5 comments about Lita: A Less Traveled R.O.A.D.--The Reality of Amy Dumas (WWE).

1. SOME OF THIS BOOK BY AMY DUMAS IS QUITE INTERESTING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OF IT IS NOT. AMY SPENDS MOST OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS BOOK TELLING US ABOUT HER IDIOT BROTHER WHO CONSTANLY BEATS HER UP, BUT MOM SAYS IT'S HER FAULT. THEN WE ARE FURTHER ENLIGHTENED TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER INTERST IN PUNK BANDS. SHE GOES ON AND ON ABOUT HOW GREAT ALL THESE BANDS ARE. (WHO CARES) THEN WE GET TO READ ABOUT HER PET CODY, THE GREATEST DOG IN THE UNIVERSE. (TOO BAD HE DIES) FROM THERE THE BOOK STARTS TO MOVE ALONG TO WHERE SHE GOT HER FIRST TASTE OF WRESTLING IN MEXICO. WHEN AMY STICKS TO WRESTLING OR HER FEELINGS IS WHEN THIS BOOK IS INTERESTING. ALONG THE WAY SHE MEETS, WRESTLES WITH THEN BECOMES GIRLFRIEND TO MATT HARDY. LITA POPULARITY GROWS AND GROWS. BUT AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT ON THE STAGE OF TV SHOW DARK ANGEL LEAVES AMY WITH A VERY SERIOUS NECK INJURY. HER FEELINGS AND THE CONTENT DEALING WITH OPERATION AND REHAB ARE THE MOST INTERESTING. ALONG THE WAY SHE APPEARS TV SHOWS WEAKEST LINK AND FEAR FACTOR, BOTH OF WHICH SHE DID NOT ENJOY. IF THIS CHICK EVER USED HER BRAIN AND NOT ACTED SO SPONTANEOUSLY SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE THRU ALOT OF THIS DRAMA. SHE SAYS THAT SHE STRIPPED JUST FOR THE MONEY AND THAT SHE FEELS SO UNCOMFORTABLE TAKING HER CLOTHES OFF. GIVE ME A BREAK, SHE LOVES ALL THE ATTENTION. WHY DIDN'T SHE GET A REGULAR JOB? PROBABLY SHE MIGHT OF HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT WHICH SHE HAS A PROBLEM DOING. STILL IF YOU LIKE LITA YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK. IF YOU ARE A CASUAL FAN THEN IT IS FAIRLY ENTERTAINING.



2. This is probably one of the better biographies, that is written by a pro wrestler, I have read. Unlike Edge, she actually went into more depth about her personal life; unlike Kurt Angle, she didn't constantly remind everyone about how great she is. Also, unlike Edge or Kurt Angle, she actually had a lot to say, and gave the reader a very wide variety. So, unlike Edge's book, this could be classified as a biography.



3. As soon as I saw Lita on WWF (I was 15 years old at the time) I knew I was seeing something fresh and exciting. Lita was just so effortlessly cool and natural - nothing like most of the other female wrestlers who I felt were forced into being Barbie doll types. Lita is exactly the type of female wrestler I would have wanted to be...that is if I had even an ounce of athletic ability, which I just don't! I'll never forget watching those incredible moonsaults and hurricanranas and being blown away by her skills. Lita really showed that female wrestlers can be athletic, exciting, tough and sexy AND appeal to both male and female fans. As well as her fabulous partnership with the Hardy Boyz in Team Extreme, I also enjoyed watching her get involved in matches with the 'big boys' such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H.
   
   I was pleasantly surprised then to find that Lita's biography is actually a really, really good read. The co-writer did a great job in making the book flow and sound true to Lita's voice. The book is a good length too - it's not the type of thing that seems really superficial and you can read in 2 hours. I actually stayed up into the early hours to finish it because I just couldn't put it down.
   
   The most impressive thing about Amy is just how far she went to fulfill her dream of becoming a wrestler. Most people (certainly including me!) might have dreams of one kind or another, but would never actually get around to taking any positive action to make it a reality. But when Amy decided she wanted to be a wrestler, she started judo classes and even managed to get backstage at a wrestling event. She then went to Mexico, not knowing anybody, on the off-chance that she would be able to get some wrestling training. She ended up training with some future big names and then worked her butt off on the independent circuit and at ECW because joining WWF. Amy's success as Lita is truly deserved and reading her story inspired me to think that if I put more effort into fulfilling some of my dreams then there is a good chance I can do well in my chosen area.
   
   The second thing that I really admire about Amy is the voluntary work she has done with animals. Even when she broke her neck and was recuperating at home, she went to animal shelters and helped out with the most menial of tasks, which is even more impressive considering she was a very successful wrestler at this point and could have become detached from that way of life.
   
   Obviously, this book was written in 2003 so it doesn't include any of the things that have happened to Amy since, such as working with Edge, the reaction of some of the fans and eventually leaving WWE and forming a band. It does include Amy's background, how she got to WWF and also follows some of my all-time favourite storylines, which took place around 2000 / 2001.
   
   Amy is very honest about the wrestling business and talks alot about the behind the scenes stuff regarding how storylines are put together and matches are worked out and just how little time wrestlers are given to prepare before they have to go out and put on the show. I was shocked sometimes by how little support or common sense the managers at WWE seem to have in terms of storylines or working out what to do with wrestlers, but I suppose it must be hard to run such a huge and complex enterprise.
   
   Overall, this is a great book and I highly recommend it. If you enjoyed watching Lita in the early 2000s then I'm sure you'll love this book too!



4. I'll be perfectly honest I breezed through the first 1/2 to 2/3 of the book. The rest was a slow read. The first and interesting part of the book highlighted her journey to get to the WWE. Her start and journey into the business were highly entertaining. However once she made it to the WWE it seemed like all it was was a night by night account of her happenings for a year. Pretty dull. I struggled to finish it and then gave it to one of my students. I have read almost every wrestling book and all I can say is that it wasn't the worst.



5. This is a credible and important biography of a woman who played a part in wrestling's surge to national popularity. Amy Dumas really did come out of no where to become a household name. From strip clubs to mexican rings to minor valet status, Dumas crafted her talent and charisma to develop the character Lita. Not even a serious neck injury, which she suffered acting and not wrestling, has stopped her. This book, along with Fighting Girls, are the two best books dealing with women's wrestling that I have read.

5 comments about Hermann Maier: The Race of My Life.

1. Hermann Maier's story is inspiring. He tells us all just what it might take to be a world champion. No one has had the same mountians to climb to stand on the top.
   
   A must read



2. This book gave me insight into the competitive world of ski racing and I found it very informative. Maier's comeback from his horrible accident is indeed inspiring, but I found the book way too long and detailed to keep my interest from waning. I finished it, but it was tedious. A good editor and a little more flair could have made this a great book.



3. Herman's book can be subtitled "Don't count me down and out just yet...." And this is the recurring theme throughout.
   
   Perhaps it's the translation into English, but the Herminator comes across as not only a great athlete, but a little too self-centered! It's as everything revolves around his being and return to winning, no make that crushing his competitors and not just the race hill. You can almost "see and hear" the snorting, growling, grimacing in the start gate as you read this book - yet you don't really get a true feeling of what all this means to him other than competition, endorsements, and being the all conquering focus for the Austrians - not even his team mates. But somewhat like Bode Miller, Maier came from "outside" the alpine racing mainstream and perhaps that's why he appears to remain somewhat outside the norm.
   
   I read Bode's book at the same time and in the end, you sure know which guy you want to sit and have a beer with or ski a run with.



4. I have always been a fan of Hermann Maier - not many have the ability to bounce back like he can. I bought the book for my son who is just learning to ski and he really enjoyed the biography. It is a good against all odds story and I would encourage anyone looking for a gift for an aspiring skier to send them a copy.
   
   We have learned that Hermann has a talent for skiing but the guy can write too. The book also teaches good sportsmanship and I want my son to grow up respecting his team mates and have a good attitude. Being a good sport is not just about big sponsors.
   
   We really enjoyed watching him ski and win medals at the Olympics!! And we really enjoyed his book!



5. I thought that Hermann Maier wrote a very candid and authentic book about his victories and struggles in the world of expert skiing...a help to the layman and an inspiration to the professionals about not giving up and how to reach for those goals/dreams!
   
   This book is a realistic perspective of a true hero and athlete and it's a great read for young and old!
   
   I enjoyed it very much and I applaud Hermann for his perspective on life and on skiing.

5 comments about The Greatest Game Ever Played: A True Story.

1. This I believe was Frost's 1st golf history book and previously all his other work had been fiction. Which explains the fictional feel of this book. Frost cites conversation and internal thoughts from the characters to an exent that he can't possibly know if that's what happened. In addition to compromising accuracy, it also makes for a book that's about 2x as long as it needs to be. I found myself often scanning large sections rather than reading every word.
   
   Even with that flaw he still produced a must-read golf history book, that many non-golfers will also enjoy. He excels at putting things in historical and social context, and building fiction-like edge of your seat tension. He's also a master at researching the lives of the main characters, from their beginnings to their endings in the must-read "Afterward" section.
   
   In this case the main characters are British legendary professional golfers Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, US amateur golfer Francis Quimet and his young caddie Eddie Lowery. Although Mr. Quimet's story is reasonably well known in golf circles, Eddie's isn't. And in some ways Eddie is actually the most interesting character, if not the most important. The story goes that young Eddie escaped the grade school truant officer every day so he could caddie for Quimet. And it was Eddie's inspiration, tenacity and timely advice that pushed the young unaccomplished amateur Quimet to an historic conquest over then golfing titans Vardon and Ray.
   
   In Frost's 3rd golf book "The Match" released last year, Eddie would again enter the picture. Now a middle aged successful businessman, he sets up a historic match between the 2 best amateurs of the day (Ken Venturi and Harvey Ward) and the 2 best Pros (Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson). At stake is a presumed $10,000 personal bet (if not more) but even more importantly a seminal event in the future direction of American golf: would the essence of the game remain in the hands of high-minded amateurs who played for pride and honor, or pros who at the time carried the stigma that playing for money compromised their golfing integrity?
   
   In this 2nd effort, Frost clearly refines his style by eliminating much of the characters' internal and external "filler" dialogue, and the result is a book with better momentum and few if any question marks on accuracy. Not coincidentally, "The Match" is about 1/2 the page count of "Greastest Game."
   
   In any case, both of these books are clearly "can't miss" and go together like Godfather's I & II.



2. I found this incredible interview regarding how the game of Golf has changed over the years. You wouldn't believe the evolution! If you have any interest in the history of Golf, this is a must read. If you want to become even more knowledgeable on the subject, scroll to the bottom of the interview and get in touch with the author. After reading, I guarantee you will be able to lead the most interesting discussions and impress your friends!
   
   http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewroden.html



3. I loved the movie so I thought I'd try the book. I was not disappointed. In fact, I believe a second movie based on this book, focussing on the early career and post "Greatest Game" highlights of Harry Vardon, would produce an excellent movie, as well.
   
   My older brother recently retired. My gifts to him were a Caribbean Cruise and a copy of this book to read as he suns on the deck of the cruise ship. When presented with both (gifts), he noted that he too had seen the movie and seemed just as excited to have received a copy of the book, as he was the cruise.



4. This is a terrific book and I'm not even a golfer. I didn't care much for the movie; a buddy of mine recommended reading the book and WOW, it's so much better. I'm not sure who wrote the movie but Frost does a great job of telling the story and holding on to your interest. I loved the biographical background and personality insights he offers. He's a terrific writer.



5. Great detail is setting the stage of how society viewed golf and its champions and how this tournament took that to the next level in popularity. Gives great detail intothe lives of Vardon, Ray, Francis and even Walter Hagen at the beginning of his career. Great for anyone who loves the history of golf and a good old fashion underdog story.

5 comments about Fatal Mountaineer: The High-Altitude Life and Death of Willi Unsoeld, American Himalayan Legend.

1. This book was recommended by an acquaintence and climber. After reading the previous reviews, I had second thoughts. Was the prevalence of outrage, disappointment and desire for a simpler narrative warranted? Were the reviewers who praised the revelation, complexity, and literary quality of the book perceptive or delusional? I proceeded prodded by curiosity.
   
   After all, I'd been raised in John Roskelley's hometown, Spokane; had moved to Willi Unsoeld's home base, near The Evergreen State College campus in Olympia; had worked at the Washington State Department of Ecology with Willi's son, Krag, and had been represented in Congress by his widow, Jolene. Willi's legend hung in the foggy air here. We attended the Willi Unsoeld Seminars established in his memory, to hear talks by poets, writers and activists: Gary Snyder, Terry Tempest Williams, and others. In his role as Spokane County Commissioner, John Roskelley once engaged me in an edgy call about some environmental controversy now blurred by the fogs of time - I simply recall the provocative and aggressive tone of his call.
   
   So, the verdict?
   
   From my perspective this is an excellent, thought-provoking work - one of those books that lodges in the memory where it continues to burn long after the reading's done.
   
   But this is a qualified recommendation. The Fatal Mountaineer (look up all the meanings of `fatal') may well aggravate the reader looking for simple confirmation of his/her opinion regarding Unsoeld, Roskelley, the culture of mountain climbing, or the nature of life. This is a complex drama and tragedy. It covers a lot of territory - from evocative climbing narrative to explication of native Himalayan religious precepts and perceptions, from CIA maneuvers that may have contaminated the Ganges with plutonium to subsequent decisions to protect the high, sacred ground near Nanda Devi; from discussions of transcendental philosophers to explorations of the psychic and medical struggles of these Himalayan climbers. You will need to keep many thoughts in motion and suspension simultaneously.
   
   There are no easy answers here, but stick with this book and you will learn and grow.



2. Having admired Roskelley's accout of the '76 Nanda Devi expedition, I was curious when I found Roper's book on Willi Unsoeld at the Albuquerque library.
   Unlike other reviewers, I felt that Roper's "digressions"--on Bergson, Muir, and on the CIA's attempt to place a tracking device atop Nanda Devi in order to spy on Chinese nuclear testing--were all fascinating, and essential to Unsoeld's (and Devi's) story.
   Roper is a fine writer, capable of vivid, even poetic prose, in an era when we seem to demand nothing but spare, no-frills accounts. Indeed, few books can match Joe Simpson's TOUCHING THE VOID or Herzog's ANNAPURNA in mountaineering lit, but I found this book riveting, both for its accounts of the three central climbs that informed Unsoeld's life and death (Everest, Nanda Devi, Rainier) and for the philosophy that informed his life.
   I would have liked a bit more on Unsoeld's experiences as a guide in the Tetons and on his pre-Everest climbs, but overall, I found this book extremely well-written.



3. Yes, we are all human, and have egos. Mr Roper did more to erode the human Mr Unsoeld with his speculation, grandiose words and tangential philosophy, than to give us insight into the great man himself. I recommend this book to only those who want more 'fluff' and less 'stuff'.



4. Well, what can I say about this book? Not too much. This book read like an opinion column in your local Sunday newspaper or, better yet, like a trash tabloid. The author seemed hell bent on destoying John Roskelley every chance he got. It seemed un-ending, low-brow and ultimately childish, hence, the title to my review.
   At times this book was irritating , other times it made me yawn. Roskelley's book on the Nanda Devi tragedy is a much more engrossing read and hard to put down. Now I'm not comparing this books section on the Nanda Devi tragedy to Roskelley's book but, I do find it interesting that a person who wasn't even remotely associated with the climb can so easily pick it apart and smear the good names of some of its members all the while effectively cannonizing others.
   Which leads me to my next point: This book is supposed to be an homage to a great mountaineer, Willi Unsoeld, but the author doesn't even do his books subject honor. The author re-hashes the American Everest climb from 1963, but this has all been done before, there is no new insight, no new offerings.The author talks about Unseold's untimely death but, again, nothing new. This book, is in effect, boring. It is also aggravating. I found myself getting quite irritated as the author continued to take his perpetual pot shots at Roskelley and Jim States.
   The author wasn't on Devi, he wasn't on Everest in '63 and he wasn't on Ranier with Unsoeld when he died.The author had no first hand experience and I found his biased slop a let down and boring.



5. The writter forgot that this was a book about a mountaineer. This could have been an exciting, inspiring book about a great climber and instead its a book about someone's ramblings since other more interesting books were apparently already written

5 comments about Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock.

1. Inside Out - Straight Talk from a Gay Jock chronicles the challenges and rewards of Olympian Gold Medalist Mark Tewksbury's life as a gay Olympic athlete. There are two stories in this book - the story of the gay athlete, and the story of rampant corruption of the IOC and illegal drug use by athletes prevalent in the Olympics at that time.
   As Tewksbury worked toward his Olympic dream, it became harder and harder to suppress his identity. In order to reach that dream, it was necessary. Sponsorship for a medal contender required signing a morality clause. Inside he felt constrained and deceitful; he was not out to his teammates or competitors.
   Following his gold medal in Barcelona, rumors that he was gay arose based on a Canadian tabloid article. His agent, while aware, never asked Mark. He denied the rumor, threatening to sue the publication, but nothing ever came of it. But Tewksbury's inner sense of self was suffering more and more.
   While at University in Sydney, Australia, Mark outed himself via his senior paper. Sharing his experience as a gay athlete in a masculine sport won him an Academic Achievement award, and largely freed him of the internalized homophobia that had kept him closeted for years.
   Then he and a few other athletes organized Olympic Athletes Together Honorably (OATH). Their goal was to force the IOC to live up to their professed mission. OATH managed - against fierce opposition from the IOC - to engage much of the world in this issue.
   No longer welcome in the IOC, Tewksbury went on to engage with the Gay Games, then helped found the World OutGames, both developing world-class competition between gay athletes. During this period, he discovered that several of his competitors were also gay - and had been equally closeted during their most competitive years.
   Interesting and very well written, this book relates one man's overcoming of his personal demons on the way to a satisfying and successful life. A good read.



2. The book starts out smoothly but as the chapters progress the bio/story line becomes a bit fragmented and choppy. Towards the end it seems more like a gossipy he-said she-said tabloid style pitch than a fact-based level headed story. He did reveal some very interesting info about the entrenched Olympic game culture and the extent of homophobia found in that industry and nationwide. Overall: Amusing at times, but the author (Mark Tewksbury) seems a bit flighty and indecisive, and is not the stalwart masculine rock of a man that I was hoping to read about.



3. The cover photos on Mark Tewksbury's autobiographical Inside Out: Straight Talk From a Gay Jock are incredibly masculine. The handsome face on the front, the sexy, virile body on the back, the flexed arm holding a fistful of Olympic medals. So it's quite a shock to discover that as a boy, Tewksbury loved to dress up in his grandmother's clothes, and that, like so many of us, he was teased and taunted as a fag in high schoo.
   
   How does a man make such a transformation? Tewksbury eloquently sums up his ability to win Olympic gold in the 1992 Olympics this way: "I gazed around the room slowly. The best swimmers from Russia, Cuba, the United States, Spain, Germany and France were in front of me. And I was different. I was the fag. And in that moment I owned my truth completely. I thought, `If these guys knew how hard it was for me to get here, they wouldn't believe it. They have no bloody clue what I have been through. Or how strong I am.'"
   
   Those sentiments enabled him to succeed. "I went out and swam, dropping more than 1.2 seconds from my personal best... to win the first gold medal for Canada in Barcelona."
   
   The book is an interesting mix of evasiveness and the titular "straight talk." Tewksbury is open about his long-term relationship with a gay couple, as well as his pursuit of a paid escort. There's a lot that remains unsaid, though he's frank about the depression that struck after his Olympic win, closely tied to his own internalized homophobia.
   
   The biggest accomplishment of this book is its ability to present Mark Tewksbury as a real person--not just a sexy hunk or an Olympic idol. Though he's not yet forty, he (and his country) have come a long way since he won that gold medal.
   
   Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)



4. Decades after Dave Kopay's ground-breaking autobiography, there still are very few elite athletes who have been willing to come out of the closet. Therefore, Mark Tewksbury's memoir gains an automatic interest. Tewksbury, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in the backstroke (he upset favored American Jeff Rouse), does not focus a great deal in "Inside Out" on this triumph, at least in part because he has already penned a book on that topic, but mostly because he wants to focus on what he views as more essential subjects. He talks of his family and his generally unhappy childhood, his early same-sex crushes, his fear of exposure both before and especially after his rise to the highest rank of his sport, all to frequently moving effect. His accounts of his foray within the international Olympic movement, and later involvement with the nascent Gay Games, offer fascinating glimpses into the politics and intrigue of big-time sports.
   
   All this may seem like a lot to stuff into a relatively short book, and in fact, it is. Tewksbury, who on the evidence is a decent writer, spends so much time recounting events that there is not much time for atmosphere or reflection, though one might take this as an accurate conveyance of what frequently seems to be a frantic, fast-paced life. When he does pause to talk about his emotions his plain style is genuinely touching, as in his account of his father's death from cancer. Though one may wonder just how hard a skilled athlete with a strapping physique and dazzling smile (evident in many of the photos, though the beefcake element is kept low-key), not to mention a gift for public speaking, could possibly have it, Tewksbury's willingness to reveal his inner anguish and vulnerability cannot fail to touch the reader. Until such time as the world of sport comes to terms with the sexual orientation of some of its greatest representatives books such as "Inside Out" will be necessary.



5. This was a really good book. I really enjoyed the part about Mark's experience with being on the various committees and his speaking career. It was interesting to read something about an athlete who talked about other things he did besides just performing the sport itself.
   
   I wish an athlete would write a book that came out before or during his participation in the sport instead of after. While I still have a lot of respect for people like Mark who come out, they have already won the medals and made their cash, so they really aren't risking their careers any longer.

3 comments about Cherry's Jubilee: Singin' And Swingin' Through Life With Dino And Frank, Arnie And Jack.

1. Don Cherry is one of our better vocalists: comfortable in the same links as Perry Como, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and other top-notch performers.
   
   Speaking of links, Don has also served his time as a professional golfer.
   
   This book reflects the real talent and determination of this good ol' boy from Wichita Falls, Texas. Whether you are a fan of his music, his golf-swing ... or both ... you'll enjoy every page.
   
   Lots of attention grabbing references to some of the most popular names in entertainment are found here. Don knew all of them on a first-name basis and presents his various thoughts about them as "smooth-and-easy" as he handles a 9-iron.
   
   Don Cherry deserves a "standing ovation" for this perfectly constructed book.



2. Super great book. A lot of things happened in professional golf in the 60's and 70's. This book brings a accurate outlook. A great golfer that was over looked by the hughness of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player. Also the fact this great golfer had another profession. I can't think of another great golfer than had another profession where you could make a lot of money from their talent.
   Sincerely, Carl Welty



3. Don Cherry is the guy who has led the life you wish you could have. It's a terrific rags to riches story but with incredible and great stories along his journey. Don Cherry would have to be added to your fantasy list of people you'd like to have dinner with one day.
   
   I highly recommend this book - it's a great read for all ages.

5 comments about Jim Otto: The PAIN OF GLORY.

1. I would rekemand this book to ennyone who loves football. Esspeshly the raiders. I love al davis and Jim otto and this book tells a tale of both. Kudos to the author. Wow!



2. Reviewer: Bisoneyes from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom
   Jim Otto. The Pain of Glory is a book that covers Otto's life to date, but pays particular attention to the early years of the storied NFL club the Oakland Raiders.

   Beginning with his poor childhood in rural Wisconsin, the book tracks Otto's progression to college, and on to the NFL. It outlines Otto's determination to succeed when all about him were telling him he was too small to play college football at the centre position, let alone go on to the Pro game.

   Once at the Raiders the book highlights the painful beginnings for the club, and the struggles Otto overcame to become an All Pro centre. Otto's obvious love for the club and for its owner Al Davis shine through the pages. Along with this Otto highlights the key players with whom he played football with and tells some great stories about the likes of Ben Davidson, Kenny Stabler and other Raider greats.

   He speaks out in the book against the modern NFL and the attitude of the player and their agents. He rages against the inclusion of players he consider unworthy of selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but whose busts stand side by side with his. Finally he lambasts the NFL who called him a liar.

   Most movingly though Otto speaks of the 'Pain of Glory'. About the untold operations he has had on his once primed body, which is now giving up on him as he pays for the success he enjoyed in ways he probably never thought of. This section is an emotional, insightful and tragic commentary on professional football.

   In summary 'The Pain of Glory' is a superb reflection on an exemplorary career. Its a must read for all Raiders fans, and those interested in the NFL.




3. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME. JIM OTTO WAS TRULY A MAN DEDICATED TO HIS PASSION. HE PLAYED THRU SO MANY INJURIES THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED MANY CAREERS. HIS DESCRIPTION OF HIS MANY KNEE INJURIES HAD ME WINCING AND MY KNEES WERE HURTING JUST READING ABOUT THE PAIN HE ENDURED THRU OUT HIS CAREER. AN AMAZING MAN WITH SUCH A TOLERANCE FOR PAIN. HIS RETELLING OF EARLY RAIDER DAYS WAS VERY NOSTALGIC. I ENJOYED HIS COMMENTS ABOUT LYNN SWANN AND VARIOUS OTHER FORMER PLAYERS AND OWNERS. A MUST READ FOR ALL RAIDER FANS AND FOR FANS WHO LIKED PLAYERS WHO WERE AS TOUGH AS NAILS.



4. Jim Otto's injuries have left him a pitiful cripple, in constant pain, who can't do even the simplest physical tasks that normal people take for granted. He will probably die soon from their aftereffects, in fact should have died from them several times already. We know this because he says so, while matter-of-factly stating that, if he had it to do over again, he would do things exactly the same?! I don't get it, and even if I did get it I wouldn't approve of it--if there is anything worth putting yourself through this kind of hell for, it is surely not the fleeting "glory" of the football field. In spite of, or maybe because of, all this, the book is endlessly readable and interesting--his hardcore masochism holds the same kind of strange fascination that makes people watch car wrecks (and football games, I suppose). It helps that Otto comes across as very likable, even admirable in his way--honest, conscientious, and of course dependable. Even if at times he seems to be rather, um, stupid.



5. A very straight forward book by Jim Otto. There is a price when one wants to achieve or aspire to achieve glory on the gridiron. Jim Otto is that person and he candidly tells us what he was willing to sacrifice to reach that plateau. For the Raider fan at heart, or a football fan in general, this is the book to read.

5 comments about Kurtis-Kraft: Masterworks of Speed and Style.

1. A beautifully manufactured book chronicling the career of a unique, self taught, instinctive race car designer and builder. Frank Kurtis' creations have been long time favorites of mine, and this book very thoroughly recounts the production history of his distinctive automobiles. It also provides insight into the resourcefulness that kept his family and business afloat during harder times. Highly recommended.



2. This is a well-researched book will plenty of interesting facts. Excellent photographs complement the text and re-create the era. Highly recommended.



3. This is a wonderful book covering the career of one of the great racecar designers and builders of all time. I can't imagine how a better job could have been done with the subject in the same space. Many, many great photos illustrate this history and the text is first-rate.



4. This is book full of cool pictures of cool cars. I really like these early roadsters, so I buy everything I can about them. I have to agree with the other review, though, the writing in this really is bad. There are so many cool pictures, though, that they make up for the writing. If you like roadsters and already know a good deal about them, buy the book. If you are a first timer looking for an introduction to the history, this one probably isn't for you.



5. Too bad about this book....Great topic, some good pics, but the author just ran the subject into the ground. I don't think he could connect two thoughts if his life depended on it, so to make up for it, he simply spilled out every mundane detail he could dig out about Frank Kurtis and/or his cars. There is a lot of good primary stuff here, but the author did a lousy job of historiography in distilling it into a concise, engaging story.

   The pictures COULD have been awesome, but they are not. Many look like they were photocopies or bad digitals that were reproduced. I am surprised the publisher even considered them...in any case, it contributed to the overall fact that the book is a pile. It really is too bad. This is a very cool period of racing and an interesting, albeit, not crucial, part of the history. The neatest thing about the book is the cover. It will look darn nice on your shelf if you end up with a copy. You will like the pictures, but don't try to decipher the author's ramblings. It will only turn you against Frank Kurtis and his very cool cars.

1 comments about It's in the Blood: My Life.

1. lawrence Dallaglio is one of the top rugby player in England. That guy is not only known here for his "good looking" features that owned him the unofficial title of the sexiest man of the Rugby world cup 2007 (title given by a women s mag), but most of all for being a charistmatic captain of the England s squad .
   Rugby being for us here, what american football is for you on your side of the pond.
   Here is a fun book, entertaining, easy to read, well written that will bring you deep in the world of rugby, and most of all, does remind us that behind the massive (6ft4 , 17st4Lbs) features of Lawrence Dallaglio , hide a genuinely friendly nice guy
   
   regards to you all from England

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.