Outdoors Books

First of all, I'm not a sports fan, but I'm aware enough of the world around me to know Muhammad Ali from Howard Cossell. The raised fists on the cover of "Souled Out?" took me straight to the opening pages. I was hooked.

As a white male, how could I put down a book in which the author confesses in the first pages that Tommy Smith's courageously defiant raised fist made him, the author as a young man, want to go out and punch the first white kid he met?

As someone who doesn't follow sports, I can't argue with Powell's thesis, but I can tell you that his argument captivated me. "Souled Out?" opens up and teases out social issues with important and far-reaching implications that go far beyond sports. It remains clear and compelling throughout, even to a non-sports-fan.

I closed "Souled Out?" with a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the challenges facing black atheletes in America.

Powell brings up many good points, is easy to read, & this book makes for good discussions! It highlights the lack of the father-figure in many African-American households and how it has effected this generation--on & off the field. Many other issues are raised, however, this is what impacted me the most.

Powell provides a thought-provoking look at the modern day black athlete. He points out the shortcomings of big-time athletes and how some athletes have made themselves jesters. At the same time, he also provides future directions for improving the situation of today's athlete in this honest but opinionated book. This is a great read for anyone interested in racial issues. It's the best book that I've read in several years.

I enjoyed reading William Rhoden's "Million Dollar Slaves" last year, but it read more like a history lesson than does Shaun Powell's excellent page-turner. While Powell offers some historical perspective on the state of black athletes in America, "Souled Out" is primarily driven by present-day issues. This is a big reason for my enjoying his book so much.

This is an engrossing, thoughtful read by a terrific writer and the book should encourage lively debate around many dinner tables, water coolers, and football tailgates this season. Sports fans of every stripe will find this to be a great read spanning a variety of important issues. I could not put it down! A+

This book provides descriptions of all the parks in the area it covers, with maps that show nearly all hiking trails and advice on when is the best time of year for each. I wish the equivalent books for other parts of the bay area were this complete.

For over a year this book has been my bible for selecting hikes in the south bay area. The authors' trail descriptions are vivid, and their routes are planned well. I have two major grievances: first, their loquacious style can make it hard to determine exactly what turns you're supposed to take and when. Secondly, finding a hike is too cumbersome: you go to page 18 to search the map for the park you want, then back to the table of contents to find the page number for the park, then forward to the actual content. The map should be in the very front or back of the book and should include page numbers. Despite those annoyances, I still bring this book with me every weekend, and can recommend it as a good guide.

This is a wonderful book that goes into great deatil about the many trails in and around the South Bay. It breaks down the area by specific parks and then suggested hikes, including mileage, elevation loss or gain, and time. It even has a neat little appendix outlining hikes by category (ie., short hikes, hikes to see spring flowers, etc.) The text is detailed, explaining what you will find around every bend, and the historical information on the parks is very interesting. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get out and away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley.

I just replaced my battered copy of the first edition with the latest, third one, and it's a real winner! These authors' books are always educational, interesting and complete. And best of all they lead one into many fine hiking adventures around the bay. I've spent many a fine summer day following their instructions. It's about time they put out a new edition, because of all the new parks and trails they had to cover. Recommended!

Sports Law gives a great understanding of issues facing today's athletes. Michael Jones takes complex legal cases and breaks them down into easy-to-understand ideas.

This book is ideal for University Sports Law courses, because of its scholarly layout; each chapter begins with a lawsuit, which is then broken down into relevant case law and highlights important facts of each subject. The reader is then given pertinent review questions and Internet sites for further thought and discussion. I enjoyed the appendixes where he had actual contracts and rules that athletes must abide by.

This book was fun to read as a sports law student and an avid sports fan.

The best book on sports and law I have ever read. Michael Jones has truly outdone himself and is a great compliment to the world of education. His approach covers every aspect of sports and the law. This is pretty hard to do considering that sports change everyday and so do the stories surrounding them. I feel that I have a true understanding of how athletics operate; not just in this country, but globally! Good Job!

If you are interested in the legal issues surrounding amateur and professional sports this book has it all. From the Olympics to the buiness of dealing with sports agents this book is a must read for students and lawyers alike.

Name the sports law area, and you'll find it in this book: contract negotiation, constitutional issues, team doctor malpractice, and much, much more. Don't let its "survey" nature fool you. Sports Law provides in-depth analysis of the key area of sports law. Each chapter in Sports Law begins with a "case study," which the author uses to bring the black letter law alive! Also, each chapter is chock-full of examples to illustrate difficult points. This book will appeal to all who are interested in sports, ranging from law students to sports enthusiasts. For example, Jones' insight into player/agent negotiation is something that every sports fan will enjoy. In addition to outstanding written matter, Jones provides real world examples of player contracts, and even gives readers reference materials, such as sports law websites for each topic. Finally, the layout of the book is superb: the index is comprehensive (another plus for students) and each chapter highlights thought provoking considerations of key points. Kudos to Michael Jones! This book truly stands alone and brings this muddled area of law into sharp focus. Others in this field should follow Jones' lead by balancing the academic with the practical. It makes for an informative yet enjoyable reading experience! Whether you're a student, lawyer, or sports fan, this book should rank high on your list of must reads and must haves!

I bought this book for my brother and he loved it. Any sports fan will love it.

Terry Pruyne is a fan of sports; there's no doubt about it. What an amazing collection of nicknames. The effort that went into this project is outstanding. A great coffee table book that leads to many sports conversations and debates with friends and sports foes. As a sports reference book, I highly recommend this to professionals and fans alike. The nickname, in both society and sports, is very important to understanding the trends and values of an era. This book holds the keys to so many unanswered sports questions. It is both easy to read and well organized. This is a must for any sports fan and sports trivia buff. I look forward to the next edition-if indeed there is one. Nice job Mr. Pruyne or should I say Mr. Nickmane.

I bought the book for my father and he loved it. He couldn't believe the information the book contains. I see him leafing through it all the time.

If you are a sports fan, this book will be one that you will just pick up over and over and look through. It contains every nickname I could think of and many more. I always wondered how Magic Johnson got his nickname. I've wondered how Babe Ruth got his. Some nicknames are just hilarious. This would be an asset to any writer of sports, a great addition to anyone's library, or a book you must have on your coffee table.

That the mathematics book is considered really a distinguished reference to all kinds of the sport.
By the pieces of information and the explanatory drawings to all of the tactics and the sportS movements.
And more than 120 sport prioritize by a plentiful interesting and wonderful style by the pieces of information and the clear drawings to each sport.
And concentrates on the rules and Alastratgiat to each sport with an useful historic summary.
And he by a right considers an easy mathematical encyclopedia by a printing with high quality.

Sports: Complete Visual Reference provides a survey of the history, rules, strategies and equipment for over a hundred sports played around the world, covering classic Olympic events, individual and team sports, mechanized and equestrian events and others. Color illustrations and clear explanations discuss the origins and rules of each sport and its evolution over time.

A terrific book describing thousands of sports. You will find sports such as softball, gymnastics, swimming, bowling, diving, and martial art sports. And that's less then a quarter of what the sports in here are! (You name a sport, it's in there!) The book features a history for each sport, the rules, the equipment, and has full color graphics showing basic moves and positions. A must-have for everyone interested in sports.

This book provides in-depth information on all known sports, even some I did not know about! The illustrations are great. It is perfect to know what a sport is all about. Start reading it and you won't stop. Reference at its best. I strongly recommend this work of art.

Bravo!

I planned to re-do my sprinkler system, and was looking for tips on irrigation. There is a lot for commercial use here, which I didn't need.
All in all, I did not find the book useful, so hired a guy to do the work.

I couldn't be happier with this sprinkler.
It's very nice to be able to point the heads in separate directions.
The quality is top rate.
Be sure to get more than one though as it's not practical to try to move it to different spots in you yard or garden.
You don't want to be resetting the directions of you sprinkler heads all the time.
It does take a little bit of time to begin with to get them adjusted to where you want them to go.
I'm going to be buying more of these and my daugher is going to buy some for her yard as well.

A very good book for the homeowner with a sprinkler system. Lots of good info on how systems work, and how they can be modified. Worth the money.

Scotts Sprinklers & Watering Systems is a complete and thoroughly "user friendly" guide to planning and installing landscape irrigation for the home. Profusely illustrated, this "how to manual covers every aspect of planning out a sprinkling system to be as cost efficient to install as it would be to operate. Included in the planning process are detailed materials and equipment comparisons as this superbly organized "how to" manual takes the homeowner and do-it-yourselfer through the planning and design process from beginning to end. Then the reader is taken step-by-step through the installing process with clear instructions and illustrative photography which will eliminate any operational problems later one. Also included is the maintenance, care and upkeep of the installed watering system including occasional repairs and replacement of parts. Finally there is an invaluable section on using the installed water system, getting the right amount of water in the right place at the right time. If you are wanting to include a sprinkler or other kind of watering system as part of your landscaping, then give a close and careful reading to Scotts Sprinklers & Watering Systems -- it will save you not only time and money, but help you to avoid aggravation and error!

This book has a detailed description of just about anything you can think of when it comes to installing your own sprinkler system. From planning bluelines to selecting sprinkler head types, it covered all bases. I was a totally new to the world of sprinkler installation when I read this, and now I feel like a pro!

I originally read this book almost 20 years ago (1983), along with John Richard Young's Schooling for Young Riders (also a must-read for beginners). The book is full of gentle, caring wisdom about the nature of horses and how best to partner with them. The author includes information about everything the novice horseman needs to know, from equipment to a variety of specific training and communication techniques. I have never encountered a better, more comprehensive text for the beginner who wishes to progess to confident competence. I highly recommend anything ever written by this author. It is a loss to us all that his books are no longer in print; he was ahead of his time 50 years ago, and he's still far more progressive than many contemporary trainers.

I originally read this book almost 20 years ago (1983), along with John Richard Young's Schooling for Young Riders (also a must-read for beginners). The book is full of gentle, caring wisdom about the nature of horses and how best to partner with them. The author includes information about everything the novice horseman needs to know, from equipment to a variety of specific training and communication techniques. I have never encountered a better, more comprehensive text for the beginner who wishes to progess to confident competence. I highly recommend anything ever written by this author. It is a loss to us all that his books are no longer in print; he was ahead of his time 50 years ago, and he's still far more progressive than many contemporary trainers.

I was lucky to find it in an antique store, but what a load of infomation it has provided me. It has given me more training advice and tips that I can use on western horses through to hunters. Starting from the foal to yearlings to finishing, he is practicle informative of training a well manered and obidient horse and is not bias in the breed of horses he uses. I found this a great book for any one who wants to lern more on riding and horsemanship. John Richard Young is a great horseman and knows and respects his horses.

I originally read this book almost 20 years ago (1983), along with John Richard Young's Schooling for Young Riders (also a must-read for beginners). The book is full of gentle, caring wisdom about the nature of horses and how best to partner with them. The author includes information about everything the novice horseman needs to know, from equipment to a variety of specific training and communication techniques. I have never encountered a better, more comprehensive text for the beginner who wishes to progess to confident competence. I highly recommend anything ever written by this author. It is a loss to us all that his books are no longer in print; he was ahead of his time 50 years ago, and he's still far more progressive than many contemporary trainers.

Big Ben: 27-4 as a starter (2004-2005 seasons)---only losses (3 of which were injury-related): Patriots, 2004 AFC Championship game (if Plax holds on to sure TD pass, we are only down 7 with about 7+ minutes to go in that game; Ben did some good things and was battling thumb and toe injuries) and also in 2005 (if Randle El doesn't get `cute' and lateral that pass to Ward, we probably win; again, Ben did some good things), as well as the Bengals in 2005 (Ben has beaten Carson Palmer's Bengals 3 times: twice in 2004 and big-time in the AFC Wild-Card game in 2005; Ben had 3 TD passes in this lone defeat and was battling a thumb injury) and Indy in 2005 (as we know, he got revenge in the AFC Divisional Playoff game; Ben threw a TD pass to Ward in this Monday night defeat and was coming off an injury-induced layoff).

Ben's FIRST NFL game: 2004 Pre-season at Ford Field vs. the Lions...last game of 2005 season: 2/5/06 at FORD FIELD, SUPER BOWL XL VICTORY!!!


So Ben didn't play a superb game in Super Bowl XL and there was some controversy...

--Super Bowl IX, 1/12/75: Steelers win 16-6 over the Vikings---Future Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw is only 9 for 14 for 96 yards...BEN WAS 9 FOR 21 FOR 123 YARDS...Bradshaw threw a lone TD...BEN RAN FOR A LONE TD... Future Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton's numbers were putrid: 11 for 26 for 102 yards, 3 interceptions, NO TD's! We were only winning 2-0 going into the third quarter (on a safety); a boring game. The Steelers wore their white shirts and Terry had a beard (the other 3 Super Bowls: black-and-gold shirts, Terry clean shaven)...WE WORE OUR WHITE SHIRTS IN XL AND BEN HAD A BEARD...the game turned on a VERY controversial "fumble-that-wasn't" by the Steelers Larry Brown: the Steelers left the field dejected, the Vikings were in prime territory...then the officials ruled Brown was down before the ball came loose (no way!!!!!)...and the rest is history;

--Super Bowl X, 1/18/76: Steelers win 21-17 over the Cowboys---Future Hall-of-Famer Roger Staubach almost pulled out another miracle comeback...Swann's great falling-to-the-ground acrobatic catch led to no points (!);

--Super Bowl XIII, 1/21/79: Steelers win 35-31 over the Cowboys---the Cowboys' Jackie Smith drops a SURE TD pass that would have tied the game AND our go-ahead TD was aided by a very controversial tripping penalty that cost Dallas 33 yards: Lynn Swann fell over Benny Barnes's ankles and, as Bradshaw has admitted, it shouldn't have been a flag...we were ahead 35-17 at one point...Staubach almost brought them back (35-31);

--GAME BEFORE SUPERBOWL XIV: AFC Championship game vs. the Oilers, 1/6/80: Steelers win 27-13---late in the third quarter, officials ruled that Oilers receiver Mike Renfro did not have possession of what appeared to be a game-tying TD (WRONG!!!! He was in bounds; bad, bad call)...and the rest is history...

---Super Bowl XIV, 1/20/80: Steelers win 31-19 over the Rams---Bradshaw threw 3 INTERCEPTIONS and we were losing for most of the game...until Lambert saved our butts by intercepting QB Vince Ferragamo's pass...and the rest is history
(Steelers in the 1970's: regular season---99-44-1; playoffs: 14-4)

NON-STEELER SUPER BOWL "LUCK"---
Super Bowl XXV, 1/27/91: Giants defeat Bills BECAUSE SCOTT NORWOOD BARELY MISSES A RELATIVELY EASY FIELD GOAL, one of the biggest blown plays ever!;
All 3 of the Patriots victories were by exactly 3 points...and the Eagles really blew it with poor clock management (sound familiar?)!;
Super Bowl XXXIV, 1/30/00: Rams defeat Titans, 23-16--- The Rams' Mike Jones tackled Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line as time expired. Dyson would have tied the game; Super Bowl V, 1/17/71: Colts beat Cowboys, 16-13, via a field goal... Dallas' Chuck Howley, who picked off two passes, became the first defensive player and the first player from a losing team to be named MVP.



The Steelers have been in the Super Bowl in the 1970's. 1980's, 1990's, and in the new millennium (2000's)---
IX (1975), X (1976), XIII (1979), XIV (played in 1980), XXX (played in 1996), XL (2006)

Big Ben---ONLY QB to ever go to Championship game his first two years; youngest to win the Super Bowl (Steelers: first 6th seed to go/ win; only team to beat #1, #2, and #3 seeds on the road and win; three-way tie for most Super Bowl victories: 5, along with Dallas and San Francisco; tied for second with most Super Bowl appearances: 6, along with Denver [who have `only' won 2])...comparison to other Hall-of-Fame and/or outstanding QBs---
Jim Kelly: 0 for 4; never won a Super Bowl;
Fran Tarkenton: 0 for 4; never won a Super Bowl;
Dan Marino: 0 for 1; never won a Super Bowl;
Kenny Anderson: 0 for 1; never won a Super Bowl
Len Dawson: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
Johnny Unitas: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
Joe Theismann: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
Brett Favre: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
Kurt Warner: won one Super Bowl (and lost one, as well);
Ken Stabler: won one Super Bowl
Joe Namath: won one Super Bowl;
Phil Simms: won one Super Bowl;
Steve Young: won one Super Bowl;
Also: John Elway: after FIFTEEN YEARS IN THE LEAGUE, won two...after losing 3 very badly!

BEST run in sports history (as confirmed by a Congressional resolution!): won 8 in a row---
Bears (who had an 8-game winning streak), Vikings on the road (who had a 6 game winning streak...and Cowher NEVER won in a dome stadium before!), Browns on the road, and Detroit on 1/1/06 (where, unbeknownst to us at the time, we were headed for 2/5/06!); Bengals on the road (#3 seed, previously beat us), Colts on the road (#1 seed, league's best record, heavily favored, dome stadium, previously beat us; the Fumble, the Tackle, and the Miss), Broncos on the road (#2 seed, favored, 10-0 at home)...and the #1 NFC seeded Seahawks "on the road" in another dome, Detroit's Ford Field (where Big Ben started his NFL career vs. the Lions in the 2004 pre-season!!!)

YOU HAVE TO GET THE TWO-DVD SET "STEELERS: THE COMPLETE HISTORY" (2005; NFL Films), 1933-2004 (too bad they didn't wait a year haha!)---the main feature is 2 hours and 20 minutes long and covers 1933 up to and including Beg Ben's 2004 season; incredible. All the `lean years' (1930's-1960's; 1980's) are covered, NOT just the "glory seasons"---Kordell, Brister, Malone, Stoudt, Hanratty, etc. etc. etc. The bonus feautures are awesome, ESPECIALLY the 45-minute Jerome Bettis special-VERY IRONIC!! You will see Tommy Maddox with the Bus when they were both Rams in 1995...excellent miked-on-the-field comments, often funny, by Bus, Ward, and Cowher...Jan. 2005 AFC lowlights, Hines Ward crying, Jerome's reaction, and the tantalizing hint that Super Bowl XL wil be played in Jerome's hometown of Detroit...which makes what they did in 2005/2006 VERY story book! Also: the Bill Cowher, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Myron Cope, Dick Hoak, and Bill Saul segments/ specials are very entertaining, as is the Super Bowl XIII feature..get this...as well as the SUPER BOWL XL DVD---2005 season highlights included, as well as the 2006 playoffs!

Okay, now if you don't know much about Pittsburgh, but if you like football, this book will enlighten you. Whether you are a remaining native Burger or were born here and left, keeping your allegiance to the city(such as I), this book will open all your senses and you will recall the glory of walking duntown in a seemingly not too distant past where the Stillers were the lifeblood of the city. These were the days when the "legendary" performers were writing their part of history. If you want to read about mostly plays and scores, this may not be for you. If you have ties with either or both the city and the team, this may be the best thing out there. Do not miss it.

I must preface this review by saying that I am not a Steelers fan or even a football fan. Never the less I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was given to me by a Pittsburgh based friend who thought I would appreciate the writing and ( as a Cubs fan ) the 'lovable losers' quality of the early Steelers. My friend was right.
This is indeed a terrific underdog story. With a founder/owner straight out of Damon Runyon and a record of only eight winning seasons between 1933 and 1971 this team was the doormat of the NFL. Then with Franco Harris's Immaculate Reception in 1972 everything turned around. The Steelers became the dominant pro football team for the rest of the '70s with eight future Hall of Famers and nine visits to the playoffs.
The writers assembled to tell this compelling story are first rate. This book is required reading for Steelers fans, but I would recommend this book to all football fans or fans of good writing.

I was thirteen years old on December 23, 1972 when, on a small black-and-white television in our half-finished basement, my buddy and I watched Jack Tatum viciously pop Frenchy Fuqua on a play that should have ended the game and season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What happened moments later and still burns in memory is just one of the many stories wonderfully captured in THE STEELERS READER, a must-read for any thinking sports fan with or without connections to the city and people of Pittsburgh. Although this collection covers the 70-year history of the team, for me it's the great Steelers teams of the 1970s which are most vividly brought to life from a series of cultural, historical -- even geographical -- perspectives. This collection includes some great sports writing from Frank Deford, Roy Blount, Jr., and others, but best of all there are the characters and the folklore: the Terrible Towel, Three Rivers Stadium, Gerela's Gorilla's, Terry Bradshaw, Art Rooney, Mean Joe Greene, Ernie "Fats" Holmes, Chuck Knoll, Rocky Bleir, and Franco's Italian Army. If only my local sports section were this well written and fun to read!

In retrospect, it's not just the BEST book, but probably the ONLY book that deals effectively with this subject in one comprehensive volume.

This book really is in a class of its own when it comes to self-defence. Yes, it's a large book but it's packed FULL of information that you'll ever need to protect yourself (or your family) with. Simply laid out in an easy to read fashion. Peter C. is in a league of his own when it comes to this subject, his lifetime of study and experience are all summarised in this book.

You don't have to be a martial artist or learn any fancy moves here - just easy to apply common sense practices to keep you safe, any time, anywhere.

Don't be put off by the price either, it's worth every penny. That's why it's becoming rare, everyone wants a copy!!

If you're a martial arts instructor or self-defence expert, this is probably the last book you'll ever need to buy on the subject. If you're 'just' a member of the public, it may just save you're life!

Peter Consterdine expertly details the correct attitude that should be developed and strategies that should be followed if you wish to reduce the dangers facing you in todays high risk society. In Chapters 1 & 2 he covers The Basic Principles of Personal Security and takes us through Awareness Training the cornerstone of good personal security. He covers personal security in all types of enviroment and then goes on to deal with fear, the law and what does and does not work in any physical encounter. Here he comes into his own helping the reader to understand how they will feel under the extremely stressful conditions of a physical encounter and how to override this and develop aggression together with the use of pre-emptive strikes which will help win the day. I highly recommend this book, buy it, it may one day save your life.

A no-nonsense book about personal safety, the author addresses principles of personal security, the threat pyramid, security on the street, fear and adrenal responses, personal threat analysis, legal aspects of self defense, ranges, tools, handling multiple attackers, situational awareness, psychology of conflict, conflict resolution, and a whole lot more. Home, mobile and office security are covered as well. It is holistic, well written, and imminently practical.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction; co-author of The Way of Kata and The Way to Black Belt

This book is terrific! It details the best ways to protect yourself from harm. It emphasizes awareness and preemptive strikes, if necessary. It covers home, work, car, and mobile security issues. I plan on reading other books by this author.

Dr. Horrigan and "Doc" Kreis have done a great job with this book. It contains an abundance of information that anyone interested in enhancing sport performance will benefit from reviewing and reading. This text has enough "meat" in it that the strength training professional will benefit by having it on their reference list and the teaching approach is clear and so well illustrated so the athlete can use the materials also.

I just started playing hockey two years ago and was looking for a book to help me become a better player. This book is very detailed and easy to use for a beginner such as me. I have seen immediate results in my strength and conditioning since buying this book.

This is one of the finest and most comprehensive books ever written on sports conditioning. It is not only for the hockey player, but for all athletes in all sports looking to gain an edge. It gives great detail and clarity on ways to improve speed, strength, and overall conditioning. This book will make the average coach look like a genius.

This book is one of the finest and most compehensive books ever written on sports conditioning. It can stand on its own for training not only hockey, but any sport. As a strength and conditioning coach for 14 years, it is the most organized and a highly practical tool for writing and executing programs for the improvement of speed, strength and overall conditioning of every athlete. It can turn an average coach into a genius.