1 comments about NEVER TOO LATE: THE EPIC JOURNEY OF A MAN AND A PROMISE.

1. This book is an amazing story of an unbelievable journey. What Tim has been through in his life will make most people pale in comparison and yet he still was able to find his way to success and help other people's success along the way.
   A very easy read, told well by a real person with real perspectives. I would recommend this for anyone interested in sports or human interest stories...or those just wanting to read a great story!

5 comments about Beyond the Lion's Den.

1. I'm very happy to see a fighter finally show us some mma moves.
   The contents are as follows;
   1)Striking-21 moves.
   2)Clinch work-17 moves.
   3)Leglocks and guard passes-13 moves.
   4)Top Control Submissions-27 moves.
   5)Guard Work-14 moves.
   Overall there are 100 techniques plus a biography of Shamrock's life.Sorry for not remembering exactly how the book is organized;but there is indeed 100 moves inside.
   My only two problems with this book is that;Shamrock doesn't show how to strike when down on the ground and doesn't cover escapes from the bottom of inferior positions at all.



2. The biography part is pretty interesting. He mostly talks about his pro wrestling days and after. In his first book, he focuses more on his life before pro wrestling. I liked the idea of a bio/instructional because it adds some credebility to his technique.
   
   The instructional part is good. He provides a lot of techiniques for several different situations. He goes through the techniques step by step in detail so the reader fully understands how to perform the techniques. His first book had some nutritional and exercise advice, however this book does not. Despite that, I would strongly recommend this book for Shamrock fans and people who are interested in training in MMA.



3. I have over 50 martial arts related books and this was a huge disappointment, i actually bought it and ended up returning it the following day. I liked his first book The Lion's Den, but just like Ken himself, this book hasnt evolved further.
   
   So many better MMA/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Muay Thai books are available.
   Please dont waste your time with this one.



4. Beyond the Lion's Den is an expanded update of Lion's Den, which was published over ten years ago. It's divided into two sections covering Shamrock's life story and a second longer section which is a guide to MMA techniques.
   
   The biography part makes Shamrock sound more like a superhero than a real human being but it's well written and entertaining. On the downside the only pictures are from two of his UFC matches (against Tito Ortiz and Kimo) which is a little strange considering the length of his career and the number of images which must be available. Also the photo on the cover is from his pumped-up WWF days which is a bit misleading considering the content of the book.
   
   The second half is a lot better. The problem with a lot of wrestling (or martial arts) books is that the photos are too small or grainy to see the techniques properly. Here there are lots of large, clear photos which show how to complete the manoeuvres really well.
   
   In short this book may not be worth the cover price if you've already got the old version or are a good standard MMA fighter. It works better as an introduction to the sport and it helps too if you're a Ken Sharock fan :)



5. I am so sorry to all whom I've upset and offended with my online blogs/rantings. This is my promise to produce heretofore no more politically oriented, morally offensive pieces of diatribe that I completly let myself get carried away with. All too often I let opinions and guesswork and self-interest overcome my actually mundane, sober personality. Please forgive me. That's all I can ask.....that's all I can ask. Good day.

5 comments about The Wizard of Odds: How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed the Game of Basketball.

1. Charley Rosen provides readers with an entertaining book about one of basketball's most talented players, Jack Molinas. Unfortunately, it seems that some of Rosen's information might not be accurate - especially the statements about one of Jack's long-time friends, Shirley Marcus, which are based on innuendoes; and some of Rosen's statements about one of the greatest sportswriters of all times, Milton Gross.
   
   What is particularly disappointing about this otherwise interesting book is how Rosen protects the basketball establishment by putting all the blame on Jack Molinas. The fact is, a real exploration of gambling in sports could lead to a public outcry - followed by reduced advertiser support and cancelled television contracts.
   
   Molinas was no angel, to be sure - and Rosen does a pretty good job of characterizing this complex and talented athlete. But as the title of the book implies, it is the betting odds - the point spreads that appear in most major newspapers - that is more key to the problem than the actions of a single "Wizard" like Jack Molinas, or a lone referee (as David Stern would like us to believe).
   
   Sadly, the current Commissioner, team owners, as well as sportswriters and commentators, would rather sidestep the problem posed by gambling than risk the millions of dollars that are at stake from advertising, television contracts, and sports fans. (Jerry Marcus is the author of the just-published novel, Broken Trust - The Murder Of Basketball Star Jack Molinas)



2. Born to a great family and blessed with amazing athletic prowess, Jack Molinas just couldn't go straight. Brilliant by all standards of measurement, he seemed to have absolutely no way to determine right from wrong, and would always lie, cheat, or steal if he could get away with it. He developed a love of gambling early in his life, and would do anything to win in his lifetime obession with sports betting. If he couldn't bribe or convince a player to throw a game, he would spike their food to make them too sick to play. He would stop at nothing to get his way. Even an unpleasant prison term didn't stop him, and he died in a hail of bullets at his Hollywood Hills home at the hands of other criminals and sociopaths.
   
   An awesome book full of detail for the sports fan and lover of true crime stories.



3. Besides being well over six feet tall, Jack Molinas stood above the basketball competition he faced in other ways. His I.Q. was a whopping 175 and he used his native itelligence and skills on the court to fix college games for Columbia during the 50's. Later on, he was suspended from the N.B.A in his rookie season for working the same scams there. The culmination came with the basketball scandals of the early 60's and his arrest and subsequent five-year prison sentence. After leaving the 'big house' he turned his talents to upholding the law by becoming a renowned lawyer. He had spent his life manipulating and lying to people so it seemed a natural fit that he eventually moved to California with a girl friend and became a porn producer. Ultimately, his mob ties from his fix days and shady connections caught up with him however. Apparently, he had welshed on sports bets to bookies connected with La Cosa Nostra. Obviously, a very dumb thing to do for someone gifted with his level of intelligence. He was shot by unknown assailents in his home in 1974. Clearly, out of all the people he cheated in his life, the author of this book makes very clear that the person he ultimately short-changed the most was himself.



4. This is probly the most boring book I have ever read. I have read alot of basketball books and by far this is one of the worst. It seemed interesting so I bought it. Then it started out all right but by page 100 I could not keep reading it I just lost interest. I would not reccomend this book.



5. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Jack was a person with a great deal of athletic and intellectual talent. However, I thought he blurred the line between life and the game of basketball.

   I was never interested in sports when I was growing up, but this book has certainly sparked my interest. It was a mind opening experience.

   How did I come to read this book, considering my lack of interest in sports? I heard it reviewed on Nat'l. Public Radio. When I heard the name Jack Molinas, I remembered an athletically inclined boy that attended PS 33 and PS 79 with me. My memories of him in school were good so I think of his life as he felt compelled to live it as a tragedy.

5 comments about Rocky Marciano: THE ROCK OF HIS TIMES (Sport and Society).

1. Every boxing fan should know about The Rock, the only undefeated heavyweight champion of the world in history. So is he really better than Louis, Ali or even big ol' earbiting Mike? No one can ever tell.
   
   What can be told is the sole story about Rocky Marciano. This book covers as much fighting, personal, social and cultural details one could ask for. After a while, some repetitive statements get boring. Sullivan also takes away some of his glamourous stats by stating in great detail how his fights were fixed with lesser opponents. I personally just think he filled the void between Louis and Ali, but nevertheless was a great champion.
   
   You want to relive the 50's and have a good time about reading one of the world's greatest boxers of all time? This is your book.



2. "Rocky Marciano The rock of His Times" by Russell Sullivan is a masterpiece of Sports Biography. Russell Sullivan "dosn't pull any punches " in this explosive story of a simple-man trying to make a "simple-living" in a very complex barbaric industry!
   
   Sullivan knows his subject from all sides of the ring... and out. Not only does he know boxing, he knows the human spirit that envelopes it. This is a real "page-turner" and there is a wallop in every chapter! From Carmine Vingo to Roland LaStanza, and on to Archie Moore, the bell just keeps on ringing!
   
   It's not just a story about boxing; it's a real tale about a contemporary "Lancelot" fighting his dragons from every direction.
   
   "Marciano came to symbolize early-1950's simplicity. He was indeed, the rock of his times." (p.305)
   
   Russell Sullivan does a superb job of bringing back those restless spirits at Madson Square Garden. "And in this corner, from Holyoke, Massachusetts:
   R O C K Y ...........M A R C I A N O...........!!!!!!"
   
   If, you haven't found a good book to read in a long time, don't "throw in the towel" just yet! Buy this book, it's a great read.



3. AS a boxing historian I have often seen Marciano placed in one of two groups, either Mt. Olympus or the 20th row ... boxing is a sport often divided by racial and ethnic lines and there is a tremendous Marciano fan base that irrationally places him in the Parthenon of fighters and use his undefeated record to justify it. No rational discussion of physical limitations or quality of opposition matter. Other's dismiss him altogether. What is so good about this book was that the author did a terrific job keeping rational level of perspective. He did not preach one way or the other, he reported as it was covered at the time so the content remains objective. As a result, we get an accurate, detailed account of a legendary champion and his times. In addition, we also enjoy shorter but interesting insights into many Marciano's opponents such as Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott and Archie Moore, legends in their own rights....
   
   It is a highly recommended read along the lines of "John L. Sullivan and his America" and "Papa Jack."



4. This was a good bio of Rocky Marciano. There really never was a more unlikely guy to become one the great heavyweight champions if you think about it. He had very little in the way of amateur fights and really didn't start boxing till he was in his mid 20's. He was very small for a heavyweight, even for that time. Marciano was the only heavyweight champion to never lose a fight and retire undefeated. He was one of a small handful of boxers that transcended the sport and became American icons that were synonymous with the times in which they were champion. Anybody that disparages his ring accomplishments either has an anti-white agenda or knows NOTHING about boxing. He had victories over fighters who are arguably the three most skilled, ringwise and crafty heavyweights to ever get in the ring, Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles (he beat Walcott and Charles twice) and Archie Moore. I do not consider Marciano to be the greatest heavyweight ever but his ring accomplishments can't be denied.
   
   But besides his big fights which were talked about in depth among other things it also goes into his life growing up in a poor Italian-American family. The very methodical process in which he was brought up through the ranks of the fight game after he turned pro. The likliehood that the main reason he retired was because he was sick of dealing with his over controlling manager. His penchant for being incredibly cheap and frugal. As well as his tragic death in an airplane crash.



5. By:Ryan Lemery
   This was a very good book. it was entertaining as well as informational. I especially liked how it talked about racism and the struggles of being a boxer in that era. I liked how Rocky was known as the Great White Hope. But there were a few things that i didn't like. Things such as how a whole chapter would be about one thing that didn't even pertain to Rocky. I also didn't like how Al Weill was taking Rocky's money and using it for his own pleasures.Thank god Rocky found out about it. That was pretty much the only sad part in the book. Besides the part where Rocky died in a plane crash. And on his Birthday! I think that I almost cried. I really liked this book and i think that many people should read it. It would be a good book for people with big dreams, and big hopes.

3 comments about I Remember Harry Caray.

1. I was surprised by many of the observations in this book, but far from sensationalistic, it is very honest in what made up Harry Carey. I appreciated the fact it was authorized, and I imagine there is more then enough information about Harry to warrent another volume. Here's hoping we get to see more of "the voice of the Cubs'!



2. HARRY CARAY WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BASEBALL ANNOUNCERS OF ALL TIME. I REMEMBER HIM DURING THE LATE 1960'S UNTIL HIS DEATH IN THE LATE 90'S. HE WAS SO ENTHUSIASTIC AND HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME WAS ADDICTIVE. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND FOUND IT BE VERY WELL WRITTEN. I RECOMMEND IT ESPECIALLY FOR ALL CHICAGO AND ST LOUIS FANS WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE TALENT AND CHARACTER OF HARRY.



3. I Remember Harry Caray is a good book and i highly suggest buying it if you are a die hard Cubs fan like myself. This book has some very good stories in it about Harry and the Cubbies. Harry Caray is in my mind what really kept me watching the Cubs through their terrible years and this book is the perfect tribute to a wonderful man.

5 comments about Open Net.

1. I laughed. I learned. I loved Open Net.
   
   Plimpton summarizes (page 254) his experience with the Bruins to Junior Achievers in Edmonton, "I described some of my brief forays into sports as a participatory journalist, and what it was like, and how I envied the athletes their skills and the fellowship, but how I had always left their camps with a faint twinge of relief that I was returning to my own world..."
   
   Plimpton is the vanguardist for creative-nonfiction/participatory journalism, and Open Net is the standard by which other hockey books should be measured. I envy not his weak ankles, for they're as instable as his writing is strong, but rather his wit and way of balancing humor and enlightenment.
   
   I didn't grow up in New England, but I suspect those that have will still enjoy the way Plimpton brings back to life the boldness and brashness, the grit and the glory, of the Big Bad Bruins.
   
   From Plimpton's interaction with the likes of "Grapes" and "Taz" and with goalies "Seaweed," and "Cheesy" to our hero's own moment in the crease, you'll want to stand up and cheer!



2. If you enjoy Ice Hockey, especially from a historical perspective, this is the book to read. Fans of Don Cherry will love this book.



3. George Plimpton once again dons a uniform and plays a game. This time he tackles hockey while training with the Boston Bruins.
   Plimpton does a wonderful job of painting a realistic view of life as a goalie. He uses the voices of other players to help the story along, rather than as just filler from big names. He also tells his tale without a lot of false excitement. You can tell he totally loves the experience, yet at times, you can see the effort does drain him (naturally).
   His comments about and conversations with the likes of 'Seaweed' Pettie, Garry Cheevers and Don Cheery really add a lot of depth to the book. In conversations I have had with some of these men, I clearly got the point that they enjoyed this as much as Plimpton did and as much as I did as a reader.
   This is a great read for the unfulfilled athlete in all of us.



4. THIS IS ONE OF PLIMPTON'S BEST. I REALLY ENJOYED HIS STORY PLAYING GOAL FOR THE BRUINS. HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS PLAYERS AND COACHES ARE EXCELLENT. HIS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EVENTS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE RIGHT THERE ON THE ICE WITH HIM. PLIMPTON DOESN'T WASTE TOO MUCH TIME DESCRIBING HIS SURROUNDINGS LIKE HE DOES IN OTHER BOOKS. HE GOES STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. SOME HIGHLIGHTS ARE DESCRIBING HOW HE PUTS HIS UNIFORM ON IN A DETAILED ORDER, OLD STORIES ABOUT EDDIE SHORE, AND HIS ACTUAL TIME ON THE ICE PLAYING GOAL DURING A COUPLE OF EXHIBITION GAMES MAKE THIS A GREAT READ.



5. As a big hockey fan, and a goaltender, this was just required reading. Yet, it turned out to be more. This well written, quick read was a gas to enjoy and quote. I will be glad to read others by George Plimpton, and I'm already on the hunt for PAPER LION.
   I guess thats my ringing endorcement. If I'm looking to read a book on football, the author must be wonderful. Quick, funny, well written, and vastly enjoyable, you wont regret buying this book, no matter what the price.

5 comments about The Sizzler: George Sisler, Baseball's Forgotten Great.

1. George Sisler, the subject of Rick Huhn's book, "The Sizzler," is yet another of the classic ballplayers of the early 20th century, admired during his career, acknowledged for his achievements during and after his career, slowly forgotten over the years and without a biography until recently. Huhn has stepped in to correct that oversight in Sisler's case, and it is a welcome addition to the baseball greats section of the library.
   
   George Sisler, as Huhn stressed, was not a colorful player: he kept a low profile and let his playing do the talking. There were few incidents in his life where he made waves: signing a professional contract while underage, and the resulting fight for his services helping to lead to the end of the National Commission; his tenure as manager of the St. Louis Browns, his transfer to the Senators in the late 1920s; his sinus infection and the resulting difficulties with Browns management in 1923; but most importantly, his hitting and fielding with the Browns during his greatest years. His record for hits in a season was untouched for 84 years, and his two years with averages over .400 are impressive, even for the time in which he played. He finished second to Ruth in home runs one year, and his Runs Created between 1915 and 1922 surpassed Ruth by over 100. That he was not exactly the same player after sitting out 1923 is a disappointment, but he was certainly honored in his time, named by Ty Cobb in his all-time team as first baseman.
   
   Huhn has provided us with a fine biography of a deserving player, a stand-out performer in his time, and all time.
   
   One other thing: It has been noted that Bill James, author and Society of American Baseball Research member, wrote in his 2001 Historical Baseball Abstract that Sisler is "perhaps the most over-rated player in baseball history." (p. 441) Mr. James is entitled to his opinion; it's his book and he can interpret the statistics in any way he cares to. I've been a SABR member for over 25 years and am familiar with Mr. James' work, and it is quite safe to say that I do not agree with him a good half the time, this being one of those times. If you look back at his 1985 Historical Baseball Abstract, you'll find that he said "George Sisler is probably the only player other than Gehrig who can reasonably be considered the greatest first baseman ever in terms of peak value . . . Sisler was a different type of player, he didn't have the home run pop, but he hit for a higher average, was faster and a better defensive player than Gehrig, and the comparison between the two is not easy." (p. 346)
   
   So what happened? Sisler's statistics didn't change in the 16 years between books; the 1920s didn't change, either. Most of the guys who seemingly leap-frogged over him in performance were done playing before 1985. Mr. James explains on page of the 2001 book that in rereading the 1985 book there are a lot of things that he didn't like. As I said, it's his book and he writes what he wants, but that doesn't mean I'm buying what he's pushing on me. In terms of perspective of the times, Sisler was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939, in the year of the inauguration of the Hall of Fame, as was Gehrig. A number of guys who jumped ahead of him on the list of top first basemen won't get in the Hall except with a ticket. If this makes Mr. James an over-rated writer, well, I won't say that he is or isn't. But you can make up your mind whether the old Bill James is also the new Bill James, and which one you want to believe.



2. This is a very good book about a legend of the game. It is a very good read and provides a lot of insight on how Sisler was perceived by many of his peers. My only problem with the book is the author mistakenly saying that Roberto Clemente was from the Dominican Republic. A glaring mistake like this makes me wonder what other facts might be wrong.



3. In response to "J.F. Baseball history nut, music fan", I think the point of Sisler's talent has been missed. I won't go so far as to call Mr. J.F, etc. a moron, but he has certainly missed the boat on some things.
   
   J.F, et. al. tosses around some players who were "better" than Sisler. Let's pick one and compare their stats. How about Jack Clark? True, Sisler didn't walk very much, but he also didn't strike out very much. How many times did he strike out? Try 327 times, in approximately 8200 AB. How many times did Jack Clark strike out? Try 1441 in approximately 6800 AB. ('Nuf said.) Interestingly, Clark and Sisler have an identical OBP, of .379, and Clark has a slightly higher slugging number -- about 10 points higher. Looking at those two stats, they appear somewhat equal, but look at the hit totals: Sisler, 2812; Clark 1826. You see, Sisler wasn't "taking" walks because he was too busy actually getting hits! So, Clark has a thousand fewer hits, and struck out about a thousand more times. Even taking into consideration the ~800 more walks Clark had, I would still rather have Sisler on my team.
   
   PLUS, Sisler scored about 100 more runs than Clark -- on fewer walks, home runs, and in fewer seasons played. This could be because Sisler also stole about 300 more bases than Clark did, or maybe that he hit about 100 more doubles than Clark. Or, maybe, that Clark was a big, dopey power hitter who could do little more than swat the ball a pretty fair distance when he was lucky enough to hit it at all. In essence, this means that while Clark had bigger power numbers, and leads Sisler in the sexy stats of modern baseball analysis, he really wasn't a better player. Not even close. To understand statistics you have to analyze things for yourself and deduce what they really mean -- don't rely on the percentage stats at the end of the row.
   
   This is such a silly comparison, I don't even know why I'm continuing to waste my time on it. I'm not even mentioning Sisler's fielding prowess, and all the ancedotal evidence for his greatness. (Do you think the most "overrated player ever" would have been the first firstbaseman elected to the Hall of Fame? Think about it.)
   
   I could go on, but I think I'm done.
   
   Finally, read the book. It may not be the best piece of baseball writing ever, but don't let J.F.&Company's ridiculous critique hold you back.



4. This last moron to post a review bashed Sisler saying that he is overrated, mostly noted because he hardly hit home runs. I didn't think one had to hit home runs in order to be a Hall of Famer. It's obvious he wasn't a slugger - but just look at this: Twice he was second in the AL in long balls and five times he was in the top 10; on six occasions he was in the top 5 in slugging percentage. Seven times he was top 10 in RBI, four times the steals champ. Let's throw in an MVP for good measure. The list goes on reflecting Sisler's above-average speed and outstanding hitting ability (over 200 hits in 6 different seasons, very easily could have been 8).
   
   Don't allow the lack of Sisler power numbers deter you from reading this book.



5. I hope Huhn did not spend much time on this project.
   
   George Sisler had a .340 career batting average, and that sounds impressive to the few baseball fans who still think batting average is a major statistic. But for the rest of us, Sisler is either--as the preeminent living baseball historian, Bill James, calls him--the most overrated player in baseball history, or, as I call him, the second most overrated player in baseball history, behind Roberto Clemente.
   
   The two men had the same problem. They racked up very high batting averages for their eras, and thus superficially appeared to be great hitters, but they almost never walked. Thus, their career ON-BASE PERCENTAGES, of which "batting average" is but a portion, were mediocre. And neither one of them hit home runs, though Sisler was especially egregious in this respect.
   
   He played in one of baseball's greatest launching pads ever, Sportsman's Park, where it was: 310 down the right field line, 322 to straightaway right, and 351 to deepest right center. And he played there with the super-live ball of the 1920's, before they put the screen up in that part of the park. He also got to play as a visitor in Cleveland's League Park and NY's Yankee Stadium, when they were generous to left-handed hitters, as well as nearly three full seasons as a visitor in the outrageous Baker Bowl in Philly, the century's greatest launching pad.
   
   Do you know how many HR's the guy hit in his career? Try 102.
   
   So this guy is not "baseball's forgotten great." This guy is deservedly forgotten, because sophisticated baseball fans have come to realize he wasn't great. All those years in Sportsman's Park, and he never once hit 20 HR's. All those gaudy batting averages, and his career on-base percentage was lower than those of Fred McGriff, Alvin Davis, Gene Tenace, Elmer Valo, Jack Clark and many scores of other guys who hit nowhere near .300, let alone .340.
   
   Finally, I'm aware of Sisler's mid-career injury, and the huge decline in his stats which flowed from it. He was a vastly better player before that than afterward, and without it, he may have been truly great. But so what? Anyone remember Don Mattingly? I remember thinking he was going to replace Lou Gehrig as the greatest 1B of all time. And I wasn't alone. His back injury ruined him, and if he still makes the Hall, it will be only because he was a Yankee. These things happen, and they don't make Sisler something he was not. (And Sisler was just as terrible about taking walks before the injury as after.)
   
   Next time, Mr. Huhn, write about a "forgotten great" who truly was great. This book was a waste of your time, and is a waste of any reader's time.
   
   Jim F.

1 comments about McLaren Memories: A Biography of Bruce McLaren.

1. A thoroughly entertaining biography of Bruce McLaren, who comes through as an all round nice bloke. Such a pity he was taken from us so early in his life.

5 comments about Heroes, Scamps, and Good Guys: 101 Colorful Characters from Cleveland Sports History.

1. Bob Dolgan was a proverbial utility infielder for the sports pages of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer - feature writer, columnist, beat reporter and the editor of several fan-orientated sections - and even had an infamous tiff back-in-the-day with legendary radio sports-talker Pete Franklin.
   
   But it was his last assignments with the struggling daily newspaper - pieces on the rich history of Cleveland sports - that became solid highlights in Dolgan's five-decade-plus career. And this May 2003 release is a jog down memory lane through profiles on 101 athletes.
   
   There are the famous - Jesse Owens, Mark Price - one's whose cup of coffee got cold before their uniforms got dirty and the outright surly, like slugger Albert Belle.
   
   Not just for fans of northeast Ohio sports, Dolgan's biographical sketches can be appreciated by any individual who enjoys excellent sports writing, with a historical twist.



2. Bob Dolgan's Heroes, Scamps and Good Guys is as much a history of Cleveland over the past six decades as it is a cornucopia of the city's sports memories. The award-winning Plain Dealer sportswriter draws on his long association with the Cleveland sports scene to treat readers to a broad assortment of the best, brightest and most bizarre athletes who have both thrilled and thwarted Forest City sports fans in his lifetime. Dolgan's biographical glimpses into the athletic feats and later lives of some 101 participants in Cleveland's rich sports history range from Dutch Levsen, the last major league pitcher to hurl two complete-game wins in a doubleheader, to Jim Thome, Albert Belle and Mike Hargrove. Along the way Dolgan also introduces such collegiate legends from the Greater Cleveland area as Harrison Dillard and a sprinkling of high school wunderkinds including St. Ignatius's Dave Demko and Benedictine center Mike Medich, a giant in his time at 6'5" who tallied 59 points against West High School one night at the tail end of 1945 to set a new Ohio state scoring record. A deft interviewer, Dolgan is equally at home talking with former Indians infielder Kevin Rhomberg, owner of a raft of weird superstitions that have no doubt daunted many another sportswriter over the years, Boxing Hall of Famer Joey Maxim, "one of only two Clevelanders to win world ring titles," and Barbara Turcotte, the queenly wife of Cleveland harness racing king, Mel Turcotte. Heroes, Scamps and Good Guys, though steeped in the triumphant moments enjoyed by the Browns, Indians, Barons and Cavaliers, is likewise a trove of the heartaches and last-second disappointments that have left Clevelanders without a championship in any major league sport for nearly forty years.

   David Nemec




3. This lively, pithy account of Indians, Browns, Cavs and other local athletes ALMOST makes the heartache of being a Cleveland sports fan worthwhile. Author and Plain Dealer scribe Bob Dolgan has been a staple of the local sports diet for almost as long as the Tribe has gone without World Series rings. It takes a wise soul and a strong heart to give us new perspective on The Fumble, Red Right 88, 20-Cent Beer Night and what, 83 years later, thankfully remains the only death from an injury sustained in a Major League Baseball game. May Dolgan perservere long enough to pen a second edition about dozens of future Cleveland championships!



4. A large part of what makes baseball so attractive is that it imitates life. Ear-splitting roars are reserved for stupendous comebacks and tide-turning home runs. Most games proceed, fans like to observe, like Sunday school outings.
   Author Bob Dolgan adds another dimension to the game's popularity, as well as well-honed peeks at luster figures of other sports. What he endearingly captures in its quick-reading pages is the person behind the celebrity.
   HSGG is a potpourri of 101 short stories on often fascinating, at least talented or simply memorable athletes, mainly ball-and-glovers who wore the wool and spandex of the Cleveland Indians from 1971 to 2001. Some of the headliners reflect the nearly invincible Cleveland Browns of the Paul Brown coaching days while a few found stature clinging to the edges of the sports world covering many venues and situational endeavors.
   Warts and all, there is the first big-time Indians free agent, hurler Wayne Garland who, after pocketing a guaranteed ten year, $2.3 million contract, saw his arm go the rotator cuff surgical route even before pitching his first game for his new team. Garland and his wife unwisely spent a large portion of their cash take on a toney mansion in glittery Pepper Pike. So rapidly did they spend their bounty that Wayne eventually had to pump gas to make ends meet.
   Sam Rutigliano, who alternately soared and stumbled as coach of the Browns, had as a favorite descriptive of a loss that "eight hundred million Chinese couldn't care less."
   Jimmy Piersall, named as among the 100 best Indians of all time, ran backwards around the basepaths once after belting a homer just to bring laughs to the game and wake up the crowd.
   Pat Seerey, roly-poly outfielder who played several decades ago when Tribe fortunes dipped near their lowest, seemed to smack a home run or strike out every other time at bat. An atrocious fielder, fans were galvanized by his all-or-nothing swings at any pitch that cut the heart of the plate.
   Chief groundskeeper Emil Bossard often did as much from the sidelines to encourage a Cleveland wind as its players on the field. For example, he was a past master at flashing signals from the scoreboard that tipped off home batters as to the kind of pitch coming up next...and seldom was Emil reluctant to slant the third-base line toward foul territory when the opposition boasted astute bunting skills.
   Reporter Dolgan, covering all sports for the Cleveland Plain Dealer over the past half century , winning awards along the way, now specializes in writing features soaked in nostalgia. It is seldom enough for him to hang his stories on startling statistics. He pokes about for the argument with the wife that may have preceded and influenced the big game upcoming or be-bops about for the funny happenstance that perhaps triggered a vital play.
   With Dolgan, scamps and good guys rank right up there with heroes just as they do for fans in real life sitting on the edge of their seats in a crucial game or leaning back contentedly munching their second hotdog in a "Sunday school" affair and this perhaps is the beauty of the book.
   Dolgan's machinations make for a delightful trip down memory lane, a chapter revisited of sports memorabilia a la the Cleveland scene bustling with the gusto and flavor of a bygone past. If you'd like a healthy taste of this time, dig into Dolgan's slice of it.



5. A large part of what makes baseball so attractive is that it imitates life. Ear-splitting roars are reserved for stupendous comebacks and tide-turning home runs. Most games proceed, fans like to observe, like Sunday school outings.
   Author Bob Dolgan adds another dimension to the game's popularity, as well as well-honed peeks at luster figures of other sports. What he endearingly captures in its quick-reading pages is the person behind the celebrity.
   HSGG is a potpourri of 101 short stories on often fascinating, at least talented or simply memorable athletes, mainly ball-and-glovers who wore the wool and spandex of the Cleveland Indians from 1971 to 2001. Some of the headliners reflect the nearly invincible Cleveland Browns of the Paul Brown coaching days while a few found stature clinging to the edges of the sports world covering many venues and situational endeavors.
   Warts and all, there is the first big-time Indians free agent, hurler Wayne Garland who, after pocketing a guaranteed ten year, $2.3 million contract, saw his arm go the rotator cuff surgical route even before pitching his first game for his new team. Garland and his wife unwisely spent a large portion of their cash take on a toney mansion in glittery Pepper Pike. So rapidly did they spend their bounty that Wayne eventually had to pump gas to make ends meet.
   Sam Rutigliano, who alternately soared and stumbled as coach of the Browns, had as a favorite descriptive of a loss that "eight hundred million Chinese couldn't care less."
   Jimmy Piersall, named as among the 100 best Indians of all time, ran backwards around the basepaths once after belting a homer just to bring laughs to the game and wake up the crowd.
   Pat Seerey, roly-poly outfielder who played several decades ago when Tribe fortunes dipped near their lowest, seemed to smack a home run or strike out every other time at bat. An atrocious fielder, fans were galvanized by his all-or-nothing swings at any pitch that cut the heart of the plate.
   Chief groundskeeper Emil Bossard often did as much from the sidelines to encourage a Cleveland win as its players on the field. For example, he was a past master at flashing signals from the scoreboard that tipped off home batters as to the kind of pitch coming up next...and seldom was Emil reluctant to slant the third-base line toward foul territory when the opposition boasted astute bunting skills.
   Reporter Dolgan, covering all sports for the Cleveland Plain Dealer over the past half century, winning awards along the way, now specializes in writing features soaked in nostalgia. It is seldom enough for him to hang his stories on startling statistics. He pokes about for the argument with the wife that may have preceded and influenced the big game upcoming or be-bops about for the funny happenstance that perhaps triggered a vital play.
   With Dolgan, scamps and good guys rank right up there with heroes just as they do for fans in real life sitting on the edge of their seats in a crucial game or leaning back contentedly munching their second hotdog in a "Sunday school" affair and this perhaps is the beauty of the book.
   Dolgan's machinations make for a delightful trip down memory lane, a chapter revisited of sports memorabilia a la the Cleveland scene bustling with the gusto and flavor of a bygone past. If you'd like a healthy taste of this time, dig into Dolgan's slice of it.

3 comments about Don't Call Me Coach: A Lesson Plan for Life.

1. Don't Call Me Coach: A Lesson Plan for Life
   Over the years we have watched Phil Martelli develop into one of the best story-tellers around. His presentations are fun, his messages very worthwhile. When working with Pete Nelson on the "Jameer" book, I had an opportunity to see Phil's intelligence and attention to detail first hand. This continues in this book and reinforces how lucky we who have been part of Philadelphia-area basketball have been.



2. I had the chance to meet Phil Martelli in person and hear his inspirational speech. For that one hour he was excellent, very funny and witty with alot of good advice. This inspired me to purchase his book. Though the book captures all the ideas of the in-person speech it is not quite up to par to having him in the room and it does tend to drag in parts. For that reason I didn't give it the full five stars.
   
   The book has a lot of good lessons (we are all coaches and teams) that don't require an intricate knowledge of basketball or to be a sports fan to appreciate his advice. A decent quick read.



3. I recommend this book for any parent, coach, business leader, teacher - or as Martelli says - everyone - since there is a coach in all of us.
   
   This must read book is not just for the sports lover. Martelli shares his own life lessons as a coach and offers a balanced view for helping people achieve their best. I've bought a book for my teenage children to read.