5 comments about Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero.

1. This book 'Eddie Would Go' is a great read if your are a water man or surfer.



2. This is an important book about surfing. Watching movies like "Riding Giants" you will most likely be left with the impression that native Hawaiian contributions to this sport stopped sometime in antiquity, last one being The Duke, and that the only object of surfing is to make a stunt video or earn a title. In fact, if you come to Hawaii and really look beyond the hype, you will likely find that the sport continues to be sustained and nourished by its many faceted native Hawaiian roots, the spirit of Aloha being most important, courage ("Eddie Would Go"), synergy with nature ("Eddie Wouldn't Tow"), family values, music, humility, spirituality (all of which manifest as "free spirited hippie culture" in pop culture) and, of course, the sheer enjoyment of the ocean, while being respectful, for "pleasure instead of treasure".



3. I liked the commentary and collected anecdotes in the book. Eddie was the kind of guy that is typical of Hawaii. Holmes describes his character as self-effacing, humble, generous... always giving of himself to others. These are attributes which are valued in the local Hawaiian culture and also,universally. Sadly, the very things which locals in Hawaii value the most, are taken advantage of by outsiders looking to capitalize or commercialize the "Aloha," shown to them. This is demonstrated continually in the book.
   Overall, a very interesting biography written with respect and conviction to the legacy that Eddie "lived" during his short life. Many details in the book encourage self-introspection within one's own life.



4. 
   An intriguing tribute to hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau, "Eddie Would Go" explores the life journey of a true native legend. From big-wave surfing, to saving countless lives as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay, Eddie epitomized the true essence of Hawaii and the spirit of "aloha." This book embraces the strong family connection that is so inherent in hawaiian culture, while focusing on the characteristics that made Eddie a local hero, a surfing icon and a dedicated waterman.
   
   Author Stuart Holmes Coleman explores Eddie's lifelong connection to the ocean, while also giving a glimpe of life as it was and is on the ever famous North Shore. Always the adventurer, Eddie's passion for the water would bring him across infinite miles of ocean over the course of his lifetime, and in the end would serve appropriately as his eternal resting place. This book transcends all genders, ages, races, surfers and adventure seekers alike, a thrilling gem of a read for all. An epic tale, it will stir your emotions and touch your soul. Eddie was an inspiration to many and a friend to all, and his spirit lives on in this book just as it will forever in the ocean.



5. This book is a true story with many messages. Eddie Aikau was a hero many times over, a warrior waterman. He was a hero to the many whose lives he saved. He was a hero to the Hawaiian culture. He was a hero to his crewmates on the Hokuleia.
   
   He wasn't perfect, however. Author Stuart Coleman worked very hard to find the true Eddie, separating the man from the myth, the sinner from the saint.
   
   If you like reading about surfing, the Hawaiian culture, and people who have influenced the reputation of the Hawaiian North Shore, this is the book. The photos are terrific, but the story is sad. I thank Coleman for pulling it all together.

5 comments about Black Maestro: The Epic Life of an American Legend.

1. the sport of horseracing owes much to the African Americans who have nutured its athletes. Rarely, however, are those unsung heros shared with the public.
   
   This well written and very well researched book shares the life of one of the sport's more colorful participants and gifted partners to equine athletes - Jimmy Winkfield.
   
   The pages kept turning, the story was fascinating, and the author did a lovely job in both pace and content.
   
   If you have any interest in the "sport of kings" and those who make it come to life, this book is an important read. For those who just want to read the story of a gifted athlete whose genetic makeup destroyed his promise on American soil, this will inspire you as to Jimmy's fortitude and once again bewilder you at the mindset that eventually took his craft out of his home country.
   
   put it on your read list.



2. This book is so well written that it got me hooked on it right away and I am not a racing fan. The author, Joe Drape really captured the essence of Jimmy Winkfield and brought his story to life in this book. After reading this book I was left with the firm understanding that man can accomplish so much in a lifetime; it is up to us to make something of our lives regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. It is a truly amazing account of one man's life. Jimmy Winkfield is a legend and I would not have heard about him if it were not for this book.



3. The media sometimes works in very strange ways. Several years ago, middle-distance running star Steve Prefontaine had two movies on his life released literally simultaneously.
   
   And with forgotten jockey legend Jimmy Winkfield, two of the best turf scribes going - Ed Hotaling and Joe Drape - end up publishing biographies within several months of each other, with Drape's being the second to reach the bookstores.
   
   Winkfield's story is one for the ages, as this black jockey battled racism on and off the track in the United States & financial ruin caused by two world wars while forging a racing and training career in Europe. Winkfield was aboard the winning mounts in the 1901 and 1902 Kentucky Derbies - the last black jockey to win the renowned race - and rode in the 1903 event, before Jim Crow destroyed the remaining careers of black riders.
   
   Born into a family of sharecroppers, Winkfield initially pursued his racing dream at Latonia Ractetrack, grooming horses and as an exercise rider before getting the opportunity as a jockey.
   
   Early in his riding career he got caught in the middle of the turf wars by mobsters at the Chicago racetracks, where it wasn't good for business - or health - for a jockey to ride races honestly.
   
   After racism slammed the sport's doors, Winkfield forged an outstanding career in pre-revolutionary Russia. But World War I and the Communist Revolution found Winkfield leading an expedition of individuals and Thoroughbreds out of the war-torn nation. The escape alone is worthy of a book or movie.
   
   Settling in Paris, Winkfield again picked up the pieces at the track as a trainer and jockey. But the opening salvos of World War II forced Winkfield to flee France before the Nazi occupation and return to America.
   
   A telling and tragic scene is his invitation by Churchill Downs officials to be honored in a ceremony before the 1961 Kentucky Derby and the ugly racism he faced in trying to walk through the front doors to the banquet.
   
   Buried in France with a plain gravestone that - in Russian - says, "Moscow," sums up the feelings Winkfield felt about where he was most comfortable and accepted as an athlete and - importantly - as a human being.
   
   Winkfield is arguably the greatest jockey ever to ride in this country. And maybe having two biographies published in rapid-fire fashion will finally help him gain the recognition he truly deserved after all these years.



4. I read Black Maestro this summer. It was a great read so I'm buying several more copies to give as Christmas presents. The book works on several levels. It is first and foremost a book that details the triumphs of a black man at the turn of the century and his subsequent quest to do what he loves to do - race horses. The book also describes the trials that the black athelete faced in the United States during the first half of the 20th century. It would take 50 years before atheletes such as Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron were able to break the "color barrier". Finally, Black Maestro is a great adventure across two continents and through two world wars - I imagine Hollywood is already chomping at the bit to get this story on the silver screen.



5. What a story! Born one of 17 children in a poor, black, Kentucky farm, Jimmy Winkfield won the Kentucky Derby twice. He tried again in 1903 but failed and his career was over. Except that by moving to Europe and Russia he continued as a top rider in the Sport of Kings.
   
   He was doing exceedingly well when the 1917 Revolution came along to disrupt. So what he did then was to collect some 250 horses and drive them to Poland. Later he moved to Paris and was living there when the Germans came in 1940. He returned to the United States where he again became a victum of the blatent racism of the time. Again he was able to persevere and prosper by turning broken-down thoroughbreds into money-making racehorses.
   
   This is an exceedingly well researched, very well written book that brings a little known sports figure a small amount of the recognition he deserves. This book follows 'Wink: The Incredible Life and Epic Journey of Jimmy Winkfield (ISBN: 0071418628)'
   
   When asked why he picked this subject, the author responded: 'Jimmy Winkfield lived a life that transcended sports or horses. He witnessed lynchings, felt the constraints of Jim Crow laws. He was a rich man with a white valet in Russia. He romanced beautiful women on three continents, dodged bullets and the Bolsheviks to save some of the world's finest thoroughbreds in a trail drive that makes 'Lonesome Dove' look like a walk in the park. He was chased out of France by the Nazis and, in 1961, had to demand the right to enter a party that he was invited to at Louisville's Brown Hotel. This wild arc was all made possible because of Jimmy's singular gift for communicating with racehorses.'

5 comments about Racing My Father: Growing Up With a Riding Legend.

1. On July 4, 2008, I had the unusual pleasure of a quiet afternoon with no plan. My shaggy dog and I piled into the car and drove down to a place that has often brought pleasure, Middleburg. We watched a polo match, had lunch (well, I had lunch -- Annie sat in the car, parked under a shady tree) at the Red Fox Inn, and then wandered around town that has lots of nice memories for me.
   
   One memory was meeting Dick Francis in Middleburg, at the end of a long day of book signing. He's a favorite author, dating back to my first overseas trip, to go to school in England for the summer, discovering Dick Francis novels at the local public library. That introduced me to the world of men who thrill to chase, to the race.
   
   This 4th of July, I discovered a new pleasure, Patrick Smithwick's memoir, Racing My Father. I started reading while sitting in the car with my dog, and I was hooked -- I'm writing this short recommendation the same weekend, having read almost non-stop, with a few tears still clinging to my lashes as I type.
   
   A lovely book of people who are real. Filled with good moments, Moments to laugh, to shake your head ruefully, to wince, to put the book down because you are afraid of what the next paragraph might reveal, only to return within ten minutes with a renewed sense of fortitude and wonder.
   
   A very worthwhile read. My highest compliment.



2. I have never ridden a horse or seen a steeplechase race. But, I thoroughly enjoyed Patrick Smithwick's Racing My Father. It is several poignant stories well told. It is about a boy coming of age, a father-son relationship, the world of steeplechase racing and character as well as characters.
   
   The book is written with a subtle beauty. Smithwick shares his memories with readers in a vivid, vibrant and engaging style. A couple times early in the book I had to stop and check to make sure I was reading about something that happened more than 40 years ago. It seemed as if it was yesterday. I assume Smithwick relied on journals and some of his earlier creative writings. And, of course, he's a masterful writer.
   
   I felt like I was right in the saddle with Smithwick. It was exhilarating, scary, dramatic and euphoric. He, however, writes as skillfully about his relationships, particularly with his famous father Paddy, and the other parts of his life as he does the races. Racing My Father is an impressive winner.



3. "Racing My Father" so very elegantly captures the blood bond between the steeplechase titan and his son. Not incidentally, it's the poignant coming-of-age story of a gifted young man who struggles, often recklessly, to find his way. The story is so gripping that I blew through it as I would a thriller novel, eagerly turning page after page. Patrick Smithwick has done a wonderful job bringing to life the steeplechase world of 40 years ago. Since Patrick's uncle Mikey Smithwick died just last spring, after the book was published, it's a timely tribute to him as well. There were so many delightful sub-stories. For instance, I laughed aloud at the description of riding Limbo, the monstrous 18.1-hand Thoroughbred. I hadn't heard that name in decades. My only regret is that my late dad, who chronicled and celebrated the Maryland breeding/racing scene for 40 years, was not here to read this gem. I can hear him right now summing up Paddy Smithwick: "Helluva good guy, and dead game." No higher compliment possible.



4. Knowing some of the real-life characters peripherally, living in the area, and having been an avid Dick Francis reader, I thought I knew what to expect- a testosterone heavy, adrenaline rush, winning at all costs type of sports-hero book, set in a familiar location. I found, instead, an honest, open, gentle, yet exciting and riveting story of a boy's relationship with his famous father, and how his father's career, successes, injury, and death affected his son and the extended family. The writing was understated and unaffected, and the subject completely compelling and spellbinding. I look forward to more from Mr. Smithwick in the future- fiction or nonfiction.



5. One of the rare books that I savored so I could read one enthralling chapter a night before bed. In anecdote after incident Paddy Smithwick emerges as such an extraordinary person that one is left convinced that what made him a sporting legend with the unique stature he is still accorded was a character as exceptional as his riding skills. The text is carefully crafted so that almost every aspect of riding, and specifically, steeplechase riding, is touched upon, and what was interesting to this dressage-oriented reader was how many of the truths, objectives, and techniques are commonly shared by the two branches of the sport. Also thought-provoking to those familiar with the contemporary horse show world's emphasis on winning, often even over riding well and sportsmanship, was the era the author evokes when a competitive drive could still accommodate true horsemanship and sportsmanship. And in the generosity of spirit with which the author relates tales of events and people that probably, in actuality, had less flattering aspects, it is clear that the legacy of Paddy Smithwick lives on.

5 comments about Golden Boy.

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



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



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



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



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

5 comments about Chasing the Rodeo: On Wild Rides and Big Dreams, Broken Hearts and Broken Bones, and One Man's Search for the West.

1. While rodeo insiders may find fault with this book and quibble over details, it remains an excellent introduction to the history, the personalities, and the meaning of this sport as it's evolved over the past century. Stratton, a journalist based in Austin, TX, with roots in Oklahoma, comes by his "kicker" credentials fairly enough - his mother a cowgirl in her own right and his father a rodeo cowboy who went on down the road and never came back. Stratton's book is a personal journey, a search for an understanding of the romance of rodeo - the call of the wild in the soul, the appeal of risk-taking, the love of a past that can be recaptured for a moment in a beautifully executed ride on a bucking horse or bull. And he does much to reclaim the essentials of a pastoral ritual that has been compromised by commercialism, corporate sponsorships, and marketing that positions it as an extreme sport.
   
   Stratton covers some familiar ground that will not be new for all readers, but many stories deserve retelling, such as that of George Fletcher at the 1911 Pendleton Roundup, the first bulldogger, Bill Pickett, and the death of champion bull rider Lane Frost. Then there is an account of the first rodeo "cowgirl," Lucille Mulhall and of Indian cowboy Will Sampson, who played Chief Bromden in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." In Prescott, AZ, he has occasion to recall at length the rodeo film "Junior Bonner" with Steve McQueen.
   
   There is a wide array of other personalities who find their way into Stratton's book: Justin McBride, Will Rogers, Tom Mix, Willie Nelson, Jack Kerouac, Ben Johnson, Theodore Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill Cody, and evangelist Susie Luchsinger. He gets closest to the sport itself in conversations with all-around champion Jesse Bail and bullriding champion Freckles Brown. The first-chapter account of Brown's famous ride on Tornado at the National Finals in 1967 just takes your breath away. Finally there is the search for the story of Stratton's absent cowboy father, which rounds out the book with more than a little poignance. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone curious about rodeo, the fascination it holds for both fans and participants, and its place in American popular culture.



2. Rodeo's roots may be in the primitive West of the past, but today it's prime-time TV material, even while steeped in tradition, filled with pros and tours. Journalist W.K. Stratton followed the pro rodeo circuit for one year, exploring the history of chutes to its current popularity and uncovering myths and realities alike. His findings about the people and politics of today's rodeo make for lively reading in Chasing The Rodeo: On Wild Rides And Big Dreams, Broken Hearts And Broken Bones, And One Man's Search For The West. A spirited account of today's wild riders.



3. Having grown up in Texas, I easily recognize many names and places and am quite familiar with rodeos. W.K. Stratton brilliantly blends the romantic lure of the rodeo as an expression of the American West with the univeral theme of the quest for identity. The book is a delightful mixture of colorful characters, amusing anecdotes, and sad stories. Mr. Stratton's personal quest mirrors that of all, not just those familiar with the sport or the region. His story's appeal lies in the universality of each human's struggles with issues of identity, values, and sense of place. I heartily recommend Chasing the Rodeo to anyone who appreciates a book that both transports one to another time and place and allows one the opportunity to be inspired by another's personal journey through life.



4. **For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?** "Kip" Stratton has written a winner of a book, here. I felt it appropriate to begin this review with that familiar biblical quote, although "Chasing The Rodeo" is about the search for soul as well as about its diminution. What I mean by "soul" in this context is that which makes us part of society as well as unique individuals within it. Stratton's father, whom he never met, was a bull rider. Stratton's literal search for his father is overlaid onto his broader search for the soul of the rodeo and the American West.
   
   As this book makes clear, the towns that hold rodeos provide an essential part of its unique character. Moving the National Finals Rodeo from Oklahoma, which is steeped in Rodeo tradition, to Las Vegas is symbolic of the sacrifce of soul for that most America of obsessions, making money. Character is also lost when things are made safe and sanitary, and when elements that are foreign are incorporated into a thing in order to make it "accessible" to a wider audience. Early in the book, Stratton frets about being "a generic, white bread American" but learns that the "Kicker Culture" is as much a part of him as it is of the Rodeo. I grew up in a small town in North Texas and will tell you that the "Kicker Culture" ain't pretty and it ain't sanitary or even safe, but it is genuine. There are parts of it that should be eschewed entirely, but never "prettied up."
   
   Stratton obviously spent a great deal of time researching this book. It is chock-full of the people and places that make up this sport and their history. At the same time, he does not blink from calling racism what it is or identifying as bovine scat some of the aspects of recent Rodeo venues. He may offend some folks in doing so. But to be less than honest in his assessment of these things would certainly diminish the soul of the book.



5. In these fractious times, it is a joy to come across a book that embraces something as distinctly American as the rodeo. W.K. Stratton has delivered a handsomely-rendered treasure for every man who ever wanted to be a cowboy and every woman who ever wanted to be a cowboy's sweetheart. He traces the origins of rodeoing, takes us to this wild sport's biggest events, and introduces us to the kind of outsized characters it is hard to believe still exist. So here's to Freckles Brown, the rodeo clown who rode the fiercest bull in captivity, and to Jesse Bail, the spiritual descendant of Larry Mahan and Ty Murray and all the great rodeo riders who preceded him. And here's to Stratton himself, the son of a rodeo bum, who weaves the search for traces of his father into the larger tale he is telling without ever getting thrown by it. He stayed in the saddle, and by doing so, he has given readers a chance for the ride of their lives.

5 comments about Lute!: The Seasons of My Life.

1. I got this book for my husband for Father Day and he absorbed it in about 3 days! Must be some interesting book ....He stated it was a really good read. Not to mention I recieved 20.00 off the bookstore price by ordering on Amazon ....



2. If you are an Arizona fan you will love this book for the personal info the newspaper never could give. Interestingly written too. All basketball fans will enjoy the coaching insights.



3. For basketball fans this book is a humorous look in to the hectic life of a hall of fame basket ball coach and his college players. A very enjoyable and insightful book. It kept my interest throughout the whole book and brought many smiles.



4. Glad Lute had a good year with pen and paper because he certainly didn't have a good year on the courts.



5. I just finished Lute! and thoroughly enjoyed what I read. Ironically, I finished the book a couple of days after the North Carolina Tar Heels (go Heels!) thrashed the Arizona Wildcats by 20 some odd points. Reckon this was payback for the times Arizona beat UNC in the March Madness Tournaments of years past.
   
   Among the topics covered in the book were:
   
   1. Lute Olson's early childhood and early love of basketball.
   2. Various coaching jobs - high school, Long Beach State, Iowa, Arizona.
   3. Relationships with certain coaches (Roy Williams, Bobby Knight, John Wooden, Al McGuire, Jerry Tarkanian, Pete Newell, etc.).
   4. His long-time marriage to his first wife, Bobbi, whom he obviously loved very much and was deeply hurt by her passing.
   5. His current marriage to Christine Torreti.
   6. Relationships with various college basketball players.
   7. Summaries of his various seasons at the colleges he coached at and how they ended (sometimes after a deep run in the NCAA tournament, sometimes, an early first-round exit).
   8. Relationships with other family members and various friendships.
   9. Description of his recruiting, publicity, and other basketball coach-related duties.
   10. Several instances of good humor.
   
   The book was a joy to read and I gained a deeper appreciation for Coach Olson. As a matter of fact, if I had a son who was college basketball material, I would count it a privilege if he played for Coach Olson at Arizona (assuming, of course, that none of the basketball powerhouses in the ACC were interested in him!).
   
   All in all, a great read about a class act. Highly recommended.

5 comments about American Miler: The Life and Times of Glenn Cunningham.

1. To understand Glenn Cunningham, one must understand more than the runner and the author does just that in his moving account of a life like no other. Not content with just feeding us events and stats from a bygone era when Glenn dominated the oval for a decade, the author over the life of the book layers the philosophy and personality of a truly great soul whose life's work arguably began after his spikes were hung up. While I was amazed at Cunningham's struggle to overcome his crippling childhood tragedy (and in the process become an icon of inspiration for a Depression era population strongly craving a hero), I was moved by his fervent desire to help troubled children on his ranch. In an era of millionaire narcissists who crave the pleasure and fame offered by their craft, Glenn stands out as a humble giant, eschewing money for meaning, and in the process living a life that was both singular and unforgettable. Not just another running book. Be prepared to meet a most noble character who tackled life on his own terms and who defined what it meant to be a tough and sensitive man.



2. Cunningham's perseverance, achievements, and conscientiousness are extraordinary, but the writing is average, and the story bogs down as it chronicles Cunningham's career race-by-race in repetitive detail. As a runner, I tend to enjoy race accounts, but here they lose their drama after awhile--the reader has little reason to care about the outcome of yet another low-stakes event featuring (often) the same participants as previous races. Unfortunately, the races are the most exciting part of the text throughout much of the book, so it gets just plain boring. I might recommend skimming it to get a sense of who Cunningham was, but personally I wouldn't spend any money on this book.



3. Exactly what an online retailer should be. Prompt, well packaged and good value.



4. The true story of the incomparable Glenn Cunningham is one full of extraordinary perserverance and determination. Dr. Keill does a remarkably adept job of creating the world in which Mr. Cunningham grew up. This is the story of a boy so severely burned in a school house fire that doctors feared he would never walk again (his older brother died as a result of his burns in the same fire). He regains his ability to walk and run. His family suffers through depression era Kansas farm life and Glenn never gives up his dream of an education. His quest to become a world class runner is truly inspiring. The life he carves for himself after his running career ends is even more remarkable. GLENN CUNNINGHAM IS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!



5. This book is well written and interesting. As a high school teacher I will use it to encourage students to make/reach goals.

5 comments about Fred Claire: My 30 Years in Dodger Blue.

1. Claire's book on his time with the LA Dodgers is a great read for any baseball fan. He provides a clear picture of the behind the scenes events in the front office of one of the most revered sports franchises.



2. Fred Claire writes about his days with the Dodgers-- and does it well. The book flows together in a way that makes you love reading, with in-depth stories and experiences, one of the best GMs of all-time amazes baseball fans with his profound book.



3. How many times have true baseball fans wanted to be a fly on the wall in a baseball general manager's office? Fred Claire's book, "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue," does just that. It is an interesting, informative and very entertaining look at baseball from the inside out.
   
   This behind the scenes look at how a baseball organization operates includes an insiders look at the game. Much like a ballplayer who does more for his team than shows up in the box score, Claire's book takes into account the personalities that make up an organization. He explains player transactions and some of the politics that are part of every team.
   
   In short, "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" is a must read for die-hard baseball fans as well as casual fans who would like to learn more about the game. After reading this book, I sincerely hope that Fred Claire will grace us with another book about baseball. It would be well worth reading.



4. I am a big Dodger fan and found this book very interesting. The book focuses mostly on the 1987/88 seasons and the Mike Piazza trade. I don't read a lot of books and I found this one interesting and an easy read. The chapters are short and the language is very easy to read. I actually read the whole book over a weekend.



5. Fred Claire's story is a virtual travelogue of 30 years of baseball history, a blast for anyone who loves baseball, especially Dodger fans. He brings a variety of perspectives to his story, falling for the game as a boy in Ohio, covering the game as a beat writer for the Angels and Dodgers, becoming an insider as the Dodgers' publicity director, and building a world championship club as a general manager.
   
   Along the way, Claire recounts unforgettable stories, everything from his own one-game Spring Training "tryout" to signing World Series hero Kirk Gibson, from the release of Orel Hershiser to the day Tommy Lasorda nearly gave up bleeding Dodger Blue to join George Steinbrenner's Yankees. Claire also shares a behind-the-scenes look into the business side of baseball, tracing the Dodgers' evolution from a family-owned business under the legendary O'Malley family to a piece of Rupert Murdoch's Fox empire.
   
   Claire remains connected to the game through a radio show and column for [...] If you've heard or read his work there, "My 30 Years in Dodger Blue" won't disappoint.

No comments about Hockey's Greatest Stars: Legends and Young Lions.

1 comments about Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies).

1. With all the action tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have brought to the sport, it's near certain Jacqueline Edmonson's Venus And Serena Williams: A Biography will bring added attention and a ready audience. The life stories of the tennis pro sisters is shared in chapters which cover their stories and associated topics of gender and race. An excellent addition to Greenwood's biography series.