Sports Books

This is an exciting, inspiring, well-written book that I couldn't put down. Written in a logbook style, it tells what happens when the author catches the Iditarod bug. A very satisfying read.

Don Bowers wrote it with so much heart, it's amazing! If you love sleddogs, Alaska and the Iditarod - it's a must to read it (especially if you want to run the Iditarod once)! Even if English isn't your mother tongue - you will love it! I laughed but also cried while reading the book. It really touched me very much! Don Bowers was killed by an air-crash in summer 2000 and even if I haven't known him personally - my eyes went wet when I heard about it! I wish I could have meet him once...... (sorry, about my bad english, but even with this english it is easy to read his book)!

As a fellow US Air Force Academy Grad, I was thrilled by Don Bowers' adventure! Spending years as an Iditarod pilot, Don finally decides to run the race. He shows the true human effort behind running the race, not as a champion, but as a man willing to give his all to prove his determination and the love for his dogs. Unfortunately, Don Bowers died this year doing one of the things he truly loved: flying airplanes. This book is a tribute to the man and the sport that took over his soul. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mushing or for anybody with an adventurous heart. It's a true uplift from the everyday drag of modern life. It will yield to the wanderlust of even the most rigid of people. It shows that some people out there still pursue their dreams, no matter how crazy they may seem. Farewell, Don Bowers! May your book be a tribute to you and the sport that you loved!

I love this book. I am in my 4th year of mushing. I love the sport. This book tells you what it is like to deal with these wonderful creatures that are a special breed. The author had a wonderful insight to share his thoughts, feelings, adventures,failures, and successes. Most of us dont tell of things that we did wrong. He not only tells you about what he did wrong, but what he learned from it. I am hoping to run the Iditarod sometime in the future with my daughter, and this is a book that I will for sure have her read before we set of to THE GREATEST RACE. I recommend this book for a veteran, or a beginner, or anyone that just has an interest in dogs. I have laughed outloud while reading this book and I have cried, and had every other emotion but anger. This book is the best I have read in a long time about this sport. Thank you DON.

Subtitled, "An Iditarod Rookie Musher's Alaska Pilgrimage to
Nome", the author, Don Bowers, shares his 1994 and 1995
experience in running a team of sled dogs on the 1,100-mile run from
Anchorage to Nome in the race that has been sometimes called the
"Last Great Race on Earth." He was 48 years old, a bachelor,
with no previous experience in dog mushing. However, he was a pilot
who lived Alaska and had worked as a volunteer in previous races. He
knew many people who had run the race before him and they all
encouraged him to do it.

Every March, since 1967, between 50 and 80
dog sled teams set out on the trail, which can take up to three weeks
to complete. Most are not competing for the front-runner prize.
Merely finishing the race is a personal goal for many. The trek is
difficult, requiring stamina, endurance and the ability to make quick
decisions in constantly changing conditions.

The temperature can
vary from 40 degrees above to 65 degrees below zero and there are
storms and flooding, drifting snow and heavy winds. In some places
the trail plunges down 200 feet or more, twisting between trees and at
the edges of steep drops. At other places, there are long empty
stretches over slick icy rivers. The sled often spills, the dogs get
tangled and sometimes they find themselves miles and miles off the
regular trail.

Mostly, they prefer to travel at night when the
weather is cooler and the dogs are more comfortable. The musher wears
a single beam headlight if the night is dark. Other times the moon
and stars reflect off the snow. And, on rare occasions there is a
spectacular display of flashes and colors in the northern sky.

The
mushers stop at about 20 checkpoints over the course of their
travels. These are mandatory rest stops which often are no more than a
tent or a cabin with a place to put a sleeping bag. A few of the
checkpoints are towns with a place to purchase a meal. Mostly though,
the musher must rely on the 50 or more large bags of supplies weighing
2000 pounds or more which he or she personally packed and had shipped
to these checkpoints. This includes huge amounts of food for the 16
hungry dogs who must be tended to and rested at each of these
stops.

The Iditarod Trail was actually used as a mail route during
the boom time of Alaska's gold rush. And the dog teams of that day
did not have the advantages of modern technology. There were no
helicopters charting their progress. Or airplanes to fly their food
to various checkpoints. There was little if any shelter. And the
conditions for the dogs were certainly not humane.

I can't help
thinking of Jack London's "The Call of the Wild" and
"White Fang" which depicted the life of a sled dog at the
turn of the century. In those days dogs were whipped, beaten with
clubs, and often starved as the food they were given had to be hunted
for as the mushers went along the trail. They lived and died in their
harnesses and it was a constant fight for survival.

Modern dogs are
never beaten. The dogs are trained to respond to simple verbal
commands and whips are never used. They are well fed and rested and
checked by a vet at every checkpoint. If they are injured they are
flown by helicopter to a place they can be cared for. A musher might
start out with 16 dogs, but is allowed to finish with as little as 7
if necessary.

I enjoyed the book tremendously, even though Don
Bowers is no Jack London. This is his first book and he is not a
professional writer. He's good at descriptions of trail conditions
and details of the race. He's also good at discussing his own
personal challenges. I really did empathize with him when a virus
killed some of his dog pups. And I held my breath during his most
scary outdoor challengers. I also have a lot of admiration for his
adaptability and sheer determination to finish, no matter what.

By
the end of the book I had really accepted his style of writing, which
is probably like his personality, which tends to be introspective. And
sometimes I felt he went on a little too long about some detail. I
must say also that I yearned for deeper characterization of the people
around him. There was a woman named Lisa and a man named Andy who
were also "back-of-the-packers". They met at checkpoints
and helped each other during the long trail. I wanted to know more
about them and wish he would have included a few personal details and
a little characterization.

I did get to know his dogs though. Each
one was a distinct and interesting personality. I'll never forget
"Socks" one of the leaders, who was able to sense the trail
without any markers. Or the time the team refused to move because the
females were in heat. His love for his dogs really came through.

I
thank Mr. Bowers for writing the book and definitely recommend it. It
took me to Alaska, put me right on the sled and made me feel I was
part of it all. Quite a departure for a woman who lives in New York
City. It was a great read and I loved being part of the adventure.

I won't rehash how good this book is, you have all 9 other reviews to do it. Just a note of caution, make sure you buy the latest edition (from 2006). Amazon still lists the one from 2002 first in the search results.

I like the GPS coordinates, and the fact that it gives directions and mileage for each trail in both directions. So you have a lot more flexibility on how you plan your outing.

this series is extremely useful. covers offroading options from beginner level to seriously advanced. each option is rated for difficulty, accompanied by maps and directions and, importantly, gps coordinates at each key junction on the route. hence one could make the trip without road signs using a gps if absolutely necessary. great photographs and good history regarding each trip make this a stimulating and priceless resource.

We have two other 4-wheel drive books for northern California, but neither one comes close to this! The color pages, descriptions, and added history and nature lessons are great. We enjoy the eastern Sierra and were glad to find so many trips for that area in this book. We can't wait for the snow to melt so we can try some trips out!

This is the top dog for off road books. I've driven several of these courses in my stock Chevrolet truck with zero problems. Beautiful lay-out, great descriptions and GPS coordinates. Get this book!

I have read several other map books for off road trails, etc. and this one is by far the most comprehensive and accurate. My wife and I have used this book on a couple of trips now and the accuracy of the directions is uncanny. I also apprciate the GPS coordinates and the maps in the book itself. The fact that this book is all color is awesome too. I would definitely buy this book if you're in the market.

I loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I cheered (well, not really-I was on a plane and didn't want to create a ruckus, but in my mind I was standing up and cheering!). This book offered a lot of interesting information-who knew pumpkins could grow up to 40 lbs. A DAY??-while following the attempts of various growers to reach the ultimate goal in giant pumpkin growing, a 1500 lb. pumpkin. Easy reading, informative, and a good conversation starter when you need to make small talk.

I had a great time reading this book. I too grow pumpkins and had a hard time setting this book down. Easy to read and gives a real behind the scenes on this sport, showing that growers have lives outside of pumpkin growing as well. If you want to grow a giant pumpkin yourself this book won't give you much for information on that topic. It is meant for more the humanity side of things.

Backyard Giants is a fascinating and informative book on the art, science, competition and reward of growing giant pumpkins. The author depicts the trials and tribulations of growers in Rhode Island, Ohio, the West Coast and Canada. A close-knit group of growers in Rhode Island are followed for an entire year as they prepare, plant, harvest and competitively show their giant fruits. The growers are depicted as compassionate, committed, scientific in their own right, and competitive. Through the author's creative writing style the reader is compelled through each stage of the giant pumpkin process. The pictures are an added bonus - driving home the amazing undertaking of growing something over 1,000 pounds in just four months. The joys and heartbreaks of this sport are well described, and leave the reader with respect and in awe of the growers.

The author did an excellent job researching all aspects of growing giant pumpkins. I found myself with numerous questions as I read the book and inevitably the author answered every question I had. The author writes for those having no prior knowledge of pumpkin growing - but would also likely interest those who were knowledgeable in the field. She has a creative use of vocabulary and story telling. I was sorry to see the book come to an end, but also very content with the ending. This book is well worth the reader's investment.

Who says gardening is a gentle hobby? In "Backyard Giants," Ms. Warren takes us on a journey through the passionate and far-from-gentle world of competitive pumpkin growing. With a masterful eye for the telling detail and a narrative voice that sweeps the reader into this unusual world from the very first page, this is delightful and eye-opening read -- especially for those who've never wielded pruning shears or pored through garden catalogues at night.

Bill Clinton was quoted in the "Washington Post" a few weeks ago: "That's the biggest pumpkin I've ever seen. It looks like we need a steroid inspection here." I googled " Big Pumpkins " and found lots of information, including this charming and fascinating book.

Susan Warren is a gardener. She googled a personal gardening question one day, and incidentally found guys that were obsessed with creating monster pumpkins. She wrote a front page story about them for the "Wall Street Journal", and this book grew out of that article.

Warren describes the pumpkins, of course, but her book is much more about those obsessed guys. She grew a giant pumpkin (240 pounds) as a research project, but both she and her architect husband "got sucked in ... this is a very dangerous book. It sucks in people who like a challenge."

She is amazed at the diversity of growers: airline pilots, engineers, Wall Street analysts, bankers, truck drivers, country club managers and "your mom could be a giant pumpkin grower." They live in a number of countries: the US, England, Germany, Australia, and elsewhere. She believes they are all overachievers, the kind of people who work all day and then come home and put in a few more hours in the garden.

Warren writes that the giant pumpkin competition started out with a lot of secrecy involved; there was very little sharing. The Internet changed that. Growers soon realized they couldn't hold secrets, and 15 new world records have been set in the last 18 years. [The current record is 1,689 pounds set by Joe Jutras in Rhode Island who is mentioned in the book, but who set the record after the book was released.] The philosophy is now: "I'm going to beat you. I want to beat you at your best. So here, let me help you."

Bill Clinton understands the challenges {apparently an expert on giant Arkansas watermelons): "If you give it too much water and the skin breaks, you're eliminated. And if you give it too little, somebody else beats you because they've got a bigger melon or a bigger pumpkin. So like at the end, under very tense circumstances, there are these constant judgment calls. It's kind of like being President."

The growers feel a moment of mutual elation when a new record is set, according to Warren. That moment represents many years of hard work, many years of disappointment, many years of learning and education. A key point of the education is that these fruits are no longer pure pumpkins, but the result of cross breeding with other heavy cousins like squash. The goal is to be heavy -- weight is the only objective measurement of size. A smaller pumpkin can weigh more than a larger one, so the growers strive to increase density. They don't look so much like pumpkins anymore; Warren writes that they resemble "deflated Thanksgiving Day parade floats."

She says that the growers don't care about looks, they care about 40 to 50 pound a day weight gains during the peak growth period. That rate will put a great deal of strain on the pumpkin which can lead to the disaster of split skin and disqualification that Clinton spoke of. Growers report that they can hear the pumpkins growing, a creaking and groaning, especially at night, much like the sounds of corn growing back in Wisconsin many years ago.

Several other details caught my attention:

- Despite their enhanced density, these giants will float.

- They can be hollowed out and raced in Pumpkin Regattas.

- Growers thump them vigorously to judge density.

- Getting rid of gophers and other varmits provide some of the most intense moments; a lost bud can severely weaken a pumpkin vine. ("You'll still get a pumpkin, but you want a champion.")

- All growers become soil scientists, and now rely primarily on organic fertilizers.

There is a bit of pathos in this book: Ron Wallace, the featured grower, loses one of his pumpkins: "Ron's disappointment was sharp and deep and all too familiar. He cracked the rotting skin open in hopes of recovering some seeds. But the seeds swimming in a fetid pool of neon-orange slime were limp and lifeless. Disgusted, he left the broken shards of giant pumpkin lying in the grass next to the garden, an organic monument to disappointment."

As the extract shows, Warren is particularly good at describing the depth and complexity of the obsession these competitors. If that human element appeals to you, you'll enjoy this book.

"Banjo for Dummies" is by far the best banjo-tudoring instruction manual that I have viewed for teaching banjo playing. It is very clear and easy to follow. It is my opinion that this is an excellent product and a great teaching tool! Thank you.

I'm a beginner and found this book very helpful. It covers everything you could want to know about banjos, from tips on purchasing one to playing every thing. I am delighted with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn to play this instrument.

EXCELLANT CHOICE FOR A NEW "PICKER". SHOWS HOW TO PICK SCRUGGS STYLE AND CLAWHAMMER. STARTS SLOW AND EASY FOR THE BEGINNER AND MOVES INTO ADVANCED PICKING. REALLY WORTH THE MONEY TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY.

my daughter bought me this for Christmas as kinda of a joke. I have been a musician for 40 years and play a variety of stringed instruments and I found this book a great help in learning some of the rolls and such that most banjo players use. Easy to understand and lots of chord charts.

I purchased 2 intro to banjo books. This one is CLEARLY the one to get!

This is the first book I have read for pleasure in about 20 years. The thought of getting joy out of reading was not on my mind when I started but soon realized that the pleasure comes from "becoming one with the words". "Banking, Beer & Robert The Bruce" was a great choice for me to get back into reading for pleasure. And fun it was!! I now want more....and thank goodness I have just finished the second volume, "Easy come, Easy Go" and the journey in my mind continued in a most pleasurable manner. Mr. Wade kept me wanting to read more but I forced myself to read just one chapter per night as to stretch out the pleasure of reading this very interesting, funny and in many ways informative (as to the specific mind frames and actions of the characters during various periods in history)book!!

I almost fell of my chair! Maverick,Morris, Barcley... just to name a few. The writer draws you in like popcorn, cola and a soft chair. One adventure after another keeps the pages turning. You begin to feel that you are living in a series and the next episode is right around the corner. Loved it and tapping my foot till the next volume comes out. Hurry up!

As good as reading Harry Potter. Even though this novel is more for adults than children, the story forces you into reading on and on. I was sent this as a birthday gift from a friend in Washington D.C. (who purchased it here on Amazon). I am a avid reader and read for nearly half a century. Very few books have interested me as much as this 'out of the blue' gift. I look forward to the next two volumes and hope I can order them through Amazon UK!

This book is a great ride with excellent story telling. The author makes you appreciate the importance of your family, friends, and a good Pub where you can always go back. Fleming-Wade has done an outstanding job of developing his characters. As this book progresses, you actually feel like you are a member of the Tollin Family. I look forward to the next chapter.

What a gift for storytelling he has! With the catchy turn of phrase and wonderfully interesting tales, I felt like I was there peeping in on the goings-on. Lovely.

The revolution in baseball analysis in the 1980s, led by the works of Bill James and Pete Palmer, spawned a boom in baseball writing. Unfortunately, most analytical baseball books begin and end with the measuring of player value, which is great for fantasy baseball players or who-should-be-in-the-Hall-of-Fame discussions, but ultimately leaves me feeling hungry.

The folks at Baseball Prospectus put the focus on the "team", stressing that focus even within the player comments. Arguing about whether someone is the sixth best second baseman in the National League, or merely the eighth best, is refreshingly missing here. Instead, the discussion rests on whether the player is advancing the cause of contending for a championship, what he has to do to contribute more, how likely he is to improve, how long he is likely going to continue contributing, what the team needs to do to be prepared for his decline, etc. The team comments focus on where the team is in the development cycle, what it has to do to advance to the next stage, and whether the people in charge are likely to do it. The essays in the back of the book challenge us to understand how this game works.

This annual has made me a better fan and has made my own conversations around the hot stove much more interesting. As a baseball researcher, what I wouldn't give for a complete set of BPs, beginning about 1871.

I stumbled upon the Baseball Prospectus website about a year and a half ago and after reading the articles they frequently publish there, my view of baseball has totally changed. Basically, the BP team laughs in the face of traditional yet very lacking statistics such as batting average, RBIs, saves, wins and losses. They include several mathematicians who have created very comprehensive systems to evaluate batters (equivalent average), starters (Support-Neutral Wins Above Average), and relievers (Adjusted Runs Prevented). While they value the sabermetric approach to baseball, they also provide commentaries on less quantifyable aspects of the game.

While BP is occasionally prone to making sweeping exaggerations regarding a subject, they provide generally objective analysis of baseball in a very entertaining manner. BP 2002 is well-written and contains paragraphs on about 50 players per organization, organization reviews and assorted other articles along with each players translated (meaning adjusted for AAA, AA, etc or parks) statistics. I highly recommend it.

If you are a trained statistician, you will probably love this book. For each major leaguer, it takes his actual numbers and washes out park effects. Then it compares the value (in runs) of the player's production to the league average. There are fielding and pitching "stuff" statistics invented by Baseball Prospectus that attempt to account for all the variables that contribute to performance. For minor leaguers, it calculated "major league equivalencies"--i.e., what numbers the player would have put up if he had played in the majors.

The problem is that the bewildering array of new terms and statistical explanations will mean little to the casual fan. Even an experienced roto player who has a healthy respect for such methods, such as myself, will have an extremely difficult time putting it all together.

Fortunately, the player write-ups are as compelling a reason to buy the book as the statistical analysis. They are hilarious--inventive, creative, and full of oddball references. Baseball Prospectus can be a little too opinionated at times, and a little subjective for a group of people that professes to believe only in the data, but that's part of what makes them so funny. It's unbelievable how many different ways Joe Sheehan & Co. can find to say that a player is worthless.

I forgot to mention in my lengthy review below that one of the best properties of Baseball Prospectus 2002 is the humor ... it adds to the readability a lot knowing that some funny and off-the-wall statements crop up in the player comments. I inadvertantly found myself up way past my bedtime recently reading about minor-leagues for the Tigers when I hit this note on Brandon Inge: he "does less damage at the plate than Lara Flynn Boyle". Good stuff. Keep it up, boys.

I hope you have alot of time on your hands because you will not be able to put this great book down.

Provides totally honest and intelligent team reviews, explaining why transactions were made and what were the good/bad ramifications.

Excellent and witty player insight, brutally honest at points.

Found myself laughing out load many times.

You won't believe what you've been missing.

i think its also so good book but i dont know how bought this book. its for your information i am a black belt of martialarts. i cose so diffrent style of martial arts its use only in tis time Pakisatn but future its must be te king style of the world.

NOTE: This review, along with the other reviews of the books devoted to katas in this series, are identical in nature as the subject matter for each book only differs in the actual kata or katas being demonstrated. The layout and format are identical and that is what these reviews are based upon.

This book, along with the rest of the books in the series, is an outstanding source of information on the correct execution of the Shotokan Karate katas in which this particular volume demonstrates. Now if you don't know anything about karate and purchase this book, it will do you about as much good as a screen door in a submarine. However, if you are already a practicing Shotokan Karate student, then this book is a must have for your continued advancement in the martial arts.

Every book in this series that deal with the various katas, utilizes the same format throughout each book in order to show you the correct execution of each kata demonstrated. Admittedly there aren't a whole lot of words describing the various moves in the katas, but there are an abundance of photographs taken from various angles that pretty much show you exactly how your body should be positioned not only for each individual move, but also how your body should be positioned as you move from one position to another.

At the end of each book is a special section devoted to particular points of interest in each kata that you should pay particular attention to. A nice addition to this already wonderful book.

If you are a student of Shotokan Karate, or a student of another style that utilizes the same katas, I would highly recommend that you purchase these books in order to advance your knowledge of whatever particular kata or katas that you are currently working on. You won't be disappointed!

Shawn Kovacich
Martial artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

i think its also so good book but i dont know how bought this book

I have been practicing Shotokan karate for 10 years now. Even though I attend regular classes and seminars, as well as working out with very qualified karate-ka, I still find myself coming back to Master Nakayma's work in this very fine series of books. Of all the books on kata I have these books are superior.

The instruction is straight forward and to the point. Tips are given to avoid common mistakes. Under the many pictures illustrating the kata is a stance diagram and short concise sentences to describe each move.

Extremely well done by one of the finest karate masters.

I bought three books out of the "Best Karate" series and the two books about katas are simply outstanding. I use another book which describes the movements in words but it's just too hard to figure it out for some of the tricky movements. The "Best Karate" series has photo series for all katas plus additional information about what people should take care of for the individual katas (for instance, stance changes for Heian Shodan). That way, it's really "easy" to learn a kata on your own, just from the book.

"Blue Ice" is not only a story about "Michigan Hockey" its a story about how college hockey has evolved to become a mainstream player development system for the National Hockey League, evidence the vast number of former NCAA Division l College Hockey players currently on NHL rosters. Neither is "Blue Ice" a book of hockey statistics; rather its pages uniquely reveal the metamorphosis of NCAA College Hockey, from its cocoon, to the exciting on-ice beautiful spectacle it has become."

An easy read, that's about much more then just the game of hockey. This book delves into the tradition and character of Michigan and it's hockey program. Blue Ice is a must read for anyone interested in Michigan athletics, is familiar with the Ann Arbor hockey community, or just loves the game of hockey.

Blue ice is an impressive book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in collegiate-level athletics, particularly ice hockey. Bacon is a gifted writer with the ability to interweave historical facts and objective (always informative and often funny) stories that keep the reader entertained. It is a great buy for folks that love factually based stories.

A must-read for hockey lovers! Whether you like Michigan Hockey or any other team, this book is for you. Bacon makes this history story of the Wolverine skaters extremely fun and joyous reading. If you are a Michigan fan, you'd enjoy reading all the details and stories; if you (so wrongly) chose another team to cheer -- you'll become curious as to its own history.
I especially loved the parts of the book (which I consider as "Hockey chanting for Idiots") detailing the rich content and background behind some of what you hear in Yost Ice arena. After reading it, watching the games was so much more fun!

The idea is simple. Write an engaging story recounting the coming of age of a first class collegiate hockey program and spice it with behind the scene details, locker room interviews and humorous anecdotes. The execution is outstanding. Blue Ice takes the reader on a very enjoyable trip looking at the beginnings of college hockey at the University of Michigan, from playing outdoors on the frozen Huron River, to the recent trips that Wolverine skaters have made to the Frozen Four championships. The bonus for readers is getting a sports version of "Connections," with the athletic stories enveloped and intertwined in the history of the time, showing how seemingly unrelated events can influence each other. Easy and entertaining to read, delightful to give as a gift, when it was over, we wanted a sequel.

Brad Berkwitt's book is a must for any boxing fan's book shelf!

Brad has done an outstanding job in getting some of the current and former greats of the sport to talk with him about their careers and what should happen in today's boxing.

I also enjoy the interviews with noted boxing fans like Al Martino, Vanessa Del Rio and the late Buddy Hackett!

This is an incredible book that you can refer to again and again!

Brad Berkwitt brings a humanistic, sensitive feeling to the world of boxing with this wonderful book! As a noted boxing writer and researcher, with over 25 years in the business, I can tell you that this is the FIRST and BEST book that I have read where the author "speaks from the heart!" While most books just provide information about boxing, Brad provides an in-depth assessment to each of the book's many fine interviews. Discussions with many of the best fighters, trainers, and managers provide stimulating questions and answers. Brad Berkwitt is more than just a fine writer, he is a great friend.

You will LOVE this book!

I just got done reading "Bad" Brad Berkwitt's new boxing book Boxing Interviews of a Lifetime for the fourth time. Each time I pick up this book, I learn something knew about so many fighters I have loved over the years. Fighters such as Sean O' Grady, Chuck Wepner, Aaron Pryor, Gerry Cooney, Gene Fullmer, Ron Lyle, Roy Jones, JR, Ken Norton, Yaqui Lopez and Vinny Paz which are just some.

The other amazing thing this author does is interview celebs such as Jerry Vale, Al Martino, Vanessa Del Rio, Joey Bishop and the late Buddy Hackett. The stories they tell about the sport of boxing which they love are priceless.

This Berkwitt fellow has set a standard for all others to follow on how to conduct an interview by getting all the details out of his interviewee..

I not only highly reccomend this book, but I will guarantee you will read it many times over because it's just that informative and entertaining..

Funny thing, the minute I saw his dedication to his late Father in the front and the very moving words he said, I knew this book was going to be Great...

If he never writes another word, covers another boxing event, or does another great interview, "Bad" Brad (as my good friend Henry "Discombobulating" Jones likes to call him) has made his mark on the boxing landscape. The great news is that he's not done yet! He loves and cares about this stuff too much! He not only has covered the current main personalities in the fight game, but he has additionally "reached back" and caught readers up on some of the great figures of boxing's past. He covers all of the bases and lets the fighters say it "their way". The fans, the fighters and the "boxing insiders" like myself love it this way! Bad Brad -keep up the great work! I know you will, because like I said . . . " he's not done yet! "

10 Count - I'm Out!
Baltimore-Washington's own Fight Doctor (AKA Jerome Spears)

When interviewing, Berkwitt asks much of the same questions to the many different fighters in his book and it was interesting to compare their answers. Yet questions were also asked that related specifically to the particuliar boxer's carreer. This book is a must have for the true boxing fan.

Berkwitt didn't shy away from interviewing female boxers. A sport is a sport and if women lace up the gloves, whether you agree with them doing so or not, you've got to respect them and their opinions.

A small thing ... was George Foreman 44 or 45 when he defeated Michael Moore? On page 36, according to Michael Buffer, he was 44. On page 89, Buffer is quoted as saying that he was 45.

I have a moral objection to the interview of a prostitute / stripper / porn star (AKA: adult movie star). In doing so it legitimizes her profession.

Additionally, I don't think that it was necessary or useful for Berkwitt to include interviews from various singers and comedians in his book.

The interviews were insightful and it was hard to put the book down once I started reading it.

You don't have to be a fan of basketball to enjoy this book--but if you are you will love it. I wish all of todays athletes would read this book. These kids were a "one of a kind" team. Mr. Combs makes you feel as if you are sitting in the stands watching these games. I got so excited reading about the last game I could hardly stand it!! This would make a wonderful movie. Ron Howard, Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, one of you please read this book!!!

What a wonderful book! Leon Combs is a great storyteller. Living in the Ozarks and near the Bradleyville area most all of my life I could really visualize the story. The characters and situations were like telling a part of my own family and hometown history. The play by play of the basketball games was like being there in that place and time. I would love to see it on the big screen! I'm ready for the next book Mr. Combs.

This author not only reveals the spirit of the sport, his colorful, descriptive narrative takes you into the very hearts of the players. Nostalgic, well-written story about a winning team, interwoven with games and statistics, makes this book a winner. Can't wait for the movie. It will happen.

I just read this wonderful book last weekend. My parents, Harlan and Betty House, were two of Bradleyville basketball's most enthusiastic followers. Both are mentioned in the book for a small portion of their contributions to the Bradleyville basketball program. The Bradleyville teams, those that were champions and those that were not, were made up of very special people--people who were willing to use all their god-given talents as best they could. With hard work they overcame their limited personal, family, and school resources. Bradleyville coaches were the best at enhancing the skills of their players and making a team out of very different individuals. The whole community was energized by the hard work and success of those winning teams. They were proud of the victories and the way their teams achieved those victories--by being great sportsmen. This book captures the spirit of the people, the players, the coaches, the community and the era. This story of our own Missouri "Hoosiers" will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys an uplifting story about those who can prevail over long odds by hard work and fair play.

I live in the area and so the book is pretty special to me. The author has written an insightful story depicting the down/home special family quality of the Ozarks. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the raccoon-hunting point guard and the innocence of pre-Vietnam/early 60's rural society. There are too many good stories to spotlight but I really liked the one about the kids at the big Springfield tournament berating their coach for calling too many time-outs when they wanted to go coon-hunting through the hills that night the best. The Bradleyville people really shine in this book which is written with great authenticity and obvious personal experience adn affection. It's a work which deserves to be up there with the best of midwestern/western folk history-it ranks with the Milan basketball story and October Skies in my opinion any way.