Product Description

Do you cringe when a linebacker flattens a quarterback? Hold your breath when a field goal sails toward the goalpost? Watch in amazement as a touchdown pass spirals down the field? Behind those big hits, long kicks, and sensational throws is a science that will give you a whole new perspective on the game of football.

Customer Reviews (2)

The Physics--Especially Collisional--Aspects of Football
The author provides many lucid explanations, with numbers and equations, that deal with the physics of football. There is a good deal of emphasis on collisions. He thus distinguishes between inelastic and elastic conditions, giving a hilarious example of the latter (football players wearing spring-filled suits, so that they could bounce off each other. The bounces would be unpredictable.)

One form of collision is that between the tackler and runner. Another one is that which occurs between the foot of the kicker and the football. Gay's equations show how the force of the kicking leg, including its angular velocity, is transferred to the ball. The forces of football-related kicks are computed. Record-setting punts and field goals are featured and examined. The spin of the football is also factored.

A bibliography contains references for further study. As an experienced science teacher, I think that this book would serve as an excellent supplement to high school and early-college physics courses.

Great Book
I bought this book for my son to use to help him with a school science project. It was great, it had so much information that really helped him turn in a great project! ... Read more

Product Description
It began with a 36-0 loss to the University of Rochester on November 23, 1889, but that humbling debut proved to be an aberration rather than an omen for Syracuse University football. The Orangemen have since established themselves as the eleventh winningest team in college football history, and more than two hundred of their players have gone on to play professionally. Their legendary success is celebrated in Syracuse University Football.ÝÝThe Orangemen have participated in more than twenty bowl games. In 1959, they went 11-0 under Hall of Fame coach Ben Schwartzwalder and won the national championship. Through the years, Syracuse has produced numerous stars, such as Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, and more than forty other All-Americans and a dozen College Football Hall of Fame inductees. Along with Jim Brown and Floyd Little, Davis helped make No. 44 one of footballís most famous jerseys, not to mention a permanent part of the universityís zip code. Syracuse University Football documents this outstanding program with nearly two hundred photographs.ÝÝ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent visual history of Syracuse football
CoachPMustGo.com's Orange Alliance was recently given the opportunity to review an advance copy of a new book entitled "Syracuse University Football", by area sportswriter Scott Pitoniak. We would like to officially give it our full endorsement.

The book was a visually superb encapsulation of the history of Syracuse football. From the early days, through the days of Jim Brown and Archbold Stadium, to the Coach Mac years, right through the McNabb era and present day, this book has some brilliant photos that we had yet to see anywhere else. You should definitely check this book out. In addition, the book would make a great gift for any Syracuse University football fan. The book is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

Don't forget to check out the latest at www.coachpmustgo.com! ... Read more

Product Description
Do you know:
Who set an NFL record in 2005 with 28 rushing touchdowns?
How defensive end Reggie White earned the nickname "Minister of Defense"?
What a Pass Interference or Fair Catch Kick is?

You're sure to score a first down after learning about top players, memorable plays, and the rules of the game. Filled with fun facts, stats, and 30 puzzles, this pass-rushing book will help you to:

• Play organized tackle football with your friends
• Gain tips for offensive and defensive schemes
• Get stats on key players and broken records
• Learn how to read a football box score
• Read up on current college football rivalries

Customer Reviews (4)

Kid-friendly format
This book is written in a way that's easy for kids to understand, and it includes different types of word games, such as crossword puzzles and word searches.Key words are defined in boxes in the margins.

Great book for learning and playing football
Very informative and covers a wide array of football items.History of football is good.Sports heroes are good for my sons so they can strive to be the best as well.

Good book!
My nephew is looking forward to reading this before bed each night.Thank you.

excellent starter book
For the 8-10 year old boys, this is an entertaining, interactive & informative way to be introduced into football. We've all enjoyed reading interesting facts as well as doing the puzzles and learning the logistics of the game.Highly recommend. ... Read more

Product Description
Touchdown: The Power and Precision of Football's Perfect Play takes readers beyond the record books and explores all aspects of bringing the ball into the end zone. From football's very beginnings to the most current action on the field, authors Mark Stewart and Mike Kennedy cover the touchdown in fascinating detail. Find out all about the top players, witness the most memorable touchdowns in college and the pros, and check out a full listing of NFL touchdown records. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you're a football fan you're going to LOVE this book!Alley-oop!
In 1823 William Webb Ellis was playing soccer with his friends, but before they knew it, it was almost time to head back to class.He knew there wouldn't be time to score a goal so he picked up the ball, ran with it and "touched the ball to the ground before the final gong had sounded."Naturally there was more than likely an outcry so the rules were shuffled around a bit more and a new game was created and William scored the first ever touchdown.Over the years the game evolved into the game of football as we know it today, but whenever "a team scores a touchdown on an unusual play," you can bet there will be another change in the rules to prevent it from happening again.Alley-oop!

In this fascinating book about the game, specifically the touchdown, you're going to find yourself in a whirlwind tour from its early beginnings in the 1800s to the present day.You'll read about ten amazing touchdowns, you'll revisit some of history's greatest players from Jim Thorpe to LaDainian Tomlinson, you'll read about some zany (and sometimes embarrassing!) football bloopers, unusual football strategies and will read about some record breaking stats.If you know what a "turtleback" is you really don't need to read this book, but if you don't you're going to be amazed at some of the amazing trivia you'll find in this book.

If you are a football fan, you're going to love this book.It is very well written and researched and you'll keep your head tucked inside these pages for hours.The history of the game drew me in quickly and I especially enjoyed the chapter on the "ten unforgettable touchdowns."For example, when the author tells us about how the Chicago Bears tricked the New York Giants, there is the fascinating story spread across two pages.On one page there is a vintage photograph and on the next, in a sidebar called the "Collector's Corner," there are photographs of two vintage football cards and additional information about the players.There are numerous photographs scattered throughout the book and many informative sidebars.In the back of the book there is an index and additional recommended book and website resources. Have you scouted out what a "turtleback" is yet? ... Read more

Product Description
For the past three decades the University of Nebraska football program has set the standard of excellence for successful conditioning. Complete Conditioning for Football presents the same program the Cornhuskers use to power their way to national championships.

Base, development, peak, and in-season training programs are provided for beginning, intermediate, and advanced players. The book includes 98 position-specific exercises that help players improve speed, agility, power, and endurance. Sample workouts are provided for offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, running backs, receivers, and defensive backs. Chapters also cover the key training principles of adaptation, specificity, overload, periodization, and proper rest and nutrition.

Fully illustrated, Complete Conditioning for Football takes the latest in strength and conditioning research and turns it into a detailed, practical approach that will help players gain the performance edge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A Great Conditioning Book; A MUST Have For Football Atheletes!!!
I have looked a while for a great conditioning program for football players and when I found this book, I was amazed by the detail, quality, and effort obvoiusly put into it by the authors which made it a great conditioning book for High School football players and beyond. The authors incorporated not only the physical ways in which to get better but mental ways as well which are both important for conditioning as well as the successful winning of football games by not only being ready on the outside but also believing and knowing you can do it on the inside. The whole conditioning program is, when performed with the best potential and effort, a challenging one that will more than likely get you the preperation you need. These authors, coaches of the University of Nebraska football team which is famous for this strenghth and conditioning program, first introduce you to factors that build on one another to make a great football player and then give a very complete program of conditioning and training including a nutrition and shopping list for best atheletes to use for great energy. The structure of the book and organization is exceptional and it literaly gives you all the information you will ever need on how to prepare for football in any aspect. It contains specific exersises for speed, flexibility, strenghth, and more, and contains workout plans, inconclusive descripiton, and even helpful football tips in the process.
I would strongly recommend this book to any football athelete looking to prepare for football through conditioning at any level because of the very helpful information you will find in this book. I guarantee this book will never sit on your shelf too long if you get it because you will be refering to it constantly. I know I made the right choice by buying this book.

Simply the Best
The book "Complete Conditioning for Football" is a must for any football player. Inside includes performance needs; conditiong principles; testing, evluating, and goal setting; flexibility training; lifting techniques; speed drills; agility drills; nutrition and rest; and last but not least conditioning workouts and programs.

Performance Needs:

This chapter includes a performance pyramid which if followed can lead to "making the play", or success on the football field. It includes character, conditioning, ability, practice, game, and with the top brick, performance. Also it breaks down each of the components, exa. Character- belief, resolve, discipline, courage... and gives a descriptive explanation for each of them also.

Conditioning Principles:

This chapter guides you in developing and implementing a program to allow you to peak the four athletic indicators of speed, agility, power, and endurance. It breaks down and explains the principles of specificity, overload, and periodization.

Testing, Evaluating, and Goal Setting:

This chapter outlines step-by-step procedues on how to safely test and evaluate athletes' fitness and athletic abilities so ou can develop the objectives and specifics of your conditioning program. Here it gives some tests, such as vertical jump test, pro agility run test, 10- and 40- yard dash test, 300-yard shuttle run test, and even height, weight, and waist measurement tests. It also gives you percentile ranking charts of all the positions in high school and college. With your test results you can see where you rank among those in the 10-yard and 40-yard dashes, pro agility run, and the vertical jump. Percentile ranks are from 5-100.

Flexibility Training:

This chapter gives you the proper warm-up routine (high knees, heel ups, ect.), stretching routine (partner stretches), and mobility drills that should be done during the conditioning workouts (warm-ups and stretching before, mobility drills after the workout).

Lifting Techniques:

Provides valuable information on proper technique of all the lifts, to warming-up, spotters, breathing, and so on and so forth. Strength training exercises include: explosive, complementary, base strenght, and specialty. Not many weight rooms that I know of have the complementary, or "ground basedjammer", so in the workouts in the back of the book give replacements for these lifts if the jammer is not available.

Speed Drills:

Included are 29 drills for speed (2), acceleration (9), plyometrics (9), and resisted speed (9). Also gives the proper sprint technique especially used for testing the 40.

Agility Drills:

Included are 58 drills for improving your agility. The drills include ropes (8), bags (15), backpedal drills (11), cones (12), line drills (6), and jump rope drills (6).

Nutrition and Rest:

Basically describes all the foods you should eat to make it short. This is a chapter you should allow as many people as possible to read, since without nutrition, athletic performance is low. Also gives a grocery shopping list with all the foods listed under the vitamins and minerals it has in them (example: almonds, corn oil, ect. are listed under vitamin e) and a section of drinking fluids and getting plenty of sleep.

Conditioning Workouts and Programs:

Guides you to building a successful conditioning program. Lists all the speed/agility drills and notes which drills are appropriate for which positions. Included are sample programs in development and peak phases for the positions. Also included in this chapter is the lifting programs for the beginner (base, development, in-season), intermediate (base, development, peak, in-season), and advanced (base, development, peak, in-season). This is an absolutely outstanding weight program in my opinion, with lifting days on monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday.

All in all, this is the complete book for any football player looking to get in great shape for the next season. It is mainly a year-round program by giving types of workouts (base, ect.) for each month of the year in which to apply the right workout to. I also recommend the book "52-Week Football Training" to combine the exercises in the books if you want a more variedprogram. I suggest taking the time to looking into "Jumping Into Plyometrics" for a plyometric program to add into your schedule and "Play Football the NFL Way" for techniques and tips to help you excell in the game of football.

this book helped me greatly
This is a great book because the program's strengths are based on what you want to do for football.If you want to get big and strong to play oline/dline then it has a stellar weight program.But if you are looking to develop speed and quickness it has a series of drills for that too.You just have to concentrate on the area that suits your needs the most.Excellent description of all the drills and excersies as well.

Informative Read...
Gives a in-depth view on football specific training and is helpful in developing a custom program for yourself.All-in-all worth the read.

One of the best!
From the school that really started weight traininging in college football, Coach Arthur has done a great job of setting forward the principles that we should use in designing the programs that we use to build our athletes. You need this book. ... Read more

Product Description
A great new way to getall kids excited about math!

Fantasy sports are a hit worldwide, and now teachers and parents can take advantage of this phenomenon to give students a reason to look forward to doing math. The games and activities in Fantasy Football and Mathematics will get kids excited about learning and practicing math, even if they're not big sports fans. With this fun-filled educational resource you can teach one math concept or many, and plan lessons that can last for a week or a whole season.

Here's how it works. Students create fantasy teams by picking real-life professional football players, following their players' statistics, and calculating their team's total points using algebraic or nonalgebraic methods specifically designed to complement the math skills they are learning. The instructions are easy to follow, and the dynamic hands-on games address all learning styles and abilities. The book includes more than 100 scoring systems that give you the flexibility to customize the content according to your students' skill levels.

In addition to the basic Fantasy Football game, the book contains easy-to-use lesson plans, reproducible worksheets for extra practice on 46 different math concepts, graphing activities, quizzes, a pre- and post- test, and an answer key. More than just a fun way to learn math, the book's activities also support the NCTM Math Standards.



"I had students' eyes light up like never before when I told them we were going to play Fantasy Football in math class! The students who have never been successful at anything in math are now my experts helping other students. They are so proud of themselves!"
--Julie Myers, Lyman Moore Middle School,Portland, Maine

"Playing Fantasy Football and Mathematics from a preservice teacher perspective allows my secondary math methods students to see the power of teaching math with motivational and mathematically sound materials. My students are very engaged in Fantasy Football."
--Dana Pomykal Franz, assistant professor, Curriculum and Instruction, Mississippi State University

Also available in the Fantasy Sports and Mathematics series:

Fantasy Baseball and Mathematics | Fantasy Basketball and Mathematics | Fantasy Soccer and Mathematics ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I LOVE Fantasy Football & Mathematics!
I teach 5th grade gifted and talented students in an enrichment pull out class. I have 3 groups and I see each group 1 full day per week. We started Fantasy Football at the beginning of the school year. It's now Week 13 and my students are still enthusiastic and engaged. We started off slowly with the integer equation and we're now using the default equation - adding, multiplying, subtracting and reducing fractions with ease.

A neighboring school is also using Fantasy Football & Mathematics, so we started a "friendly" competition. Each week we post our high scores on our web pages and the school with the highest score wins. A local sporting goods store donated a football helmet and we put helmet stickers on for each win. When the season ends, the school with the most wins will get to dump a water cooler on their teacher. The kids are psyched about this and right now it's too close to call! :)

I would recommend FF&M to any teacher who is looking for a way to motivate his/her students to use and extend their math skills. Your kids will beg to play and their level of engagement lasts for the entire season. The points equations range from easy to extremely challenging, so it is appropriate for grades 5 - 12. It makes an excellent enrichment program and you can choose how much time you want to devote to it each week. Dan Flockhart has a website that you can use to easily check your scores and there is even an online competition that includes celebrities, students and teachers. When football season is over,you can play Fantasy Basketball or start Fantasy Baseball in the spring. It's a highly motivating program that will have even your mathphobes asking "Are we playing Fantasy Football today?"

Want to Engage Students Mathematically?
This is the first year that I have been using Fantasy Sports Math.I teach remedial math (below Algebra I) for 9th graders at a large suburban public high school.I teach on a block schedule...100 minutes per class every other day, and I have my students create their own Fantasy Teams, which they calculate points for once per week.It's an extremely effective "filler" activity that have students primarily on-task as they busily sort through, calculate, and post their player's stats...all whilelearning how to convert equivalent fractions, turn improper fractions into mixed numbers, etc.It's exciting to "talk smack" with the students as I have my own team and see students do the same as they compete with their other classmates.For this reason, I give it four and a half stars (if Amazon had that option).FSM's user-friendliness took a huge step forward this year as the author funds a website that actually gives you the weekly stats of each player...so no more looking at cumbersome newspaper box scores (yikes!).Also, with the purchase of the book, the author gives you a Player Value ranking that allows students to create their own team given a $40 million salary cap.The author also made me aware that students' calculation can be verified quickly online.Overall, definitely a recommended book to buy.Keep up the great job, Mr. Flockhart!

Awesome math activities to motivate students
This book is awesome!I teach 6th grade math, and my students had a great time playing fantasy football!Dan's book was easy to adapt to my class.Even if you do not know much about football, you can do this, and your students will thank you for it.I also bought the basketball book, and we have already drafted our teams and fantasy basketball starts after the Christmas break.I plan to make this an even bigger part of my curriculum next year!

Want to get students excited about math.......
I've been using fantasy Football with Mathematics for 2 years now with a 7th grade all girl math class.I work in the inner city and trying to make math come alive for students can get draining.Fantasy Football not only got my class focused, on task, interested in a male-oriented sport but got the highest math scores of all of my 5 classes.I knew nothing about Football before this.I stumbled along for a bit trying to understand the terminology - but I got the hang of it thanks to the my math class who helped ME understand.The class worked in pairs - getting data, the calculating fractions and creating stacked graphs as well as circle graphs.....even through in an algebraic expression......all this done with huge smiles on the girls faces.The season is coming to an end and the girls are asking about Fantasy Basketball now - Oh no - I don't know basketball either....but it will be fun again to learn something new.

Get students excited about math
I have been using Fantasy Football in my classes this fall. Students that are good in math, but not so much socially are working peacefully with students that are good with sports, but not so much mathematically. All are more excited about math than they once were.
I knew nothing about football going in, but this book makes Fantasy Football easy. I still don't know much about football, but I do know that a touchdown is worth .25 and a PAT is worth .042. (At least in the scoring system I used) You can tailor the scoring system and worksheets to your students' needs. Even though I don't know football and really am not terribly interested in it, this program has been easy to implement and I think very worthwhile. ... Read more

Product Description
Understanding this popular sport is easy with Football Made Simple: A Spectator's Guide.

This easy-to-read guide, filled with illustrations and action photographs, contains everything for the fan and non-fan alike to understand and enjoy the sport of football, including:

* The rules of football simplified
* What to look for during play
* NFL teams and playoffs
* College football rules and bowl games
* Introduction of fantasy leagues
* Stars and great teams - past and present

Each section stands alone, so it can be used as a handy reference guide. Discover why football is America's most popular team sport!

A complete glossary and index makes finding information a snap Makes a great gift Pocket-sized - take it to the game ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Football made simple: a spectators guide
Wonderful...easy to understand.Perfect for the high schoolers mom who still has trouble "getting it."

FOOTBALL Made Simple
Good Book for those that have a hard time figuring out the game of Football! It has helped me along the way many times and I use it for a quick reference during the games! I am very happy with this book!

Great service
Football Made Simple: A Spectator's Guide (4th Edition) (Spectator Guide Series)

Ordered this book. It arrived as promised. It is a great book for any age. I am 67 and have watched football all my life and I wish I had ordered one for me. I got this book for a neighbor who was turning 9 years old. I think he liked it, if not he has 3 younger brotheres who might enjoy it, I hope.

Bought as a gift, recipient was pleased.
We bought this as a gift for a friend who wanted to learn more about football in general.She seemed pleased with it at the time but i haven't asked about it since. It seemed like a nice primer when I glanced through it before it was wrapped.

Excellent but Out-of-Date
This is a little book that is packed with information that helps a beginner get oriented and understand the basics of the game.It's the best thing of that type that I've been able to find.I just wish the publisher or the author would update the book, which is a 2006 reprint of a 2002 edition. ... Read more

Product Description
Few experiences are more rewarding than coaching a youth football team. Your journey through the season will be packed with moments that make you smile and that you and your players will remember for the rest of your lives. But what if you’ve never coached before?

No worries! Coaching Football For Dummies is the fun and easy way to tackle the basics of coaching youth football. This friendly guide shows you how to teach your players effectively, regardless of their age or skill level, and lead your team to victory—even if you’re a first-time coach. You’ll discover how to:

• Develop a coaching philosophy
• Teach football fundamentals
• Encourage good sportsmanship
• Improve your team’s skills
• Ensure safety on the field
• Communicate effectively with parents

Packed with valuable information on preparing your game plan before you even step on the field, this hands-on resource gives you expert guidance in building your coaching skills, from evaluating your players and running enjoyable, productive practices to working with all types of kids—uncoordinated, shy, highly talented—at once. You’ll find a variety of fun-filled drills for teaching everything from tackling and blocking to running and catching, as well as advanced drills to take your players’ skills up a notch. You’ll also see how to:

• Conduct a preseason parents’ meeting—an often overlooked aspect of coaching
• Gather the necessary gear and fit the equipment to your players
• Raise the level of play on offense, defense, and special teams
• Take steps to avoid injuries
• Deal with discipline issues and problem parents
• Make critical half-time adjustments
• Transition to coaching an All-Star Team

Complete with tips for working with parents, keeping your players healthy, and leading your team effectively on game days, Coaching Football For Dummies is all you need—besides a whistle and a clipboard—to navigate your players through a safe, fun, rewarding season! ... Read more

Product Description
The Big Ten . . . the SEC . . . the Final Four . . . sometimes it seems that American higher education is more about sports than studies. Not so, says this well-researched, evenhanded study of athletics in university life. Sports--particularly football--play a key role in defining institutions that might otherwise be indistinguishable and are an indispensable tool in building a sense of community on campus, as well as an important factor in mustering alumni and political support.
While abuses exist, the "football school" is not only a legitimate member of the academic community but an inevitable one as well--and football provides much-needed identity at every level from the local to the national scale. Pointing out that universities compete as much academically as athletically, J. Douglas Toma argues that fielding a winning sports team is a quick, effective way to win recognition and that doing so pays dividends across the board, by raising public awareness (thereby making a school more attractive to potential students and faculty) and by creating a wider constituency of "fans" whose loyalties pay off in increased contributions and appropriations that support academic programs as well. He notes that universities like Harvard and Yale, now eclipsed on the gridiron, were "football powers" in the era when America's westward expansion spawned new schools unable to challenge older institutions academically but able to win acclaim through sports. This fosters a campus and alumni culture based on "football Saturday"--a bonding experience that helped forge a larger community whose support, both personal and financial, has become integral to the life of the institution.
Football U. brings welcome impartiality to a subject all too often riven by controversy, pitting football boosters against critics who complain that academic achievement takes second place to athletic success. But as a tool for creating "brand awareness" as well as local loyalty and widespread support, high-profile athletic programs meet a variety of institutional needs in ways no other aspect of university life can. This, Toma observes, is a two-edged sword, for even as it fosters collegiality, it discourages reform when the pendulum swings too far in the direction of athletic dominance. Nevertheless, Football U. is here to stay.
J. Douglas Toma is Director and Senior Fellow, The Executive Doctorate and Penn Center for Higher Education Management, the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

From the fall of 2007 through the spring of 2008, Boston sports fans enjoyed a run of good fortune that was unprecedented in sports history. The Red Sox won their second World Series championship in four years. The Celtics, with their newly assembled big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, won their first NBA championship since 1986. And the Patriots, already hailed as the first sports dynasty of the twenty-first century, roared through an undefeated regular season before being derailed by the New York Giants in a shocking upset in Super Bowl XLII.

Customer Reviews (5)

A Wicked Good Waste of Time
I confess that I was "betting on the come" when I bought this book. I was taking a chance on a book by an author I had never heard of. After about 50 pages I realized I had made a mistake. Into the used book bin it went. This book is written for 7th graders, more specifically 7th graders who tune into sports radio talk shows. The prose is juvenile and simplistic. There is nothing in the first 50 pages to spark interest in the rest of the book. If you want to read some great sports books, read David Halberstam and Bill Simmons.

Decent overview of a great time to be a Boston sports fan
I liked the book, and it covered a period of time when I was in Iraq and getting a release from the day-to-day grind of war by finding out that all of my favorite sports teams from my beloved Boston were doing so well really helped my morale.

Buckley does a pretty good job capturing the runs of the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots. The Bruins are briefly mentioned as well, although they didn't enjoy the same level of success, and don't have a dedicated focus.

I wasn't crazy about the segue into the different fans of the Sox, Patriots and Celtics in the context of the events of the time but to each his own. Wasn't a fan of Donnie Wahlberg at all when he was with the New Kids on the Block back in the 80's but he's a good actor who's grown on me over time. Still, the Nantucket ladies and Andrew Urban the autograph collector didn't do much for me. But, I credit Buckley for trying a slightly different approach beyond the simple re-hash of the sports teams and events.

I've not always agreed with Buckley's comments, but this isn't a bad book for someone like me who couldn't be there to experience the events in person and in Boston where they occurred. Enjoyable light read.

Nothing New To Offer
I do enjoy Steve Buckley and think he is both a very good writer as well as commentator. That is why I was so distressed to read that he wrote such a boring book that offers no great insights into the2007/2008 sports year.He was beaten to the punch about the Celtics run by Peter May whose book is far better.Michael Holley and others have written much better books about the recent Red Sox success. He could have focused more on the Patriots even though they lost the Super Bowl but really glossed over that.

Sadly, this is a book that tries to be all things to all people and ends up being lukewarm and really offers no great insight to the knowledgeable Boston sports fan. I doubt this will find its way to many Christmas trees.

Warm and insightful
A basic test of pretty much any non-fiction book: you know from the start how it's going to end but still can't stop reading to see how it gets there.That's the frankly addictive quality of WICKED GOOD YEAR -- we already know the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots had amazing, overlapping seasons, we already know their high-profile stars.What we don't know are the unexpectedly touching stories of some of the fans, vendors, front-office secretaries, everyone who composes the tapestry of Boston pro sports.

Buckley does a skillful job of weaving the stories of an eclectic cast of characters -- and trust me, they're all characters.He's affectionate without being gushing, insightful without the usual tedious overload of arcane stats.The games are the threads that hold it all together but it's the behind-the-scenes stuff in the lockerrooms, on the road with the traveling circus of pro sports teams, and in the homes of the fans themselves that, for me, sets it apart enough to sit down and write an Amazon review recommending it.

Wicked Good Book!!
I picked this up at the recommendation of a friend.I was a little hesitant since I'm a complete sports-dummy.Despite the awkwardly long sub-title Wicked Good Year is far more than a sports book!Buckley takes the 2007 season and follows it through three very uniqe fans: an obsessive autograph collector who survived a deadly car crash as a child, a trio of little old ladies from Nantucket and a boy-band celebrity obsessed with basketball (you couldnt make this up!).Anybody can spit back dry stats, but through these characters Buckley provides the sort of context that makes sports personal and interesting for the layperson.

In the end Buckely explores the cultural identity of a city through the lens of sporting history and personal narratives.He leads the reader through time to some of the greatest, the worst, and the most fascinating moments of Boston sports.He does so with a voice that is technical enough for seasoned fans, but easy enough for the sports dummy (like me)to follow.

A great read for sports fans in general.An absolute must-read for Bostonians - especially the non sports-fans - I finally understand just why the city went crazy in 2007. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book, Horrible Quality
I purchased this entire series for my classroom after buying one and having so many of the kids enjoy it. They are great stories for struggling readers because many of them enjoy graphic novels. The problem is that within a week, 4 of the 6 books had pages falling out. It was not because of misuse on the students' part; the pages simply slid out of the book. I would repurchase this series in a heart beat if the quality of the books was higher. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

lifts the curtain
Simply a superb soccer book. It's not just the "big" nations that the author looks at nor are they the most interesting. By delving into such places as Bosnia-Hercegovina, Armenia, Azerbaijin as well as the big boys of Russia, Croatia and Romania we get a truly complete picture on the state of the game both from a historical perspective but with a firm eye on the present and future.

It's so enjoyable to learn a nugget like the "Russian" linesman Tofik Bakhramov who confirmed that England's third goal in the 1966 World Cup Final did cross the line has the national stadium named after him in his native Azerbaijan. The book is filled with these and they are not just thrown in as trivia asides but are investigated and explained in entertaining details.

Here's hoping author Jonathan Wilson is working on a followup as this subject has so many more stories I'm sure to tell even as thorough a job as he did on this one.

Jonathan Wilson - Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football
Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football

For those who want to know the history behind Balkan & Russian football this is a must read. Every region in Europe needs a book of this nature, though with the rich history of the likes of Hungary & Ukraine this is a read of another level. ... Read more

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From three recognized football and statistics experts comes a revealing and lively look at the pro game, with new stats, unusual facts and figures, revolutionary strategies, and keys to picking the winners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Statistical Analysis of Football
This book is an excellent read for anyone who has a genuine interest in football statistics.The authors are actually statisticians themselves, and they go through each phase of the game and attempt to come up withscientific ways to rate each position, including the offensive line!

Thepart I found most interesting was the chapter on quarterbacks and theconventional NFL QB rating system and why it is flawed.From there theauthors go into a lengthy process of building a better rating system, whichmore accurately reflects who the most efficient passers in the NFLare.

You would think being written by a bunch of statisticians, this bookwould be dull, but it is far from it!It is lively and humorousthroughout, and is very easy to read.Also, most of the heavy statisticsare relegated to notes, so if you are not interested in that sort of thingyou can skip it easily.

All told this is an outstanding book to read ifyou are interested in learning the "Nitty-gritty" behind footballstatistics. ... Read more

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A study featuring 112 vintage photographs chronicles Ivy League football from past to present, including stories on how Teddy Roosevelt, Cole Porter, John Reed and F. Scott Fitzgerald became part of the tradition of student-athletes. ... Read more

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Male coaches who molest the female players entrusted to their care...Sexual assault of college women by male athletes...The rise of "sports bars" and topless golf...All-male teams that receive the lion's share of college athletic budgets, despite laws to the contrary. Blending eloquent personal testimonies and surprising factual evidence, author and athlete Mariah Burton Nelson explores how our culture glorifies brutality and examines how th rise of female power in this country has been matched by a growing male contempt, reflected in the increased popularity of the "manly" sports--football, basketball and hockey.

Explosive, insightful, often witty and always thought-provoking, here is an essential, in-depth look at America's male-dominated sports mania, and at the dangerous attitudes fostered behind the closed locker room door.Amazon.com Review
This eye-opening book links gender-based pay and scholarshipinequity with male violence and male domination in sports and societyat large. As this book points out, athletes who rape and male coacheswho brag of beating their wives are often dismissed by our culturewith a "boys will be boys" attitude. Formerly competitive co-ed sportshave been replaced with sex-segregated sports after a woman winsagainst male competitors. Those dubious signals sent to boys such as"don't throw like a girl" are all designed to glorify masculinity andkeep it safe from so-called female interference and contamination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The brilliant title says it all
I had the honor of interviewing Mariah Burton Nelson about this book when it was first published.I still have my signed, heavily dog-eared and annotated copy on the shelf, along with other excellent analyses of masculinity, sports, and violence.

Unfortunately -- though not surprisingly -- nothing has changed since 1994.Athletes of the "manly" sports continue to commit crimes out of all proportion to their representation in the population at large, and continue to get away with them.Their victims, most often of assault and rape, continue to be pilloried.Fans, coaches, parents, and officials continue to ignore or belittle these crimes and their consequences.Alcohol-fueled, testosterone-driven behavior at college parties is still the norm, locker room codes of silence still hold, the wink-wink nudge-nudge tolerance of "boys will be boys" is still accepted.

And those of us who've grown hoarse pointing it out keep plugging away.

Read this book for a comprehensive overview of the American culture of sports and the belligerence it breeds.Remember it especially the next time you hear somebody spouting off about "family values."(Oh, and the evidence of homoeroticism is alone worth the price of admission; that especially raises sports fans' hackles!)

Other excellent books in this vein are: OUR GUYS by the late Bernard Lefkowitz, FRATERNITY GANG RAPE by Peggy Reeves Sanday, PROS AND CONS by Jeff Benedict and Dan Yaeger,BEER AND CIRCUS by Murray Sperber, BOYS WILL BE BOYS by Myriam Miedzian, PUBLIC HEROES PRIVATE FELONS by Jeff Benedict, and MASCULINITIES, GENDER RELATIONS, AND SPORT by Jim McKay, Michael A. Messner, and Donald F. Sabo.

A Must Read for College Athletes
This book does a great job of describing many of the obstacles faced by female athletes.It has greatly helped me redefine my athletic goals and understand what I may encounter as I continue my athletic pursuits.

Amazing. Could NOT stop reading this book.
This book is truly enlightening.While i know some of her claims are contestable (as all theory is), i still want to sew her thoughts into my brain so they will be available for instant access and referral.I have always been wary of our sports culture; Nelson tells me why.Nelson in no way condemns athletics or sports, but rather the sexism that has evovled around American sports culture, and the possible reasons for this evolution.Unfortunately i know that this book would not be palatable for many sports fans; for that reason it is so utterly poignant.

Be careful that this doesn't make you start to hate men.
... While it does have some valid points regarding sexism in sports and sexism of male athletes, it takes things a little far. Reading for any prolonged period tends to give one a very negative view of men in general and athletes in particular. In addition, the author underestimates the strength of women, and discounts the possibility that being viewed as a sex object can be both stimulating and empowering to them. Her depiction of cheerleaders and topless dancers, among other things, were very shallow.The whole book is very one-dimensional, and seems to be written by the kind of rabid feminist that gives feminism a bad name. Not everyone out there believes that all men conspire to bring women down and subjugate them.

A Must Read for Feminist Sports Enthusiasts
I discovered this book only recently and it is a remarkable work. Nelson eloquently describes many of the obstracles of sexism that remain in women's sports today. While much progress has been made, many inequities remain as she clearly reports.While this book was initially published in 1994, it is still very relevant.The disparities in the money made by elite female athletes when compared to elite male athletes remain vast and disturbing. All feminists who also love sports will love this book. ... Read more

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Describes the basic rules, skills, important people, and events in the sport of football. ... Read more