4 comments about Parcells: A Biography.

1. The book is a pretty good account of his very successful years with the NY Giants and some of his earlier experiences. How he interacts with various other players and coaches and his family experiences are all brought to light in this book. Overall a good read. If you're looking for a leadership book by Parcells, there are other better ones out there but if you're looking at an introspective into his life and who he is, I'd say this is a good book.



2. Unlike the previous reviewer who wrote his opinion twice, I enjoyed the book (I read the hardcover edition 2000). I've read 2 or 3 books on Parcells and this is the best. Yes, there's too much review of games, but I skipped over that.
   
   The book tells a lot of interesting things about Parcells that I didn't know, and I've followed his career very closely the last 16 years because I lived in the NE when he coached the Pats & Jets. The books tells how he got his nickname the "Tuna" and his name Bill (not his birthname). It tells a lot about his early years in HS, college, and as a vagabond assistant coach. I never knew that he took a year off from coaching at 38 to sell real estate for a land development company and actually made more money that being the head coach at the Air Force Academy the previous year. The book tells how BP never liked college coaching.



3. The same for the paperback edition of "Parcells"...This book, by and large, is nothing more then a rehash of old football games coached by Parcells. Gutman should be ashamed of himself for delivering yesterday's cup of coffee to football fans. Giving ad nasuem blow-by-blow accounts of games that took place 5-10 years ago is not my idea of a biography. About 25% represents Parcels' philosophies on life, football, family, and friends, etc., and I would rate that at best a C-. Overall the book is a major flop. Don't waste your money on this one. Of course, I shouldn't complain, I picked it up for a buck at a used bookstore...I paid 99 cents too much!



4. This book, by and large, is nothing more then a rehash of old football games coached by Parcells. Gutman should be ashamed of himself for delivering yesterday's cup of coffee--especially so to knowledgeable football fans. Giving ad nauseam blow-by-blow accounts of games that took place 5-10 years ago is not my idea of biography. About 25% represents Parcels' philosophies on life, football, family, and friends, etc., and I would rate that at best a C-. Overall the book is a major flop. Don't waste your money on this one. Of course, I shouldn't complain, I picked it up for a buck at a used bookstore...I paid 99 cents too much!

No comments about The Saints, the Superdome, and the Scandal.

5 comments about Bo Knows Bo.

1. Bo Jackson is the greatest American Athlete since Jim Thorpe. For some reason, people don't recognize this fact enough. Most people would give that title to Ali, and to be sure Ali was superb. But no one that I can think of played three sports at world class level (football, baseball, and track and field) the way Bo did. You have to think about how incredibly difficult that is. He was such a natural at everything he tried that he could afford to devout only partial attention to a given sport at anyone time. In terms of pure natural gifts, Bo Jackson surpasses everyone else. But what is most remarkable in this story is how close he came to throwing that immense talent away. Sports was his salvation, that and his hard-driving mother. This book shows how sports can be a great positive outlet in a person's life. They provide an arena for focused action that serves to improve the individual through lessons of hard-work, team-work, and discipline. Even the very talented have to work for it, and Bo shows that in this blunt accounting of his life



2. This piece is a look at the upbringing of Bo Jackson. He discusses his past and what brought him to his successes in life. It is watered down with numbers and flashbacks of games that not many remember. The saving graces in this book are the stories in regard to charitable works Bo has done, as well as Dick Schaap and his mid chapter-per chapter writings.
   This book is good for the twitch speed generation of parents to own to let their children one day know what the words: ownership, accountability, and work ethic really mean. Success is sometimes an afterthought.
   ~Angelo Markantonakis



3. More than One Chance
   
   I recently read the book Bo Knows Bo, Bo Jackson's autobiography. Bo Jackson was a pretty bad child and his career almost never happened. As a child, Bo Jackson twice almost pulled the trigger of a gun and shot and shot someone. He wasn't always a fan of practice and usually slept through team meetings. Bo got out of the ghetto when he got a scholarship to Auburn. While at Auburn, Bo played football, baseball, and did track for a year. A person he thought was a friend lied to Bo and cost Bo his eligibility his senior year for baseball when he worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the draft. He could've gone pro in either football or baseball but decided to go pro when he got drafted by the Kansa City Royals. After the baseball season, Bo would play the ten games or however many were left for the Oakland Raiders.
   I like how this biography told about Bo's childhood because some biographies don't. I disliked how Bo was a problem child because he had so much talent. It is like Sports Century on ESPN Classic which is biographies of athletes on T.V.



4. In my opinion, one of the greatest athletes to come along post-1970s (that generation had Ali, Wilt, Alcindor, Hank Aaron, Jenner, Hamill, Franco Harris, Evelyn Ashford, Archie Griffin, Bjorn Borg, George McGinnis ... some of the biggest names in sport!).
   
   Fast. Big. Strong. (Did I mention Fast? Big? and Strong?)
   
   This dude had all the physical gifts and the "can do" mentality of a super hero come to life!!!
   
   Never seen anyone like him and probably will never again.
   
   It's ironic that this two-sport All-Star, seeminly indestructible had his career hobbled to a stutter that fateful Jan. 1991 day on a football field.
   
   This book gives you the inside on how a young Bo Jackson (aggressive and physically awesome even as a young kid) came all the way from Bessemer, Alabama, rose through elite football and baseball ranks to become the late-1980s megastud on the same dais of Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky before his injury.
   
   It's an interesting tale with behind the scenes looks at how teammates and competitors in both the NFL and MLB interacted with him -- or should I saw competed in awe -- how Jackson came to hate Steinbrenner and how his family kept and continues to keep him grounded.
   
   Here you had an athlete with ...
   
   Carl Lewis' speed
   Herschel Walker's size
   Reggie White/Ray Lewis strength
   Jim Brown's physical toughness
   Barry Sanders' explosiveness
   
   ... and a "No feat too great or too tall" mentality ALL HIS OWN.
   
   Bo was a champion who's athletic career was cut short too soon, leaving fans to always ponder "what if".
   
   This book celebrates memories and reflections on "What was."



5. Bo Knows Bo is a good book. It's about Bo Jackson's life as a kid, and how he played professional baseball and football. It tells you about his childhood, and when he went to Auburn. It talks about his personal life, when he played baseball, and football, too. It has chapters when people like Howie Long write in the book.
   I would recommend this book to sport fans or people how know Bo Jackson and want to know more about the real Bo Jackson's life.
   Spokane,WA Morch 17,2005 9 o'clock 32 minuts 21 secents

5 comments about Lessons of the Game: The Untold Story of High School Football.

1. The book, Lessons of the game by Derek Sparks tells about something that parents and many high school students do not even know about. Derek Sparks who wrote about his life growing up through high school; he lived a life far diverse than the average teenager. While other kids and students are working hard to keep good grades by staying in class and studying; nothing like that applied to Derek in high school. Everything was taken care of and it did not really matter who was doing all of this. While other normal families struggle with money, Derek had money shoved into his pocket, and if he desired food or any thing like that there was always someone who would go out and get it for him. He did not have an existent Dad as he walked out on him and he left his Mother who lives in Texas to play high school football in California. Derek did not go out to California by himself as his Uncle Jay brought him out there and tried to do what was best for him. As he could not live with his Uncle Jay, each high school had plenty to offer Derek including living in his own home or apartment near the school with all the expenses being taken care of.
   You follow Derek on and off the field and learn how people would sell him out and not protect him from what he should not have to deal with as a young kid. Not only would people not do what was best for him but also they would do what ever they could to have him on their team or make money out of him because of being a "star" athlete and having the ability of becoming a professional. This is a great book and a must read for any one who is interested in sports. Even if you are not, I would recommend Lessons of the Game by Derek Sparks because once you start reading, you will not want to put it down.



2. Lessons of the Game is truly an amazing book. Although a non-avid reader, I recently picked up this book and read it within two days. Derek's writing style is very easy to understand. His choice of words to describe things made me know exactly where he was coming from and what it was like at points in Derek's life. I found myself laughing out loud several times as he described scenes as well as almost shedding a tear. This book gives the reader an inside look into Derek's life and true test of character. I believe this book is for the young, old, athletes, non-athletes, or anyone who is ready for an excellent book to read! It is a must read and won't be put down until finished!!!



3. Hello,
   I just finished this book and found it very interesting being as how i just finished my first season as a high school quarterback, and i have many of the same aspirations to do what he dreamed of doing. I was wondering though how much of a sugarcoat was put on derek in this book. it played out looking like everyone else were the bad guys. I wondered if one of the so called bad guys were to write a book stating his side who would you belive. But anyhow it was an exelent book and i encourage every one to give this book a try!!!



4. I would highly recommend this book for all young athletes who aspire to compete at a higher level. It is an excellent example of how a young athlete can be convinced he is immune to the rules of the game. As a former high school athlete and coach it also serves as a warning for parents and coaches on how their own behavior can have devasting effects on a young athlete's career and life.



5. I became a fan of Derek Sparks after hearing him speak at the YMCA Apple Cup Rally Benefit Dinner. He was amazing! Today, a month later, I can still feel the power of the GAMETIME message. I am 33 years old and Derek helped me examine myself and my life . I have a renewed spirit and confidence in the days ahead. I applaud Derek for his work with youth and his courage to make a difference.

   His life story is sad and heart wrenching, but at the same time refreshing to know that we all can survive the Lessons of Life and live to tell the good news.

5 comments about The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story: Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption.

1. I was really looking forward to reading this book, but after only a few chapters my disappointment was overwhelming. Bill Watts has a really interesting story to tell. Sadly, he forcibly and REPEATEDLY inserts his religous awakening into every annecdote in this book, thereby ruining the entire tale... Would NOT be a good addition to any library outside of a church or prison.



2. I liked this book. It had a lot of good information, however, I felt that it contained too many details and would have been better if it had contained at least 50 less pages.



3. For wrestling fans it is obvious that an autobiography by this legend is a must for the collection. But what is missing from his chapter on WCW leaves a big gap that cannot be ignored and ultimately detracts from the work.
   
   There was an angle aired during the Ron Simmons v Lex Luger "press conference" for the heavyweight title match where Lex uses a disgusting racial slur to draw heat (of the cheapest kind). The slur actually made it on the air on cable, but was cut when shown through syndication.
   
   Watts spends several pages on why he felt Simmons deserved the push to wear the championship strap, but fails to mention anything about the angle used that perhaps was the worst ever from a major promotion in a business not known for good taste.
   
   Simply, did Watts have a hand in creating the script? If he did, why did he feel he needed to fuel the fire of racisim to gain heat for the match? And, if Watts did not have anything to do with the angle, he certainly would have a recollection and opinion the issue.
   
   Watts remembers conversations he had with wrestlers like Sting concerning the use of steroids and has opinions on a wide-range of subjects, hence not addressing this issue really questions the validity of the entire book.
   
   The most moving section is excerpts of letters from young people when Watts was running the UWF. The words coming from youngsters with oftentimes terminal illnesses is very powerful. It shows the impact that wrestlers back when they worked territories for significant periods of time. They truly were seen as stars like pro baseball and football players & not like the cartoon characters that are seemingly pushed today.
   
   I simply wish Watts did not suffer amnesia on an issue that defined not only his management of WCW, but himself as a person.
   
   
   
   
   



4. This self-indulged book by one of pro wrestling''s notorious heavy-hitters and egomaniacs from recent pro wrestling history, is a huge disappointment.
   
   For one thing, his legendary BIG and LOUD style doesn't transliterate well to the printed page --Watts is sitll obnoxious, too BIG and too LOUD; for another, his recollection of wrestling history during the late '60s to '70s and '80s is too self-interested and too self-serving, especially without documentation; third, if Watts were the clever guy he regards himself to be, why would he now be hard-selling an image of himself (that is so inconsistent with what we all know him to be) and yet another health-care product (not vitamins this time, but JESUS) if he didn't already know as much as he thinks he knows about his audience -- we're still all MARKS!
   
   But for readers interested in pro wrestling history during this time frame, Watts' self-interested account should at least be received as another view alongside others. Having studied many of these wrestling books in recent years, I still think that Wilson and Johnson's CHOKEHOLD is the Bible when it comes to describing (and documenting) pro wrestling history.



5. This is an excellent book from an excellent man. It should be required reading for anyone who yearns for a more productive and fulfilling life!

2 comments about Tales from the Kentucky Hardwood.

1. I got this for my dad on his birthday in October and he recently finished it and told me how much he enjoyed reading it, SOOO, I can conclude it makes a nice gift for a Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan. (Although `fanatic' better describes my dad every March.) The stories in Tales from the Kentucky Hardwood ranged from thrilling recountings of games where microseconds counted, to tales of the colorful coaches, Adolph Rupp to Tubby Smith, who led the Wildcats to so many successful seasons down thru the years. This is a well-written, respectful trip into the distant and not so distant past of one of the most storied athletic programs in the NCAA, and what makes it so special and separates it from the dry, praising look back it could have been is the extent to which players, staff and coaches from a half-century of teams stepped forward to lend their support in the creation of this book. Their input was invaluable and went a long way toward elevating Tales to a work of cultural importance in a region where basketball outranks perhaps even horse racing as the state's most cherished institution.



2. I thought this book was very good. Lots of nice, short stories of UK basketball (players, coaches, etc.). A great read for any UK fan.

5 comments about The Doing of the Thing: The Brief, Brilliant Whitewater Career of Buzz Holmstrom (New Edition).

1. Anyone remotely interested in white water rafting will thoroughly love this book. Buz Holstrom was a true Maverick in the sport. The authors bring him to life through their wonderful narrative and easy writing style. He is truly an individual that was remarkably talented in his boat building and navigational skills. This book left me wanting more of Buzz Holstrom and wishing he were still around to tell us more about his short remarkable life.



2. The legendary Buzz Holmstrom was a more complex figure than I knew. His journal entries express the feeling of all who really love rivers and the famous entry that includes "the doing of the thing" should be read on every river trip.
   This is the second Brad Dimock book I've read (the other on Bert Loper) and I am impressed with not only his skill as a writer, but his careful research. His handling of the tragic end to Buzz Holmstrom's life was that of a journalist with a sense of humanity.
   I've already loaned this book to friends.



3. If you like white water rafting, this is a wonderful book about the birth of white water fun.



4. Even today, with rescue not so far away, few of us would have the nerve to go down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon alone, so imagine the nerve it took when Buzz was totally alone, with no chance of help if he made a mistake. But the most amazing thing about Buzz was that in the midst of an adventure that would leave most people totally preoccupied with survival, Buzz had the soul power to look for and see the poetry in the river and the canyon. Merely knowing how to survive can be much easier than knowing how to live.



5. I remember years ago when I was a kid a story my father told me about an amazing river rafter and boat builder. My Dad grew up in Coquille and went to school with Buzz's younger brother. His story always ended with how Buzz had been on a rafting trip in eastern Oregon and went off and committed suicide. I could never understand how someone who had done the amazing things he did could end his life on that note. I thought about that story many times over the years and always wished I knew more. This book is incredibly well researched and documented. Even though many questions were answered, many more were raised. Such was the enigma that was Buzz Holmstrom.

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

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



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



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



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



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

No comments about Rivers of the Heart.

1 comments about Byron Nelson: The Story of Golf's Finest Gentleman and The Greatest Winning Streak in History.

1. Visually striking layout... fantastic photos of Nelson and some of golf's greatest from that era. Book initially requires sequential reading, then opens up later into short, choppy highlights of tournaments where Byron prevailed. Makes a wonderful book to place somewhere visitors might want to browse through without committing to tons of reading. GREAT GIFT for a golfer.