Football Books

I first had the pleasure of reading "Charlie's Touchdown" in 2004. I have recently savored the story again and enjoyed it just as much. The story, told through the eyes of his mother, focuses on Charlie, a courageous and inspiring boy who was born with multiple heart anomalies. The book is written in a conversant manner; you can't help but feel like you come to know Charlie and his family. The summation of Charlie's life is so much more than his medical problems. The truest meaning of life is exemplified by the example of this young man. His life, though relatively brief, was a woven tapestry of hope, determination, faith, trust, love, humilty, joy and gave validity to the value of suffering.
I highly recommend this book. After reading "Charlie's Touchdown" you will readily see the appropriateness of the book's title.

Vickie Batcheldor

"Charlie's Touchdown" is an awesome testimony of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness (no matter the daily struggles, the never-ending challenges, the pain of human suffering, and the grief of the human heart). Charlie, his family, and their faith will inspire you. And you will find plenty of the Holy Spirit all along the way!

A powerful read for anyone; an especially uplifting read for bereaved parents and those grieving the loss of a loved one.

"Charlie's Touchdown" is a very personal account of a family's joys and sorrows in living with a member with a physical disability. As I read this true story, written by the mother, I felt as though she was actually taking me with her and her husband and her family as they lived with Charlie and his gift. I laughed and I cried as I went through the years with Charlie. One wonders why I would call Charlie's disability a "gift", especially in our society, which no longer values people with disabilities and actually eliminates them through untold abortions and the growing tide of euthanasia. I call it a "gift", because when seen with the eyes of faith, one is able to connect all sufferings up to the Cross of Christ, which is the greatest gift we have been given. Then, our sufferings can, indeed, become redemptive as St. Paul states in Colossians, chapter 1, verse 24: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church..." God gives us the opportunity, as He gave Charlie and his family, to grow in love through suffering. I highly recommend this book for all, especially those who struggle to see the value of suffering in our world today. Read the book and you will be uplifted.

This is a beautiful and well written true story of love, perseverance, tragedy, humor, and faith. Every parent, no, every person, should read this story!

This book is an inspiring example of how much we can rely on God to help us through the pain of this life. Mary Jo's reliance on faith to provide strength in her most painful and difficult experiences helped me see that we can and must TRUST God ... His plan is eternel and reaches far beyond this life. Thank you, Mary Jo, for sharing this experience with the world and demonstrating the very faith and trust that Jesus told us was possible.

Fantastic book/offensive system. Worded very well..

Pros:
- Quarterback and Wide Reciever play is focused on thouroughly and is very clear
- The system is very efficient in terms of play names etc
- Playbook section in the back sets up the young coach with plenty to base his offense off as a start
- Read progressions for every play are simple, very organized
- Provides a sample practice plan
- Describes how the huddle should be run
- Provides a template for an effective call sheet
- Running system is extremely simple

Cons:
- While a template is provided for the call sheet, Coach Jenkins doesn't do a complete job of identifying what type of plays can fill out the sheet. A beginner coach might have trouble creating his sheet using this book as his pure source.
- While the running system is defined, runningback play and run-blocking is somewhat ignored. Coach makes it clear that offensive line play is something that he feels is up to the personal coach so he does not go into detail.
- Unlike most coaching books, Coach doesn't list the specific characteristics the WCO coach should be looking for at each position

well that was difficult trying to find cons lol..great book, 5 stars

I just heard coach Jenkins speak at the Irvine Mega Clinic and he was probably the best speaker there. I don't think he even mentioned his books, but I bought all three. His books are the best out there, bar none! I highly recommend all three of his books.

I was at a football clinic this past weekend and a guy comes out of one of the talks and makes the guy selling the books unpack (he had just packed up and was walking out the door). He said he needed a "West Coast Offense" book. So he opens two or three cartons and takes out "Coaching The Multiple West Coast Offense" (the second edition for what it's worth). So I decide to go ahead and get a copy for myself because it must be good? Long story short -It's the best darn book on football out there! Just a lucky timing thing and I really love the offense. We are bringing the author out to our school to install the offense..... An outstanding book that I found because of luck. It's that good........

This book is very indepth and comprehensive. It not only diagrams plays, but it also explains the techniques and read progressions that make the plays work. It's a great book if you are looking for an offense or just looking to add to your own.

Excellent, best-of-breed books on the West Coast offense, especially for those who haven't lived in the system from ground zero as a player or a coach.

HS coaches should beware...the WCO works well, BUT only if you have a stellar athlete/passer as a QB and at least one receiver w/great speed who is capable of consuming the cushion, tracking the ball, and acting as a complete deep threat. The strength of the WCO (the desired traits in the QB and WR) is also its achilles heel, in the same way as the WCO's mirror-opposite, the wishbone (you must have a dominating FB who can draw defenders at the point of attack). Given the paucity of talented QBs who are able to throw 40 - 70 yards with great accuracy consistently and WRs who demand and get consistent double coverage, it would behoove you to think twice about installing the WCO at the HS level.

If you make the mistake of pushing the WCO as a template on a HS team w/out the QB and WR, you are going to be in for a long and painful season. Defensive backs will congregate in the short zones, defensive coaches will send 6 - 7 defenders in full blitz, and if your QB isn't mobile you can count on numerous sacks, missed throwes, interceptions, or an injured QB (the shotgun, a favorite in the WCO, only delays the agony).

Good luck, and this book is as good as it gets for the HS coach seeking to implement the WCO.

This was a great, great read and the author used a very interesting way to write it by using a ton of quotes from those who were there to tell the story. His own words were the perfect conduit.

This was truly a book I hated coming to the end of.

Of course, there are several books in circulation about the birth and growth of the American Football League (AFL), the greatest rival sports league in the history of American professional sports. What makes this book a little different from the pack is that it consists almost entirely of quotes from interviews with the various participants in AFL history -- players, coaches, owners, etc.

So in all candor, the author contributes little, and appears to have acted more like a stenographer than anything else. I suppose that can be both good and bad. But though I like this book a great deal, I'd say it's not as good as a similar book by Bob Curran entitled "The $400,000 Quarterback -- or -- The League that Came in from Out of the Cold."

But if you an AFL-lover, you'll love it. If you are just AFL-curious, you may want to shop around for other titles.

99% of this book is a collection of stories about the AFL by former players, coaches, administrators, owners, and others with some connection to the game. It is interesting, but not a great book. Most interesting is the explanation about how NBC cut off the Heidi game. Typical corporate move from the beginning to the end. Nobody had any objection throughout the week of the proposed cutoff and none of the "suits" could make a decision at crunch time. NBC has never lived the Heidi game down and it will always be remembered in sports broadcasting.

This is an insightful, interesting look at the AFL. Great interviews with the actual participants of the events that took place. I would recommend the book to anyone with an interest of this league and how the merger took place with the NFL.

For some reason, oral biographies of pro sports leagues make great reads when written by the right people. The oral bio of the WHA is fascinating and Terry Pluto's "Loose Balls" of the American Basketball Association is simply one of the great sports books ever.

Going Long is right up there with Loose Balls. It is one of the two definitive books about the American Football League (along with The Other League), a league whose influence in its 10 years is felt every second in the National Football League.

This book is able to tell two separate stories, the business side of how The Foolish Club of original AFL owners were able to survive against the tough and savvy National Football League. Then there is the story about the players and the individual teams. Miller is able to present the business side in an extremely interesting manner, not an easy task.

The book treats Joe Namath with the appropriate perspective, not fawning over his immense off-the-field contributions or overrating his playing ability. It does underrate some of the great AFL teams and units, especially the 1969-1970 Chief linebackers (Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier are in Canton). It also talks little on why Sonny Werblin was forced out from the NY Jets. But these are minor quibbles.

Watch a pro football game. Do you like seeing a player's name on his jersey? That is the AFL. Do you like having the stadium clock (as shown on TV as well) as the official clock? That is the AFL. Do you like the 2-point conversion, that is the AFL. Do you like watching even the longest games to conclusion, that is the AFL (with an assist to Heidi).

Great league and this book does it justice.

My son very good at sports BMX,Soccer,Football He started playing Football 5 yrs ago pop warner He follows NCCA,NFL I told him about Walter Payton & how his stile of running was simular to yours. I bought the BOOK/DVD if he would watch it at the begging of the football this year. He didnt take his eyes off the T.V . He ended the year leading scorer & played in the div. champ. game & All- Stars. My opinion on Walter Payton Great Book, Great DVD, The Best Running Back.

Payton
EXCELLENT, a must have for all Walter fans. The book is very well written and I just loved it. He was an awesome man and a devoted father and husband. Well done Connie and family!

Great book and DVD. Highly recommended for Bears fans across the nation but most importantly, to any sports fanatic period! Walter Payton was and is the greatest sports player who ever lived! You will be inspired to do your best and never give up at whatever you do in life! A great unselfish man who did so much for others; inspiration for the world!
Walter Payton: A True and Genuine Role Model (34)

This book/dvd is a must own for any Walter Payton fan. The 1 hour dvd brings back alot of memories watching Walter bust through defenses. The book is well written and gives some insight into his background as well as his character. I paid $15 less at Amazon than what this package was going for on E-Bay. The best part is that my son got to watch the dvd and see what hard work is all about and where it can get you. He could'nt believe the way Payton could "fly" in to the end zone.

I actually knew Walter Payton. He was my neighbor. This book is a great tribute to him, without any doubt!! He WAS as classy as you may think, too. Still hard to believe he's gone.

If you are a true fan, then this book is a MUST own for your home.

A year after Bob and Phil's excellent adventure, I had the extreme pleasure of roadtripping from Charlottesville, Virginia (Where Waldo was holed-up putting the finishing touches on the book) to New Orleans to see Florida State University and The University of Florida play in the Sugar Bowl. It was by far one of the most memorable experiences of my life. (Notwithstanding Waldo's penchant for singing Bruce Springstien songs (badly I might add)at the top of his lungs.) Waldo showed me firsthand what it was like to be completely insane, and introduced me to the heaven on earth that goes by the name of "Dreamland." Has a better book on sports ever been written? Probably! Are there better ribs in the world than those at Dreamland in Tuscaloosa, Alabama? I don't think so. Has anyone ever put the two together in the same place in such a unique and creative way? Most definitely not! Bob and Phil, You really put it through the uprights with this one! (Waldo, I'll roadtrip with you anytime)

Buy a well-worn Cadillac, chuck your jobs, drive around the country to watch rivalry games in the meccas of college football. What a great plan and what a great book. This is among my candidates for best sports books ever, along with Loose Balls and Ball Four. Saturday Afternoon Madness captures the essence of college football from the point of view of fans of the game. They did drive all over the country attending the biggest games the sport has to offer, but college football is much more than just the actual game on the field. There's a great culture around all the best football programs and this book relates that better than any football book I've read.

The bulk of the book actually is more about the football culture at each location. The authors plunged into the world of that game, getting to know the fans, participating in the pre and post-game rituals for each school, sampling local cuisine and tailgates all over America. The book is neutral, written from the perspective of fans of the sport rather fans of particular schools and picked a first-rate list of rivalry games to attend. These guys lived what the late Adrian Karsten used to give glimpses of on ESPN, with each game and college having particular traditions and rhythms on gameday that make it so colorful and addictive. NASCAR is the only other sport in which the activities around the arena are as important to the fans as the actual event and this book gives the reader a good feel as to why.

Saturday Afternoon Madness is hilarious, thoughtful and respectful of what makes college football such a wonderful spectator sport. College football fans should definitely read it and if you're not really into college football yet but wonder what all the fuss is about, Saturday Afternoon Madness will tell you. Any football fan who also collects books should have this on their shelf.

The definitive book for the FUN-loving college football fan, this book details in a hysterical manner the great and wierdest and most FUN traditions in college football, at the best football schools in the country including my Alma Mater the U. of Alabama, where I got my autographed copy. The book details the best places to eat-(the most important thing of all) places like Dreamland Barbecue and the Pinecrest Lodge, the great players and coaches and games, and the bands, rituals, rivalries, crazy incidents, and fans that makes college football the TRUE American pastime and the greatest game in the Land. Bob and Phil are American originals and write some of the funniest stuff you'll ever read. If you love the game-you'll love this book.

From out of the blue, these two unknowns have written what is quite possibly the best sports book ever. The perfect combination of humor and in-depth reporting.

For a shoeless, candy eating, office leeching guy, Bob Waldstein is an am amazing author. I was absolutely amazed by how well these two authors both wrote an excellent depiction of their journeys across the country and made fun of themselves at the same time. I do not beleive anyone could have "hit the nail on the head" any better than these two have. I would like to meet these two great men at some point in my life. These men truly are college football gods. I can't wait to read the sequel. I would love to have a college basketball madness book in my library.

An all encompassing book about the NFL, from its origins to present day - actually more attention is given to the early days of the league than the present, which is good becoz we all know what's going on in the NFL now - too many books don't provide enough detail about a sport's early days and devote too much print to the now. It has detailed chapters on people like Pete Rozelle and Bert Bell, and their influences, and this book also doesn't trudge through on a year by year basis - it gives an overall view of the NFL.

If you follow the NFL, whether you're a die-hard or the casual fan, then Michael MacCambridge's book is a must read. The details of how the league became the force in sports and entertainment it is today is astounding. The anecdotes of the characters who helped shape the league are a joy to read. This one took awhile, as there is so much information to glean from it, from Bert Bell to Pete Tagliabue, Tex Schramm to Lamar Hunt, Dan Reeves to Jerry Jones, you will not be dissapointed.

America's Game is a cleverly weaved story that any football fan or sports historian should enjoy. Written by sports guru Michael MacCambridge, it brings you through several decades of football, from it's unrecognized start to it's modern day spectacle. The book itself is written beautifully- MacCambrige makes the strong, important parts stand out while still making sure the little details are noticed. America's Game: The Epic Story of how Football Captured a Nation is football history at it's finest.

I could not put this book down! It gives one an amazingly detailed perspective of the history of pro football in America. This book has given me a far greater appreciation for football than I could have ever dreamed of. It is so interesting to read about how the smallest of details changed the course of this sport forever. So many things that the modern fan takes for granted like the salary cap, seeing games on TV or even the logos on the helmets are all explained in this book and their stories of how each and many other details came about are truly captivating. This is THE BOOK for football fans.

I like football, but I was always a little hazy on it's early history. The who, what, when and how of the teams and the game's important people. This book nailed that perfectly!! It's a well written, easy read that lays out the important parts of the NFL's history. A complete touchdown.

Where the book misses the extra point is when the author tries to explain why football is America's most popular game. When doing this it seems as if he is directing the book towards fans of other sports, (especially baseball)as if to say "football is the best, so there!" Basically I think the problem is football is the most popular sport for so many reasons the author is trying to explain something that cannot easily be explained. It's like trying to explain to someone why their favorite color is blue.

But overall this is a great book. If you are looking to find out more about the history of the NFL, this is the book for you.

Keith shares with you his life and his love. As a man Keith bares his soul for everyone to look at and into, if you have the guts. Because looking into his, you've got to look into yours and that isn't always easy. Keith knows MOTIVATION, from the inside out and back again. He also teaches motivation to young students of the game and to executives at Fortune 500 companies. You will learn a lot about yourself reading this book. In fact you'll learn a lot about life, the ups, the downs, the joys, the pains, but more importantly what it means to get up off the ground one last time and keep going. Thank you Keith for writing this important work.

hey, i was in your thrid period english class in 2003-2004. I bought your book and had you sign it. now for senior year AP english 12 i'm finally going to read it!

Hey Dorney, This is Eddy W. Well your book was good and as I'm reading these reviews, they seem to be from students. Anyway, I thought the book was very enjoyable and you have got to get me the movie rights. Don't worry. I'll get get David Spade or somebody to play you.

See Yah!

Awesome book,I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from the Author.It is a must read for football and even non football fans.I found the book hard to put down and wanted more at its conclusion,Bravo Mr. Dorney (big cheese)I really enjoyed the memories you shared it brought back alot of good ones for me also.Keep up the good work!!!

A great read, brought back many memories & emotions from my years gone by on the gridiron. It'll stir you whether you played Pee-Wee, HS, College, or Pro Football.
Don't let this one go by without reading, you won't be sorry..
Thanks Keith!!!

I JUST HAD COME HERE ON AMAZON.COM AND LET ALL YOU GOOD FOLKS KNOW JUST WHAT TYPE OF GUY I THINK THIS PIZZAMAN IS. I MET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ATLANTA AT THE SUPERBOWL.WELL ACTUALLY HE WAS AT MACY'S THE THURSDAY BEFORE THE BIG GAME DOING A COOKING DEMONSTRATION.WHAT I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY WAS HOW HE CAN CHARM A CROWD. I MEAN I AM A VERY FICKLE LADY WHEN IT COMES TO CON ARTISTS AND SUCH. BUT THIS GUY EXUDED WARMTH AND SINCERITY AS HE SO GRACIOUSLY FED EVERYONE.I RUSHED RIGHT HOME AND ORDERED THIS BOOK, ONLY BECAUSE I TASTED WHAT HE WAS COOKING AND IT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD. THIS GUY HAS A REAL TALENT FOLKS AND I REALLY HOPE HE BECOMES EVERYTHING HE DREAMS OF.ONE OTHER THING I MUST SAY FOLKS AND DON'T GET ME WRONG BECAUSE I'M 76 YEARS OLD BUT NOT ONLY IS HE DROP DEAD GORGEOUS BUT HE CAN COOK TOO! WAY TO GO PIZZAMAN, THANKS AGAIN. BON APETITTO!

I AM WRITING THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I FEEL COMPELED TO LET ALL YOU KNOW THAT THIS BOOK IS A KEEPER. ALL THOUGH THE GIANTS SEASON IS NOW OFFICIALLY OVER..DON'T BLAME THE PIZZAMAN! HE HAS A REAL TALENT IN WRITING AND I KID YOU NOT WHEN I SAY,"THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE TEAM." IT MADE ME REMINICE, LAUGH AND YES EVEN SHED A TEAR OR TWO. AFTER SEEING THIS DIEHARD FAN ON THE GIANTS GAMEPLAN SHOW ON UPN 9 ALL SEASON, ALL I CAN SAY IS,"WHY ON EARTH DO WE NOT SEE THIS PIZZAMAN DOING ADDS FOR DOMINOS OR PIZZA HUT?" HE HAS A NATURAL TALENT AND FLARE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND HOPEFULLY SOME BIG EXEC. WILL REALIZE THIS AND GIVE HIM A CALL. YOU ARE TRULY GIFTED MR. PIZZAMAN AND I HOPE THAT ONLY GOOD THINGS COME YOUR WAY IN THIS NEW CENTURY. GOOD LUCK AND HOPEFULLY I WILL SEE YOU ON T.V. COMMERCIALS REAL SOON. P.S. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT GO OUT AND BUY THE BOOK OR GO TO HIS WEBSITE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.THANKS AGAIN PIZZAMAN!

YOU MIGHT NOT BELIEVE THIS, BUT HERE GOES. I AM WALKING WITH MY GIRLFRIEND IN THE FREEHOLD MALL AND SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THIS GUY WHO WAS AT THE GIANTS/JETS GAME ON SUNDAY.SHE WAS GOING ON AND ON ABOUT HOW FUNNY HE WAS, HOW INTO THE GAME HE GETS,HOW PASSIONATE HE IS FOR THE GIANTS EVEN HOW GOOD LOOKING HE IS...PULEASEEE..NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS BECOMING A LITTLE JEALOUS. THATS WHEN WE WALKED PAST THE WALDENS BOOK STORE AND LO AND BEHOLD THERE HE WAS. A HUGE POSTER OF THE PIZZAMAN, IN THE WINDOW, SMILING RIGHT AT ME. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT..OF COURSE I HAD TO BUY HER THE BOOK AND SHE WAS EVEN TRYING TO TALK THE MANAGER INTO SELLING US THE POSTER ( SHE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT PUTTING IT IN HER BEDROOM) ALL I CAN SAY PIZZAMAN IS THAT YOU ARE QUITE "THE MAN"...THIS BOOK IS SO AWSOME! YOU WRITE WITH THE PASSION ONLY SOMEONE WITH A SPECIAL GIFT CAN. INSTEAD OF ME BEING MAD AT MY GIRLFRIEND FOR CARYING ON ABOUT YOU, SHE'S MAD AT ME BECAUSE I WON'T GIVE HER THE BOOK BACK. I TOLD HER TO BUY HER OWN. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE LOST HER BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT IS ALL WORTH IT WHEN THE NEXT TIME SHE COMES OVER MY HOUSE I COOK HER ONE OF YOUR RECIPE'S. I CAN'T MISS. THANKS PIZZA MAN AND I HOPE IT'S OK THAT I USE YOUR RECIPE'S TO EARN POINTS WITH MY GIRL YOU ARE TRULY "DA MAN! "

AS I READ ALL THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS ABOUT THIS BOOK I CAN ONLY WONDER WHY EVERYONE IN THE WORLD DOESN'T BUY ONE. YOU SEE THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE DEDICATED TO SOMETHING IN LIFE. THIS PIZZA DUDE SHOWS THAT IN THIS MARVELOUS PUBLICATION. YOU CAN TELL THAT HE PUT ALOT INTO MAKING AN INFORMATIVE, WELL WRITTEN AND FUN BOOK FOR ALL US FANS TO ENJOY. THIS IS FAR FROM JUST AN ORDINARY COOKBOOK. THIS PIZZA DUDE IS SUCH A GIFTED WRITER. I'M TELLING YOU FOLKS YOU HAVE TO ORDER THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY. JUST THE STORIES ALONE WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY YOU DID. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE PHOTO'S OF HIM AND HOW DARN GOOD LOOKING HE IS. THANKS FOR BEING "THE PIZZAMAN" BUT MOST OF ALL THANKS FOR BEING MY DADDY. I LOVE YOU DADDY, YOUR #1 ANGEL GABRIELLE ():-)

A book to be had by all~even if you're not a Giants fan (can that be possible?) It is filled with delicious recipes, great football information and stories that will make you both laugh and cry. Your angels must be truly blessed to have you in their lives, Pizza. Here's to great success with the book and hoping that it brings you much happiness and makes all of your dreams come true.

Wonderful, for those of us who are Packer-backers and even for those who aren't. Good history, honesty about his addiction.

As a Londoner, who learnt to appreciate American football at 21, I wanted background reading to enhance my enjoyment. I started by looking into favourite players of mine, so came this book!

I wanted to understand what goes on in players mind before a big game. How they react to the coach barking orders. How they conduct themselves on and off the field. This book helped me to do all these things and more. Favre is not a roboback, he is an individual with flair and creativity, which is why this book is so entertaining.

I seem to be able to climb right on into Brett's head, and into his personal life through the pages in this book, which is enlightening to say the least. We hear about his highs and lows, and he is frank about his addiction to Vicodin, and his relationships with players and coaches alike.

I think this book is for American Football fans only, which explains why this was my first Amazon purchase, (This book isn't in print in the UK) but for a fan of the Packers, or just a Football fan in general, you can do no wrong in buying this, which will no doubt increase your respect for the stress players endure every game.

This is a good book ,the problem came from the fixation they put on his painkillers addiction and the problems it bring with his wife and teammates.You also have a lot of details about the health problems this addiction caused to him,a little bit like "Drugs is bad to you,see what it do to me."His wife almost let him down for that,his teammates are tired of him asking for Vicodin and others painkillers.The two or three first paragraphs talk about that, but chapter after chapter they come back with it.The book talk to much about his "post popularity" life and not enough of him when he was unknown.His "post popularity" life are report in all the daily newspapers,that why I expect to learn more about Bret Favre before he was a star.They pass to fast on his teens years,his collegiate years.The reason to write a biography his to talk about the unknown parts of someone life,but in this book you just found what everybody read on the last five years newspapers.That a good but incomplete book.

Favre for The Record is the best book I ever read.It is totally a must buy.

First I want to say something about the book. It's great!! If your a true fan of the Packers and want to know about one of the teams, and NFLs greatest players, buy this book. It shows you the kind of person Favre is on and off the field. He takes you through the ups and downs of his life and career that have made him the person and player he is today.Now, for the other reviews I read before writing this one. What promted some numbnuts to write about the packers loss to St. Louis in the playoffs in a book review?? They must be a Bears fan! Another one decided to write that Brett and his family were (...) That's intelligent. I know when I go to read a review about a book that interests me, I want to have to wade through the garbage that idiots like that jerk take up space with.For those of you with a brain in your head, trust me, Farve: For The Record is a great read!!

Rick Reilly has a unique gift for communicating his humorous tales. Thumbs up.

Every Thursday I check the mailbox when I get home, see my Sports Illustrated, and go straight for the back page so I can read Mr. Reilly's column. There is a reason he has been named Sportswriter of the Year so many times, he is simply the best. Reilly writes about the humorous, the sad, and the ironic of sports. I laughed at why he hates the Yankees so much, and almost bawled when reading about the Columbine teacher who gave his life for his students. I do some writing myself and even in my dreams I am not half as good as Mr. Reilly is, and never will be. If you are a fan of good, solid writing, pick this book up and read it over and over again.

There are serious columns in the book. The humorous ones are what made me read the book again. The chapter on the Olympics is the funniest thing I have ever read. Anyone who thinks Reilly is boring has no sense of humor.

Nobody writes about sport like Reilly. This is a great collection of his Sports Illustrated pieces. If you are a fan of sports journalism, this is a must read for you.

I had the privilege of being interviewed several times by Rick when I was a high school track athlete and he was a young flip-flop wearing sports writer for the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, Colorado earning his stripes covering high school sports. Even way back then it was obvious that he enjoyed sports writing and it came as little surprise to see him eventually end up as SI's most notable writer. This collection of some of his best (but not all of his best) SI columns is a gem. Not all are "laugh out loud" humorous, but many are (a testament to his versatility as a writer). His postscript comments are also entertaining. After a thorough reading, this book is a keeper. I can't wait for Volume 2.