinks we care about his schoolboy years.") But he won me over through his strong sense of humor and good storytelling. And the whole thing is full of good stories. Part of the book's appeal is in the stupidity of Simpson's climbing mistakes, many of which lead to life-threatening accidents. But through all his many incidents, Simpson proves to be as resilient as a rubber ball.