Players Books

In the tradition of "Downfield" and "A Summer Up North...," Poling doesn't only let us poke our head in and take a look around, instead, he lets us tag along with him and go inside to see what's happened to some of our favorite players. While his writing makes you feel like he's sitting with you and telling you his story, his vivid descriptions will make you feel like you are at training camp and that Donald Driver just whizzed right past you. Or that you are sitting on the couch with Wayne Simmons' mother as she talks longingly about the son she misses so much. This one is a necessity for any Packer fan or anyone that wants to know what happens to the heroes after the lime-light fades.

Written by editor and columnist Jerry Poling, After They Were Packers: The Super Bowl XXXI Champs & Other Green Bay Legends is the true story of the 1997 Superbowl champions after they left the Packers. Some returned to ordinary lives; some tragically fell victim to powerful internal demons. Filled with career highlights and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the world of professional football, as well as a handful of black-and-white photographs, After They Were Packers is enthusiastically recommended for any Packers fan curious about what became of the ultimate winning team.

"All Heart" is not only the title of this book, but also an apt description of Michael Clemons. The book is written by Michael himself and he handles himself in this book with the same grace and dignity with which he plays football and lives his life. Clemons is a player who always speaks well of others and those who know him only from media interviews might expect this to be a sugar-coated book. Not so. Michael speaks honestly about the people and issues he has encountered in football. How can this man be so happy all the time? Read the book and you'll know his secret!

All Heart, the new book from Michael Clemons, gives us an insight into one of the finest athletes and human beings on the Canadian sporting scene. Pinball shows us again what a wonderful guy he really is. The antithesis of the modern pro athlete, he combines talent, humanity, humour, and class. All Heart is a journey through the professional and personal growth of an all-time Argonaut. You''ll see why this man is always smiling !!

The book contains many illustrations and information on goalie stars of the early 90's. My son seems to find the information fascinating.

I read this book about a year ago and its a great book. I never thought that I would learn about being on the Ice and yet having fun at the same time. Great book for any child that wants to be a hockey player

this book made my love hockey even more and know more about the howe family and there lives and i live in mich and gordie in on of the most see people in ths town and state

I am not an avid reader, but this book kept me glued to every page. Gordie and Colleen Howe share many interesting stories of not only their life with hockey but also of their family. I recommend this book for everyone, especially hockey fans.

Like the "Dieux du Stade" series of calendars, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLERS NAKED FOR A CAUSE 2008 Calendar is an oversize, brilliantly photographed, high-quality collection of poster-sized pictures of nude and semi-nude athletes. Is it something in the water? Without exception, each man (average age 22) is stunning! Australian Photographer PEDRO VIRGIL's choice for the cover, 21 year-old WILLIAM ZILLMAN, reminds us of Matt Damon. Jordan Bannister, player for the Carleton Blues, is a young Bruce Springsteen. Chris Knights, stares at us in a way that recalls Keanu circa "River's Edge". Six packs, square jaws, ample butts (all that running and kicking) abound in the provocative, ethnically-diverse collection. The calendar DRIPS WITH TESTOSTERONE! Women (and men) who appreciate the male nude, especially when they're masculine movie-star material, will love AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLERS NAKED FOR A CAUSE. The calendar benefits the McGrath Foundation, an Australian breast health charity.

I recently bought a copy of the calendar and OMG, the guys are HOT and the images were simply stunning! What a great job done by the photographer, Pedro Virgil! Compared to other calendars I have seen or bought, this one really is a top of the range, premium quality product. The high gloss images seem to make the guys leap of my wall! (I wish!). I love the way the photographer has captured these real sportsmen in a way which is so sexy without looking contrived. Far sexier and more real than the French rugby calendar which I also bought. I hadn't heard of the photographer before but I'll be watching out for more of his work now if it's like this. The Naked for a Cause calendar just oozes sexy, sultry, straight-guy masculinity. An awesome buy!

Although geared towards young adults, I think that everyone who is a hockey fan can benefit from reading this book. It is an inspirational story of someone who despite daily facing unjust restrictions and attitudes, persisted in pursuing a career in the game that he loved most: hockey.

I liked this book because I play hockey and I am African-American. Willie O'Ree was a great guy and I never heard of him before reading this book.

This is a book about a legend. He more than any other player changed the game and made it America's national pasttime. After being the greatest pitcher of his time for Boston he was traded to the Yankees where he went on to begin making the home run synonymous with his name. In the house that Ruth built' Yankee Stadium along with Lou Gehrig he lead the Yankees of the 1920's to a string of pennants and World Series. Both on and off the field the Babe was outsized, and seemed to be unstoppable. He was the greatest player the game ever had and probably ever will have. He was in some sense a babe all his life, childlike and uncontrollable but he was also famous for acts of kindness, including the famous homerun hit on request by a young fan fatally ill. His love of the game and his love of life are now apart of America's legendary heritage.

The book contains 48 photo's of the Babe. First edition printed. 1948 by Dutton Publishing. Hand AUTOGRAPHED by BABE RUTH himself, using a fountain pen. Authentication of signature. How much is this book worth ? It's like new.

Aimee Bratt's book is one of the most entertaining I have read in many years. All of us go to the movies and would love to see ourselves on the big screen - even just walking across the set for 2 seconds.
Ms. Bratt brings us into the world of film extras in a book that's full of fun and information. This book is great for yourself and as a gift.

Ms. Bratt does it again. Background Player is fascinating and engaging. Watching movies is a richer experience after reading her account of life as a bit player. Ms. Bratt pays tribute to all those extras whose names we don't know but who are vital to the movie industry. The well-chosen photographs illustrate the author's delightful narrative. This is a truly enchanting tale. I look forward to Ms. Bratt's next book.

This is a wide ranging look at Sherlock Holmes' life from childhood until the end. It provides a totally fresh insight and is a must for every Sherlockian. But they might not like Mitchelson's meticulously researched, but controversial, conclusions.

Mitchelson's study of the life of Sherlock Holmes is no work of fantasy; based fair and square on the facts, as related by Dr Watson and other Holmes critics and commentators, the result is a cracking good yarn that pulls up the accepted beliefs about Holmes and takes a good look at the roots. Holmes' unhappy childhood, dependence on drugs, and criminal activities are examined in depth, leaving the reader in no doubt that our preconceptions of Holmes, and his portrayal in the media, are very wide of the mark. To read this book is to challenge one's faith in the great detective's ability... but it is an important document, too, since it exonnerates several "crime lords" and "criminal masterminds" of the late Victorian period. I thoroughly recommend this book to any serious Sherlock Holmes fan. Chapter seven, especially, is breathtaking.

this book is an account of jim bouton's 1969 season with the seattle pilots/houston astros. when i began reading it, i couldn't put it down! an insightful behind the scenes look often told with great humor.

When the book "Ball Four" first came out in 1970, it created a major sensation. For it was the first sports book that presented athletes in any light other than as the shining, pristine hero. There had been a tradition in baseball that books "written" by athletes were not to ever mention the dubious escapades of the players. "Ball Four" tore off that veneer, exposing some very questionable activity. What was amazing was that no one ever really disputed what Bouton was saying, only that he had no right to say it. In my opinion, in writing this book, Bouton did baseball and the country a great service.
In "Ball Four", Bouton openly talks about Mickey Mantle's alcohol problems. The fact is that Mickey died an early death from liver disease that was a consequence of his heavy drinking. His life after baseball was largely a miserable one after he retired. In one of his last statements, Mickey said "Play like me, don't live like me." The recent and repeated scandals over extensive steroid use in major league baseball clearly demonstrate that the people who run the game still don't understand the situation. Bouton himself openly talks about getting better performance through chemicals. On page 45, he writes "Baseball players will take anything. If you had a pill that would guarantee a pitcher 20 wins but might take 5 years off his life, he'd take it."
Before I read this book, I had read many sports books, both fiction and non-fiction. Unfortunately, once I read it, I understood that many of those labeled as non-fiction should have been labeled as fiction. Reading it did not turn me off on baseball; that was done by the subsequent nonsense and denials about drug use and gambling in the game. One wonders if we would even have heard about them if it were not for the "writings" of Jim Bouton.