Teams Books

I found this book in the middle of nowhere at Barnes & Noble and I am SO glad that I found it. This might be the best book I have ever read.

This is a wonderful book; staring with the beginning and going all they way through till the present day. The forward is written by Nolan Ryan; my favorite Player of all time; I have such vivid memories of Ryan on the Angels, from His 4th No Hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on June 1st 1975 angels 1 Baltimore 0), which I listened to on a bright and sunny Saturday on KMPC 710 AM in cali with Dick Enburg and Don Drysdale announcing; to his near no hitters, to all the strikeouts, to the 79 Playoff game; what great excitement. I was so sorry to see the Angels make a big mistake and let him go to Houston. I also enjoyed the introduction; where Goldman talks to Leroy Stanton. What memories this all brings back. I have been an Angels fan for a long long time and the first game that I got to go to was early in the 1975 season, It was against the White Sox and Leroy Stanton Hit a Walk off game Winning Home run in the 10th and the (California) Angel's won 4-3. I can still remember the starting line up that day some of whom were; Dave Chalk, Joe Lahoud, Jerry Remy (Rem-dog), John Balaz, Rudy Maeoli, Elli Rodriguez, Mickey Rivers, Morris Nettles, Dick Lange and Tommy Harper. What Winsome and Wonderful memories. The Book is centered around 10 interviews with 10 great Angles players; Rod Carew, Jim Fregosi, Don Baylor, Nolan Ryan, Dean Chance, Albie Pearson, Alex Johnson, Reggie Jackson, and Jim Abbott; and about there individual Angels teams the personality's on those teams on and off the filed. Goodman covers there whole History from the beginnings to today and he does it though the players, coaches, and fans eyes. He really centers on there character and what Characters some of them were and are. Some of this history I know, but I am leaning so much I did not know and am grateful for the education. Goodman, who was a bat boy for the Angels in the mid 70's, has done a great job hear, he covers the good, bad and the ugly and the championship (2002) and this is a MUST READ for every angels fan.

This book covers the history of the Angels from the earliest days at Wrigley Field in West Los Angeles to the world championship team of 2002 and beyond. Lots of memories, not just from the main interviews with Angel greats like Carew, Abbott and Fregosi, but with the lesser known players that make the history really come alive. If you like the Angels, this book is a definite must. Reading this brought back a lot of memories of sitting in the cheap seats ($2.00 general admission!) for the '79 division championship. Jimmie Reese will never die!!

This is like no other baseball book I've ever read in my life. Whether you're an Angels fans or just a baseball junky like me, you'll love reading this book. It's written from the point of view of some of the greatest players of the game and will give you unique insights about what it was really like to be a member of the Angels - from the club's expansion year until they became world champions in 2002. I read this book over a weekend and was really impressed by Mr. Goldman's excellent writing and the specific, never before told details about each player's special contributions to the game and to life. If you're a fan of baseball, how can you NOT be interested in knowing more than the usual 15 second soundbites on Sportscenter about Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson or Nolan Ryan? If you're looking at buying a baseball book stop your search right now and pick up a copy of Once They Were Angels. It's a must read for true fans of America's pastime. You'll love it, just like I did!

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Goldman at the annual PCL Reunion show last month and purchased this book for a friend who is a lifelong Angels fan. As I looked over the book that weekend, my only regret was not buying a signed copy for myself.

This is one outstanding book and a must-have if you're an Angels fan. The anecdotes and interviews from former Angels past and present are all here and include names such as Bo Belinsky, Dean Chance, Jim Fregosi, Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, etc. All in all, this is one helluva great read.

This book is a wonderful explanation of the workplace that we all work in. It explains the dynamics of the workplace relationships, focusing on the relationship between management and employees. It gives great tips and examples on how and why these relationships work or don't work. It combines Dr.Ray's practical experience working with companies and his academic background in psychology. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, whether they are in business or any other profession where they have co-workers or a boss. It's a very easy and quick read.

The Performance Culture goes below the surface of our feelings and exposes what we truly believe about ourselves and the way in which we work. It gives root to all the things we learned and intrinsically/instinctively know about what it takes to be the best. It is profound in its simplicity, example after example, step-by-step, to the point that even the most competitive among us can rechannel our natural urgencies.

If you buy only one book this year, make it this one.

Any company, regardless of size, should strive to create a culture that encourages and breeds maximum performance from its employees. Dr. Ray's The Performance Culture will clearly define the end goals necessary to create that culture. This book not only gives top level managers a noteworthy goal to shoot for but it also gives them the roadmap for achieving that goal. Dr. Ray not only does a wonderful job formulating complex theories into writing that anyone can comprehend, but he presents these ideas in ways that are easily translated into action. The theories and practices covered in this writing would be welcome additions to any organization and the presentation style of the material makes the read not only beneficial but enjoyable as well.

This book should be "must reading" for supervisors and middle managers; actually for anyone who's contemplating going to teams. We have found the enemy and it is us! We are all to some extent purveyors of the endemic culture within our organizations that keeps us from dealing positively with change. Most of us fail to recognize our own part in the saga. Even us so called change agents who work to move the organization in a different direction may be sending mixed messages by our own actions. This book gets to the major problem with teaming. Organizations fail to recognize the enormous power the culture will exert to keep the status quo when it feels disenfranchised with change. This book is well written and well thought out. It does an excellent job of pointing out the problems you're likely to encounter with teams but more over, it gives comprehensive instructions on what needs to be done to combat those problems. Most companies don't understand the magnitude of change required at all levels of the organization to support teams. Meny view teams as a slight deviation from the norm when in fact, they're a major up evil. It is the very reason many companies begin teams at the bottom of the organization and wonder why they fail. With no support structure, it's like building a race car without a track to run on, nice to look but not very usuful. The author has a perspective on what it takes to build viable teams that few people ever get to. The ones that do will smoke their competition! There are books that seem to be written just for you. They touch you at a level of your being I like to refer to as the turbulent zone. It's that part of you that wrestles with things you're passionate about. Things that are uncertain. Things that if clarified would full fill your mission in life. For me, this is just such a book!

Dr. Ray has written a (second) wonderful book with lots of common sense tips and techniques on how to create and maintain a true team environment. He clearly points out what a performance culture is and why it is better than spending a lot of resources on something that is a team in name only. This is a great resource for anyone presently in a teaming structure or thinking of going to a team-based culture.

Throughout my entire time as a pilot, I have been concerned with the huge gap that exists between the safety record of professionally managed commercial and military flight operations and those of general aviation pilots like me.

I am a 1,000-hour instrument-rated private pilot. I have been flying for about 12 years. Together with a partner, I own and operate my own single-engine airplane that I use frequently in the course of my business and daily life. I live in operate primarily within the Upper Midwest where the environment serves up daily challenges.

Over time, I have observed that most GA pilots seem to gravitate toward one or the other of the polar extremes. I think of them as the can-do achievers at one end of the spectrum and the pocket-protector types at the other end. The achievers are those successful people who seem to be able to do anything. They love a challenge and are risk takers. The pocket protector types love figuring things out and have an infinite willingness to wrestle with a question and figure it out. While there is obviously a broad spectrum in between, this has always aided me in sizing a guy up and figuring out how he approached flying. The best pilots I know posses the attributes of both.

My own personality has always been a source of concern in this regard. I find myself consistently falling short of the best flyers. I can claim neither the innate talent nor the tremendous focus and long attention span that these folks all seem to have. I was always a C student. And I do not have the benefit of a large resource-rich organization to support me. Early in my experience as a pilot, I gave it up - actually twice - because I felt so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of knowledge and tasks that had to be integrated successfully in order to achieve an acceptable level of proficiency.

I am pretty sure that I can get by being a lousy fly caster and poor wing shot and still enjoy a pretty good life. I know that being anything other than an excellent pilot is unacceptable. I think that it is why this endeavor so absorbs me.

I have read everything that I could find on the subject. I attend seminars. I seek specialized training. I spend a lot of time talking with other pilots about issues of safety and competence.

Recently, I have asked the military, airline and other professional pilots that I meet how they (and their organizations) approach the subject. Their responses vary. Some of them adhere to the notion that it is simply a matter of having the Right Stuff. Others indicate that it requires the resources of the US government or a major public company. Many have actually been generous and helpful.

Finally, Tony Kern has given us all a model to work with that is both comprehensive and systematic. He has illustrated it with clear real-life examples make each of the component concepts vivid. This book is a real treasure. It is at once a clear description of the destination and it is the map and the compass that we can all employ along on the way.

A rare resource for insite into avaitions most critical element: The Pilot. No where else in aviation literature has someone captured the standards for professional airmanship. Kern gives the route to complete airmanship, whether you fly a Cub, or an SR-71. A valuable resource and asset for all training department libraries.

How important is this book? It is as important for pilots to read and re-read as Wolfgang Langewiesche's "Stick & Rudder". Than this, there is no higher praise.

Dr. Kern proposes herein a simple but profound model to help us understand airmanship and he proceeds to support, explicate and instantiate that model using clear and well-chosen case material.

This is good stuff! The author draws on his own experience as an Air Force pilot and on his academic background as a human factors expert to summarize elegantly a vast area of knowledge vital to every aviator -- whether military, commercial or GA. As an instrument rated private pilot, I found all of the material in this book very relevent to the issues I deal with when I fly.

The way of thinking about airmanship that Dr. Kern lays out is important to all pilots -- but I believe that it is overwhelmingly important to pilots who are not engaged in either formal training or in the pursuit of advanced ratings. Taking this thinking to heart will keep you growing as a pilot, and will ultimately keep you alive.

For pilots embarked on a professional career path, Dr. Kern identifies goals, exposes pitfalls and outlines methods that will complement and enhance any training program and any intended progression through the ratings.

Please, read, study and reflect on this work. It is outstanding!

Tony Kern has managed to pull together the wisdom and experience of "the best" pilots around. His use of case studies of real pilots and real situations includes examples from the military, commercial, and geneal aviation communities. In short, the book is useful for any pilot whether they are working toward their private pilot license or are employed as a senior airline captain. For many pilots, it will reinforce what they already know and practice but for many, it will provide the opportunity to become "old" pilots. If you fly, read the book.

Tony Kern has written a detailed, yet compelling, story for airmanship in the 21st century. His research is thorough, his examples are vivid, and his personal experience ties them together. As a safety professional, I was amazed to see that almost all of his "lessons learned" could be applied to ground operations, as well as flight. Wish I'd written the book!

Two big thumbs up for "The Right Kind of Heroes: Coach Bob Shannon and the East St. Louis Flyers." Although Coach Shannon has apparently moved on, this book is still as -- or perhaps more -- relevant to those facing battles against the odds.

Expertly penned by St. Louis columnist Kevin Horrigan, the book does a remarkable job of putting the reader right in the middle of the dingy and dangerous town of East St. Louis. It's a real "you are there" feeling as you get to know the players and coach of this amazing team. Although the story is heartbreaking at times, you won't hear Horrigan break out the violins and wax overdramatic... just a solid real-life story.

Even if you're not a sports nut -- or only know a little about football -- you will be inspired as you laugh, cry, struggle and celebrate with this courageous coach and champion football team. You just can't put it down until the last page.

Whatever challenges you may be facing in life, this book will move you to "get it done!" I highly recommend it.

This books paints the picture of a man who worked hard to acheive his goals. His example is good for everyone to follow. I wish he would have been my coach but I'm honored that he is now coaching my son.

I read this book 10 years ago and it was just as enjoyable this time around. This book is full of insights not only into the person of Bob Shannon, but offers an informative look into East St. Louis. A very quick and easy read. I had the pleasure of having Shannon as a teacher many years ago. Reading his words brings to mind his most distinctive voice, which always commanded respect.

This is one the best books on football that I have read. Coach Shannon is a credit to our coaching profession and this book shows that. It also gives us a look at what is like to work under adverse conditions. If you are a football coach who thinks he has it tough, then you should read The Right Kind Of Heroes.

Having played against Bob Shannon, I know full well of the East Side mystique. Being a former player at nearby Granite City, I went to nearly every game mentioned in Bob's book. So, I'm over qualified to say that the East Side Flyers's story is a fascinating one. The place just emits an aura that has High School Football all around it! The 'Side was made on big play football, coached by Shannon, a big time coach

THE RISE AND FALL OF DODGERTOWN: 60 YEARS OF BASEBALL IN VERO BEACH is a specialty item for baseball collections and Vero Beach area residents who enjoy game history. It charts the history of the Dodgers, who have been coming to Vero Beach every spring since 1948, and it tells of an entire culture and community which sprang up around the rise of 'Dodgertown'. Baseball fans will find this an engrossing history.

This book really captures the spirit of Dodgertown and the special bond that grew and splintered between the community of Vero Beach and the Dodgers there. This book is packed with pictures and stories of Dodger greats, past and present. It's a shame they had to leave it, Spring Training will never be the same. But at least it's captured in prose!

This is a fascinating story, well researched by the author and laced with historic pictures. The book is full of anecdotes that vividly evoke the sixty years of Dodgertown and much more. Fay Vincent got it right: "It's a story that deserved telling. Rody has told it--and told it well."

Clearly a labor of love, this book tells not only Dodgertown's story, but baseball's and America's. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys forays into the cultural and economic evolution of the game. While baseball's players and facilities may have undergone dramatic changes through the years, Johnson's love of the sport clearly has not. A masterful work.

Tom

P.S. I also recommend "Spring Training Handbook" which goes to similar lengths to detail baseball's history in Florida.

At exactly the stroke of midnight last night, I read the last page of Dodgertown and laid the book aside. It was a wonderful read. I was sorry it ended.

The book is a winner in so many ways. Obviously, a tremendous amount of research went into it. But at the same time, it wears its research well, never becoming a tome. Knowing virtually nothing about Vero, the Dodgers, or the history of baseball, I kept learning on each page, while growing familiar with the place, the people, and the wonderful mystique of spring training. I really felt I was there.

And so, I was saddened, I mean really moved and at times angry, during those final chapters when everything seemed to fall apart. Your own last pages indicate that you, and probably others, have philosophically come to grips with the passing of the good old days, but for a reader like me, new to it all, it's terribly difficult to let go. I kept wanting to go back to the O'Malley days. I felt personal loss in that I'll probably never be able to experience the special nature of Dodgertown. Oh, sure - another team may come in. For a while it even looked as though it might be the Orioles. But even if the Os' had moved to Vero, the camp wouldn't have been the same.

Rockin the Rockpile is a fantastic piece of work covering the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, 1960-1969. Author Jeff Miller has packed it all in here, game summaries, oral histories, and a fantastic narrative that leads the reader through the formation of the AFL in 1959, and the following 10 seasons. Great detail in the game summaries/recaps, and wonderful insight into the inner-workings of the team from the players themselves. Rockin the Rockpile is a must-read for AFL fans, regardless of what team they call their own.

Great book with amazing information and very well written. Extremely interesting to read and just be able to open it to any page and read some very unique information.

Great to remember those years at War Memorial. Could almost taste the Genesee long necks. Enjoyed the recaps of each and every game. Would have liked to see more pictures of the stadium itself however.

Incredibly detailed book, evoking fond memories of a football era gone by. A must for all football fans, especially AFL/Buffalo Bills fans.

As one of the worlds biggest Buffalo Sports Memorabilia Collectors I was very excited to see this book come out. While filled with great stories and tales of the old AFL and a veritable who's who of old Bills interviews I was disappointed to find very little in terms of memorabilia (programs, ticket stubs, pennants, bobble heads, gum cards, jerseys, helmets etc. etc.) displayed. I think a color center spread of all the old items mentioned above would have added to this book tremendously. Also, for a book that centered on War Memorial Stadium (The Rockpile), there's only one aerial picture of it. Some different views of that great old place would have been nice. Still the book is a great addition to a Bills fans collection and a very worthy effort. To the author: Please contact me if you decide to do another book on the Bills or even the Sabres, Braves or Bisons for that matter as my entire collection would be at your disposal. John B.

Run to Daylight was published in 1963 and was instantly recognized as a classic. Written by legendary Green Bay Packer head coach Vince Lombardi, RTD details Lombardi and the Packers preparation for an unnammed opponnet in the 1962 championship season. The book is a must read for the aspiring coach or anyone interested in pro football coaching. RTD provides the psychological motivation of both the players and coaches and a highly readable account of a week in a pro football season. Along with John Wooden's "They Call Me Coach", this is a must read for coaches of any sport.

In this book Lombardi's life is played out during a week as the patriarch of the Packers. He highlights in detail why they were a 60's dynasty. From the cycles of game planning, interactions with his team, you get to see Packer football from a new perspective. Despite his gruff exterior, it is crystal clear that he genuinely cared about his players on and off the field. This is not a how to coaching book or a biography. It is a slide snapshot that tells more than the reader expects.

Such a rare gem of a book, I was floored by it's great detail and was very happy with this book!! This 1963 publication written by Vince Lombardi, is sure to be missed by much of today's generation, and unfortunately so. Lombardi SHOWS why his Packers were the 60's greatest football dynasty, and how his life plays out during a week as the leader of the Packers. This is an absolute MUST read by ANY real football fan!!!

Vince Lombardi's dedication and devotion transcended football. His quotes are used all the way from the high school locker room to the corporate board room.

This diary is Lombardi in his own words. It covers his views of the weekly cycle of planning for battle, preparing for battle, and then the football game itself.

Packer fan or motivational fan - this book is an easy read worth the several hours to get cover to cover.

This book is mandatory reading for football fans, particularly fan of the Green Bay Packers. Some of the ideas about this book are misleading. However, it is still a great read.

This book is not a biography of Lombardi or a guide on how to coach football. This book does give readers insight as to what it was like for Lombardi during his coaching tenure. Based on technology alone, there are great differences now. The readers get to see all of Lombardi's preparation for the mystery opponent in silver uniforms.

Several of Lombardi's famous quotes are included. Lombardi also discusses specifc intereactions with players as well as a number of interesting stories about various players. Despite his tough exterior, he genuinely cares about his players. When the book arrives at game day, you get to see the game form Lombardi's perspective. It is a real treat for football fans.

If you have read other books about the Packers during this era, you are not likley to learn many new facts. Many of the facts in here are credited as a primary source in other books. However, you do get to see Packer football from a new perspective.

We revamped our entire sales process and compensation package. This book was an excellent resource for us and helped us go from point A to point B relatively easily

Here is a great book for sales managers. Gets to the point, easy to read and offers great value for money. Don't bypass this for books heavy on theory and lacking practical ideas to increase your sales

In "Sales Management Power Strategies", the author makes it clear that increasing sales revenue is the responsibility of several departments working together. As you read this book you will get many ideas that you can easily implement to help your sales department succeed. Paul takes you step-by-step from hiring the right person, setting quotas and accurately forecasting results, to getting the entire company focused on revenue.

As CFO of a high tech company, I especially appreciated the practical advice, as well as the worksheets for getting top revenue performance from the company. We have already started implementing some of the ideas in this book and know we will be seeing great results.

If you're looking for a business book to add to your sales library, this should be the next book you read.

It has been said that if something is unmanaged it is uncontrolled. If sales management was truly honest, "shoot from the hip" would best describe their current sales processes. In his book, Mr. DiModica transforms time tested revenue strategies into action steps. The title says it all "building a replicable and scalable sales process." This is a great resource for any organization that is unsatisfied with their sales performance.

If you are looking to manage your sales team more effectively, then get this book. The author gives very specific details on how to manage your salespeople by metrics, develop a sales scorecard, calculate sales quotas and targets accurately, and hire the right sales staff for your company. Lots of books out there are full of fluff and generalizations, but this particular book gives techniques and strategies that work in the real world and will help increase your team's peak performance. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to build or improve their sales team.

THIS IS THE STORY OF RYNE SANDBERG FORMER CUBS GREAT. RYNO DOES A GREAT JOB TELLING HIS STORY, HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE REASON HE RETIRED EARLY. WHEN THE TRIBUNE DECIDED TO PUT AN IDIOT LIKE LARRY HIMES IN CHARGE, RYNO HAD ENOUGH OF THE EGO, CHEAPNESS AND HORRENDOUS MISTAKES HIMES MADE WITH THR CUBS. RYNO WAS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST 2ND BASEMAN OF ALL TIME. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS AND RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL CUBS FANS.

Sandberg does a great job of telling his side of the story of the Cubs downfall. In 1988 the cubs were a force to be reckoned with and just a few short years later they were in shambles. This account of Larry Himes ruining the Cubs is very true. A terrific read. WE MISS YOU RYNO!!!!

Sandberg does a great job of telling his side of the story of the Cubs downfall. In 1988 the cubs were a force to be reckoned with and just a few short years later they were in shambles. This account of Larry Himes ruining the Cubs is very true. A terrific read. WE MISS YOU RYNO!!!!

This bio gets right down to the heart of the person and what he had to go through. Ryno was an incredable H.S athlete. I liked the fact that he revealed the reason(s) why he retired. The only thing wrong with the book is the fact that a short time after its relese, he came back, leaving the book with an open ending so to speak.

terrific account of his playing days. In his heydey, Ryno! was the smoothest fielding, power-hitting, speed-demon ballplayer A-Rod dreams he could become. No question, Ryno was the best ever. Now, read about what inspired him and how he went from a throw-in in the DeJesus-Bowa deal to MVP, HR Champ, and god of all infielders. When Joe Morgan rants about how good we was, I think he thinks we was Ryno!

Pat Riley is one of the most successful basketball coaches the sport has known. In this book he tells the story of how he made it happen for the Lakers during the 86-87 season.The book is filled with anecdotal material showing how a coach motivates his players. Fans will also enjoy his stories of the big stars, and the inside insights of the relations in a team fighting for the championship.
However I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. It is choppily written. The supposed humor is not really there. Perhaps this is because the world of sports no longer fascinates me as it did when I was a child, but I found a lot of this slow- going indeed.

The 1987 Lakers IMO were without a doubt the greatest nba team ever assembled. Yes better than the 96 Bulls, 67 Sixers, or the 86 Celtics. The book describes the teams journey to the nba finals. And it states some intresting facts of how James Worthy almost got traded to Dallas. The Lakers finished the season with a 65-17 record. The went 15-3 in thr playoffs. Defeating the Nuggetes 3-0, the Warriors 4-1, the Sonics 4-0, and finally defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2.

Must Have book for Showtime Laker Fans!!!!!

Other reviews miss the point. This is my most recommended book on the art of Management. How do you manage such a diverse group of world class atheletes! That is the problem! Look at what happened with Phil Jackson and Kobe and Shaq. Disaster. Pat Riley's book is a clear set of instructions on how to manage a small group of high-power folks - like a high-power software team. This belongs well dog-eared on the shelves of the quality manager along with the Foundation Trilogy and Harold Geneen's Managing. IMHO.

Pat Riley is the legendary NBA coach who lead the Los angeles Lakers to four NBA titles in the 80's. In 1984-85, the Lakers won their third title of the decade (second under Riley) over their hated rivals the Boston Celtics. There were high expectations for the 85-86 season, but they were knocked out of the playoffs by the underdog Houston Rockets and failed to defend their title. The book takes us through the 86-87 season in which Mr. Riley strives to get his team back on top. We get to see how an NBA season underfolds from the point of view of arguably the best coach in history. He gives an insider's thoughts on all-time greats like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. Mr. Riley has a wry sense of humor and his take on things makes this book a highly entertaining and insightful read.

Coach Riley provides basketball fans of all ages with a game-by-game chronicle of the Los Angeles Lakers' glorious 1986-87 season. Riles explains why complacency drove the previous year's team to an early exit in the Western Conference Finals and tells how he reversed their attitudes. He takes you inside the locker rooms and profiles the club's stars. Peter May's book, The Last Banner, claims that the 1985-86 Boston Celtics are the best team ever. Even though I haven't read this publication, I'd have to disagree with that statement. The Lakers were a very special team in '86-'87 that were on a mission. I would highly recommend for anyone to obtain a copy of this book. It certainly is a collector's item that I will forever treasure.