Players Books

Ms. Daley tells such a warm, wonderful story! Her characters feel so real. I'm so glad to see that Ms. Daley has more books coming soon.

Twenty-eight-year-old pediatric nurse Tess Morgan sometimes dresses as a clown to add a little cheer into the lives of the sick children in the hospital. And, truth be told, she could use a little cheering up in her own life as well. Ever since her fiancé had been murdered, she'd been sort of adrift, her faith kind of lost. Now she lives her life for the children and one in particular has caught her heart, a boy named Johnny who is very ill. Johnny is a ward of the state and has been shuffled from one foster home to another.

Thirty-four year-old Peter "Mac" MacPherson comes into the hospital to get the cast taken off the leg he broke when he fell from the roof of a half way house he'd been helping out at. He catches Tess crying in her clown outfit and is captured by her eyes. Later he learns about Johnny and when he meets the boy he takes an immediate shine to him. Like Tess, he has suffered his share of personal tragedy, having lost his wife and father, so now he is raising his young daughter, Amy, without a mother.

During the course of the story Mac becomes so taken with little Johnny, that he adopts him, but can he guide Tess back to the faith she lost when she lost her fiancé? And will they get together and live happily ever after?

I really liked this inspirational romance. Actually I've liked most of the ones in the Steeple Hill catalog that I've read. That must be why I keep coming back to them. "Family for Keeps" is a super story, one that touched my heart and I'm sure it will touch yours as well.

After writing the Red Room and several other wonderful books, Father is really one of Strindberg's most fantastic work. It is stunning how a person can describe human beings in the way Strindberg does, or did, since he past away over 80 years ago... Just buy it and read it.

Naturalistic fiction has never been so stripped,
a choking ibsenomaic portion;
precocial nautch that grows as it goes.
Strindberg's stronger wiccecræft stronger.

Worth witenagemot!©

This large well produced book is a great photo reference book on one of the great modern quarterbacks in the game of football. The photos in the book are crisp and vivid (many worth framing). Truly a must have for any serious Brett Favre fan. Would make an excellent addition to any comprehensive personal football library.

A sports biography book, in color, of the Green Bay Packers star quarterback, Brett Favre. He leads the team to victory in the 1997 Super Bowl. Very good book for students and teachers in grades 3-6.

Mr. Santo certainly had his work cut out for him. Defining Cub greatness? I would have thought it only warranted a pamphlet or perhaps a column. I think the title should have been more like "defining Cubs great efforts, but disappointing results across the eras" no?

This item is an absolutely must have for all Cubs fans. There is something here for everyone. The long-time diehards will relive highlights from the careers of Cubs greats and the 'newbie' Cubs fans will meet the legends for the first time. Best of all, this book is brought to you by one of the legends himself... Ron Santo.

I loved this book. I'm still reading it. It's a GREAT read, and a must-have for any football collectors or nostalgics. It's also got the more modern players as well. It's a great book.

In The Football Game I'll Never Forget: 100 NFL Star's Stories, Chris McDonell's selections come from descriptions by the players themselves, as told to the editors of Football Digest, of the most memorable moments in games they played, and will thrill any football game who is heavily involved in the history of the sport. Dozens of famous Super Bowl games, divisional championships, and more are recounted by key players who contributed to historic events. A `must' for avid football fans.

Peter King is the best professional football writer in the country, just edging out his Sports Illustrated co-worker, Paul Zimmerman.

In Football: A History of the Professional Game, King gives an overview of (as the title would suggest) football's history. The best part of the book is his ranking of the 35 best players ever.

So many people refer to Jerry Rice as the greatest receiver of all time that it has become accepted as fact. Fortunately, King knows that Don Hutson dominated the position more than anyone ever did, even the great Rice. King considers Hutson not just the best receiver or all time but the best player at any position. Personally, I'd take Sammy Baugh (led the league in passing, punting, and interceptions all in the same season), but I respect King for his unique perspective -- most football writers put Jim Brown No. 1 just because everyone else does it.

If you've never read Peter King, you're missing out on the most insightful football commentary you can find anywhere. Seek this book out. You won't regret it.

I bought this book for two dollars at a second hand store and it was a great investment. King's writing style is very readable and accurate. It shows the greatest players, teams, games, and people from seven decades of pro football. I never knew how much Packer great Don Hutson ruled the game. King put him number one as the greatest of all time. If you look at the stats, you'll see why. And I'm a Bears fan!

The only ommission was Deacon Jones. I never saw him play but from what I have heard, he was one of the greatest of the greats. Either King forgot about him, or he did not think he was worthy. Jones is mentioned nowhere in the whole book. I would think he'd be in the top 10.

Anyway, this book is excellent. It captures all the great moments and people and shows why pro football is such a special game. If you want a good history lesson and see some great pictures, buy this book.

While researching for a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) assessment I discovered "Founding Fathers & Mothers : A Field Trip to 18th Century America" by Stacey Marlolf and Laurie Pessanno. I was searching for a way to help my students understand the spirit and inner life of Colonial America through art, literature, documents, drama, crafts, writing, etc. When I opened "Founding Fathers & Mothers" I knew I had found it all, and MORE in just one book!

The authors presented a well rounded, well researched, egalitarian approach using humanities to integrate learning in history. Their book was a valuable resource for the NBPTS assessment and my fifth grade students and I are currently using the drama and craft sections to prepare for our "Colonial Fair" in the spring. We will be presenting their play "Tempest in a Teapot" and have already practiced our colonial dancing by using the audio tape that comes with this book.

When I first discovered this book, I liked it because it was well rounded, comprehensive and was a great tool for my research. But now after actually using it in the classroom I love it because it's FUN. My students loved cutting out the Betsy Ross star and creating their own acrostic and silhouette.

As an educational writer, I am extremely impressed with this book. The ideas are unique and designed to appeal to a variety of age groups. I firmly believe that learning should be fun. This book promotes learning through art and imagination. The play (and other activities) involves all students. They will be having fun and learning at the same time. I would highly recommend this book to any first through eighth grade school teacher. A wonderful first attempt by a new curriculum writer. I look forward to more.

mike weaver, stud king of high school, trying to knock boots with the luscious alicia...alicia won't give him any, so he turns to her cousin pepper for lovin

By Mike "Big Mack Daddy" Chin

Hey man, nice book. Now I'm definitely intrigued, as I'm sure many other viewers are as well.... Hey everyone, BUY THIS BOOK! Good stuff...

mike weaver, stud king of high school, trying to knock boots with the luscious alicia...
alicia won't give him any, so he turns to her cousin pepper for lovin...

By Mike "Big Mack Daddy" Chin

Man, Now I'm definitely intrigued, as I'm sure many other viewers are as well.... BUY THIS BOOK! Good stuff...

Carroll pens a thorough and illuminating account of an early African-American icon that Americans of all colors gradually forgot, Fritz Pollard. Fritz Pollard was arguably the first modern age African American athletic star that used his athletic prowess to further his opportunities in other fields such as movies, booking, investments, and even tax consulting. He successfully, although not without difficulty, negotiated the hazards, pitfalls, challenges, and bias of a racially charged America to become as Carroll maintains, "a pioneer in interracial relations." (4) Carroll promotes and attributes this pioneer theme to Pollard throughout the biography. The author also accredits Pollard's successes and pioneering nature to Pollard's family background and childhood. Although not overly sympathetic, Carroll clearly contains high praise for Pollard and his accomplishments contending that Pollard "established more `firsts' for his race than perhaps any other African American in this century." (239) The author is careful to temper this praise with accounts of Pollard's bitterness towards perceived injustices and mistreatment due to racism and lack of attention Pollard thought he deserved. The result is a commendable biography of Fritz Pollard as an early race relations pioneer, athletic star, and sometimes-successful businessman deserving of far more attention and memories than Pollard currently garners.
Efforts such as Carroll's help keep the memories of Pollard alive for those who have never heard of or fully grasped the achievements of Pollard. Carroll's assertion that Pollard was a pioneer in race relations, however, appears to fall flat in some respects. As Carroll points out, Pollard had to negotiate a subtle balance between asserting his race and accepting the tide of racism. Yet, it appears that Pollard endured more racism and contempt on the playing field rather than in business endeavors. Perhaps this was because most of Pollard's business activities were aimed at African Americans themselves, but it seems plausible that Pollard would face far more discrimination and racial injustices in the business arena than the sporting one. One must also question what Pollard really thought of his role in pioneering racial equality.
Towards the end of the book, Carroll notes that Pollard displays bitterness in regards to the racial animosities delivered his way. Pollard's daughter, Leslie asserts that Pollard deeply cared about his race and the cause of civil rights. (239) Acknowledging that some of Pollard's efforts were behind closed doors and diminished because of a natural assumption that the black middle class emulated white society too much, Carroll's contention that Pollard was truly a pioneer in race relations seems weak. Perhaps it is only a case of the author failing to connect accurately his argument to his examples. Whether his deeds pioneered race relations or not, Pollard deserves remembering for all of the firsts and successes he indeed accomplished.

If you don't know Fritz Pollard you must read this book. It provides insight into him and the people closest to him. It raises your spirits and makes you want to accomplish great tasks. This is an A+++++++ book for any football fan.

I love basketball, and I love this book. It's got great nuggets of stories, and it's fun to read, too. I've given it for gifts to friends of mine who enjoy the raucous stories and humor. If you love basketball, you'll love this book--in fact, you'll love it even if you don't

If teams such as the Syracuse Nationals, Rochester Royals, and Fort Wayne Pistons mean anything to you, or names such as Dolph Schayes, Bob Pettit, Bill Sharman, and Bob Cousy ring a bell - or merely wonder why they do for many people - you will enjoy this book. It's a look at what professional basketball was like in the '40s and '50s, when the NBA was first coming to light (a mix of teams from various regional leagues) and developing. Charles Salzberg conducted 15 interviews with players from that era, asking them to relate their experiences - how they got started, what they thought of their teammates and opposing players, highlights of their careers, how they think the game has changed, what they think of basketball today (1980s) - and the results are interesting and informative.

The game was played differently back then, before the 24-second clock went into effect: it was a much more deliberate game, slower in execution, lots of passing, the set shot the main weapon. Just about all the interviewees note how the 24-second clock changed the game, made it more exciting (especially near the end of the game), some thinking it actually saved the NBA from extinction. Bill Russell is someone mentioned by many of them as having a profound influence on the game, too, and the reason for the Boston Celtic dynasty in the 50s-60s. Most of those interviewed believe that players today have more talent, especially when it comes to shooting the ball, but regret the loss of team play the way it was for them. There aren't a whole lot of surprises here (most of the interviews talk in generalities rather than specifics) and no skeletons in the closet are revealed, but for anyone getting a little long in the tooth it's a nostalgic look back at the game before multi-million dollar contracts and schoolyard antics became the mainstay. And for younger fans it's a reminder that there was basketball before Michael Jordan.