Reviews (10)

This book is a fun read and a very interesting book
This book was cool and fun to read because Bo Jackson led an interesting life and by reading it you get a new look into the world of sports. I thought it was a great read and is for any sports fan.

What could have been...
The fact that this project was done in collaboration with Dick Schaap gives it a lot of credibility. While most sports biographies are just a celebration of statistics and athletic achievments, this book went beyond that and was very earnest in all aspect of sports and management. I gained a lot of respect for Vincent (BO) as a person not just an athlete. I was very impressed with all his charity work, his humility, and the fact that he got a degree in something that truly can make a difference in this world. An epitomy of being a team player who just wants to win, I gained a great admiration for Bo Jackson. The only reason why I gave this book 4 stars is because I feel that this book should have been written after his storied but painfully short career ended. It would have added a lot of strong chapters on his & families feelings regarding his career. The again, I would understand if that is something Bo would like to keep private. The world is a better off with Bo Jackson inspiring youngsters to achieve not just in athletics but in life. Thank you Bo.

Bo Knows Bo
Bo Knows Bo is a book about Bo Jackson. It starts out as when he was young and tells how his life was without a father. His dad died when he was a young kid, so he had to go through life with out a father. His mom did the best she could for him to have a happy life. He played football and baseball when he was in middle school and also through high school. His mom didn't like the idea of him playing football because it was too much of a contact sport. He wanted to do things that he thought he might do with his dad if he had one to make up for the male figure loss. I think they needed to start this book when his dad passed away to fill in the empty portion in his life. Bo Jackson is still alive and is doing speeches around the world.
The events in this book came in chronological order so the events were easy to follow. They started from when he was young all the way up to his adult life. It follows in his foot steps from when he was young through high school into collage. This book is very easy to follow along in you could stop reading it for weeks at a time and start reading it again and know exactly where you are and what happened before you stopped. Throughout the book they used very descriptive words and larger words so you could understand what they are talking about and where they are coming from. The words they used gave you the correct feelings and the right emotions for that particular mood.
I liked the book because it told me lots of things I didn't know about Bo before and all the things they said didn't leave me hanging in the dark. It told me everything from his child hood all the way through high school to his adult hood playing football. I would rate this book with two stars because it was good but it wasn't that great. I would recommend it to people that know nothing about him but want to learn something about him.

Bo Knows Greatness
I think this book is very interesting. I like the fact that Bo didn't hold anything back. He told everything like it is. I really respect BO. I also think that if he hadn't had his career untimely cut short he would be the all-time leader in many categories in rushing with the nfl and power with the mlb. Bo Definetly Knows BO.

Read Entire Book in One Sitting
I remember in 1991 sitting in the airport waiting for my flight back to Seattle. I went into the bookstore and saw Bo Jackson's book. Not having anything else to read, I bought the book and immediately began reading it. I read during my flight home and finished it at Sea-Tac Airport.

It was a very engrossing book. It told of Bo Jackson's early years as a child then as a teenager then adult. Then Jackson told of the forever tragedy that would end his sports career: a hip-injury during a 1990 playoff game.

I remember growing up watching Bo Jackson dominate baseball then football. He became someone I looked up to as a teenager. Then as I became an adult, my own injury put me in Bo Jackson's own shoes. We each had difficult bouts of walking "normally" again. Although Bo Jackson never played football again, he returned to baseball with less than average results. But he kept his head up high and moved on from sports.

Bo Jackson's autobiography gives the reader that sense of accomplishment; that sense of overcoming obstacles when the odds are against you. I view Bo Jackson's book as a preview of his will to overcome his hip injury and become the man he is today. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Louis Sockalexis - an American tragedy
Louis Sockalexis, as a great ballplayer, was the Roberto Clemente of his time. By all accounts, while in his very short prime, he made plays that defied description; he outran balls that could not possibly have been caught; he hit anything he wanted to hit. But his race (he was a Native American), his prediliction for drink, and a public that both adored yet patronized him all contributed to his demise and to a short and tragic career. Sockalexis, in some ways, may have been the first overindulged college ballplayer. Common nowadays, back then - probably due to his race - Sockalexis was given incredible leeway by Notre Dame specifically because of his sports ability. Eventually dismissed, he was allowed to continue his excesses simply because, as good as he was, he made a great drawing card for the team he wound up playing for - Cleveland. This book says as much about America and the way the country idolized, and idealized its non-white heroes as it does about Sockalexis. It also says much about what such idols had to deal with and how easy it was - and still is - to get caught up, and destroyed by fame and the price of it. A good historical perspective on how major sports, even then, could corrupt (and allow one to corrupt himself) somebody who might have been one of the best, ever.

An All Too Familiar Story
I had heard of Louis Sockalexis and knew he was from Old Town, Maine, but that was all. Author Brian McDonald has researched the baseball life of this Penobscot Indian, and provided us with a neglected subject in baseball's history. Sockalexis was on his way to having a superior season with the Cleveland National League team in 1897 while enduring the derisive taunts from fans throughout the league because he was an Indian. Sockalexis turned those taunts to cheers with his batting and fielding skills, while others attended games just to see this much heralded Indian play ball. It certainly wasn't known at the time, but the apex of Sockalexis's career was on the team's first visit to New York's Polo Grounds when he hit a home run onto 8th Avenue off the "Hoosier Thunderbolt" Amos Rusie.
As has been the case with numerous athletes throughout history, the love of alcohol and the night life brought this budding star's career to an abrupt end. While jumping out of a second story brothel window Louis suffered a broken ankle and his running ability was never the same. He managed to hang on through the seasons of 1898-1899, but was only a shadow of his former self. He had vowed to give up his drinking and take his baseball seriously, but it was not to be. The Cleveland team was known as the Spiders, and was changed during this time to Indians. Whether it was because Sockalexis was on the team in open to conjecture. In 1900 the National League dropped its four weakest franchises, Cleveland among them, which finished the 1899 season with the worst record of any team in baseball history, 20 wins and 134 losses. Sockalexis died from heart failure on Christmas Eve of 1913. We are also introduced to Indians' owner Frank Robison and manager Patsy Tebeau who endured the tribulations of managing his alcoholic star.
Interesting stories are also told of the St. Louis Browns' colorful owner Chris Von der Ahe who ended up selling his team to Cleveland owner Frank Robison at a sheriff's auction. Owning two teams was known as "syndicate baseball."
The author begins each chapter with interesting tidbits that were taking place in America during the years of 1897-1899. One was the two day postponement of the execution of a Choctaw Indian who was to be shot by firing squad so he could be in the lineup of the governor's favorite team.
The book is a worthy addition to a baseball library. His story, however, is an all too familiar one of wasted talent.

A Must Read-McDonald hits a GRAND SLAM!
This book is a must read for baseball fans and history fans alike.
McDonald tells the story of this unsung hero while interweaving facts about the struggles of Native Americans in general during the 1890's in this country. The author does both Sockalexis and baseball fans a great service by telling the story of this phenomenal talent. Sockalexis performed head a shoulders above the others players while facing adversity at every turn. It is difficult to believe that a player of Sockalexis' caliber is not touted along with Babe Ruth, and the like- such a disservice to the game.One can't help but wonder what type of impact Sockalexis would have had on the game if he had played baseball during a different time period in this country.

Fleshing out the sketchy career of Louis Sockalexis
On August 14, 1897, according to the "Cleveland Plain Dealer," a Choctaw Indian sentenced to be executed for the murder of another tribesman was granted a stay by the governor of the tribe to play in a big baseball game. This story is one of several that are found throughout "Indian Summer: The Tragic Story of Louis Sockalexis, the First Native American in Major League Baseball" by Brian McDonald and symbolizes the problem the author had in writing this biography. The subject of "Indian Summer" was a Penobscot Indian from a remote reservation in Maine, grandson of a chief, and a natural athlete who caused something of a furor when he played six successful seasons for the Cleveland Spiders in the National League in the 1890s before disappearing into the minors and ending his career because of alcoholism. The problem is that the historical record on Sockalexis and his baseball career are sketchy at best, which explains why McDonald has to resort to filling out this biography with stories providing insight into what life was like for Native Americans at the end of the 19th-century. The result is more of a biographical sketch, fleshed out by excerpts from the Cleveland press: before each chapter there is the reproduction of newspaper stories about Sockalexis ("Sockalexis's Usual Home Run") and other related topics ("Indian Outbreak Feared"). But I think once you take into account the limitations McDonald faced in putting together "Indian Summer," you can better appreciate the result.

It is not so much that the story of Sockalexis has been forgotten--Luke Salisbury wrote a fictional account of Sockalexis's life, "The Cleveland Indian" The Legend of King Saturday" and the debate continues over whether Sockalexis was the inspiration for the nickname of the Cleveland Indians--but that it was reduced to a historical footnote because it was not retold often enough. Part of the problem is that the end of his career and his life strikes us as cliché; a newspaper clipping from 1900 declares: "Drink, the curse of the Red man, is responsible for the downfall of Sockalexis." This does not take away from the tragedy of the story, but when the story of Sockalexis is compared to those of Jim Thorpe and Jackie Robinson (and Larry Doby) the first Native American in Major League Baseball suffers in comparison. Still, the story is fascinating and "Indian Summer" is a pleasant read heading into the All Star break, giving us a sense of what is was like to play professional baseball at the previous turn of the century. This is also important, because in terms of baseball books you usually get the sense that the only things that existed before Babe Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees was Ty Cobb and the Black Sox. McDonald reminds us there was also Louis Sockalexis.

A Piece of Forgotten History
Indian Summer tells the forgotten story of Louis Sockalexis, the pioneer Native American baseball player who briefly captured the American public's imagination in the 1890's. Sockalexis has been previously relegated to a footnote in baseball history (if he was mentioned at all) but he was so gifted as a ballplayer and might have had a truly great career if not for his tragic losing battle with alcoholism. The book is well-written and presents a fascinating picture of the early days of professional baseball and an American society which was not quite ready to embrace a Native American hero so soon after Custer and Little Big Horn. Life after baseball was not kind to Sockalexis and his death is quite sad. This is not a "feel good" book but anyone interested in American history should defintely not miss it.Highly recommended ... Read more

Book Description

On Althea Gibson, America’s first African American tennis champion:

"I am grateful to Althea Gibson for having the strength and courage to break through the racial barriers in tennis. She knocked down walls that gave us more freedom to concentrate on the game. . . . Althea’s accomplishments set the stage for my success, but she also made a difference for people of all backgrounds in all areas. Through beneficiaries like me, Serena, and many others to come, her legacy will live on."
–Venus Williams

"She just meant so much to me. I’ve always felt connected to her and thankful and grateful for what she’s done for people of color and me."
–Billie Jean King

"Althea built many bridges over her seventy-six years on this earth to ease our crossing. . . . She fought the good fight, she finished her course, she kept her faith, and she can rest–game, set, and match."
–David Dinkins
former mayor of New York City

"It was the quiet dignity with which Althea carried herself during the turbulent days of the 1950s that was truly remarkable. . . . When she began playing, less than five percent of tennis newcomers were minorities. Today, some thirty percent are minorities, two-thirds of whom are African American. This is her legacy."
–Alan Schwartz
President, U.S. Tennis Association ... Read more

Book Description

This full color volume contains quotes and unique photographs and memorabilia from the career of George Brett. The talented ball player reveals his thoughts on his life in baseball in a touching introduction, but the rest is left up to family, friends, an ... Read more

Reviews (5)

WOW
Steve Cameron's latest work with George Brett is a must for any fan of the greatest game. For everyone who has thrilled to George's accomplishments and admired his blue-collar, headfirst approach to the game he loves, "From Here to Cooperstown" is a joy indeed. This book captures the entire story of Brett's career where he had a lifetime average of .305, 3154 hits, and 1595 runs batted in. Great photos and layout compliment the authoring by Steve Cameron. It includes a great section that has quotes and comments from players, coaches, and writers, that have watched George Brett move from a shaky Single A player to the Hall of Famer that he is. Another feature in this book is that George Brett shares his thoughts, emotions, memories, his recollections, and his feelings about the long journey. It captures the entire story of Brett's career from childhood through his many years with the Kansas City Royals. It also does an outstanding job of building an understanding of why Brett is so passionate about the game of baseball. Here is a quote from George on how he would like to be remembered. "I'd like to be remembered as the guy who always played hard and ran out every ball." Although George has made it to the Hall of Fame he thanks many for his success. George would later add in his Hall of Fame speech a thought about his parents. George said," To my parents, Jack and Ethel. Thanks for the endless hours of support and love. You taught me the qualities of life that I will pass along to your grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan, and Robin. I would recommend this book to all players in high school, College, and the Minors because of the lessons it teaches about respect for the game and a personal commitment to excellence.

A very good book.
Steve Cameron's latest work with George Brett is a must for any fan of the greatest game. For everyone who has thrilled to George's accomplishments and admired his blue-collar, headfirst approach to the game he loves, "From Here to Cooperstown" is a joy indeed. This book captures the entire story of Brett's career where he had a lifetime average of .305, 3154 hits, and 1595 runs batted in. Great photos and layout compliment the authoring by Steve Cameron. It includes a great section that has quotes and comments from players, coaches, and writers, that have watched George Brett move from a shaky Single A player to the Hall of Famer that he is. Another feature in this book is that George Brett shares his thoughts, emotions, memories, his recollections, and his feelings about the long journey. It captures the entire story of Brett's career from childhood through his many years with the Kansas City Royals. It also does an outstanding job of building an understanding of why Brett is so passionate about the game of baseball. Here is a quote from George on how he would like to be remembered. "I'd like to be remembered as the guy who always played hard and ran out every ball." Although George has made it to the Hall of Fame he thanks many for his success. George would later add in his Hall of Fame speech a thought about his parents. George said," To my parents, Jack and Ethel. Thanks for the endless hours of support and love. You taught me the qualities of life that I will pass along to your grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan, and Robin. I would recommend this book to all players in high school, College, and the Minors because of the lessons it teaches about respect for the game and a personal commitment to excellence.

Love of the Game
Steve Cameron's latest work with George Brett is a must for any fan of the greatest Game. It does an outstanding job of building an understanding of why Brett is so passionate about baseball.

There is a great section containing comments from players, coaches, writers that have watched George Brett move from a shaky Single A player to the Hall of Famer that he is.

I almost think this book should be required reading for all players in high school, college and the minors because of the lessons it teaches about respect for the game and personal commitment to excellence.

Until reading this book, I was sure that no one could love the game of baseball more than I did. George Brett is the one man that does.

Excellant Reading!
This book is the heart and soul of George Brett. If you are a George Brett or just a lover of the sport, this book is a must have!

Welcome to the Hall of Fame George
This book captures the entire story of Brett's career from childhood through his many years with the Kansas City Royals. Great photographs and layout compliment the authoring by Steve Cameron. Unlike other books on Brett, this book is an autobiography. A "must" for any baseball fan. ... Read more

Book Description

"Succeeds more than any previous book in bringing Ali into focus . . . as a starburst of energy, ego and ability whose like will never be seen again."--The Wall Street Journal

"Best Nonfiction Book of the Year"--Time

"Penetrating . . . reveal[s] details that even close followers of [Ali] might not have known. . . . An amazing story." --The New York Times

On the night in 1964 that Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) stepped into the ring with Sonny Liston, he was widely regarded as an irritating freak who danced and talked way too much. Six rounds later Ali was not only the new world heavyweight boxing champion: He was "a new kind of black man" who would shortly transform America's racial politics, its popular culture, and its notions of heroism.
        No one has captured Ali--and the era that he exhilarated and sometimes infuriated--with greater vibrancy, drama, and astuteness than David Remnick, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lenin's Tomb (and editor of The New Yorker). In charting Ali's rise from the gyms of Louisville, Kentucky, to his epochal fights against Liston and Floyd Patterson, Remnick creates a canvas of unparalleled richness. He gives us empathetic portraits of wisecracking sportswriters and bone-breaking mobsters; of the baleful Liston and the haunted Patterson; of an audacious Norman Mailer and an enigmatic Malcolm X. Most of all, King of the World does justice to the speed, grace, courage, humor, and ebullience of one of the greatest athletes and irresistibly dynamic personalities of our time.

"Nearly pulse-pounding narrative power . . . an important account of a period in American social history." --Chicago Tribune

"A pleasure . . . haunting . . . so vivid that one can imagine Ali saying, 'How'd you get inside my head, boy?'" --Wilfrid Sheed, Time ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Ali as agent of social change?
I found David Remnick's story of the rise of Ali quite compelling, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like boxing. The brash young confident kid is portrayed in great detail but the portraits of the other major figures: Liston and Patterson are just as engrossing. Remnick writes well, mixes the story with telling anecdotes and chronicles Ali's rise in the context of the social changes of the time.

The book is accurately called 'the rise'; you don't get a lot of the mature Ali and his fights after his comeback. My main question about the book, and it's one the book doesn't answer; exactly HOW did this sometimes loathed figure; an outsider in a religious and racial sense from the authorities, become such a modern day hero? Exactly how did that happen? There's a book there waiting to be written.

In the meantime enjoy this one.

Good book, even if you don't like to read
This book I would recommend to all the people who either like boxing or Muhammed Ali. I would also recommend this to people who don't like to read because you would enjoy it and keep reading until its done. This book is about Ali at his best. From his childhood days to his greatest boxing match ever. This a nonfiction book that tells about Ali's career and the other boxers of his time, which include Floyd Patterson and Sonny Linston. Their fights took place in the 1960's. The best fight ever in this book was held in Miami Beach against Sonny Liston. This fight was exciting because Ali was the underdog of the fight and won it when Sonny Liston just gave up. The worst thing about this book is that it didn't fully describe all the other fights in his career.

The Titans Reigned Supreme
The Titans Reigned Supreme

Fantastic book - more than just the Ali Story -

This is one of the best-written and thought out books of the happenings amongst a small circle of the greatest heavy weights.

You get a rare insight into the lives and minds of Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay - and the awakening/becoming of Muhammad Ali

I went into this book wanting to feed my hunger for knowledge of Muhammad Ali and came out of with a craving for more Sonny Liston - I now want to know all I can about him.

Only a brief period in time is covered - but it's an in-depth look at that time and the people and the places that made up boxing and some of the world outside boxing.

This is a great book for anyone interested in these titans - for anyone interested in Patterson, Liston and Ali - for anyone interested in the history of legends.

One of the best books I've experienced - I truly felt like I was there at times - in that era - that energy of the people and the times

This is one of those books where you wish there was a part 2

muhammed ali discussed
the author is a very good writer and his style here makes this book a good read. impressive. the location of the photographs are well placed--not all in the center as in most books--but advantageously placed at the beginning of some chapters. a good read.

Liston, Patterson.
Covers three fights: Liston, Liston, Patterson. Much discussion of those opponents. More sport and less deadening Black Muslim/Malcolm X would have been better. Mentions Patterson's "vacances au soliel." Who the hell do you think is reading this book? ... Read more

Book Description

This is the life and career of Terry Funk, known around the word as "The Hardcore Legend" of professional wrestling. A former NWA Heavyweight Champion, Funk has been a wrestling star all over the world. Known for being completely unpredictable, Funk has had feuds with wrestling's most famous names like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Mick Foley. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the best
I have read practically all of the wrestling books and this has to rank among the very best. It is well wriiten and keeps you interested. It isn't ego driven like so many books on this subject seem to be. He really says what he thinks and lets you decide for yourself.
A couple of times I've woken my wife reading at night because something he says makes me laugh out loud.I just really , really enjoyed thid read. I thought Harley Races and Mick Foleys books were good but this was probably the best wrestling book I have had the pleasure of reading.

Wrestling As Only Terry Funk Could Have Lived It
The problem with most wrestling autobiographies is that they're written by wrestlers who have little experience in the game. What does someone who has been in the business for 10 or less years really know, or is willing to reveal?

The WWE biographies read as if they've come out of the same template: I was born, I went into wrestling, Vince McMahon is the greatest thing since sliced bread. All this for $20 odd something dollars.

The best bios are written by people with real tenure in the business: Lou Thesz, Fred Blassie, Jim Wilson, and Ric Flair. In other words these are all people who have a real story to tell.

Add Terry Funk to this list of distinguished alumni. Terry's memoirs, written with Scott Williams (who earns a real tip of the hat for his contributions) seem as if we are sitting down in a comfortable room with Terry and listening to his life story. The book literally comes alive in the reader's hands and imagination, which cannot be said of many other books on the subject.

To say that Terry led an interesting life is an understatement. A member of what could rightfully be called, "the first family of wrestling," both Terry and brother Dory, Jr. have held the NWA World Title along with so many regional titles that it would take a couple of days to research. Father Dory, Sr. was a legend in the business himself, a man who, like Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino, replied on no other gimmick than his own ability, of which he had plenty.

Traveling with Terry, we discover how he got into wrestling, how it was decided to make his brother Dory, Jr., champion, and how it was decided to make Terry himself champion. He also discusses the effect wrestling had on his marriage and family, the lost art of selling (making one's opponent look like a world beater), the decline and fall of the NWA, WCW and ECW, and how the WWE almost became extinct at the hands of WCW (and how WCW blew that chance), and the state of the art today. Plus he paints hilarious portraits of quite a few of his co-workers over the years, including, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Jerry Lawler, Dick Slater and Mick Foley.

This is not just a book for put in your wrestling library - this is a book to READ and place in your wrestling library. But keep it in a handy place, because you'll want to refer to time and again.
... Read more

Amazon.com

While The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game will not disappoint basketball purists longing for Oscar Robertson's play-by-play of favorite games, the attraction of this autobiography is Robertson's perspective on the evolution of the sport and on the racial struggles that were the context of his formative years. Called by many basketball experts the greatest all-around player ever, Robertson earned an astonishing array of honors including an Olympic gold medal, 12 NBA All-Star appearances, the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and the 1964 NBA MVP award. Most remarkably, Robertson remains the only player in basketball history with a triple-double season (double-digit averages for scoring, rebounds, and assists).

While Robertson could have easily candy-coated this impressive record for his retrospective, he devotes large sections of his book to the racial battles he faced off court, and his final chapters recount his controversial efforts as an NBA union leader to create free agency, a pension plan, and disability protection for players. In telling his life story, he lays bare the racism and mistreatment he suffered at the hands of individuals and institutions throughout his career, from the Mayor of Indianapolis and Cincinnati University to the NBA and CBS Sports. At times, his critiques can seem excessive (e.g. his discussions of the distortions in the film Hoosiers, while interesting, are repeated a bit too often), and some sections (like his attempts to compare himself to contemporary players) border on self-indulgence. Yet, he seems justified in arguing that his achievements--largely accomplished on second-rate teams, against a back-drop of unprecedented racial strife, and before the modern era of sports-media saturation--are easily underrepresented. In the end, The Big O offers a complex, human portrait to complement a spectacular sports career. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

BUT ONLY FOR BASKETBALL FANATICS - LIKE ME!
TO READ, MUCH LESS REVIEW, THE "BIG O" YOU HAVE TO BE, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, A TRUE LOVER OF THE GAME. IT IS AN AUTOBIOGRAHY OF THE IDIVIDUAL I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREATEST OF ALL BASKETBALL PLAYERS - PAST & PRESENT. HIS EXPLOITS BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT ARE REMARKABLE. IT'S A BOOK FOR EVERY BASKETBALL JUNKY, AND FOR OTHERS WHO WANT TO LEARN A GOOD DEAL ABOUT WHAT'S REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN ANY FIELD OF ENDEAVOR.
SINCE I CAN'T FIND REFERENCE TO A "GHOST WRITER, OR ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS BOOK, I WILL ASSUME THAT OSCAR WROTE IT HIMSELF. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO JUDGE THIS BOOK ENTIRELY ON "EDITORIAL" GROUNDS, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BAD. OSCAR STYLE OF WRITING IS SIMILAR TO THE WAY HE PLAYED BASKETBALL - HE TAKES IT RIGHT TO YOU! "HERE IT IS, DEAL WITH IT IF YOU CAN." HE DOESN'T MINCE WORDS, TELLS IT LIKE IT IS, AND WAS, AND TO HIS CREDIT DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY CARE, WHAT YOU OR I THINK ABOUT HIS OPINIONS - USUALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT COMING FROM HIM, AND GIVEN THE SUBJECT MATTER IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

A Class Man and Player
At 50 I'm a little young to have followed Oscar Robertson's career other than the Milwaukee Bucks period. I have run into Robertson at Cincinnati ballgames and hotels when in the city although have not spoken to him. This is a biography written in typical form, "Here's what I did growing up, here's the influence of my parents and others, here's what I did that you know me for and here's what I'm doing now." But the difference is Oscar really has something to say and he's rattled a few cages saying it.

While many people come from poor backgrounds, particularly basketball players, Oscar's is particularly interesting due to the very rural nature of his upbringing in Tennessee. Most of his early life was centered on working in fields, church and family. A move to inner city Indianapolis was significant in his development as a basketball player. And this is where the book becomes very interesting as Oscar conveys the first noticeable slights from racism. Oscar has always been very well mannered projecting a great image. And maybe in many ways this hid the hurt he was feeling from racism or maybe I was just too young to hear about it.

After rising to a top star, Robertson commits to a smaller school, U of Cincinatti, amid rumblings of improper recruiting. He dispels most of this and introduces boosters or mentors who took his best interests at heart and helped him grow as a man. He also meets his wife who he describes in glowing terms, clearly a very strong marriage that eventually yields two daughters. This is another interesting part of the book as one of his daughters suffers from a disease requiring an organ transplant.

Robertson starts his pro career in his hometown of Cincinnati with an under funded team which creates conflicts throughout his career there as money and a good supporting cast is always short. Discussing his pro career you can really see his bitterness with the pre-free agent market and how he had to fight for his money and was often blamed for putting himself above his team. This for a man that averaged a triple-double. If you follow the NBA today, you will almost find the numbers thrown around as comical.

Clearly, this book has generated controversy as Robertson has alluded to racism throughout the book. While it didn't match the impression I had of Robertson, I found he supported his positions well even though you may not agree with the outcome.

Overall, I found this to be an excellent book of a basketball icon in the late 50s to 70s. If you have interest in sports in those periods, life in America in those periods, or a short view of race relations at that time, I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Fantastic
the Big O is One of the Greatest Talents in any sport Period. Wilt Chamberlin is to Me the Greatest Player in the NBA Ever but I could Put the BIG O right there with Him.He was unstoppable&One of the Game's true Ground-Breakers.in His Book He pulls no punches&Brings it here. He is a very down to Earth Soul brother&a Class act. He should Be running a Team in the NBA or something that showcases just How Important He was&is to the Game.Fantastic Book&strong read.

a worthwhile read
I was a big fan of the Big O growing up. He was the most complete player on the basketball court. This book is very well written and well rounded, covering his triumphs and conflicts during the racially charged 50's and 60's. I highly recommned it, as it discusses college and professional basketball history extremely well - particularly the seminal period of the NBA in the 60's which I now only vaguley remember - but also discusses the societal environment in which the Big O' incredible career took place. ... Read more

Book Description

As the budding baseball superstar for the Boston Red Sox in1967, Tony Conigliaro became the youngest major league player to hit100 home runs, a record he still holds. He was on his way to becomingbaseball's new hero until, after three short years, he was struck inthe head by an errant pitch that nearly killed him. Because the blowdamaged his keen eyesight, Tony's baseball career suddenly ended. InTony C: The Triumph and Tragedy of Tony Conigliaro, author DavidCataneo writes of the tragic end to Tony C's baseball career, and histriumph over losing his dreams by becoming a sportscaster on the westcoast.

Tony seemed to be on top again with a good job, good looks,and good friends. But tragedy struck again in 1982 when Tony, only 37,suffered a massive heart attack that damaged his brain and confined himto a wheelchair. Tony Conigliaro's life seems to have been full oftragedy and Tony C: The Triumph and Tragedy of Tony Conigliarois filled with remembrances from Tony's family, friends, and former RedSox teammates. This extensively researched book, which includes rarephotographs, provides the intimate details of Conigliaro's life, bothon and off the baseball field. Tony C: The Triumph and Tragedy ofTony Conigliaro is a powerful human drama that will leave you witha lump in your throat and a tear in your eye. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Red Sox should retire Tony"s #25-just read the book.
This is a great book about Tony C. It shows both his strengths as a person and some of his weak spots, which makes this book a very true and real story.
It's a great history of the Red Sox when Tony C. played. It shows the true guts, determination, courage and love for the Red Sox that Tony C. had. No player in any sport has made such an effort to comeback. And, this book captures it all.
The Red Sox should retire his number -- just read the book it supports retiring #25.
Billy Conigliaro's quote sums up how i feel about Tony C. "I will always remember Tony C. as a fighter, a clutch hitter, warm to his fans. He was a brother who made me proud."
Tony thank you so much for all the wonderful memories as a Red Sox player. You have given me the strength to fight my own battles in life. I hope that someone makes a movie from this book.

My reason for this book...
I began work on this book in 1994...I'm glad to see that the public has received this book well. It is a fine tribute to a dashing young ballplayer for whom this book was a labor of love...Here's to you, Tony!

The Life of A Boyhood Idol
Dave Cantaneo gives this young fan a second chance to remember a boyhood idol through this very insightful book about the tragic figure thatb inspired thousands of boys my age. The ultimate complement to any baseball player when I grew up was that everyone wanted his baseball card and everyone wanted to "be" the player during pickup games. These were simple times when players were loyal to teams and teams were loyal to fans. Everyone wanted to be Tony C, and since he was just a teenager joining the Red Sox, all of my buddies and I idolized him immediately. This book permits us the opportunity to spend a few hours with a real sports idol. Tony C was to Red Sox fans what the Beatles were to American rock and roll lovers--- except he was right here. Thanks for the book, David.

One Man We'll never forget
I am a 12 year old kid and have read the book Tony C. I never watched him play on t.v, and I haven't heard about him until 1991 when i watched a quick clip on sportscenter about him. I couldn't quite remember his name and wanted to find out more about him as I searched for 7 years just to find the guy's name. I came close to finding his name as my friend next door had a model of him, but unfortunately his dog knocked it down earlier and the bottom of the model was broken off and we didn't know his name. Thats when i finally found this book at a local bookstore. This book takes you in depth of his short lifetime. This book tought a lesson to me and i feel that I never give up anymore in anything that i do (like him) This book takes you from his good days in the minors to his excellent early years in the majors until that awful august night. The night when he was struck by the pitch that put him out of baseball. That is where i will end because i don't want to tell everyone the untold, but i do highly reccomend this book. It changed the way i look at everything in life.

Excellent source for background information of Tony C.
Understand that this review comes from a thirty- six year old lifelong Red Sox fan, who never saw Tony Conigliaro play before the infamous beaning (and who wasn't subjected to the Red Sox of the early sixties). I went to my first Red Sox game as an eight year old boy in 1970, with my twenty- something aunt who got tickets to see the California Angels, because Tony Conigliaro was on the roster. I was thirteen when Tony electrified the Boston fans early in the magical 1975 season. Because of my aunt's infatuation with Tony C., I have always been intrigued with his story and enthusiastically picked up this book to learn more. The early biographical information was compre- hensive and, although clearly not unbiased, detailed enough to let the reader make their own opinions regarding Tony's immature social values and his arrogant "super jock" attitude. I appreciated the anecdotal history of Tony's minor league and early major league career, especially his rocky ! relationship with the Red Sox other star of the era, Carl Yastrzemski.

The emotional struggles of Tony's attempted come- back following the beaning were also well reported. The book followed Tony's career beyond baseball, and honestly reported the heartache of a shortened athletic career and the struggle to then fit into a traditional career.

I would recommend the book as an above average sports biography or an excellent real life human drama. I think the story provides lessons for young men and is heart-wrenching story that would interest young women as well. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the life and times of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, one of the most popular wrestlers of the 1970s and 1980s. A three time former NWA Heavyweight Champion, Rhodes was a major star at every company he wrestled for. Known for his amazing charisma, Rhodes had perhaps the most famous wrestling feud ever with fellow wrestling legend Ric Flair.

This autobiography explores the life of Dusty Rhodes from his childhood through his amazing career. In this book, Rhodes recounts all of his famous angles, feuds, and road stories. Truly a must-read title for all wrestling fans. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The American Dream, Plus 150 Pounds
I really enjoyed this book except I for the coarse language, the innumerable typographical errors, and the constant self-aggrandizement. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed his perspective of wrestling history.

Dusty: Reflections of an American Dream
As you read the book, you realize what great contributions Dusty Rhodes and other wrestlers made to make the wrestling business florish.The cast of characters is fabulous.Dusty's stories about some of the wrestlings greatest characters (before WWF/WWE became the only game in town) is well told.The book is worth the price and as you read it, you realize what a real pleasure it was to watch true showmen at work in a craft that they loved.Unfortunately, WWE and the McMahons, (no matter how entertaining WWE is), have hurt the overall wrestling business as well as killing off most of the small independent markets.

Don't wait for the paperback, get the hardcover book.It's a must for any and all wrestling fans. I'm hoping I can get Dusty to someday sign it for me.Many thanks Dusty, for sharing some of your stories with us -

Paul Franco

Truly a dream read
This book was one of the best wrestling books I have ever read.This isn't a book about how he ran Crockett or florida or TNA, but just a bunch of cool stories that made me long for the old days.Please do another Dusty, and let's relive the glory days

Great Stories and Insights from a True Wrestling Legend
This book was a really fun read and a good wrestling book too.I figured Dusty would tell some classic stories, which he did, but he also got into a lot of the politics of business.

There was some fansinating insight on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling/Jim Crockett Promotions, who called themselves the NWA during the mid-1980s. I was really reminded of how fantastic that promotion was. Dusty shares some great memories of the Road Warriors, Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, Ric Flair, the Four Horsemen, and the Midnight Express. Tully Blanchard was actually quoted saying...

...[Dusty] was in charge when the tidal wave came, and the one thing Dusty should know is in my opinion he grossly underestimated the ability of himself and some of us. We had the right players. If he would have played it a little differently , maybe the result would have been different.
-- Tully Blanchard

I give Dusty his props for letting that be in the book because he does get blamed a awful lot for the promotions demise, when, in truth, the NWA had a great run, but just didn't understand marketing like the WWF (which Dusty admits).

The stories are crazy. Hearing about Dusty running with Terry Funk, Andre the Giant, Harley Race, and Dusty's best friend, Dick Murdoch, makes you wonder how they didn't get into more trouble than they did. The story with Dusty and Andre drunk in Manhattan, racing horse carriages was priceless.

Dusty gives a candid account of his relationship with Dustin. Any fan who remembers Dustin (as Golddust) making fun of Dusty on WWF TV will find this section really compelling.

I really enjoy the "Starcade Prime" section, where Dusty shares his fantasy super wrestling card, which was a nice touch.

Good book.

Dusty Finish
I purchased this book looking forward to read all about Dustys great career and get insight into the great Jim Crockett era of 84-89. Instead I get Dusty blabing on and on about nothing in particular. Dusty jumps from topic to topic without ever finishing whatever thought he was on at the time.
The book is in no chronological order whatsoever and if you are to believe Dusty, he was bigger than Hogan and "Terry" ripped him off. Oh and thanks for the chapter on the Dream Starrcade big Dust. I couldnt have lived without that. After watching his latest run as booker in TNA and reading this book, TNA will be gone by year end if you will. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Run Tall and Stay Strong
This book is about the life of a runner named Dick Beardsley. It talks about his life goals in running and how he got into a bad habbit of using pain killers. The book takes place in the mainland, and not in a certain place because he traveled a lot to race. See i am a runner so i like the book because it gave me the motivation to go on when the going gets tough. If i compare this book to other book i would say it is not the best running book i have read but, it is better than the other types of books i have read. I think if you are a runner you will really like the book cause it teaches you to be tough in a race and some pointers on how to run marathons. If you do not run i dont think you will have a strong liking with this book. It can get kind of boring a some parts, but the parts that tell about his races really made me want to read on, so if you are a runner i think this book is better for you than if you are not a runner. So be a runner!

A wonderful read!
I started running ~ 2 yrs ago.My wife got me the book, but I hadn't heard of Dick so the book sat.One evening I picked it up to see what it was all about and I was instantly and uncontrollably sucked in.Dick's story starts in HS where he went out for the football team, which lasted a few minutes.Then a friend suggested XC, and Dick fell in love with what turned out to be his calling -- running.

The story refers to 5/10K events, and explains how Dick got into Marathons (a whim).It then follows the course of the multitude of Marathons he ran in.

Dick had his battles in life too, as we all do, a theme that repeated itself.Dick had some very tough times, but in the end he prevailed.Big time!

My friend Mat just got back from Boston Marathon '03; Mat brought back an autograph from Dick for me.Having read his book, and knowing what a great guy Dick is, this will be treasured for years to come.

Net, net, it's a must read.

Rex

Great fast read,but missing some points.
This book is an entertaining fast read.However, certain details in Beardsley's life are strangely glossed over: Alcoholic parents/meeting his wife.The first hand account of the (famous) 82'Boston Marathon is so stunning and awsome, it leaves the rest of the book dangling.

Inspiration at any level.
This is a book for any running aficionado (especially the veterans), who has gone out there and run distance.It's also a great story and inspiration for anybody who has run a marathon and in particular Boston.The mass start in Hopkinton, the crowds, the cheers at Wellesley, Heartbreak Hill in Newtown, coming through the Fenway, and on to the finish at the Boston Public Library.The 1982 race was perhaps the best one ever run and Beardley took us back there in the first person.Beardley takes any runner to the soul of this sometimes underappreciated sport.Spectacular!

Something is Missing
This story of a great runner who had to face many of life's adversities left me wanting. From the start I had the feeling many parts of his life were being glossed over (What did it feel like to grow up in that house? Why did he quit college? How did he meet his wife?). The racing and training sequences were great. The section on his Boston Marathon was outstanding. When his injuries force him to give up running the narative gets choppy again and seems to lack insight. The farm accident was interesting, enlightening and horrifying. Much more could have been done with his descent into the world of drug addiction and the pain it caused his family (it may have been me but I never got a feel for his wife and son ). I did enjoy this book . Dik Beardsley seems like a great guy. It is an extremely fast read but it left me feeling it could have been much better. ... Read more

Book Description

K2 is called the "Savage Mountain" and it has earned the name. Though not quite as tall as Everest, it is far more dangerous. Located at the border of China and Pakistan in the remote Karakoram range, K2 has some of the harshest climbing conditions and weather of any place in the world. At the beginning of the 2004 climbing season, ninety women had successfully summited Everest, but only five female climbers had reached the peak of K2. Today, all of those brave pioneers are dead.

In 1986 Polish climber Wanda Rutkiewicz became the first woman ever to reach the top of K2 and was followed to the summit that same year by French climber Liliane Barrard and British climber Julie Tullis, both of whom died on their way down the mountain. Then in 1992, the summer that Rutkiewicz perished on Kangchenjunga, French alpinist Chantal Mauduit summited K2 and survived, only to die six years later on another 8,000-meter peak. Finally, in 1995 British climber and mother Alison Hargreaves reached the top but was killed shortly after starting her descent from its perilous summit. These courageous, remarkable women can no longer tell their tales of defeating the ferocious mountain. Jennifer Jordan, a journalist and filmmaker, tells the haunting and compelling, sometimes tragic, stories of how these women lived and died on the mountains they pursued.

Mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, poets and engineers, the female pioneers of K2 were complex personalities in the controversial world of high-altitude mountaineering, and their lives and deaths are a reminder of the high price climbers often pay to follow their dreams.

Book Description

The sea was our common home, and I felt our connection went back a very long way -- to a time that predated man's emergence from the water.

In 1996, Francisco "Pipín" Ferreras, a native Cuban and a world champion in the dangerous and controversial sport of free diving, met Audrey Mestre, a beautiful French marine biology student who had sought him out in Cabo San Lucas for her research. A passionate romance immediately bloomed between the two, and their love was bonded by a shared fascination with and devotion to the ocean. When the couple moved back to Miami, Audrey took up the sport herself and quickly proceeded to break the female world record (115 meters). They soon became free diving's power couple, testing the limits of their wills and bodies by descending to unthinkable depths, training and touring together, encouraging and motivating each other.

Then, on October 12, 2002, in a dive off the coast of the Dominican Republic, tragedy struck: Audrey's attempt to break the world record with a dive of 170 meters ended in her death. Suddenly, Pipín -- haunted by questions, reeling from the loss of his soul mate -- could no longer find solace in the sea that had always been his true home.

Now, for the first time, Pipín tells his story. He shares the heart-pounding adventure and fierce competition that fuel the sport of free diving and his own addiction to it. He addresses the controversy that has followed him throughout his career and that spun out of control after Audrey's death. And he relates the haunting story of his relationship with Audrey -- a unique and complicated tale of love and obsession taken to extreme depths.

Book Description

"When I was playing, they said soccer was a man's world and that women should remain on the sidelines. All I can say is I'm glad I never had to go up against Mia Hamm."

-- Pelé

For the more than seven million girls -- from knobby-kneed tykes to high school and college stars -- who are tearing across the of country chasing a soccer ball and dreams of glory, there is one name that eclipses all others, male or female: Mia Hamm. With her cheetahlike acceleration and lightning-bolt shot, Hamm has broken nearly every record in her sport, while galvanizing a whole generation of fans and players.

Go for the Goal is not only the inspiring story of how a tiny suburban sprite became a global terror with a ball (and the world) at her feet -- it's also a step-by-step or dribble-by-dribble guide for any kid with the all-American dream of making the team and becoming a champion.

Filled with personal anecdotes and fully illustrated with both action and instructional photographs, Go for the Goal shows readers exactly how to master the silky skills and techniques that have made Hamm and her teammates the finest women's soccer team in the world.

Reviews (39)

Mia Hamm-SoccerPlayer/Writer
Mia Hamm's book, "Goal For The Goal," is the best book I have read. It helps all soccer players improve their game, by showing training drills and it has great advice that motivates players. Mia Hamm and the rest of the Women's National team are my role models. Mia Hamm, to me wrote this book perfectly, and anyone who wants to play soccer or plays soccer already should read this book. It will inspire you to do so much more than you already can do.

Attention all Mia Fans
I am a total Hamm Fanatic, and I simply adore Go For The Goal. Whether you pray to Mia, or you have never heard about her this fantastic book offers something for you. Mia talks about her early life and career, how after her brother Garret died she scored in honor of him, the friends like Tisha she met allow the way, and all about the ups and downs of being a pro soccer player. Then there are tips, drills, and skills. With easy intruction you can ecome a better soccer player from reading. This unique and emotional book will defaintly bring you closer to your favorite superstar- MIA HAMM! - I personally guarantee it, DUDE

Not that good
Personally, I found this really boring. I'm not really sure what I just read. I was kind of hoping that there'd be some personal insight because Mia Hamm is a facsinating person. When I finished I really wasn't inspired, or informed, or anything. I was just bored. There are better books out there, this one isn't really worth your time.

Go For the Gloat
This book was very disappointing. It is defintely not any type of guide for winning in soccer or life. I really felt this was really more about Mia gloating about how good she is rather than how she got there or sharing any insight into what it takes to win. It is not hard to win in soccer if you are surrounded by all those good players and she didnt really share any personal insight other than she was a military brat.

I cant say I would be inspired by this book either... this is not an autobiography, its not a guide to how to play good soccer, its more about how many times she can take credit for a goal or assist....

Numba 1 Baller in the world!!!
This book is about Mia Hamm and her accomplishments throughout her life. The main character is Mia Hamm and at the end it talks about her U.S.A. team and players. Mia Hamm did have many adventures before becoming what she is today. Like working hard and not letting anything break her concentration. Mia also went through many obstacles in her life to become what she wanted to be, A Professional Soccer Player. Obstacles contain trying to show her ability and skill by playing against players older than her, getting into the University of North Carolina, and getting accepted by the U.S.A. coach. My favorite character is Mia, because to me she is the best soccer player, a good role model for kids, and the number one goal scorer! I can relate Mia Hamm. She started playing soccer when she was very little and she kept forcing herslef to become the best. I am doing the same thing, because I started playing when I was vety little, and I want to become the best. I look up to Mia. I also feel some of the things that Mia did. I felt that I couldn't do cetain things and that I was scared of playing against older girls than me.

I really love this book a lot. The whole book was my favorite. In other words every single part of this book I loved!

I would highly recommend this book, because it is very interesting, and it incourages soccer players to never give up on their dream. A type of person that would realy like this book would be of course A SOCCER PLAYER!!! ... Read more

Book Description

In between Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan there was Joe Namath, one of the very few sports heroes who transcended their game. The son of a Hungarian immigrant, Namath left the steel country of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, for the Deep South, where he played quarterback for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama. Almost four years later, he signed a $427,000 contract with the New York Jets that changed football forever, transforming a crude, violent game into show business. Namath became the most glamorous athlete in America––his fame nurtured by the age of television, the point spread, and the sexual revolution. His hair, his draft deferment, and his white shoes became symbols for a generation. But it was his "guarantee" of victory in Super Bowl III that ensured his legend.

In the tradition of Richard Ben Cramer’s Joe DiMaggio, David Maraniss’s A Life of Vince Lombardi, and Nick Tosches’s Dino, Mark Kriegel details Namath’s journey from steeltown pool halls to the upper reaches of American celebrity––and beyond. He renders Namath as an athlete and a man, a brave champion and a wounded soul. Here are Namath’s complex relationships with pain and fame plus his appearances in pantyhose ads, on The Simpsons, and Nixon’s Enemies List. Namath is not just for football fans, but for any reader interested in the central role of sports in American culture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Worth your time
This is simply a straightforward account of Nelson's life by The Man himself. It's primary focus is his poor-as-dirt childhood and rise to stardom on the PGA Tour, culminating in The Streak of eleven straight wins in 1945 (he retired the next year). His television work is also covered, as is the death of his wife of 50 years and subsequent remarriage, but the primary focus is on his rise to stardom and retirement to ranching. It turns out that he doesn't have hemophilia as I'd always heard, nor did he retire because his "nervous stomach" couldn't take the stress of competition. The big virtue of the book is that it's written in a homey style that makes you feel as though Nelson is right there speaking to you in his Texas twang. It was written with assistance from his second wife, and it reads as though she must have been transcribing tapes. There is very little discussion of swing theory and no tips to help your game, but it's fascinating if you have an interest in what it took to make a living in professional golf in the 1930s and 1940s. It should be required reading for today's pampered pros who make more for one fifth-place finish than Nelson made in his entire career as one of the all-time greats. He comes across as an extremely decent, religious man that you would've liked to have known. ... Read more

Book Description

Curtis Turner's life embodied everything that makes NASCAR the biggest spectator sport in American history.In gripping prose, and with full access to the files of Turner's widow, biographer Robert Edelstein thrillingly recreates the life of this American legend.Full Throttle is the first-ever full-scale chronicle of Turner's legendary life, from his days as a teenage moonshine runner, through his incredible comeback after four years of being banned from the NASCAR circuit.Motor racing and mayhem, the non-stop pursuit of outrageous dreams, high-speed thrills, and a really good time...these are the raw materials of Full Throttle: The Life and Fast Times of Curtis Turner.This one's on the fast track. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Great Book
From the first page straight through to the last this book is a thrilling page-turner that just cannot be put down.You will lose sleep.The dishes will pile up and the bills go unpaid.And you may never drive responsibly again...

Three cheers and five stars for Curtis Turner, Robert Edelstein, and "Full Throttle" -- a great, great book.

Hands down the best auto racing book I've seen
I've been around this sport my whole life, and I've eagerly snatched up and read every book on the sport I could find.

And out of all of those, this book is without a doubt the best.Curtis Turner had a life that would take 4 Hollywood films to document.It was complex, it was wild, it was, in a word, unbelievable.Edelstein's book was 5 years in the making.It was painstakingly researched, and was very, very well written.Edelstein puts the reader in the race car with Turner, as well as in the seat next to him aboard his Aero Commander, where Curtis was equally as fearless.From the highs, such as his 1956 Southern 500 victory, to the lows, such as the ultimate betrayal of a business partner that lost him his beloved Charlotte Motor Speedway, the book continues to work at a professional, even keel.

It's not a book about racing.It's a book about a legend.It was long overdue.Thank you, Mr. Edelstein, for finally bringing Curtis Turner back to life.

Legend of the Early Days
There's always been the instinct in mankind to see if their horses, cars, airplanes or boats were faster than the other guys. In the days long before NASCAR was the most popular sport in the country there was still racing.

The early training in what was to become NASCAR was running illegal liquor during prohibition. That's how Curtis Turner got his start. And from what he learned there, combined with a natural showmanship he all but defined what NASCAR racing was all about. In his day he was bigger than any star you can name today. This is his story. From running liquor to winning millions, constantly living life close to the edge his story is an interesting one.

Mr. Edelstein has carefully researched this book, talking to a large number of people who knew him personally and makes this a fascinating tale.

Simply The Best
You don't have to be a NASCAR entusiast to love this book.Edelstein's opus brings us back to the middle 50's and allows us to experience the growth of stock car racing while learning about the characters involved.It is a thrilling chronicle of racing action, personalities, and the birth of a purely American sport.

I, for one, hope that Mr. Edelstein will continue to provide us with these entrhalling and captivating works.

Great subject, excellent book
With December's "Vukovich" and an almost simultaneous release of books on Turner, Tim Richmond and Fireball Roberts, this seems to be a golden season of sorts for overdue racing biographies.
They're all great reads, but "Full Throttle" is the best written of the bunch.
Having said that, any book on Turner was bound to be fun. Turner was a true wild man, a gifted and brilliant driver--of any kind of car--a daring pilot who was stripped at times of his license by the FAA; a skirt chaser extrodinaire; wildly successfull business man; a moonshine runner; friend of almost everyone, including a President; NASCAR founding star; talented timber merchant and legendary party animal.
If the word "legend" could be applied to any NASCAR driver, it would be Turner. Even Dale Earnhardt's story pales in comparison.
This is a real biography, heavy on Curtis' character, motivations, family, and friends. With all of his private successes, failures, triumphs and tragedies. Not just a record of race results, as most sports biographies turn out to be. I thought I knew Turner's story well, but this proved me wrong. Assumptions Ihad about the sequence of events that led to his death in a fatal airplane crash, were wrong and corrected by this book.
As an aside, I don't accept any conspiracy theroies regarding the crash, I had a brother-in-law who died several years ago in a very similar crash and I believe that as hard as it is to accept, these sorts of accidents do happen.
Excellent book, I loved it. Now all we need is a some books on Lorenzen, Lockhart and Mays... ... Read more