Teams Books

Remember that? This is a must read/item for those that have lived the history. If you've been part of the ride, then you know the story. But Jerry Reynolds has filled in the blanks with information that you could only get from... well, from Jerry Reynolds: The front office background on the Terry Tyler and Derek Smith trades; Bobby Hurley's potential and toughness; the head coach candidates; actual Bill Russell conversations (apparently he could talk... and laugh). What? We could have "stole" Detlef Schrempf!?!? The book even helped explain my "unique" encounter with Jawann Oldham on the day he was cut loose by the Kings.

Aside from all the great Kings gems that have been unearthed, there is some foreground on Jerry himself as well as documentation of his "rise" up the organization. Like everyone else, I would have liked for the book to be longer--182 pages for 20 years is just not enough. Oh well, Reynolds Remembers is a great and easy read, but to the Kings fan, it's truly great literature--the man did minor in English after all.

The details within "Reynolds Remembers" paint a vivid and entertaining picture of what life was like for a struggling and then reborn NBA franchise. It was filled with anecdotes and humorous observations of true events. I enjoyed it very much.

Although, I wish there had been more than a single page describing Jerry's "the Carly Simon period." Maybe we'll hear more in a sequel.

Jerry Reynolds and Don Drysdale's Reynolds Remembers: 25 Years With The Sacramento Kings is for any interested in the evolution of a shortstring operation which couldn't compete to a model NBA franchise. The Kings are celebrating their 20th season in Sacramento, California - and Jerry Reynolds was part of them before their rise to fame. His memoir celebrates their growth and provides a powerful leader's first-person experiences.

I have been a Kings fan my whole life and I truly enjoyed reliving the past 20 years with Reynolds. It is amazing on how fast we forget the early teams and players and how soon we get used to 50 win seasons. Reynolds uses the same humor and great one-liners in the book that he uses in his telecasts. I just wish the book contained more personal stories and memories and I can only hope that a sequel is in the works. Here's to another great 20 years of Reynolds and to another book.

A riveting read. I could not put this book down. A truly must read for all Sacramento Kings fans. A book any real NBA fan should enjoy. Being able to learn some of the inner thoughts of a real NBA insider is rare.

If only there had been more amusing stories and anecdotes Reynolds is so well known for. These reflecting the personalities of NBA players few of us fans ever see. Maybe this will be in Reynolds next book "Reynolds Remembers More" ?? We can only hope!!

Insightful reading for every Gator fan to appreciate the players and coaches who left their mark and influences on the Gator football program. Even some of the unflattering moments in history makes you appreciate where the program is today. The Wilbur Marshall chapter is a must read.

As a UF Alumni, I have kept track of Peter Kerasotis columns in the FL Today paper over the years. Now he has written a great book that is full of wonderful Gator stories and tradition.

It is a great book for any Gator Fan--young or old!

As a co-worker of Kerasotis for many years, I have long admired Pete's eloquent prose in Florida Today's sports section. He has a gift for spotting stories others miss and presenting them simply and surely.

When I first heard that Pete was writing this book, I told him I wanted to get a copy as soon as it was released, even though I have no connection to UF and am in fact an bigtime Ohio State fan. Having enjoyed Pete's writing for years, I was sure that I would enjoy the book even though I have never set foot in the Swamp.

I wasn't disappointed. Pete's substantial knowledge of Gator football was evident on every page. And one needn't be a Gator fan to enjoy the stories here. The tale of Mr. Two-Bits will resonate with the reader who feels that the fan loyalty and pageantry of the college game make it so much better than the NFL product. And the look at UF legend Wilber Marshall is one of the best profiles I've ever read of an athlete.

I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves college football. It is a must-have for any Gator fan's bookshelf.

I have had the honor and privilege of knowing Pete for many years and the pleasure of being able to ready his columns in Florida TODAY for many years.
His wit and writing style make for an easy and fun read and this collection provides anecdotes and inside Gator tales many of us have never read before.
Pete's book offers the insight of a beat reporter, which he has been, and the prose of a seasoned author, which he is.
It's a wonderful read for Gator fans everywhere! Thanks, Pete!

This is a great book for all Gators - easy to read and full of information about our football program.

My favorite chapters were on Steve Spurrier the player and Mr. Two Bits. Peter spells out why and how we got onto probation in the 1980s which I found very informative.

I found it to be a book I didn't want to put down. I would highly recommend all Florida Gators read this book!

Go Gators!

I'm a UW grad and a big Badger fan. This book had some great stories about things that happened when I was a student that let me relive those college years all over again. I really enjoyed it!

I have long been a fan of Mr. Doherty's work. His latest collaboration does not disappoint. Justin never seizes to amaze. Nine out of 10 dentists agree, "Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers" is a must-read.

This book is a must have for Badger fans. It is a fantastic way to relive Badger football memories - well written and entertaining!

I've been a lifelong Wisconsin football fan and so has everyone in my family. This book is interesting because of the different stories it tells about Badger football. It's a pretty easy read and you can open to any point in the book to find something good.

Tales From The Wisconsin Badgers by Justin Doherty (Director of Athletic communications, University of Wisconsin) is a compilation of anecdotes, personal recollections, and original research that provides the reader with glimpses of what makes Wisconsin Badgers football both unique and inherently interesting. Doherty surveys the entire history of the Badger football program from its humble beginnings through the glory years of head coach Barry Alvarez. Along the way readers are treated to the bizarre tale of "Kangaroo Kicker" Pat O'Dea, the mysterious discovery of a long-forgotten trophy of one of college football's longest rivalries in a Camp Randall storeroom nearly 50 years after its disappearance, a 23-game winless streak finally broken with a victory over archrival Iowa in 1969, and dozens of other humorous, poignant, and memorable stories about the Wisconsin Badgers. Drawing upon personal interviews with more than two dozen players, coaches, and staff members, Tales From The Wisconsin Badgers is a "must read" sports team history for all Badger fans and an essential acquisition for Wisconsin's community libraries for future generations of Badger football enthusiasts!

I couldnt put this book down, even when my girlfriend was on fire. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys beautiful poetry and stories about courage and devotion.

I couldnt put this book down, even when my girlfriend was on fire. I recommmend this book to anyone who enjoys beautiful poetry and a great story about courage and devotion.

I was a close friend of Ronnell's and Mark Craver wrote an excellent book, which chronicles every high, and low that students are faced with. However, Ronnell had some lows that we never could have expected. I praise Mr. Craver for keeping Ronnell's memory alive and allowing us to experience his memories of such a wonderful young man.

As I high school basketball coach and fan in general, I really loved this book. The writer, a high school english teacher, clearly describes how his attachment to his school's team has been one of the greatest joys and loves of his life. I love the line where he says that because of his attachment to the kids and the basketball program, being a high school english teacher has always and will always be enough for him. Highly recommended for anyone, sports fan and non sports fans alike.

My English teacher read this book to our class while we read Homer's Odyssey to contrast the modern epic to the classic epic. I must say that Craver's epic is much more gripping than that of Homer and provides a fantastic story for any sports or literature lover. It managed to capture my attention just after hearing the first few sentences. The cover doesn't do this book justice either, so don't judge the content of the story by it. Also, for me, the story takes place right in the Northern Virginia/Fairfax area so I know exactly the schools that Craver is talking about. Highly recommended.

A character in this short business novel says, "We stress the importance of purpose-aligned goals, purpose-aligned plans, and purpose-aligned decisions. When I say this out loud, it sounds obvious. But vision statements are famous for living in drawers. Our great purpose lies in daily discipline."

How do you implement vision--how do you get it out of the drawer? You engage people by asking them, among other things, "What are you good at?"

That's just one of many insights in this easy-to-read story of a Peter Principle sales guy turned national sales manager, now at wit's end. Co-authors John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings have the credentials and the creativity. You'll love the book--and its unique niche in the "strengths" and "engagement" literature. Imagine what would happen in our organizations if every single person were highly, highly engaged--and leveraging their strengths every single day!

I so enjoyed this little book that I'm giving a copy to my boss and coworkers. It's business acumen aside, it's a profound parable nearing the tradition of Paulo Coelho. It's characters are well-developed, fallible, and the reader follows their very human development like that of a dear friend. It's prose and sense of place invoke, surprisingly, Garcia Marquez in the milieu of Gretel Ehrlich. It is a revelation as it tracks one man's awakening into what IS and what is not important. As a result, he is a stronger, more effective leader in terms of interpersonal relationships; honest, transparent communication; and powerful and sustained impact on the bottom-line. His team is fully engaged and brings all of their strengths and experience and self to work. Well-done, Stahl-Wert and Jennings!

As brilliant as The Serving Leader: Five Powerful Actions that Will Transform Your Team, Your Business, and Your Community Ten Thousand Horses is an easy must read for anyone who finds themselves in a position of leadership. From professionals to parents the truth of this simple formula will bring vitality to your life, the lives of those around you, & to the mission you share.

Stahl-Wert and Jennings have hit a bulls-eye with their equation. Engagement will not happen unless trust is first built. Many organizations confuse compliance with engagement. You can have compliance wiht low engagement and trust is THE differentiating factor. As you look at the Engagement Equation, notice that when trust is zero, the equation is nullified. Leaders cannot make the mistake any longer of thinking that their teams and workers will engage without personal and organizational trust firmly established.
Bravo!

This book is clear, easy to read, and engaging. It's a great story and offers profound insights on a critical issue in the workplace.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT FORMER NFL HEAD COACH OF DALLAS AND MIAMI JIMMY JOHNSON. HE TELLS THE READER MOSTLY ABOUT HIS CAREER COACHING A BIT ABOUT HIS LIFE OFF THE FIELD. I TOTALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AS HE TELLS US HOW HE WON A NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND A SUPER BOWL. HE GIVES HIS HONEST AND INTERESTING INSIGHTS ON MANY PLAYERS AND COACHES. I FOUND THE MOST INTERESTING TO BE HOW HE MADE THE COWBOYS INTO A POWER HOUSE DURING THE 1990'S. EVEN AFTER 15 YEARS, THIS IS STILL A GREAT BOOK. NOW JIMMY STILL USES THE HAIRSPRAY AND IS A COMMENTATOR ALONG WITH TERRY BRADSHAW AND HOWIE LONG ON THE PRE GAME AND POST GAME WRAP UP ON FOX AND ARE QUITE GOOD AND ENTERTAINING. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Straight forward, no nonsense book about everything from Johnson's college coaching days to the Cowboy's first super bowl under his staff. He spends several pages scattered through the book almost whining about certain calls of the official in certain games, but what coach doesn't (even I'm guilty). However, I read the book in one day because I just couldn't put it down. He does give insight into how he became (in my mind) the master motivator of NFL football. Recommened to any football coach or player who loves the game and loves learning pychological aspects of the game.

Jimmy Johnson's life is a great story, this book tells that story with great detail from Johnson's boyhood in Port Arthur, Texas all the way through his days of restoring glory in Dallas. This book is not just for Cowboy fans, it's for anyone who loves a good book.

I read this book when I was 12 years old and the Cowboys had won their first of 3 Super Bowls in the 90's. I loved it but, then again, I would have loved a bottle of poison if it had a Cowboys star on it.

I picked it up again about a year ago when I was thinking about what made that team (and champion teams in general) tick. The psychological edge those teams enjoyed is probably what made the difference, to which Jimmy Johnson deserves the ultimate credit.

His approach to the mental side of football is evident in this book. For example, instead of telling a kicker "don't miss" before a good field goal, Jimmy will always say "make this." The difference is the seed, either positive or negative, that is planted in that kicker's mind.

But the book goes beyond coaching philosophy to chronicle the interesting, if not a little whacky, life of an extremely sucessful football coach.

If you are a Jimmy Johnson fan or a fan of good football autobiographies, then check this book out. It starts with Jimmy living in Port Arthur and takes you all the way through to his days with the Cowboys. The best part of the book in my opinion was the behind the scenes of the different colleges he coached at.

I was looking for some history about the Minnesota Twins and this book more then met my needs. The book is unique in that it is in a question/answer format that allows you to guess the answer before you verify it on another page. The book also has some very nice black and white pictures of players as well as pictures of both the Dome and Metropolitan stadium. Real cool shot! This book can also be used as a reference manual because it also includes hitting and pitching statistics for all Twins players. It makes a great gift idea! I would recommend it strongly.

Best trivia book I have found about the Minnesota Twins. Great section on all the Twins players statistics.

Looking for a gift idea for that baseball fan in your life? This is the book for you. Everything you wanted to know about the Minnesota Twins in a trivia format. If you like stats, this book has every player that ever played for our Twins.

Twins Trivia is a nice little book that brings back many Minnesota Twins memories. I received the book as a gift and as I sat down to read the book, I was shocked to see all those Minnesota Twins names that I grew up with. What a fun book and a great Dad's day gift. You can't go wrong.

Hours of fun reading about the Minnesota Twins. If it is worth knowing about the Twins, this book will tell you all about it!

I really liked this book a lot and found it very useful in modifying my mindset. Its going to be difficult to put this into practice given the complexity of the topic and the time needed for good persuasion but the benefits are clear not just for individuals attempting to persuade but for the organizations they work for. That's it!

Jay Conger's new book is a must read for managers on all rungs of the corporate ladder. Most organizational behavior books shower readers with platitudes, but this book goes beyond. Conger gives current examples of persuasive leaders (both positive and negative) and then shows the reader step-by-step how to begin building the skills necessary to powerfully pursuade. The exercises and practical tips make the book a highly effective tool. Conger's techniques have helped me grapple with difficult negociations at work. I find that I am much more analytical and have a better appreciation of the inner dealings that go on within my work teams. At points the book makes pursuasion seem a bit too easy (at least for me), but it is a key book for all of us read and learn from. Honestly, I use the skills that I picked up reading this book outside the office just as much as I do inside. We all need to learn to pursuade and this text lays a solid foundation for us all to do so.

"One important aim of this book is to challenge your stereotypes of persuasion. We usually think of persuasion as something reserved for salespeople-certainly not for managers. What I am going to propose to you is that, quite to the contrary, persuasion skills have become absolutely essential to the job of managing-far more than we might imagine. Much of what a good manager does today is sell: sell their ideas to coworkers; sell their organizations on change; sell their bosses on new investments. But it's not traditional selling. A large part of what we do as effective managers is to find optimal solutions for problems through investigation, discussion, and debate. We then convince our organization to get behind them. It is in the convincing part that we face our greatest hurdless-getting buy-in. This is where the skills of constructive persuasion play a vital role. So leave behind your older notions of persuasion. It's time for a paradigm shift. Your effectiveness depends on it" (pp.14-15).

In this context, in Chapter 2, after listing wrong ideas about persuasion as following:

1. persuasion is simply mustering the best arguments for something;

2. persuasion almost always involves stating your position up front;

3. persuasion means being assertive-often very assertive; and

4. negotiating and deal making are at the heart of it.

Jay A. Conger writes that "These are some of the stereotypes people have about the act of convincing. There are several others. Together I call them the 'killer myths' of persuasion-'killer' because they can kill our ability to be effective and our motivation to become better persuaders."

Killer Myth 1- The most effective persuasion is the hard sell.

Killer Myth 2- Persuasion is a one-way process.

Killer Myth 3- Effective persuaders succeed on the first try.

Killer Myth 4- Good persuaders don't need to compromise.

Killer Myth 5- Great arguments are the secret to successful persuasion.

Killer Myth 6- Persuasion is pure manipulation.

As a result, he writes that "Now that we know what persuasion isn't, we may be wondering what constructive persuasion really is." Hence, he shows four distinct steps such as (i)building your credibility, (ii)finding the common ground, (iii)developing compelling positions and evidence, and (iv)connecting emotionally to becoming an effective persuader, and he discusses these steps/the four elements of effective persuasion throuhout the following four (3-6) chapters.

Highly recommended.

As a recent MBA graduate, I found "Winning 'Em Over" to be a perfect complement to my formal education. By drawing on the disciplines of rhetoric, communication studies, management, and even storytelling, Jay Conger weaves a provocative and compelling argument for a fundamental and generational shift in the nature of management - from an Age of Command to an Age of Persuasion. Conger proves with contemporary examples what Aristotle knew thousands of years ago - that the author/audience (or persuader/persuadee) relationship is a covenant based on trust and mutually beneficial outcomes, that the audience must be an active participant in the process of persuasion, and that persuasion is a subtle art form. The beauty of "Winning 'Em Over" is that Conger explains the essence of this art in the context of the modern-day manager. In doing so, he provides the tools by which we can begin to understand the route to effective persusasion and, by extension, exemplary leadership. To become effective managers and leaders, we NEED to understand and adopt the principles examined in this book.

As an indication of how good this book is, I bought five copies when it came back in print. There are less than a dozen business books I have more than 2-3 copies of (Drucker is half of them.) It's that good.

As a leadership consultant who regularly has to assist Directors, Vice Presidents and above - many of them in technology-heavy companies - this is the book I used to recommend most often, and it breaks my heart it is out of print. It is good enough that I have contacted Mr. Conger directly. Here's what I've found: it speaks in language that most executives can understand, and with a litle bit of coaching this book provides a framework for them to see what they are doing and not doing when it comes to internal communications, relationships, and, yes, politics. I am no longer amazed at the lack of caolition-building and relationship development skills of executives, but I come across it constantly. As such, I often find that great ideas are NOT being implemented either do to a lack of understanding of, or blatant disregard for, the need to PERSUADE others of the viability and effectiveness of the recommended course of action.

If you're a bright executive who wonders why someone with less technical depth than you has gotten promoted in front of you, this book is a good place to start looking. Ask yourself whether you are as good interpersonally as you are technically.

An excellent comprehensive review of the players, management, & even the broadcast team who painted the picture for fans in the '67 season. I find it intriguing to read not only about the star players (Lonborg & Yaz) also the fringe players (Joe Foy, Dan Osinski, Don McMahon, etc.)whose journey in their baseball career enabled them to play on the'Impossible Dream'. The members of SABR (Society of American Research)hit a homer on this product!I'm a Yankee fan & I recommend this to any1!

1967 marks the first year that I really became a baseball fan, and the first year I saw Fenway Park. I remember my first sight of the storied Green Monster as if it were yesterday. As much as I am enjoying the more recent success of the Red Sox, there will never be another year like '67.

I do not exagerate and I say in confidence that I enjoyed this book more than any sports book that I have ever read. It brought back 1967, and some of my best childhood memories. It also preserves a great time in baseball history, along with the stories of the young men who comprised this team, hero and benchwarmer alike. I, along with Red Sox (and baseball) fans everywhere owe the authors a debt of gratitude. One can sense the dedication of the editors in compiling this great volume.

Especially if you are a Red Sox fan and remember '67, but even if you are a casual baseball fan, this is an unbelievable bargain - at this price you simply must get this book.

For red sox fans the year 1967 is not remember for only the summer of love ,its the year of the impossible dream . The sox had not won a pennant for 21 long years and it was the start of red sox nation as we know it . The book is fantastic it covers the 67 team .The words of the players are very interesting .The bio of them are great ,knowing how they became sox, and how they did on and off the field .enjoy it

This was one of the best books I have ever read. The book goes into great detail about every member on the '67 team. All the contributors of the book should be commended for brining 1967 back to life. I wasn't born in '67 but by reading the book I felt like I was there.
I really enjoyed the chapter about Tony Conigliaro, my favorite member of the team. It's terrible what happened to him. God bless your soul Tony C.

This is not only a great companion to the recently released Impossible To Forget DVD, but it also puts every other book on the 1967 Red Sox, and there are many, to shame. The best part for me are the individual biographies of every player who played that historic season; even the ones who only got into a few games. The book proves that every single player on the team contributed to the pennant. Put another way, when you win by one game, take one player away, no matter how insignificant, and the team would have ended up in second place. A remarkable team. A remarkable book.

If you ever lived in Denver, loved the Broncos, stomped your feet until they hurt and the stadium swayed, sat in freezing weather through winless seasons, but never gave up hope...this is the read for you! Terry Frei nailed it. The 70's in Denver after graduating from CSU were amazing, and nothing was better than the Orange Crush. We all looked terrible in orange, but we wore it all and often. I still have some Crush t-shirts and wear them proudly down here in Cowboys country. All the memories of Elitch's (the old, real one), greyhound races, and more came flooding back in time. I have read the book twice from front to back and especially like the chapter about "where they are now." I guarantee you it's worth the money. Go Broncos!!!

I was 10 years old at the time and my family lived in the heart of Denver. Benton street was filled with kids growing up knowing only 1 thing. The Denver Broncos were for real and Craig Morton was the real deal. If you have had any exposer to the lure of Bronco-mania you have got to check out this book. As I was humming through the pages I could almost smell the smog and feel the hope of a Superbowl victory for our mighty underdog team. Looking back I do believe everything I owned was Orange and it's a fact that Orange Crush pop was invented in honor of the team. About every trip to the mall meant meeting another team member and it was nuts how accessible these athletes were.

...and this book has allowed me to re-live the memories in more detail than I ever had access to. It was a wonderful romp down memory lane and reminded me that as a young boy living in Denver was truly special. If your from Denver or have ever seen it on the map and like the Broncos this is a must read! Totally enjoyable and complete this book delivered. For me this nugget of time and how the authors captured it struck pure gold in the heart of a great city.

This a great book about the 1977 Denver Bronco's. The book gives a history of the season from training camp to the Super Bowl and profiles the players that made it all happen. It also provides information about what was going on in Denver during this time and how the town was caught up in Broncomania and the Orange crush defense.
There are some black and white photos in the middle of the book and there are stats at the end which summaries the season. The book gives a behind the scenes look at what happened in the 1977 season from the prospectives of the players and coaches. There is much detail including a nice description of the player revolt that let to John Ralston's firing and Red Miller's hiring.
At the end of the book there is a summary of each player that tells what they did after 1977 and where they are now. Overall, this a very well written book. If you are a football fan of the 1970's, or the Denver Bronco's in general, this is a must read.

When I first heard about Mr Frei's upcoming book and the subject, I knew I had to have it. I received the book for Christmas and couldn't put it down! I have been recommending it to friends and family alike.

This newest book is a must for Broncos fans everywhere! Reading this book took me back to '77 and the excitement that the Broncos generated across the entire state, but it's not just for those who lived through that glorious season. This book will give current Broncos, and football fans in general, a fascinating look at the moment the Broncos became a "big league" team and the City of Denver evolved into a "big league" city.

Having been a Broncos fan for years and years, I was captivated by the the manner in which Mr Frei wrote about the backgrounds and histories of the players and coaches of that team and then filled us in on what those players and coaches are doing with their lives today. He also provides an inside look at the sports scene in Denver as seen through his eyes as a young reporter.

Mr Frei helped me re-live the moment and also catch up with the lives of those players who gave Broncos fans thrills for years and years!

A definite read for football fans everywhere.

If you are a Denver Broncos fan, this is a very fun read, and if you lived in Denver in 1977, then you have to have this. It brought back so many memories of that time, and the special feeling of the city that year.

Highly recommended.