5 comments about Let's Get It On: Tough Talk from Boxing's Top Ref and Nevada's Most Outspoken Judge.

1. On page 216, Mills Lane says of his wife, "She knew that I am consumed by my job, referee prizefights as a hobby, and am hardheaded and highly opinionated." Is he ever! And that is what makes this book so refreshing. Here is a man who says we are all responsible for our own actions. Imagine that. Judge Mills Lane and writer Jedwin Smith have combined their experience and talents to give us a glimpse of a human being we see all too rarely: a man of great honor. By the time you finish this book, you will know who puts the grit in integrity.



2. Here's a quick review of Mills Lane's new book "Let's Get It On":

   (Let me cut right to the chase and point out the abundant inaccuracies that I ran across.)

   1-(page 29)- Lane credits Oliver McCall with a First round KO of Lennox Lewis. It was the 2nd round.

   2-(page 97)- Lane states that Bobby Chacon became the Super Flyweight Champ with a 15 round decision over Bazooka Limon. That was Super Featherweight/Jr. Lightweight.

   3-(page 99)- Lane states that the second Livingstone Bramble-Ray Mancini fight was for the Welterweight title. It was the Lightweight title.

   4-(page 101)- Lane states that Iran Barkley "TWICE knocked Thomas Hearns unconscious". Barkley Ko'd Hearns in the first fight, he decisioned him in the second. It should be noted that Barkley did knock Tommy down in the second fight though.

   5-(page 122)- Lane states that the common opponent between Erbito Salavarria and Betulio Gonzales was San Sacristan. It was not. It was Natalio Jimenez. (No, I did not know that one off the top of my head. But guess what? I looked it up. Novel idea.)

   6-(page 172)- Lane states that Octavio Meyran held his ground and his integrity, in the Douglas-Tyson fight, by (Meyran) insisting that he did nothing wrong with regards to the bogus "Long Count" in the 8th round, in which Douglas hit the canvas from a Tyson uppercut. In fact, in a press conference right after a meeting involving Don King and the heads from the WBC & WBA (Suliaman and Mendoza), Meyran said the following: "I don't know why I start my count and make my mistake. Yes, he (Douglas) was down longer than 10 seconds". This followed a comment by Don King stating that the "first knockout obliterates the second one". After that comment King turned directly to Meyran, who then showed the world he had no backbone. Note: Before this "meeting", Meyran defended his actions. After the meeting, it was a different story.

   7-(page 179)- Lane states that Chavez retained his Jr. Welterweight title after his controversial Draw with Pernell Whitaker. The fight was for Whitaker's Welterweight title.

   8-(page 182)- Lane refers to Matt Fleischer, as opposed to Nat Fleischer. Come on now.

   9-(page 189)- In a fight that Lane refereed, he states that Gerry Cooney was knocked down by Larry Holmes in the "third or fourth round". It was the Second round.

   10-(page 246)- In another fight that Lane refereed, he states that "Donald Curry hit Milton McCrory with a tremendous right hand early in the third round and McCrory went down". He goes on to state that Milton was kayoed with another right hand, after he got up. Curry kayoed McCrory in the Second round. And the first knockdown was with a Left Hook.

   11-(picture between 118 & 119)- Lane states Mike Tyson retained his WBC title against Trevor Berbick. Tyson Won the title from Berbick.

   12-(picture between 118 & 119)- Lane states that: "Once he was released from prison, heavyweight contender Mike Tyson had all he could handle from Razor Ruddock,winning a 12-round decision on June 28, 1991. Tyson faced Ruddock BEFORE he went to prison.

   Lane is brutally honest and the book reads like a friendly conversation that you might have with him over a beer and a stogie. He tells it like it is and I find it refreshing to read a book when I know that no punches are being pulled. But Jesus! The inaccuracies fly off the pages like crazy. And I'll guarantee that I didn't even catch all of them.

   I respect Mills and think he is one of the best refs in the business. And I was eagerly anticipating his book. But if I read something that I am familiar with and find the information to be inaccurate, when I read something new, how am I to know if what is said it is true or not?

   As you can probably guess, I am a stickler for detail. The correct information for the "flubs" that I listed, is easily accessible. And the fact that this book was written by a former D.A. and Judge, professions where detail is a critical part of the job, makes these inaccuracies even more infuriating. I find the laziness as it pertains to this book, totally inexcusable. What could have been a very good read, turned out to be very disappointing.

   If it sounds like I'm being too harsh, well, I'm merely echoing the tone of Mills' book. I'm sure he'd find the seemingly half-assed approach to the research done in this book as annoying as I did. I'm just here to point it out to him. He'd do the same to us.




3. Mr. Lane put everything in perspective with his down to Earth angle on life. He lives by what he learned from boxing and the marines. It's an inspiring book and a real kick in the butt! It's a pep talk on life and inside look at the world of boxing. Thank you Mr. Lane.



4. an excellent book from a man whose had a vantage point few in life ever have. what's the saying..."all the worlds a stage." just a phenomenal book. i could not put it down. i read nearly 80 pages at the book store and before i knew it i had been there nearly 1 hour.



5. I was greatly surprised and pleased by what an engaging and interesting book this is. Mills Lane is not just a boxing referee, but a judge in Nevada and a former professional boxer. He is also one of the most outspoken, to-the-point people I've encountered in print or real life in some time. He talks not only about major fights he's officiated, but also about his philosophy, his time in the Marine Corps, his view of being a judge, boxing generally, and his own boxing experiences. This is also something of a "personal motivation/inspiration" book. This is boxing through the eyes of a very insightful, interesting man.

5 comments about World Wrestling Insanity: The Decline and Fall of a Family Empire.

1. This is undoubtedly the most boring wrestling book that I have ever read. 99% of the time the author is giving derogatory statements about everything that the WWE stands for. I found the book so boring that after I had read 2/3 of it I put it aside, however, I do plan to later finish the book



2. I passed on buying this book for a couple of months, mainly because for twenty bucks it's very thin and it appeared to be yet another book detailing the last decade of WWE shenanigans. After finally picking it up, man I wish that I could get my money back.
   Did you ever go to a standup show where the guy tells what he thinks are the greatest finely crafted jokes only to have the audience be completely silent and just not care?
   That is this book. There's very little wrestling fact/stories. Just this guy riffing on WWE tidbits of the last 10 years. And did I mention he is SO un-funny? He actually has to write "by the way I was joking about the last sentence!" a ton of times to make sure that the reader knows he was trying to be funny. And to add to the hilarity he adds a bunch of poorly photoshopped pictures spread through the book... HHH with a dunce cap!, HHH as the Mona Lisa, HHH as 80s sitcom star Webster! BWA-HA HA HA!! that's funny stuff! (by the way I was joking about that last sentence)
   I'm not sure who this book was written for. Wrestling fans will hate it because it has nothing new or different to offer. Fans of humor books will hate it because it's incredibly not funny. I guess that leaves Guttman's friends and family. I hope your Aunt Ethyl enjoyed it James, because I certainly didn't.



3. I know James Guttman from back when he first started writing JG's Raw Insanity Reports when he wrote at Pro Wrestling Torch. His wrestling reviews were both hilarious and spot on. When he informed everyone that he was writing a book, we all waited with baited breathe until it came out. What a wonderful read. James takes you inside the crazy world of WWE and shows you some of the craziness that happens in the wrestling business that we all know and love. For some (like me) who hates the direction in which WWE has turned than this book is for you. Every WWE fan needs to read this book. Great job James!



4. I think this is the first book since I was three, that I wanted to read out loud. My boyfriend and I took turns reading out loud. It is a great read for any wrestling fan, especailly those that have become annoyed with the absolutly ridiculaous storylines. He also does a great job of reminding us of the few things they do very well.



5. I've always enjoyed James Guttman's columns so I liked this book. You can tell he's a real wrestling fan and his frustration with the WWE product comes through. Great parodies, witty insights and all around good read.

5 comments about Chess Bitch: Women In The Ultimate Intellectual Sport.

1. Two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion Jennifer Shade presents Chess Bitch: Women in the Ultimate Intellectual Sport, a collection of true stories of expert globetrotting female chess players. Assembled from interviews, personal testimonies, and carefully researched profiles, Chess Bitch reveals what it was like for women to break into the male-dominated sport and subculture of chess, the adventure of traveling to matches worldwide, the quirks of talented individual female players, and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes tell-all enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in the competitive chess scene and the women who take part in it.



2. Jennifer Shahade is a fine chess player and I like her book about Women's chess.
   
   Shahade tells us plenty about Women in chess, both in the United States and internationally. Plus, there are the obvious questions about how good women are at chess compared to men. Just what does it mean to "play chess like a girl?" Um, I always feel like asking "like which girl?" And there's the question of the relative strength of women and men in chess. That is, we can see that women are at a serious disadvantage against men in a sport such as weightlifting. But what about sports such as chess, go, or even bridge? Is chess really the sort of sport that requires enormous physical strength? Obviously not, although it does require good health, conditioning, and stamina. Chess is similar in some respects to an academic discipline, and women can excel at academic endeavors, so it is highly unlikely that women are genetically unable to excel at chess. It may be true, of course, that many women can't play chess well, just as many men can't play chess well.
   
   Shahade does discuss the question of whether the weakness of women at chess compared to men shows that women are stupid or that chess is stupid. And it is clear not only that men vastly outnumber women at all levels of chess but that male chess players tend to spend more time on chess and play more tournament games than do women. That alone pretty much accounts for the fact that the men dominate the chess rankings. But why do women play so little chess? That's a somewhat controversial topic, although Shahade does have some things to say about it.
   
   I recommend this book.



3. I was a bit disappointed by the numerous grammar mistakes including various missing periods and commas here and there (no pun intended), but I do not feel it detracted enough from the book to be gruesome. It was still easily understandable what was being said, and Shahade alone certainly cannot be blamed for a book with so many obvious grammatical errors. The only fact I noticed that was too vague was that the camp she is referring to is really in NW or north central PA rather than "central PA." It would have been nice to have given this camp free advertising with the potential advertising as I think it was the first one to ever exist and deserves to continue on among the livelihood of other existing chess camps today. (It is likely that the camp would have given her permission to use its name.) Several other reviews state bad research on a 1980 Kasparov fact, but not too many other specifics are mentioned for what is "wrong" with the book. All the other "mistakes" are all based on opinion, so this is a book you will probably like a lot or not at all. For me, the book was open-minded and refreshing. It was personal enough that I felt she was with the reader at times, and her opinions were well supported based on her own experiences. I like her adult approach as this book is definitely not for children.
   
   In a portion of the book, she mentions how a particular group of people seem racist overall based on her experience the reactions she's seen, and I've felt the same way for this particular group of people. Not everyone is like this of course, but when you learn history between the US and other countries, you can see why certain sad biases form unfortunately. Hopefully with books written like Chess B-tch, these type of barriers and well pointed out feminist barriers can be broken in this day and age.



4. I knew absolutely nothing about the world of professional chess players before reading this book. I found this book to be well written, very easy to read, and interesting. I was certain I would be bored instantly, but as it turned out the book was quite entertaining and informative, an excellent effort from a first time author. It seems most of the bad reviews come from people who are either upset about the factual errors or are offended by the portrayals of some chess players. I think Chess Queens would have been a better title.



5. Positives:
   
   1. Pioneer kind of a book
   2. Excellent research
   3. Variety of people interviewed
   4. It is very evident that the author is well-read
   5. Very honest about how she feels (as she changes opinins, she does
   not try to hide it).
   6. Reader goes through the intellectual journey that the author goes through
   
   Negatives:
   
   1. The book could be better organized with the same set of contents
   2. More about the author herself (how she became a champ. e.g.) would
   be desirable.
   3. At times, author wanders off the topic making the reader wonder why she
   is doing that.

5 comments about Rozelle: Czar of the NFL.

1. When I first saw this book, I knew I had to buy it and read it immediately as Pete Rozelle was one of the icons of my young life. What a disappointment :( ! The book seems to be about everyone else but Pete Rozelle - he's like a guest star in his own story.
   
   Starting from the time Rozelle was elected commissioner, we hear more about George Halas than Pete Rozelle. Why was he a compromise candidate? After his election the story meanders and deals with people, places and incidents only tangentially related to Pete and the growth of the NFL. Many times I was lost in the maze of names both personal and corporate that surround and protect the story of Rozelle from outsiders.
   
   Some of the chapters are long and rambling and make one wonder why the story of the beginning of NFL Films requires 23 pages. Other chapters are the same.
   
   I really thought I would get some more insights into the NFL I grew up with, as a baby boomer "I saw it all" from the rise of the packers to the merger, expansion and becoming the #1 spectator sport. After reading a biography about Wellington Mara and Ernie Accorsi's autobiography, I thought I'd learn more about the people who shaped the NFL. But after some 200 or so pages, I can't continue. It's too painful.



2. An excellent high level history of the NFL since 1950, but not so much as a biography of Pete Rozelle. There is little insight into the man. Lots of what's and when's, very little "how".
   
   Example...many instances are offered about his ordered life, his ability to make people feel at ease. How did he do it? What made him unique?
   
   Far too much reliance on Rozelle's daughter, Steve Rosenbloom, and Eddie Accorsi as sources. Too many lines of thought were opened, and then dropped. For instance, he goes on about how in the 1950's Redskins' owner George Marshall was a major player as an owner...then suddenly he disappears. Jack Kent Cooke is described as a Rozelle enemy because Rozelle married Cooke's former daughter in law...and then the point is dropped. Did Cooke every hamstring Rozelle because of the relationship?
   
   To many ideas are brought up, then dropped without completing the circle. To little is told really flesh out the picture of Rozelle beyond a stick figure with a great tan and ready smile who drank Rusty Nails and smoked too much.
   
   It is a good book...but it could have been great.



3. This isnt a book...it's an awful run-on sentence. This is a worthy subject nonetheless....hopefully someone who knows how to write will take on the subject someday. This is nothing but as told to Jeff Davis "kerflooey"...a word that was actually used on page 24
   
   
   Jeff Davis should have stayed dead with the confederacy....he devalues his Northwestern education with this...can the university give him an honorary defrocking for this. In sum...this book wa neither written nor edited......just bad journalism.



4. Despite what other reviewers have said, this is an excellent book. No, it's not really a biography, so if you want to get more indepth into Rozelle's divorce or what he wore to the Senior Prom, then skip the book. But, if you are interested in a first hand look at the NFL through the eyes of those responsible for its ascent, this is a great book. It very much parallels the Mark Maccambridge book, "America's Game" which is terrific. The reader learns about the intricacies of the NFL/AFL merger, the labor strife of the 70s and 80s, and the "threats" from wannabe football leagues as well as little known facts regarding Joe Namath's almost early retirement due to indirect gambling associations and the infamous Heidi Game. The book is more about the NFL than it is about Rozelle, but it's a terrific book for anyone who enjoys modern NFL history.



5. Rozelle: Czar of the NFL alleges to be a biography of the former NFL Commissioner, but instead it is a meandering, disjointed, almost unreadably round-about tale of certain aspects of the NFL's history. It provides remarkably little, if any, true insight on the man who served as the league's Commissioner from 1960 to 1989, relying heavily on interviews with Ernie Accorsi and Rozelle's daughter for its material but oddly enough not providing any true insight from these sources.
   
   What do I mean by meandering? Well for instance, after 250 pages of the book I've learned through the book's contents that Marlboro cigarettes were originally marketed as a "women's" brand... but I don't know what Rozelle's mindset was when the AFL came along, I don't know anything about his relationships with owners other than Dan Reeves of the Rams, and I know absolutely nothing as to what possessed the owners of the NFL to elect him as their Commissioner beyond the fact that he was a compromise candidate.
   
   Simply and bluntly put, this book is worthless to anyone wanting to learn about its subject. Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Jeff Davis in an effort to get my money back?

5 comments about Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero.

1. This is quite simply one of the best sports biographies I have ever read. It is written in a very readable and interesting manner. Very highly recommended.



2. The author certainly did his homework by interviewing over 500 people who have had some interaction with Bonds over his life in order to write this book. What was grat about this book was that it wasn't written by Bonds or from the perspective of the author it was more other peoples true experiences about Bonds spun into a book. This was a fresh look at this guy and not written to drag him down or to glorify him, you are left to make your own opinion. I liked it.



3. I thought this would be a good book for a teen to read, however, there was much too much foul language.



4. Excellent book. Very entertaining. If you are a baseball fan this is a must have as it talks of Bonds throughout his baseball career. There are many quotes from his teammates on the Pirates and the Giants as well as items from his college days.
   
   The book talks about his marriages and his relationship with his dad.
   
   I finished this book in a week when it usually takes me a month or so to finish a book. I could not put it down.



5. This book is ironically titled because the real Barry Bonds, who you feel like they know after finishing Jeff Pearlman's thrilling biography, is a man one can neither love nor hate. His excellence is tarnished by his personality which is so obviously confused that, despite the brutality with which he treats others, renders one incapable of hating him. Barry Bonds is yet another example of self-esteem having an inverse relationship with success. Had Bonds been a satisfied young man, he would have never expended every particle of his physical and mental energy conquering a craft which would one day make him a national celebrity and a fabulously wealthy person. Bonds's infinitesimal self-doubt caused him to train like, and with, Jerry Rice and even cry on the rare occasion he had to miss a game, but it also alienated almost everyone he came into contact with. He is a petty, abrasive, and irritable man who is entirely devoid of social skills. This reality makes one pity him which is not the reaction one expects to have towards a finger pointing, whining mega-millionaire. When you look at the numbers over the course of his career, it is readily apparent that Bonds really is the Michael Jordan of baseball, and that most of us don't realize it is directly related to the horrendous way with which he interacts with peers, the press, the fans, and your average citizen. I am a fairly hardened person, but I was shocked to read the passages documenting this icon's habit of berating small children who ask for his autograph. He seems to insult and slight others for absolutely no reason whatsoever. As for steroids and BALCO, Pearlman does not hedge on the issue which is quite appropriate considering the evidence. The author is certain that the allegations against Bonds are true, and the stigma he is now under is doubly tragic because the reality is that the Giant would have gone to the Hall of Fame without an ounce of illegal substance. After the scandal, it's now a crap shoot as to whether or not he'll ever make it to Cooperstown. This is a cautionary tale.

5 comments about Catcher In The Wry.

1. Hilarious, wild and wooly tales from the great Bob Uecker. This book was really funny and reads like standup comedy. "Sporting goods companies started paying me NOT to use their products."
   
   Uke's yarn-spinning machine is at full tilt; as he touches on the antics of teammates, managers, coaches, front office, broadcast partners, and most of all HIMSELF. Great stuff! Even the photo section is funny. This man needs to write more books.



2. Bob Uecker was not a great baseball player, but he is an entertaining man. Still doing play by play for his hometown Brewers, Uecker is still a recognizable member of the baseball landscape. He is recognizable for his sense of self-deprecating humor, not his baseball talent.
   
   From growing up in Milwaukee to breaking-in with his hometown team on the field than in the booth, Uecker collected some entertaining stories until this book's publication in 1983. The stories of the guy who makes it big are quite common. But this book is great not because Uecker became a great ball player, but because he adapted to the chances life gave him. His talent wasn't playing baseball, it was his wit and understanding of the game.
   
   Rather that recount each of the humorous stories Uecker told, I would encourage baseball fans to give this book a look. I only hope Uecker updates his book in the future with more entertaining tales.



3. Hilarious. Uecker the practical joker. Even non-baseball fanatics will enjoy this book. I don't think his on the field antics would be tolerated today. Granted, many of the actions by him and his teammates were over the top, but maybe we need a little more of that individuality in baseball today. (That does not include steroids. Hank Aaron was not a large man by any means.) Along with the spirit they had, with less emphasis on how many millions I need, maybe I would have a different outlook on what the game has become.



4. I recently heard Bob Uecker speak with Vin Scully in the booth during a ball game. He told his signing bonus story and I determined then and there to find out if he'd written a book and if so, to read it. I'm very glad I did. I don't think I've ever had so much fun just reading a book. Uecker talks about his life in baseball and broadcasting. Pictures are included. You don't want to read this book when you are alone. You are going to need another person close by to whom you can read passages aloud. A book for sharing.



5. From my childhood, I recall seeing Bob Uecker all time on those Miller Lite commercials. And I continue to quote his, "I must be in the front row..." to this day.
   Anyone who knows anything about Uke, knows he is a very humorous indvidual. He also had an interesting career as a back up catcher for the Braves, Phillies and Cards.
   This book details Uecker's years in the minors, majors and after baseball.
   His sense of humor is apparent throughout this one. There were many out loud laughs and chuckles in this book.
   If you love baseball and need a laugh, read Catcher in the Wry. Bob Uecker, the master of mediocrity, really shines in this one!

5 comments about One Magical Sunday: (But Winning Isn't Everything).

1. Excellent book. I am not a golfer, but admire Phil Mickelson because it has always seemed to me that he has his priorities straight. His wife and his children are uppermost in his list of what life means to him. Must confess that I merely skimmed the details of the hole to hole play in the Masters tournament being described since I had purchased the book to read about his personal life. However, my husband, who IS a golfer, very much enjoyed the "play by play" in addition to more information on the personal side of Phil. This is an athlete children can look up to and admire without parents fearing an ugly, hidden side. That simply doesn't exist in this athlete. I have always enjoyed watching him play; now I will enjoy those tournaments even more.



2. i find this book very good , iam a golf player and i think that every golf player will enjoyed to read this book , phil mickelson biography is very interesting for a golfer , phil teach : thinks can do when you work hard .



3. This was a very personal book that brought you very close to the life of Phil Mickelson. When he describes his final round at the 04' Masters you feel like you were there with him every step of the way.



4. It was so good I got a audio copy for my husband.



5. If you are a golf fan, this is a must read. My wife read it too and she doesn't even like golf but she loved it too. Great insights into Phil's personal life, family, and values. Definitely worth the read.

5 comments about Danica--Crossing the Line.

1. I originally purchased this book for my daughter as she has recently turned 15 and involved with cart racing.
   
   I read it first and was impressed not only with the racing aspects that my daughter can relate to but the life lessons to be learned by someone who has been there. It seems it's sometimes better coming from someone other than DAD.
   
   To have my daughter passionate about racing is a godsend and I am so proud of my daughter just like the Patrick's must be of their daughter.
   
   I recommend it to any parent of a teenage daughter AND as a gift to a teenage daughter. The boys are on their own!



2. I like one of the previous reviewers was a great supporter of Danica and her accomplishments on the track. However, like he, I was also soured by the ego and general attitude and tone of her personality. Not as enthused about her as I was earlier



3. I had been quite taken by Danica's exploits on the race track and thought getting some insight about her in this book would be interesting.
   
   Instead I got a book written by a woman with an ego so huge as to almost be unbelievable. She has never won a race in any car series, yet she professes to be talented enough to be the best. Always complains that her losses are a result of inferior equipment.
   
   She professes to owe a tremenous amount to Bobby Rahal for believing in her and giving her a chance, yet leaves his team for next year in hopes of again, "beter equipment." She quit racing in Europe when she felt she wasn't getting good enough equipment and says she hasn't contacted the people who sponsored her there since. Claims they told her maybe she should quit when she was frustrated with the equipment she was being provided. She took them up on it,not realizing that they were perhaps tired of her "poor me" attitude.
   
   I think for someone who has never won a race, perhaps she should show some more loyalty and a little bit of humility.
   
   This is unfortunate as I was really liking her racing and wanted to be a fan, but the book has soured me on her attitude.



4. Danica Patrick is currently THE star and main attraction on the IRL racing circuit, being a 24 year old, good looking driver who shows great promise and who happens to be female. She is currently in her second season on the IRL, but despite several great finishes (including a rousing 4th place at the Indy 500 as a rookie in 2005), has yet to win in the IRL.
   
   I saw "Crossing the Line" (219 pages) at my local library, and the curiosity factor was such that I simply had to pick it up. Danica tells her life story (such as it is, at age 24) and it's nice but simply does not make for great reading. The more interesting pages are when she explains her decision to do certain picture shoots that show off her femininity, for which she (rightly so) doesn't apologize (drawing the line at requests from Playboy and the like). But she doesn't have a lot of life experiences to share, and how could she, at age 24? This book was released in late April of this year, to coincide with (cash in on?) the build-up for the buzz of this year's Indy 500...
   
   All that said, Danica, after teasing with jumping to the NASCAR circuit for 2007, has signed on with a new IRL team for next year, and whatever (big) money they are paying her, I'm here to tell you that she's underpaid, as she is almost single-handedly is keeping the IRL circuit from falling off the cliff. Danica shows great promise as a drive, and I'll be interested to see if she can fullfill those promises, but "Crossing the Line" is not a great book, and I'm being mild.



5. 
   I bought this book because I race.....at a much lower level. I was interested in how she came up in racing in Europe. In addition, she is good....rookie of the year is impressive.
   
   However, I had to put the book down after about 20 pages because I could not stand to hear her talk any longer about how great she is. How unstoppable she is...how determined, bulletproof, supreme, brilliant, ultra talented. I was waiting to hear about her experiences coming up as a driver. But every topic change was another opportunity to tell me how incredible she is.
   She is good, young, and hasn't won an Indy race yet. I'm sure an amount of confidence is required for a driver.....but she is over the top.

5 comments about This Game of Ghosts.

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



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



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



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

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




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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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