Athletics Books

Geoff Ketchum has long been known as one of the foremost experts in Texas on high school and college football with his daily sports talk radio show in Austin and his well read website at Orangebloods.com. Now he has produced his first book which all football fans in Texas will enjoy regardless of whether or not they root for the University of Texas Longhorns. Ketchum, who was well known even while in high school for his sports column and in collge for being part of a team that won the U.T. Sports Trivia Bowl contest, has succeeded where many authors fail. By using his carefully cultivated inside connections and encyclodepic knowledge of the program, Kethcum has scored a touchdown with this Die-Hard Fan's Guide. It's a fun read that no true college football fan should be without.

Great book! Bought extra as a gift and will probably buy more! Geoff Ketchum brings excellent insight and knowledge of UT Football history into print!

I guess I'm kind of qualified to write this review because Herb's a friend of mine. He's a professor of African Studies now at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and a world-renowed expert on mercenaries. Most of his students don't know he ever went through what he went through, but even without it, he's still one of the most popular, most beloved professors at Georgetown. This book just proves what a good man he really is. Highly recommended.

I read this in 1981 and return for few line review, 16 years later. Why? Because I still strongly recall the great encouragement it provided to me during that time. Afflicted with cancer, Mr. Howe, a man in his 20's, fights back w/the 90's moniker of a in-your-face tenacity. From his title, very heavy excercise, and a killer positive attitude to get IT before it gets him carries this work that would inspire many, if not all, present day motivational speakers. More than a biography, its strength is in the achieving what one once thought of as impossible.

I found this book provided innovative and real solutions to the various problems I've faced at my children's baseball and hockey games over the past several years.

I am very fortunate that I have two sons that are naturally talented
athletes and are always selected to be on travel and all-star teams. When I
read Fair Play I was surprised to find that despite the success my sons have
had I learned that they could be excelling and learning more if they were
invovled in programs such as the book suggests and illustrates. This is
truly a book for every parent to read.

it gave me the winning touch!!!!! I want to reccomend this book for every field hockey player in the world!

I played field hockey about 9 years ago and recently my arm has been slightly twisted to coach middle school hockey. I had forgotten all the basics of the game and this book is a quick to the point guide. I like the pictures it provides and the drills. My goalie coach who had never even seen a game before has been able to use the book and apply it to coaching my goalies. I definitly recommend this book whether you are a coach who is looking for a break down of skills or a player looking to improve your game.

This is a wonderful book, about multicultural friendship, friendship between women, and also about the importance of loving what you do (and of course, it definitely puts being athletic and finding a sport you love in a positive light).

I really enjoyed this book when I read it -- and read it many times afterwards too. It's a pity it's out of print. I believe the author is R. Rozanne Knudson ???

Look for it at your library if you can't find it here. It's a very strong, validating book for young women.

This is a wonderful story of a young American Indian girl who is recruited to run for the Utah Utes. It soon becomes clear that she is extraordinaryly gifted. Through her coming to terms with competitive running, those around are healed and she herself is healed. It is charming and funny.

This is must reading for parents and athletes. As a former high school coach I've seen many kids that struggled with not only the attention they receive as a top athlete, but with decisions they must make regarding their future education and/or career. This book will give the athlete and his/her family a step by step approach to the future. I really think that this book should serve as required reading in college. I don't believe that the NCAA or the professional leagues do enough to help prepare athletes for the future. Many of these athletes will make more money coming out of school than any CEO. Why don't we consider this education? Another thing this book does is teach that not everyone is going to make it to the big time, and all athletes need to prepare for the day the cheering stops. My hope is that every potential college or pro athlete takes the time to understand the lessons that Mr. Smith teaches.

This is must reading for parents and athletes. As a former high school coach I've seen many kids that struggled with not only the attention they receive as a top athlete, but with decisions they must make regarding their future education and/or career. This book will give the athlete and his/her family a step by step approach to the future. I really think that this book should serve as required reading in college. I don't believe that the NCAA or the professional leagues do enough to help prepare athletes for the future. Many of these athletes will make more money coming out of school than any CEO. Why don't we consider this education? Another thing this book does is teach that not everyone is going to make it to the big time, and all athletes need to prepare for the day the cheering stops. My hope is that every potential college or pro athlete takes the time to understand the lessons that Mr. Smith teaches.

Great look into the world of college athletics that you don't see on ESPN.

Gives the readers a real look at what goes on; what's really involved in the world of college sports and the "student athlete".

Great reading.

You think that college athletics have become more show than competition? Well, read this book and come away with what really goes on. Excellent read.

The book offers a great read on the history of intercollegiate athletics. The specific stories about universities and conferences allow the reader to connect to what is current in the world of college athletics. It is gives a good story of what was going on behind the scenes. It is a good book for policies concerning college athletics.

Tom Waddell always planned on writing a book on his life. He thought he had more time, in life, to write about his life. However, his life was abruptly ended at the age of 49, before he could complete his journal about his life. ABC Sportscaster Dick Schapp completes Tom's dream of writing a book. Schapp first became interested in Waddell's life at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Waddell competed against U.S. Decathalon Champion Bill Toomey. While Waddell didn't win a medal, his time at the Mexico City Olympics was somewhat controversial. Waddell campaigned against the opression of African-Americans, in the Southern United States, and drew fire from the U.S. Olympic Committee. In his personal life, Waddell was also making news. After coming out of the closet, Waddell organized what was to have become the "Gay Olympics". However, the U.S. Olympic Comittee would not allow Waddell to use the word Olympic in the title of the games. That litigation began an ongoing legal battle that would not be solved until Waddell's death. In his personal life, Waddell was also controversial. He wanted a child so much, that he and a lesbian conceived what would become his daughter Jessica. He and Sara, another Olympic Athlete, later married. Waddell's dream of seeing his daughter grow up never materialized. He was one of the first to become infected with the HIV virus, and died in 1987. "Gay Olympian" is a moving account of Waddell's life. his love of life, sports, medicine and his daughter. Dick Schapp combines Waddell's Journal to his daughter with the story of Waddell's life. It also paints a disturbing picture of the vindictiveness of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the pain the organization caused in his life. I highly recommend this book

Tom Waddell is more than just the creator of the Gay Games, he is someone who has dedicated his life to making people feel welcome, making them feel accepted, no matter what is different about them.
This is the heartwarming story of a young man who knew the feeling of being "different" and decided to dedicate to fight intolerance and AIDS until the very end, his death.
After hearing about the Gay Games, I decided to write a paper for one of my classes about this. I interviewed people who had worked with Tom Waddell, and people who still worked for the Gay Games, that were held that year in my home country, the Netherlands.

The story of the 60 year old woman who had never participated in a sports contect before, who wasn't particularly athletic, who didn't win an official prize but who won the prize of being part of something fantastic. The story of the swimmers not getting out of the water to collect their medals, but to cheer for those still in the water.
These stories truly touched my heart, and I can't do anything but recommend this story to everyone. Gay or straight, "normal" or "different", Tom Waddell's will teach all of something about the true spirit of sports and games, love and acceptance.

George Toma has inspired so many people with his great work ethic and dedication. This book does a fine job of detailing the life of a great man.

I don't think I've ever read any biography that did a better job painting a picture of a person. I laughed. I cried. I couldn't believe with which the art that Goforth used to paint his words. I especially liked reading about Toma's tales about getting the football field ready for the Super Bowl. That's probably why I liked this book--there was something in it for everybody--sports fans, George Toma fans, or anybody else who just wants to read a colorful, delightful book. This is one tome that should make any Toma lover happy. There should be more books out there by Goforth and other journalists like him. What a talent!

This is a wonderfully strange and inticing little book. I came to the running revolution in the mid 70's with all the other boomers. 30 years, 23 marathons, hundreds of road races and 20+ years of coaching and I'm still addicted. My heroes were Ryun, Liquori, Prefontaine, Shorter and Rodgers. There was always this myth of a man named Gerry Lindgren who may have been the greatest high school runner ever. Legend had it that he ran ungodly mileage 150, 175, 200 miles a week. 50 mile runs, 80 mile runs. Lindgren has given us a special little book that recounts his high school years and his emergence as a world class runner. It is a beautiful window into his world. Writing it as his shadow allows him to use the third person which, in this case, works very well. His replays of his races and his internal dialogue are worth the price of the book. This is a great little read.

Gerry Lindgren is the greatest high school runner in history. In 1964, he was running within seconds of World Records and chasing the fastest runners in the world. He also won the Olympic Trials 10k. No high school runner before or since has come close to his accomplishments. He is also the closest any American has ever come to the World Record in the 3-mile/5000m, coming within 0.6 seconds of the world record in 1966. In 1965, he actually got the World Record in the 6-mile/10,000m. He logged 200 miles a week and inspired a generation of runners to excel. Selfless and tireless, Gerry broke barriers thought impossible and is a hero to thousands. He's finally written the first of two books on his life in running, and it is a treat for any fan of the golden era of American distance running, or for anyone wishing to be inspired to achieve personal excellence in running. A must-have.