Football Books

This book gave a great depiction of life in Detroit in the 20's and early 30's. Not just a baseball book!!

If you read the title of this book you might think you are getting a detailed account of the the life of Norman "Turkey" Stearnes and the Detroit Stars, like you get from other books dedicated to a player's life, but this book is different. The story is more about the general environment of the Negro Leagues and race relations in the United States from 1919 to 1933. Great interviews with former Negro Leaguers and fans abound in this book, and the reader will get an idea of what life was like for both players and owners at this time. Readers will not only see Turkey Stearnes, but other greats such as Oscar Charleston, Ted Radcliffe, Andy Cooper, James Bell, Bill Petway, and Josh Gibson. The rosters and season stats for the Detroit Stars at the back of the book will be particularly interesting for anyone researching these players, and there are plenty of great photos as well.

Mr. Bak provides the reader with an insightfull, yet entertaining historical account of a segment of Americana that is too often over looked. A must read for diehard baseball fans, or anyone sincerely interested in either the history of Detroit in general or of baseball in Detroit.

I am Turkey Stearnes' oldest daughter and I think that the book clearly shows that these guys were very great and my dad was the greatest of all time and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. This book helps to give him the recognition that he so justly deserves. I'm sorry that he is not here to see all that is happening with the Negro League players. This has been a long time coming. Thank You Mr. Bak.

This is an amazing collection of Gator history. I highly recommend it as a gift to any Gator. We bought it for our son-in-law and are having a hard time giving it up! Enjoy!

This is a fabulous compilation of all things Gator. I bought copies for my parents and all my siblings for Christmas, and they have all raved about how awesome the book is. Packed full of history spanning the decades since the very beginning of UF and the Gators, this book will be a welcome addition to any faithful Gator fan's collection.

This is s must have for all Gator Fans. I bought this as a gift for a friend, and now I am going to get one for myself. I cannot even begin to tell you everything that is in this book. It is so well organized, displayed, and truly a treasured item. I read it from front to back and learned things that I have never heard before. It is truly remarkable!

The picture here does not even begin to do this volume justice. This is a beautiful book that comes in a sturdy and attractive box. It's as much scrapbook as it is history book. Inside the book, in addition to the wonderful photographs and narrative account of the history of Gator football, there are many, many artifacts that come in little pockets on almost every page. There is a replica of the ticket to the national championship game, a copy of Steve Spurrier's handwritten resignation announcement, a copy of the actual stats sheet from the 1966 Auburn game that secured the Heisman for Spurrier, a felt pennant from the 1950s, a copy of the card that Urban Meyer had each player carry with him during the days leading up to the 2006 championship game....the list goes on and on. Each page has a new surprise. Norm Carlson, longtime SID and Gator historian, has done every Gator fan a huge favor by putting together this remarkable "vault" of Gator memorabilia.

It was a gift and while it was attractive, I hope the recipient enjoys it!

This book is very well written and contains replicas of UT memoribilia that would be hard to find anywhere else. I bought one for each of my brothers as Christmas presents and they loved it! It is well worth buying and I would recommend it to any die hard Tennessee fan.

WONDERFUL BOOK FOR THE TRUE TENNESSEE FAN. REPRODUCED MEMORABILIA FROM YEARS GONE BY UP UNTIL THE RECENT. A REAL TREASURE!!

Great gift for a UT lover, but product was over-priced at Amazon. I saw the exact same product for 10.00 less at my local grocery store.

I'm buying the book and I know it will be excellent because I lived this time period as a kid (6-9 years old). My mother was coach Moser's personal secretary and head of ticket sales at the gym ticket office from 1954 through 1960. I went to most of the pep rallies with her and to every game in town or out. Coach Moser even let me come out to some of the practices to watch and occassionally fetch water with the waterboys. Remember the movie "Rudy" when he goes into the Notra Dame locker room for the first time? That was the way I was the first time I went into the Eagle locker room. Even got to hold Freddie Martinez helmet, Wow!! Even before fans wore team jerseys I had my own "33" black and gold jersey that I wore all the time. Thank you for this book and a chance to go back to a magical time period in my life. Larry Dobbs

Even though I am not a football fan, this book has been a real pleasure for me. It brings back such a flood of memories of an earlier time when a lot was expected from young people. I sometimes think I have just imagined that teenagers were once expected to work hard, respect their elders, and show "good moral character." Thank you, Michael, for confirming that my memories are correct. Thank you for reminding me that I did grow up in a special time and place. Thank you for giving the Warbirds back to me. Terry O'Neal, Class of '61

enjoyed the book very much. some one should made a movie about the book, its just so good that it should be shared with every body. chuck

To say I am a fan of Michael Grant's way with words is an understatement. I came to his work by way of the column he wrote for many years for the newspaper here in San Diego. His writing has greatly influenced my own.

Written with a reporter's eye for the telling detail, a novelist's sense of narrative, and an essayist's grasp of the larger meaning, Warbirds is pure Michael Grant. On the last page, Grant reflects on the team's incredible winning streak and what it meant to those who made it happen: "They saw for almost four years - almost the length of an entire high school education - what can happen when you live by the rules, know all the plays, and run till the whistle blows."

Like the book itself, those words are more than a masterful summation of a memorable streak. They have the power to speak to our lives and these times, as well. Reading Warbirds today, you don't even have to be a football fan to appreciate how Coach Moser's Eagles played the game.

I like the concepts and philosophies in this book. It has a nice progression as well.

It is a little dry ... but it is soccer warm ups ... how exciting can it be.

Very informative. If you are looking for a better way to get your kids ready before a game or practice, I encourage you to pick up this book.

The book starts with dynamic stretch illustrations which are good. The illustrations of stretches are usually 1 photo and explanations that are complete and the sessions are drawn as A's and B's. They are broken down into groups of stretches like the basics, then combinations, patters with fast feet and then to actually exercises. Mick then has Stage Two as an improved running section with easy and pratical exercises. Stage Three he gives 60 specific warms ups covering basics to space and shooting. Almost all sessions are using a ball. I titled it has a "handy guide" as I use it to get things out and develop my own or grab one of Mick's and go!

A super book for coaches who want to incorporate dynamic warm-ups/stretching into their teams training sessions and pre-game routine. Explanations are solid and easy to understand. As a coach of thirteen years I even found some terrific new warm-up exercises and games to use with my teams. Highly recommended especially for those who still believe that static stretching is still O.K. and anyone else who wants to leaern about proper warming up.

Really an outstanding book. It made me as a coach review how I approached warm-ups. I had always had the team go through traditional warm-ups; running the width of the field a couple of times, stretch and then small games of keep-away. Now, after reading this book that will all change. Dynamic stretching, varying the warm-up games etc... it is all covered in this book very well. Highly recommended for all coaches.

I first heard this book read on National Public Radio's "Radio Reader" program. I was enthralled with the history of high school football. I've since given a copy to my 14 year old son, 45 year old brother in-law, and 80 year old aunt, and ALL have greatly enjoyed the book!! The descriptions of the game as told by the quarterback are vivid...one hangs on every word rooting for the home team. It was great to read of teams in familiar places like Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Ann Arbor, as well as the intimidation felt towards the U.P. powerhouse teams (they were a bunch of miners' sons!) from Ishpeming and Escanaba.

This is a beautifully written, exciting football story with well-researched background of the town, the state, and the 1903 period. (I graduated from the High School featured in the book.)

This is an excellent book for all ages. John Armstrong pulls you right in to a classic story about the 1902 Benton Harbor football team as they struggle through every dangerous, harsh game after another. This book is an excellent gift for football fans and even people who just share our passion and the love of the game. Football fan or not, this is an excellent novel and an excellent piece of culture. After you read this book, the games will never end.

This book is fantastic, especially for someone who understands football. It is technical regarding football, but the story, which is true, develops beautifully. I couldn't put this book down, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves great books and great football.

Shannon O'Toole, a first-time author, writes smoothly and beautifully in this fast-paced, informative, and surprisingly juicy book. As an NFL insider, Shannon has definitely done her homework bringing to the forefront an aspect that is rarely seen in public - the other half of the men in the NFL - their wives, fiancées and girlfriends of the many players and coaches. We so often hear about the male players in the NFL so it is very refreshing to learn how these women are indeed a factor in the success of their husband's careers. "Wedded To The Game" is an eye opener for all who are interested in the dynamics of relationships that stand the test of time, stress, children and insecurities galore. Who would ever guess that these marriages last and the reasons are similar to one another? No other book will give you this insight, I highly recommend it!
O'Toole is candid about her own life leading up to and in the NFL and interviews with notables as Jackie Rice, Kathy Waufle, Pat Kennan, Kim Singletary, Kim Ruddy, Kori Shaw and many others are candid as well. I can guarantee that you will enjoy it.

The insiders view of living with the NFL. Great commentary on women adjusting to life as a partner in the NFL. Surprising revelations and expectations. A good read.

The author's real life experience and those in the book, give an interesting look into public perceptions and realities of NFL life.

First time author and wife of John Morton, an ex- NFL player and now coach,
Shannon O'Toole candidly exposes her thoughts and perceptions of what it is like
to be married to a professional football player or coach.

O'Toole, who holds a master's degree in sociology, bases much of her assessments
on a questionnaire that she anonymously sent to one hundred and fifty wives of
NFL players and coaches. She received seventy five responses and of these she
chose thirty to interview more in depth. These women range in age from their
early twenties to their mid-sixties and come from diverse educational and ethnic
backgrounds. Wedded to the Game: The Real Lives Of NFL Women is a broad overview
as well as a recording and synthesis of O'Toole's findings that make for some
very interesting and sometimes surprising data.

Divided into ten chapters, O'Toole addresses such concerns as the insecurity of
being a wife of a player or coach whose career can be over in a flash, or the
endless number of relocations that most of the players have to endure during
their career. A full chapter is devoted to domestic violence and the
ineffectiveness of the NFL in dealing with the problem. Included in this same
chapter is the temptation to indulge in extra-marital affairs and a questioning
if it is more prevalent than in any other profession or occupation. The
misconception that everyone employed by the sport is ultra-rich is thoroughly
examined with some surprising revelations. Much ink is given to exploring family
relationships, particularly where couples live a schizophrenic existence in that
once the season begins some wives hardly see their spouses. As the author
states, "some women, particularly coaches' wives, never get over the
difficulties and loneliness the football season brings, and they become
increasingly bitter and hostile." Moreover, wives have to take on the role of
supermoms or single moms, wherein she becomes one hundred percent responsible
for their physical, educational, and emotional well-being of the couple's
children.

Readers also receive a realistic expose of how difficult it is to break into the
NFL and the daily routines of NFL players and coaches that are not as glamorous
as the media would like to have us believe.

Another misconception that the author candidly talks about is the matter of free
tickets to the games. As mentioned, players and coaches for the most part are
required to pay for their tickets, and the tickets that they do receive for
their immediate family are not exactly in the best sections of the stadium.

O'Toole is not afraid to touch on some very sensitive issues and what emerges is
a poignant and gripping sketch of a better understanding of the complex lives of
spouses of NFL players and coaches that are very often ignored by the media.

Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

Great book well written arrived on time in new condition

I bought the book for my boyfriend, he is a Penn State alum. So far he has really enjoyed the book. It was a great purchase.

There has perhaps never been a college football coach more associated with a single university than Joe Paterno is with Penn State. Of course, it only makes sense since JoePa has been coaching at the University for over 50 years including 40 years as the team's head coach. "What it Means to be a Nittany Lion" is a player's and coach's retrospective on playing and coaching at the school. It traces Penn State's rich history of national championships and All-American players, decade-by-decade, sharing fond recollections and stories by some of their greatest players ever.

As a Michigan fan, I have always had tremendous respect for Paterno and Penn State. They do things the right way with class and integrity, just like Michigan. You never hear about scandals there like you do at so many other universities where winning is placed above everything else. Each decade presents some of its most notable players such as Rosey Grier, sharing their stories in their own words. Grier, perhaps best known as a member of the Los Angeles Rams "Fearsome Foursome" actually went to Penn State to compete in Track and Field and was an All-American Shot-putter in 1954.

It was in the 190's when Penn State started to develop its reputation as Linebacker U with players like Jack Ham, Greg Buttle, and Matt Millen but they also produced great offensive talent such as RB Lydell Mitchell. While we all see the loveable, affable, old gentlemen, it's quite evident in reading these players stories that playing for Paterno was no picnic. Former receiver O.J. McDuffie even relates going home in tears once as a freshman because the coaches had been so tough on him. McDuffie persevered and became only the second Penn State receiver to earn first team All-American status in 1992.

I especially enjoyed reading all the players talking about how they were recruited and ended up at Penn State. So many of them talk about the values and integrity that Paterno had and how academics were stressed as much, if not more than athletics. One of the most uplifting stories is that of Adam Taliaferro. Taliaferro, a defensive back, broke a vertebrae in his neck making a tackle in 2000. Doctors gave him slim chance of ever walking again, yet a year later, Adam was cheered by over a 100,000 fans as he jogged onto the field.

Whether you are a Penn State fan or not, after reading this book, you will definitely know what it means to be a Nittany Lion.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This is great book on Penn State's greatest players. Each player tells a story of what means to be a Nittany Lion. I love this book! It is for die-hard Nittany Lions fans or any college football fans! We Are...Penn State!

I bought this book for my father who is a huge wings fan. It details in order historically the careers of key players and coaches and was the perfect father's day gift.

My daughter started into hockey while going to Northern Michigan University. She then got hooked on the Wings. I was hoping that Art's book would introduce her to the culture of the Red Wings. She loves it. Thanks Art, miss you on the radio and hope you land on your feet soon.
Mike from St Clair

I mulled over this book for a long time thinking it was some fanboy "history" lesson, but I broke down and bought it anyway. I was so thrilled after I started reading it to see that it was all from the players' words! I loved reading about the guys from the 40s all the way to now. It is a inspirational book and it makes me proud to be a fan even though I was not born into hockey. No I was not a recent convert or riding their tails when they won, I started with the in the 80's (yes when they were not at their all time best). Anyway, the only thing about the book I was disappointed with is it did not have Gordie Howe's words (even though he wrote his own book, he could have something in it), Larionov, Federov, Vernon, and many others who did not contribute. Of course, it could have been the authors choice to not include them so I hope there will be a volume two!!! Still, this is a fabulous book to have if you really are a fan of the Red Wings and a fan of hockey.

What a great read! As the youngest daughter growing up in Detroit, I grew up in a family that loved professional hockey and college football . . . I watched from the fringes. Hockey did intrigue me, but I never really got hooked into the sport. As I went through the bookstore recently I spotted this book on the Redwings. I saw that it was individual stories and I thought that might be a great way to get a taste for what I may have missed, since my family goes on and on about the Wings. So glad I made the purchase. What a wonderful read. A few stories each night before bed, what a great way to retire. Each one is insightful and I was really drawn in. Guess what, I think I'm hooked . . . I will now be attending some live games. Go wings!!!

The book was everything I expected and more. It is great to know that I can count on my purchase to be what I anticipated.

This book is for anybody who loves football. It doesn't matter if you're not an University of Alabama fan. You'll still love this book. You can't stop reading it just because you think it's "boring". You'll love it by the time you're done. Reason being it doesn't just talk about football it talks about the people playing the football.Trust me you'll love this book.

The title of the book, "What It Means To Be Crimson Tide"...says it all. The book describes in true, "Crimson" the "Bama Tradition", of what it means to be a player on the University of Alabama Football team. Each chapter describes in detail a former great player, and what it meant to him to play football at Alabama. The book is never old; read it this year, then pick it up next year and it is still a great book to read. If you recognize names such as Starr, Jordan, Namath, Stabler, Newsome and Gilmer, then you will love this book.
Kirk McNair (editor of Bama Magazine) knows Alabama Football and understands "What It Means To Be Crimson Tide". Every true Crimson Tide fan should have this book in their library.

Kirk McNair not only knows about Alabama football. He can write about it too. In this book he shows how a good interviewer engages his subject, draws the best from him, and finds the angle that will captivate the reader. Then he uses his considerable writing skills to tell the story so that both the players and the readers will be pleased with the outcome. This book is a must for Crimson Tide fans. But it is also an opportunity for would-be sports writers to learn the craft from a master. Yes - he is my brother. I am proud to be his sister.