5 comments about Before the Glory: 20 Baseball Heroes Talk About Growing Up and Turning Hard Times into Home Runs.

1. Great book. Meet the author at a Nationals basebaal game. He has been great e-mailing my son to talk about the book and baseball.



2. this is delightful reading. There are stories told by the subjects -- and some of them are great story-tellers -- then narratives by the authors summing up each subject's life and career.
   
   This is certainly inspirational in the sense of overcoming obstacles, but it isn't icky. The obstacles include racial prejudice, poverty, health, etc and the subjects range from long-retired players (Mudcat Grant retired after the 1971 season) to current ones (Juan Pierre). The lessons are really aimed at the young adult audience, but as an adult I am enjoying it also.
   
   A fun read!



3. This book was great fun and appeals to baseball fans of all ages.
   
   It comprises 20 true life stories of baseball players (and one executive) from various eras, allowing the reader to jump around if he chooses selecting to read first the stories of players he remembers best. You really get a sense of each player's personality, making it a quick and fascinating read!



4. This book is one of the greatest books I have read in a while. I could not put it down once I started to read it. I recommend this for all people, especially baseball fans! Each Chapter is exciting and worded just perfect. All in all, this is a fabulous read and an all-around good book!!!



5. Amazing what the authors coaxed out of their interview subjects. Baseball greats like Whitey Ford share childhood memories likely never before committed to print. In the case of some, like Ron LeFlore, they're not just memories, but admissions.
   
   Since the players covered range from Hall of Fame greats to today's stars, there's something for fans of all ages. My son is consuming this book as fast as I am.
   
   In fact, "Before the Glory" walks in the Sasquatch-sized footsteps of one of baseball's first great classic books: "The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It" by Lawrence Ritter (published in 1966). It was an oral history of the likes of Rube Marquard and Smoky Joe Wood.
   
   I wouldn't be surprised if "Before the Glory" comes to occupy the same cherished place in readers' minds as "The Glory of Their Times" did in mine. A great gift for any young baseball player -- as well as yourself.

5 comments about Gorilla Suit: My Adventures In Bodybuilding.

1. I have been into bodybuilding for a few years now, and own a small library of bodybuilding books. Other than Samuel Fussell, however, Bob Paris' book is the only one that REALLY gives insight into the world of bodybuilding. He lays it all bare, and pulls no punches. Everything is here; the training, the drugs, the lifestyle. And all the famous faces are here too: Arnold, Joe Weider, etc, and Mr. Paris has no quips about writing the reality of how he was treated (gay or not) under the empire of the IFBB. For a raw view into the bodybuilding lifestyle, you can't do any better than this book. As Fussell himself said, "Paris is the only bodybuilder with biceps and balls." And he nailed it.



2. Back in the late 80's I was seriously into weight training/bodybuilding on the average of 5 or more days per week. I did it for the sheer love of doing it, not as someone with competitive aspirations (or the right genetics for bodybuilding even if I had aspirations:))
   
   I bought many books on bodybuilding, starting w/ Arnold's (no last name necessary) encyclopedia. I also spent a small fortune buying up muscle mags each month like crazy. While certainly Arnold was one of my favorites of all time (I still think no one can touch him regarding the combination of size and symmetry he had), the guys I could relate to the most back then were primarily the symmetry guys like Zane, Nubret, LaBrada, Benfatto and Bob Paris. If I could have picked a body to have for myself, those would have been the types of models I'd have chosen rather than the Lee Haney's or Dorian Yates type of physique.
   
   I remember all those years ago, reading Bob's "coming out of the closet" story in Ironman. I was probably as surprised as everyone else was. It didn't change my positive opinion of him as a bodybuilder or person (from what I had read about him) in any way. In fact after the surprise wore off I had to commend him for having the sheer guts to do what he did (for the record I am a heterosexual male but not a homophobic one). He had to know it was going to upset the powers that be (ie. the Weider empire).
   
   I recently took Bob's book, "Gorilla Suit", out from my library and I was really impressed, once more, with his candor. I also found his life story to be very interesting. The story of a lost soul searching to find his path in the world. His innocence regarding the nature of the field of bodybuilding and his desire to achieve his dreams was compelling to me.
   
   I didn't find this book to be a sour grapes thing at all. In fact in the end of the book he says that the best feeling he ever had in his life was when he was announced the winner of his major titles. Still, the fact is that he revealed a lot of what IS wrong w/ bodybuilding. All one has to do is look at the physiques in the current magazines to see how obviously "juiced up" these guys are.
   
   They've taken a sport that could be so inspirational and motivational to so many people and have turned it into a freak show of sorts, taking it into very unhealthy realm. The extreme use of drugs in most professional bodybuilding shows (w/rare natural shows being a tiny minority) has given these athletes physiques that are not human looking. I commend Bob for always remaining true to his vision of what a body could look like. Even when he used drugs to stay competitive he looked more like a statue of a Greek God rather than a cartoon super hero.
   
   One point I'd like to end with. I read the book "muscle" many years ago by that fellow Fussel. While that was certainly an interesting take on the bodybuilding scene, there is one factor that I can't ignore when looking at that compared w/ the Paris book. Bob Paris was a world class bodybuilder, he had been pretty high up on the mountain and speaks from inside the bodybuilding world from that perspective whereas Fussel was a non-entity in the bodybuilding world.
   
   While that doesn't invalidate Fussel's book, I just find that Paris' book just has that extra credibility factor by being written by a guy who was a major player in the field regardless of whether he won the Olympia or not. Let's face it, in a field as subjective as bodybuilding it's hard to say that someone is the best because best isn't etched in stone. Franco Columbu certainly could have possibly beaten Arnold at least one time if they were both the same height, and Lee Labrada (in my opinion) could have done the same to Lee Haney at least a couple of time if he were Lee's height.
   
   Anyway, I think that Bob Paris tells a riveting story of his life in the world of bodybuilding. It's only his personal perspective, but I came away from it feeling that he was completely honest in how things unfolded for him.
   
   Also, while he criticizes Joe Weider (he's not the only one, even Arnold in "Education Of A Bodybuilder" speaks of the fact that Joe Weider had no problem buying a steak dinner for a competitor one day and then screwing him in a business deal the next), he also credits Joe as well with the success he had as a bodybuilder. Some reviews tried to make it as if Bob does nothing but rag on Weider and that's not the case at all. From all accounts, Weider and his brother Ben have a monopoly in the bodybuilding world and that is not healthy for ANY profession.
   
   Highly recommended!



3. "Gorilla Suit" is the name Bob Paris gives his set of fabulous muscles.
   
   I really, REALLY enjoyed this book! We get the run down from Bob starting off as an awkward teenager finding the weights room in his high school gym, unused and dusty when he goes looking for a fan for a teacher. He lifts a few weights, likes the way he feels then starts training. From there we read about his trip to LA, to the 'big gyms' like World Gym and Gold's, where Arnie et al are working out. It is really is a rags to riches story, as when he first goes to LA he is sleeping in the back of his car.
   
   Bob Paris takes on the titles of Mr LA, Mr California right up to his dream title, Mr Universe, the same spot Arnold Schwartzenegger occupied.
   
   Most interesting in this book is Bob's struggle with Joe Weider -apparently the man, his companies and IFBB (international Federation of Body Building) were all inter-related and competitions quite political. Bodybuilders survived on endorsement contracts from supplement companies, and at the time Weider's companies had a monopoly on the industry and bodybuilders. Amazingly too, most bodybuilders took copious amounts of drugs and steroids, until I read this book I naively had no idea.
   
   And Bob's story is personal too, his struggle with the discipline of maintaining his 'gorilla suit', relationships and being true to himself in an industry that isn't -is fascinating.
   
   Definitely a keeper.



4. Bob Paris takes the chance to tell us his personal story as well as the evolution of the bodybuilding world in the last twenty years. "Gorilla suit" is a very well written autobiography, with an unusual sensitivity. Paris takes a boldly stance against some of the worst sides of bodybuilding, and he doesn't mince words against some of the people involved as well. The author tells us his life very candidly: his struggle against the odds to win his way in the competitions, the use of steroids, the people who tried to cheat him and the ones that helped him. I found in this book many thought-provoking passages, but in the same time the style is clean and easy to read. Bob Paris has been successful in life AND in bodybuilding with his own personal style.



5. This is the story of Bob Paris and his rise in the bodybuilding world. The book starts from his earliest days as a child in Indiana coming across muscle magazines and tinkering with weights. The book then takes us later to California where Bob struggles and hits upon some VERY difficult times. Right when you think he can't go anymore he manages to start winning some bodybuilding shows and enjoying a certain level of success. Unfortunately, things are never as pretty as they seem. The Weiders (Joe and Ben) have controlled bodybuilding for years and did so at the writing of this book. Since they owned most of the major magazines in the sport that offered any kind of publicity and also ran the IFBB federation it was best to stay on their good side. There are many stories of them keeping an athlete's money, taking back certain promises, and basically running a monopoly of the sport. Bob had difficulties with Joe Weider from the start, which probably were only worsened by the fact that Bob was gay. At the time most publications (whether they admitted it or not) did not want an openly gay man in their magazines. Nevertheless Bob grew disillusioned with the sport partly because of the Weider's and also partly because of ethical issues such as drug use within the sport. It's a shame because even though he did manage to win some big amateur contests he never really fully achieved his potential as a pro.
   Therefore, he eventually decided to walk away but did leave us with details of his career in the form of this book.
   The one problem I had with the book is that I would have liked for it to be a little more developed. I also didn't really care for the style that bounces back and forth from the present to the past but I still thought it was a good read.
   It's a very eye-opening book about the bodybuilding world that is sure to touch your emotions in one way or another.

2 comments about Shooting the Pistol: Courtside Photos of Pete Maravich at LSU.

1. Students today at LSU call the Pete Maravich Assembly Center the P-MAC. I can't stand to hear that. If they read this book, they might give the building the devotion it deserves. "Shooting the Pistol" is a clever name and the cover of this book and its design are also clever. I was expecting only pictures, but was amazed at the amount of copy that went along with the games corresponding to the photos. Pete is shown in all kinds of situations and the descriptions are amazing. This will make a great Father's Day gift.



2. This is an excellent recounting of Pete Maravich's playing days at LSU from the perspective of a court side photographer/journalist. Well written with wonderful pictures. A must have for basketball and sports history fans!

5 comments about The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports.

1. Suprisingly good. Love well-researched books, and Brian obviously invested a good deal of time and effort putting this one together. As a sports fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.



2. Brian Kilmeade intrigues me on TV. He is witty, fast thinking, well informed, and personable.
   
   In my judgment, his book covered a worthwhile topic--the impact of athletics on the lives of participants, even those who don't become star performers.
   
   As an avid sports fan, I welcomed several wise observations like this statement from George Will, one of the celebrities profiled: "Baseball--it's a cliche, but like a lot of cliches, it's true--is a game of failure. The best hitter in baseball in a given year fails more than 60 percent of the time. If you bat .350, you've failed 65 percent of the time. Ted Williams batted .406 in 1941, which means he failed to get a hit roughly 60 percent of the time. In any given year, the best team in baseball walks off the field beaten about sixty times. It's a very difficult game and a game of failure. That doesn't mean that some people aren't a whole lot better than others. And everyone was a whole lot better than I was most of the time."
   
   However, because so many of the people Brian Kilmeade featured say practically the same thing, I suggest that he would have produced a more appealing book if he had eliminated the duplications. Through careful editing, he could have given us half as much material that would have carried twice as much impact.
   
   The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!



3. The author's high profile job got me to buy his book, as I watch his morning news program everyday. I was happy to find that the book stands alone as an inspiring weaving of interesting true stories from celebrities on how sports impacted their lives.
   
   Kilmeade did a great job of getting the biggest names of our time to share their victories and defeats, and how those experiences shaped their paths toward success.
   
   This is an upbeat book that will touch your soul. A great gift for teenagers.



4. I originally purchased this book for my husband. After reading it myself, I decided that it would also make the perfect Christmas gift for every guy on my list. I gave 11 of these books that Christmas. I have never received such heartfelt and enthusiastic thank you's for my gifts as I did from gifting "The Games Do Count". My son and nephews in college especially appreciated this book, as it (1) consists of many great, individual short stories and (2) with their busy college schedules, this book was the perfect choice for some quick, enjoyable down-time reading.



5. THIS MAY A GOOD BOOK BUT THE AUTHOR IS STILL A POMPOUS ARROGANT JERK. AND HE IS NOT AT ALL FUNNY.

5 comments about The Naked Mountain.

1. Reinhold Messner is of course a legend in mountaineering. This book recounts his climb of Nanga Parbat in 1970 with his brother Gunther and a team formed by Dr. Karl Maria Herligkoffer. It is really Messner's explanation of the events that led to Gunther's death on the mountain, illumintated by his grief over the loss of his beloved brother. Of course the disputes over these events will never be resolved, many of the participants are now dead, but Naked Mountain is an act of contrition and catharsis for Messner more that a readable tale of adventure. The language seems somewhat dated and artificial, but I suspect this is due to translation issues. Overall I would rate this book a moderate plus for readers of mountaineering literature.



2. I read this book in one setting, it was so mesmerizing and engaging. The pictures are exquisite. The historical perspective laid a wonderful foundation for the tale of Reinhold and his brother Gunther. The sheer will to live is astonishing.



3. This is a much awaited book as Messner tells his side of what happened on the Nanga Parbut expedition that killed his brother in 1970. The book mentioned that as a condition for the tour, climbers were required to sign Confidentiality Documents that they would not discuss the climb keeping the expedition organizer from being subject to criticism. This gentleman was mountain obsessed as his half brother had died on the mountain years earlier. He also was not a climber which set him up for criticism as the real climbers downgraded the organization work necessary to mount this expedition. He has since passed on which I suspect is one reason the book has now been written.
   
   One must remember that this is a biased report by Messner but I don't think unbelievable. He gives him and his brother credit for the massive hauling and camp building only to be told at summit strategy that he is on the assault team but his beloved brother is not.
   
   What happens next as he attempts to summit and surprisingly is followed by a late attempt by his brother is controversial, dangerous and makes for exceptional reading. From Messner's standpoint without a rescue crew coming they descend down the backside of the mountain as it is their only option with limited equipment but creates another set of problems. An interesting section of the book is after Messner descends but must communicate with villagers as he is near death.
   
   Overall, I would encourage anyone to read this book that likes mountaineering stories. It's written by a controversial, master climber. The book also is littered with pictures of the mountain which are quite striking.



4. I've been impatiently waiting for this book to be written for decades and have a million thanks to offer Reinhold, for finally seeing this project through to completion. In order to understand my perspective, you should realize that once upon a time, I was an armchair mountaineer, raised on classics such as Annapurna and Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage. The latter was my introduction to the bizarre and confusing Dr. Herlingkoffer, organizer of many Himalayan expeditions, some of them among the most controversial in the history of high altitude mountaineering. Reinhold Messner became a force to be reckoned with in the world of climbing in the '60s. When I read of the disaster on Nanga Parbat, it was like deja vu all over again, with claims and counter-claims, lawsuits and feeling spoonfed with the official expedition account that obviously left out key facts.

   As time passed, I didn't feel that the press treated Reinhold fairly. I wanted to know all the facts and to hear his side of the story. One could find snippets here and there, but his economical writing style has always been a bit cold and detached to say the least. But I recognized the man for what he was, followed his career and read everything he wrote. As those years passed, I kept wondering if he'd ever back up and write about the expedition that changed his life forever - with the kind of detail and insight it deserved.

   Karl Herlingkoffer passed on a few years ago and maybe this book's appearance is linked to his death. Regardless, it's long overdue but in a way, it was worth the wait. Time is often required to gain insightful perspective, to dull the rough edges and to heal wounds. The loss of his brother and the resulting lies that condemned Reinhold to a life of controversy also gave him an incredible focus. Clearly, he had something to prove to the mountaineering community and he proved his points well. It's easy to point out climbers that have upped the ante after Reinhold passed his prime, but any realistic overview of the history of big, bold climbs would point to Reinhold as being a prime force in shaping the standards of today in the Himalaya and the other major ranges. It's great to now be able to read the facts, the feelings and the aftermath as he sees it. Absolute classic.




5. A superior book. I know it's a bit a stretch to hear "Messner" and "Classic book" in the same sentence but this one could be destined to rank among the all-time great mountaineering books. Over the years, Messner has written many books on some not-so-interesting topics but until now had shyed away from recounting the most fascinating and tragic event of his legendary mountaineering career - namely the 1970 first (and still only) ascent of the massive Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat and the subsequent death of his brother Gunther during the descent of the Diamar Face. This book is at times reminiscent of Maurice Herzog's "Annapurna" and Joe Simpson's "Touching the Void" at others. The writing style is pure Messner so if you've found his work difficult to digest in the past, you may find yourself disappointed. But if you appreciate a great mountain tale that has triumph, tragedy, anger, controversy and an outstanding historical perspective, you could find yourself spellbound by this one.

   The first part of the book is dedicated to the early attempts on Nanga Parbat and Hermann Buhl's solo first ascent of "The Naked Mountain" in 1953. This all ties in nicely with Messner's expedition chronicle as the Buhl and Messner expeditions were both led by Dr. Karl Herrligkoffer, who just so happens to have been the half brother of Willy Merkl after whom many of the features of Nanga Parbat are named. Unlike say "The Second Death of George Mallory," there is nothing contrived about this book. The recollection of events in June 1970 is interlaced with quotes from Felix Kuhn and Karl Herrligkoffer as well as letters and journal entries from Gunther Messner. Mountaineering writing at its best.

No comments about Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment on Its Ear.

No comments about Roger Staubach Captain America: Captain America Personal Memories and Anecdotes About the Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback of America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys (Great American Sports Legends Series).

5 comments about In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy.

1. In the Pit With Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy does not disappoint. Raither it educates the reader with Piper not holding back. Remember, Piper is not under contract when he wrote this book so he did not pen this book out of fear of upsetting a promoter. Piper lays the wrestling business all out for the reader and the reader sees an unwritten message about the wrestling industry: "all that glitters isn't gold."
   What Piper does best in this book is he freely admits he's not perfect. He admits he did some stupid things during his time on the road. However, Piper does has a redeeming quality about his views of life on the road. In the end it was all about supporting his family and finally getting home to his family.
   Piper also shows how so many wrestlers were responsible for the boom of the WWF in the 1980s but only a select few were justly appreciated. Case in point read Piper's take on the aftermath of treatment he and Hogan received before and after Wrestlemania. Also, Piper lets the reader in on how shady promoters can be. A few saying Piper uses to illustrate this point: "if you can walk you can wrestle," and "if you're going to die die in the ring its good for business." Piper's stories about his less than friendly relationship with Mr. T is worth a look. You can't but help but understand Piper's reasons for refusing to take a dive to a movie star, they're not in his business and don't know anything about how to improve wrestling.
   Piper's book does bring up a hard fact, wrestling has changed for the worse. Piper lets the reader know how wrestling has declined and the best thing Piper does is hold out hope that improvments will come in time. In the end pick up Piper's book and be prepared to never look at the wrestling industry the same when you finish. Piper not only relates the rigors of his life in wrestling, he teaches you the two contrasting views of the wrestling business and himself. Wrestling: money comes first and to Hell with you and your family. Piper: his wife and kids come first. Piper has the better view!



2. I have been a fan of wrestling for a while now (from the days when it was cool to now, when you see a bunch of 'roided up mutants with the speed and mobility of continental drift). I bought this book because it was the only one in the local bookstore that was written by a wrestler of the previous era of wrestling.
   
   I had mixed feelings at the end of the book. On one hand it was certainly a book from the heart and there was not much (if any)ghost writing. No ghost writer could write this choppily! Far from making the book worse, the piecemeal style of Piper makes this book all the more enjoyable as you don't expect to see Shakespeare but something straight from the heart. Some stories were outright disturbing, but I liked Piper's honesty and straight-shooting style even when telling such stories. He didn't try to hide behind a facade of morality or fake regret. He seemed to call 'em as he saw 'em in the book.
   
   The story about Theodore Roosevelt Reid was especially touching and it exemplified the fickle world of wrestling. Piper told it beautifully.
   
   But there were too many things about the book that I didn't like. First, and most glaring, the self-aggrandization. Sure, Piper was a great wrestler and he could actually make squibs like Hogan look good, but to attribute to himself the sudden popularity of wrestling in the 80's and 90's is going a bit too far. He makes it sound like it was him who turned the world of wrestling around. Much as I love the guy I can't help but call bullcrap here. But to be fair to him, he does admit that he, like all other wrestlers, has a huge ego.
   
   Besides, to claim that the world of wrestling changed because of his interviews is a bit much!
   
   Another thing about this book I didn't like was the fact that a huge chunk of it was devoted to his time before the WWF and the WCW. This may have been intentional, to show the world that there was more to wrestling than WWE, but for many of us outside the US, (I am in Singapore), our first exposure to wrestling and guys like Piper was through the WWF and I personally wish that he had given greater exposure to his feuds in the WWF and WCW, because those were feuds we can relate to. He does mention occasional feuds with Adrian Adonis and especially Ric Flair, and then the Hart brothers but he could have given these more detailed coverage than a feud in a promotion no one has heard about.
   
   Of course one can't please everyone, but I wish he had.
   
   Another issue about Piper's writing which I didn't like was he tends to come off as someone who believes that the world of wrestling is immune to criticism, no matter what these guys get up to (including what might be called attempted murder). His reactions to fans who claim wrestling is fake sounds rather disturbing (including at one point saying, he'll choke your guts out before you get the words out of your mouth). While appearing to be a tough, no-nonsense streetfighter at other times, when he starts to pontificate about how tough wrestlers have it and all, he comes across as just being thin skinned and whiney.
   
   Piper was one guy who didn't need a championship belt to get over with fans. In the WWF he only won the Intercontinental title once but that did not diminish his immense appeal one bit but his writing is something that has not quite lived up to his reputation as a wrestler and speaker.



3. Informative read but also very one sided and littered with self promotion , which isnt that surprising all things considered.
   Piper is very old school in his handling of the story and his storys are told with a strong sense of " my era was about real men being real men goddamnit"
   His ego was in no way kept in check and at times hesimply got carried away with his telling of a story .
   Still i think if he'd been able to write this book back at the height of his career it might of come out a little less jaded .
   Still i was glad to see he didnt get on his soap box and rant on about the tragic death of Owen Hart , which i thought he would considering how hes addressed the subject in past .



4. A wrestler you loved to hate and a man you couldn't not love and respect. I had the opportunity to meet Roddy and have him sign my book.
   
   A great read and an insight to the mind and life of those who choose to wrestle. The many men who met an early demise due to this activity. I highly recommend for anyone who grew up watching professional wrestling.



5. Roddy Piper is one of the most colorful people alive. This book is a great look at his life. The book is a fascinating read about an interesting man.
   
   This book doesn't tell much about his childhood nor about his private life, but it does give a good look at his public life. As an admitted Piper fan, I absolutely loved this book.
   
   I had the pleasure of interviewing Roddy after the book was published. His regret was that too much was left out due to circumstances beyond his control. My only hope is that Roddy comes out with another book and tells more of his story.

5 comments about I Ain't Got Time to Bleed: Reworking the Body Politic from the Bottom Up.

1. Jesse Ventura has had an interesting life, and he wants to tell you about it. He has been a US Navy SEAL, a professional wrestler, and surprisingly, a Governor of Minnesota.
   
   Ventura is a six feet four inches tall and has been an athlete for a long time. He seems to be physically imposing. However his autobiography makes him seem like an intellectual light weight. He became Governor as part of the Reform party. Ross Perot had caused a surge of interest in an alternative to the Democrats and Republicans.
   
   Despite having served as a Governor he offers us few political insights. We learn that there are too many laws, and that people need to be responsible for themselves. I don't think we needed Jesse for that. You would think a political outsider might be able to offer some fresh perspective. The only thing I found surprising about the book is that Ventura seems astonished by gotcha journalism. What did he expect?
   
   I was hoping for more. In the end there is nothing much to the book.



2. Jesse the Body had an unconventional career before being a politician, so he's able to take risks in disclosing his background and ideas in a manner very refreshing in today's political arena. Jesse starts with his background in the Navy, moves on to his life as a wrestler, and lastly the motivation behind his entrance into politics. The pop-autobiography shows a few more warts than most in the genre, perhaps due to Ventura's security with his persona and life. All in all it's a very fun ride!



3. The Jesse Ventura story is an example of the American Dream where an average man can push himself into places that he never would have thought that he would go.
   
   Ventura was a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, then became a professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, radio host, Mayor and then Governor of Minneapolis.
   
   Ventura writes pretty well and tells it the way he thinks it is (which is ok, everyone should have an opinion).
   
   Perhaps the only point that I would like to make is that it appears a very political book - not as in discussing politics (from which he makes some good points) but the rhetoric about not running for President. He mentions it a few times throughout the book, almost as if he wants us to think about him in the role and to start to generate support for the White House bid. It just seemed to me to be a little self-serving. That is a minor point though and could be just my imagination.
   
   All in all, a readable book and worth the time.



4. This work is written in a simple and uncomplicated conversational
   style. The author discusses the desirability of raising money
   modestly and the judicious use of television time in campaigning.
   Governor Ventura is in favor of term limits, legal reform,
   low taxes and the consumption tax. The beauty of the consumption
   tax is that it penalizes excess consumption and frivolous
   purchases. The author would have the government refund budget
   surpluses. In addition, people should not be driven off their
   land due to increasing tax valuations. New York's Harlem is
   becoming unaffordable to people who've lived there for generations.
   
   The author urges us to improve public education and basic
   literacy. He asks that we make math/science relevant and
   involve parents in the schooling process. Reduced class size
   and student work-study programs provide additional enhancements to the learning environment. The internet is a tremendous
   tool for learners according to the author.
   
   Ultimately, Americans are pioneers and visionaries. This is our
   basic strength as a country. To continue prospering, we should
   build upon these strengths.



5. The title of Jesse Ventura's memoir is taken from his famous line he delivered in the movie Predator. It is a great mantra for a former Navy SEAL, pro-wrestler, and man-of-the-people elected official. Once you get through the first chapter that explains Ventura's views on the issues of the day, the rest is an absorbing, humorous, truthful, and motivating memoir of a true tough guy who can put his money where his mouth is.
   
   Jesse tells all in this memoir. When he was a young man, he worked hard, and played hard. Drinking and sex are included here. My eyebrows went up a few times. It is clear he is not covering anything up in order to look squeaky clean.
   
   Anyone who reads this book will wish there were a million more Jesses holding political office, instead of the Democrat/Republican factory of career politicians who are addicted to power. I never seriously considered the validity or need for a third political party until I read this book.

5 comments about Golden Boy.

1. Vince Lombardi, blah, blah, blah, Notre Dame, Bart Starr, Frank Sinatra, blah, blah, blah, Green Bay Packers, blah, blah, blah...
   
   As a writer, Hornung fumbles any attempt to develop a character, probably thinks he doesn't have to since we already know all of the characters. Take those big names out of the book and you'd lose the one star that I gave it.
   
   This, from a Green Bay Packer fan for 40 years...



2. Growing up as the only girl with three older, sports loving brothers, I was very familiar with the on field triumphs of Paul Hornung. I actually grew to love football in the late 50's and early 60's, and was young and romantic enough to develop crushes on my favorite players. Of course, the blonde Adonis of Notre Dame was high on my list of heroes. Right before a long flight to a training session in Houston, I was delighted to find Paul Hornung's memoir of his days as football's handsomest and most eligible bachelor and it turned out to be the perfect book for the trip for this book was the next best thing to having Mr. Hornung as my seat mate. Talk about joie de vivre! His tales of exploits on and off the field are amazing and very entertaining, but the picture that emerges of this unique character is one of a charming, exciting and complex soul. So many people speak of his ability to light up a room with his good looks, charisma and good humor, and despite all his years in the limelight he is refreshingly free of arrogance. At the very end of the book there is a quote from Hornung's close friend and former team mate Ron Kramer that expresses quite well my own impression of the Golden Boy, "People always thought of him as a playboy because women loved him. That's true, they did. But his friends loved him, and their wives and kids, too, as well as anybody else who was lucky enough to meet him. He's charming and generous and just a beautiful guy to know." One warning to nine to fivers: be prepared to feel that your own life is so very prosaic by comparison! Live long and prosper, Paul Hornung, for there will never be another like you!



3. I agree with those who criticize the slipshod manner in which this book was written.
   
   After reading Instant Replay and others about the Packers of the 60s, I was expecting more from Hornung's book. I just get the feeling that here is a man who never a had a rough day in his life and who never questioned himself once.



4. "Golden Boy" delivers on a lot of levels. It communicates how it felt to have the whirlwind career on the football field while enjoying the high-life off the field. Hornung fans will enjoy some of the new tales of the life and times of the "Golden Boy" as he hangs in Vegas, LA and Miami, doing what's right and doin' in his way.
   
   The overall tone of the book is conversational. You can tell Hornung got the beats of these stories down around the bar in countless conversations around the world. The "belly up to the bar" tone of the stories gives a good feeling when reading this book. It's a great read, many times I felt like pouring a scotch to "get in the spirit" of this snappy tome.
   
   A previous reviewer noted that this book fails to give a lot of depth and I think that's true. Paul comes off as a pretty superficial guy at times, based on his own "testimony". I would've like more on his thoughts about both ND & GB, not just a re-reading of the record book with a few anecdotes tossed in. The blurb advertises that the book is the story of Games, Girls, and Gambling, & it seems Billy Reed stayed on those themes. I think they should have shined their beam a little wider and told us the whole story of the man and not focus on the narrow areas that they did.
   
   I'd like to recommend this book to one person in particular... Paul Hornung. There's no doubt in my mind that Paul never glanced at the finished manuscript. Author Billy Reed is a basketball guy from "Louvil" and didn't know enough Packer football to properly edit this thing. It's fulla errors that any Packer fan can spot.
   
   - Viking Cliff "Tongue" Livingston tore up your knee in '62, Paul. There is no Bill Livingston.
   
   - Willie Wood is a HOF free safety, not a cornerback as states in "GB"
   
   - Many have pointed out the error in the score of the first Super Bowl, (35 - 10, not 37 - 10)
   
   Errors like this show some of the sloppiest editing I've ever seen.
   
   On a positive note, Paul is a little shy about his credentials as a non-racist. I've personally spoken to African-American Packers who were stunned by Paul's graciousness and kindness when they came to the Packers. Green Bay was just a little South of the North Pole in the Mid-Sixties. For Blacks coming there it was a distant scary place. Many African-American players recall the first white Packer that approached them and started to make them feel at home was the big star, Paul Hornung. Anyone that reads this book knows Paul ain't too shy to brag. But when he recounts the bad times he had in 2004, he doesn't toot his own horn about being a proponent of civil rights or whatever ya wanna call it. That shows me that Paul is a nice guy, he took his poor treatment without trying to cry about it. Hey, Willie Wood, Herb Adderly, Bob Brown and the rest of the guys, remember when you were a lonely rookie and the big dog took out to dinner and then a night on the town? Well, pay a brother back and tell 'em The Horn ain't no redneck!
   
   There's a lot more to this man that games, girls and gambling. Paul why don't ya write a book about it?, I'd be glad to read it.



5. Truly golden. Not Paul Hornung. He's a bit tarnished. His life is golden. Let's proceed as if this autobiography is not a piece of fiction. He truly had the luck of the Irish from the time he made it to Notre Dame, won the Heisman Trophy in a year that the Irish won only two games to landing on the Packers & being a pet of Vince Lombardi. No doubt about it, he was a great player, Hall of Fame caliber & Lombardi saw that. He was also a notrious bad boy & Vince made allowances for him. Even his most egregious error in judgement, gambling on games got him no more than a slap on the wrist. The year he sat out might have eroded his football skills but not his skill as a "player".
   He continued to make more money outside of football with his good looks & product endorsement, Marlboro cigarettes probably being the most famous. Every body wanted to buy him dinner or drinks or women & he let them. It's all a good story & an entertaining book. That's probably what he wanted so many years after the fact & that what it is.