Tournaments Books

Man, is this book garbage. I picked it up at the library for a light read, and I struggled through about 120 pages before I decided that my life was ebbing away. While Brennan deserves credit for throwing light on the insanity of high-stakes ice skating, her writing skills are no match for her reportorial efforts.

A few of my complaints. Redundancy. We learn over and over again about Michelle Kwan's decision to vamp-up to look older than her 16 years. We read repeatedly about Tara Lipinski and her mom storming out of practice and then cooling down in their car in the parking lot. Many other events are repeated, ad nauseum.

Impossibly accurate quotations. At least a half-dozen times, Brennan quotes a page of exact quotes by two people who are on the phone with each other. How did she get these quotes? Did one skater really invite her to his or her home and then say, "Hey, I'm gonna call this other skater. Write down everything I say, and what they say back to me." Not very likely.

Insider language. I know a bit about ice skating, as my daughter takes lessons (though she has never been in a competition). Yet, I needed more and better descriptions of what actually happens on the ice.

Anyway, don't read this book unless you are obsessed with ice skating and/or the dysfunctions of sports celebrities.

This is book is a nice book, but it seemed to focus on Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan, along with the Tara-Michelle thing a little too much. Skaters listed in the front are supposed to be the ones the book focuses on, although some of these skaters get only one paragraph of writing about them. In the final part, "The Olympics", the whole thing was basically about Tara's win and Michelle's silver. There was a little bit about the mens' event, but I found it confusing.

My other complaint about the Olympic section is that it mentions nothing about Elena coming back from 'Skate in the Head', or Artur/Anton (I forget which one) becoming the first man to win two Olympic gold medals with two different partners. I am not a big ice dancing fan, but not a single ice dancing couple was mentioned, which annoys me. Overall, it's a great read that could be even better.

Christine Brennan wrote in Edge of Glory that Tonya Harding has more raw jumping talent then anyother female ice skater in US history. For all practical purposes, Brennan is calling Harding the most talented female ice skater to ever live.
Brennan also recounted how Harding used CPR to save an old man's life.
If I had to choose between an Olympic Gold Medal and Brennan's description of Harding, the medal wouldn't have a chance! Gold medalists are a dime a dozen. Some of them go on to big careers in fast food places.
When a world class journalist like Brennan spends such words on a genetic parasite like Harding, the earth momentarily stops spinning on its axis. Harding would live forever even if the assault on Kerrigan never took place.
Most of the book is excellent but some of the trivia about Kwan's career bored me to tears. I also wish Brennan had given more details about Nicole Bobek's reasons for breaking and entering.

Did you know that Tara Lipinski's mom got in constant battles with her daugher at the rinks?

Did you know that Tara would go on "frenzies" and do unbeliveable amounts of triple triple combinations at her practice rink until she got them right? (this is what caused her hip surgery).

And did you know that Nicole Bobek was a chain smoking teen at one point?

Well you will know all of this after reading this book. I would have to say that this is one of the many views from behind the scenes, but one of the best. Christine B. gives a detailed look at how it all happens on the road to the Olympics.

Different skaters are profiled in this book as we learn about the skaters, coaches, endorsements, and many other things. Most of all we learn about americas 2 leading ladies (at the time) Michelle Kwan, and Tara Lipinski.

This author will tell it like it is so be prepared...and shocked.

although i found this book engaging and enjoyed reading about the lives of these skaters, i personally felt that the anti-taraism was uncalled for. Having had the opportunity to have met both Tara and Michelle, I know that Tara did have her ways of coming off as arrogant, but so did Michelle. She is not as sweet and even tempered as christine made her out to be. It's a wonder why she doesnt mention the reason to why her past dress maker [Marie Talbot] stopped making her dresses. Her comment about her scores in the kiss and cry area [apparently she felt that she deserved a higher score regardless of her mistakes] . Dont bash on one skater and make the other skater come off as the nice one, they all have their ways of being arrogant.

Similar to the basic concept of this book (move in or fold) this reading might be love it or leave it but it provides a fresh approach to No Limit Hold'em. Having read "Kill Everyone" - the sequel to this book - prior to this one I must admit that the strategy seemed too simple and I was skeptical at first. However the book states that this strategy is for inexperienced players up against good or even professional players in live tournaments. It provides the ALL-IN move as the big gun to create confusion and frustration against pros who prefer to outplay you post-flop for your chips.

The authors make it very clear that the Kill Phil strategy is very vulnerable at the early stages of a tournament when blinds are insignificant compare to stack sizes and there are no antes. It is also stressed that players must have the courage to take risks to preserve and increase their chip count at all costs. This type of move is not for the faint hearted!

Initially your limited to a few groups of hands with which you will go All-In with. Post-flop play is discouraged to keep beginners out of trouble but they have to develop a lot of patience. It's difficult to sit at the table waiting for AA or KK to make your move - you only get those every 22 hands or so although there are better chances of that happening online. The strategy does evolve taking other factors into consideration (player style, position, stack size, pot odds). Then it goes into post-flop trapping, mixing up the hands you push vs. the hands you raise or check-raise to get value or trap. It even has an internet strategy modification due to the loose nature of online SNG play. I tried the strategy on several 1 table and multi table SNG and when I stuck to it I made the money almost every time.

By the end of the book you'll take away some key concepts that anyone should include into their game. Moving in preflop is a very powerful weapon which takes any skill advantage out of the equation, but it should be used only in certain situations and not base your whole game around it. Since this method will be vulnerable when the blinds are low you'll either need to learn how to play the post-flop with other readings or pick your spots and make your move.

It's a very good book for amauter players so they will start to learn how no limit texas holdem is been played. Also there are some advanced strategies later at the book. For advanced players I suggest Kill Everyone

I found the information contained in Kill Phil useful & productive.
It can provide another weapon in the arsenal of a serious poker player.
No system of play can substitute for hours of practice, lots of reading,
and constantly striving for improvement in your game. I experimented with Kill Phil in the recent WSOP Ladies circuit event in Tunica and went from placing 27th last year to placing 18th this year. Aside from the basic Kill Phil system, the book contains advice & a tournament overview
from two people who have been there. Of the many poker books I have read,
I found this one very worthwhile!

While reading this book, the reviews, online message boards, and playing constant online tourneys, it has occurred to me that there's a very important concept here. Namely, is there a mathematical basis for going all-in anytime you deside to play a hand?

I can see how these ideas were derived. For instance, suppose I have AK, and you have QJ, well since the status quo is for me to win, if neither of us improve, I'll win. On the other hand, IF you pair Q or J and I don't pair A or K, then you'll win. The same is true whether or not you hold 8 5. Also, obviously, if either of us draw to a straight or a flush we'll win, but if we both do, I'll win. And so on.

So, I can see how there might be some logic to going all-in with 8 5 as easy as one would go all-in with AJ. But here's where it comes back to reality. Even though it's true that if no one has a pair we both have the same odds of pairing something, that doesn't mean that the better hands won't win in the long run.

It just throws a giant monkey wrench into the picture in the short run.

So, what's the moral of my message? This book presents a legitimate point describing a way to try and win a tournament. Whether or not it works is debatable, so go ahead and try it if you like.

I think the better players will come out on top anyway, and shouldn't be so quick to condemn this method.

The first time I used the strategy in this book, I won a 180 player tournament. Hard to argue with those results!

I picked this book up with relish as I found myself relating well to it as I read the outside flaps. (I have a handicap index identical to that of the author's AND what avid golfer wouldn't love to take a year to work on their game in order to make a run at the PGA Tour.) Author John Paul Newport is presented with that opportunity when he gets a book deal to show the preparation and effort required to attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour via the Tour's qualifying school (or "Q School"). Along the way he expresses quite well all of the frustrations that vex golfers who try to master the game.

Starting with lessons, hours of practice, then new equipment, then participation in various "mini-tours" across the country, Newport succeeds in validating Grantland Rice's quote about golf that it is, "...twenty percent mechanics and technique. The other eighty percent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness, and conversation."

Along the way, the reader gets to experience all of Newport's ups and downs during what he refers to as "The Year" while trying to balance life with a new wife and a brand-new baby. He finds that his mental "game" is not quite as developed as his physical "game" as he doggedly pursues his goal. It's hard not to feel real sympathy for Newport as he struggles with all of the various facets of the game. The reader will go away from this book with a greater appreciation for the game of golf and the effort that goes into trying to master it.

Recommended for all golfers, but especially for those who ever aspired to play on the PGA or Senior Tours, in particular.

This book is painful to read. Ending up skipping many paragraphs that were the author totally overanalyzing his swing or own mental state, as I wanted to finish the book figuring it would be fun to learn about the mini-tours -- golf's single-A leagues. Learned a little, but most of the book is the author self-flaggelating blather about his mental state, or lack thereof. Was hoping to hear about the background and dreams of the various cast of characters on the tours -- there might be five pages of that in a 300-page sleep-aid. Spends a full page explaining how his choice of socks ruined his round. This book is incorrectly titled. It should be "Fine Green Gap: The Pipe Dreams of a Three-Handicap and How He Got to Write a Book About It."

I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of this book, and laughed out loud many times while reading it. The writing is very lively and funny as he describes his obsession with golf, how he enjoys hitting balls anywhere he can (an open field, in the garage during the winter), how he was a late bloomer in golf, etc.

However, once the author gets into playing in the mini tours (about one third into the book) on through to the end of the book, it's not as humorous as he wrestles with the mental aspects of the game over and over and over and over (get the point?). If you're big into the mental side of golf and you're like the author and believe that motivational tapes will improve your game, you may like all the endless discussion about it. But I'm not into that, and I thought it really slowed down the book.

The book is also anticlimactic ... about half way through, you can kind of tell how it's going to end.

I did enjoy the book's explanations and inside stories of how the mini tours worked and the characters who play on the mini tours. But one of the final chapters of the book talked about him entering Q School, and he doesn't go into much depth about what that is all about. I would have liked to have read more inside details about Q school and how that works.

Overall, the good parts of this book are entertaining and many times hilarious, but the last two-thirds of the book would have benefitted from more humor, and less introspective analysis of the mental parts of his game.

Anyone that loves golf and shoots a good round here and there has experienced the "why can't I do that every time" mentality. In "The Fine Green Line", John Newport takes that belief to the next level and puts into proper perspective the difficulty of "mastering" the addictive and occassionally rewarding game. I recommend this book for the regular or avid golfer who may be helplessly addicted and wants a humorous and very real account of just how mentally difficult consistently good golf can be.

I am the author of Striking It Rich: Golf in the Kingdom with Generals, Patients and Pros, a similar but different take on the game of golf in general and the approach to Qualifying School in particular.
The Fine Green Line is a very well-written look at one low-handicapper's attempt to play professional golf on the mini-tour level. It is very funny because the author understands the problems he is having but despite many attempts, cannot solve them. It makes you want to work as his caddy in an event or two to set him straight. In this way, Newport draws you into his struggle by letting you know something the protagonist (Newport himself) does not.
I learned something about tournament golf from reading this book; namely that thinking about what you are doing out there is the key to playing well- not the source of your troubles, as Newport would have you believe. In "Striking It Rich", I tried to make that clear.

This book is now dated, figure skating is scored quite differently now, then it was when this book was written. The skaters in the book have long since been replaced by a current crop. Not being an "insider", I don't know how the "politics" of figure skating have changed, but I'd suspect that the "politics" is also at least a bit different from when the book was written.

Still, the book is an entertaining read into the world of figured skating in the '90's. The book introduces us to personalities and gives us some background on the famous personalities of that time period. It's interesting to contemplate that today's prominent figure skaters were just starting out when this book was written. In that regard, this book provides an interesting look at how today's prominent skaters were raised in the world of figure skating.

I thought Christine Brennan brought the lives of the skaters she followed in this book to life in such an interesting way that the book was hard to put down. I found myself totally involved, even knowing the outcome of some of the events she covered, I still was fascinated! Great job. Great book for anyone who loves this sport!

I have to say I was surprised by Christine Brennan's take on Tonya Harding. Tonya Harding is now a pariah in the world of American figure skating even though she helped many of today's figure skating athletes to become household names and wealthy as well. Tonya doesn't see any of it. It's ironic that Tonya Harding can't skate professionally while convicted rapist Mike Tyson is allowed to box but that's figure skating. Between the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games, the infamous incident by Nancy's clubbing by one of Tonya's hired goons caught everybody off guard. Poor Tonya, she was the girl from blue collar upbringing, divorced parents, and quite a dysfunctional childhood. I think if this was played out in Hollywood. Nancy and Tonya would have made up before the 1994 Winter Olympics and let it go down in history. No, the FBI was brought in. In the 1992 games, too much attention was paid on Nancy Kerrigan and the plight of her legally blind mother who later claimed that her daughter deserved the gold medal. In 1992, everybody including myself who watched the Olympic games knew about Nancy's poor mother. Nancy got more attention than Tonya and Kristi Yamaguchi who went to win the First Olympic Gold Medal for Ladies' Figure Skating since Dorothy Hamill. Still, she was shadowed by Nancy's blind mother. Since 1994, I became disillusioned when I saw figure skaters past judgment on Tonya Harding. I haven't lost respect for Jayne Torvill because she was actually quite ladylike in all retrospect. Sadly, Tonya was never the graceful skater but an excellent jumper who was the first American woman to land a triple axel. Tonya's happiness was short-lived by an abusive marriage and a US Figure Skating Association that cared more about maintaining a facade of a happy family. I didn't know that Nancy was not well-liked. YOu could have sure fooled me. Even now, Nancy is still the victim of a dumb plot. Had she had any sense, she would have forgiven Tonya and let it go but no it became a nightmare and a dream for the tabloids of the time. My respect for figure skating is gone. I am not surprised by the homosexuality in figure skating because it's so obvious but I wish they would just admit it rather than cover it up now. Even now, you just wonder why some aren't married or dating anybody. Anyway, the sport has changed for the worse in my opinion. It's become corrupted by greed, jealousy, and envy.

My daughter, a figure skating coach, and I are on our 3rd copy: people keep borrowing this book and keeping it!

Brennan does a fine job debunking the "pretty girls in pink" myth about skaters, while still showing respect for the amount of effort and athleticism necessary to succeed in this sport. It's been said that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did - only backwards and in high heels. Well, figure skaters do everything other elite athletes do, backwards/forwards and in the air while maintaining an illusion of fragility. Brennan recognizes that dichotomy, which is why this is such a good book.

If you know skating from the inside, elite or simply local, you will recognize much of what she talks of. If you enjoy politics, read this for incredibly sharp double dealing and backstabbing. But always, read it for the beauty she evokes.

Journalist Christine Brennan takes fans of this sport behind the scenes for a brutal but truthful look at a sport known as much for its glitter as its athleticism. Brennan exposes it all, from the pressure of competition to the facades perpetuated by an antiquated skating federation. Using real interviews with the figure skating's top athletes, Brennan covers tragedy and triumph with unbiased professionalism. Highly recommend for skaters and fans of figure skating

You can't get much better than this. It's a gem of a book. But, I recommend other tactics manuals, too. Such as a Gary Lane book with puzzles. Of course, GM Lev Alburt recommends that very thing, too. Tactical themes is what you are learning.

Lots of ideas that you can benefit from. Not as useful for teaching as the previous book in the series. Good for independent study.

This is the best tactics book I have. I've written all over it because it's constantly stirring up exciting ideas.

There are 9 "Lessons" (chapters). The Lessons don't just cover one tactical motif after the other but are grouped logically into very useful themes. Lesson One provides the best definition of tactical play I've ever seen, and fully explores these ideas: threats, forcing variations, gain of time, in-between moves, positional sacrifices, intuitive sacrifices, and creating combinations by 1) recognizing motifs, 2) employing tactical ideas, and 3) following through with concrete technique.

Lesson Two, Three, and Four cover all of your basic tactics. The definitions are short but sweet. The examples may require your own independent thinking, but there's enough accompanying text to guide you and to make the point of each example abundantly clear.

Lesson Five and Six are wonderfully instructive on tactics involved in the attack on the King. This is "Art of the Attack" in a condensed, fun and highly effective form. Lesson Five focuses on the vulnerable King and removing the King's defenses, while Six focuses on the essential sacrifices at f7, g7, and h7, as well as Lasker's Combination.

Seven focuses on tactics involving the strategic concepts of the back rank, 7th rank, and far advanced pawn, and Eight is all about tactical techniques for pulling out a draw (I didn't think that topic COULD be interesting).

Finally, Lesson Nine is a fantastically insightful and accessible lesson on how to calculate (the chess improver's holy grail), which alone is worth the price of the book.

This book may not be as complex as variation-intensive books, but nor is it simplistic, and it hits with a high impact per chapter.

Books on chess tactics and chess traps are very useful for improving your game. There are a lot of books on tactics and a small number on chess traps (openings tactics). When comparing CHESS TACTICS FOR THE TOURNAMENT PLAYER to my other book "Learn Chess Tactics" and "Winning Chess Traps" I can say this book is jumpy and often not very clear. It goes from a simple position to work on using one pattern, then jumps to a totally unrelated type of pattern that is very difficult. It is like getting a wild card every time. It still gets three stars because there are some good problems to work on that are helpful to improving your game.

After anxiously waiting for this book, I began to study it, and was very disappointed. Chess Tactics for the Tournament player is a disappointing book.

The themes presented in the chapters are in no logical order! They are just randomly slapped there for you to study.

As another reviewer mentioned, the commentary in this book is very sparse. Sometimes they give examples to easy for the intended audiences (1 or 2 move combinations) and then give very difficult ones right after it (6 or 7 move combinations).

Thye book crams many themes, sometimes 3 or 4, in one chapter. At the end of the chapter, they only give 12 excercises! How are you suppose to learn this stuff if they give an average of 3 excercises per theme?!

Overall, I was disappointed.

I own Just the Facts!, the 7th volume in this series, which is very good. If only the authors mirrored the style in that book with this one.

I ordered the king in Jeopardy, the 4th volume of this course. Hopefully it will be better than this one.

There is an aura about Augusta National and about the Masters. This book comes as close as words can come to capturing that aura and communicating it to the reader. The Masters is special in and to the world or sport. This book tells you how it came to be and why it continues.

This is not a book about golf. It is the outstanding history of a national treasure it's people and how it almost went bankrupt, and was saved by the dedication and love of Clifford Roberts. The book is of history, business, caring, commitement and amazing dedication. If Clifford Roberts were alive today, people would beg him to give motivational talks, but he would turn down all offers. He was a very private man who influenced the lives U.S. Presidents. Clifford was a skin flint who for no reason would hire the poor friend or relative of a kitchen worker or on hearing that a greens keepers wife was ill, borrowed a members private jet to fly her to his doctor for tratment. He was a complex yet simple man.

WARNING, if you start reading this book do so on a Friday night when you don't have anything planned on the weekend as you won't be able to put it down.

Picked this up by chance at the library...and realized I was reading the book that is the Yin to the Yang of the Curt Sampson book The Masters : Golf, Money, and Power in Augusta, Georgia.

Both books look at the same event. Owens focuses only on the beauty spots, while Sampson goes out of his way to find the warts. Owens keeps his story within the walls of the country club, while Sampson traces the development of the golf course and the town and how each impacts the other.

I can't help but feel that Owens book was written as a rebuttal to Sampson's book...and even there it seems to be a surgical strike method rather than a massive refutation type of rebuttal. Example: Sampson quotes specific sums of money in regard to Roberts worth, but is seemingly talking about the sums after factoring inflation...Owens takes these same numbers, uses what appears to be the original number without considering inflation, and then says Sampsons numbers are wrong. Example: Frank Stranahan finishes #2 in the Masters, then is banned the next year for taking multiple practice shots from the same spot (despite warnings). Owens focuses on the action, and says Cliff Roberts action in punishing Stranahan was appropriate. Sampson takes the issue and focuses on the fact that other people did the same thing, but were never punished. Example: Owens examines Roberts marvelous relations with Jones, Eisenhower, and the like, and asks how could a person that had the trust of such great men be the curmudgeon that Sampson and others have made him out to be? Sampson notes how Roberts treated people over whom he had power very poorly but worked hard to get into the good graces of people who could advance his goals.

These two books are as the results of two different men writing about the same pattern in a Rohrschach (sp?) test-they see the same facts and come up with different answers.

So if you want a balanced view of the Masters, don't read either this book or Sampson's book-READ THEM BOTH, then come to your own conclusion.

This book is a must read for Masters' fans. The history of the area as well as to golf club itself adds to the enjoyment. I read it in 2000 when we first obtained Practice Round tickets. When we were lucky enough to get tickets again in 2004, I purchased a copy for the reading pleasure of the folks who went along on the trip. All enjoyed the read and it prompted a lot of discussion on the car trip to Augusta.
Is it slanted in favor of the club? Maybe, but how many authors are truly unbiased?

Apparently, when Curt Sampson, a highly-regarded and critically acclaimed author, penned his book about The Masters, it ticked off the members there even more so than did Martha Burk. David Owen is a journeyman writer who hacks a column for one of the golf magazines. He was paid by Augusta National to write a rebuttal to Sampson's book. A big deal was made of the fact that Owen was given "exclusive access" to club archives.
All is sweetness, light and goodness among the azaleas and loblolly pines, heaven knows. Owen even goes so far as to negatively mention Sampson's work by name (tacky). If you don't smell the odor of rotten eggs by now, you probably think Hootie Johnson is an intellectual and a feminist at heart. (Hootie, if you had just thrown the letter away, you could have avoided this whole mess! That was flat-out dumb.) However, maybe Mr. Owen will get to write another book with exclusive access to Augusta's archives, regarding their valiant efforts to find a female member. Remember your integrity, David - that means once you're bought, you stay bought. Advice: unless you're a member at Augusta National, don't waste your time and money on this drivel.

I love this book! he establishes his childhood in order to show us his passion for figure skating. This book is very insighful into the world of judging.

I do not understand how this book has received a 5 rating from any reader. I have never before been motivated to write a review of a book I have bought from Amazon, but I would like to save others from the disappointment I experienced when I started reading this. The only reason I read it to its completion was to be able to write a fair review. Firstly, the title is misleading, as this is first and foremost the autobiography of Jon Jackson and not the story of figure skating. There is no need at all to read anything before page 200. While the battles between the ISU, USFSA and WFS are intriguing, they are marred by Jackson's factual errors, horrific writing, vindictive comments and abundant exclamation points. Again, I am perplexed that this book is actually co-authored and that it has made it through a single round of editing. As well as having more spelling/typing errors than any book I have ever read before, as a skating fan I don't want to see Sergei Grinkov referred to as Alexander Grinkov or Oksana Baiul referred to as Russian (repeatedly, and involved in a Russian conspiracy to boot). Despite having travelled around the world, Jackson knows very little of culture or geography. Even the most fervent defender of US figure skating should be able to treat Russian figure skating with a minimum level of respect. Blinded by the Salt Lake Olympics, Jackson writes off everything Russian. It is extremeley offensive. It may well be that Jackson's investigations of the ISU and the events following Salt Lake have merit, but there are so many errors in the factual information here that I can not take any of his allegations seriously either. I highly recommend Cristine Brennan's Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey into the Secret World of Figure Skating, an objective, well-reported piece of investigative journalism. Jackson's book is gossip.

I have to admit that I picked up the book because of the catchy title. I expected to find nonstop gossip and talk about how corruption is heavily prevalent in figure skating and how "top skaters" get screwed.

The beginning of the book covers Jackson's childhood, in which he describes how he first got involved with skating. He describes how the beginning of his skating career was constantly under the control of a "family friend," Charles Kennedy, a wealthy individual who had connections with top figure skating figures such as the Propotonovs. Furthermore, Jackson illustrates the troubles he faced as a young boy trying to come to terms with his sexuality as a gay man.

There are some notable sections in the book that is directly connected to the title of the book. He mentions how many of the judges, from the West (particularly California), tend to rely on strict scrutiny and mandatory socializing among judges, a procedure Jackson dislikes because he rather spend time chatting to the skaters and their families. Jackson notes that he would have never been able to rise to the higher levels as a skating judge unless he was forced to socialize with the other judges. In addition, Jackson mentions several well-known figure skating names such as Tonya Harding, Irina Slutskaya, Michelle Kwan, Rudy Galindo, Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, and Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. He argues that Harding might have been unfairly treated and how Slutskaya (and other top Russian skaters) are heavily favored to win due to the influence of "Russian propaganda" and the underground Russian mafia. During moments like these, it's hard as a reader to differentiate between personal bias or truth. Regardless of these factors, Jackson paints a humorous description. Also, before I forget to mention, Jackson ends each chapter with a bit of trivia describing the wins, losses or scandalous news of a Russian figure skater(s).

Jackson made it his mission to target certain individuals in US Figure Skating (the organization) and the International Skating Union. He criticizes head officials such as Phyllis Howard (USFS) and Octavio Cinquanta (ISU) for behind-the-scene manuevers that Jackson believed sacrificed the aspirations of American figure skaters such as Ina and Zimmerman immediately after the Winter Olympic that caused the gold-medal controversy. Personally, I never heard of Howard or Cinquanta but Jackson does not hide his dislike for these two individuals, an opinion I understand now after reading the book.

The end of the book primarily focuses on the World Skating Federation, an organization that Jackson and several of his other judging colleagues created in hopes to become a IOC-recognized judging group. Unfortunately, as the readers learn, the WSF loses its lawsuit against the International Skating Union.

Overall, the book was humorous and a fun read. I would definitely recommend it to any figure skating fan. Of course, Jackson's outspoken voice might upset some readers but if you put that aside, the book is a delight.

This book goes more into the detail of this judge "coming out" rather than the real issues in the skating world. He talks about encounters with other gay judges which have nothing to do with the scandal in Salt Lake City or the alledged corruption at the ISU and USFSA. He fails to make his case and points fingers without facts.

I endorse this book not only as an Amazon Reviewer but as a skater. The dirty deals, corrupt judging, and federation attempts to advance their favorite skaters at the expense of equally talented but less-popular athletes (who, for whatever reason, don't fit their cookie-cutter out of date "image"), Jackson tells all. Should be required viewing for everyone in the sport, especially the federations, who must take a hard look at their own ethics and make some changes.

I thought I was going to read about golf..Wrong..I am not interested to hear Mr Donegan's opinion's on world leaders.. Unfortunately I purchased it at an airport so can't return it and get my money back..

This is a very intelligent and witty book that all of us who understand golf's struggles must surely appreciate. But beyond a golfer's perspective, this should also be enjoyed as a story about any passion in life that proves to be extremely challenging or unattainable, and the humor of brushing aside all obstacles and pressing forward no matter how ridiculous the circumstances become.

True, this isn't a book about Tiger Woods or Madonna or Bill Clinton, so if you are looking for pop culture, you'll need to look elsewhere. But if you are someone who cheers for the underdog and if you also like golf stories from an insider's point of view, I don't think you will be disappointed!

but this one is readable if only because it is a take on the Euro tour. It takes you to golfing venues and places that others dont. If you want a book about a player you know or courses and tournaments you are familiar with, then this is not your book. That, however, is the redeeming factor of this book. It does get dry because of that though, as it does the usual, painful breakdown of all of Ross Drummond's (Ross who?...exactly)shots and putts. This of course it what drops its rating down. A book like this on Tiger might rate 5 stars as we would all like to hear the inside scoop from his caddy. Where it does excel is with Donegan's wit, humor and exploits. When their relationship starts to sour Donegan takes more of an interest in his social life, and in places like Morocco you know it will get interesting. Chapter seven on his experience in Rabat is pretty dang funny.

Period. And I have read them all.

I read this book because I loved Donegan's other book 'No News At Throat Lake', which was both moving and hilarious.

I don't play golf but know enough about it to enjoy the humor in this book, which kept me amused while I traveled around Ireland for three weeks. Donegan has a great ability to capture well the itinerant lifestyle of the B-grade pro-golfer, the emotional ups and downs of losing more than winning, the little triumphs and pleasures of golf, and the mental stamina needed to be a pro-golfer.

I recommend this book to golfers as well as anyone who just wants a very funny read.

I borrowed the unabridged audio version of this book from a local library. I was very interested to hear it, as I am an avid golfer and I enjoy a good story. Unfortunately, I have to say I was very disappointed with this book. I made it through the first few chapters before I had to stop.

The author seems to use numerous "cute" metaphors and other complex descriptions which tend to bog down the flow of the story. To me, this is an indication of a story that isn't very good and must rely on fancy dressing to hide the poor storyline beneath.

The main character is portrayed as a wisecracking, down-on-his-luck golf pro. Fair enough, and that is a good start. However, he is paired with a wife who seems to have nothing in common with him. She is into antiques and is very religious. He seems interested in neither topic. It might be believable if he were absolutely passionate about golf and would do anything, including being married to a non-compatible benefactor, to continue playing professionally. However, I got the feeling that the character just liked golf, but didn't love it.

In short, the characters and storyline just seemed poorly developed, and again, the writing style was very awkward to listen to (and read too, I would imagine).

I've read some very humorous golf novels. This is not one of them. The humor others are referring to escaped me, although certainly there are some very funny and/or biting passages.

I agree with the other reviewers who question some of the slower parts of the book. The underlying theme of giving up one's dream and the associated pain/relief did resonate with me, however, actually quite deeply.

I'd recommend it to my friends who are readers of literature but certainly not the casual reader--especially not the casual sports novel reader!

Michael Griffith has written a book that I figure Richard Russo (Nobody's Fool, Straight Man and Empire Falls) would write if he chose to write a book with golf as the central activity of the main character. Brian Schwan is a former college star golfer whose star has failed to ascend to the PGA Tour, The Nike Tour or any other tour that you ever heard of. He is playing the Snapper/Gold Club Tour where "there's not enough money to go around and only the pitiless and the unthinking survive."

We join our "hero" as he is carding a sloppy 76 in the opening round of what may be his last tournament while his playing partner has fired a "Gieberger," For the unitiated that is a 59. Something that occurs so rarely in competition that it is referred to by the name of the first man to do it.

In the parking lot following the round, Schwan is asked for an interview by a female TV reporter who is easy on the eyes and who has mistaken him for his playing partner, "Bird" Soulsby who has shot the 59. Schwan pretends he is Soulsby and not only completes the interview, but manages to arrange a date with the reporter for dinner that evening.

The problem is that Schwan is married and as guilt and lust start to crowd into his mind we learn a tad more about his marriage, his life growing up and his parents than we really want to know. What takes place during the date is entertaining and it takes most of the book to go from that time to the next day when Bird and Brian tee it up again in the second round of the tournament.

As I said at the beginning, the approach to this book is more of the Richard Russo style of writing than your normal golf story and it really only uses golf as vehicle to weave the story. I found some of the psychological aspects of the books to be a bit drawn out, but it is entertaining enough for the most part. Not a ringing endorsement, but Mr. Griffith has promise.

In a genre filled with magic eight-irons and caddies half-Scottish and half-divine, SPIKES stands out. It's elegantly written, funny, literarily and psychologically complex--I think it will be be one of the classic golf novels.

I absolutely love this book. It's ostensibly about golf - and more. If you're a golfer, if you're a wannabe golfer, if you like golf, read this book. Bring your dictionary and your sense of humor, and your ability to see through the golf loser context. The novel is about life, sarcastically limned. This young author is marvelous. I anxiously await his next endeavor.

wonderful. apostolico is a great writer and this book is really different from the tons of books published in the last years...

I would say this book was decent but not a must have. If you have read any book on tournaments then there is not need for this one.

This book was a waste of time and (fortunately very little) money. The reviewer that said "mostly fluff" was right on the money, except that he still gave it 3 stars. I bought this book mainly because I was looking for another poker book and I had always wanted to read Sun Tzu's Art of War. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this book. If interested in "The Art of War", buy that instead; If you are interested in a good poker book, buy one of Slanksy's or Harrington's. This book is littered with insights like (to paraphrase) "when your opponent is weaker than you, attack and accumulate his chips; when he is stronger than you, retreat and conserve your chips". Wow, would never had thought of that. Kept reading it hoping their would be something of substance to this book but was disappointed to the end.

A lot of this is saying the same stuff over and over just in different ways

Although this book has an interesting concept, I do not recommend it for any player except for the beginner. The writing is repetitive, and somewhat shallow.

If you are looking for a theoretical/spiritual/strategy type book I HIGHLY RECOMMEND "Zen and the Art of Poker," which helps with life in general as well as at the poker table -- helping reinforce your game and keep you balanced.

Good luck!