Subjects:  1. Belichick, Bill    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Coaching - Football    8. Coaching - General    9. Football    10. Football - General    11. Football coaches    12. New England Patriots (Football team)    13. Sports - Football    14. Sports - General    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (8)

Not the biography
Bobby Heenan takes to the pages again and presents us with a self-help book. A warning to the wrestling marks, this is not a biography by Heenan. He covers phases of his life from dropping out of school after 8th grade into his career as a heel manager/wrestler and up to his retirement but in no detail covers his life. This is a self-help book through the eyes of maybe the most hated man in wrestling, keeping in mind it is the gimmick of Bobby Heenan, not the man Ray Heenan, that is hated. Heenan, using wrestling metaphors, covers instances in his life and how an average "ham-and-egger" could better themselves from his life lessons. He throws in some brief anecdotes from his career and you might laugh a few times. Overall, this book did little for me and I would have been just as well off if I hadn't read it (and $25 richer). It's readable and enjoyable mostly but Heenan is just all over the place throughout his life and it gets a bit messy, almost as if his entire career took place in 4 years. None-the-less, hardcore fans will buy it, those mark fans wanting a rundown of Heenan's professional career should skip it.

Cancer Survivor.
The author uses wrestling lingo as a metaphor for life. Entertaining anecdotes and stories made this a fast and funny read. This may not be a self-help book, but I never read one that made me laugh. I am sure his cancer story hit many readers nerves who have lost people or pets to that awful scourge. Mr. Heenan remains the funniest man in the history of the wrestling business.

Bobby's back again
I enjoyed this book because it really comes from the heart and describes what a miserable life people in the wrestling business can lead. i think he could've been a little more open about some of the people he dealt with and I'd have liked to have heard more about his relationship with Gorilla Monsoon and why he left WWF to go to WCW which ruined his career. But he's still a guy I would love to meet and get to know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baseball - General    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports - General    6. Wrestling    7. Biography & Autobiography / Sports    8. Sports & Recreation/Wrestling   

Reviews (6)

A Bit Overblown But Interesting
Ken Shamrock gives a short autobiography to start out the book.The story of his life is interesting but he seems to overstate many aspects of his life and fighting carreer.His stories are at times not believable and he makes excuses for every fight he has ever lost.Using excuses such as being hung over, bum leg, took fight too soon, other guy on pain drugs etc., Ken comes off as a sore loser quite often.Regardless of his padding his own stories, it is interesting none the less.
What "Inside" should have been
Having read "Inside the Lion's Den" years ago, I was very happy when this book came out.It makes Shamrock's first book seem like an abridged version of this one.
Tall tales and Good Techniques
A lot of the biographic info in this book comes off as just silly.Am I honestly supposed to believe that Ken Shamrock showed up to the 1988 Olympic wrestling tryouts drunk, armed only with High School Wrestling experience and nearly made the team if it weren't for that "lame" point system?
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Subjects:  1. Martial Arts    2. Martial Arts & Self-Defense    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports - General    6. Wrestling    7. Oriental martial arts   

Reviews (1)

Willis Gets It Right
As an armchair mountain climber (I read these books out of amazement that anyone would ever try these stunts), I have to say that author Willis is at the top of the heap. He not only seems to get what's going on in the heads of extreme mountain climbers, but he knows how to convey it--in gripping prose that is never clicheed. I have some of Willis' anthologies of adventure writing, so I know he is well-read in the genre (and a mountaineer himself). He has clearly absorbed the best of that writing, and turned it into something fresh in his own effort. Paradoxically, for a story that celebrates a bunch of social misfits, the book is full of wisdom about how to live life. This is no ordinary biography. As for the actual climbing passages--good luck putting this book down. I had to force myself not to flip ahead and see who dies next. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Fiction - General    3. History    4. Mountain Climbing    5. Mountaineering    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Reviews (2)

Quick read. Enjoyable tale and encouraging
Like other reviewers have said, this book tells a great story of a guy who grew up poor, had all the cards stacked agaisnt him and used the doubt people had about him to feed his thirst for success.By comparison, the basic plot of this story reminds me A LOT of "Million Dollar Baby," except Papale doesn't have one person doubting his ability, he has the whole world doubting his dreams of playing football.
Finally, A Book with a Happy Ending
By now everybody knows the story of Vince Papale.This is a fast moving paperbook story about a man who keeps trying to win approval from his father and never gives up on his dream of playing professional football.It is a quick and enjoyable read.Perfect book for the beach or riding the train.Straight forward, not a lot characters and worthless details -- this book doesn't ramble on.Despite an event that happened 30 years ago, this story never gets old.A poor guy from a blue collar city that captures the heart.I read the book in one weekend.If you are a sports minded individual and you are tired of reading about steroids and self serving biographies, then I highly recommend reading Invincible!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Football    7. Football - General    8. Football players    9. Papale, Vince    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Philadelphia Eagles (Football team)    12. Sports - Football    13. Sports - General    14. United States    15. Sports & Recreation / Football   

Editorial Review

It's not easy imagining a volume capable of capturing the grace, the joy, the flamboyance, and the wizardry of Michael Jordan, but this hybrid--melding autobiography, celebration, spectacular photography, and cutting-edge graphics--comes awfully close. Like Jordan driving the lane, it's a thing of beauty; harder to analyze than it is to admire, accept, gaze at, and enjoy.Read more

Reviews (90)

For the Love of the Game
This book tells about Micjaels jordans life all the way from his college life in north Carolina to the nab playing on the Bulls. He led them to 6 nab championships. Then he went on to win the gold in the summer olympics. He is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For The Love Of The Game : My Story
In the book For The Love Of The Game. One thing that I learned about this book is that you should never give up and always keep on trying. Even if you are not good at something at first then you should not give up and keep on trying untill you get good at the thing. And that you should not just stick with one thing but, try other things. You might be good at it. And that things just do not come to you, you have to work at it. That is what I learned about the book.

Stats and Pics
The book is full of great photos. I especially liked the one of Jordan and Dr. J! It also has great statistics from Michael Jordan's career. The layout is very different. I did not like it all that much. I was also a little disappointed that we did not really get to see more of the real Jordan. For a brief moment, we saw his humanity when he wrote about his father. Briefly, he mentioned his family. But mostly, he wrote about himself on the court. I guess I was hoping for more humility from this superstar. I believe he has it in him but the book doesn't show it. He certainly has much to brag about, but I thought he always let his bragging be seen through his play on the court. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1963-    2. Basketball    3. Basketball - General    4. Basketball players    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Jordan, Michael,    10. People of Color    11. Sports - Basketball    12. Sports - General    13. United States    14. Biography & Autobiography / Sports    15. Biography: sport    16. Jordan, Michael   

Reviews (23)

A DifferentPerspective
The author certainly did his homework by interviewing over 500 people who have had some interaction with Bonds over his life in order to write this book. What was grat about this book was that it wasn't written by Bonds or from the perspective of the author it was more other peoples true experiences about Bonds spun into a book. This was a fresh look at this guy and not written to drag him down or to glorify him, you are left to make your own opinion. I liked it.

Barry Bonds
I thought this would be a good book for a teen to read, however, there was much too much foul language.

Excellent insight into Barry Bonds
Excellent book.Very entertaining.If you are a baseball fan this is a must have as it talks of Bonds throughout his baseball career.There are many quotes from his teammates on the Pirates and the Giants as well as items from his college days.
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Subjects:  1. African American baseball players    2. Baseball    3. Baseball - General    4. Baseball players    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Blacks And Sports    9. People of Color    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - Baseball    12. Sports - General    13. United States    14. Sports & Recreation / Baseball / General   

Editorial Review

In a stunning feat of meticulous reportage, Pulitzer Prize winnerRichard BenCramer ultimately puts to rest the "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?"question with iconoclastic bravura. In Cramer's evaluation, the hero Americaheld onto so desperately for so long was really a creation of a nation'scommunal imagination. The Joe DiMaggio that America tried so hard to believe inwas never really here at all.Read more

Reviews (115)

One-half of a good biography
Other reviewers have mentioned in detail the facts covered in this book - DiMaggio's phenomenal beseball career, together with his often seedy and less-than-heroic private life. I would only add that I quite enjoyed the book up through DiMaggio's retirement from the Yankees. Cramer did a masterful job of portraying his subject as a complex individual and often unique talent. Above all, Cramer gives the reader insight into the motivations that drove DiMaggio in both his public and private life.
A great insight into a great player
Never saw him play but my father did and I've heard all the stories so I recently picked up this little gem and was introduced to the story behind the legend. And its a tragic story in many ways. Cramer presents Joe D as a sad man, angry, lonely, aloof and uncomfortable in the spotlight but somehow needing the spotlight as well. Well researched and detailed "The Hero's Life" is a powerful and compelling look at what makes (and breaks) a hero. I certainly came away with a deeper respect for DiMaggio and Yankee's history. It would be great if he'd do a book on Gehrig or the Babe because few books have actually captured their lives the way this book has captured DiMaggios.

A Great Biography about the True Greatest
Richard Ben Cramer can't be said to be a Joe DiMaggio fan which makes this book extremely interesting because DiMaggio comes across as the greatest baseball player who ever lived - despite his many eccentricities.
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Subjects:  1. 1914-1999    2. Baseball    3. Baseball - History    4. Baseball players    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Di Maggio, Joe    9. DiMaggio, Joe,    10. Sports    11. Sports - Baseball    12. Sports - General    13. United States    14. Biography & Autobiography / Sports    15. Biography: sport   

Reviews (2)

Great Book
this Book is very well documented&put together. Tiger Woods is the Baddest Golfer Ever. He is a Standard in sports with his Dominance,but as a Person He is a ground-breaker in the World of Golf. this Book speaks on His Impact as a Golf Player&also the Social Impact his pressence has had on the sport. Tiger is unstoppable. His Father gave him the edge&Tiger ran with it. RIP to His Pops.

The golf world of Tiger Woods brought to life.
TIGER WOODS: A BIOGRAPHY brings the world of golf in general and the achievements of Tiger Woods in particular to life, providing a biographical which examines his participation in the sport, its particular demands, and how he lived up to his potential. A timeline of events highlights the high points, while discussions of Afro-American rights and PGA requirements provide the well-rounded background.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. General    7. Golf    8. Golfers    9. Sports - General    10. United States    11. Woods, Tiger    12. Biography & Autobiography / General    13. Biography: sport   

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Autobiography/Biography    2. Audiobooks    3. Biography    4. Coaching    5. Collegiate Athletic Programs    6. Football - General    7. Football coaches    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. United States    13. Sports & Recreation / Football   

Reviews (21)

The Perfect Strike
As I read this, voraciously, I couldn't help but be reminded of "The Perfect Storm."Mr. Madgic's book works hard not only tell the story, but to give every kind of context: personal, scientific, geographic, etc.The result is that he meets what I suspect was one of his two goals: to give the careful reader as complete a picture of that day's tragedy as possible.He also meets what I assume was his second goal: he tells a damned good story.I get the impression that this was a labor of love, but, to my mind, Mr. Madgic has shown more than enough talent to join the likes of Simon Winchester or Erik Larsen.I hope he tackles another book.

Surprisingly engrossing
I am not a fan of the action-adventure/disaster story, and intially, the word "catastrophe" turned me away from this book.I have been pleasantly surprised.The author develops the characters well enough that we care about their travails.I am glad I already 'made it to the top' before I knew this much about lightning and thunderstorm peculiarities - scary stuff. I recommend this book to hikers and any outdoor enthusiasts.

The good news and bad news
I wondered how the author was going to fill up an entire book about an accident that happened, literally, as fast as lightning. Well, the good news and bad news is that he doesn't. The story, of a group of guys getting struck by lightning at the top of Half Dome in Yosimite National Park, takes up only the last few chapters. Normally I hate it when books are written like that, but I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Most authors would waste a lot of space giving the full background to every major character, but this author shows us what the main characters are like, by telling exiting stories of things they did in their past. And not just random stories, but stories that relate to the final lightning accident and to how they will react to it. The book also, thankfully, lets us know what happens to them years down the road (the event happened in 1985 and the book was written in 2005) so we see how the accident really affected them. It's also nice that there are photos of the main characters, and of the site of the accident. Overall a pretty good book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography And Autobiography    2. California    3. General    4. Half Dome    5. Mountain Climbing    6. Mountaineering    7. Rock climbing accidents    8. Search and rescue operations    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (93)

A Fantastic Memoir
Conroy's fiction has always been a biography of sorts (Great Santini in particular) but I think his choice to chronicle his life through his final basketball season at the Citadel was brilliant.It brings together all the elements of his fictional life that we have come to love and respect:His overbearing father, the south in the 1950s and 1960s, and the one character common to all his books: Sports.
Disappointing, overrated
As a memoir of a relatively prolific and popular author, this book is a very disappointing.Ardent fans of Pat Conroy obviously love this book, but then again, they love everything with his name on it irrespective of content (a cook book?)Conroy revisits his early experiences that provided the repetivive themes in his fiction as psuedo-non-fiction.(The dialogue in the book reads more like fiction, and it is simply not credible that he could recount exact conversations from childhood to college.)He gives the reader minimal insight into his experience as a writer.Rather, the book reads like an exercise in self-therapy that does explore his well known issues rather deeply (although losing is not one of them.)Conroy may have provided all that he can in terms of describing his process and how he approaches his craft.If that is the case, then this book should serve as inspiration for aspiring writers.Publishing fiction is not necessarily about literary excellence.It's a business.
Another 3 Pointer For Pat
Pat Conroy is a national tresure. His writing is sublime, he is one of the few writers who can capably place the reader into almost any situation and paint such a realistic portrait that the reader feels he is actually there.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Basketball players    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Charleston    8. Childhood and youth    9. College sports    10. Conroy, Pat    11. Conroy, Pat - Prose & Criticism    12. Literary    13. Novelists, American    14. Personal Memoirs    15. South Carolina    16. Sports - Basketball    17. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (49)

um idk wut 2 put here???
Book reviewmod 1
The life you imagine
This book starts off as derek jeter stating that he wil play for the New York Yankees when he is 8 years old.They discuss the 10 rules about how to live you life and what to do.Growing up derek had alot of racial problems with his parents.He had one black and one white, and he had a sister, they were a really close family.
The Life You Imagine
The Life You Imagine by Derek Jeter and Jack Curry starts with 8-year-old Derek Jeter dreaming about playing baseball with the New York Yankees. It gives the 10 steps he followed to achieve his dream, and explains how anyone can use these steps to become successful.
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Subjects:  1. 1974-    2. Baseball - General    3. Baseball players    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Jeter, Derek,    9. Sports - Baseball    10. Sports - General    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Reviews (7)

BARNEY ROSS AND BARNEY SUGERMAN WERE BEST FRIENDS
I KNEW BARNEY ROSS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG LAD GROWING UP IN THE SUBURS OF NEWARK NEW JERSEY.BARNEY SUGERMAN Z'L, MY FATHER AND BARNEY ROSS WERE CLOSE CLOSE FRIENDS.SUGIE AS MY FATHER WAS ALSO KNOWN WAS IN THE JUKE BOX AND GAME BUSINESS.HE CAME OUT OF THAT VERY SPECIAL WORLD OF PROHIBITION, ROARING 20'S, PROUD JEWS INCLUDING MOBSTERS AND PRIZE FIGHTERS.POP HAD HIS OFFICES AND BUSINESS ON JUKE BOX ROW, TENTH AVENUE AND 43RD STREET IN MANHATTAN.BARNEY ROSS WAS AT THE OFFICE TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, THE TWO BARNEYS WOULD MAKE THE ROUNDS IN THE CITY.DOUGLAS CENTURY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF CONVEYING THE TRUE PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER OF BARNEY ROSS. THE BOOK IS OUTSTANDING.IT CAPTURES THE TRUE SPIRIT OF BARNEY ROSS.I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN BARNEY ROSS WOULD SAY HELLO TO YOU, IT MADE YOU FEEL YOU WERE SPECIAL.HE HUGGED YOU, KISSED YOU, AND HE BLESSED YOU IN PERFECT HEBREW AND IN PERFECT YIDDISHE.HE WAS A REAL PROUD JEW AND HE KNEW THAT HE CARRIED ON HIS SHOULDERS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF JEWISH PRIDE TO A NATION THAT HAD NOT YET FULLY ACCEPTED THE JEWISH PEOPLE.IN FACT GROWING UP, ANTI SEMITISM WAS NOT A RARE OCCURENCE.BARNEY CARRIED THE CROWN OF JEWISH PRIDE WHEREVER HE WENT.I WILL TELL ONE STORY.IN THE MID 50'S I WAS A STUDENT AT BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY WHICH WAS A SCHOOL ASSOCIATED WITH THE BAPTISTS.IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WAS A LIMIT ON JEWS GOING TO BUCKNELL, WE HAD A 5% QUOTA.SO WE HAD ONE JEWISH FRATERNITY HOUSE.IN MY JUNION YEAR, 1958, WE HAD AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THE ANNUAL SPORTS EVENING.ALL THE ATHLETES OF THE SCHOOL WENT TO THE ANNUAL DINNER.SOMEBODY KNEW THAT MY FATHER AND BARNEY ROSS WERE CLOSE FRIENDS, AND THE SCHOOL BOXING COMMITTEE ASKED ME IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO INVITE BARNEY ROSS TO COME UP TO THE SCHOOL TO GIVE A SPEECH.I CALLED POP.HE SPOKE TO BARNEY ROSS.BARNEY RIGHT AWAY SAID OF COURSE HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO IT.THAT WAS BARNEY ROSS.THE WORD "NO" DIDN'T EXIST IN HIS VOCABULARY.I TOLD POP TO MAKE SURE HE WAS UP BY 4 OR 4.30 BECAUSE THE DINNER WAS SCHEDULED FOR 6 PM.POP PICKED BARNEY UP EARLY IN THE MORNING.IT WAS NO MORE THAN A 4 HOUR DRIVE UP THROUGH ROUTE 22 TO MAKE IT TO LEWISBURG PENNSYLVANIA.BUT NO SIGN OF THE TWO BARNEYS AND BY 5 PM. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE SCHOOL. FINALLY AT SIX PM ON THE DOT THE BIG BLUE FOUR DOOR CADILLAC PULLED UP AND OUT CAME BARNEY ROSS WITH BARNEY SUGERMAN.BARNEY ROSS SMELLED LIKE HE FELL INTO A BATH TUB OF WHISKEY.I ASKED POP WHAT THE HELL TOOK HIM SO LONG.POP EXPLAINED THAT BETWEEN NEW YORK CITY AND LEWISBURG PENNSYLVANIA BARNEY ROSS INSISTED ON STOPPING IN EACH TOWN AND HAVE A DRINK.AS SOON AS HE WALKED INTO A BARIN THOSE LITTLE BLUE COLLAR TOWNS IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, GUYS IMMEIDATELY RECOGNIZED HIM AND BEFORE LONG, "BARNEY HAVE ANOTHER DRINK ON THE HOUSE, AND TELL US ABOUT THE FIGHT WITH TONY CANZONERI, WITH JIMMY MC LARNIN, ETC."
Once we were warriors...
...and it's a right pity so few Jewish youngsters have never even heard of the former champ Barney Ross -- the "Pride of the Ghetto."
Barney Ross bio
I highly recommend this book. I read for entertainment and was
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Boxers (Sports)    6. Boxing    7. Jewish boxers    8. Judaism - History    9. Sports (General)    10. Sports - General    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Reviews (4)

Fun Review
Very good review of a current sports star.Easy for my 7 year old daughter to understand and keep her interested.

Mia Hamm and How She Started
I would recommend this book not only to people who love soccer, but to everyone who enjoys a true story about a great athlete and role model.The story of Mia Hamm is basically about how she was introduced to soccer and how she follows her dream to be the best women's soccer player in the world.

The book is really better than it looks like!
On teh field with Mia Hamm by Matt Christopher was a very goodbook.I didn't have a very good idea who Mia Hamm really was though.The only thing I know is a professional soccer player.I aw the book and it looked pretty interesting.I'm about a quarter of the way through the book and I'm liking it so far.Usually I don't read books , let alone a whole book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1972-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Sports & Recreation    4. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Hamm, Mia,    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Soccer players    11. Sports & Recreation - Soccer    12. United States    13. Women    14. Women soccer players    15. Biography: sport    16. Hamm, Mia    17. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Sports & Recreation    18. Sports & Outdoor Recreation   

Reviews (2)

Nat's all that. What a legend
Humble family beginings to world champion, husband to father, party animal to entrepreneur. Through all this Nat Young was destined to be a surfer and one of the best the world would ever see. This book is a fascinating combination of surfing history (Australian in particular) and the history of a man who pushed to get every ounce of enjoyment out of life. This is a very informative, yet light hearted book with more than its share of incredible surfing tales. From surfing the best waves the world has to offer, the early days of the world tour and the unavoidable changes of the 70's. This book is nothing short of the ultimate life style a surfer could wish for. Reading this book inspired me on more than one occassions to get out in the waves and make the most of my life. A must read for all surfers.

This book will detonate your youthful & adventurous spirit
This book is long overdue.As a surfer and skier who grew up in the 70's and 80's Nat Young was the inspiration to us then and to teenagers today.He was one of the front runners who not only showed us how to do it but he did it with a passionate, laid back style.This read gives you the chanceto know Nat as a person and to be inspired by his youthful, adventuroussoul. Read more

Subjects:  1. Aquatic Sports    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography & Autobiography / Sports    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Sports    7. Sports - General    8. Water Sports    9. Biography: sport    10. Surfing, windsurfing, water skiing   

Reviews (38)

Heavy Weighs The Mantle...
Buster Olney, a former beat writer for the New York Times, looks at the New York Yankees' run of baseball success from 1996 to 2000 from the vantage point of the night it all came to an end, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Makes an eloquent case that the Yankees are done.
I admired Olney's attention to detail, the way he explains the game, and how he gives an in-depth account of every key figure for the Yankees during their latest dynasty run.
Feel the Pain
For Yankees fans, this book makes you re-live the pain of the final inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.Why would you want to do a thing like that?It also happens to be a good read on how the Yankees teams of 1996-2001 were built, perhaps providing an excellent roadmap for how the current Yankees can get back on the path to postseason glory.Here's a hint: While adding expensive, Hall of Fame bound free agents every winter may create the appearance of guaranteeing World Series rings, the results show the exact opposite effect.Where have you gone Gene Michael, our (Yankees) nation turned it's lonely eyes to you... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (George Michael),    2. Baseball    3. Baseball - General    4. Baseball - History    5. Baseball - Specific Teams    6. Finance    7. Management    8. New York Yankees (Baseball tea    9. New York Yankees (Baseball team)    10. Sports    11. Sports & Recreation    12. Sports - Baseball    13. Steinbrenner, George M    14. United States    15. Sports & Recreation / Baseball / General   

Reviews (2)

Excellent bio,seperating myth from stereotype
Satchel Paige is an enigmatic figure in american histroy. Mention his name, people inevitably think of the negro leagues,or thta terrible bingo long movie.In fact, Paige was ,in many repects, the first modern ballplayer. He played for a percentage of the gate, would only pitch a couple of innings in these contests,had no compuction about jumping from team to team{or country to country}The minstel show,stephifetchit aura that he calculated with the all too eager white press was, of course, a huge ruse. He was a sometimes bitter man{quite understandably so}He knew, instinctively, that he was the best pitcher in the world{although,curiosly, his peers voted Smokey Joe williams better in a 1950 vote in the Pittsburgh Courrier} He despsed the Jim Crow laws, and what he had to do to get around them. HIs civil rights stands were taken in the 20's 30's and 40's, when such things often meant death. He pitched for what might have been the greatest team of all time{the Pittsburgh crawfords of the early 30's] Dimaggio called him ethe toughest pitcher he ever hit against.All of these nuggets are in this book. Mr. Ribowsky did a fine job here. Paige is a figure who should be celebrated for what he was:an american original,a species often sighted but rarely seen. A wonderful book!

Demi-God
After reading this book, I am utterly convinced that Satchel Paige is as much of a baseball legend as a Ty Cobb or Babe Ruth.This book not only entertains but it fascinates, so much that I would'nt be suprised ifsomeone mistook this biography for a peice of baseball folklore or a nonfictitious work designed to capture the imaginations of baseball fans. This book portrays the life of Robert Leroy Satchel Paige in a mostinteresting way.In some cases he stands biggerthan life portrayed as ademi-god in the face of the gods of Major League Baseball and in some caseshis mortality is revealed in the very midst of his immortality, and this iswhat makes this portrayal so unique. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1906-    2. Baseball    3. Baseball - History    4. Baseball players    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Blacks And Sports    10. History    11. Paige, Leroy,    12. People of Color    13. Sports - Baseball    14. Sports - General    15. United States    16. Biography: sport    17. Paige, Leroy    18. USA   

Editorial Review

Touted as a Read more

Reviews (150)

What can I say?This book was entertaining.
Basically, I bought this book because I wanted to read about all of the players he threw under the bus.And boy, did he deliver!Look, we all know these guys took steroids just by their physique and their "sudden" ability to hit 60+ homers, but it's nice to have some validation.
Maniac Martyr
Conseco claims to have written this book to reveal steroids dominating presence in baseball; however it seems he just wanted to upset as many people as possible with its publication.Juiced is Conseco's elementary cry for justice.He unapologetically admits to steroid use and acts as if he is a martyr for the betterment of baseball.He points fingers, name drops, and defends every blemish of his career in this "memoir."Constantly referring to the "double-standard" in baseball, he fails to suggest any remedy or efforts to solve the problem.His book openly criticizes whites, women, owners, managers, government agencies, trainers, reporters, and is bound to make you mad too.

Canseco and Juiced
This was a very revealing look into how steroids played a role in baseball player success starting in the 1980s. This was an influential book which began a congressional search into the use of Steroids in baseball. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1964-    2. Baseball    3. Baseball players    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Canseco, Jose,    9. Dop