5 comments about Darrell Waltrip One-on-One.

1. Having read several of Jay Carty's books now I have to say he is an incredibly inspiring writer and person to say the least. I am so excited each month as I check for new "stuff" from Jay Carty as it is always refreshing and different yet always connected to God with a three stranded cord. If you haven't been a reader of his books for long there are many to choose from and this writer never stops searching for Gods will in his daily efforts to continue to provide hearty reading material for all groups and all stages from salvation, and growth to a mature level of one's spiritual walk. I highly recommend anything he puts his hands on because I know the hand of God is on him. Some of what I have read and or listened to on tape are:"Discovering your natural talents", "Counter Attack: taking back ground lost to sin", "Playing with fire", "Something's fishy Getting rid of the carp in your life","Coach Wooden One on One", "Coach Wooden's Piramid of success", Darrell Waltrip - One on One, "Mike Singletary- One on One" all keeping me captivated from cover to cover!
   
   Dora Wolfe - CA



2. Having read other Jay Carty books, I knew I had to read this one and I was not disappointed. This is the sort of inspirational book that one can cycle through over and over and never cease to be inspired.
   
   Way to go Jay another outstanding book!!!!
   
   WWJD



3. DW and Jay Carty make a great team in this super devotional.



4. As an Author, Coach, and Motivational Speaker I read alot of books about people, their motivations, and their relationships. Darrell Waltrip One-on-One is a straightforward statement of faith and inspiration by a NASCAR Champion working with his co-author, Jay Carty, a former NBA player and traveling preacher.
   
   One-on-One consists of 60 daily devotionals. Each devotional starts with a life lesson by Waltrip and ends with a personal or biblical support by preacher Carty. Scripture readings are included for each day.
   
   The stories are informative, educational, and inspiring.
   
   - There's Darrell learning a lesson about foolish decisions that cost him a race, a car, and time in the hospital.
   
   - Waltrip's common bond with his "frienemy" Dale Earnhardt, scripture verses written on duct tape provided by Darrell's wife Stevie before each race.
   
   - The miracle healing of Darrell's arm after a wreck in 1990.
   
   - The value of keeping focused on the big picture to win at racing and in life.
   
   With each Waltrip story there's a story by Carty that serves to clarify, explain, and educate about the topic of the devotional.
   
   If you're looking for an inspiring, motivating, and faith filled book written from a unique perspective then I recommend you buy a copy of Darrell Waltrip One-on-One: The faith that took him to the finish line.
   
   Kevin Decker (kevindecker.com)



5. By working with a winner, Jay Carty has another winner!! In this book, the faith of DW comes forth to show that he is not only a winner on the track, but more importantly he is a winner off the track with his wife and kids and most importantly with the Lord!

2 comments about Muhammad Ali.

1. Contiene un gran numero di foto spendide.
   
   Per appassionati di Cassius Clay



2. This book is a splendid and very interesting view into a Muhammad Ali's life and career. Very detailed and with beautiful photos. A book worth the money.

5 comments about Sweet Redemption: How Gary Williams and Maryland Beat Death and Despair to Win the NCAA Basketball Championship.

1. Anyone who loves the underdog has to love Gary Williams. He has bounced back time and again over the course of his career and faced tremendous odds. Winning the National Championship was truly Sweet Redemption for him.

   However, this is quite possibly one of THE WORST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. As a voracious sports biography reader, this book falls short of the mark made by even the lesser sports books out there. Vise did a TERRIBLE job of accounting the situation. This book is DEVOID of any passion on his part. It reads as if a high school journalism student slapped it together using a simple writing formula : "Here is what happened", , "Review what I just told you again."

   You could get the ENTIRE contents of this book by reading newspaper clippings from Gary's career. That's basically all this book is, one big newspaper clipping.

   Gary Williams deserves a much better book than this one.




2. i rated this four out of five becouse i
   didn't fully grssed the intoto of your information
   about the issue bein discussed there from ma point of view
   as a reader.



3. Sweet Redemption is the well-told story of how a very good and very dedicated coach and some very good and very dedicated players -- whom most other schools overlooked -- finally brought the NCAA Division I men's basketball championship to the University of Maryland. Like the movie Hoosiers, it should be of interest to all basketball fans -- indeed all sports fans. But it will be a special treasure to supporters of Maryland basketball who for years watched their generally quite good teams suffer one frustration after another. Maryland's 2002 basketball championship was indeed sweet redemption which all true sports fans should be able to savor.



4. This is the story behind the 2002 University of Maryland basketball championship season and also serves as mini-biographies of Gary Williams, Juan Dixon, and the University of Maryland basketball program. Very well written and organized, it will be interesting for sports fans, even those not U. of Maryland fans. The many tragedies suffered by the institution and individuals associated with the program are heart rending and compelling.

   The Maryland championship season is a real life triumph over tragedy story. Regardless of where one's rooting interests lie, I dare say nobody can read Juan Dixon's story and not marvel at his perseverance and leadership. A true, shining example of heart and courage.




5. For all Maryland Terps, past and present, the 2001-2002 basketball season was a magical one to follow. It marked the culmination of years of hard work and overcoming almost insurmountable odds by both coach Gary Williams and star guard Juan Dixon. "Sweet Redemption" tells the tale of the separate, yet similar, journeys these two men took, along with the Maryland basketball program, to overcome tremendous hardships and reach the summit of excellence with the 2002 NCAA National Title. Gary Williams came from a broken home to become hard driven coach and successful coach at the expense of his own marriage and estrangement from his daughter. Williams returned to his alma mater, University of Maryland, to coach the men's basketball team in 1989, just in time for all the bad blood of Len Bias' death from cocaine and subsequent recruiting violations to cripple the Terrapin program in a way that made it impossible to win (or even get fan and university support) in those first few years. Juan Dixon came from a harsher background. His parents, while bright and intelligent people, were caught in the vice grip of heroin addiction. They were in and out of prison through most of Juan's young life and he was shuttled from family member to family member to be cared for (a role that mostly fell to his older brother Phil). Though his parents finally cleaned up, the damage was done and they died from HIV-related complications brought about by using dirty heroin needles. Prior to his death, Juan's father made saw to his that his brother looked after Juan and made sure he got his education. Basketball was an escape for both Juan Dixon and Gary Williams. So, it would make sense that the two would come together and help each other achieve the highest level of success possible.
   
   "Sweet Redemption" does give some details into backgrounds of Williams and Dixon, but, at 252 pages, it is understandably superficial in its overall treatment of the subject. Additionally, the progress of the Maryland basketball program from a being nearly dismantled to winning the National Title over 13 seasons is given a perfunctory treatment. All things considered, though, this deficiency does not detract from the overall impact of the book. There is a list of sources in the back of the book that give reference to more in-depth material on which this book is based. "Sweet Redemption" is designed to be a quick study and companion piece of the championship season for fans to ready and enjoy while they get re-energized for the upcoming season.

5 comments about Won't Back Down: Teams, Dreams, and Family.

1. About time Coach Mulkey had a bio written about her. She addresses a lot of the issues that make her such a fascinating figure in women's basketball. One of the most successful and admired figures in all of college sports, Coach Mulkey has won national titles as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Though the writing is a bit stilted, Coach and Peter May put together a nice read about a terrific woman.



2. I am a great admirer of Kim Mulkey as both a player at La Tech and as a coach at Baylor! She has been a "winner" where-ever she's been and her book is also a "winner"!



3. Reading this book was enjoyable because it gave me a deeper insight into what makes Kim Mulkey tick. The background from childhood through coaching was excellent--not too detailed, but just enough info to explain things. Reading Kim's coaching philosophy and current stance at Baylor was interesting. I highly recommend this book.



4. I've heard Kim Mulkey speak in person as well as seen her in action coaching and this book sounds just like her. She is very forthright and as always, tells it like she sees it. Except for a few repeated or inserted sections that seem to interrupt the flow, the book is a very good read.



5. Kim Mulkey wrote an interesting auto biography, which helps us know how she became so succesful in her career. It is great reading for any fan of women's basketball and working mothers who in spite of the demands on their time, keep family first.

No comments about It Is What It Is: The Autobiography.

3 comments about My Greatest Shot: The Top Players Share Their Defining Golf Moments.

1. Good book, well worth the read, but something short of an eagle or a 5-star rating...like that eagle putt that comes up just short. Still a good effort and good score, but not quite as good as it could be....But who complains about a birdie, right? And there are no complaints about this book. Well worth the read.
   
   The concept is exceptional--tour players describing their own greatest shots and the greatest shots they have seen in their own words--and the cooperation of some of golf's greatest appears to be remarkable.
   
   Those descriptions that were written by hand on personal note cards or stationary were especially interesting. Frankly, even the logos of some of the typed responses were interesting. (All responses are presented exactly as sent or presented to the editors which adds much to the book.)
   
   All in all, a good book, a good read. Can't say it is a great additon to golf literature, but as the years go by, it may become more and more significant to golf history, legend and lore.



2. This book of entertaining and successfully compiled letters from the best golfers in the world, past and present, brings memories and the love of the game to the forefront. A great idea and a special book espcially for those who have been following the game for a long time. This book will be greatly appreciated by any golf enthusiast.



3. This book shares the pros greatest shots that we mortals that play golf can only dream of. It is terrific to hear the pros describe in their own words, the shots that made an impression on these bigger than life performers who routinely make amazing shots every day. Great reading and a great book to give as a gift to anyone who plays, watches, or dreams about golf.

5 comments about Thunder And Lightning: A No-B.S. Hockey Memoir.

1. I am a big hockey fan and have read many of the best books out there. I picked this one up because the Espositos are a famous hockey family, the way Phil played was a precursor to how the game was to be played in the coming decades, and what Phil has done for the game since he stopped playing. Phil's life is a great story, but he should have gotten a better ghost writer for this one. It is not written well, it rambles and lacks any real string that guides you through the story nor leaves you with any real life lessons. It is effectively a chronological listing of select events in his life, and is written using prose, etc. seemingly targeted for high school kids.
   
   Phil was and is one of the biggest players to have influenced the game and I was expecting a book that was of the same caliber as his play and his approach to life during the game and after the game. This book did not deliver on those expectations.
   
   (Sorry Phil.)



2. I read this book a little over a year ago and quite honestly, I truly enjoyed it! I had bought the book for my boyfriend and then read it after him. The book is a quick read and for a true hockey fan, I think it's a must read. I found his story absolutely fascinating, I mean how could you not respect someone that "had" to work in the off season until he was 30 just to support his family! In the current day of overpaid athletes, it's refreshing to read a story of a man that played for the genuine passion of the sport. He does seem a bit bitter about certain occurrences in his career, I guess that's why I found the book so entertaining- he's certainly not vanilla!



3. THIS BOOK BY FORMER NHL SUPERSTAR PHIL ESPOSITO REALLY IS A GOOD READ. PHIL TELLS US OF HIS CAREER WITH BRUINS, BLACK HAWKS AND RANGERS. ALONG THE WAY WE LEARN QUITE A BIT OF INFO ABOUT PHIL. HE TELLS US OF HIS FAILED MARRIAGES, OCCASIONAL FLINGS AND HIS SUCCESS AND FAILURES AS COACH AND GM. PHIL HAS A VERY LARGE EGO AND DOESN'T PUT UP WITH ALOT OF BS. IF HE FEELS HE HAS BEEN WRONGED HE WILL LET YOU KNOW. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND REALLY RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL HOCKEY AND ESPECIALLY BOSTON BRUIN FANS.



4. Great but superficial review of life in NHL in the 1960s and 1970s, and an excellent autobiography from one of the genuine stars of that era. Phil has always been a brutally honest man, which I appreciate, and his straightforwardness comes through strongly in this book. Minor date errors not withstanding, a sincere and heartfelt hockey commentary and insight from the early 1960's on in from Phil's point of view. Definitely would recommend.



5. I appreciated Mr. Esposito's account of the wild and crazy days of professional hockey. I suspect many of his recollections have been embellished over the years but he doesn't pull any punches, which makes the book very readable. While we don't expect a retired hockey player, who may have taken a few too many hits to the head, to generate great prose, you would hope that his editor would have picked up on the many factually-suspect statements made. In a few instances Phil's explanation for various medical problems is embarrasingly inaccurate as is his reference to the Russians shooting down Pan Am 800. It was KAL 007 that was shot down by a Mig, TWA 800 that blew up off the coast of Long Island, and Pan Am 103 that was bombed over Lockerbie. One wonders how accurate his other accounts could be!
   
   Admittedly, Phil Esposito peaked while I was still a young child and most of his records were quickly overshadowed by Wayne Gretzky in my world. I found the disregard Esposito demonstrated for his several wives and kids as he partied his way through an NHL career less than inspiring but I respect him for being honest about it. The last few chapters devoted to the formation of the Lightning and him being ousted smacked of an axe being ground but it was a rare look at sports management from the inside. I would guess Esposito's former cohorts would tell a different tale.
   
   So, while it may sound like I am panning this book, the reality is it is a unique read told from the perspective of a colorful character. Taken with a hefty grain of salt, it's a fun book that deserves to be on the hocky lover's shelf - after they've read it, of course!

No comments about Return To The Sea.

5 comments about Wilt: Larger than Life.

1. Robert Cherry takes anecdotes from famous and regular people whose lives' intertwined with Wilt Chamberlain, and mixes them in with his narrative summary of the legend's life and statistics to form a biography that entertains while never sensationalizing. Anyone interested in the NBA or college basketball is going to find this book to be a captivating read.
   
   Highly recommended, but be aware that the one thing the book lacks is a statistical record of Wilt's collegiate and NBA career.



2. Wilt Chamberlain once said "Nobody loves Goliath. I'm here to say that after reading "Wilt, Larger than Life" I refute that. The book gave an indepth look at not only Wilt the basketball icon, but Wilt the person. It explored relationships he established outside of basketball and how he maintained those frendships until his untimely death. After reading the book I also had more appreciation for Wilt the basketball player. I feel that not only was he one of the greatest players of all time, but he met and exceeded all of the expectations that were placed on him when he very well could and was in some cases viewed as a freak of nature.



3. At the risk of sounding redundant. This book was great and gives a lot of insight into a very fascinating individual. Personally I could have done with less information on what exactly happened in the quarters of key basketball games and more on the other things that Wilt did throughout his life. However this was still a good purchase, worthwhile read, and I am very greatful for the author to have taken the time and effort to write this book.



4. Great book. I loved every page except page 155. That Bob Kashey character can't be real. I know a Bob Kashey that hangs out at Chile's in Lake Mary, Florida and this can't be him although he keeps insisting it is. In any case, it is a great book, well worth the investment.



5. This is the third consecutive book I've read that is badly in need of some editing. Let's start with the front cover, which displays the following quote from sportswriter Dick Schaap: "The definitive biography . . ." Really? The book's copyright date is 2004 . . . Dick Schaap DIED in December of 2001.
   
   Regarding Chamberlain's athleticism and interest in track and field, the last sentence of page 61 reads, "He certainly had the requisite speed, stamina and strength to become an Olympian, maybe even a medalist". Fair enough. But then, the opening line to the next paragraph starts, "Because one can't speculate on what he might have accomplished in track and field . . ." Hello? Rewrite!!!
   
   Add to that the annoyingly endless use of parenthetical phrases to embellish sentences that need no embellishing, and this book can be hard to read. There are so many examples of this, that it's impossible to realize just how annoying it is without actually reading the book. Figure on a mininum of one per paragraph, and as many as three in one sentence.
   
   The saving grace of this book is the subject. Wilt Chamberlain was without question one of the most interesting and accomplished of America's 20th century athletes. For me, greatness in athletics is about winning, which is why I'll always choose Bill Russell and Jack Nicklaus as the greatest of the century. But for statistical accomplishment, only Wayne Gretzky and perhaps Jim Brown can compare to Wilt. And as physical specimens go, Jim Brown is probably the only team sport player whose speed, strength and endurance match up to Wilt's. The other measure, and the one that probably puts Wilt up on his highest pedestal, is the somewhat nebulous "impact on the game". Bobby Orr in hockey and Lawrence Taylor in football are the only other athletes I can think of who are even in the shadows of what Wilt did for basketball. This was truly a remarkable athlete and an interesting man off the field as well. Although I wouldn't give this book a strong recommendation to the casual sports fan, if you are looking for an in depth biography about a great basketball player and a pretty good overview of basketball in the 50's and 60's, this is not the worst place to wind up. But I'd look elsewhere first.

5 comments about The Book of Landry.

1. I bought this book for three compelling reasons. First, I am a long-time Dallas Cowboys fan. Secondly, I always admired and looked up to Tom Landry as a leader and a devoted Christian gentleman. Lastly, I love to collect and use quotes. I loved reading this book for one simple reason - it exceeded all expectations for all my reasons for buying it.

   I cried the day Tom Landry died, and again the day after his death when I read articles and listened to television stories about the life and times of Tom Landry. This simple, little book brought back many of those same emotions. This book is not one author's lofty opinions about a man. It is a collection of quotes, stories, and vignettes from scores of people from all walks of life who are united in their deep love and respect for a man among men, a man of unquestioned character and integrity.

   You do not have to be a Dallas Cowboys fan, nor know a thing about Tom Landry, nor do you need to collect quotes to enjoy and be motivated by this book. If you are inspired by reading true accounts of moral, spiritual, and successful leaders, then this book will exceed all your expectations, too.




2. I had the privilege of meeting Tom Landry a few times and found him to be the most gracious person you could ever hope to know. These memories really took me back in time. The world is a poorer place without him



3. Famed football coach Tom Landry passed away in February 2000, leaving behind a life of accomplishment rarely equaled and never surpassed. Former Dallas Cowboys players, assistant coaches, and others close to Landry contributed to The Book Of Landry by offering fresh testimonials and remembrances of the man. Landry quotes are culled from materials published over the decades of Landry's professional and personal life. Here presented are tributes to his childhood, family, coaching philosophy, Christian faith, motivational tactics, and the Landry "Look". The Book Of Landry is "must" reading for all Landry fans.



4. It's nice to know what outsiders thought of Landry, but it's nicest to hear from insiders who knew the man. This book fills that need. It's classy, readable, beautifully organized and highly affordable and should be on every Cowboy (or Cowboy hater's) bookshelf.



5. Jennifer Briggs' "The Book of Landry" is an excellent tribute to the late Cowboy's coach, Tom Landry. I grew up in Wisconsin, where Landry and the Cowboys were "the enemy." This book gave me a whole new view of a man who is revered in Texas. He was a compassionate, principled, fun-loving and God-led man, a true hero. I keep re-reading chapter after chapter for inspiration! It's a great birthday or Father's Day gift!