5 comments about Myron Cope: Double Yoi!.

1. Double Yoi is the one of the best books that I have ever read. It is truely an entertaining read. It is a well written biographical look at Myron Cope's career in journalism and broadcasting as well as a combination of some of his favorite anecdotes. Any one who loves Myron Cope should read this book as well as those who hate him. I think that they will find a new appreciation for the Pittsburgh Icon. Cope also threw in some criticisms of things and people he doesn't really care for but he does this in a classy way. I am a huge Steeler fan but I don't think that one needs to be to enjoy this book.
   Great Job Myron!!



2. To grow up in Pittsburgh during the 1970s a Steeler fan is to grow up loving Myron Cope and this book is a great example of why we love Myron. It is Cope at his most honest and revealing. He does not portray himself as something he is not, but as a flawed man who has worked hard and lived a great life. Of course there are the terrific tales of the Steelers' teams that Cope has covered from the broadcast booth and the characters that have populated them. Any Steelers fan will enjoy this book.



3. Myron is unquestionably the king of Pgh. Reading this book brought back a ton of fond memories from when I lived in the 'Burg. I highly recommend to anyone who has Pgh ties or is at all familiar with Myron.



4. The book was good. Cope takes you through the golden years of the Steelers and gives you a behind the scene look at the players, coaches, and the Rooneys. He's got some great stories as well and his honesty is clearly evident throughout the book. This is a must read for any Steelers fan especially one who lived through the Super Bowls of the 70's.



5. Great job product arrived on time. The book we ordered was in great condition. I would definately order from you again

5 comments about Education of a Coach, The.

1. "The Education of a Coach" ranks towards the top of the genre I call "sports profiles," because writer David Halberstam chose to focus on football and coaching, rather than on Bill Belichick's personal life.
   
   This authorized biography contains the usual background that includes Belichick's childhood with special emphasis on his father, Steve, who was also a football coach. It was Steve who allowed his son, Bill, to help him break down game films for the Navy football team when the youngster was still in elementary school.
   
   From this early beginning Halberstam examines the younger Belichick's career and those mentors who influenced his thinking and strategies. While making this run through Belichick's career Halberstam breaks down the coach's strategy for a few big games. As a St. Louis Rams fan I enjoyed the dissection of Belichick's ideas for shutting down Marshall Faulk in the Super Bowl.
   
   The Education of a Coach does not allow the reader to see much of Belichick outside of his persona as a student of football. Though Halberstam writes in some depth about Navy coach, Steve and his family, there are very few sentences relating to the family of the Patriots' coach, leaving the reader to wonder if Coach Bill has any kind of life outside of football. (My guess is that this omission is at the insistence of the Patriots' coach.)
   
   If you enjoy football, you will probably like this book. If you enjoy the personal details that often provide filler for such profiles (such as this player likes to eat waffles and spaghetti every day of training camp and loves the smell of a dead skunk), you will likely be disappointed by Mr. Halberstam's efforts.
   
   "The Education of a Coach" does not put a human face on Bill Belichick, but it does relate some of his philosophies on what it takes to build a winning football team.



2. "The Education of a Coach" is not only about how Bill Belichick came to win three super bowls in four years, but the people that helped shape his career along the way, notably his father Steve. The book talks about Steve's years as a coach and how Bill was involved with football from an early age. The book also talks about Bill's involvement in football in school, his first job in football, his time with the Giants, his disastrous stint with Cleveland, and of course his current stint with the Patriots. The book also touches on his relationships, for better or worse, with football insiders including Bill Parcells, Ernie Adams, and Scott Pioli, among others.
   
   As the title suggests "The Education of a Coach" is more about Bill Belichick the coach than Bill Belichick the person. There are glimpses into what makes him tick - his quest for privacy, why he doesn't do well with the media, why he treats all his players as equals - that make him even more interesting. But much of his personal life - his marriage and later divorce, his children - are barely mentioned. But that fits the way Belichick is, a very private person. And what is at the heart of this book - Belichick's football life - is fascinating. Some readers may be disappointed that there's not more about his family, but once you've read the book you realize that football is Belichick's life.
   
   Because "The Education of a Coach" was written in 2005, there is, of course, no mention of "spygate". It's hard not to think about it while reading the book and it was interesting to read about Belichick's preoccupation with studying football film. It's something he started doing at a young age with his father and is, to me anyway, one of the most interesting aspects of his character.
   
   Love him or hate him, Bill Belichick is one of the most talented and complex coaches in football. "The Education of a Coach" is a good glimpse into what made him one of the best coaches in football today. Well done.



3. The book, admittedly, leaves a lot unsaid but then it is an unfinished story. After all the accusations,both accurtate and inaccurate,the book offers an insight into the man who has accomlished so much. Those who hate the team, hate the coach,love the man, and/or love the team should read this book to gain an understanding of Belichick and the pressures of being a successful head coach in the NFL. It's interesting to read of the people behind the man both in the past and today. Looking at the run the Patriots made in 2007 and the super bowl loss, one has a greater apprecciation of the accomplishments and failures of the man who created a true "team" after reading The Education of a Caoch.



4. I hate to pile on a fine author when the time has passed when he can redeem himself but I concur with all the negative reviews with one exception--I don't think the book's lack of appeal can be written off as due to the fact that Belichik is a boring oaf. He is that on the outside, but there's a lot more than that inside and the author just did not dig that out. The problem with the book is that there is minimal "inside" information - a little more detail about Tom Brady's development than maybe you know, and a good explanation of just how feared a player Marshall Faulk was, but that's about it. The title suggests that the subject matter is limited to the sort of background biographical stuff so maybe we should have seen this coming, but this is really little more than an expansion of the bio you might find on the Patriots website.



5. I've read several of his books (although this was my first sports book of his) and I highly enjoyed them. Maybe it's because the subject is just not a very interesting person, but this book is just terrible. He tells us material that contributes nothing; who cares about about his grandparents and his wife family? He also gushes about the subject and his family. Is everything really so great? It's as if he chose an average person at random and wrote a biography about him. The average person doesn't lead a particularly fascinating life and the resulting biography would be dull. Just because he is a success as a coach doesn't necessarily make him a good candidate for a biography.

2 comments about Ernie Davis : The Elmira Express, the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner.

1. This isn't the greatest book, but a very good and emotional read about a guy that a lot of people should strive to be. Hopefully the movie coming out next year will capture the true heart of Ernie Davis.



2. The Elmira Express (on which the movie, The Express, is based) may not be the most literary piece of work ever written, but it the real story of Ernie Davis' legacy. The movie may make for good "family viewing", but this book explains the TRUE story of just how brave, unselfish and caring this young man was, right up until his death. The book explains the indepth accounts of not only Ernie Davis' plight, but also of those who coached him, loved him, and experienced his untimely death. If you have a teen-ager, please try to get him (or her) to read this book. It may just change your child's view of the world. Well... OK...Just maybe.

2 comments about Bear: My Hard Life & Good Times As Alabama's Head Coach with CD.

1. Growing up in Tuscaloosa, and being around during the period Coach Bryant was coaching at Alabama, I can really appreciate this wonderful book. Over several years, the author spent hundreds of hours with Coach Bryant, and had the opportunity to record many hours of interviews with the Coach. These interviews cover his years of early childhood, his playing days at Alabama and his coaching stints at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M and of course, Coaching at Alabama.
   
   The book is written like Coach Bryant was dictating the whole book....you can just hear and see Coach Bryant telling the story as only he could tell a story. He talks freely and honestly about his early life growing up in Arkansas and his career as a Football Coach. He (Coach Bryant) talks about his misstates during his coaching career and his successes in coaching.
   
   This book and a book by Kirk McNair (editor of Bama Magazine) entitled: "What It Means To Be Crimson Tide" are two of the best books on Alabama football and its rich tradition. Both are a must have for any sports fan.
   
   
   Buy "Bear: My Hard Life & Good Times As Alabama's Head Coach" if you are a Alabama fan, a coach (of any sport), a businessman or if you just want to read a very good book about a true American Sports Hero.
   
   (The CD of Coach Bryant talking is worth the price of this book.)
   
   Great Trivia question from this book: What year did Coach Bryant first get a job offer to be the Head Coach at Alabama? (1957 or 1958 is wrong.) ......1946...page 107....this book is great!



2. This book is an excellent depiction of a man (not a god). Underwood masterfully relays events and conversations first hand and resists the temptation to sensationalize. This is not just a book for Alabama fans but for any football fan or someone who simply wants to know how to win. Winning, for Bryant was an art of knowing your opponent and motivating your team. Underwood doesn't shield for Bryant's shortcomings and displays them almost as if Bryant himself were there to say "This is what not to do". Great read

5 comments about Go Long!: My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame.

1. Excellent book, easy read. Very frank and honest dialogue produces a very refreshing look at the character and
   makeup of NFL great Jerry Rice. He possesses "old school" values, rare for todays athletes and his humble
   approach and its origins are clearly defined in his upbringing. Would highly recommend it for parents and players
   of any sport as well as non-players as it explores more than the world of athletics and promotes a great
   work ethic.
   
   K.F.



2. Not every football memoir/autbio will be like Jerry Kramer's DISTANT REPLAY or have a subject as complex as Jim Brown. It was painful to hear Rice read his book (Audio CD) because he's not a natural reader mor speaker, but one can appreciate the path he laid for future players to emulate. I think this book is more geared towards the non-fan as opposed to the historian, NFL fan or Jerry Rice fan. I do think Jerry could've improved his reading skills for the CD edition or have someone else read the book, but it's a good story. As long as the book served its purpose, I can't complain.
   
   - This review is for the Unabridged CD edition.



3. this was a great book, i rarly read but when i found out Jerry wrote a book I knew i'd have to have it. It was a very quick read, took me only 2 weeks to finish. It's also opened my eyes to the NFL and the way it works. One of the best books ive read



4. I enjoyed the book, but do not expect great writing or insights. This is one of those obligatory autobios that sports figures feel they have to write for their fans. I'd have liked to read more about Rice's growing up in MS. His coments on various fellow sprts stars was fun to reqd. ( He doesn't believe Barry Bonds either ). Quick read. Solid three stars.



5. A quick read. Nothing too heavy. I'm a huge Niners fan and it was good to hear Rice talk about his career. The drive he had while playing and training is inspiring.

No comments about Paul Brown: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Football's Most Innovative Coach.

5 comments about Manning.

1. This is an excellent book, written by Archie and Peyton Manning. It starts of with a really painful experience for Archie, and it goes through Archie's entire life and career, and it talks about the begining of Peyton's career and most of his childhood. I would recomend this book to anyone, and to everybody who loves the Manning family, like I do.



2. 
   Manning is an ideal read for any fan of football, and sets a high bar for other autobiographies by athletes to follow. Manning is about the lives and football careers of father Archie Manning and son Peyton Manning. Archie starts off the book describing his childhood in the quiet, peaceful, but hard life in the small town of Drew, Mississippi. Archie continues chronologically by talking about his career in high school for Drew, college for the University of Mississippi, and finally his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints.
   Peyton begins his segment at the end of Archie's by starting straight off with his high school career at Newman. Peyton describes his time in high school, playing with his brother Cooper, by saying "1991 was like no other." Peyton then follows in suit by talking about his time in college at Tennessee and about his continuing career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.
   While Manning can easily entertain any fan of football or fan of the Mannings, someone who is not interested in either should not spend their time reading this book. On the other hand, fans of football or the Mannings would love every page of this book. In my opinion, the beginning of this book is very slow because of Archie's lackluster life in Drew. Although, once Archie begins to talk more about high school, the book begins to pick up by a lot. So in conclusion, any fan of football or admirer of the work of these two great football players will find this book as a very good read.



3. PEYTON AND ARCHIE AND COOPER AND ELI. THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER! ARCHIE AND OLIVIA SHOWED HOW BEING GREAT PARENTS CAN BREED GREAT CHILDREN! THIS BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF FAITH , FAMILY ,FOOTBALL, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSEVERANCE AND PURSUIT OF EDUCATION. PEYTON MANNING SAID THIS BEST!



4. What a great insight to the lives of a close-knit family, who never let fame or fortune change who they are! Excellent book!



5. Excellent reading for anyone of all ages who's interested in football; especially the football family of "Mannings". This book gives us a very human side of the Manning family; their triumphs and tragedies become very real while reading this book; your heart will go out to them as just another family who's gone through so much and yet they have triumphed and given so much back to the communities in which they live. What an honorable family!

5 comments about Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life.

1. I've always dug Deion Sanders.To Me he has been the Most Complete Athlete of His Time.cuz He is a Good Baseball Player&A Great Football Player.but More Importantly The Brother is Very Honest with Himself&His Surroundings.he has come full circle&has Inner Peace.this is a Great Book.



2. Overall, I really enjoy Deion and I was looking forward to reading his autobiography, but I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. It wasn't as 'thorough' as I thought - and his cockiness and self-centeredness really showed. I still enjoy him, and I wish him the best on his journey with Jesus.. I just pray that he's sincere.



3. Let me start off by saying I like Deion Sanders, otherwise I never would have purchased his book. And I admire the fact that the man has come a LONG way and overcome many obstacles to accept Christ into his life.
   However, I do have a major complaint - well, two to be totally honest.
   One, Deion seems to blame all his past problems on others. Even though Deion admits he was hell on wheels and self destructive for a time, he still doesn't take responsibility for many of his actions in this book. The time in Cincinnati, when he played for the Reds, when he got into an altercation with a security guard while he was riding around in a golf cart. Everyone knows Deion made that situation worse than it ever could have been, but in Deion's retelling of the story, the security guard provoked him. There are several more stories like this one, where Deion was involved in something that escalated because the other party in the dispute was out to "get him". I'm not going to say that everything that has happened to Deion is his fault, but let's be real - a lot of it is. I'm surprised, as a christian, that Deion hasn't stepped up to the plate and taken a little more responsibility for his past actions. I'm not judging Deion, but I must admit my disappointment.
   The other problem I had with the book, and this is most likely not Deion's fault but rather the authors, is that his "escapades" are glamourized, instead of downplayed. I've read several biographies written by famous people - athletes, politicians, actors, etc - and they all are guilty of this. I understand the risk you take as a writer, explaining the past deed and attempting to unfold what happened, but doing so in a manor that is interesting to the reader. When this happens, it's every easy to glamourize the story, instead of exposing it for the bad thing that it was.
   Overall, an entertaining read, albeit somewhat short to my surprise.



4. I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE QUITE INTERESTING AND WRITTEN WITH HONESTY. DEION HAS ALWAYS BEEN FLASHY AND FLAMBOYANT. HE PRESENTED HIMSELF AS BEING THIS WAY ALL THE TIME. HIS "PRIME TIME" PERSONALITY IS NOT WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A MODEL CITIZEN ON HOW TO PRESENT YOURSELF. HE SAYS UNDERNEATH HE IS A CHRISTIAN AND HUMBLE, I HOPE HE IS. I HAD HOPED HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE DETAIL TO HIS CAREER. THIS IS WORTH READING AND ENJOYABLE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DEION AND PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER BOOK WITH MORE DETAIL AND INSIGHT INTO HOW TO LIVE LIFE.



5. I was wandering around a Gold Beach, Oregon book store last week and just happened to pick up Deion Sanders' book. I vaguely knew who he was. For some strange reason, I purchased it. Although, riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, I found his message very compelling. I am just new to the world of Jesus and have had many folks in my life talk to me about living a Christian life, but I have to say that Deion's book really TALKED to me about this issue. More than anyone else. He just broke it down in plain terms and related his story in a way that spoke to me loud and clear. Thanks Deion.

5 comments about Touchdown Alexander: My Story of Faith, Football, and Pursuing the Dream.

1. I am not a Seattle Seahawks fan. I am not a big NFL fan. I am not an Alabama fan. But I am a huge Shaun Alexander fan. Records are special because only person has accomplished it. That is what makes many athletes special, but a year after Alexander broke the record L.T. broke his record. So the TD record is not so special for Shaun, but in his book he talked about his life. His life is pretty speical. Never been drunk, never smoked, and he waited until he was married to have sex. WOW! I wish I could have given my wife my virginity for her wedding gift. Shaun Alexander is a great role model. Not because he played for Alabama.Not because he had the TD record. Not because he played in the Super Bowl, but because he is a child of the most high King. God Almight. The great I am. Not too many people let alone athletes can truly say they live their life everyday to give God Glory. I'm not putting Shaun on a pedestal, I'm putting the God that lives in him on a pedestal. I want to be like Jesus, and I enjoyed reading about a professional athlete who wants the same.
   
   www.williespears.com



2. We seem to be constantly bombarded by the media reporting assaults, rapes, even shootings by athletes. To be able to read a book about the wonderful God-filled life of one of the most honored football players was a most pleasant delight. Shaun Alexander, through his high school, college, and professional career has not only been an inspiration to his family, friends and fans, but also his teammates and even his on-the-field opponents. On the personal side, my son is the chaplain for the Auckland, New Zealand, rugby team. He holds Bible classes weekly, which half the team attends. I have supplied him with several copies of Alexander's book, as these professional rugby players are always curious to hear about U.S. football players. What a great example to let them read about the exemplary life of Shaun Alexander.



3. This is a great gift for any Seahawks fan. My husband got it for Christmas and it was highly appreciated. It's also a good book for those interested in Sports + Faith, a commonly debated issue lately.



4. This is a great book for a teenager to read. It tells about the attitudes and actions a young person should exhibit if they want to live a pure, fulfilling life.



5. An entertaining, easy to read account of a young man who put God first from an early age. He truly is a blessed man and gives encouragement and insight into what really matters, even with all that this world has given him.
   
   Good idea for Father's day ladies!!!

5 comments about Brian Piccolo: A Short Season.

1. jan/10/01 I am also an athlete who has suffered many career threating injuries. Unlike Brian Piccalo i do not have a terminal disease. I can understand his determination of never wanting to quit playing the game no matter how bad he felt or how bad the news was. This goes to show one how great mind over matter really is. This book also reflects how important frienship and family really are, who will stand by you when the chips all come falling down.

   I recommend this book to any athlete who suffers an injury or illness that causes one to be removed from the game. One cannot ever forget where they came from , how many lives they have touched, and who you can rely on .. Death plays a big issue in this book although it is depressing you know with cancer it is coming Brian piccalo also shares his love of the game and his friends and family.

   I am too young to remember Brian Piccalo he died before i was born, he wasn't an outstanding player, no super bowl hero, just an average good athlete like me.

   In books like these his memory doesn't die, but his life will be remembered in books.




2. Brian Piccolo: A Short Season was marvelously written by Brian's close friend, Jeannie Morris. This book gives the readers a detailed view into his existence while still being discrete enough for the Piccolo family to remain happy with the biography/autobiography. Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo lived to be only 26 years of age, dying on June 16, 1970, from liver cancer. While his stay on this Earth was a brief and trying one, Piccolo made it count every single day. His story is of highs and lows, heroics and disappointments, comedy and despair, and, ultimately, tragedy. However, Piccolo lived his life ideally, paying tributes to various foundations while enjoying and loving life to the fullest. The book includes the entirety of this great man's life, from his young baseball-playing childhood to his record-setting career at Wake Forest College to his last days as a father, husband, and Chicago Bear. Piccolo was a spirit-lifting person among those he spent time with, before and after he was diagnosed with the fatal cancerous disease. His charm and wit grabbed his fellow players, his coaches, and, most importantly, the general public. While `Pic' started only a handful of games for the Bears, he rarely if ever complained despite a burning desire to play the game he loved so dearly. Piccolo was a favorite among Chicago Bears fans, and although he backed up the legendary Gale Sayers, his team-first attitude and love for the game kept him afloat until that day when the prospect of a lifetime would arise and give him the opportunity to start. Even on his deathbed, Piccolo never gave up his hope for a miraculous recovery and return to the football field. After all, Brian Piccolo's heart was never the question; it was his liver which was diagnosed with cancer. Former Bears-teammate and close friend Johnny Morris summed up Pic's life in the foreword, remarking "Brian Piccolo made it to the top at 26."



3. This book was great, althouhg Brian had a short seson he did much with his life and the story of his firendship with Gal Sayers was great. I loved the movie, Brians song, the book, I am Third, and this book, A short Seson. Every1 should buy this book. i find his life very important on reading about.



4. This book enables the reader to empathize for Brian. He was a pro football player who battled with cancer at a time when there wasn't a lot known about cancer. Even if you don't like football you can appreciate the book for what it is. It is good for lots of ages as well. The book is good about explaining what was known about cancer at the time. It includes medical analysis of his hospital visits as well as interactions with his family and teammates.



5. This book is the basis for the fantastic movie 'Brian's Song', about Brian Piccolo and his battle with cancer and his friendship with Gale Sayers. Jeannie Morris was the wife of Johnny Morris, a teammate of Brian Piccolo's. She does a splendid job of balancing the football aspect, with the friendship part, with the cancer battle.
   This is the story of love, of enduring, of battling. Morris tells it all in heart-warming and heart-breaking detail.
   I have never met anyone who was able to watch 'Brian's Song' without crying and this book has the same effect.