1 comments about Brett Favre.

1. My friend and I really admire Brett and the entire Packers team. Being from Washington, we were thrilled to see Mike Holmgren come to the Seahawks. However, Brett is still the best QB in the NFL and this book offers a personal look at different aspects of Favre. It is our dream to one day meet Brett.

3 comments about An Odd Steelers Journey.

1. Andy Russell's journey has been a personal expedition which has lead to a huge life outside of football, but I think readers should also appreciate Andy Russell's journey as a Steeler, and how his environment as a player changed throughout his career. He arrived in Pittsburgh fresh from college, where he had been a star on a National Championship team to a 'backwater' of the NFL, where rookies were given no regard at all. The Steelers were the acknowledged 'dead-end kids', translated into "if you don't shape up we're trading you to the Steelers." The pay was poor, the equipment was used, and rookies had to pick up the rocks off the field so the team could practice. And the Steelers couldn't figure where to play their games, Forbes Field, home of the Pirates, or Pitt Stadium, home of the Univ. of Pittsburg (they used both).

   He made the team as a rookie linebacker and started in a season ending game against the NY Giants that put the Steelers where they had never been before--one game away from the NFL Championship. The Giants won. Then Andy rode the Steeler bus on an agonizing downhill journey lasting several years, sticking with it and suffering the indignities of playing on a team going nowhere. No bitching, no requests for a trade. He was tough enough to stay the course and to be there to help build the great championship teams of the 70's. This took the better part of two decades. All that needs to be said is that Andy Russell was the captain of those fabled Steeler teams of the 70's. Teams that rewrote the NFL Hall of Fame and featured people like Jack Ham, Joe Green, Ray Mansfield, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Mel Blount and others. Andy was their captain. That's enough for me.




2. Andy Russell gives us a real insight into the NFL and what it takes to be successful and a winner at the highest level of competition. He does this with humour and with stories that illustrate football`s complexity. It is a great read and a must for any fan of the game. You don`t have to be a Steeler fan to enjoy these stories as they give you a rare look into what happens of and off he field.

   Jim Card




3. This book, while containing stories and episodes of Andy Russell's career as a Pittsburgh Steeler, has lessons on life for all sports fans. Whether in the sports arena, or business world or in life, the message and many of the chapters are about experiencing life events; about perservering when things are darkest; and about the importance of teamwork in or out of sports. I found myself going back and reading some of the chapters over again, not just because of the story, but of the message. Andy has added to his wonderful first book, and hopefully there will be another one in the future. His stature as author is growing.

No comments about Lombardi.

1 comments about Johnny Bright, Champion.

1. I went to medical school with the author. He advised me that the purpose of his work was to inspire and entertain. With "Johnny Bright, Champion" he has done precisely that. I found the book to be very enjoyable and recommend it for everyone. If you are looking for a nice "feel good" story, this is one that should fulfill your need. While this story is technically a biographical novel, it closely follows the "real" story of Johnny Bright, whose career was analogous to that of Jackie Robinson. If Johnny Bright had chosen to play in the National Football League rather than the Canadian Football League, his name would, undoubtedly be of greater recognition at this time. Although Johnny Bright labored in relative obscurity, he was too great not to be remembered at this time.

No comments about More Than a Game: One Woman's Fight for Gender Equity in sport.

1 comments about Size Doesn't Matter: My Rugby Life.

1. I was unsure of what to expect from this book. Most sports autobiographies are ghost written, but this book has no ghost writing credit and was actually Neil Back's own work.

   The only other books of this nature I had to compare to "Size Doesn't Matter" is Mick Foley's pro wrestling autobiography "Have a Nice Day" and it's followup "Foley is Good." (Neither of these were ghost written either.. a fact he spends about 2 chapters discussing in his second book.) Other than that, I've never read a sports autobiography of any kind.

   Now, Rugby and Pro Wrestling are sports that are miles apart. Some argue Pro Wrestling isn't a sport, but I won't even get into that here. Foley's two books are genius, no doubt. Neil Back is at that level as well.

   The book starts out at his birth, as is most logical. For the first 2 or 3 chapters, he jumps between time periods quite quickly, and that is a bit disconcerting. He's talkign about when he was 5 and participating in his first Rugby match and then is suddenly talking about a British Lions tour, and is then back to when he was 5. This settles down quickly, though, and the temporal flow becomes much better.

   You need to know a bit about Rugby to truly appreciate this book, as he doesn't explain many terms at all, and doesn't really explain the importance of positions. But it doesn't matter that much.. it makes it a little bit less confusing if you know the difference between a Flanker, Winger and Hooker, though.

   He progresses through his life to right up after the disappointing British Lions tour of Australia in 2001. Well written the whole way. The only gripe I have is that Neil uses too much British jargon. He gives everyone nicknames.. Jonno, Lol, Robbo, Hilly, Catty, Backy (referring to himself), Deanno and so on. Honestly, by the end of the book, I had forgotten who "Deanno" was and had to go back thru the earlier parts of the book in an attempt to find out. He also makes references to british celebrities, which totally goes over my head... but I can't really dock him for that, as this book was more intended for a British audience, I think.

   Overall, if you're a Rugby fan.. even if you don't like English Rugby.. this book is definately one to get.

2 comments about Brown's Town: 20 Famous Browns Talk Amongst Themselves.

1. Great book for a unique insight into the history of the franchise and the experience of being a Cleveland Brown with unique one-of-a-kind illustrations and great stories as told by players. Browns fans will love it!



2. Alan Natali delivers dozens of excellent stories as told by former players.
   
   The title of the book leads one to believe that there was a free-for-all meeting of these former players, but that is not the case. Each talks with Natali individually, and he splendidly pieces together their anecdotes.
   
   Natali introduces each interview with a short essay pertaining to that player's life and accomplishments. The essays are well written and informative, as is the author's introduction.
   
   All in all, this is a fine piece of work.

4 comments about Andy Russell: A Steeler Odyssey.

1. Being a Steeler Fan, I have read both Terry Bradshaw's and Rocky Bleir's books, and while I found them interesting, I didn't get quite the feel for the individual as well as the game from their books as I did from Andy Russell's. I am not just a fan of the sport of football, but a fan of the players. As a fan of the individuals, I like to know as much about them as possible. Everything from their childhood and family life, through high school and college, because all of that has an effect on their football career and what they bring to the game. Andy's stories about his life after football give us a perspective on the good effects that the commraderie and competitiveness of football can have on the rest of your life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter which tells of his visits to combat areas in Vietnam. The American soldiers in the various hospitals had the same reaction to American football players. I totally understand that reaction - meeting A Pittsburgh Steeler so far away from home helped the soldier forget the harshness of war for just a few moments and go back to all that is good in the world - good old American Football!



2. Being a Steeler Fan, I have read both Terry Bradshaw's and Rocky Bleir's books, and while I found them interesting, I didn't get quite the feel for the individual as well as the game from their books as I did from Andy Russell's. I am not just a fan of the sport of football, but a fan of the players. As a fan of the individuals, I like to know as much about them as possible. Everything from their childhood and family life, through high school and college, because all of that has an effect on their football career and what they bring to the game. Andy's stories about his life after football give us a perspective on the good effects that the commraderie and competitiveness of football can have on the rest of your life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter which tells of his visits to combat areas in Vietnam. The American soldiers in the various hospitals had the same reaction to American football players. I totally understand that reaction - meeting A Pittsburgh Steeler so far away from home helped the soldier forget the harshness of war for just a few moments and go back to all that is good in the world - good old American Football!



3. Being a Steeler Fan, I have read both Terry Bradshaw's and Rocky Bleir's books, and while I found them interesting, I didn't get quite the feel for the individual as well as the game from their books as I did from Andy Russell's. I am not just a fan of the sport of football, but a fan of the players. As a fan of the individuals, I like to know as much about them as possible. Everything from their childhood and family life, through high school and college, because all of that has an effect on their football career and what they bring to the game. Andy's stories about his life after football give us a perspective on the good effects that the commraderie and competitiveness of football can have on the rest of your life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter which tells of his visits to combat areas in Vietnam. The American soldiers in the various hospitals had the same reaction to American football players. I totally understand that reaction - meeting A Pittsburgh Steeler so far away from home helped the soldier forget the harshness of war for just a few moments and go back to all that is good in the world - good old American Football!



4. This is the story of a former NFL All Pro linebacker going on a journey of self discovery after retiring from the game. Along the way he reminisces about his famous teammates: Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Ham, Rocky Bleier and others. He and his Steeler pal, Ray Mansfield, take Lynn Swann and Mel Blount around the world, giving speeches from Hong Kong to London, and sports clinics for young people from Singapore to Jeddah while still finding time to develop his international investment business. Two stories tell of dodging bullets on a USO tour of Vietnam and Thailand with ex-congressman Jack Kemp, Bobby Bell, John David Crow and Bill Brown. Along the way the adventurer team of Russell/ Mansfield test themselves on a wilderness canoe race in Canada, on mountain tops in Nepal and barely make it out of the Grand Canyon. The writer, a sensitive sort, who struggles to find himself after leaving the game gives the reader a first hand look of what it was like to be on the field with the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. This book is an easy read--one that will keep the reader rivited to every story.

2 comments about Not So Fast, Sonny.

1. I grew up being a UW Cowboy and therefore hating the Rams of CSU, but after reading this book I would have to say that Sonny Lubick is one of hereos! This book was amazing and I just could not put it down. This is a must read for any football fan, or anyone who is a fan of overcoming life and the triumph of the human soul! GREAT BOOK!!!



2. A must read for any CSU fan or aspiring coach. I didn't want the book to end.

No comments about Johnny Unitas: The Best There Ever Was.