5 comments about Sawchuk: The Troubles and Triumphs of the World's Greatest Goalie.

1. For those who can remember "Original Six Hockey" the vividness of the players and teams retains a print on the mind, that may be matched only by very unique sporting events.
   
   At this time in sports history, only four American cities really came to know and love their teams (the other two were Canadian), but it was a worshipful relationship.
   
   The action was picked up by local television stations in these cities, and because the players did not wear helmets, the players were recognizable to the average fan. In Detroit, Gordie Howe was as legendary as Al Kaline, and probably much more so. The relationship between fan and player was intimate, and because the league was so small, he teams played each other, including play-offs, sometimes over twenty times a season. The fans knew their team, and they knew the other teams in the league.
   
   This is the back-drop for the author's elegy to Terry Sawchuk, arguably the greatest goalie in NHL history.
   
   Goalies for some reason have had tortured psyches, and Sawchuk battled through many inner demons to perform brilliantly on ice. Perhaps being the last line of defense, or the "gate-keeper" is what turns these players upside down. Or perhaps it is a certain personality of a player that would make him want to aspire to become a goalie.
   
   This is a question the author does not attempt to answer, however, as the title suggests, he makes no attempt to gloss over Sawchuk's off the ice issues.
   
   Sawchuk was a brilliant warrior on the ice, but he battled demons in his personal life such as alcoholism, spousal abuse, and estrangement of his family. Even his teammates felt as if they didn't really know him.
   
   But he played through pain, and performed superbly into his 40's. He set a record which many people never believed would be broken. He was a unique and elite athlete.
   
   The author brings us back to the seasons, and the key games in which Sawchuk performed. He paints a picture of the teams he matched up against and the urgency of the games. The reader can feel the competition between the goalies on the team, and discern the relationships between the players and the front office.
   
   His death occured as the result of a drunken fight with a teammate, and I remember the shock of the media when it was announced. He was only forty one, and still an active player.
   
   I remember someone once described as a mystery within a conundrum within a paradox. Sawchuk falls into this description.
   
   He is a great subject, and it is a very enjoyable book.



2. I started reading this book because I had heard that Patrick Roy, who passed Terry Sawchuk's record of most winningest goalie, was reading it in order to find out more about the goalie he would be passing in the record books. What I found out as I continued reading was that even if you are just a fan of hockey in general, this is a great read. It is so honest that it is almost surprising that the Sawchuk family would want to release some of the information the reader finds out. It is even more interesting to read if you know someone who was an alcoholic, because Terry goes through many of the same troubles that other alcoholics do. The pictures included in the book are helpful and they give an idea of the people in Terry's life as well as the surroundings in his life. The writing style is easy to follow no matter how good of a reader you are, though sometimes the many statistics and names of other hockey players get confusing and boring. All in all, the Sawchuk book is fun to read and it really lets you in on Terry Sawchuks life on and off the ice.



3. THE AUTHOR DOES A SPECTACULOR JOB SHOWING THE GREAT CAREER OF A HOCKEY LEGEND. FROM HIS CHILDHOOD TO HIS FINAL DAYS, TERRY SAWCHUK WAS A VERY COMPLEX MAN. GOOD VS. EVIL FIGHT ALWAYS GOING ON INSIDE HIM. THE DREADED DEMON ALCOHOLISM IS WELL DESCRIBED AS TO WHY HE HAD SUCH ANGER AND MOOD SWINGS. A GREAT CAREER AND TURBULENT FAMILY LIFE. EVERY ASPECT OF SAWCHUK'S LIFE IS SO WELL DESCRIBED BY MR. DUPUIS. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BIOGRAPHIES I HAVE READ. THANKS FOR A GREAT JOB MR. DUPUIS. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.



4. I bought this book as a present for my husband, who is a die hard hockey fan. But, I ended up reading it myself and I really enjoyed it. I get to know more of Terry Sawchuck than just the old NHL goalie whose record was just got broken by Roy. It is not the best written book, but it tells the story that it is suppose to tell. It was an easy and enjoyable reading and I am not even a Red Wings fan.



5. The author's skill in writing indicates that this is a three-star book...as long as you understand that this was written by a fan, for fans. It is not a literary classic. The sentence construction is simple, but that's part of the charm of this book. Interwoven in the book are interviews with Sawchuk's wife, a couple of engaging surviving former teammates, and most obvious, research done in newspaper "morgues". It is written chronologically, highlighting season achievements. Of most interest to me are the tales told by his wife. Sawchuk was a full-blown dysfunctional alcoholic. His wife was most happy when Sawchuk was not around, although the man was around enough to produce seven children.

   The fight/horseplay with teammate Ron Stewart that led to Sawchuk's death was covered in detail. That's mainly why I bought the book. I knew of his career highlights, which you can see on the back of his hockey cards. There weren't enough behind-the-scenes stories regarding each season to hold my interest.

   I understand Jerry Sawchuk, the eldest child, also has written a book about his father. I get the feeling that his book, plus the Dupuis tome, put together could produce a satisfying final product. I need more than Dupuis offers, and finished the book feeling somehow unsatisfied.

5 comments about Allen Iverson: Fear no One.

1. If you like biographies about famous sports people then should read Allen Iverson:Fear No One by John Smallwood.Allen Iverson doesn't have to be your favorite basketball player but if you like basketball you should read it.Read about how he grew up and the challenges he faced.It tells you how he maDe it 2 the NBA. i really like this book and if you like basketballmor A.I.(Allen Iverson)your will definetly like this book.



2. This is a book a bout a young man who is born into poverty but overcomes all challenges he is faced with. Allen practices all his life and is able to make it to the NBA.This book is great because it tells you about alot of basketball games that Allen played in. The author really gets you into the game it feels like you are in the fans watching the game. There was nothing about this book that I didnt like. A part that I really liked was when Allen said "This was a perfect ending to a day" I liked it because i could get excactly what he was saying. If you love basketball you should get this book as soon as possible!



3. If you like sports books then this is the book for you.The book about Allen Iverson tells about a young man who grew up in the flums.He became a great basketball player,and retires and has a great life and family.This book attracted me because there was tons of basketball, and it's always interesting to find out about someone's life from when they grew up in a tough neighborhood. One thing that i didnt like about this book was that it talked to much about his college carrier instead of his more interesting pro carrier. Allen Iverson was obviously my favorite character because of what he had to go through in his though neighborhood with all that violence and drugs and how he stayed away from it and became one of the NBA's greatest players.My favorite line was when Iverson said "This is a great ending to a day!" He said that after he hit the winning buzzer beating shot on page 132. It just made me feel good inside because you know that anything could happen.If you like basketball then you will love this book!One question i have is that why did he do some of those foolish things as a child?I recomend this book to everyone because it teaches that if you try your hardest you can suceed.



4. This story is about a famous basketball player named Allen Iverson. He was born in Virginia Hampton. He lived in a bad neighborhood where people sold drugs and killed people for no reason.Iverson had two sisters.He was the oldest one. he went to Georgetown when he was in college and was a point guard. In college he was the mvp on his team and is the mvp on his team right now in the NBA.Allen Iverson plays for the Philidelphia Sixers.In the 2001-2002 Allstar game Iverson was the mvp.He led his team to the playoffs and then to the championship to play against the L.a. Lakers who was number one on the western cenference.Although the Sixers lost the championship Allen Iverson and the other players on the Sixers Played a heck of a game.The Lakers were impressed to see how good Allen Iverson was and how a little man like Iverson played with sush a big heart. Even though the Sixers had a chance to win the championship in a long time they still kept there head up and waited until next year.I recomend this book people who like Allen Iverson.



5. I picked this book up to learn more on "The Answer".
   This book is good for kids ages 9-12 years of age.
   It is a great book to pick up if you want to know some more of what when on in his younger years.
   I think the author could have went into the younger years of Iverson. He mostly focused his writing on his current actions and a couple run ins with th Law.
   But other wise I think it is a great book if you are looking to read more about his NBA career and College Career.
   But if are looking for more a book where it tells about his childhood I would not tell you to pick this one up.
   It is great for kids that want to learn about there favorite Basketball player!!

5 comments about Baseball's Natural: The Story of Eddie Waitkus (Writing Baseball).

1. Wow, a can't-stop-reading book for baseball fans who don't care about stats but love the legends.
   
   Waitkus encountered one of the worst stalkers in sports history and when the lable of stalker wasn't even there. Creepy and sad, this book is ironic, bitter and forces us to watch te decline of a player who shoulda, coulda, woulda been better if not for holes in the legal system that allowed a psycho to succeed in destroying a baseball star. Read it for the full, fleshed-out tale: you'll be creeped out more you thought possible.
   
   Mark Braun, Executive Director
   Old Timers' Baseball Association of Chicago



2. In order to fully understand the events described in this book, one needs to place oneself in the time frame in which they arose.

   1949 was a backward period in American history, in which a woman could shoot a man that she did not even know and not even be universally lionized as an empowerment-achieving heroine. It was actually a time in which she could expect to receive a measure of legal and moral reprobation for her actions. Indeed, it was a time when men weren't even universally regarded as worthless, simply for having been born male, and some regarded their lives as having purpose and value. It was a time when millions of people across the country actually found themselves praying for the speedy recovery of the male victim and even lionizing HIM as the hero.

   This was the historical setting in which deranged Baseball Annie, Ruth Steinhagen, shot Philadelphia Phillie first baseman Eddie Waitkus. John Theodore's book largely describes what happened to both the assailant and her victim after the shooting, though, of course, he also includes a pre-shooting biography of both of them.

   As a misogynist and a baseball fan, I would find it easy to simply regard this book as being the story of woman who committed the unpardonable crime of not only shooting a man - but a male baseball player yet.

   Yet - and this is to Theodore's credit - he brings home the realities of Steinhagen's obsession with Eddie Waitkus forcefully enough that even this reader could empathize with it, and I did find myself taking as much interest in Steinhagen's story as I did in Waitkus's.

   This reader himself has undergone two or three experiences in which he found himself strongly obsessed to the point of distraction with an unattainable member of the opposite sex - none of which, I hasten to add, ever had the potential of becoming harmful. But by giving his readers a glimpse into the stark and chilling world of a mind trapped in such a grip, Theodore provided this reader with a glimpse into a mind that once resembled his own - differing (however greatly) only in the strength and emphasis of the grip that seized it.

   The experience gave me a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I sensation and strengthened my resolve never again to walk that path. I actually would have liked to read more about Steinhagen - her mental health was restored and she is alive today - than Theodore actually provided, and I imagine that Theodore would have liked to have written more about her. But the book is largely about Waitkus, presumably because there is more information about him in the public record and because people close to him (this is obviously not a surprise) were more willing to talk than were people close to Steinhagen (attempts to contact Steinhagen herself were rebuffed).

   I was going to give this book 4 stars on the basis of the author's workmanlike acquisition and delineation of the facts but the Waitkus story, as Theodore weaved it, "grew" on me the more that I read into it.

   Of the World War II generation, Waitkus himself was a corking good ballplayer - though not a Hall of Famer. But he was the best defensive first baseman of his era, one who sprayed the ball around for singles and doubles - more J.T. Snow than Lou Gehrig. There was nothing remarkable about his personality - which appears to have been of a blunt, yet affable character, which philosophically took life, including the tragedies that he suffered, as it was dealt to him. Kilroy in a major-league uniform - he would not be greatly remembered today as anything but one of many names from baseball's past, were it not for the shooting.

   Yet there was really something almost Shakespearean about the story of his life. His recovery from the shooting and his efforts to restore his baseball career match nicely with the rise to glory of the fabled upstart "Whiz Kids" that were the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies of 1950.

   But while his physical recovery appears to have been complete and while there is no indication that Waitkus allowed himself to dwell on the past, Theodore tells a story of a man already suffering from the hidden trauma caused by several harrowing war experiences having his trauma heightened by the only experience (occurring, ironically in civilian life) where he was the victim of gunfire.

   After arriving at the summit of fame that was his leading role on the "Whiz Kids", Waitkus, turning too often to drink for solace, suffers slow declines in his baseball career, his marriage, and in his life after baseball that culminated in his untimely death from cancer in 1972 at the age of 53. It makes one wonder if Steinhagen's bullet didn't somehow find its target after all.

   Yet, in his final years, he finds redemption in his continuing relationship with the children that were the product of his marriage and in being an instructor in Ted Williams's baseball camp. Theodore actually misses the opportunity to embellish upon the irony inherent in the fact that Ted Williams had to deal with his own personal demons while he lived, but it was the book's bittersweet ending that moves it into an elite classification in my judgment.

   One minor baseball point that Theodore missed was another brush that Waitkus had with baseball history at the end of the 1951 season, featuring a historic Giants-Dodgers pennant race. Had Jackie Robinson not made a remarkable catch of Waitkus's low line drive in the final game between the Dodgers and the Phillies, the hit would have won the game for the Phillies and knocked the Dodgers out of the pennant race. The Giants would have won the pennant in the regulation season, and Bobby Thomson's miracle homer in the third game of the post-season never would have happened. Waitkus would have achieved the "spoiler's" fame later found by Joe Morgan and Gene Oliver.




3. Here is a first rate baseball story, albeit with a limited audience. "Baseball's Natural" is the story of Eddie Waitkus, who played first base for the Cubs, Phillies and Orioles from 1941 and 1946-1955. That 3 year WW2 break is significant. Many believe that the period after the War to 1960 was a golden age for Major League Baseball. Those were the years of the (pre-expansion) original 16 teams. The NFL was just coming out of the shadows. The NBA and NHL were minor sports by comparison. To appreciate BN, it helps to remember that period, even if one is not familiar with Waitkus. Eddie was a slick fielder and above average hitter with a bright future. He was intelligent, popular off the field, well-spoken and an inquisitive, well-dressed young man. Then, one night in June of '48, he visited a woman in a Chicago hotel room and was shot! He recovered from the physical wounds but not from the mental ones. Somehow the dual demons of the shooting and his WW2 experiences drove him slowly to drink. He was a quiet drunk, not a rowdy one. He hung out in nice bars. His downward slide was slow, almost imperceptible, but just as real. Waitkus was out of baseball by 1955. He never found a second career and was dead by the age of 53. Why is "Baseball's Natural" worthwhile? Because it is a sensitive tale that grabs the reader's interest and holds it. It is a quick reading story. It is also quite well researched, with a wide range of supporting interviews and photographs. Many baseball books deal with the established stars; it's nice to read one that features an average guy. And because we sense that many players must have their own private demons that are invisible to the even the most devoted fan. At the time of this review, Baseball is officially in "hot stove" season, a perfect time to give "Baseball's Natural" a tryout.



4. This book really tells the true story of Eddie Waitkus. If you are a true baseball history fan this book is a must for your collection. At waitkus.org you will find more information about Eddie Waitkus. Read the book, visit the website and you will get to know the man as well as the baseball player.



5. Author John Theodore has provided the reader with the most detailed account of the 1949 shooting of former Philadelphia Phillies' baseball star Eddie Waitkus by an obsessed 19 year-old female fan in a Chicago hotel. At the time of the shooting Waitkus was the leading vote getter among first basemen for the upcoming All-Star game to be played in Brooklyn, New York. Waitkus managed to overcome the attempt on his life and became an integral member of the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids team that went on to win the National League pennant only to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight, but hard fought, close games. Waitkus's career began to wind down a couple of years later as he was waived out of the National League, and became a member of the 1954 Baltimore Orioles who were playing their first year in Crabtown after moving from St. Louis. His playing time was very limited and in 1955 the Orioles cut him loose, and he once again returned for a brief period of time with the Phillies. The post baseball years were not kind to Waitkus who, like so many other players during this time, had no training beyond baseball. He tried a job in sales, but hated it. He fought the demons of alcohol, and the memories he had of World War II when he fought in the Pacific in addition to the memory of the evening in 1949 when he nearly lost his life in the Chicago hotel room. He did find happiness as a batting instructor in a Ted Williams baseball camp for young boys. Here he was doing something he loved among kids who shared his devotion to the game. Eddie Waitkus died in 1973 at the age of 53 from esophageal and lung cancer which was most likely brought on by his many years of heavy smoking. I did find a few spelling errors in the book along with the fact that the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game was written in 1908, not 1909, as the book mentions. If you associate the name of Eddie Waitkus only with the unfortunate shooting incident, this book will provide you with additional information about the man's career in addition to details regarding that unfortunate evening in 1949.

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.

2 comments about The Big Z: The Carlos Zambrano Story.

1. Great story about an amazing pitcher for a Terrific Team!! He has come a long way, but is still humble and "God-fearing." An easy read, too. This makes you grateful for all that you have, considering the beginnings some people come from.



2. I was encouraged to read this biography of Carlos Zambrano. He is a truly humble (if unpredictable!) baseball player who loves the Lord with all his heart. It's exciting to think of where the road will lead for The Big Z.

4 comments about Spirit of the Wind: The Story of George Attla, Alaska's Legendary Sled Dog Sprint Champ.

1. George Attla was no more than a name to me before I picked up SPIRIT IN THE WIND: THE STORY OF GEORGE ATTLA. The cover said he was Alaska's legendary sled dog sprint champ. Whuh? I scoffed, thinking "legendary" was a word that is overused nowadays and should be reserved for people like Helen of Troy or George Washington. However, one quick peek through the contents of this book made me think that for once, Lew Freedman is not overstating things, for George Attla has indeed all the attributes of a legendary figure. Did you ever read Joseph Campbell's HERO OF A THOUSAND FACES? That will come to mind when you sit down with a hot cup of cocoa and a copy of SPIRIT OF THE WIND. For Attla is to ordinary mushers what Margot Fonteyn is to ballerinas--the gold standard to which all others have to kneel down.
   
   He is good with dogs, and Freedman spends a lot of time detailing the extraordinary bonds set up by a trainer like Attla with some very special beasts. Freedman ascribes some of his magic to his First Peoples ancestry, for he is an Alaskan Indian with a kind of "horse whispering" background and a crippling childhood disease, one that would bring tears to your eyes, and when he conquers it the Northern Lights seem to glow a little brighter. You'll be wiping away the tears with a chamois.
   
   He has achieved too many feats to mention, and nine gold medals. When he left school, it was with a first grade education--no, I guess he made it into second grade. At the end of our lives when we approach the Pearly Gates, St Peter will ask us what we did for other people while we were alive, and George Attla will shake his noble head and say, "I did it for the dogs."



2. Without a doubt one of the most poorly written books that I have every read. The author normally writes newspaper articles and it's obvious. Each chapter is written like a short article off the main page which results in a shallow read. There is no transition between chapters and much of the information in one chapter is repeated in subsequent chapters. It takes talent to make such a fascinating life such an incredible bore.



3. This biography on George Attla proves to be interesting and well written. The book tells the story of this great Alaskan musher in an easy to read and entertaining prose.

   However, as information goes, the book suffered because while the author tells us so much about Attla's accomplishments, the book doesn't go into the man itself. Its a very friendly biography written by the author who does his best not to paint any negative aspects of George Attla. A good example would the short time Mr. Attla spent in jail up in Fairbanks for reason Mr. Freedman should have known but did not go into.

   Biography is a two edge sword. If you are going to write about a man, his greatness and his flaws must be presented. So far, the author seem to be high with praises only. How will we supposed to know who George Attla is without his weaknesses as well. Because of this, I can only considered this book as "half biography" of George Attla, entertaining reading but pretty lightweight material.




4. It was 1958 when a twenty-four-year-old George Attla limped to the staring line of the Fur Rendezvous World Championships sled dog race in Anchorage, Alaska with a team of dogs borrowed from family and friends in his hometown of Huslia, Alaska. Three days later he won with a record-setting victory -- the first of many championships won by the man who would become the greatest spring dog "musher" of all time. An athabascan Indian from a tiny Koyukuk River village, Attla was diagnosed with crippling bone tuberculosis as a child, a disability that resulted in a permanently fused knee. Unable to work with his father on the family trap line (as Attla boys were expected to do), George began work training the family pups as a young boy. The dogs became his life, and "mushing" his life's work. Spirit Of The Wind: The Story Of Alaska's George Attla, Legendary Sled Dog Spring Champ is the inspiring biography of an unusual man who overcame all manner of obstacles and impediments to fulfill his life's dream, and in doing so, became a true and authentic champion!

5 comments about Invincible Warrior.

1. Esse livro mostra mais ainda que O Sensei era e ainda é um verdadeiro Mestre. Se você acompanha a obra dele, ou faz Aikidô, ou pretende fazer, essa é uma leitura obrigatória!
   
   Os textos, as fotos, tudo dentro desse livro é belo e detalhista. Essse livro é de extrema importância na vida de todos que gostam ou fazem Aikidô e tem O Sensei como Mestre.



2. This book should be put in the fantasy section of any bookstore.
   I get terribly tired of the tales of Ueyeshiba's supernatural exploits. And sadly this book is replete with such nonsense. Seriously they should put this next to exploits of Drizzt Do'Urden or The Hulk.
   A more interesting book would have chronicled the development of O'Sensei's early ideas on martial arts with his later crazy views. They are quite different, and moreover it is a progression you can see in the old photographs of him at work. Specifically, you see the journey he took from more or less practical aiki-jutsu to the flowery, ineffectual sillyness he wasted the latter years of his life on.



3. I bought this book as I was looking for a reasonably complete (though not necessarily exhaustive) biography of the founder of Aikido, preferably with a good number of photographs as well as text. This book fulfilled those requirements, and exceeded my expectations. The story is fascinating and compelling, and it is told in a very enjoyable and readable way.
   
   The author is an American who has lived and taught in Japan for many years. He has developed a deep understanding of Japanese culture which allows him to present this material well to an English-speaking reader.
   
   As to charges that this book promotes mythology about Morihei Ueshiba: I'm really not in a position to say for myself, not having had a chance to compare this book with other authors' work on the topic. Until I do, I will reserve judgment. In any case, I found Stevens' book to be a very worthwhile read.



4. There's quite a bit of controversy on this book in the Aikido world, and I thought it might be important to interject some of what I've heard in my several years of training. First, this book was an entertaining bit of history, but I've heard it complained that Stevens "freely mixes actual history with rumor," and this certainly seems to be the case. This book seems to be symptomatic of the fantastical views of O Sensei in the Aikido world.
   
   More generally, I recall George Ledyard-sensei weighing in on this topic - he mentioned that often, whenever stories of incredible exploits in this book are brought before Saotome-sensei, Saotome-sensei's stock reply is "For fifteen years I lived and trained with O Sensei, and never once did I see him do this 'magic-waza!' (magic technique)" Ledyard-sensei explained that Saotome-sensei is frequently irritated to hear Ueshiba-sensei's lifetime of work written off as being superhuman.
   
   Nonetheless, the book makes for an interesting read, and though much of it is based on legend, it still gives a more complete picture of O-Sensie's life than I've found anywhere else.



5. I've been studying Aikido for about a year now and always heard bits and pieces about O'sensei's life. I'm enjoying this book as it really is nice to fill in the story of his life. Granted, time has a way of exaggerating exploits but, knowing where he lived, and who he trained with and the background information is great. I can understand the movtivation of O'sensei and the reasons for his development of Aikido after reading the book.
   
   As for the debate on the effectiveness of Aikido by Mark Twain. All I can say is it seems you have a closed mind and have already told yourself what you will learn and what you won't. So how can you learn to make Aikido effective when your limiting yourself like that? Aikido is one of the hardest martial arts to learn and effectiveness depends on the dojo and sensei as much as the student's willingness to learn. I agree some dojo's teach dance, so go elsewhere and find the real Aikido. I find my Aikido to be effective. You apparently did not. So be it. If you need and path to defend yourself fast I agree, Aikido probably isn't the best choice. Muay Thai, or Krav Maga would be my choices. Because a path is difficult, does not mean it should be avoided.

5 comments about Runnin' Rebel: Shark Tales of "Extra Benefits", Frank Sinatra and Winning It All.

1. Jerry Tarkanian seems to be a decent, likeable guy, evidenced by both his autobiography's narrative voice, and the "shark tales" inside. Tark is laid-back, self-deprecating, funny, and respectful in his tone and delivery, and his life's story shows he could get along with of all kinds of people, and was a valuable friend to have: everyone is a "good guy", with some rare exceptions, and Tark wanted to coach all of the kids and take all the adults out for a meal and a round of drinks.
   
   Tark's larger than life, yet down-home, blue-collar personality developed by rising from a difficult home life (tough Armenian background, father died at 10, little money) to earn a series of coaching successes virtually right out of the gate- the guy never had a losing season at any level, and boasts an overall career record of 988-228 (.813). And coaching basketball was not originally a noble calling for Tark- it instead represented sort of a path of least resistance for an athletic guy whose grades were mediocre and who didn't want a desk job.
   
   Coach's genius lies in recruiting, and most of the book recounts his amusing and clever escapades trying to bring talent to his schools. Tark recognized early on to utilize junior colleges to his advantage, to target niche players, and to embrace black athletes that other schools sadly (and suicidally) avoided during the 1960s. He visited kids and their families at their homes, regardless of how tough the neighborhoods were. He wasn't easily dissuaded by a kid's poor grades or legal troubles, without first assessing his character and potential. He was the consummate Las Vegas host, and had the whole city at his disposal (including, to a degree, Sinatra, who actually made a couple of recruiting visits for Tark), and could convincingly show visitors the kind of time they could expect to have by playing for UNLV. His list of contacts throughout the US was outstanding - he had high school coaches and scouts everywhere feeding him guys, and all the right jucos to park them in if they needed to cool their heels first.
   
   Of course, Tark had his scrapes with the NCAA, and seemed unfairly targeted, particularly once recruiting rules got tougher. He was open and honest about his troubles- and his disdain for the NCAA investigators- and didn't seem to be whitewashing events. For one, he won a $2.5 million settlement against the NCAA, as retribution for their misguided hyper-vigilance of his program. And he also is forthcoming about where he technically bent the rules. He gives the impression that overstepping NCAA boundaries while recruiting (including, for instance, buying a kid a sandwich or magazine from your own pocket) is like speeding or web-surfing at work: everyone does it to at least a minor extent, and you only get caught by flagrantly abusing the system, or because someone with ulterior motives is paying too close attention to the little stuff. It seemed to be the latter for Tark, but a fighting spirit and the loyalty he inspired in those around him meant the system never had him beat.



2. I am a long time basketball fan, especially college BB. I remeber all the names the Tark mentions in the book and it was very enjoyable to read, I couldn't put it down. I loved the "inside" information the book gives as the average fan doesn't always know about what really goes on. I am huge Al McGuire fan so that was fun also. I would urge any basketball fan to buy this book.



3. Great book. I was in LV, NV during Tark's tenure at UNLV. Tark originally got crosswise with the NCAA when he criticized them in his basketball column at Long Beach State. The NCAA never let go after that. UNLV administration unfortunately bought into the argument that a school can either be academically or athletically based and never understood the vision of a powerful synergistic relationship (i.e. USC, Notre Dame, TX, etc., etc.). The administration and anti-Tark boosters basically invited the NCAA in for an audit that took years. The end result was a severely truncated basketball dynasty and a huge hit in academic and adminstrative credibilty from UNLV's President Maxson on down. UNLV has not achieved significant academic standing and and has never recovered athletically. However, Tark is $2,000,000.00 richer secondary to prevailing over the NCAA in a court of law, in addition to his 1990 NCAA basketball court championship.



4. I have not and will not bother to read this book, as I would not trust any of the facts. As an example, Wetzel recently (Yahoo!, 4/2/06) published an article bashing the UCLA basketball program. The entire basis for this was a "quote" that Wetzel attributes to Bill Walton. Nothing could be further from thr truth!
   
   In his article, he states the quote was written by Walton ("Those quotes come from none other than Bill Walton, maybe the greatest Bruin of them all, in his 1978 book `On the Road with the Portland Trailblazers'"). This is false. The book was written by Jack Scott. In the Author's Note, Scott wrote: "Bill never asked to read even one page of the manuscript - never mind the entire manuscript - before it went to the printer. Consequently, I am solely responsible for the book's content. You should not automatically assume that Bill agrees with all of the opinions I express throughout the book..."
   
   There are numerous other examples. When called on his error, Wetzel indicated that HE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK he quotes, so could not confirm or deny the error!! Horrifying! Despite being called out, he has never made a correction to the story nor printed any retractions.
   
   He is an untrustworthy writer, and clearly makes up and misrepresents the facts to sell his product.
   
   BEWARE!



5. Boy, I was a huge UNLV fan while Tark was there, and I loved that team that beat Duke by 30 in the finals. Thus, I bought the book, and I enjoyed it. In virtually every chapter, there is a funny story or a simply outrageous story that I'm sure is true. Tark tells his story, and he seems to hold nothing back. Tark is truly unique.
   
   My problem with the book is the Tark portrays himself as a "victim" of some sort of witch-hunt by the NCAA. I've no doubt that the NCAA was unfair-grossly unfair-to Tark. Yet I grow weary of self-proclaimed "victims."
   
   Yet I suggest you buy it and read it. You'll laugh because it is funny.
   
   And if you were a huge UNLV fan like I was, it will bring back some good memories.
   
   Remember the incredible defense that Stacey Augmon played? If not, this book will bring back memories such as Stacey, et al.

1 comments about Quotable Joe.

1. Few people represent college football like Joe Paterno. He has led top rated football teams to victory for over three decades, and continues to devote his energy towards the pursuit of excellence. As a teacher, a leader, and a role model, coach Paterno stands tall for generations of young people. There have been many attempts to chronicle the life and times of this legend, but none has the overall impact of "Quotable Joe" by L. Budd Thalman. Featuring selected quotes by and about the coach, this concise guide gets to the root of everything from his formative years in Brooklyn to his thoughts on national championships, polls, and publicity. Thalman is the ultimate insider, serving as the Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Penn State since 1986, and he brings a personal flavor to the chapter introductions including a funny story about the first time his father, a die hard West Virginia fan, met coach Paterno. Presented with classic photos and a foreward by former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge, "Quotable Joe" is a great resource for any serious sports fan.

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