No comments about A Face of Courage: The Tommy Watson Story-How did he survive?.

2 comments about Nitschke: The Ray Nitschke Story.

1. Ray Nitschke is a symbol of a football era that has passed. He played the game for enjoyment not for money. Unlike current players, he was grateful to the fans and never passes up an autograph seeker. Truly, there will never be another Ray Nitschke.

   Edward Gruver began putting this biography together before Nitschke's death. Much of the information was gained in interviews with Nitschke. Because many of the stories are in his own words, it lends authenticity to the story. Gruver interviewed teammates and opponents to get their perspective of Nitschke. The result is the best rounded biography of the man who is arguably the best middle linebacker in NFL history.

   Aside from the stories of his playing days, the book also looks at Ray Nitschke the man. He lived through a rough childhood to become an unlikely recipient of a scholarship to Illinois. Although he dreamed of playing for the Bears, he made Green Bay his home only a few seasons after he was drafted. After getting married, Nitschke changed from a rough bar room brawler to a family man. His nasty on-field persona was left on the field. Nitschke was involved in numuerous charities. However, his family came first.

   Nitschke is an easy read, that is historically accurate and well written. My one objection to the book is my feeling that some of the stories could have been expanded up further. Nevertheless, this is an excellent read for Packer fans.




2. Nitschke is the first biography of accomplished professional football player Ray Nitschke (1936-1998), who won the Green Bay Packers five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls. Constructed from thorough research and dozens of interviews by biographer Edward Gruver, Nischke is the impressive portrait of a courageous man who lost both his parents at age 13, played a legendary championship "Ice Bowl" game in sub-zero weather, was inducted into the Pro Football hall of fame in 1978, and earned lasting memorials and tributes after his unfortunate death from a heart attack. Nitschke provides the reader with an inspiring account of the life of a dedicated game player and is "must" reading for Packer fans in general, and those who remember Ray Nitschke's performances on the field in particular.

4 comments about Wellington: The Maras, the Giants, and the City of New York.

1. As a lifelong Giant fan, I was really looking forward to reading this book on their long-time owner, Wellington Mara. Although many aspects of the volume were interesting, I ultimately came away from the book feeling disappointed.
   
   The author crams in a lot of facts (dates, names, etc.), but at the expense of readability. Toward the end, he takes up several pages listing each of Wellington and Ann Mara's children, mentioning where they went to school, what they do for a living, their spouse's names (along with their school and occupations), the dates and locations of their marriages, and even who the officiant was that performed the ceremony. I didn't find this information pertinent to the book. It almost felt as if the author needed to add this "extra" material to meet his word count.
   
   For me, the most enjoyable parts of the volume were Devito's discussion of Timothy J Mara (Wellington's father), the early days of the Giants, and the formation of the league. The first third of the book pretty much deals exclusively with Timothy J Mara and his exploits. Therefore, the title of this book is misleading.
   
   There were numerous typographical errors throughout the book - to the point that I found it distracting. For example, on page 251, Devito refers to John Mara's wife, Denise Walker. In the following paragraph, her last name is listed as "Walter." Any decent copyeditor should have caught those kinds of mistakes.
   
   I felt as if the author glossed over a lot of potentially interesting topics. Granted, it is hard to condense nearly 100 years of history into a 300-page volume. However, it was really unnecessary to repeat (several times) the exchange between Wellington and Frank Gifford about how they felt like "father" and "son" to one another.
   
   I struggled with the author's writing style. At times, it felt as if he was jumping all over the place, with no real sense of direction. It seemed as if he was going for a chronological history of the Giants, but because he would go back and forth, the text was hard to follow sometimes.
   
   I really wanted to like this volume. I really did. I feel as if this book could have been so much more, but the bad editing and writing style really hindered it.



2. This book tells the history of one of the classiest men in the history of not only the NFL, but all of sports. Even those of you who are not Giants fans could appreciate Wellington's contributions to the NFL after reading this book. It's so much more than just a Giants history lesson (as so many books before it unfortunately are).
   
   Only glaring issue was the score for Superbowl XXI was wrong -- ouch!
   
   Overall this is absolute must read for Giants fans of all ages. "Wellington" reminded me why I live and die with this team.



3. This book appeals to the NY Football Giants fan and the die hard NFL fan who wants to learn about the early days of the League. Mr. Mara was a man who put League before team, something not seen these days in the league. Mr. Mara was a man who was there for his players, not only in a professional relationship but as mentor and father figure. Mr. Mara is sorely missed, but we can see his name "The Duke" stamped on today's game ball. To see why, and lots of other great stories, read this book.



4. The title is a bit deceiving as it's more a year by year history of the Giants than a biography of Wellington Mara. Of course, Mara was intricately involved in the history of the Giants, so there is a lot about him in here. However, most subjects are covered very broadstroke as the Giants have a long history - covering the whole span was a pretty big job in itself. There's also some interesting content in the begining on Mara's father, Tim, the Giants' founder.
   
   Overall, it's not a bad read and recommended for anyone who wants to know about the history of the Giants.
   
   PS There's a handful of proof reading errors. They don't detract from the book, but they are unusual to see.

5 comments about Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.

1. To be honest, this was an enjoyable and quick read. The writing style of the book was not difficult and had an easy flow to it. I did like how Bethany decided to focus the majority of the book around her life pre and post- attack. Only one chapter was really geared towards the actual attack, which wasn't described in much detail at all.
   
   By doing this, she focused on her personal faith in Christ and how that strong bond with her religion and family helped her through the ordeal. Rarely did the book come off as "preachy" or pushing her religious views, except for the ending chapter. This was a nice aspect of the book, because although her faith was a heavy part of the book, it did not discourage me from reading onwards. One part of the book even addressed the fact that many people think that her family may be too religious, but she countered that with the fact that this is just part of her life. Some people may not understand it, and that does not bother her in the least.
   
   It will be interesting to see how my students react to this book. I am asking them the question of the author's purpose for writing the book, and I will be eager to join that discussion. It is a strong lesson about following your drive and determination no matter what the obsticles, but I think they will focus more on the faith aspect of the book and say that trust in Christ was her main objective.
   
   Many of my students watched the news reports and have seen the billboards with Bethany's picture and story advertised, so it is definitely a high interest story for intermediate students. The format of the book is also reader friendly because it is sectioned into shorter chapters.



2. This is good book for any young person looking for inspiration from a positive role model in our modern world of spoiled pop princesses. Bethany has a rather matter of fact attitude to her predicament, taking it in stride. I read it last year on a trip to Oahu where I got a fin to the head and nine stitches, and as I lay there bleeding I thought how horrible it must have been for her and how my problem paled in comparison. While her attitude is based on her strong religious up bring, the message is not overly strong and is fine for any one's beliefs. It does need to be down rated a star for misspelling "Trestles." Shame on the ghost writer and editors for letting such an obvious mistake go: aren't there starving surfers who could have been hired for the job instead?



3. My daughter needed a book for her school's summer reading project. She picked this book off the list because she'd heard about the author who had her arm bitten off by a shark as an 11 year old, surfing. She was able to get through it quickly and she enjoyed it even though she is not an avid reader.



4. At just 13, Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm to a tiger shark, possibly affecting her goals and achievements dramatically in her life forever. But did that stop her from surfing? Of course it didn't! Bethany has been in the water constantly ever since she knew how to swim. She says, surfing is her life and has been since she was three. Her parents have been there for her every step of the way. Bethany has two older brothers, both surfers, and a best friend named Alana, another surfer. She mentioned that without her faith in God she would have never survived and He is the reason she gets up every morning. This book really inspired me to have goals and to achieve and never give up. Bethany Hamilton is a role model to many others and I. I am glad to say that now she is a professional surfer! The sponsor that stuck with her though all the hard times was RipCurl! Bethany is a wonderful girl, daughter, sister and friend to many and I am so glad that I picked up this book and was immediately drawn to it.
   Bethany throws her soul into surfing; she was born for the board. She may have lost her arm in the attack, but she could never lose her faith in God. He was and still is her greatest hero and model. I really think that her faith motivated her to get right back in the waves.
   Bethany Hamilton's first-hand account of the full-on fight to keep surfing is worth the read all the way. This teenage autobiography would interest any type of reader. I personally think that to everyone who has read this incredible book including me, there is no doubt that this book has made an impact on peoples lives. What a great book.



5. This is a great story for all ages! It is about a girl who suffers from a shark attack and loses her arm. Bethany shows a great example of still going no matter how hard times may get. This is defidently a favorite of mine. I encourage you to read this book, it will inspire you as it did to me!

No comments about Vertical World: Conversations with Today's Masters of Rock.

No comments about Kickups, Hiccups, Lockups: The Autobiography.

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.

No comments about Arthur Ashe: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies).

5 comments about The Player: The Autobiography.

1. I was a major Becker fan back in my teens, so it was great to hear his story in his words. I tend to read autobiographies as opposed to biographies. I think it's usually more fun to read what a person has to say about themselves as opposed to what others have to say about them. A person writing about their own life has an agenda, of course, just like any biographer but this just tells you even more about them, and that's what I wanted to read. If you are a fan, you should definitely take a look.



2. It's much more about his personal life and business pursuits than tennis. The extent to which he has burned out on the game really comes through in the lack of interest he seems to have in writing about it. Few matches get any more than a sentence or two. Pretty disappointing.



3. I found the book pretty interesting. I was a major Becker fan back in my teens & as such I've heard so many stories about him over the years. Problem was none of the stories involved his side or his view of the events. So I enjoyed learning about the events from the major player's point of view. He is a gentlemen about his relationships with women, including the mother of his daughter out of wedlock. I respect that, in today's "Jerry Spring" environment it would have been easy for him to get too personal or [...] to try & increase sales & he refrained from that. I hope Becker finds the happiness that seems to have eluded him all these years. (But if your looking for pictures the only ones in the book are on the front & back cover)Good book overall.



4. This is an excellent autobiography about one of my favorite tennis stars of the Open era. His book compares favorably to Mac's "You Can't Be Serious." Although both personalities are equally intriguing, Becker opens up more. Mac remains more focused on the tennis. Becker engages in depth into all his demons, the tax evasion scandal, the wrenching divorce, and the sleeping pill addiction.
   
   With Becker you feel the heights and lows of fame. It is an extremely charged bipolar life. You also feel that Becker found it physically and emotionally exhausting. His body was crippled with tendon injuries resulting in several surgeries. His lingering tax evasion case lasting years took a heavy toll on his tennis career. His marriage to Barbara was a casualty of fame.
   
   Many relationships he experienced have gone through Faustian dramas. This is true with his coaches and his women. He always seems to share a very strong bond and trust at the onset. Invariably, they don't meet expectations (his or theirs). Then, things fall apart. But, somehow they often recover and end up as mature friends. This was the case with both Ion Tiriac and Barbara (his former wife).
   
   Becker is full of contradictions. For instance, when he is in court to fight over the terms of a bitter divorce he states that he lived all his life in Germany. This was in an effort to transfer the divorce case from the U.S. where his wife filed the divorce paper to Germany where he would benefit from more lenient financial disclosure. But, when the German government goes after him for back taxes. All of a sudden, he has supposedly not set foot in Germany for decades. What gives?
   
   The description of life on the tour and the limelight seems really existential at best. Becker suffered from the inability to make genuine friends with fellow tennis players. He found the resulting social isolation difficult. But, how could you be close friends when your livelihood depended on your killer instinct ability to beat your fellow pros.
   
   The richness of the book is generated by all the chapters dedicated to other stars than Becker. One of them is by Ion Tiriac who describes his side of the story, including the fall out with Becker, and the eventual reconciliation. Another chapter is about Ali, another one consists of a fascinating interview with McEnroe, another one is an ode to Steffi Graf, finally another is an ode to Mandela. So, this biography is not just about Becker or tennis.
   
   If you like this book, I strongly recommend McEnroe's "You Can't Be Serious" and Bill Scanlon's "Bad News for McEnroe." Both those books stick more to tennis. Nevertheless, they are fascinating as they are written by two of the most talented players and incisive minds in tennis.



5. I would imagine that most of the autobiographies of sports personalities (and perhaps movie stars) in todays day and age are ghost-written. This book doesn't seem to be an exception.
   
   Being a great fan of Becker, I picked up the book as soon as I saw it in a bookshop. However, I was reasonably disappointed. The book talks very little about his tennis (which is what a fan would like to read about). I wanted to read about his epic matches, and his wimbledon wins.
   
   Instead of writing about tennis in this book, Becker writes more about the off-the-court aspects of his life (his misunderstandings with his coaches, with other players on the circuit). He seems to be making a point that he was never in the wrong but that he was misunderstood. The book seems to be his attempt to set the record straight.

5 comments about Big Girl in the Middle.

1. when you first look at ms. reece, you wonder how a woman like her has problems. she's tall, she's pretty; not only has she excelled at sports and modelling, but she has also made movies...but like anybody else, she has her "down days" and her book " big girl in the middle" points them out as well as her good ones.
   
   The book, co-written with Karen Karbo, points out Ms. Reece's career as a professional volleyball player, and as a professional model. it also talks about her childhood in the carribean (trinidad) new york, and florida.
   
   just her childhood would be enough for a book. part trinidadian, reece moved around alot,growing up with other relatives and sometimes her mom.later she would discover sports and learned that she was good at it, getting a scholarship to play volleyball in college. she would go on to play professional volleyball for team nike,(she had a shoe named after her) which is the subject of this book. ms. reece also talks alot about being a big girl and how being a big girl gives her power, which she stresses strongly that she uses in a good way.
   
   personally,ms. reece could've written this book herself. not to take anything away from ms. karbo ( she's a good writer ) but ms. reece seems like she's smart enough to sit down and put her own story together. i thought it was cool that she played down her "glamazon" image. i think the main reason she played sports was because she didn't want people to think that she was a prissy barbie-doll type,which ms. reece shows is far from what she is.ms. reece claims to have a strong belief in god, which is refreshing;she never proselytizes her belief on anyone. she comes off as confident, not arrogant. her views on men and sex were bold. i won't repeat them here, you just have to read for yourself. she was featured in a usa today article a few years ago, which she was at the time giving advice to people. ms. reece has lived an interesting life. and it's worth reading about.



2. How would you feel if you were torn between two careers; modeling, and volleyball? That's what Gabrielle Reece encountered in her journey through life. This book, written by Gabrielle herself, was to tell the story of an extremely tall girl growing up mocked and taunted. I believe that this book is important for all vertically enhanced women.
   "Big Girl in the Middle" is basically about a girl named Gabrielle that grows up not knowing she is any different than anyone else, and is hit in the face with the fact of her abnormal height at the age of fourteen when she realized she was 5' 11". She does a few modeling contracts but likes playing volleyball for a living a little more enjoyable. She is on Team Nike and throughout her careers does horrible, many times not even winning one game out of tournament. This book is non-relational for many people of average height, and can be difficult to understand the stress she endured her entire life.
   I thought the book had its good moments but overall lacked the excitement that I feel it needed. I did like the moments in which the volleyball game was actually occurring and thought it was very descriptive and easy to visualize. The majority of the book was about her everyday life on the off seasons and her booming modeling career that she didn't want to pursue. If I could change this book I would change the random descriptions of her everyday life style. Overall, this book was a little boring and it annoyed me that she didn't take up modeling.



3. I thought Big Girl in the Middle would be a wonderful book to read. It's about a girl who is a professional volleyball player, and I really love volleyball. But when I began to read it, "Boy was I wrong!" I hate books that try to make you feel sorry for people and it seemed like that's all this book was doing. It was quite depressing, and I dreaded the thought of having to pick it up again each day to read another chapter. I like to read about some obstacles people have to overcome to achieve their goals, but this was a little extreme. It seems as though nothing good ever happened to Gabrielle Reece in her life, and when something finally did, it was taken away from her. Life is not easy (we all know that), so why make it worse for other people by writing about it?
   I also thought the book was difficult to follow. One minute they'd be taken talking about her childhood and the next thing you know they were in the middle of one of her games. She didn't always give her ages; she would just say that she did things after this and this. I also never really knew when or where they were talking. For example, I never knew if the conversations happened at her home, on the phone, on at the beach. It was just really tough to follow.
   The only good thing about the book is Gabrielle Reece. She is what every girl, at some point in her life, wants to be! She's been a model as well as a professional athlete. Most girls want to be idolized for their looks and /or praised for their athletic ability. Gabrielle Reece is both. She is a role model for many women around the globe.
   I would not recommend this book for those who are looking for a laugh, or an exciting or interesting story. I don't think it's a really good book at all. There was absolutely no humor in it. It was depressing and hard to follow. I wouldn't want to read it again!



4. I loved reading BIg Girl in the Middle! I was amazed to find that Gabrielle Reece was more fascinating than I thought she'd be. The girl is witty, beautiful, and she has some pretty deep thoughts on a lot of things-and a great deal of insight to back it all up! I think she should seriously be considered as a good example of a role model for girls, and some people out there would probably be better off if they acted more like her!



5. When I bought this book I was looking for inspiration in my everyday training/fitness. I found it, I think Gabby Reece is someone who has a lot of confidence and while reading her book I developed a likeness toward her and I enjoyed her openess and spunk.