5 comments about Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond.

1. Disclaimer -- Paul is my cousin, so of course I am going to tell you to go buy this book, right now!! In fact, buy three copies. Keep one in plastic to sell on eBay in 20 years, give one to a friend, and read the third. :)
   
   That being said, this book gave me an unequaled insider's view of life in the NBA. Paul pulls few punches, tells it like it is, and doesn't worry about making friends with his assessment of players, coaches, and fans.
   
   I enjoyed his wry observations on life, though I did at times wonder why he keeps up with this lifestyle when it seems he isn't getting too much joy out of it (he does "sardonic" better than "enthusiastic").
   
   Overall, though, I was entertained and captured by this rare view inside the locker room. And I was relieved that he didn't skewer his extended family on the pages. :)



2. For all those people who didn't like this book because of the so-called "whining" and complaining - this book isn't really for them. I suggest they go to the self-help section of the bookstore and grab something there . . . or perhaps join the Oprah Book Club. For the people who've enjoyed Paul Shirley's blog over the years, you'd expect this book to be full of negative comments and complaints . . . as Paul himself said in the book, he writes better when the chips are down (p.54 - Jan. 12 entry) so y'all have been warned early on . . . However, as a pessimist and a cynic myself - I really didn't see his whining and complaining as such . . . it really is just an honest observation and being a basketball player that travels halfway around the globe - those observations are truly interesting and his witty remarks makes the book entertaining as well. It's well-written and would recommend the book to almost anybody (except Oprah and Dr. Phil).



3. I was sick and looking for something to take my mind off it when I picked up Can I keep My Jersey. It's the story of Paul Shirley, a basketball player who's really, really good. He's never gonna be a NBA star but he keeps trying and between NBA stints and his experiences with the CBA, the ABA and the European leagues this is a funny book. It has a few flaws of course, Shirley is a horrible snob and there were times when I found myself wishing that somebody when give him a good smack in the mouth but then all would be forgiven when he'd tell another story about the ridiculous aspects of life on the edge of the NBA.
   
   The chapter on his nightmare trip to Russia--horrible place--- is worth the price of the book alone. It's not the greatest sports memoir ever written but it's amusing and I found myself hoping that eventually Shirley gives up chasing the impossible dream and either starts a writing career or falls back on that engineering degree of his.



4. Paul Shirley is one funny guy. He's got that dry sense of humor that I love. This book is about his first few years playing pro basketball...in the NBA and over sea. I loved the book and I would recommend it to any basketball fan.



5. 
   Unfortunately, the book doesnt live up to a great title.
   
   In 50 years of reading pretty much anything that I can lay hands on, for the first time I looked for the editor's name. This is for you, Chris Schluep: you need a refresher in Editing 101. The parenthetical asides needed to go. They are distracting, unnecessary, and so not funny. We get that he doesnt like religion or tuna-no need to go on about them forever. It is also obvious that he doesnt much care for the world outside of Kansas, or the people in it. Much is made of his 'cynical, dry' sense of humor, that one needs to be of the right demographic to appreciate it. Sorry, that wont fly. Sour carping and egregious insults does not make for 'humor.'
   
   The author comes across as pretty much what he is: an immature, arrogant young man who isnt quite as smart as he thinks he is. He could be a pretty decent writer-there were flashes here and there-and if he does someday grow up, I suspect he'll look back on this book and be embarrassed by its immaturity and callowness.

5 comments about Iceman: My Fighting Life.

1. Chuck Liddell is a great fighter and his fights are entertaining. The contradiction of his ferocity in the Octagon to his mild-mannered nature outside of it is fascinating. I wish the book had more depth and exposed more of the real Chuck. But after reading about how Chuck was raised and getting a glimpse into his demeanor and lifestyle, it makes sense why the book is rather shallow. I enjoyed and appreciated the insight Chuck gives into each of his fights (e.g., his opinions on this opponents, his disposition towards the fight, the technical breakdown and strategy employed, etc.). But I could do without his bragging, the awkward-at-best and poor-at-worst writing, and the general lack of biographical meat.



2. This book tells a good story and gives you a peek at the explosively popular world of MMA. Chuck Liddell is an example for America's youth to look up to. Honest, hardworking and straight to the point. Very happy with this purchase.



3. I read Chuck Liddell's book in about a 3 week span, inbetween work and working out and other activities. Although it was a quick read, it was a very insightful and entertaining book. Growing up in SLO and his problems with his father not being in the picture. To playing HS football and then being a near perfect student-athlete at Cal Poly. Until his fighting days in obscure bare knuckle fights in Brazil to what we have as the UFC today, with all the highlights and lowlights pinpointed and brought to life in a fun way. Kickass Book!



4. I wasn't a Chuck Liddell fan until I read this book.I'll being cheering for him to win his fights until he retires now.Thanks Chuck!



5. Sometimes there are icons of sports. In the UFC, Chuck Liddell is a name that immediately comes to mind. His fights with Tito Ortiz are legendary, and the trilogy with Randy Couture is even more so. His kick to the head of Renato, "Babalu" Sobral, is still a highlight KO to this day! And the painful comeback fight with "Ramapage" Jackson that didn't even make 2 minutes in the first round still lingers in the hearts of UFC fans. But who is Chuck Liddell? What makes him tick? Read this book to find out!
   
   He's been called the baddest man on the planet, and he will always be a legend in the UFC. But you learn that he's always loved to fight. Whether in a bar, or on a simple street corner, or, of course, in the Octagon, just waiting to load up for that knock out punch that will end it all. You'll read about it all in this. From his days of football and wrestling, to when he stepped into a dojo, and simply longed to spar. You'll find out about The Pit, and about the man John Hackleman is. And you'll read about most of his fights. He really gets into it, and he loves to talk fighting.
   
   But you'll also see a man outside the Octagon, the man who likes to party and hang with the ladies. Somewhat of a lifestyle that has had many saying he lives a rock-star MMA life.
   
   All in all, you'll find out about Chuck. When reading the book by Matt Hughes, I was impressed, despite the fact that he didn't go into detail all that much like Liddell did. And Liddell does indeed go into detail, because he's proud of who he is. Sometimes he offers a little too much information, attempting not to boast.
   
   But he knows what it's like to be the best, and to be beaten by the best. But he's still ready for a fight or two. And until he can't get in that cage anymore, he wants to keep on fighting! Quite interesting overall.

5 comments about Free Byrd: The Power of a Liberated Life.

1. I bought this book because I love baseball and the Lord and because I have much respect for those seemingly few players who are successful both on the field and in their spiritual lives. The book is filled with great stories about Paul's baseball experiences, but what touched me most was how Paul recognizes how his relationship with his earthly father has shaped his view of his Heavenly Father. This is so true in my own life and it is comforting to know that someone as successful as Paul carries some of the same burdens as the rest of us. In this book, Paul writes, "I had spent most of my life imitating my living legacy, Larry the Legend (his father), by being a good, honest, and just person apart from Christ, which is impossible." I couldn't agree more! I too want to live "from Christ." Thank you Paul for sharing your stories, your insights and your life experiences so that we all learn from them. Your Father is proud!



2. Paul Byrd is living proof that Professional Baseball Players can and do have talent in areas off the field. Christians are not perfect.
   They recognized they are sinners deserving hell, they have repented of their sin to God, asked forgiveness, placed their faith in the blood of Jesus as payment of their sin-debt which guarantees their eternal salvation, then asked that God begin to make them into the person He always wanted them to be.
   We are real people, in a life-long struggle, fighting real temptations. We are just doing it with the awesome help of The Holy Spirit. Paul doesn't rely on religious systems to guide his Christian walk. He goes right to the source of all knowledge and all the wisdom we need for life in this world and for eternity to come, God's perfect and Holy Word.
   Paul, you nailed it. I just hope and pray you keep writing.
   Thanks for your testimony.
   Tim Billheimer
   Alliance, Ohio (Tribe Country)



3. I attend (and work for) the church where "Counselor Frank" is pastor. As Paul releases the LIFE that we learn more about every Sunday, we are watching him in the Grace lab class. As Frank says, sometimes grace is messy, and Paul doesn't try to put it in a pretty package. His candor is so refreshing, and I'm excited for people to read that loving and being loved by God doesn't mean never screwing up. Instead, it means we know who and whose we are even when we do screw up! Bravo, Paul!



4. Forget the whole HGH thing! If the publishing world had drug-testing, they'd be checking Byrd for manuscript-enhancing substances. He's that good. Where does this guy get off scribbling out a masterpiece like this between starts for the Indians? In the process of addressing the most relevant issues shared by men today, Byrd combines the candor of J.D. Salinger with the wit of Donald Miller (makes you wonder if Miller has hidden baseball talents?). Most refreshing of all, Byrd's not out to preach or "fix" the reader. He's just sharing (amazing) stories from his life - along with the lessons he's learned from life on the mound. Prediction: Byrd will become the writer for the "Christian everyman" in the new millennium. Baseball was just his warm-up act.



5. My husband was reading this book and kept saying, "Come here, you have to read this." or "Listen to this paragraph" and he would proceed to read excerpts. So interesting and inspirational were the stories I began to read the book as well, and I am happy I did. Paul Byrd's book is honest, emotional, raw, intelligent, and funny. It's a great read and I can only imagine how much a father and son would get out of this together. Dads get this book for your sons and sons share this book with your father - you won't be disappointed. Thanks Paul for sharing your life with us and helping us learn, grow and laugh with you.

5 comments about Deep Drive: A Long Journey to Finding the Champion Within.

1. The book makes you truly admire Mike Lowell for everything he's accomplished on and off the field. There are moments, where he talks about his cancer diagnosis, and his concerns for his wife and his newborn daughter, and all of a sudden you're on the verge of tears. Then he cracks a joke about Terry "Tito" Francona or David Ortiz, and you find yourself laughing nonstop.
   
   I don't get into books very often, but I thought this one was great!



2. Mike Lowell is an example of a wonderful guy with an unbelievable story. But the book seems like it was rushed to publication and is basically all fluff. It has tons of errors and some passages just don't make any sense at all. I spent 20 minutes on a paragraph once trying to figure out what happened and I never did. Sometimes stories start and drop out before completed.
   
   I don't blame Lowell, who is a ballplayer not a writer. I blame the ghostwriter Rob Bradford, who is a professional journalist in Boston and should know better. I suspect he and the editors/publishers rushed this to print and it shows. The paperback will probably be much better. But even with the novice mistakes fixed, the way the stories are told are just flat and carry none of the intensity that they should have. These are amazing stories! But they are written blandly.
   
   For a good baseball book, check out David Wells' book.



3. I have read many books about various topics, baseball being one of my favorite. "Deep Drive" is an inspirational story about an inspirational player whose core values are to be admired. From the struggles with cancer to the joy of the World Championship and Series MVP, it is truly a special story.The book is worth reading for all baseball fans not just Red Sox Nation.



4. In the fall of 2005 when the Red Sox announced that they would be acquiring Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in a trade with the Marlins, I like most in Red Sox Nation, was skeptical about the abilities of the 3rd Basemen nobody seemed to want. After the 2006 season, I became a fan of Mike Lowell the player. I truly admired the way he played the game. After reading this book, I am now an even bigger fan of Mike Lowell the man. The book provides an intimate look into the rise of Mike Lowell to 2007 World Series MVP. His candor about his battles trying to achieve his goal of playing baseball in the majors, with cancer, and with the everyday life of being a professional athlete are not only inspiring, but truly illustrate what makes Mike Lowell so great on and off the field. His determination to succeed is evident through out the book, he remains positive and optimistic even through the nightmare of testicular cancer. A true role model and inspiration. Even if you are not a Red Sox fan you'll find this book entertaining, as it doesn't dwell on his time in Boston.



5. I had no expectations about this book when I started to read it. As a huge Mike Lowell fan, it wouldn't have mattered what it contained - I knew I would like it. But, I have to say, this book was much more than I thought it would be - kind of like Mike Lowell himself.
   
   The style of writing was very familiar - I felt like I was sitting talking to Mike as he shared his and his family's experiences with Castro, breaking into the big leagues and his battle with cancer. As someone who has also dealt with the "C" word, his positive attitude and approach was something I appreciated hearing about.
   
   The overall message of the book for me is that how things affect you in your life all has to do with how you react to them. Mike's experiences and his message is something that everyone can apply to their own lives. My only complaint was that the book ended! It left me wanting more! I highly recommend this book - it's much more than just a story of a great baseball player.

5 comments about This Is Gonna Hurt: The Life of a Mixed Martial Arts Champion.

1. I shouldn't have expected much of a book written by a guy who's best known for smashing heads. Tito Ortiz was, for quite awhile, the light-heavyweight champion and poster boy for the UFC. I'm a big Tito Ortiz fan. He's brash, cocky, and hasn't been at the top of the heap for several years now, but I think he's a good guy at heart and he's done a lot of good things for the sport.
   
   Unfortunately, I can't say many good things about this autobiography. Tito talks mostly about his troubled youth and how he got into the fight game. He details his early drug use, his romances (and his many infidelities), his feuds with other fighters and UFC president Dana White, and his charitable activities. I wish he'd given as much attention to his fights--the strategies, or breaking down how the fight went. Instead, he recaps most of his fights in a paragraph or two, giving the name and date of the event , a few sentences about how the fight unfolded, an excuse if he lost (nearly always an injury that kept him from training to his fullest potential), and what was on his t-shirt (he considers his t-shirts to be one of his trademarks--I never paid much attention to them myself). I wasn't expecting a book on fighting strategy, necessarily, but it would have been more interesting. What we get instead is a celebrity bio, with some entertaining takes on some other fighters and celebrities.
   
   If there's any insight given in this book it comes early in some advice Tito got from fellow fighter Tank Abbott: "You talk the smack to make people either love you or hate you. Once they love you or hate you, then they'll talk about you. If they stop talking about you, then you've got problems." Above all else, Tito knows how to market himself.
   
   Unfortunately, the rest of the book is fairly insufferable. The writing, even though Shapiro is credited, seems like it's straight dictate from Tito. We're treated to such gems as this recounting of a childhood fight: "There was this kid who was trying to bully me. I stood up and punched him real hard. He fell down, started crying, and ran away. He never bullied me again." There are strange, interview-style quotes from friends and family scattered throughout, all completely redundant with what comes before or after. The laughably sappy section about Tito falling for ex-pornstar Jenna Jameson is wisely at the end of the book. Otherwise, I may not have been able to finish. I give Tito props for overcoming a tough upbringing and rising to the top of his game, as well as for all he's done for the sport of mixed martial arts. But he should stick to fighting. Indeed, this is gonna hurt.



2. Eh, it wasn't really much other than a superficial look at him. Maybe he is just superficial, so that was all that could be expected. I felt like he should have had a ghost writer b/c it was just too elementarily written to be gripping enough. I would wait for this to come out in paperback or check it out from the library. Not worth spending much money on.



3. This is an interesting story, especially if you're a fan of Tito, like I am. It's simple and an easy read.



4. Don't waste your money on this book. Written at a 3 Grade reading level, you can sit at a Borders and tear through this in 1-2 hours. Numerous references about his t-shirt company and his obsession with money. Rips into Dana White while touching on his up bring and relationship with Jenna Jameson. Clearly a book to make money since there are countless "filler" quotes by his mother, ex-wife, and Jenna. Save your money!!!



5. At long last, Ortiz was able to outdo Chuck Liddell at something. That something was writing a better book.
   
   Ortiz's life has been full of ups and downs, and he is straightforward about his struggles with women, drugs, and fame. A lot of times when people write their story, they tend to paint themselves in a better, more agreeable light. But Ortiz doesn't try to do this. He is revealing and honest.
   
   Interesting, informative, and insightful, this book delivers a KO to all the other MMA biographies that have been coming out in this past year. Far from being perfect, and far from being a role model, Ortiz reminds us that no matter how badly things are stacked against us, we can always just step into the ring called "life" and fight.

5 comments about Fever Pitch.

1. Nick Hornby's warm autobiographical book deals with his life as a football fan from 1968 (when he was a teenager) until 1992, especifically as he supported his beloved Arsenal during that time. There's some good insights about football culture (for a true football fan, football is not really an entertainment, a concept that is probably hard to understand in the US, where sports are just a part of the entertainment business) as well as football tactics (there are few good passers in the sports, he says, as hard as this might be to believe to outsiders; Liam Brady, one of his favorite players, was that rare player, a great passer). Each of the chapters (so to call them) deals with a particular football match that he remembers during that period. And along football, he also makes comments on his relationships, be it with his family or with girlfriends. What Hornby tells is the story of English football in his last throes, a time when hooliganism ruled, but when it also was a genuine, integral pastime of the English people. When the Premiere League was established (in 1992, the year this book ends), and the megamoney and the huge tv contracts came along, and some clubs (like, say, Arsenal) did not put in the field a single English player, it became more of a commercial business and less of a cultural phenomenon. And while I like football, it's hard not to come out from reading this book with the impression that being a football fan at the level Hornby was is not a colossal waste of time.



2. This is simply put, a great book. I have been a fan of football for a few years now and have to admit I am always interested to read or hear about people experiences. More importantly I was always interested in how people picked their team and the life of an English fan. This is a very well written version of how someone became a life long football fan. It will keep you laughing and show you exactly how important football and sports in general can be to people.
   
   1 Warning: Do not buy this book simply because you enjoy Nick Hornby. This is a book about a football fan, not a novel. That being said if you enjoy football, or sports, and a good witty read, this book is for you!



3. I pretty much hate all forms of football. The fact that I read a book about football (to the British, that is: the rest of the world calls it soccer) from cover to cover, smirking, chuckling and at times laughing out loud, attests, once again, to the talent of Nick Hornby as a wordsmith. This book is witty and clever, incredibly insightful about obsession and definitely worth a read!



4. A 2007 summer reading list mini review
   
   If you are so passionate, it's scary about sports you must read this book. Many reviewers have said here and elsewhere that a rudimentary understanding of British Football is imperative to enjoying this book. Quite simply, they are wrong. All I knew about soccer in Britain, prior to reading this, was from watching Bend it like Beckham. However,I had no trouble following the book, as obsession translates for itself.
   
   When Hornby tries to take partial credit for Arsenal's championship seasons simply because he attended their games I related. I still feel partially responsible for the White Sox winning the World Series in 2005. The previous 2 seasons the Sox had excellent records at home but were 0-8 when I attended. The sign that states welcome to the ballpark was modified adding except Dave Roller. But that did not stop me. I bought my first and only multi ticket plan and the White Sox went on their winning journey (musical pun intended).
   
   I encourage obsessive fans of any sport to put the lessons of Fever Pitch in their arsenal (again pun intended) of sports literature.



5. Great book. An excellent account of what it means to be a loyal fan or supporter.

1 comments about Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man.

1. This book is an excellent one which provides the reader with much insightful information about professional wrestling during the 1970s through 2006. Ted DiBiase was a very talented wrestler who performed as one of the greatest heel characters of all times - the totally despicable Million Dollar Man. It was also quite interesting to note that the heel persona which Ted DiBiase was able to so successfully present was clearly not the real Ted who is known to his friends, fellow wrestlers, family and others. This book presents solid information about how the Million Dollar Man was created by the WWE honcho Vince McMahon and capably carried out by DiBiase. The book also provides much insight into what it takes to become a wrestler and the sacrifices which must be accepted in order to receive any measure of success in the mat world. I know that true wrestling aficionados will find reading this book to be a real pleasure with much that can be learned about the profession of wrestling. After ending his wrestling career, Ted went into the Christian ministry to serve people in a very different capacity, and very successfully too. All aspects of Ted's life were covered in this book and provided in a way which demonstrates his self awareness and his honesty in revealing himself to the reader.

5 comments about No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks.

1. I enjoy reading about mountaineering and eagerly await all new books on the subject. I am a long time fan of Ed Viesturs; he has amazing accomplishments. The most significant of which -- he is STILL ALIVE!!!The book was insightful and interesting in the many ways he has carefully accomplished his goals.



2. Ed Viesturs is a very inspiring man. An absolute legend in my book.
   I have watched the IMAX documentaries on Everest and am always inspired and moved to tears.
   It did surprise me that he was not a little more discreet when describing his adventures with a fellow female climber though.



3. If you are interested in big mountain climbing (armchair or otherwise), this book will give you a peek into the life of one mountaineer. Ed talks about "acceptable risk", physical sacrifices, finanical sacrifieces, practicalities of climbing. This is not a "Into Thin Air" drama, but rather a solid account of one man's journey.



4. In retrospect, I have no idea why I purchased the book No Shortcuts to the Top other than I thought I'd enjoy learning more about mountain climbing. In reality, this book is much more than just about mountain climbing. It shows the true nature of the man that is Ed Viesturs and his life's work on the mountain. I was thoroughly impressed about Ed's approach to climbing and his philosophy on climbing and life. I assumed, incorrectly, that all mountain climbers were over the top, macho men, with a desire to get famous before the end. Ed would be welcomed as a friend in almost any organization. What a complete view of many of the recent historical mountain events and climbers from all over the world from an expert in the field.



5. Excellent. Well written and takes you to the summit of some of the world's nost inhospitable places.

5 comments about My Losing Season.

1. Amazon.com Book Review
   My Losing Season by Pat Conroy
   
   The difficulty and pain that military basketball players go through are shown in My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy writes about his life as a Southern college student at The Citadel during the 19676 basketball season.
   Pat Conroy's father grew up in the South. His father is in the military and is constantly being sent to work at different places. This causes the author to attend many different high schools during his teenage years. These years are filled with the beatings from his father to his entire family. Pat Conroy is able to put everything he was into the basketball he plays at high school and college. These games and practices help keep Pat from killing his father during one of the many depressing times Pat has. After high school, Pat accepts a basketball scholarship at The Citadel, a military college. His first years at The Citadel are filled with the harsh practices from his coach, the sweat parties during plebe week, and the constant reminder of his father. When the author is a senior he doesn't start the first basketball games and isn't picked as a captain. Instead, he rides the bench with the Green Weenies. Pat battles with his coach, his father, and his college throughout his time at The Citadel.
   As time progresses, Pat goes through numerous challenges. The author is faced with the conflict of depression, and does whatever he can to survive the painful time it brings. Conroy is forced to deal with his father and his basketball coach. He is constantly beaten by his father. Pat is also benched by his basketball coach and yelled at for doing nothing. Pat has to somehow go through the challenge of living his own life happily. The author shows the pain his father caused him when he says, "The game kept me from facing the ruined boy who played basketball instead of killing his father" (6). Along with Pat's father, Conroy has to deal with his basketball coach, Mel Thompson. Mel forbids dates, laughing, or any fun a basketball player could have. This causes pat to go through most of life unhappy and causes him to do whatever it takes to become happy. The basketball that he played was one of the few things that solved his conflict.
   Pat Conroy is able to write in a way that makes one feel that they are attending the events that Pat Conroy is talking about. He is able to write in a way that shows what his life was as a child, but still make it interesting and exciting for the reader. He is able to show the things that he is feeling and the suffering he has as his college. Pat Conroy shows his writing when he describes his team when he says, "I felt my team coming together at last, the way teams are supposed to feel, the ones who you would go to the wall for, dive on the floor for, and shed your blood for" (331). Pat Conroy has the writing style that is very descriptive. The way he writes makes me feel I am watching a movie, instead of reading a book. I am able to see and feel the pain, depression, and rare happiness during the story.
   I felt that this is one of the best written books that I have ever read. This book made me keep reading and kept me from putting the book down. I felt that Pat Conroy did a very good job of writing about his college basketball career in a way that anyone would like it. I liked how he made his own life interesting and true. Also, I liked how nothing was hidden, and he told the truth like a clear jump shot from the corner.



2. Growing up Catholic in the 1960's and 1970's and playing basketball every day because we didn't have the money to go on vacation, are two of many drivers that singles out Pat Conroy's "A Losing Season" as the most talked about book among my friends in our New York suburb.
   
   Mr. Conroy's ability to balance brutal honesty with a sensitivity toward young men of our era, dwarfs my favorite writers such as Tom Wolfe in nailing the complexities of being innocent in a period that was conflicted with our feelings of supporting the beliefs of our fathers who were from WWII and the realities of the 60's and 70's.
   
   When a writer as strong as Pat Conroy takes on young men growing up in the 60's and 70's trying to figure out their catholic up-bringing, clashing with their generation's challenge to conventional beliefs - the result is explosive. Don't miss the best read of your life.



3. A rough life is an understatement for young Pat Conroy. His abusive father and enabling mother help make it an enduring test of character for Pat. He walks away a strong person and also a wise one. Mel Thomason awaits Conroy as yet another test of will power for Pat. Mel is a stubborn man looking to rule a team of basketball players. His ways of braking down a player only to rebuild them and smash them down again, is a test of just how much a man can take. Pat endures a very painful character building period.
   
   Pat Conroy tells a story like a god. Throughout the book Pat is inquisitive about what he will be after basketball is over for him. He lets us know that he has always known he was a great writer but was unsure of himself. He was at a loss for what it was he was meant to do. This book is not only about basketball, but also of self-inquiry. It is a journey of Pat's search for his life road.
   
   Along with Pat's struggles came reward. Pat felt as though he was coming into himself. He discovered life lessons and set life goals. He believes he learn more about himself his senior year at the Citadel then any other single year he as lived. Life is full of self-discovery, especially for Pat.



4. What a great coming-of-age book, whether you like basketball or not! I thought that this, I guess, non-fiction work was far superior to Conroy's fictional "Beach Music."



5. During his senior season at The Citadel, a tough-nosed, all-male military academy, Pat Conroy's squad stumbled its way to an 8-17 record, falling two points short in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament due to John DeBrosse's blown fast break layup. In true Conroy form, the self-depreciating point guard blames the loss on his own lack of hustle in pursuing the missed shot. Regardless of who was at fault there, it was this miscue that brought about the writing of My Losing Season: "When DeBrosse found me in Dayton, it was the first indication I had that the 1966-67 basketball season could cause perpetual hurt to any other person besides myself." In this masterfully written memoir, Pat Conroy reconnects with memories of his dysfunctional basketball team from a season impossible to forget, one that shaped his view of the world and his direction as a writer.
   
   I was sold on Conroy after his first line in the book: "I was born to be a point guard, just not a very good one." A sentence beautiful in its witty simplicity, I could instantly relate to Conroy as a mediocre athlete myself; more importantly, this one line sums up Conroy's character as a whole. He portrays his passion and reverence for the game of basketball, a humble ethos and skill at his craft of writing.
   
   The truth is he was a very strong player, finishing his senior season as captain and MVP of the Bulldogs. However, in his eyes, he was always an unrelenting member of the Green Weenies, the scrubs of The Citadel team, overcoming obstacles including his lack of height and talent, his manic father, who suffered severely from a superiority complex, and his unappreciative, old-school coach. His proudest moment came when his coach noted, "that kid gets more mileage out of his talent than any other player I have ever coached." Conroy took those words to heart and applied them to his future as a novelist: "I soared upon them, gathered strength from them as I stormed out to my life as a writer who wanted to create winged and roaring sentences, the kind that would set language free."
   
   While his team was hitting its lowest lows, Conroy began to appreciate the power of his experiences. He finally detached from the bond that latched him to authoritative figures, learning to trust himself and disregard outside influence. This liberating realization led to the conclusion that "loss is a fiercer, more uncompromising teacher, coldhearted but clear-eyed in its understanding that life is more dilemma than game, and more trial than free pass." Culminating in his career as a writer, this season gave him ample stories and lessons to fuel his passion for literature. Ultimately, we learn that Conroy's writing salvaged his relationship with his father before it was too late, a man who led the typically docile Pat to once "dream of spitting on his body in the mortuary...again and again, until my mouth was dry." Conroy's basketball experiences provided him a voice and courage as a writer; if this contributed at all to mending his relationship with his father, than the losing season was surely worthwhile. Pat Conroy serves as an inspiration to me as a gritty athlete, a crafty writer, and model human being.

5 comments about Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer.

1. This story is not only impressive in the athletic achievement; it is noteworthy that she refuses to abandon her goals even when faced with the impenetrable wall of the Kremlin's closed border mindset.
   
   Well worth reading.



2. Based on the other reviews, I was quite excited about reading this book as I generally enjoy books about athletic exploits by unusual athletes. However, Lynne Cox never quite explained why she was doing what she did. By the time she was swimming to Antarctica, I was left asking why??
   
   Unlike, say, Lance Armstrong's book, Lynne lacked a central goal, and so the book was really a series of short stories about the various swims she tackled. As one other reviewer pointed out, it became somewhat repetitive. The early stories about swimming in California and the English Channel were to me more interesting simply because it was the first time I heard the tale.
   
   The book isn't bad, but it's also not great.



3. For the first 150+ pages I was intrigued with Ms.Cox's swims.....her amazing endurance and determination. But then...page after page after page....more or less the same....far more than I ever needed or wanted to know about long distance swimming particularly in icy cold waters. When.....at the last chapter...she actually did swim in Antartica waters, although I was sitting in my warm office, I shivered.



4. This is one of the best books I've read. It's an incredible story of a girl who was inspired to do something painful and difficult -- both to test herself and for the thrill and love of the cold water. It's very well written and hard to put down. I have recommended this book to friends and family members who swim, as well as other people who enjoy reading about accomplished women. I found myself cheering her on in each swim and feeling what she felt. After reading this I can never complain again about getting tired from swimming a few laps! Go Lynne!



5. Lynne Cox is a somewhat gifted writer ; an astonishingly gifted swimmer. Put them together and you get this very solid book. Lynne lovingly and with stunning clinical accuracy reports on her experiences of achieving the impossible. She shows us just how human a superhuman person can be, if that makes sense. (hey, did I say *I* was a writer??)
   
   I felt that by reading this book, I had a bit more understanding of what it might feel like to have a gift. Lynne shares that with us, along with her honest frustration at the beginning of her 'career' when she was not super fast or super buff. Talk about finding one's niche!
   
   It was interesting to read in the USMS journal this month, that more studies are being done to learn about certain people who can tolerate cold; Lynne's experiences pioneered these studies.
   
   I would refrain from judging her for what she did or did not contribute to world peace. She certainly harmed nobody, and as mentioned above, kickstarted some studies which may benefit us all in the future. Yes, I too would have enjoyed some photos and some more personal information about Lynne Cox. (Reading her next book, Grayson, did nothing to satisfy this curiosity.)
   
   I'm not sure you have to be a swimmer per se to enjoy this book, but it is hard to imagine a non athlete devouring it with quite as much gusto....That said I do not know a single Masters swimmer who hasn't read it. I do know that the next time Lynne Cox comes to speak in my area, I will drop everything to be there and listen.