Book Description

A remarkable narrative of failure and redemption, the fiercely candid autobiography of the world's greatest jockey, depicting not only the intenseinside story of professional racing but his greatest victory of all-against himself.

I had hit bottom. My descent into alcoholism had been slow, but now I was lying at the bottom of the ocean, searching for a ray of light. I needed to breathe again. I needed to live again. . . . It was up to me.

He is considered the leading rider of his era, one of the greatest jockeys ever to break from the starting gate. He has won every major race there is, and then won it again; set earnings and stakes records; and entered the Racing Hall of Fame. But none of it was possible until he defeated his demons.

Astonishingly frank and vividly detailed, Against the Odds chronicles the making of both a man and a champion: the years of drinking, cruelty, anger, despair; the moment of truth, with the help of his wife, Suzee; the dramatic rise to the top. It takes us into the racing world as only someone who has lived it can-the joys and dangers, the adrenaline highs and controversies, from the stables to the stretch drive. It is a new classic of the literature. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

No Formula Here
This isn't the story of a great jockey. That would be pretty formula. This is the story of a jockey who somehow beat the odds to achieve greatness. That's what makes it a great book. Somewhat like "My Fractured Life", "It's Not About the Bike" and "The Secret Life of Bees", this is an amazing story that celebrates the flawed heroes among us and takes the reader's emotions for a ride that few have experienced and you can't help celebrating.

Great to the Finish
There are two books that I had been hearing a lot about and so I ordered them. One of those books was Against the Odds by Jerry Bailey. The other book was My Fractured Life by Rikki Lee Travolta. Of the two, My Fractured Life immediately jumped to the lead in the race of favorites. Against the Odds is a strong contender in its own right though and ran a strong second. It has strength of spirit and courage over addiction that makes it lift off the page. It was a nice Perfecta of weekend reading. Other recent considerations included Simon Lazarus, Nightmares Echo, Mermaid Chair, The Glass Castle, and Smashed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the States, Nick Hornby is best know as the author of High Fidelity and About a Boy, two wickedly funny novels about being thirtysomething and going nowhere fast. In Britain he is revered for his status as a fanatical football writer (sorry, fanatical soccer writer), owing to Fever Pitch--which is both an autobiography and a footballing Bible rolled into one. Hornby pinpoints 1968 as his formative year--the year he turned 11, the year his parents separated, and the year his father first took him to watch Arsenal play. The author quickly moved "way beyond fandom" into an extreme obsession that has dominated his life, loves, and relationships. His father had initially hoped that Saturday afternoon matches would draw the two closer together, but instead Hornby became completely besotted with the game at the expense of any conversation: "Football may have provided us with a new medium through which we could communicate, but that was not to say that we used it, or what we chose to say was necessarily positive." Girlfriends also played second fiddle to one ball and 11 men. He fantasizes that even if a girlfriend "went into labor at an impossible moment" he would not be able to help out until after the final whistle.

Fever Pitch is not a typical memoir--there are no chapters, just a series of match reports falling into three time frames (childhood, young adulthood, manhood). While watching the May 2, 1972, Reading v. Arsenal match, it became embarrassingly obvious to the then 15-year-old that his white, suburban, middle-class roots made him a wimp with no sense of identity: "Yorkshire men, Lancastrians, Scots, the Irish, blacks, the rich, the poor, even Americans and Australians have something they can sit in pubs and bars and weep about." But a boy from Maidenhead could only dream of coming from a place with "its own tube station and West Indian community and terrible, insoluble social problems."

Fever Pitch reveals the very special intricacies of British football, which readers new to the game will find astonishing, and which Hornby presents with remarkable humor and honesty--the "unique" chants sung at matches, the cold rain-soaked terraces, giant cans of warm beer, the trains known as football specials carrying fans to and from matches in prisonlike conditions, bottles smashing on the tracks, thousands of policemen waiting in anticipation for the cargo of hooligans. The sport and one team in particular have crept into every aspect of Hornby's life--making him see the world through Arsenal-tinted spectacles. --Naomi Gesinger ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Beware What This Book Might Do To You
I've been meaning to write a review of this book for a long time, but since Nick Hornby reawakened in me many of my childhood sports fan obsessions when I read it for the first time in 1999, I've been too busy. Not only did "Fever Pitch" remind me how irrationally and how much I loved my own hometown team (the heartbreaking Boston Red Sox) but he turned me into a fan of English football and his own Arsenal Gunners to the point where I follow them daily on ESPN's soccernet, LISTEN (!?) to them on internet radio broadcasts and have even gone to two games in London over the past two years. It's sick really, and I suppose it's not the kind of thing Hornby would have wanted when he wrote this quintessential memoir of growing up a soccer fan in England, but I've enjoyed it

"Fever Pitch" is an obsessive's tale as much as it is a fan's story, and so should appeal to the same wide audience that enjoys his excellent novels (It was my love for "High Fidelity" that sent me straight to this book). It is a memoir of surprising depth considering how it is organized only by the dates of soccer matches between 1968 and 1991, and it makes perfect sense that Hornby, or any true fan, should see the rest of his life (parents' divorce, his own education, romantic and career trouble) primarily as it relates to the team he spends so much time, money and psychic energy on.

The irony, for me, was finding out after I read "Fever Pitch" for the first time that Arsenal was one of the top teams of the last decade in England, so Hornby at least gets to feel the joy that we Red Sox fans are still waiting for. Sure, we're ecstatic the Pats won the Super Bowl, but our lives will change forever when Boston brings home the World Series. But after "Fever Pitch," I'll remember to laugh like the rest of the world laughs when American sports leagues crown their title-holders "world" champions.

For sports fans, obsessives, and everyone else
I assume this book would be a joyous, justifying experience for a devoted fan of any sport - "I'm not alone!" - and I can assure you that it's a fun, educational read for someone who has no interest in any sport. It's a look at the way fanship can be created by, and in turn create, a person's life, and as such should be required reading both for fans themselves and for the people who can't understand them. In other words, if you completely understand why an important win could turn your entire life around, or why you would have to miss your sister's wedding if it coincided with a game, Fever Pitch is for you. And if you don't understand this at all, the book is also for you.

Now, having said that, there are a few problems with this book for Americans who don't know much about football. (You know, soccer, not American rules football.) If you don't know thing one about the game, you can still read the book, but you won't understand big chunks of it. Hornby either never expected this book to be published in America, or he can't imagine an audience that isn't intimately familiar with football argot. (And, having read the book, I'm betting on the latter.) So you'll need either to read a book about football before you read Fever Pitch, or to have on call a person who knows football. As it happens, I had both. I read the decent book The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro before Fever Pitch, so I knew about, for example, relegation and promotion. And I happen to know a person who watches football. And still I didn't get everything; what the heck is the Arsenal offside trap? What was the Ibrox disaster? (Double whammy, since apparently it also happened before I was born.) What's the penalty spot? I don't know, and Hornby didn't take the time to tell me. So - not perhaps the best book to introduce you to football.

Still, this a fascinating book, a book that contains a wealth of self-knowledge for the obsessed and astonishing revelations for everyone else. Read it. If nothing else, you'll learn that the person in your life that you thought was as obsessed with team X as it is possible to be is merely a fly-by-night fan.

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby is one of the best football books
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby is one of the best football books around. But it is about much more than football, it gives a rare glimpse into the psyche of the British football fan. In his book, football is a metaphor for all aspects of life, romance, family, and career. Hornby¡¦s amusing narratives perfectly encapsulate the unique relationship a football fan has with their favorite team. Even as a Manchester United fan I find it fascinating to read about his obsession with and dedication to Arsenal.
At the most superficial level, this book provides a very detail account of Arsenal from the late 60s through the beginning of the 90s, and the increasingly violent behavior by football fans during the late 70s and early 80s, and the negative impact it had on his feelings for the games.
Hornby describes vividly how his life was related to Arsenal's achievements. When Arsenal was doing good, Hornby was doing good. When Arsenal was having an off-season, Hornby fell into depression. It is interesting to observe the development of Hornby's obsession, because it can happen to anyone. With the backdrop of his often witty accounts of Arsenal games, Hornby talks about how his life evolves with his family, his girlfriend, and his students. Football is like a common world language, and Hornby uses it to interact with his students. And watching football with his father was one the highlights of his childhood.
Every game has an analogy in life for the football fan. For Hornby, a tight game ending in defeat is a painful reminder of a break with his girlfriend.
While this obsession with football is almost innate, sometimes Hornby felt immature, especially when he was unable to control his overwhelming passion for the game in front of his students.
In humorous pros Hornby highlights how football and life come together on the pitch and is definitely worthy of reading.

black and white and read all over
This is a cool book, and a very good book, but a tiny little "je ne sais quoi" keeps me from giving it that last and final fifth star.

To summarize the book superficially in a sentence, it's an autobiographical retelling, in a very witty first-person voice, of the author's (London journalist Nick Hornby) lifelong love of soccer and his passion for the English pro soccer team Arsenal (which plays in London). Thrown in are side stories about his boyhood, his relationship with his parents, and his posse of friends, love interests, and workmates who either do or don't share his love of the sport.

One problem for North Americans is that this is a truly English book, in that it contains tons of references to little villages in England, little UK customs, judgments and descriptions of London neighborhoods, etc., that left me feeling like a Yankee hick who'd never left the trailer park. Indeed, that is my problem and not the author's, but North Americans who don't know English culture well will feel lost at times.

Another problem is that the book, like the TV show "Seinfeld," isn't really about anything. Sure, there's a lot of chatter about soccer, but not in any sort of methodical or educative way. It's basically a willfully disorganized diary about 20 years in the life of a clever, witty Englishman (from about age 10 to about age 30) who allows soccer to dominate his worldview and, alas, his whole life. It comes down to the amusing musings of a 30-something Londoner, which makes the book fascinating but not monumental.

The obsession with soccer is the strength and the weakness of the work. If you want to learn about English pro soccer, you will be disappointed. If you want to learn first-hand, from a very imaginative and clever soul, about what it was like for one particular person to grow up soccer-mad in southeastern England the 1970's and 1980's and how it impacted the rest of his life, then this is the book for you.

I'm a big fan of Nick Hornby, and a better book of his, and a better "starter book" for him, is "High Fidelity."

Painfully, painfully boring
This book was extremely pointless. Since each entry is a memory, they are written like them so they don't have an insteresting story-telling narrative. Also, some of the entries were just how the game was played and who won, with absolutely nothing interesting to say. And that for 300 pages, completely redundant. This book has no beginning, middle, or end. Just entry after entry of complete pointlessness. Now, it may be because I am not interested in sports, but this is just a football (soccor) journal and nothing more. Hornby was able to shove in a little bit of angst and childhood problems, but it is not nearly significant enough to keep the reader interested.

Though the book had some very funny parts, it doesn't make up for the ennui I experienced while reading this book. You know, they made a movie out a this.....HOW?!! It barely works as a piece of fiction or reference book...but a movie?! Jesus. I'm sorry but this was one of the most boring books I've ever read. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a book about a man who excelled in a game of soccer. Pele is a athlete best know throughout the world. He is the only three-time world champion in soccer."I dedicate this book to all the people who have made this great game the Beautiful Game." - Pele ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Edson Arantes do Nascimento: Pele' and his beautiful game.
Few athletes have captured the world's collective admiration and respect as Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Known affectionately to his family as Dico, but to the rest of us as Pele', his influence far exceeded his tremendous exploits on the soccer field. He is one of the most recognized people in the world.

This well-written, extremely detailed, and intriguing autobiography takes us deeply into Pele's world. He describes in great detail his impoverished youth in Bauru, his rapid ascent into the Brazilian National Team, his stellar years at Santos Football Club, and finally, his desire to bring soccer to the skeptical masses in North America. But throughout it all, we see his humility. "I only wanted to be as good as my father, Dodinho."

I had the opportunity to play soccer with a Brazilian who played with Pele' at Santos. My friend was very young at the time, and told me that Pele' treated him very well. "He was well-liked by everyone, and always helpful to his teammates. You never knew he was the best player in the world. He acted just like a regular guy."

Out of his many feats (playing in the World Cup final at the age of 17, the only three time winner of the World Cup, scoring almost 1300 goals), one stands out. Pele' is perhaps the only athlete to ever stop a war. During the Biafran Civil War in Nigeria, a three day truce was called to watch him play two exhibition games.

Pele' was declared a national treasure by his native Brazil. But for the millions of us who had the privilege to see him play, he was our treasure as well.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this excellent book.

Excellent Book
After reading some of the reviews posted online here, especially the ones that claimed the book had nothing in it about Pele's childhood and days before stardom, I bought this book. to my surprise this book starts with great detail from when Pele was born, it seems every single detail about his childhood, school, first club, everything is logged in. one may wonder whether a diary was kept, to give such accurate detail.
i am only 21 years old, but i get the feeling this will be one of the best books i will ever read.
The writting itself is fantastic, it is written in narrative form. (I, me, as though Pele is talking to us via the book) and i think thats what makes this book so good, reading what Pele has to say in his own words. I highly recomend this book it has Pele's history, everything, his humility, his love for the beautiful game.....just wonderful.

world best player pele
" WORLD BEST SOCCER PLAYER"

PELE

My name is Jairo Torres, I read your book about the super star Pele', I live in Torrance on California, I was born in Mexico I'm a big fan of Pele, when I so your book I said that book has to main and after reading the book it just tell about when he was a star not when he was beginning to play, like his first club that he had play for like two years and after those year's he went to play with the bigger club's. Santos was his first pay job that he had, after playing for that club the team of his country wish was Brazil was interested on him they took he to play a world cup with other countries.
I have seen the movie about his life and the book is almost teal's all what the movie show, but I think that you mist wear and with ho he started plying most of the time some of them wear with his chill friends just out of his home. He maid a lot of History because he was the only player that stared playing sense he was fifteen year's old he was discover by a coach that had been washing hem from some years. When he was seventeen he had play his first world cup and he was the star of that tournament wear only the best country of the world play, after those games he was known for the King of soccer even that he was famous he was ask to play for some events, he use to pay like five games a week for a player this day two games a week is a lot but for Pele' was not that many but has he got older the injuries stared happening for him he had a lot of problems with his knee and with his muscles. But after many years of playing soccer he had to retayer and he was name has the King of soccer and he is the King and he will be the only soccer player that had score 1,262 goal's.

Magical
This is a wonderful book about Pele's career and life; how from the "barrios" of Brazil to the greatest sporting stage in the world, the World Cup, Pele earned the title of the greatest soccer player of all time. The book covers Pele's triumphs as a 17 year old in the 1958 final to his dismay in 1966 and the grand finale victory in 1970. This is a well written thorough book that I purchased and read in 1977 but subsequently lost. I am happy to be purchasing it again today, to read, enjoy and share it with my children.

Simply sublime! A MUST-READ for all Pele/football fans!
This book will make a Brasilian football fan's heart beat twice as fast as any other book.

The writing will not win any awards(!!) but the CONTENT is simply sublime. The book is about God himself; the pages take you through his incredible life as the world's greatest sportsman.

The 'commentary' describing the numerous World Cup matches - and goals - is EXCELLENT! I swear I could hear the crowd roar as I read on.

Football fans (Brasilian or not), BUY THIS BOOK; you'll LOVE it! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

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.

This book is the best!
This book is by far the best i've ever read. It has great pictures and has lots of info on Mia. I think she is the best player i've ever seen. So this book was very interesting. If you love to play soccer, and enjoy watching and learning about Mia , this is THE perfect book! Once you start reading it, you won't stop reading until you've finished! SO GET OUT THERE,GET OFF YOUR BUTT, AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, AND READ! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A reporter and an artist
Those who are truly interested in what our world is all about and would like to get profound insights into other cultures don't waste their time on the pulp spewed daily by the popular media. Books and essays by Ryszard Kapuscinski constitute a needed antidote.

A Polish reporter whose literary skills have been compared to those of G. Greene and E. Hemingway, Kapuscinski is the only writer I know who has consistently managed to capture the essence of the geo-political realities, misunderstood conflicts, and non-Western mentalities - in all of their complexity - so accurately, with such poetry, and in so few words. "The Soccer War" is a favorite of mine. His upcoming "The Shadow of the Sun" is the best book on Africa I have ever read.

He may be one of the best writers around; it's such a shame he is not more widely known.

Challenging and gripping writing
R.Kapuscinski has spend many years of his life travelling and trying to understand the reality and the way of thinking of the third world countries . The Soccer War is exactly about that , with it's biggest part reffering to Africa and it's final fifty-sixty pages dedicated to Central America .

Kapuscinski succeeds his aims on many levels . He manages both to analyze the political situation on places like Nigeria and Ghana , to focus on the motivations and strategy of the people who hold power there and at the same time he richly describes the landscapes , the scarried faces and the towns and neighbourhoods he had seen . What he seems to try to explain is this : despite the fact that there are many gifted politicians in these nations willing to make a difference , the lack of diplomatic maturity needed , the poverty and the unalphabatised mases will always stand as an obstacle to their lands' progress .

Finally i was very pleased to see for the first time in a foreign book a chapter about the merely occupied and still divided island of Cyprus , an overlooked national drama which hasn't received the attention it should have for over than thirty years now .

Wonderful snapshots of war and revolution
This book is actually a series of essays and dispatches from various corners of the world, unlike some of Kapuscinski's previous work, which looked in length at specific countries (Iran, Ethiopia, etc.). The various sections ranged from marvelous to merely good. The first half of the book chronicles Kapuscinski's visits to Africa in the 1960's, and he provides us with some wonderful portraits of that continent's post-indenpendence dilemmas. The author really seems to capture the mixture of optimism, heroism, disillusionment, and despair that nearly every African country went through. There is a particularly colorful look at Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah, as well as chapters on the Congo's Lumumba, Algeria's Ben Balla, a brutal civil war in Nigeria, and one of the most curious military takeovers I have ever read about in Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), which Kapuscinski came upon by accident. The author relates riveting near-death experiences in the Nigeria and Burundi chapters. The latter half of the book chronicle's visits to Latin America, the Middle East, Cyrus, and the Ethiopia-Somalia border during the 1970's. I found his description of the 1969 "Soccer War" between Honduras and El Salvador to be especially compelling. Kapuscinski's specialty is not in technical, academic analyses of war, economic underdevelopment, or tyranny. Nor is he necessarily a sensationalist, out to shock readers with gory details. Of course, many of his stories are quite sensational to those unaquainted with such things, but his presentation is subtle and thoughtful. He seeks to find traces of humanity in even the most barbarous situations. Another thing I really appreciate about Kapuscinski is that he seemingly talks to everyone, from urban intellectuals to impoverished peasants. The only reason I gave this book four stars rather than a perfect five is the fact that sometimes I would have appreciated a bit more technical analysis, or at least background information. This was especially lacking in his chapters on Cyprus and the Somili-Ethiopian war, where he perfectly captures the flavor of everyday life in the midst of crisis, but provides little insight into origins of the crisis itself. Also, Kapuscinski frequently launches into philosophical musings which can range from dazzlingly brilliant to downright ponderous. Nevertheless, even these detours into the abstract do not negatively affect the flow of the book, and they are minor criticisms when put into perspective. I highly recommend The Soccer War to anyone wishing to gain a better picture of some of the most intriguing events and places of our world.

Good read, but a bit self-indulgent
Kapuscinski is a Polish reporter who worked extensively in war zones in Africa and South America, and most of this book is about his experiences in Africa in the 1960's. Towards the end of the book he also writes about the war between Honduras and El Salvador (the "soccer war" of the title) which was sparked by soccer internationals between the two countries.

I first read this book quite a few years ago and I enjoyed it immensely at the time, and would have given it four stars then. Upon reading it a second time recently I found it less impressive, though still a good read. Kapuscinski evokes Africa well, and is very good at describing people, but I now felt that he was directing too much attention to his own experiences/emotions (and bravery?), instead of just describing situations. I also found the device whereby he keeps on referring to and writing about the book that he plans but never writes (if this does not make sense here, it also doesn't make much sense in the book itself) irritating and more than slightly pretentious, as if he wanted to make The Soccer Wars a more intelligent book than most written about war. This pretentiousness also shines forth in the very confusing last chapter of the book. But, having said this, The Soccer War, although not a masterpiece by any means, is still well worth reading, as it deals with a very interesting period in African history, a period that produced some fascinating political leaders.

Incoherent Mess
Sorry, but this book is a major disappointment. I have enjoyed a lot of Kapuscinski's writing, but this book really misses the mark. Some of Kapuscinski's trade mark incredibly perceptive observations shine out here and there, but what is the coordinating thesis??? What are the salient conclusions Kapuscinksi makes after viewing so much revolution? We never get any clear eludication of the above, the book reads like a diary and diaries are often incoherent messes. The book can be enjoyed on the level of a diary, but it would have been much much better had Kapuscinski put together a (few) coordinating thesis for the book, and allowed the book to flow in a way that supports his thesis. Also many of the topics that Kapuscinski touches really deserve their own entire books. ... Read more

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

Reviews (11)

Wilma Unlimited
Wilma Rudolph was never expected to live past her first birthday, but she did. That wouldn't be the only thing she would have to overcome in her challenging life. Wilma was always a sickly child growing up. Her brothers and sisters would get sick, but she would get it twice as bad. By the time Wilma was five, her family found out that she had polio. The doctors had her wear a special steel brace, and told her that she would never walk again. Growing up she would watch children playing basketball, and wished she could some day play as well. One day she decided she was going to learn to walk without her brace. So, she did just that. Her and her mother worked and worked at strengthening her leg. Finally she was able to play with the other children. She helped lead her high school basketball team to the state championship, in which they lost. She caught the eye of the Tennessee State track coach. He couldn't believe how fast she was. Wilma ended up being the first person in her family to attend and finish college. Later on, Wilma went on to win an astonishing three gold metals in the Summer Olympics of 1960. I found this book to be very rewarding. I think it would help kids that have a lot of tough challenges in life. It would also help inspire anyone that would happen to read it. I had always heard of Wilma Rudolph when I was growing up, but I never knew how inpirational her life really was, until now!

An inspiring story of the woman who surprised the world.
This is a wonderful true story of one woman's accomplishments. Wilma Rudolph was a bouncy child who ran everywhere as soon as she could walk. When she contracted polio and scarlet fever at the same time, the doctor said she would never walk again. But Wilma had a mother who rode the bus with her 50 miles each way twice a week, to the nearest hospital that would treat black patients. She had 21 brothers and sisters to help her exercise and practice until she could walk, first with a brace, then (finally) all on her own. Wilma had watched the other children play for years, and she wanted to play basketball as soon as she could. Wilma's long legs, strength, and determination helped her to lead her high school basketball team to the state championships, where she caught the attention of a track and field coach who offered her a college scholarship. In 1960, Wilma made the US Olympic track and field team. She wasn't expected to win any events, but it was an honor for her just to compete. And then Wilma amazed everyone. She won her first gold medal when she flew past everyone in the 100 meter race -- and then won another in the 200 -- and then she won another gold when she anchored the 4 by 100 meter relay. Wilma Rudolph did what no one else had done before, and she earned the richly deserved title of fastest woman in the world. Her story is proof that strength can overcome almost any disadvantages

Running just as fast as she can
Inspirational stories fill hundreds of picture books every year. Most are simply awful. They either tell tales that are loose plots barely supported by facts or they paste together a slapdash concoction of truth and fiction with as little thought as possible. The truly beautiful bio-picture books out there are as rare as hummingbirds in autumn. So it was with great joy that I located "Wilma Unlimited" and found it to be not only inspirational but also a darned good read. Written by Kathleen Krull (the woman who could make long dead musicians fascinating in "Lives of the Musicians" and bring Cesar Chavez to life in the recent "Harvesting Hope") and illustrated by David Diaz the book is the best possible way to introduce kids to one of the world's greatest athletes.

Born in 1940 to a family of twenty-one people (nineteen siblings, no less), Wilma Rudolph was initially a sickly child. Though she was energetic enough, she often caught every disease imaginable. At the age of five, Wilma's left leg twisted inward and it was clear that she'd come down with polio. Still, Wilma was a determined child and she consistently exercised her unruly leg to get stronger. After continual practice, she was finally able to walk free of the leg brace that had weighed her down. At twelve the brace was put away for good and Wilma started participating in sports. She led her high school basketball team to the finals, catching the eye of a college coach. Before you knew it, Wilma was recruited into the Tennessee State University's track-and-field team on a full ride scholarship. In 1960 she competed in the Olympic Games in Rome. The book sets this part up beautifully. Wilma arrived with a twisted ankle into a place filled with television cameras (the first time they ever filmed the Olympics), the place "shimmering heat", and her competition consisting of runners who had run faster races than she ever had. Then Wilma proceeds to win one... two... three gold medals! The last medal is especially dramatic, hinging on the moment when Wilma drops her baton and STILL beats the other runners in the 400-meter relay. The last double page spread in this book shows Wilma standing, "tall and still, like a queen", earning the last of her three medals. It's a truly proud moment for all who have the privilege to experience it once again in picture book form.

Krull has a way with words. I'm not saying that Wilma Rudolph's life is dull. Far from it. But in the hands of a lesser author this story could easily have been bogged down in all the wrong moments. This author knows which moments should be given full glory. The moment when Wilma removes her brace and walks proudly into church will banish from your mind that similar pseudo-inspirational moment in "Forrest Gump". Wilma's struggle at the Olympics through pain and skepticism puts the reader through the same strains. You yearn for this woman to beat them and beat 'em she does. Then, best of all, come the illustrations of David Diaz. This is my first Diaz experience, though I suspect that I'll read many more of his books as the days go on. Diaz has accompanied his illustrations in this tale with sepia toned photographs. The book's endpapers display the outlines of footprints in the dirt. The title page is an evocative view of ivy climbing a raw wooden fence. Behind his colorful illustrations, each background photograph refers to the corresponding scene obliquely. When Wilma and her mother take the bus to the hospital, the photograph is a close-up of a wheel. When she packs away her leg brace, it's shredded packing paper. A great relief it is indeed that the colored illustrations are worthy of their sepia compatriots. Though these pictures may appear blunt at first, they are filled with the most delicate of designs. I loved watching the character of Wilma as she aged. As she grows in confidence, her posture improves and back stiffens until, by the last shot, she is standing taller than all the women around her. Than all the women in the world.

"Wilma Unlimited" should be known to everyone living in American today. This is inspirational without being either annoying or faux-patriotic. It's an actual honest-to-goodness amazing story. The book is beautiful and its story is worthy of its packaging. I challenge you to read it and not shake your head at least once in amazement. It's just that good.

such a fantastic book!
i am a reading specialist in Washington, DC and chose this book b/c i love David Diaz and because, like wilma, my children have many obstacles in their lives. i simply can not finish this book without nearly crying in front of my class. i've read it so many times, but the suspenseful writing and triumphant ending never get tiring. it is a truly wonderful story and wonderfully told and illustrated by this duo.

An inspirational story
This is a biography about Wilma Rudolph. Wilma was not expected to live past the age of five. Wilma was always sick growing up. Her brothers and sisters would get sick, but she would get it twice as bad. By the time Wilma was five, her family found out that she had polio. The doctors had her wear a special steel brace, and told her that she would never walk again. Growing up she would watch children playing basketball, and wished she could some day play as well. One day Wilma was determined to walk without her brace and she walked into church with everyone watching her. Finally she was able to play with the other children. She helped lead her high school basketball team to the state championship, in which they lost. She caught the eye of the Tennessee State track coach. Later on, Wilma went on to win three gold metals in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
I really enjoyed this book because of the inspiration in the story. I think that a child reading this book would get a lot out of it. The illustrations for this book are very unique and beautiful. They flow very well with the story and really help to bring the emotion out in the book.
This is a perfect example of a book where the author is telling the reader that they can do anything they out their minds to. It is a book that I am sure will inspire many children and help them to believe in themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

Now with a new afterword, The Girls of Summer, by the award- winning New York Times sportswriter Jere Longman, takes a serious, compelling look at the women who won the 1999 World Cup and brings to life the skills and victories of the American team. Longman explores the issues this unprecedented achievement has raised: the importance of the players as role models; the significance of race and class; the sexualization of the team members; and the differences between men and women's sports. Provocative and insightful, this book reminds us that the real struggles are off the field -- and some remain to be won.

Reviews (17)

Thank you, Jere Longman for this wonderful book....
Have you ever read a book and dreaded coming to the end? You can't stop reading it, but you try and pace yourself because you don't want it to ever stop. Well, obviously, I feel this way about The Girls of Summer, by Jere Longman. I was at the 1999 Women's World Cup Final, and reading this book brought back all the memories of that day: the sweltering heat, the anxiety, and the pure joy. Longman describes every important play in wonderful slow motion, and poetic imagery. The player profiles are seamless and beautifully intertwined throughout the book. It might seem as though I am bias towards Longman's effort, but being a huge US Team supporter, wouldn't I have higher expectations than the normal, everyday reader? I wish everyone could read The Girls of Summer.

To make a long story short, The Girls of Summer is a triumphant first effort by Jere Longman. The player profiles, history, and raw emotion in these 300 plus pages is a marvel. Thank you, Mr. Longman!

Girls of the Century
Jere Longman's, The Girls of Summer, is by far one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I am a huge Womens National Team fan. I am always in search for a great book, depicting the life and success's of the entire team. He coherses through the professional and personal lives of the women that grabbed the hearts of the United States. Their success is revealed in this wonderful book.

I persoanally, could not put this book down when I purchased it. I finished it in two days, it was just so up-lifting. It's a great motivational book. You always wish you were there to experience the moments that the team lived through. From country to country, trial to trial, this team is very special. If someone would like to know the US history of womens soccer, this is a perfect buy. I could picture myself there, it was detailed and deeply moving. I really enjoyed reading on the players whom fought so hard to gain respect and recognition.

I'm sure, if we saw the final game against China in 1999, we can all say where we were, and how we reacted. For many of us, such as I, we cried for joy. That game was the turning point in womens sports. And Longman made me remember once again what it was like to watch that game, and see the 90,000+ fans going wild after Brandy Chastain scored the final PK. It is a fantastic book for any soccer fan, man or woman. It is a book to read if you feel you need to be inspired. It's worth the buy.

superb soccer
I loved this book. It told about the history of what made the team and womens soccer so good and fun. If you love soccer and history, you will love this book.

Best book I've read in a long time
This was an awesome book and the best I've read in a longtime. Everyone should read this regardless of if they play soccer or not.

great and insperational
I thought that this was a great book. I enjoyed reading it because my favorite female athletes were the subjects in this book. This book shows the stroggle that athletes go through and the publicity that is always there no matter what.

This was probably the best book that i ever read because i play soccer and i like to seee wha goes around on the proffesional level. The us womens soccer team has gone trough their ups and downs and this book went through it step by step. I felt as though i know what they were going through because it was so real.

Mia Hamm is right now the best womens soccer play in the world. She is well know in any ste and country. She has been on adds and verious things to promote the womens soccer team. Others team mates have done the same but none to the level of Mia Hamm. This book shows what she has been through and her own personal struggle to make it as a proffesional athlete.

Now that i have read this book i have even more respect for the womens national soccer team and all proffesional athletes because i am aware of what they have gone through. I have been able to read about my favorite female athletes and know about their past. I recomend this book to anyone who is a female athlete or loves the game of soccer. It's not just for girls it is great for men to learn about proffesiional athletes.

alex rothemich ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the world watched Brandi Chastain set up for her penalty kick, Michelle Akers lay on a training table beneath the Rose Bowl recovering from her efforts in the Women's World Cup final. She had been given two liters of fluid intravenously but was still woozy and it didn't register, at first, that Chastain had scored and the U.S. team had won. At her insistence, the doctor removed her IVs and she staggered out onto the field to join the celebration. As she stood in the center of the field, the capacity crowd began chanting "Aaa-kers! Aaa-kers! Aaa-kers!"

U.S. Women's Team coach Tony DiCicco calls Akers "the best women who's ever played the game." Her fellow 1999 Women's World Cup champions describe her as "a true warrior" and "the heart and soul of this team." In The Game and the Glory, Akers tells the story of her life both on and off the field, and the faith and determination that keep her going--despite a troubled home life, countless injuries, and her battle against CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). Akers's candor is refreshing; she doesn't paint herself as an angel or take a holier-than-thou attitude. Her Christian faith, simply put, is what allows her to succeed. An inspirational book. --Sunny Delaney ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Best Book EVER!!!
I play select and I alway enjoy reading books on awsome soccer players. When my friend told me about this book I jumped at the oppertunity to read yet another soccer book. I read it and couldnt put it down. As a Catholic I diffently could relate and found it pretty cool we share the same faith.
It was a very good and inspiring book! IM GONNA BE THE NEXT MICHELLE AKERS SO WATCH OUT AMERICA CUZ HERE I COME!!!

A True Inspiration
Michelle Akers writes a truly inspirational story. As you read The Game and the Glory you feel as if you know Michelle personally. The book is easy to relate to because she tells her story on such a personal level. We see Michelle grow through her relationships, her spirituality, her CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome), and of course soccer.
Michelle is honest about the carefree wonders of childhood. She tells about two of her childhood dreams: One of being the next Mean Joe Green of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the other dream of being an Olympian. Although, for Michelle, childhood is not always carefree dreams. When she is only in the sixth grade, she struggles to understand the reason behind her parents' divorce. Ironically, even Michelle herself cannot believe when she goes through her own divorce. Michelle, with the guidance of a few friends and through her struggles, finds a relationship that will help her cope with all of her problems.
As a child Michelle always found mass to be boring and going to church on Sunday was never something to look forward to. It is not until Michelle is in high school, with the guidance of a teacher, that she truly finds a relationship with God. However, she gets distracted from this newfound relationship quite soon. After her divorce, Michelle realizes that there is something missing from her life: God. She turns to God at this point in her life, and this time she holds on to what she has found. Michelle promotes her Christianity in a way that no one else has ever done. She founds an organization called the Soccer Outreach International. An organization to promote Christianity in sports especially soccer. Michelle did not only turn to God for answers about relationships and soccer, but also about her CFIDS.
Not long after her World Cup experience in 1991, Michelle begins to suffer from CFIDS. However, Michelle is not diagnosed with CFIDS until 1994. From 1991 to 1994 she did not know exactly what was causing her to feel always fatigued and never well. Michelle has done what no other athlete that competes at the level she competes at has done. She played while suffering with CFIDS. This truly shows her unstoppable compassion for the game.
Michelle played many sports as a child, but soccer was her first true love. When she was only nine years old she attended a soccer camp. During the soccer camp she competed in a juggling contest to see who could juggle for the longest. Michelle stayed out at the field juggling for hours without once loosing control of her ball. The camp director stayed and counted her 5,392 touches, which shattered the previous record set by boy who went on to play collegiate soccer at Duke. This is only one of the amazing stories about Michelle and soccer. Through soccer Michelle has traveled to many countries around the world and established lifelong friendships. She is an original member of the first United States Women's National Soccer Team of 1985. With the National Team she has won many individual awards and is a 1991 World Cup Champion, a 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist, and 1999 World Cup Champion. Michelle admits that God has carried her through it all and without Him she would have never accomplished everything that she has.
It is amazing to think of how great a person she is and how truly human she is. Michelle has accomplished so much for women's soccer. She opened up a new door for girls around the U.S. by using her position as the best women's soccer player to promote the sport. She is one of the reasons that women's soccer become an official Olympic sport. Michelle is a role model to many not only as a world class soccer player but also through her display of Christianity in her every action. In reading her story I have learned that sometimes you just have to "show up" and let God take care of the rest.

Michelle is awesome, and her faith is unsurpassed
I know I would love this book even if the writing sucked, which it doesn't...it's beatiful. Still, I'm bias. Michelle has been my role model as a soccer player for years, and I've always her respected her deep faith in Jesus Christ. I'm Catholic. I think Michelle's faith is wonderful, after all she has been through. And the fact that she is grateful for her suffering makes her, in my eyes, a true follower of Jesus.

You will enjoy the thoughts of this excellent (tough as nails) soccer player, and Christian who inspires many others who share her faith. Go USA!

PS. Since this book was written, Michelle has retired.

And I'm not even a soccer fan!
This is a great book for a young girl because it feels like Michelle is talking to you. I felt like I was her best friend, because I could relate to her family situation, and like her, I'm a tomboy. I don't care for soccer, but now I have a giant Michelle Akers poster hanging in my room, and I feel like I know her well even though I've never seen her play. I recommend this to any girl, ages 8-15.

Excellent! From tears to cheers, this book has it all.
The Game and the Glory is an outstanding book. The life of Michelle Akers is an incredible story of courage and faith. This autobiography shares intimate details of Michelle's life which allow you to feel the passion, the pain, the glory, and the love this special person has shared with so many. It was a pleasure to read and very gripping, you'll have a hard time putting it down.

By reading this book you will clearly understand what makes an athlete - WORLD CLASS. You'll experience the training process, the playing field, the locker room, the awards ceremonies as well as the pain of CFIDS, multiple injuries, and some of her hard life experiences. There are many great players in the world but it takes something special to make it to the top. Michelle has that something and you'll be inspired when you experience her story first hand. She not only made it to the top but stayed!

I also listened to the tapes which are read by Michelle (mainly) and it was just like she was riding along in my truck, sharing her life with me. The passion alone took me from tears to cheers - I HIGHLY recommend you read this one! ... Read more

Book Description

When Brandi Chastain famously stripped off her jersey to celebrate her World Cup-winning penalty kick, the gesture represented not only the essence of athletic triumph but the joy of a competitor who knows how to play hard and still have fun. Now, in It's Not About the Bra, Chastain steps out from behind her iconic image to deliver an important wake-up call to competitive youth sports, which has gone increasingly out of control.

Drawing on anecdotes from her own storied career as well as those of her coaches and celebrated teammates (Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, and others), Chastain tackles the thorny issues of sportsmanship, gamesmanship, and parental involvement gone too far. She teaches young athletes how to develop leadership skills, find (and become) role models, and give something back to their team and community. Her timely message is about rediscovering our respect for the game, for teammates and adversaries, for coaches and refs, and, especially, for the players themselves, because without these values "the game breaks down and the joys of competition are lost."

From her struggle to rebound from consecutive knee surgeries to excruciating losses in NCAA, World Cup, and Olympic competition to her recent battle to make the team she loves, Chastain discloses both the good and bad ways she's personally dealt with adversity and reminds us what it truly means to be a "class act" on and off the field.

Whether it's Little League baseball, Pop Warner football, or, especially, top-flight youth soccer, Chastain offers a blueprint for kids and parents alike on how to play fair, win (and lose) with grace, and, above all, how to have a good time doing it. It's Not About the Bra is a mandatory addition to the shelf of a competitive athlete—or anyone who coaches or loves them.

Reviews (1)

Mia Hamm : Striking Superstar (soccer's new wave)
This book was so great! It helped me to better understand soccer. I learned a lot of neat stuff in reading this book. Mia tells about playing striker, and gives tips for beginers. She explains how she came to be a super striker as well.If you are a person who wants to improve your game, a new one to the sport, or just a Mia Hamm fan you will truely love this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Hand of God is the definitive biography of one of the greatest players in the history of world soccer, a man who at one time was arguably the most brilliant and most controversial figure in all of sport: Argentina's Diego Maradona. This extraordinary story moves from the slums of Buenos Aires, where Maradona was born in 1960, to the packed stadiums of the United States, where he was ignobly expelled in 1994 after failing a drug test. In his rise to fame - and notoriety - Maradona played for some of the world's greatest teams, leading Argentina to their second World Cup championship in 1986, and captaining Napoli to two Italian League titles. But the pressures of stardom led to a cocaine addiction that caused the charismatic and stormy footballer to womanize, associate with organized crime, and become a pawn in Argentinean political gamesmanship. This revealing examination of a complex sporting genius offers unique insight into a sordid world of exploitation, corruption, and intrigue. (6 x 9, 260 pages,b&w photos) ... Read more

Reviews (33)

He is the best soccer player the world has ever seen
Maradona is the best there ever was, in his prime years, he was literally unstoppable. Those who say Pele was better are very wrong. Pele was a great player, no doubt, but those were different times, soccer was much easier back then, it wasnt as complicated as it was on Maradona's years, Pele just got the ball and scored, Maradona did much more than that, he was/is a genious on the field, setting up plays and finishing them as well. And to the English who still hate him for beating England on the 86 world cup thanks to the "hand of God", I think you're very jealous because England has never and will never have a player like Maradona..England, Argentina will always be your daddy- some argentinian guy.

Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona
This is one of the best sports books I have ever read. It gives a detailed look at the worlds greatest ever player from his youth days, to the times where drugs and nightclubbing ruined his life. I found the parts about his time at Boca, and the transfer to Spain very good. Jimmy Burns is a fantastic author and I have read the book he wrote on Barcelona FC, simply entitled Barca. Both are in depth books but learning so much about Maradona was superb. By far and away the best sporting biography I have ever had the hounor to read.

Good book, a little hard on Maradona
I really enjoyed this book, it was very insightful in a historical sense as to Maradona's life. I felt it was a little too hard on Maradona. While I don't doubt the excess and lunacy that surrounded Maradona, I feel that he was an unfortunate guniea pig for what global soccer has become. I only wish that more could have been said about Maradona's fantastic play and his human side. Good book overall but temper it with one that paints Maradona in a better light.

Er, David Luis...
David Luis, is there a Fox News in Argentina? Pele most certainly played in the 1970 World Cup final. He scored the game's first goal on a dazzling header and later closed out the match by assisting to Carlos Alberto. That's two goals out of Brazil's four, and highlights of those goals are replayed endlessly on television in any football-loving country.
As for the book, it's not pretty to learn what Maradona became. Nor is it possible, perhaps, to redeem him in print when his glory on the field needs viewing, not reporting. (See, David Luis, most people are not afraid to watch a player's highlights. Go ahead, look at those Brazil goals. I saw Maradona's pass to Burruchaga. You can do it.) Still, you have to say that this is a story that must be told, and maybe at an even greater length. Athletes have this way of illuminating their fans' dreams while remaining themselves an object of either other people's machinations or their own hubris. Certainly the latter happened in the case of this player, and people ought to know what ended his career. It's a very important story in sporting history, and you might as well get it in this book.

Judge skill
Maradona, without any doubt, was the most talented player to ever walk the face of the earth. Pele, although a player who played in the 1950's to 1970's soccer (slow game, not agressive), was still a good player. Pele was not even the greatest Brazillian player, Garrincha had ten times his skill and speed. In the final for 1970 world cup, the "king" of soccer did not play, oh no! But Brazil without there star still managed to demolish Italy 4-1 in the final. Pele looked so good because he was surrounded by stars. Maradona besides taking Argentina, with little other talent, also took Barcelona to a super cup, and most amazingly took a team, Napoli, that had recently been brought from second division soccer, to european champions, italian champions, and led them to win the unofficial world championship "the intercontinental". Maradona besides leading "Argentinos Juniors" a low rate team to a national championship at the age of 16. also led the Under 23 NAtional team to a world championship. Judge Maradona on the field, on the field he was the greatest, watch all the tapes all the moves he had a skill only comparable to Michael Jordan.
Pele MAY be King, But Maradona IS GOD ... Read more

Book Description

Beyond Winning: Memoir of a Women's Soccer Coach profiles the birth of a small-college program in women's soccer. It also explores the rewards and tensions of the program's first season while commenting on important issues in small-college sports and especially women's sports. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Unfocused and unmoving
Dr. Hanna seems to be an interesting and amusing man. It seems he did a good job coaching his team. The memoir has some charm, and is presented with an air of rueful humor. It touches on a broad variety of topics, including (but certainly not limited to) the proper role of a coach and athletics in an academic environment, tension between men's and women's athletic programs, the dynamics of a team with a broad range of talent and experience, some details of the games played in their season, and a lot of light-hearted conversation among intelligent people.

Ultimately, however, it is an unsatisfying read. The author is a professor of English, so I had expected some provocative insights; however, none of the topics were covered in depth or with much creativity. I am left with no new insights into any of these provocative topics, and frankly the conversations and reflections aren't interesting enough to carry the book. This is particularly frustrating because I sensed an excellent work lurking under this treatment. There is some tantalyzing discussion of team dynamics; we are presented with a strongly polarized team in the beginning of the season, and a clearly united team by the end, but given no insight into how the union was forged. Ultimately, a book entitled "Beyond Winning" has to be about people, and the most interesting people in the book -- his team -- are rarely named and for the most part ignored.

I felt as if the book seeks to be everything to everyone, and so fails to be anything to anyone. It's not clear to me who would enjoy this book. Prospective soccer coaches will learn nothing about soccer. Sports fans will learn nothing about athletics. It's not funny enough to read for humor, not charming enough to read for joy, and most damning, no one will learn much about human nature.

Indeed a good read.
Let me quote an early assessment by the author himself. It is classic. To wit: "This book deals with an unknown author writing about a little-known college having a losing season in a minor sport played by women." I need add only that it is, indeed, a good read.

from a student's POV
Being a student of Dr. Hanna at Geneva College, I can say that he truly puts himself out onto the pages of this work. I am in a class which discusses the book, and Hanna is the same person in the classroom as anywhere else. Always ready to show something new, and smile the whole way through it. Beyond Winning tells a true account of a baseball coach and English professor who gets a job as a women's soccer coach in a small school and has a losing season. What exactly would make anyone want to read that? That question is exactly what made me pick the course and begin reading Hanna's work. See for yourself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

wonderful
read the first page and you're hooked-a wonderful time. ... Read more

Book Description

Alive & Kicking is the autobiography of one of the best place kickers in NFL history. Drafted by the LA Raiders in 1977, the 334th player out of 335, Rolf was a twenty-two-year-old rookie from UC Davis - a Division II school. Soon traded to his home team, the San Diego Chargers, Rolf was in the unenviable position of being a rookie on the last-placed team in the NFL. That first season with the Chargers, Rolf broke the team record kicking twelve consecutive field goals.. September 1978, at a Monday Night Football cookout at the home of the Chargers' equipment manager, Rolf experienced his first pangs of the ulcerative colitis which would bring him near death. Assailed by severe cramps and a fever, believing he just had the flu, Rolf took the field the following Sunday against the Raiders. But when his symptoms persisted and tests were conducted, it was concluded that the young kicker was suffering from Crohn's disease.

As Rolf's fame as a kicker grew to the point where he had converted 34 of his last 38 kicks, his condition worsened. But with support from his coaching staff and the public, he continued to play. Finally, during a return flight to San Diego fresh from a loss to the New England Patriots, Rolf collapsed.

Rushed from the plane to the hospital, Rolf began the series of tests and treatments that led to the correct diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and to the four surgeries which saved his life. October 18, 1979. Two surgeries later, at 124 pounds, Rolf returned to Charger Stadium to the cheers of his teammates and a standing ovation by 52,000 Charger fans, to co-captain a game with Louie Kelcher. Uncertain of whether or not he could make it to mid-field for the coin toss, Rolf was reassured by Kelcher, "...if you can't make it, I'll carry you!" Kelcher didn't have to carry him, but he did hold Rolf's hand. September 7, 1980, less than a year after Rolf almost died from inflammatory bowel disease, the Chargers opened a new season in Seattle. Wearing two ostomy devices, Rolf joined them, returning to professional football. He went public with his disorder thus bringing about a greater understanding and acceptance of the disease with which he was afflicted. And he set the example for other ostomy patients, playing seven more seasons in the NFL and becoming one of the best and most respected kickers in NFL history.

Well known for his generosity of spirit, Rolf began the Kicks for Critters program to support the San Diego Zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, he has worked tirelessly for the United Way, and he is a great supporter of the annual San Diego Chargers Blood Drive begun originally in support of him. Marriage, the birth of his daughter, adoption of two brothers from Russia, and a successful business career followed Rolf's years with the NFL. He created the Great Comebacks program which each year honors a person who has faced down inflamatory bowel disease and gone on to make a difference. And finally, he has written this book.

Alive & Kicking is a story of faith, courage, family, friends, determination, and survival. Originally written by Rolf to encourage others with inflamatory bowel disease, it is also an inspirational story for anyone who has ever faced or who is facing the vissicitudes of life. In plain yet eloquent language, Mike Yorkey and Rolf Benirschke use Rolf's story to inspire each of us to perservere, to overcome, to succeed. And to take the lessons we learn during the process to make the most of the life with which we are gifted. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Inspiring Book
As a young woman with an ostomy, I was very inspired by the personal account in this book. Rolf showed me that I could go on with my life and go back to a normal exercise pattern. The personal photographs that he shares helped me explain what happened to me to my children. I would recommend this book for anyone who is having a hard time coping with their ostomy. It turned my whole point of view around!

What a Guy - what a book!
In this inspirational story, the former placekicker for the San Diego Chargers tells of his own journey with IBD and subsequent surgery. His bravery and humanity come through crystal clear although its obvious Rolf is simply trying to help others via his experience and not blow his own horn. Nevertheless, no reader can help but admire the perserverance, both personal and professional, of this fine human being.

Pro Football Player with IBD
This book is an autobiographical account of a former NFL football player who battled IBD and has become a source of inspiration for many. I recommend this book for teens and young adults especially, because it shows that someone can have IBD and still accomplish whatever goals they set for themselves ... Read more