No comments about A Feel for the Game: A Master's Memoir.

4 comments about All the Rage: The Life of an NFL Renegade.

1. I read the book when it was first released and actually I just "happened" upon it. I was and am still the BIGGEST Charles Haley fan and I was just looking to get any memorablia that I could. I thought the book was great because it explained why he played so hard and why he felt the way he did about things going on in the NFL. I think that he is a great player and he is just misunderstood by players, coaches and fans alike. If you read the book then you would gain more insight on him and his thinking. And being one of his biggest fans, I guess that I am a bit biased on this review. But he was very frank and candid in his portrayal of the NFL. He didn't sugarcoat anything. Also it showed how committed he was to playing the sport and committed to his personal life as well. The only thing that could have changed was some of the foul language but again I think that that was just him being Charles Haley. Anyone knowing anything about him knows that he does not hold his tongue, not even on live television. So you would have to expect that from his writing. I would love for him to read this so he will know that he has one devoted fan in me!



2. Haley expresses his views (openly) on everything from racism in the NFL to the physical and emotional toll the game takes on its players. He doesn't hold anything back and just tells it how it is. Not many players get to play for two great teams (like the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers) and win Super Bowls with each. He's a legendary player and that explains why he's the only man to earn five Super Bowl rings. This is a very well-written book and a great one for the true Dallas fans!



3. I enjoyed Charles Haley's book very much. He talks VERY openly about the NFL and the pressures put on every player. Pressure from the coaches, the media, and the players themselves. Not to mention the disregard many players show for their own health to keep playing, and the drugs they take to do so. I enjoyed Charles' style very much. Some may find it offensive, but if you expected anything different from him what were you thinking when you bought the book?



4. Charles Haley returns to the trenches; this time however, he uses the muck and mud to bury real and imagined enemies in the National Football League.

   "All the Rage: The Life of an NFL Renegade," are exhausting anecdotes of the petty grudges, lacking any greater reference point than "I got even," of a former football great.They say defensive linemen to be successful must be mean and meanspirited, profane and not profound. Somebody, unfortunately, offered the same advice to Haley the writer.

   At its best the book is unsportsmanlike conduct; at its worst, no gain for reader, writer and the many enemies of Mr. Haley.

2 comments about Joey Dunlop: His Authorised Biography.

1. I've been a subscriber to Cycle News in the US for many years. My original subscription was for Cycle News East, for those who know, this was quite a few years ago. Before cable TV my only information conserning moto racing on the "Continent" was through these pages. My only connection to racing on "The Island" was through a man by the name of Eddie Labelle, a well respected racer himself in his community, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA who spoke quite respectfully of these races. I knew absolutely nothing about Joey Dunlop. I remember receiving my copys of Cycle News through the time that Joey Dunlop was providing so many people in the world with his special talent. There would be small bits of information that claimed "Joey" wins another one! I still knew nothing about Joey Dunlop. I remember reading about Mike The Bike in retrospect articles, and in Motocourse. I followed the FIM Moto Circus through articles I've read from 79 until now and could tell you about most racers of the time, but I still knew nothing about Joey Dunlop.
   I still do not know Joey, but I think I know Himself much better than I did before purchasing this book. Do yourself a favor and get to Know Joey by purchasing this book. You will not only help yourself by knowing...... well, Joey, but you will also be helping his family as all of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes directly to his family. This is a resrectful man that we all need to know.



2. This is a factual review of Joey Dunlop's career. It is a very nicely produced hard back with great photos. It is probably a must for any Joey Dunlop fan. However, it is not anywhere near as absorbing or personal as "Joey Dunlop, A Tribute" by author and TT winner Ray Knight. Now that is a fabulous book!!!!
   You cannot get it on Amazon yet 9/2002, but you can get it at [URL]

   Keep the shiny side up!

5 comments about Steve Williams: How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life.

1. During the 1980's and 1990's Steve Williams was one of my favorite wrestlers. Steve Williams was a legit tough guy and a tremendous collegiate wrestler and football player. In the pro wrestling ring he brought believability and intensity to his matches and was one of the top stars in Japan.
   
   I doubt you'd know most any of that from reading this book.
   
   Steve Williams glosses over so much of his career. The book was written with the emphasis on his amazing battle against cancer which he even came back from. That's a good story but wrestling fans buy wrestling books for wrestling stories and sadly this book was light on them.
   
   Likewise, Steve Williams greatest success came in Japan yet his Japanese years are glossed over as well. There are probably many great stories that could have been told about Terry Gordy, Stan Hansen, Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and the many others he teamed with and wrestled in All-Japan.
   
   I was really hoping to learn something from this book but sadly I didn't.
   
   I recommend this book only if you don't know anything about Dr. Death and want to but if you're a hard core wrestling fan I believe you'll be disappointed.



2. This book is extremely well written. I didn't want to put it down. The stories, the matches, and the incredible triumph in faith should catapult this to the bestseller list. TWO THUMBS`UP!



3. Japanese & Mid South Wrestling Legend "Dr. Death" Steve Williams brings an inspirational story of his life, career, and battle with throat cancer. He tells of his college football career and how he failed to make the jump to the now-defunct USFL. He vowed to a pro wrestling trainer to never play football professionally again, and he emerged on the Mid-South Wrestling circuit, the UWF - two of them no less, and WCW. He regales the reader with his run in Japan, where he gained most of his fame, and why he preferred promotions there over American promotions. And then he speaks of how all his sports achievements ultimately meant nothing, when he was diagnosed with throat cancer and found hope in religion. A heartwarming story of an imperfect man, highly recommended to wrestling fans and wrestling historians alike.



4. Maybe it's my fault I went into this book with high expectations, but I was very disappointed with this book. Not much in the way of inside stories. I've alwas been a fan of Doc, but I think you'd need to be a HUGE fan of Steve Williams to think this book is anything better than OK.



5. I am a big fan of Dr Death Steve Williams. He is a true wrestler in my eyes, big and tough with excellent wrestling skills. I was really looking forward to reading this book but I found it so-so.
   
   It is nto a bad read but nothing more than an ok read. I thought Steve could have commented a bit more about some of the wrestlers that he had met over the years and perhaps have been less flattering about some of them as he seemed to have gotten on with most of the wrestlers.
   
   The book is good for Dr Death's fans, but there are better wrestling books out there.

No comments about Heavenly Twins Of Boston Baseball: A Dual Biography of Hugh Duffy and Tommy Mccarthy.

5 comments about You Go Girl! Winning the Woman's Way.

1. I just got my copy of You Go Girl in the mail. I am Mom who traveles in her van all over town to attend her kids sports activities, and this book has been with me all week. I liked the way Charlie and Kim told the personal stories along with professional truimphs. I think woman of all ages would enjoy reading this book. It has truly been a hit in our household.



2. The book "You Go Girl" is a must have for female athletes of all ages. As you read through each chapter, the steps and obstacles of becoming a successful athlete are presented in the stories of women in the world of sports. The greatest part is you can pick up the book and begin reading any story! I am a teenager playing 3 sports in high school and can easily apply the lessons these women present into my daily routine. I have recommended this book to my friends and cannot wait to show my coaches!



3. These amazing women athletes all made the decision to set a goal, to have the right attitude, to have faith and determination, and to make sacrifices in order to reach their dreams/goals in life. This book is very uplifting and inspirational - full of wisdom, optimism, gratitude and joy. It is truly a gift that makes you feel so good after reading just a few pages. I had the opportunity to share some of the stories with my male friends and they enjoyed it as much as I did. My five star recommendation goes out to both Kim and Charlie. Thanks for being able to share all these inspirational stories with us!



4. A must reading for females and males a like. I bought it for my 2 girls, ages 10 and 7 and started to read it before them. It is not just about sports but rather how we all should approach things in our life and situations that arise... I am making sure my 2 boys and wife also read it and I am recommendeing it to my students



5. I flipped through this book at a local book store and was impressed with the life lessons Doren and Jones have presented in a wonderfully readable fashion. I gave "What makes winners win?" to my grandson, I'll give my grandaughter "You go girl" and hope they both read it!

2 comments about A Reason to Believe: The Blaise Winter Story.

1. Blaise tells a very inspirational story about his life and all the challenges that he was able to overcome to follow his dream. Blaise used football as a way to communicate when he was unable to talk plainly. He tells how he never gave-up and continued to believe in himself when no-one else would. Blaise had a vary successful football career and is now a successful speaker. I would highly recommend this book.



2. This book is a great illustration of where heart and determination will get you in life. Blaise Winter, from day one, had to overcome many problems. From his cleft palate to his stubborn high school principle and coach, Blaise battled against all who didn't believe and reached his life-long dream....playing in the NFL. If you are feeling down on yourself or have little confidence, read this book and allow Blaise Winter to inspire you.

No comments about Away from the Ball: The NFL's Off-the-Field Heroes.

5 comments about Boots on the Ground by Dusk: The Life and Death of Pat Tillman.

1. Mary Tillman and her coauthor did their homework in writing this story of her son and the aftermath of his combat death in Afghanistan. She was as objective as anyone could expect a mother to be, and she deserves credit for the overwhelming amount of time and research devoted to finding answers. I listened to the audio book version from my perspective as a biographer and retired senior officer with 32 years in the U.S. Navy. The book impressed me on both counts.
   
   The complex writing structure especially impressed me. The authors picked an excellent staring point--when the Tillmans learned Pat's death had been a fratricide. The book then goes forward on parallel tracks, alternating present tense to move the story forward and past tense to fill in the background. I enjoyed the layered flashbacks and the challenge of piecing together the story as I listened. The anecdotes are out of order but not confusing. For example, we read about Mary's brother learning of Pat's death and going to her house before we read about her being notified of the death. Pat's selection as a pro-ball player is the final segment to complete the story of his life. I liked this arrangement because it emphasized his military career over his football career.
   
   The audio version is read by the author, which adds intimacy to the telling of the story, but her sweet, soft, slow voice quickly became boring. Because she never changed her tone, it was hard to tell when "I" referred to her or to a transcript she was reading.
   
   My only complaint about the book was the excess of meaningless dialogue and details, such as listing all the names in every scene. Instead of saying "the boys and their father," for example, she would say, "Kevin, Pat, Richard, and Patrick." We heard every "Hello, how are you?--I'm fine," and we went through step-by-stop processes such as getting up in the morning and making coffee.
   
   Although I don't for a minute believe Pat Tillman's death was a planned conspiracy, I have no difficulty in believing a cover-up was orchestrated for public relations purposes after his death. That's a sorry way to treat a family and the American public. I read through the reviews on Amazon.com to see if anyone disagreed with Mary's research or complained about her leaving out vital information. No one did. I hope she someday gets the answers she seeks.



2. the passages from the memorial services are alone worth the read, Pat Tillman was someone I had an enormous amount of respect for and his brother, Kevin and mother, carry his memory with respect and appropriate outrage.



3. This book turned out to be something of a puzzlement to me. According to its title, it is intended as a "Tribute to Pat Tillman," and the early chapters certainly bear that title out. They document a mother's trials and tribulations as she confronts an entrenched military organization in her attempt to learn the truth about when, where, how, and why her son died in Afghanistan. But there are also frequent flashbacks to Pat's earlier days. In those chapters, Pat Tillman can be seen in his true essence as the son that every mother would dearly love to have. It is clear that Pat Tillman was an exceptionally fine young man who dearly loved his life, his mother, his family, and his country; and that Pat's mother dearly loved her son.
   
   The latter half of the book, however, seems to deviate from this theme. Rather than continuing the "tribute" to Pat, amplified by such memories, it appears to document the author's frustration and anger as she struggles to determine who tried to cover-up the facts concerning his death, and at what levels of the military and/or the government it was authorized. I can't help but admire her for her efforts, but, to me at least, how and why her son died and who attempted to cover-up the facts and why are two different things. It is very easy to hypothesize any number of possible scenarios for either case, but as Mary Tillman and her family learned through this long and arduous process; chances are the truth will never be known; especially where it concerns those who instigated the cover-up and why they did it. I, for one, would very much like to know, but I don't consider that a tribute.
   
   The facts concerning the events surrounding Pat Tillman's death, however, appear to be quite clear if one is willing to accept the on-sight investigation and the interviews performed by Captain Scott within twenty-four hours of the event. But, for some inexplicable reason, the Army seems unwilling to give them any credence. To me it is obvious that Pat Tillman's death was a tragic mistake set in motion by poor decisions and inexcusable negligence, but also contingent on a remarkable sequence of events, a change in any one of which might have altered the outcome. What if the humvee hadn't broken down? Or, the platoon hadn't been split? Or, the jinga truck had been able to negotiate the road to Tit? Or, if Serial-1 hadn't missed the turn-off to Manah and, therefore, was long gone? Or, if the firing vehicle's view hadn't been obstructed causing them to cease fire just as Tillman tossed his smoke grenade? Or, if Tillman had waited just a little bit longer to ensure that firing had ceased before stepping into the open?
   
   I have often wondered why people write biographies of twenty-something actors and entertainers. What have they really accomplished? What does it matter? And, why should anyone care? Granted: Pat Tillman was a twenty-something when he died, but he is also an American hero and his life is over -- and it does matter. So I'm glad this book was written. It is unfortunate, however, that all the facts concerning his death will likely never be known.



4. This book was so good that I read it in just 2 days. It was so good that I was unable to put it down. I would recommend this book to everyone I know.



5. Mary Tillman has skillfully written a complex account of military and political blunder and deceit into which she expertly intermingles her own story and that of her family. The resulting narrative is personal, political and readable - all at the same time.
   
   Since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan over 500 American soldiers have died. Since George W. Bush invaded Iraq, in March of 2003, over 4100 have been killed and almost 4000 of those have died since the president's infamous declaration of "Mission Accomplished." Tillman's "Boots on the Ground By Dusk" is the beautifully written, but gut-wrenching story of one of those soldiers.
   
   By this time, I suppose, there can be few Americans who do not understand the general outline of the Bush Administration's complex push for war in Iraq. That campaign, as it has been uncovered elsewhere, involved the deliberate use of distortion and misinformation ranging from unambiguous lies suggesting a link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda, to tales of the non-existent WMDs, to neocon assertions of an American democratizing mission in the middle east.
   
   The larger-scale story of the Iraq war involves, among other things, the international repercussions of President Bush's attempt to assert American global hegemony in the 21st century. In stark contrast, this very personal book, written by the mother of pro-footballer-turned-soldier, Pat Tillman, is connected to that war at only the most basic level; that of the individual soldier. Nevertheless, as the book unfolds, it reveals a web of deception that matches the distortions at the international level. It is as if everyone connected to this administration's war effort is simply unable to tell the truth. It is as if dishonesty and manipulation have become part of their DNA.
   
   The book begins with Mrs. Tillman's account of staring into a fire pit. She is sitting in front of her home, the home in which she raised her children, smoking, listening to the crackling logs, and thinking, "I light my cigarette wondering what I would do if I couldn't smoke, if I couldn't blow out my anger, frustration, and sense of crippling loss into the night." It is a stunning description of the isolation and helplessness that accompanies unbearable loss, but the book that follows is, in one sense, an answer to her question. When blowing out anger and loss "into the night" was no longer enough she would ask questions, investigate contradictions, and write.
   
   In the earliest pages the reader is introduced to the extended Tillman family and how they become the people they are. They share ideas and debate issues. The attacks of 9/11 hit them hard and, in response, the two oldest sons, Pat and Kevin, decide to join the Army. It is not a popular decision. The youngest brother, Richard, reacts with anger, others are worried, and still others confused. Kevin is just about to leave a life in minor league baseball, but Pat will have to give up a promising career in pro football with the Arizona Cardinals. Pat and Kevin Tillman both become Army Rangers. On April 22, 2004 Pat is killed in Afghanistan.
   
   Initially the family is presented a version of Pat's death that has him leading a charge up a hill. That story is soon contradicted by news (first heard from a reporter!) that Pat may have been killed by "friendly fire." The army then constructs an official version of death by fratricide, but as the reports come in they are full of contradiction and ambiguity. The family, led by the author, demands answers. After intensive investigation and vigorous questioning the official version of death by "friendly fire" is altered. As more reports are written and, as the family investigates each the story, the official version is altered again and again. Tillman convincingly demonstrates that none of the distortions are accidental. Even the narrative that accompanies Pat Tillman's posthumous silver star is shown to be deliberately false. Despite the fact that the story involves detailed descriptions of volumes of official reports and two congressional hearings the book reads like a good mystery with the reader anticipating the next twist, the next revelation.
   
   Appropriately, it all begins with a quote from Charles A. Beard: "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." In Mary Tillman's examination of this very dark incident in her life and, by extension, her examination of this very dark stain on contemporary American leadership, she manages to reveal some real stars. A mother who does not give up. Family members able to support each other in horribly difficult times. And Pat Tillman, a man of honesty and honor, who deserved better treatment from his government. "Boots on the Ground By Dusk" is an important contribution to our understanding of what has become of us in an era of politics by propaganda, but it is also a wonderful story of a family dedicated to finding the truth no matter what.

4 comments about The Great Black Jockeys.

1. Any person who is a serious study of sports history will find this a most compelling dialogue on the "true" evolution of the American professional athlete. It is simply the most "untold" and most compelling story in the American experience. Today's athletes - of whatever color - should read this book to get a true appreciation for the foundations of the "professional" athlete in America and the depth of character exhibited by these great athletes under the most dire conditions.



2. I read this book because it combined Black History and horse racing. Two of my favorite subjects. The book is well organized, full of information.

   The author seamlessly intertwines American History, African American History, and the history of horse racing in America. So the book keeps your interest. He also balances historical facts, with the colorful characters\stories surrounding horseracing, while elevating Black jockies to their noble place in the "sport of kings".

   This book is worth the price. A great read!!




3. This book explores a negleted aspect of the African-American experience in the United States. I had always assumed the African-American heros of sport were a twentieth century phenomenon. It was an eye opener to learn that there successful African-American jockeys and trainers as early as colonial time.

   I would recommend this well written book to anyone with an interest in American history




4. Mr. Hotaling's latest horse-racing book is a must read for anyone who considers himself a true afficianado of the sport. It tells a story which far too many people, even serious horse players, know little about. Horse racing is unique among sports in America because it is has virtually no black presence. There are few black owners, trainers, and breeders, and very few of the most visible players in racing, the jockeys. This was not always the case. In fact, black jockeys once dominated America's oldest sport. The first winner of the Kentucky Derby was black, as was the Derby's first repeat winner and its first three-time winner. The jockey with the highest winning percentage in history was black. Hotaling gives the history of these pioneers, and in doing so gives a history of the sport. He also deals with the glaring question: why have black jockeys largely dissappeared from the sport? It is well-written and insightful, a book invaluable to those who value the history of horse racing.