No comments about Slam Dunk to Glory.

1 comments about Roethlisberger: Pittsburgh's Own Big Ben.

1. Big Ben: 27-4 as a starter (2004-2005 seasons)---only losses (3 of which were injury-related): Patriots, 2004 AFC Championship game (if Plax holds on to sure TD pass, we are only down 7 with about 7+ minutes to go in that game; Ben did some good things and was battling thumb and toe injuries) and also in 2005 (if Randle El doesn't get `cute' and lateral that pass to Ward, we probably win; again, Ben did some good things), as well as the Bengals in 2005 (Ben has beaten Carson Palmer's Bengals 3 times: twice in 2004 and big-time in the AFC Wild-Card game in 2005; Ben had 3 TD passes in this lone defeat and was battling a thumb injury) and Indy in 2005 (as we know, he got revenge in the AFC Divisional Playoff game; Ben threw a TD pass to Ward in this Monday night defeat and was coming off an injury-induced layoff).
   
   Ben's FIRST NFL game: 2004 Pre-season at Ford Field vs. the Lions...last game of 2005 season: 2/5/06 at FORD FIELD, SUPER BOWL XL VICTORY!!!
   
   
   So Ben didn't play a superb game in Super Bowl XL and there was some controversy...
   
   --Super Bowl IX, 1/12/75: Steelers win 16-6 over the Vikings---Future Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw is only 9 for 14 for 96 yards...BEN WAS 9 FOR 21 FOR 123 YARDS...Bradshaw threw a lone TD...BEN RAN FOR A LONE TD... Future Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton's numbers were putrid: 11 for 26 for 102 yards, 3 interceptions, NO TD's! We were only winning 2-0 going into the third quarter (on a safety); a boring game. The Steelers wore their white shirts and Terry had a beard (the other 3 Super Bowls: black-and-gold shirts, Terry clean shaven)...WE WORE OUR WHITE SHIRTS IN XL AND BEN HAD A BEARD...the game turned on a VERY controversial "fumble-that-wasn't" by the Steelers Larry Brown: the Steelers left the field dejected, the Vikings were in prime territory...then the officials ruled Brown was down before the ball came loose (no way!!!!!)...and the rest is history;
   
   --Super Bowl X, 1/18/76: Steelers win 21-17 over the Cowboys---Future Hall-of-Famer Roger Staubach almost pulled out another miracle comeback...Swann's great falling-to-the-ground acrobatic catch led to no points (!);
   
   --Super Bowl XIII, 1/21/79: Steelers win 35-31 over the Cowboys---the Cowboys' Jackie Smith drops a SURE TD pass that would have tied the game AND our go-ahead TD was aided by a very controversial tripping penalty that cost Dallas 33 yards: Lynn Swann fell over Benny Barnes's ankles and, as Bradshaw has admitted, it shouldn't have been a flag...we were ahead 35-17 at one point...Staubach almost brought them back (35-31);
   
   --GAME BEFORE SUPERBOWL XIV: AFC Championship game vs. the Oilers, 1/6/80: Steelers win 27-13---late in the third quarter, officials ruled that Oilers receiver Mike Renfro did not have possession of what appeared to be a game-tying TD (WRONG!!!! He was in bounds; bad, bad call)...and the rest is history...
   
   ---Super Bowl XIV, 1/20/80: Steelers win 31-19 over the Rams---Bradshaw threw 3 INTERCEPTIONS and we were losing for most of the game...until Lambert saved our butts by intercepting QB Vince Ferragamo's pass...and the rest is history
   (Steelers in the 1970's: regular season---99-44-1; playoffs: 14-4)
   
   NON-STEELER SUPER BOWL "LUCK"---
   Super Bowl XXV, 1/27/91: Giants defeat Bills BECAUSE SCOTT NORWOOD BARELY MISSES A RELATIVELY EASY FIELD GOAL, one of the biggest blown plays ever!;
   All 3 of the Patriots victories were by exactly 3 points...and the Eagles really blew it with poor clock management (sound familiar?)!;
   Super Bowl XXXIV, 1/30/00: Rams defeat Titans, 23-16--- The Rams' Mike Jones tackled Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line as time expired. Dyson would have tied the game; Super Bowl V, 1/17/71: Colts beat Cowboys, 16-13, via a field goal... Dallas' Chuck Howley, who picked off two passes, became the first defensive player and the first player from a losing team to be named MVP.
   
   
   
   The Steelers have been in the Super Bowl in the 1970's. 1980's, 1990's, and in the new millennium (2000's)---
   IX (1975), X (1976), XIII (1979), XIV (played in 1980), XXX (played in 1996), XL (2006)
   
   Big Ben---ONLY QB to ever go to Championship game his first two years; youngest to win the Super Bowl (Steelers: first 6th seed to go/ win; only team to beat #1, #2, and #3 seeds on the road and win; three-way tie for most Super Bowl victories: 5, along with Dallas and San Francisco; tied for second with most Super Bowl appearances: 6, along with Denver [who have `only' won 2])...comparison to other Hall-of-Fame and/or outstanding QBs---
   Jim Kelly: 0 for 4; never won a Super Bowl;
   Fran Tarkenton: 0 for 4; never won a Super Bowl;
   Dan Marino: 0 for 1; never won a Super Bowl;
   Kenny Anderson: 0 for 1; never won a Super Bowl
   Len Dawson: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
   Johnny Unitas: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
   Joe Theismann: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
   Brett Favre: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
   Kurt Warner: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
   Ken Stabler: won one Super Bowl
   Joe Namath: won one Super Bowl;
   Phil Simms: won one Super Bowl;
   Steve Young: won one Super Bowl;
   Also: John Elway: after FIFTEEN YEARS IN THE LEAGUE, won two...after losing 3 very badly!
   
   BEST run in sports history (as confirmed by a Congressional resolution!): won 8 in a row---
   Bears (who had an 8-game winning streak), Vikings on the road (who had a 6 game winning streak...and Cowher NEVER won in a dome stadium before!), Browns on the road, and Detroit on 1/1/06 (where, unbeknownst to us at the time, we were headed for 2/5/06!); Bengals on the road (#3 seed, previously beat us), Colts on the road (#1 seed, league's best record, heavily favored, dome stadium, previously beat us; the Fumble, the Tackle, and the Miss), Broncos on the road (#2 seed, favored, 10-0 at home)...and the #1 NFC seeded Seahawks "on the road" in another dome, Detroit's Ford Field (where Big Ben started his NFL career vs. the Lions in the 2004 pre-season!!!)
   
   YOU HAVE TO GET THE TWO-DVD SET "STEELERS: THE COMPLETE HISTORY" (2005; NFL Films), 1933-2004 (too bad they didn't wait a year haha!)---the main feature is 2 hours and 20 minutes long and covers 1933 up to and including Beg Ben's 2004 season; incredible. All the `lean years' (1930's-1960's; 1980's) are covered, NOT just the "glory seasons"---Kordell, Brister, Malone, Stoudt, Hanratty, etc. etc. etc. The bonus feautures are awesome, ESPECIALLY the 45-minute Jerome Bettis special-VERY IRONIC!! You will see Tommy Maddox with the Bus when they were both Rams in 1995...excellent miked-on-the-field comments, often funny, by Bus, Ward, and Cowher...Jan. 2005 AFC lowlights, Hines Ward crying, Jerome's reaction, and the tantalizing hint that Super Bowl XL wil be played in Jerome's hometown of Detroit...which makes what they did in 2005/2006 VERY story book! Also: the Bill Cowher, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Myron Cope, Dick Hoak, and Bill Saul segments/ specials are very entertaining, as is the Super Bowl XIII feature..get this...as well as the SUPER BOWL XL DVD---2005 season highlights included, as well as the 2006 playoffs!

2 comments about Michael Schumacher: The Rise of a Genius.

1. a highly anticipated book for a very good reason. this is by far one of the most perfect books to buy for the rabid ferrari/michael schumacher fan. it contains countless information on the rise of michael schumacher during his benetton and ferrari days. from his first drive for jordan in 1991 to his first test of the 412 t2 in 1996, his last championship winning race in belgium 2004 and to the very last win of his career in china 2006. the book shows great details of all his great deeds. full of pictures that will make you remember the good old days when ferrari were still human. overall a very good book that will capture everyone's heart to why michael schumacher is the best of his time.



2. The life history of a genius said in the best way. The book is amazing covering every nook and corner of Schumacher's F1 career. The book was shipped in no time. I strongly suggest this book for every Schumi fan

5 comments about King Kelly Coleman.

1. West did a fine job with his book and has a real sense of capturing both King Kelly and the state tournament (I played in two). But more than that, he captured the sadness and the loss of what King Kelly could have been. As good as King Kelly was, we never got to see him mature as a player beyond Wayland.



2. In 1956 I was fortunate to have been to the Kentucky high school basketball tournament and witnessed the amazing King Kelly Coleman. He scored 68 points against Shelbyville. This book is great and a fitting tribute to a true legend. This guy is without a doubt the greatest basketball player to ever walk in a pair of shoes. He could move like Michael Jordan, rebound and block shots like Bill Russell, handle the ball like Pete Maravitch, and dribble like Marques Haynes. And those are the things never mentioned because they are dwarfed by his uncanny shooting ability. The only times he ever missed a shot were when he had two or three guys all over him, but that didn't matter because when he did miss he would get his own rebound and put it back in. His personal story is fascinating. He played a short time in the NBA but they say he quit because pro basketball didn't pay well in those days. After 50 years I got to meet him at a book signing. He deserves the title of "King of Basketball".



3. I found this book fascinating - even though I didn't grow up in Kentucky hearing the King Kelly Coleman stories. This book is more than a one dimensional basketball book. It offers an insight into the cultural aspects of Eastern Kentucky as well as the rich tradition of basketball throughout the state.



4. King Kelly Coleman is a very good read about a legend in Kentucky Basketball history and the area of our Commonwealth where he grew up. Fascinating to see how choices made change an entire lifetime.



5. This is a fun Read. Gary P. West did a great job.
   
   King Kelly Coleman..Kentucky's Greatest Basketball Legend, written by Gary P. West, is a story about a man who played basketball, not necessarily about a basketball player.
   
   It's about a youngster, the son of a coal miner, with 10 brothers and sisters, who became the biggest high school legend in the history of basketball-crazy Kentucky.
   
   The footprint he left and the records he set are still being talked about some 50 years later.
   
   His more than 4,000 career points, and 68 points and 28 rebounds in the 1956 high school state tournament have withstood the assault of some of Kentucky's greatest basketball players.
   
   In 1956 he was considered the best high school basketball player in the nation, ranking ahead of Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. He had just broken Wilt Chamberlain's national record for most points scored in a career, and University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp publicly called the King from Wayland perhaps the best basketball player of all-time.
   
   You can read Gary P. West's take on it all as he reveals for the first time what is fact and what is fiction in "King Kelly Coleman.. Kentucky's Greatest Basketball Legend".

5 comments about I Remember Ben Hogan: Personal Recollections and Revelations of Golf's Most Famous Legend From The People Who Knew Him Best.

1. 
   This is one of several volumes in the Cumberland House "I Remember" series. Each is an anthology of reminiscences of those who personally knew the subject, in this instance Ben Hogan (August 13, 1912 - July 25, 1997), one of the greatest shotmakers and competitors in the history of professional golf. Mike Towle edited the material and contributed brief introductions to each chapter. When competing in a tournament ("at the office"), Hogan was unapproachable by anyone (including his beloved wife, Valerie) and by all accounts a shy and (with few exceptions) an inaccessible person in his private life, except to immediate family members, others whom he also respected and trusted, and...small children and dogs. One detail of his childhood perhaps helps to explain his personality in subsequent years: according to some accounts, his father committed suicide in young Ben's presence. Of course, it is impossible to know impact that tragic event had on Hogan's development. In his youth and early in his golf career, he had encounter severe financial problems and frustrations with his effort to win tournaments. However, when Hogan was comfortable with someone, he could relax and enjoy himself. Towle also notes that, when irritated or impatient, or when he felt his trust had been betrayed, Hogan was a formidable antagonist with a sharp tongue and a piercing glare.
   
   He won 63 professional golf tournaments between the years of 1938 through 1959, interrupted in its prime by military service during World War II and a near-fatal car accident in 1949 when his car collided head-on with a Greyhound bus in dense fog. Although his doctors said he might not walk again much less resume playing competitive golf, Hogan left the hospital only two months after the accident and soon returned to the tour. His best season was in 1953 when he won five of the six tournaments he entered, three of them "majors." In fact, his nine career professional major championships tie him (with Gary Player) for fourth all-time, trailing only Jack Nicklaus (18), Tiger Woods (14) and Walter Hagen (11). Hogan's achievements are even more remarkable, given the fact that he never fully recovered from the near-fatal car accident. He founded the Ben Hogan Golf Company in 1953 that produced it first set of irons (the "Precision") the next year. Hogan sold his company to American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1960 and continued as chairman. From 1980-85, he served as a director. He died in 1997 and the Hogan brand became part of Calloway Golf in 2004.
   
   Towle obtained reminiscences and observations from members of Hogan's family, those who competed against him on the PGA tour, sports journalists, fellow members of his club (Shady Oaks in Fort Worth) and others who encountered him along the way. I would have rated this book higher if it had more cohesive organization and tighter editing. Here is a representative selection of comments from the narrative:
   
   "There were two sides to Ben Hogan: Hogan Heavy and Hogan Lite. The former could reduce confident people to shrinking violets; the latter possessed a feathery touch as delicate as a flop wedge out of the second cut of the rough behind a green sloping away. Hogan Lite had a dry sense of humor, and it was at work more than listeners realized. At times, Hogan was the epitome of someone best understood if you listened to what he said, not how he said it. Even his humor was couched in gruff tones." (Mike Towle, Page 5)
   
   "He was this wonderfully sensitive man with a treat sense of humor. I met him at a time when I'm sure he had softened quite a bit, so my perception of him is very different. No matter what, though, I'm sure that side was always there and he just didn't expose it to a lot of people." (Chris Tschetter, member of LPGA Tour, Page 23)
   
   On an especially cold day in Fort Worth, tourists from Florida appeared at Shady Oaks Country Club and their only reason was to see Hogan. "They were stunned, and, of course, they asked a couple of questions, very stock-type stuff. He answered and, trying not to be rude, he elaborated a little bit but not very much. I could tell that he was uncomfortable ...They stayed maybe ten minutes and then left, although he would usually be the one to leave first. Then he turned around and said, `That's the hard part, Mike, `cause these gentlemen will repeat what I said and that story will be changed several times, and that makes me uncomfortable." (Mike Wright, head pro at Shady Oaks, Page 31)
   
   When Hogan died, his personal physician called Byron Nelson to tell him. (He was also Nelson's personal physician.) "They were friends, but not bosom buddies." Later, during a conversation with someone from New York, Nelson mentioned Hogan's death and the New York Times had an unexpected scoop. Nelson's name was mentioned in the article. Hogan's widow, Valerie, "just never forgave him. She thought he was seeking publicity by getting the news out to the newspapers that Ben had died. It never bothered Valerie's and my relationship, but it sure as hell b0thered Byron and Valerie. This was just how paranoid she really was. And she got worse and worse as time went on." (Dr. Jim Murphy, Page 60) Note: Nelson and his wife were not invited to Hogan's funeral service but attended it anyway, standing outside of the church.
   
   "Although Hogan will always be remembered as arguably the finest ballstriker ever, in my opinion his quick, analytical mind was probably his strongest personality trait as a champion golfer. He was a bit of a loner and was actually somewhat shy, but he found a great passion and love for the solitude of golf and its unique challenge." (Ben Crenshaw, professional golfer and student of golf history, Page 72)
   
   "Hogan didn't just lend his name and reputation to business - he jumped right into the middle of whatever he invested in, and took great pains to learn as much as he could about any of his endeavors. He often asked penetrating questions and he never forgot the business side of running a pro shop, something he had done years earlier during his days as a touring pro. When all was said and done, Hogan was a much a moneyman when it came to business as he had been coming down the back nine at the masters or U.S.Open."(Mike Towle, Pages 178-179)
   
   I presume to conclude with a reminiscence of my own. Many years ago, I was invited to play golf by a friend who was a member of Shady Oaks. As we holed out on the 9th green, he suggested we stop to obtain a beverage before proceeding to the 10th tee nearby. As we approached the clubhouse, he said that "Hogan might be there" and if so, he would introduce me if he sensed if that would be OK. We walked into the grill room. Hogan was seated alone at a corner table and returned my friend's hand wave. "Here we go but you never know with him. He may greet you warmly or make you feel invisible." We were introduced, shook hands, exchanged a few pleasant comments, and then parted. Later, as my friend and I were about to tee off, we looked back and saw Hogan standing at the window watching us intently. (We had played very well during the first nine, only a few shots over par.) My friend proceeded to top his drive into a bush a few feet nearby. I then hooked my tee shot onto the practice range. We both looked back. Hogan was no longer at the window. Then my friend made an excellent suggestion: "Let's get the hell out of here!" That was my one brief encounter with Ben Hogan.
   
   Those interested in a more comprehensive discussion of Hogan's life and career are encouraged to check out James Dodson's Ben Hogan: An American Life, Curt Sampson's Hogan, and Afternoons with Mr. Hogan by Jody Vasquez as well as Mark Frost's The Match that provides a riveting account of a match between Hogan and Nelson (who by then had won 14 "majors" between them) against two highly regarded amateurs, Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward, just prior to the annual Bing Crosby "clambake" in 1956 that later became the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.



2. I have read a lot about Ben Hogan but this was by far and away one of the best books I've read. I will read this again from time to time.



3. It's fascinating to me that a guy as reclusive as Hogan could command so much public adoration and curiosity. This is a book that offers a lot of neat stories about Hogan that I had never read. A bunch of people who knew Hogan, both well-known and not so well known, tell their stories about Hogan in their own words---in oral history form. I've read a couple of other books on the Hawk and those were nice reads in their own way as well. I read the other reviews on this page and don't understand why "clucas" called this a "duck hook." It isn't--it's not John Feinstein-caliber, but it's still worth the price. Sounds like some bitterness being expressed by clucas, probably someone who doesn't know anything what it takes to win at golf or can recognize good book writing.



4. there seems no in between. I have 800+ golf books and have read everything just about everything on Hogan. (What club did he REALLY hit at Merion in the famous photo?). Due to the negative reviews I didn't get to this one for a while. When I did, I truly enjoyed it. Is some info repeated? Sure. But this is mostly new, original and genuine investigation, not reguritation. If you are a golf and golf history BUFF I think you will enjoy. If not, pass and read the more current books. (a 2 iron.)



5. While I understand that any author that wants to write about The Hawk will have his work cut out for him, it seems that Towle took the path of least resistance. A couple of phone calls here, 5 minutes of editing there, and you're left with a book that tells you two things:

   1.) Hogan was a gruff but soft-on-the-inside guy.

   2.) Hogan got the yips later in life.

   Those who want to learn more than those two points would be better off avoiding this book.

5 comments about My Life in the Pits: Living and Learning on the NASCAR Winston Cup Circuit.

1. I felt like I was sitting in Ronda Rich's living room and she was talking only to me as I read this book. It's so personal, warm, inviting and irresistible. There are no startling revelations in this book, except perhaps Dale Earnhardt's reaction to a race track incident with Bill Elliott, and I, for one, am thankful for that. I'm happy to see people who are heroes portrayed that way and not torn apart. This book is written in a way that I got the impression that if the author had crossed paths with bad people, she just didn't write that. Instead, she wrote of the good in people. Bless her for that. My 13-year-old son is a race fan and I have given him this book to read. I think he needs to know of the good that still lies in many people.



2. My wife bought this book, read it and kept bragging on it. I was reluctant to read because I'm not a big reader and I just didn't think I'd enjoy it that much. One day, I picked up the book and read the chapter about the late champion Alan Kulwicki. That did it. I then had to read the entire book. I enjoyed it very much. It shows the human side of a sport that is becoming so slick and so polished that it's easy to forget that the drivers are often regular guys with problems and struggles just like the rest of us. This book reflects on many of the heroes and legends who made the sport like Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and others. There are places, like where she talks about her friendship with and the death of Tim Richmond, that really put a lump in my throat. As in the case of Kulwicki, who is displayed here to be a serious loner who saw too much death in his young life, his mother included, that shaped his life and personality, you are shown an inside to the sport that is seldom seen. The men in this book are true heroes and the author is to be commended for writing it in a way that we feel we are being treated to VIP look at these guys.



3. I was pleasantly surprised by the spell binding content of this book. I read everything I can on NASCAR and just added this book to my collection as a matter of course. I ordered four books at the same time but read this one last. I should have read it first. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The author has a way of pulling you into the story in such an interesting way. I stayed up until 4 a.m. in the morning until I had finished every word. This is the first book about NASCAR that I ever read that shows such an emotional intimate inside look. Be ready -- you'll laugh, cry, laugh, cry. It's an emotional rollcoaster but very, very fulfilling. Without a doubt, it's the best NASCAR book in the world and I think I'm qualified to say that since I have read them all.



4. I couldn't really get into this book. While I chuckled at some of the stories (like the muffler bearings story), other times I thought the book delved into the sugary-sweet. As an example the two and a half pages taken up to spin the tale of her date with a present day driver. Another time she writes how dressing femininely works for you in business dealings. Huh? This book seems to be an extension of What Southern Women Know with Nascar thrown in. I don't think we're getting a good picture of life in the pits. There is Ms. Rich's side of pit life, and there is the grease under your fingernails and a motor roaring in your ears side. I would've liked a view from both sides. Perhaps it is because I've read Dale Jr's and Tony Stewart's books that Ms. Rich's book is a bit of a disappointment.



5. I got this book for Christmas and could not stop reading it. Just as someone else has already said, when you are done reading it, you will wish there was more. I am an aspiring motorsports public relations lady, and Ronda's book is hands-down the most insightful book about the "inside" of this sport that I have read. Her point of view is different from most writers, in a very refreshing way! If you are new to the sport, or a fan for life, this book will turn you on to the sport, or let you in on a special side of the lifestyle you already know and love. I want to thank Ronda for being so helpful to me, and sending some much needed advice my way. I would recommend this book to anyone that has ever wanted to experience "life in the pits."

5 comments about A Clever Base-Ballist: The Life and Times of John Montgomery Ward.

1. I love 19th Century Baseball and this book is 19th Century. Mr. Salvatore makes this book wildly enjoyable to any fan of baseball history. At times the book shows a little "subject jumping," but all in all this book is fantastic.



2. Between 1878 and 1894 John Ward Montgomery amazed major league baseball fans on the field and exasperated owners off of it. As a pitcher for Providence, he won 87 games in the two seasons of 1879 and 1880. He also pitched only the second perfect game in National League history. He later moved to shortstop and led the New York Giants to pennants in 1888-1889. His natural leadership skills ensured he had a future as team captain and manager.
   
   But Ward infuriated the owners by bucking their system of control over the players. The National League had established a "reserve clause" binding a player to his team for life by "reserving" his services for the next season even without a signed contract. While the contract and hence the player could be traded, a player could not unilaterally choose to play for another team. The manner in which owners erected this legal means of controlling players amounts to some of the most interesting sections of this book.
   
   This infuriated Ward, who was also a lawyer; he believed players should be allowed to ply their trade wherever someone was willing to pay them. Accordingly, he organized the Brotherhood of National League Players in 1885 as a fraternal order not unlike the Grange and other secret societies of the Gilded Age. In effect, this was the first union of professional baseball players. When Ward learned in 1889 that the owners had established a fixed scale of salaries, setting the upper limit at $2,500 for each season, he led a walkout and established the Player's League controlled by ballplayers. It was a good idea but it failed after only a year because the competition ensured a financial disaster for both leagues.
   
   Bryan Di Salvatore's fine book is largely the story of Ward's efforts to overcome the "plantation-style" rule of baseball owners. He was never able to do so, and he finally retired at age 34 after a 17 year career to lead a lucrative law practice. This is very much a "life and times" biography and one will learn much about the milieu of the latter nineteenth century as well as about Ward and his baseball career. Broadening the story helps significantly, as it places in context the larger owner/labor dynamics that have shaped Major League Baseball to the present.



3. A Clever Base-Ballist: The Life And Times Of John Montgomery Ward is the riveting tale of John Montgomery Ward's life and historical baseball career, from his expulsion from Penn State University for stealing chickens, to pitching baseball's second perfect game in 1880, to becoming a member of the New York Giants. More than just a biography for baseball history buffs, A Clever Base-Ballist also paints a bright, engaging picture of American life at the turn of the century. For baseball enthusiasts and millennium enthusiasts alike, A Clever Base-Ballist does not disappoint!



4. Although it's not easy to criticize a book which the author says took four years of his life, and I believe him, shoppers should know that at times this book would be better titled "The Late 19th Century Including a Few Vignettes From the Life of John Montgomery Ward." Yes, this book is symptomatic of the modern trend to make them at least 25% longer than they need to be. The author thinks nothing of spending page after page describing oddities of Ward's hometown which really tells us nothing more about him than the single line "he grew up in the middle class of a small town in Pennsylvania" would have. The entire first chapter is devoted exclusively to speculations on various pictures of Ward without even putting the pictures next to them. There is at least one chapter which fails to mention Ward at all. The narrative wanders off the path often, even in the early going when the reader's attention is most at risk, and stays off for long periods of time. I would have much preferred it if this book had been one of those tall affairs with a great, wide margins and little info boxes along the side. Then one could read or not read the boxes at one's option. Or, it could have been a hypertext document and then if one wanted to read more on some of these topics, click and read more, but no reader should be forced to wade through some of this material, especially as some important details are buried in the middle of it, risking the skimming reader missing it. I suppose the fault is with the editor, but it's difficult to say as words like "faro" and "turnverein" are included without explanation -- maybe originally that wasn't the case. Please note that there are 32 pages of footnotes as well. On the other hand, entirely at the author's door are some very big questions left completely unfielded. Why is there no speculation, for example, about why Ward never participated in that most common of human activities, creating children? Also, in this connection, I am surprised that the possibility that he was tricked into his first marriage by a possible false pregnancy is never considered. His wife was after all an actress and must have been familiar with the trick from the Dramatic tradition. Another important issue: who was Ward actually? What were his politics? He seems a very unlikely revolutionary. Rather, like Aristophanes and W.S. Gilbert, he seems to criticize the system from the right, not because he fails to believe in it, but because he finds those in charge to be no-talent hacks and, significantly, because he can. His "revolution" seems to have been accomplished more by cleverness and opportunism than by principle and reality so naturally it was only a matter of time before the cards came crashing down. A little more of the author's or others' judgement on this would have been welcome, or even just a more inside look at how Ward went about his recruiting and alliance building, but all we get are two sentences. Other than these issues, I did enjoy the book quite a lot and although I cannot recommend it as highly as some others, I feel no doubt that on a research basis at least no stone has been left unturned. Certainly its topic is both rare and enjoyable.



5. Bryan Di Salvatore has captured the early history of baseball with his fascinating biography of baseball's early days. His profile of John Montgomery Ward, a pitcher and later an infielder, provides a detailed look at the evolution of baseball in its formative years. This was a time of numerous rules changes from underhand pitching, walks counting as hits, absence of a fixed pitching rubber, changing rules on how many balls it took to walk. The author meticulously but always in interesting prose tells us about the many battles between owners and players, the reserve clause, poor playing conditions. Ball players were lazy, overpaid, carousing drinkers(sound familiar) said the owners. Owners were greedy, interested in squeezing players for every nickel(sound familiar) said the players. Clearly the era evoked has many parallels to today except the average player salaries were clearly more in line with real wages. The average ball player made 3-5X the salary of the average working man. Generally the players were more accessible to the public although in one scene John Ward complains about the annoying fan groupies. For the baseball fan this book will clearly be educational and is well worth reading. Very few books describe the pre-1900 era and this book is a rare and thorough glimpse on the emerging popularity of baseball.

2 comments about Giants and Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y.A. Tittle.

1. Calling all LSU, SF 49er, and NY Giants fans. This book is a fun read, and leaves one with the feeling of having intimately known one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever wear a football uniform. As opposed to many sports books, the author's vantage point allows her to tell the story of this football icon with refreshing sensitivity. The author, through her lively descriptions, tells the story of how from his humble beginnings in East Texas, Y.A. Tittle rose to become the toast of New York, and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

   Y.A. Tittle's unique athletic abilities, and sense of humor are framed by the parables of Greek mythology. This unique treatment is appropriate, because the author provides an inside view of growing up with a legend.




2. I LIKED SEVERAL THINGS IN THIS BOOK. I ALSO DISLIKED A FEW THINGS IN THIS BOOK. IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN IT STAYED FOCUSED ON THE CAREER AND LIFE OF Y.A. HIS EXPERIENCES WITH THE COLTS, 49ERS AND GIANTS IS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER WHO DOES A GOOD JOB OVERALL. BUT SHE RAMBLES ON AND ON ABOUT SOME BORING CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND NEVER REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB OF TELLING US WHAT KIND OF PERSON AND FATHER TITTLE IS. SHE TRIES TO BE TO TOO DEATILED AND CREATIVE DESCRIBING THINGS OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. BUT SHE IS TALENTED AND VERY SWEET. I DONT WANT TO BE TOO HARD ON THIS BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL GIANT FANS AND FANS WHO WANT TO READ ABOUT A GREAT QUARTERBACK.

5 comments about Wayne Rainey: His Own Story.

1. Wayne Rainey is my favorite Road Racer. This book really let's you know what it takes to be a World Champion and the struggle when its taking away. For any race fan this book is a must have!



2. I met wayne as a fan in 1987 at Road Atlanta when he rode for Honda after having read so many magazines about him.I never Heard of Kevin Schwantz until that weekend and Wayne despite being very busy, courteously found time to have Shay take a photo of both of us and give me an autograph.He was so receptive and pleasant.That weekend I watched in awe his amazing battle against Kevin's Suzuki and would never forget that day for the rest of my life.Then I continued to watch him on TV from 1988 to that fateful day.The book brought tears and lumps in my throat.This book tells it all and is a must buy.I am also a racer a know the will and the determination to win at all costs.This book also helps us analyze ourselves and our personal relationship with GOD.A precious collector's item to have.



3. It's been some time since I last read this biography of Wayne Rainey, but I certainly remember the emotions, and especially the growing pride, I felt with each turned page. The writing was very easy to read, and the content flowed well from Wayne's childhood and foundation of a Champion in the making, through his personal relationships, and to the present (time of writing). I recommend this book to all that loved to watch his battles with Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, and Mick Doohan, and wish to simply know more about the Champion. And I recommend it to anyone that thinks the world and life aren't fair. Perservere!



4. This is a must for every motorcycle racing fan. I am a GP fan but unfortunately Wayne's career ended a couple of years before I started getting into bike racing. This book is an amazing tale of courage. I could not imagine going through what he had to go through. One of the best biographies I have ever read.



5. Wayne Rainey was certainly one of the greatest GP Racers to hit the scene in the late 80's-early 90's. With 3 consecutive world championships under his belt he had his 4th wrapped up when tragedy struck. Rainey's career was cut short and thus began a new chapter in this champion's life. The book deals with his youth, and his early racing years on the dirt tracks of Southern California and later, the dirt tracks throughouit the US. His entry into GP racing makes for some of the most intriging and blatantly honest reading you will find. With Kenny Roberts as team manager, Wayne Rainey's career began to open up and the more you read the better this book gets. This is simply the best book on the "inside" of a GP racer and the entire lifestyle that goes with it. (Ever wonder how "team-mates" get along when they BOTH want to win? ) Don't pass this one up. It deserves to be read.

5 comments about Sugar Ray.

1. To talk about the grandness of Sugar Ray Robinson may seem a commonplace, but in the annals of the boxing there has not been such kind of boxer who has displayed such style, refinement, effectiveness and elegance. 109 KO along his life and the fact to have recovered four times the World championship have become a true myth in this sport.



2. A champion among champions. One of the greatest of all time tells you his story - he is a fighter, not a writer. Don't expect pretty prose, expect a deep, moving look into the life of Sugar Ray Robinson.



3. it is what it is. you get Sugar Ray's story right from the man himself. its concise and thorough and entertaining and inspirational



4. Sugar Ray - 3.75 Stars
   
   I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love Sugar Ray - he was Ali's hero and in a lot of circles he is considered pound for pound the greatest boxer of all time!
   
   I wanted to love this book and Sugar Ray - but unfortunately I didn't.
   
   I almost feel like I'm committing some sort of sacrilege here - and I'm sad to say - I found Sugar Ray Robinson somewhat unlikable.
   
   The story is a great story - a very poor family's struggle and their support and love for each other - Sugar Ray's discovery of boxing and his rise to fame and fortune and the phenomenal and heart breaking comeback and the sad decline in the end. His story really is very interesting, but the book doesn't capture it. It doesn't capture the Sugar Ray magic and I felt that Sugar Ray wasn't 100% honest - he and the book were truthful, but I felt that there was something missing - that he wasn't completely honest.



5. Sugar Ray Robinson was One Of THe Greatest Fighters Ever.Very Uplifting of How He Overcame SO Much.He was a Great Warrior Inside of The Ring.Muhammad Ali called Him The Greatest.A Must Have.