Athletics Books

This is simply my favorite book ever. I have read approximately 100 sports books and no single book ever made me feel as the authors (Valenti and NYC high school coach Ron Naclerio) were so close to and affected by the actions of their subject. Daniels has been labled as one of the greatest high school basketball players ever and his legend is probably even larger. He came from a broken home and became a victim of drug abuse at such an early age that his career never amounted to anything close to what it should have been. He did eventually play in the NBA only after years of drugs and a critically wounding gunshot robbed him of the potential he had when he was young. I met him in a bar at the New Jersey shore (close to where he and his family now live) on a chance one night years after I read this and was still simply awed by him as a result of this book. If you are a sports fan, please read this.

MAGIC JOHNSON WITH A JUMP SHOT, that's what they called him, who am i talking about? Read on my friend. In this grippin and tear jerking story of street ball, we learn the true goods and evils of the game. In this story, the main character, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels, struggles against his addication to "the rock". This story will give you the true vision of what it takes to be a great, and the situations young urban kids have to go through to make their dreams come true.

Great book about could-have-been basketball legend Lloyd Daniels. A great inside look of how the glory of basketball corrupts youth. Inspirational because of Lloyd Daniels' limited success in the NBA and CBA. I loved this book because of its rags to seemingly riches to rags story about the Swee'Pea Lloyd Daniels.

It's written in a straight-forward and entertaining style and yet is packed full of useful information, including illustrations, for the amateur swimmer like myself as well as an Olympic hopeful. Coach Nessel covers the dynamics of all four competitive strokes and the individual medley, starts, turns, and finishes. Having a scientific background, he also explains the physiological aspects of swimming (now you will know WHY you hurt :) and there is a whole section on health and nutrition in relation to performance. Highly recommended for any swimmer from teenager to senior citizen.

The book Swim to Win contains thoughtful and clearly explained descriptions of the mechanics of swimming. What sets this book apart from others is the authors knowledge and explanation of the science of exercise and its application to swimming performance, training, recovery, hydration, and so on. The science is well explained, easy to understand, and well integrated into this training text. The sample workouts are excellent and emphasize the principle of intensity over duration.
This is a terrific book.

The book is very informative on many levels and provides valuable information for swimmers, parents and coaches. The way technique, training, nutrition and race preparation are covered gives the reader a solid foundation for success. For coaches and parents the book provides information not found in one source and is a valuable reference.

Too often those who are really good at something are in such demand for their services that they have little time to provide a complete presentation to explain it all for others. Houglum and the team that assisted in producing this book with its hundreds of photographs and detailed exercise instructions have done so. "Why, how, when and what to do," are all spelled out. While the book is intended for sports / rehab professionals, many of the technical terms not familiar to those who are not in the field are provided in a glossary. "Theraputic Exercise for Athletic Injuries" is an excellent resource for those who wish to continue to improve their physical condition long after the limited physical rehabilitation provided by insurance coverage is complete. It is almost as good as having Houglum on-line as your own personal trainer.

This book is an outstanding book. It has every condition you can think of and plenty of rehab exercises for the athlete. It is very well written and easy to understand. Hope authors come out with another related book soon.

The book is written with the professional in mind. The sections are the most complete I have seen in a rehab book. The sections are divided with ease in finding the area needing information for you patient. Easy and simple rehab and progressions make this a must have. The book costs, but you get what you pay for.

This book is good for you if you are just starting out with little experience. It includes things on technique, training, diet, and drills. It really helped me succed.

High school athletes as well as coaches will love this book. It has great photo sequences and is written so the athlete can actually take it to practice. Lots of humor in it to make the technical stuff actually fun and easy to understand.

I first saw this book a my local library back in 1993 and it has helped me with my coaching at the junior college level ever since. I recommend this book to field event coaches of all levels. I have been wondering where I could buy this book, because no retail bookstore carries this subject. I even thought about telling the library that I lost it and paying for it that way! Thanks Amazon.

As any fan of the USC Trojans knows, the football program has a very long and storied history. No college football fan would deny that USC has a place among college football royalty, alongside the likes of Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska and Texas. Of course, getting to that level involved winning games - lots of them - and important ones at that. But of USC's hundreds of victories, which were the most important in contributing to USC's status as a former and current powerhouse?

In this book, Barry LeBrock examines ten of the most momentous victories in USC football history. From the early days in the 1920's when Howard Jones' Thundering Herd took on Knute Rockne's Notre Dame teams and forged a tremendous rivalry that has produced some of the greatest players and plays in all of college football history, to the modern day, when Pete Carroll forged his reputation as the most gifted USC coach since John McKay - the top 10 greatest victories in USC history are included. Of course, there might be some controversy involving the ten games included, but I think almost all USC fans would agree that the ten that are listed in the book are indeed milestones in Trojan history. For instance, USC's 2001 victory over UCLA (a 27-0 shutout) is a curious inclusion, given that USC's 2001 season was a mediocre campaign, with only 6 wins against 6 losses, but it was this game that really set the bar in Los Angeles that USC was back, and UCLA was no longer the big dog in town.

Each of the ten chapters involves a description of the game itself, but with ample background information so the reader can understand what was going on in the world of college football at that point in time, and what the stakes involved in the game were. The descriptions of the players and coaches and atmosphere of the game are truly engrossing. This is a wonderful, enjoyable read for any Trojan fan (or for those who just want to know what USC football is all about) and I would highly recommend it.

I have been following USC football for about twenty years and I thought I knew most of the stories about the Trojans. But this book was full of stories that I had never heard before. He quotes everybody -- from guys who played in the 1920's to OJ to Garrett, from Marcus to McKay, and Leinart and Carroll.
Definietly worth reading if you are a Trojan backer. Excellent.

While Barry LeBrock's "The Trojan Ten," as the title suggests, focuses on what he considers to be the ten most significant victories in the long and celebrated history of USC football, the book is actually an historical compendium of a program that stands at the top of the gridiron pedestal alongside Notre Dame, USC's oldest and most competitive rival.

Currently the Trojans and Irish have each secured 11 national championships. They are also even in the Heisman Trophy department with each school boasting 7 winners.

LeBrock explains how graduate manager Gwynn Wilson of USC, realizing that legendary playing Notre Dame under famed coach Knute Rockne could be the springboard toward a Trojan surge into the top ranks of collegiate gridiron teams, was able, with the assistance of his wife doing a good sales job on Mrs. Rockne, to get the famous Notre Dame to okay the series.

LeBrock also reveals how, when USC fired football coach Gloomy Gus Henderson, Rockne lent the Trojans a helping hand in recommending that they consider hiring Iowa's coach Howard Jones. It was a 16-14 come from behind victory by USC over Notre Dame at South Bend in 1931 with Jones as coach that prompted the school from the West to catapult into the same elite circle with ND. This, understandably, was LeBrock's first choice as he chronologically presented his choices of the ten most significant victories in the school's history.

Two other victories over Notre Dame also fell into the elite ten category, the others being 1964 with a 20-17 upset over the number one ranked Irish and the benumbing 55-24 victory over the Irish after the men of Troy overcame a 24-0 deficit and appeared ready to sustain a humiliating defeat.

While the title scheme and a certain amount of emphasis on LeBrock's part extend to the ten victories selected, the book has much more. He leads into those classic games by giving shape and perspective to the Trojan program during the periods in question before and after the classic victories then reveals the aftermath of the impact on the school's overall program.

For instance, in analyzing the great 1931 triumph solid emphasis is given to the winning mentality developed by Howard Jones in establishing a juggernaut that provided national titles in 1928, 1931, 1932 and 1939.

We then see a passing of the dynastic baton almost one generation after Jones's death from a heart attack following his final season in 1940 to the advent of witty and jovial John McKay, the architect of the 1964 and 1974 storybook wins over the Fighting Irish and the molder of four USC national champions in 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1974.

Another game put in LeBrock's top ten was one of the most memorable of McKay's career, when USC battled crosstown rival UCLA for the 1967 national championship. The Bruins featured the quarterback who would win the Heisman Trophy that season in Gary Beban. The game's deciding touchdown in USC's exciting 21-20 win was scored on a 64-yard romp by O.J. Simpson, the Heisman winner to be in 1968.

Once that the McKay years are completed LeBrock segues to the era of Pete Carroll, the next and current USC dynasty coach. His first top ten selection concerning Carroll was a 27-0 shutout of UCLA in 2001 in what he sees as a milestone game in which the Trojans made significant inroads into the future and the recruiting war with the Bruins.

One of my favorite elements of this book is the way that the author explores the USC winning tradition based on the productive careers of three coaches, providing an important insight into winning psychology. Given that there are a lot more people to interview concerning the McKay and Carroll dynasties, this psychological element involving a dynastic football program can be explored at greater detail than in the case of Jones, the great coach who built an impressive Trojan foundation in the twenties and thirties.

Current USC athletic director plays a major role in the development of this book. In addition to writing the foreword, he was recruited by McKay and became USC's first Heisman winner in 1965. As athletic director he was responsible for hiring Carroll over the vociferous objections of many L.A. sports media figures and prominent school alumni, who were proven wrong by Carroll's enormous success.

Reading this book was enjoyable because it gave me a deeper insight into what makes Kim Mulkey tick. The background from childhood through coaching was excellent--not too detailed, but just enough info to explain things. Reading Kim's coaching philosophy and current stance at Baylor was interesting. I highly recommend this book.

I've heard Kim Mulkey speak in person as well as seen her in action coaching and this book sounds just like her. She is very forthright and as always, tells it like she sees it. Except for a few repeated or inserted sections that seem to interrupt the flow, the book is a very good read.

Kim Mulkey wrote an interesting auto biography, which helps us know how she became so succesful in her career. It is great reading for any fan of women's basketball and working mothers who in spite of the demands on their time, keep family first.

This book is one of the best books on Track and Field athletics and World Record breakers that I have ever read and I must say that I have read quite a few books since I became a Track and Field statician in 1978. I myself have been very interested in Track since I was young and read about the amazing feats of Bob Hayes in the Tokyo olympics in 1964.I would have to say that this book is very well written compared to the other books that I have read. If you are mildy or very interested in Track and Field Record breakers I would have to suggest this book.

I bought this book a couple of months ago and I found it so interesting that I read it in 2 days. If you want to know all the world record improvements for each event buy this book. Each world record has been officially approved by the IAAF so you know it's genuine.

'World Record Breakers in Track & Field Athletics' is an excellent record of prominent athletes and their training routines. Gerald Lawson's text is confident and unadorned, and the athletes he cites are significant achievers. Colourful illustrations serve to enliven the prose. So, too, does the Introduction, tightly written by Anna Bolic, the coach of the Hungarian Women's Track Team. An excerpt is worth quoting;

'Gerald Lawson's book is inspiration to our womens of the field and truck. I use this words when I'm coaching the girls and they love Mr Lawson and his prominent testimonials. Mr Lawson warns about steroids and I say to my girls that they should listen as steroids are bad, especially when they promote facial hair and aggressive gesturings. I know they have followed because the team's razor bill is now down to only $800 a week. Mr Lawson also teaches that smoking before an event is harming to the lunks and chesticals, so now they only light up after a run. My girls want to be just like Mr Lawson, without having to wait months for the operation in a pubic hospital.'

'World Record Breakers in Track & Field Athletics' is essential reading for all athletes and coaches.

This book has excellent information for the novice or seasoned trail runner. With it's topography of the trails, the newest runner can pick a trail that is not too difficult. Beautiful photographs.

A recent resident of Venice, California, I looked out to the Santa Monica mountains from my second story window and wondered where the running trails were. I've bounced around LA over the past few years, running in Griffith Park, Fryman Canyon, Porter Ranch, among other routes, but these new mountains drew me to them.

How to find my way? I ran one morning at Will Rogers Park and asked someone about the trails that lured me away from the traffic and the people. The runner said: "Get Stan Swartz' book!" Thus armed, I searched a book store and found it quickly. It was exactly what I was searching for, similar in style to the wonderful book I had purchased years earlier which depicted all the trail running possibilities within New York City.

Now, eight weeks after placing third in my ritualistic 10K at Descanso Gardens, I leaf through the book almost every morning, wondering which route I will take on the weekend, building up my confidence with each page turn.What I find fascinating is that the descriptions of the routes, the distances, and benchmarks, the terrain, ALL MATCH THE REALITY. I know I am on the right trail; I know when I am half way through; I know when to turn left or right; the topographical maps give me an idea of the ups and downs. Now that I have completed several of the runs alone among this spectacular landscape, I inhale the spiritual aspect of running imbued by George Sheehan and combine it with the practical information provided by this book.

I look forward to trying out as many of the runs as I can, venturing out even to the longest ones at 13 miles. When I can, I will join the other runners on Sunday mornings. The three authors have given me a great gift: the ability to explore historical terrain with the eyes of a contemporary "critter"...a trail runner who feels at one with the wondrous varieties of Nature described so completely by those who have gone before me. Thank you.

When I read this book three years ago I never heard of a Decathlon and I never thought I'd be one. When my mom got me this book for me for the first time I was interested, and wanted to find out what this book was about. I was in track but I only ran the mid-distants runs. I do like to play around with different events and when I did I would do better then the best on the track team. So I began to compete in some events durning track meets just to find out that I was doing well in them. But my track coach would disapprove of trying too many events and not concentrating on my mid-distant runs. Well, I read this book and was introduced to the decathlon and I wanted to do it, and I did. I have competed in the decathlon for two years and have increase my score by 1000 points over that time and plan on doing even better next time. I am now training very hard for it and this time I'm going to be more ready then ever. This has done great things for me and Dave Johnson's life is so similar to mine. I was also a rebal in my early years and then I got a sign from God and was instantly changed. I would appreciate it if Dave Johnson's would read this. I want to think him for changing my life. -Aaron M. Mills

This is a book that you can often compare to times in your own spiritual life. I am 12 years old and got this book last Christmas. I have read the whole way through it lots of times, and it has never been any less exciting.

This book is a must for all public and college libraries so that the thousands of young women in high schools and colleges who run every day have access to the history of their sport. It includes everything anyone would want to know about women's track and field history...louise mead tricard (author)

As a Physical Education teacher and former Chair of a SUNY Department of Health and Physical Education, I found this book to be an excellent resource. It is well researched, compulsively thorough, and presented clearly. The book is a boon for those looking for any information related to women's track and field from its inception in 1895 to 1980. It follows the significant setbacks and victories of women's track and field in an interesting narrative backed up by reams of statistics.