Athletics Books

It's obvious that this book is cobbled together from drafts of several authors with different writing styles which isn't all that annoying in itself. However, the chronic repetition of the same information is. That said it's still worth finishing the read. It's certainly a sad indictment on the media industry and justice system in the USA.

Even though I had followed the case at the time, I still read this in two nights flat - it's that good. This is an important book, heck it's an important story, particularly for "white people". I write that with hesitation, but heck that's the truth. How come "white" has almost become a term of abuse? "White boy" certainly has. And that's just it. They only reason this tall tale, this ridiculous hoax, went this far, affected so many lives, pushed so many people to the edge of their existence (could you post a $400, 000 bond for your son, whilst your wife is having a nervous breakdown) is that these were "white boys". Thus it was open season. Read with horror as these boys, because of making one mistake, one error of judgement, inviting a stripper to perform a private function in their home, lost their coach, their season, their house (many slept in their cars), were hounded off campus or formally expelled, threatened both verbally and by mail - all this after fully cooperating with the police, turning over all the physical evidence in their house without question, voluntarily took DNA tests - and it still took months and months, hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions (the lawyer fees of the indicted three estimated at $100,000 a month), an extraordinary display of loyalty and togetherness between their teamates, their relatives and neighbors and some great lawyers (their lawyers are to me, all heroes - one, Kirk Osborn, sadly died of a heart attack during the ordeal) to finally shake off the blatantly false allegation of a mentally unstable criminal supported by a madman whose daytime job was District Attorney. So we both cheer when they are finally vindicated by then wonder - is America crazy right now or what? What is this war on "white men" by the feminists, the race hustlers, the homosexuals, the Latinos and everybody else. I remember reading a post on a blog after this arose from a white male: "All the more reason just to keep your head down, get your sh** done in the daytime, and retire for the evening behind a locked door" - this is the reality for countless "privileged white males" in many parts of America today.

I couldn't recommend this book highly enough. If you have teenage sons or daughters preparing to go to college, they need to read this book.

This is a real page turner of a book. I was familiar with the work of Don Yaeger since he used to write for Sports Illustrated. He does not disappoint! I thought I knew the story but I wasn't even close to knowing the full story. He really brings it home and you feel like you know the person he writes about.

Mike Pressler, the coach who lost his job, gives a first person account of the events that took place and is fascinating. You will enjoy this book, trust me!! GO DUKE!

Gerard Zemek (husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry")

Exceedingly well written book. I have not stopped talking about it. This is not just a simple story of a high profile case. It focuses on how innocent people were directly affected in their every day lives by scandalous lies. The media never revealed this side of the story. It's unimaginable how this horrific mess could've happened. You can't stop but think what you would do had this happened to you. I was paralyzed reading what these people went through. You will truly be shocked, in disbelief to no end. I commend all the people who courageously stuck by and weathered the storm with all those who were unfortuneatly (directly and indirectly) involved. How utterly defiant, inexplicably brave. It just goes to show you the truth will always prevail. "It's Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Case and the Lives It Shattered", is inspirationally AMAZING!!!

Coach Mike Pressler knows better than most of us how it feels to be in the center of a raging inferno of politically correct rage--where truth and justice have no place.

In 2006, he was abruptly fired from his job as coach of Duke University's lacrosse team after three of his players were accused by a demented black female stripper of gang rape. These charges fed perfectly into a fanatically obsessed scenario found at most universities of white male treachery, black victomhood and feminist paranoia.

Duke President Richard Brodhead, his motor-mouth assistant, John Burness and board chairman, Bob Steele, quickly jumped on the politically correct bandwagon and let the public know that they were throwing the players into the raging inferno.

The administration refused to look at any of the exonerating proof of innocence of the accused that was continually offered to them by the defense attorneys.

The administration instead threw its support behind the psychopathic District Attorney Mike Nifong who knew early on that the rape charges were a hoax. The stripper, Crystal Mangum, had made the identical charges three years before against another group of men, but these, too, proved to be false.

The raging storm against the trio of young men grew stronger when the usual anti-white racists came out of the woodwork. Like the NC Chapter of the NAACP, the New Black Panthers Party, the local Pot Bangers group, made up of left-wing faculty and students. Racial arsonists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson flew down to Durham, NC, to scream about white racist rapists and poor defenseless black women.

This reminded many of us ironically that Al Sharpton engineered an identical hoax in l986 when he spent a year pushing the notorious Tawana Brawley rape hoax in New York state. She accused a gang of white men of raping her. A grand jury said the charges were totally fabricated but in the meantime, Sharpton and Jackson had destroyed lives right and left. Brawley was never charged for her crimes. Sharpton received a slap on the wrist and has never apologized.

The authors reveal how corrupt members of the Durham police department, the district attorneys office, judges and many members of the black community of the city pushed their goal of railroading the trio of boys into prison for life. To hell with the truth.

The media coverage was so vicious, especially the New York Times, that it often felt as if all the news reports were being written by Mike Nifong and Al Sharpton.

At Duke, a gang of 88 faculty members (or a gang of 88 bigots) took out a full-page ad praising the protestors and urging them to "turn up the volume." Many of the teachers had lacrosse players in their classes and openly taunted them into admitting their guilt. None of the teachers ever apologized for their actions. Many were actually promoted, along with black activist students who had sent threatening e-mail to Coach Pressler.
President Brodhead was just recently lavishly praised by his board of directors for his handling of the rape hoax--and for for his unwavering support of the demented Mike Nifong.

When Pressler begged the administration to wait for the truth to come out before firing him and cancelling any appearances of the lacrosse team for a whole year, Duke's Athletic director, Joe Alleva told Pressler: "It's not about the truth." In those four words, you have revealed the heart of the people heading Duke University. And of all the other criminals who passionately pursued imprisonment for life for three young men who just happened to be white.

This is a very good inspirational book about an underdog inner city basketball team rising up to be the best, coached by Bob Hurley--best high school coach in small, broken down parochial school. Kids all had problems and he taught character and perseverance as well as basketball. It's tells how the coach motivated and taught his players. Parts moved a bit slow but it's definitely worth your time reading this one!

Coaching (and teaching) tips I got out of it included the following:

*Always keep the bar high and require respect.
*Never let anyone slide--keep on them all the time.
*Coach all the players, not just the best.
*Make kids earn your respect and ignore them until they do.
*Give everyone a role--even those on the bench.
*Use drastic measures (wrestling practice) to punish sloppy playing.
*Use the drastic measure practice for motivating in the future.
*Let the players experience the glory, keep low profile as coach.
*Help players make good decisions concerning their futures.

Karen Arlettaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

What a great, inspirational book. On top of that, it was only $5 when I purchased it, so you can't go wrong there. If you enjoy basketball, I strongly suggest you read this book!

I read this a few years back and I really enjoyed it. I have always found books about geniuses within their little realm fascinating. Bob Hurley's success is not attributed to a new revolutionary school of coaching thought, but rather basic hard work, discipline and commitment.

Despite its small enrollment, St. Anthony's teams have been pretty stacked over the years. That is why I always thought the St. Anthony's mystique (i.e. Poor little Catholic school in Jersey City) was overblown a bit. Give anyone an MacDonald all-american and a couple of All-NYC type players and you'll have success at the HS level. But this particular season, the players at St. Anthony's were something a bit less. Good players, certainly, but not the highly recruited types that usually populate the top HS Programs in the country. Hurley guiding this ragtag bunch of ballers to the heights of success says alot about the guys ability to coach and motivate. Its a great story that would have been something less if it chronicled one of the other St. Anthony's seasons.

Indeed, Hurley is a tough coach that borders on verbally absuive. But in this day and age of coddled athletes, he's refreshing. He's unambigious about what his expectations are and kids respond to his style. He's not a mean, cruel guy he just wants to get the most out of his players.

It would be a good read for coaches of youngsters through teenagers.

If you're a coach this is for you. If you're a sports fan this is for you. I loved it so much I bought a book for my entire coaching staff. And we are a hockey team! There are a lot lessons and values that Coach Hurley teaches. More importantly it's about life. He never let up on these kids and pushed them to success. Challenged them to succeed. At that age level they need guidance, they need someone to sponsor them. Then its up to them to follow the path Coach Hurley gives them. It's amazing how a time tested path still can't lead some kids. It's a struggle between the kids backgrounds and the future they can have
Wow what a great book. What I liked is that these kids are now in college so we can follow their careers.
The one player that sticks out to me is Sean McCready. Great talent, bad guidance (family). Now he is sitting out the 2008 season because he transferred. Coach Hurley was right!

I also loved the fact that he sweeps the floor. That's his time, and we all need our own time. But coach is dedicated to a school that is struggling. There is no way a school like this should be on the verge of bankruptcy. Coach could leave and make millions, but he doesn't. Because if he does the school will close.
BUY THE BOOK

Adrian Wojnarowski's "The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty" is one of the best sports and leadership books I have read this past year.

St. Anthony's is a private Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ, with 230 students (120 boys). Students come from an area where 16% pass the HS proficiency test and where the local drug-infested, back-sliding culture has a hold on the kids. Despite its size and location, St. Anthony's basketball teams have gone undefeated four times, have won two USA Today national titles, and 24 New Jersey Parochial state championships. The basketball program has developed 200 college players, including 5 who went on to the National Basketball Association.

St. Anthony's is a special and safe place under Srs. Felicia and Alan and legendary Coach, Bob Hurley - the streets stop here. Their focus in athletics and academics has been to help kids get to the finish line. They share a collective value that there is no shortcut to success.

While Sister Felicia and Sister Alan play prominent roles in the success of St. Anthony's, "The Miracle of St. Anthony" is mostly about Bob Hurley and the class of 2004 - the most athletically and socially underachieving team in St. Anthony's history. Yet, under Hurley's coaching leadership, the team went undefeated, winning the NJ State Championship and was named by USA Today as the top high school team of the year.

Hurley struggles with the problems of the inner city and sees the potential in these kids that they do not see in themselves. He has always been a disciple of John Wooden... fundamentals, well-conditioned, team play, and defense...and he has always been a no-nonsense driver.

He creates an expectation of performance and accountability that the kids will not find anywhere else in their lives, and helps them out the door to life with values and a voice to become the best they can. And despite his daunting ways, the kids respect Hurley and when returning after graduation, they always come home to the warm embrace of family. The relationship changes from tough task master to a friend.

"St. Anthony's" covers the entire basketball year from pre-season preparations to the championship game. Wojnarowski provides the ups and downs of the season - injuries, players leaving the team, tough wins, and all the key relationships that makes St. Anthony's the special place it is.

This is a great read for anyone interested in coaching, leadership, and basketball.

Training Plans for Multisport Athletes: Your Essential Guide to Triathlon, Duathlon, XTERRA, Ironman, and Endurance Racing
This is an awesome book! It's exactly what I have been looking for. The training schedules are easy to follow. It also has all the information one would need regarding fueling etc. I love it! Denise, Vernon, B.C. Canada

This book has everything for the multi-sport athlete. I like how this book could help a person grow from a sprint to ironman triathlete. I have used this book to help make plans for friends who want to do duathlons and for myself to prepare for a series of olympic distance triathlons and one 70.3. I found her workout plans are a great guide post to building an individualized plan (gives a good base of what and how much I should be doing). If schedules permit, her workouts straight out of the book are wonderful! I really like how the workouts are rated not just by time, but by effort and I notice a steady build with more or less recovery weeks every 3-4 weeks---just like I've read a person should do to train. This has become my personal traithlon training bible complete with sticky-note tabs all through it for quick reference. I don't know how I ever prepared for a multisport without it!

This is a wonderful book for triathletes of all levels. Gale is both a gifted athlete and a talented writer. She presents the facts without getting overly complicated or high tech. She acknowledges the need for super effective time management without "dumbing down". I have been a fan of Gale's for many years due to her column in Triathlon Life magazine. This book expands on some of the concepts in her column and spells out succinctly how you can make your own plans happen.

She comes across as approachable without talking down. Yet Gale is one of the most accomplished coaches in the country, currently getting Team USA ready for Beijing. All that said, I do believe this book is best utilized by beginners....Still, it is a wonderful resource for the tri community - grab it and use it! And, enjoy.

I have looked at many books on multisport and have found this one to apply to a wide range of athletic abilities. Whether you want to do your first sprint triathlon or an Ironman, this book provides the tools to acheive results. Since I am not sure if I will be able to get into a 1/2 ironman in 2008, the book still gives me workouts that I can use for shorter distances. The plans in the book are realistic for mortals that have families and jobs that need some attention to.

My USAT coach recommneded this book after she found out that I really wanted not only how to finish a triatlhon race, but to learn how to create any kind of multi sport program in future instead of having a coach or web page making it for me (that saved me money too!).
I finished my very first racing season based on this book program and finished in a period of 8 months: 4 sprint Tri, 1 off road tri, and 2 olimpic distance tri, with no injuries and always improving my goals and times. Not bad for a beginer!
The book is full of codes and times that will lead you into a never-bored universe of drills and new stuff that will really improve your performance while having fun. It has programs for sprints, olimpic, half and Iroman, as well as year long training plans or only for a couple of months for those that are not sure if triathlons is for them. It appears to satisfy any lifestyle and is really great for beginers. Don't know about the pros, but I really enjoyed it.
Now I can taylor my own program that fits into my life style and race type, and always look for my coach supervision and make sure I'm in the right path.
I strongly recommend it!

My husband is from North Carolina (and grad) and like Will, he and his Dad shared their love for the Heels over the years...I had never grown up as a basketball fan, but after meeting Marty I learned to watch college ball and respect the month of March. I really knew I was in trouble when the first year living under the same roof, NC won the championship and he ran screaming around our house as I slept (this was quite a shock for me since I was CLUELESS to the importance of the game).

So...that leads me to this book. We were traveling back home to Atlanta once and Marty was reading passages of this book to me as we waited for our flight. I was laughing so hard when Will was telling about the little boy hitting him the head...I'm pretty sure people were staring!

I'm positive when we have a little boy or girl, the will become RABID fans too...then I'll have two screaming people running around my house during basketball season! HA...

Great book for any basketball fan.

Will Blythe has crafted a must read book with this one!I laughed through it as I recognized myself in the obsessed Carolina fan self portrait Blythe paints. It simply is the best book on Carolina basketball ever written. The one on one conversations with Coach K, Coach Smith, and even Crazy Towel Guy are all must reads. Most remarkable is the way he ties family, religion, class struggles, and basketball all into one probing question ... IS IT ALRIGHT TO HATE YOUR RIVAL LIKE THIS?

This is a must read for anyone seeking to understand the trible mindset that is sports fanaticism. Those willing to laugh at themselves will enjoy it the most.

Even Duke fans won't be able to put down this entertaining analysis of the Duke-Carolina rivalry. Find out what's behind the bad blood between the two schools.

Great book, great price, great shipping.

I actually bought this book as a Christmas present for my husband who is a big Duke fan. I am the Tar Heel fan in the family and thus you see the method in my madness. However, he started reading it on Christmas day before all the wrapping paper was cleaned up and could not put it down for hours. He did make a number of comments disagreeing with various premises of the book, but it certainly kept his attention. I've just started the book and particularly enjoy the references to the author's family (I knew his father years ago) but it does bog down a bit in detailing the games during the season. Still, for any of us who have lived in Chapel Hill and been infected with the Tar Heel "bug" it is a 'must read.'

All in all, I think this is a really nice intro, especially if you are new to triathlons. Nice overview of all the events, and good snip-its of advice on a training program and how to balance working on all 3 sports.

Just a slight nit with the swimming section where Terry Laughlin pretty much tells you not to spend any time on developing swimming endurance or much time in the water other than to do some drills. If you are a swimmer from the start, this is ridiculous. If you are new or less comfortable with swimming, this is also ridiculous because time in the water (and a modicum of endurance) will go a long way towards giving you the comfort level you need in the swim. "Relaxing" is a great bit of advice, but you can relax even better if you've built up some endurance along with an efficient technique. At a minimum, get used to swimming your race distance in a pool (even if it's breastroke or side-stroke) and better yet, try some open water swimming if you can. Swimming is do-able, swimming right is even do-able. Don't let the negative comments in the swim section of this book discourage you. Do the drills, but don't be afraid to follow them up with a little swimming!

If you have significant experience in any one of the sports, it may be of less use, but overall a very good basic resource. It has some training tables, offers insights into the difference between races with different lengths. I liked the explanation of triathlon rules and essential gear required.

I found this book to be very informative. The workout suggestions have been helpful especially the swim drills. I highly recommend this book for the tri newby.

This was the first book on Triathlon racing and training that I bought - several years ago. Its a well-written introduction to the sport and to training. An easy read, it covers all the basics - swim technique, biking mileage and the ever popular run.

I think any beginner should start with this book for the sections on nutrition, staying healthy and race preparation. Some of the best advice you can get - aside from fellow triathletes - is in this book about race day prep, things to know and do, etc.

Excellent beginners books for those preparing to enter this sport. This book is just what i was looking for, given all the questions I had surrounding Triathlon training. The input given in the book on the equipment recommendations proved useful in pointing me in the right direction. A great buy.

This is a great book for beginning and experienced marathoners alike. It provides history, motivation, and a complete guide for everything from completing a first marathon to attaining a PR. Higdon has done a great job updating editions to keep up with nutrition products, such as gels and sport drinks.

I'm training for my first marathon and was given this book by my cousin who has run multiple marathons. I should say that I am in college and have been distance running since I was around 13. I run for fun, not really for competition and the idea of a marathon intimidated me because it seemed like such a far leap from what I am used to.

This book provides a lot of motivation but in ways I did not expect. I didn't realize upon getting this book that it was not only targeted to first time marathoners but also to people who really don't run. I found the provided training schedules to be a bad fit for my personal fitness. The novice schedules were too slow to start, and the advanced schedules were too intense. I also come from running 6, sometimes 7, days a week so only running 4 days is a problem for me.

Ultimately, this book is a great marathon book and I really enjoyed reading it. However, I do think it is targeted to the non-runner and wish it was a little bit more advanced.

Hal Higdon is one of the first names I heard when I started running. He's a true expert in a sport that can benefit anyone-no matter who you are.

I'm a pretty slow runner, but I like this book because it's welcoming. Higdon has helped thousands of people finish their first marathon and this book is putting years of experience on paper.

It's friendly even to beginners, and presents very specific ways to train for a marathon. It's idiot-proof and very, very forgiving.

This book is also a big shot of motivation, as well! Every time you pick it up it makes you want to go for a run-work toward that goal. I'd recommend this book to anyone. Not just people who want to run marathons, either-because it gives tips helpful for any runner from nutrition to clothing to pace and keeping yourself mentally in the game.

Sat and read this book all the way through in a sitting. Lots of fantastic practical tidbits for the first time marathoner, as well as those who have not quite qualified for Boston (yet). The August injury chapter was a favorite. Those sub 3 hour folks are probably reading something else anyways. His website is also quite good. Nice job, Hal!

Tons of great tips make this reference guide a must-have for marathon runners. There are also inspirational tidbits to get you back on the track.

This is a well-written and authoritative review of many aspects of sports nutrition, with an emphasis on the specific needs of endurance athletes. Triathletes, endurance runners and cyclists will especially benefit -- there are separate spections geared just for their needs. Provides insight into not only meeting nutritional needs before, during, and after training and racing, this book offers guidance into an integrated approach to an overall nutritional program. Also provides a useful discussion of many nutritional supplements, including ergogenic aids, vitamins, and commercial sources of carbohydrates, lipids, protein, and hydration. Recommended read for the serious athlete.

This book provides a wealth of information in nutrition, equipment, and sample workouts for various sports. It is very easy to read and understand.

Excellent book, up to date. Essential reading for anyone who is serious about improving their training and race performance. Thank you !

Great compendium of important concepts on sports nutrition, and also lots of practical tools to master the art. Easy going writing stile.

Athletes of all kinds will learn the importance of diet for their sport. There are also sample menus to help you learn how to plan your meals.

This book is well written, easy to use and read. This simple and short volume is best thought of as a graphical "how to perform the movements" exercise guide. I recommend it for anyone.

But im only 14 so i havent fully developed yet, so i have hope that with this i will not stunt my growth and still get tough muscles. I also lift weights so if i update this , i might be wrong...

I think the book is excellent for anyone interested in personal fitness, regardless of whether or not they have joined or will join the marine corp. The stretches, explanations, and workouts seem to be carefully reviewed by professional physiologists and excercise scientists, but I dont know if that is really the case. the nutritional information is solid. It gives insights into boot camp and the marines life.

The 16-day workout plan and the exercise tutorials are good. A lot of the book has no use to the average home user. Unless you have access to a military training ground. It does highlight some of the stuff you will do in boot camp.

I liked this book. To complement what other reviewers wrote, the book has actual day by day schedule of Marine boot camp pt exersices. It highlights the difference between OCS at Quantico and Parris Island/San Diego recruit training. In addition to daily 16 it has workout schemes for different time schedules. The photos were useful, as many would concentrate on a particular machine or exersice and show it from various viewpoints.

David

My firefighter son was pleased to see the printed version of his DVD, which he did not know existed.

This quick read will get you on the road to sculpting any part of your body. There are also great tips to help you keep yourself fit.

I tried just the pushups the way he describes and I've finally lost that "droop" in my chest!
Plus how to do the equation on how many calories you burn when working out on any excersise you do.

I recently purchased the book and should say that this is reasonable guide for a regular person - it describes very well all necessary components for keeping yourself fit. I find the book as good for both men and women; in fact, I gave it to my wife to read and she liked it. It is easy to read and is structured well. Being myself in athletics for 10 years up untill 15 years ago, I support the author in his approach that simply pumping muscles will not make you healthy, but requires a good plan and steady execution.
What is missing is more exercises for different muscle groups and graphical presentations for them - "a picture worth a thousand words"...
This is not in any sense a book for bodybuilding, but an overall a good book to keep yourself fit.

I picked up Mr. Stefano's book shortly after receiving a back injury which sidelined me for several months. As a result, I ended up gaining a few extra pounds which I was eager to be rid of. The book is 8 chapters in under 130 pages, so it's a quick read. The writing style is direct and to the point, and Mr. Stefano throws in stories from his firefighting career to keep things interesting and stress specific points he's trying to make. He addresses topics such as cardio vs. strength training, diet and caloric intake, specific exercises, and staying motivated. The book is directed at beginners, and he gives enough info to be useful, but not enough to overwhelm. I've been working out using the book's techniques for about 90 days now, and in that time I've lost 15 pounds and made noticeable gains in stamina and strength. I think 30 minutes a day is a little optimistic on his part, though. My workouts tend to last closer to an hour, but since I'm achieving measurable results, I don't think that's a bad thing. If you're willing to dedicate a little time and discipline though, you'll find this book to be a worthwhile purchase.

"The Real Americans" is a well written and researched book. I have always wondered about the beginings of Carlisle. I was would have like to see more about the students who attended. It was very sparce on details about the ending of the Carlisle a school. The young girls who atttended the school, what were their accomplishments. Not enough pictures of the students and Jim Thorpe. I was looking for more of the latter. As an overall review of the book, I found it very interesting and worth the reading time.

This is actually three intertwined books. It begins with a history of the later stages of the Indian Wars in the American West and the slow steady marginalization of the Indians that followed. It then details the formation and history of the Carlisle Indian School, which was an important part of efforts to "civilize" the Indians. Finally, it follows the early history of football, mostly by relating the history of one of the most remarkable football teams of all, the Carlisle Indians.

It would be remarkable enough to do justice to any of those subjects in one short book, but the author manages to seamlessly intertwine all three in a page-turner of a narrative. Along the way, she paints detailed portraits of many of the complicated people who created the history.

The cumulative result is a thoroughly enjoyable book that is at the same time vitally important. An amazing number of issues dealt with in the book-- including the manner in which the US deals with its Native American peoples, the proper role of football at American colleges, and the nature of true amateurism in athletics-- have not been resolved even today, nearly a hundred years after the events related here.

This is a remarkable book that will more than justify the time taken to read it.

As a guy rule of thumb, when your wife says "I think you should read this book about football", it's a good idea to listen to her. My wife started recommending this book after the first chapter, and I was happy when she finally turned it over to me. Sally Jenkins' "The Real All Americans" is by turns fascinating, entertaining, and moving.

Anyone who has ever played football is likely to enjoy the description of the early stages of the game. It is amazing how brutal it could be, and how little regard there was for the "rules" such as they were, of the day. The phrase "if you're not cheating, you're not trying" comes to mind.

Ever wonder why we have "Pop Warner" football? Well, here is Warner in all of his glory. He does not come off as a particularly nice person, but as an innovator and a competitor, he has few peers. He took control of the speedy-but-undersized Carlisle Indian School football team in an era when brute force was what won football games, and he created a winning program by emphasizing speed, passing, and misdirection. My favorite anecdote? In order to create confusion, prior to a Carlisle game against Harvard he had players sew football-shaped patches onto their uniforms. In response, the Harvard coach had the balls painted the same crimson color of his team's jerseys. In a compromise, the patches and colored balls were both removed.

The book does more than just revisit football's roots. It is a fascinating history of the aftermath of the United States' western expansion. The director of Carlisle, LTC Richard Pratt, comes of as stern but fair, with the best interests (as he saw them) of his students at heart. He was a firm believer that the conquered tribes would fare best if assimilated into larger American society. The Carlisle Indian School was explicitly set up to remove children from their parents and their tribes, separate them from their heritage, and indoctrinate them into America. It was at best a mixed success, and it ultimately failed after Pratt left. For many, myself included, this chapter was missing from our history books. Jenkins' retelling is riveting and at times poignant.

So, think of this as two books for the price of one. If you are a fan of sport, you'll think the chapters on football are a hoot. If you enjoy American history, even in one of its darker moments, the descriptions of the moral dilemma facing the country and the tribes will fascinate you. Either way this book will be well worth the read.

5 stars.

This book was highly entertaning. It tells the story of the first Indian football team. How they got started (the book tells of fights between the Indains and the government), tells of their first games and thier last. Every Football fan should read this book!

"The Game, like the country in which is was invented, was a rough, bastardized thing that jumped out of the mud." Thus opens Sally Jenkins' impressive "The Real All Americans: The Team That Changed A Game, A People, A Nation. While primarily about the football team from The Carlisle Indian Industrial School (CIIS) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the author also covers the end of the Indian "era," the creation of CIIS by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, and the development of football as a college sport.

Jenkins spends the first 100 pages in detailing the events leading up to the creation of Carlisle's football team. Captain Pratt was stationed in Indian Territory after the Civil War. Given a command of 20 Buffalo Soldiers and 25 Cherokee scouts, Pratt was astounded to discover that the Indians were intelligent and civilized and not "atrocious aborigines." After dealing with Indians as both scouts and prisoners, he came to the conclusion that the only way to solve the Indian problem was through education. With some monetary assistance from the government, he single-handedly founded the CIIS.

Soon after the school opened, football began taking off on college campuses. Ironically,
"the rising popularity of football had closely followed the ebbing of the frontier wars. It was as though America, at a loss for what to do with itself once the wilderness was subdued, had hit on football as the answer." Pratt reluctantly let the Indians form a team. Although always outnumbered, outmanned and undersized, with the help of innovative coach Glenn "Pop" Warner, they were soon playing competitively with the best teams in the nation. "Under Warner's creative tutelage, they had an astounding array of trick plays, reverses, end-arounds, flea flickers, and spirals through the air." They started when football was in its infancy--there was little equipment, no formal officiating, no overt coaching during games, a different scoring system, no passing, a few dozens deaths each year, and lots of cheating and violence. The Indians, with their slight size, skilled passing and great speed eventually changed the way football was played. After one of their best seasons in 1912, the "New York Times" wrote that the football played by Carlisle was "the most perfect brand of football ever seen in America."

Carlisle is probably best remembered as the alma mater of Jim Thorpe. He was originally a track star before becoming a football player. In fact, Pop Warner was reluctant to have Thorpe join the team, thinking he was much too scrawny and not wanting to lose a track athlete (Warner coached both sports). It was Warner who took Thorpe to the Olympics in Stockholm where he came home a champion.

Jenkins provides a well-rounded and fascinating account that explains how these historical events all converged on this tiny campus in Carlisle, PA. The only thing I think is lacking in The Real All Americans is an index.