Product Description
Angela Ruggiero is the world’s best women's ice hockey player as rated by Hockey News magazine. She was the first female non-goalie to play in a men’s professional hockey league, and she has used her status as a top female athlete to promote education, health, and the value of sports across the globe. A Harvard graduate, humanitarian, and rare hockey “triple crown” winner (Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and collegiate champion), she traces in Breaking the Ice the growth of girls’ and women’s hockey from the fringes of the sports world to the center of the Olympic and world stage.Angela’s inspirational journey from a childhood in the suburbs of Southern California, where she had to overcome skepticism concerning girls in hockey and even about the sport of hockey itself, to stardom in rinks around the world is a remarkable story of determination and athletic achievement. A leading player for all three U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey teams for which she has played, she recounts not only the joys of ultimate victory but also the physical and emotional challenges that confront a topnotch athlete, including strains on family life, a punishing training regimen, and the rigors of constant travel. It reveals Angela as a dynamic and outspoken woman who has packed a rucksack full of intense experiences and hard-learned lessons into her life. Her story will appeal not only to hockey and sports fans but also to readers of all ages who are interested in the triumph of a woman who would not be daunted by the challenges of blazing a trail and breaking through barriers. Angela has played in six International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships, and in April 2005 she scored one of the shootout goals that helped the U.S. team win the tournament for the first time. She was recognized by the NCAA as one of the Top VIII scholar athletes in the country. Since graduating from Harvard in 2004, Ruggiero has founded the All-American Girls Hockey School. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

hockey role model
I read this book after my 13 year hockey player finished. This is a life lesson book. She is one of the top in her field and like C.Gunn had things to overcome that made them stronger. This book lets girls know these are real people that worked hard, and it is possible to shoot for the stars.

A must read for ALL female athletes
My daughter is a 10 year old girl hockey player and both she and I read the book, she actually did a powerpoint presentation for school on the book.This book is more than just a hockey book but an insiration to all girls about the obstacles Angela overcame in her life.After reading the book myself I am glad to know that my daughter looks up to Angela and wants to be like her, there is NO better role model for a young girl to look up to than Angela.This book is a must for all young girls, no matter what sport or activity they are involved in.

Inspiring.
This book talks about some of the early formings of girls/womens hockey in the USA. This is a very good book to read if you are familiar with hockey. Even if you are not involved with hockey you will like this book, because it talks about overcoming the odds and moving up in the ranks.

Angela Ruggiero rocks my (hockey) socks
This book is less about hockey and more about getting a peek inside the life of one of the greatest athletes of all time.It details the dedication that excellence requires, combined with personal stories from Angela's life.This book should be a part of every female hockey player's library.As a bonus, Ruggiero is seriously hot. ... Read more

Book Description
The Olympic tradition began in ancient Greece as early as 776 BC. The first modern games were held in Athens more than two millennia later in 1896. In the summer of 2004 the Games are returning to the country of their birth. This updated edition previews the upcoming historic Games, and covers the beautiful venues, inspiring athletes, and the spectacle surrounding the world's greatest sporting event. Features include an index of important facts as well as detailed statistical information about every medal winner since the first modern games. Covering 44 Olympiads over a century, stunning action photos taken by top sports journalists capture the true spirit of the games. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Definitive Guide with Full-Color Action Photographs
"In the year 2004, the Olympics will return to their spiritual birthplace, Greece. The Greek capital, Athens, will host a Games featuring more than 10,200 athletes from 200 countries."

If you are a fan of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games then you might want to own this as a highly collectable documentation of every one of the Olympic Games since 1896. Full previews of Athens, 2004, Beijing, 2008 and Torino, 2006 are included.

Each section covers about 4 pages and a quarter of the book is dedicated to statistics. You can look on a chart for each year to find the Event and who won the Gold, Silver or Bronze medals. The extensive index contains the names of competitors and personalities mentioned in the text.

Extra Features: See the new medals and who designed them with Greek elements and explore the construction efforts and newly built arenas. You can look up every athlete, event and result since 1896. Pretty impressive!

~The Rebecca Review
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

very impressive
I was very impressed with the depth of research and writing that Mark Chirnside has done on the subject of the WSL ships. This book is a great addition to any library. There were many new facts and annecdotes about the Olympic, Britannic, and Titanic that I did not know. Perhaps the only quibble is that as solid as the text is regarding the Titanic sinking- the same old accounts were used. Necessary in some instances, but some other accounts that are used far less could have enhanced the chapter. The other thing is that the book deserves a better format. I would think that such a book deserves a larger format, giving the reader an easier time to examine the pictures and reading the text. Overall- the book succeeds in making the reader learn more about these ships.

Very Informative
This book is my favorite of all time. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the Titanic and her sisters, but I was wrong. This book is amazingly plentiful with information. Makes for a great read.

Hope this helps!

ALL ABOARD!!!
A MUST READ FOR THE TITANIC ENTHUSIAST, BUT STILL A GREAT READ FOR SHIP LOVERS! VERY INFORMATIVE, WELL BALANCED AND NICE PICTURES! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! ... Read more

Book Description
The word "athletics" is derived from the Greek verb "to struggle or to suffer for a prize." As Nigel Spivey reveals in this engaging account of the Olympics in ancient Greece, "suffer" is putting it mildly. Indeed, the Olympics were not so much a graceful display of Greek beauty as a war
fought by other means.
Nigel Spivey paints a portrait of the Greek Olympics as they really were--fierce contests between bitter rivals, in which victors won kudos and rewards, and losers faced scorn and even assault. Victory was almost worth dying for, the author notes, and a number of athletes did just that. Many
more resorted to cheating and bribery. Contested always bitterly and often bloodily, the ancient Olympics were not an idealistic celebration of unity, but a clash of military powers in an arena not far removed from the battlefield. The author explores what the events were, the rules for competitors,
training and diet, the pervasiveness of cheating and bribery, the prizes on offer, the exclusion of "barbarians," and protocols on pederasty. He also peels back the mythology surrounding the games today and investigates where our current conception of the Olympics has come from and how the Greek
notions of beauty and competitiveness have influenced our modern culture.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellence in Research
I cannot praise enough the excellence of Nigel Spivey's research and presentation involved with the ancient Olympics.

The craftsmanship of his narrative is first-rate and there is a refreshing candor and lack of romanticizing regarding this event and the times surrounding it.

Mr. Spivey may be remembered from his presenting of "The Queens and Kings Of England" on the Biography Channel.He is a charming host on this particular documentary and one can see his sincere interest in putting forth well done research in a way to include the viewer outside the convention of a professor ponticificating to his classroom.

A perfectly wonderful book by a perfectly wonderful writer!

Thomas Lee

Thank God They're Going to England, Not New York!
The anicent Greeks at Adelphia considered the original Olympics a 'civilized mode of war without the shooting.'The aim was winning at any cost (like American politics today), as the losers were called and looked down on as failures in disgrace.He dwells on boy athletes and shows a marble statue of the naked David minus one arm and a hand.

Why did the early Greek athletes compete naked?Did it have something to do with sex or did they have perfect bodies?Why did the Romans change the games in Olympia and make it more civilized?There the Greeks raised their sporting prowess to heroic status.

The historian, Bettany Hughes, wrote that this book shows "a number of hand-picked historical characters (which) bring us face to face with ... the ruthless business of winning the games."Nigel Spivey includes a photo of the naked wrestlers in marble.This is an erotic book.The poster for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics shows a naked combatant.

There is a drawing of the Olympic Zeus in the original Parthenon, a huge six-story-tall fixture similar to the modern Athena statuary in the Nashville, Tennessee, Parthenon.He has written many books among which are PANORAMA OF THE CLASSICAL WORLD and UNDERSTANDING GREEK SCULPTURE. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Whether you're planning an actual trip to the Olympic Mountains or searching for the vicarious thrills of a smart guidebook, Robert L. Wood's encyclopedic knowledge of this enchanting wilderness at the edge of the Pacific will inform and enthrall. This is not a quickie job: the author has hiked every one of the trails he details here (over a hundred) backwards and forwards, most of them more than once, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Before you know it you'll be an expert too--rattling off, for instance, peaks visible from Dodger Point (Rainier, Olympus, the Bailey Range), and the name for the "noisy chatter" along the Putvin Trail (Whitehorse Creek). Divided into two main sections--Leeward and Windward--this handy guide covers the bulk of national forest and parklands worth venturing into. Concise yet thorough, it includes all the necessities--elevation, mileage, maps, landmarks, vegetation, and possible wildlife sightings--in an easy-to-read format. A must for the would-be visitor and armchair adventurer both. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Useless for me
As a day hiker going to the Olympics for the first time I found the book rather useless and much inferior to a day hiking book a friend brought (Day Hiking, Olympic Penisula).It is of little help in choosing which trail to do, it has poor to non-existent maps and does not give elevation change data. It is exhaustive on the mountain trails (including abandoned trails), but it does not include beach hikes, only mountain trails.

The best
This is the best and most informative trail guide to the Olympic Mountains. Bob Wood has hiked most of these trails himself and he has written book on the history of Olympic National Park.This book contains information you will not find anywhere else.Sadly Bob Wood has passed away and this book is getting a bit dated.

Not a "normal" guide book
If you like Falcon type guide books, you probably won't care for this book.Trail descriptions don't offer elevation gain, they don't tell you what the trail has to offer (great views, low traffic, bears, et cetera), descriptions are not well organized, and the book does not offer descriptions of how you might link say several trails together to provide a loop - in other guide books you might hike the Seven Lakes Basin Loop, while in this book you have to find each individual trail description and connect them for yourself.Really, this offers little more than what you can find from just using your topo - of course a topo offers more info than you find here.For me, it defeats the purpose of guide book - which I use to guide me toward the trail I want to take QUICKLY - what's the elevation gain, what does this trail offer, what time of year is best, trail tips, et cetera.This book somehow manages to avoid all of this and still be very dense with information and convey the information in a very disorganized fashion.In addition, when hiking the Seven Lakes Loop, my topo AND the park map both listed trail names differently than how this book listed them - possibly an error in the book and possibly just outdated information.

Get this book only after you have spent some time in the Olympics, gotten a good feel for things, and want a resource to complement your own personal exploration of this glorious region.This is not a book you get as an intro to the Olympics and MUST be used with a topo.

Many hikes, but missing key information
First, please note that I have purchased this book but have not yet truly used it (i.e., I haven't yet actually gone to the Olympics).My purpose in purchasing it was to try to get a sense for the hiking options in the area compared to other national park destinations.

I bought two Olympic hiking guides in addition to this one: "Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula" by S. Blair and "Hiking Olympic National Park" By E. Molvar.

Compared to those two books, this one certainly includes a larger number of hikes.To my mind, however, it misses two critical pieces of information.First, no guidance is provided as to the likely degree of difficulty, either in terms of elevation gain/loss or in terms of the author's opinion (e.g., moderate, strenuous, etc.).This makes it much harder to choose hikes that are likely to be within our comfort zone-- especially on days when the knees are feeling sore!

Second, I find the author's descriptions of the hikes to be very clinical and not that helpful in terms of helping me prioritize where to go.I want to know which hikes have outstanding mountain views, or delicious woodsy spots versus long slogs through forested areas with little to appreciate.There is no ranking or rating scheme for this, and it's a bit much to ask a reader to slog through detailed (and often somewhat clinical) descriptions of the 177 hikes mentioned to try to get a sense of that.

I think this book could be useful as a reference-- if one already has a pretty good idea of where to go.But it's not the best in terms of prioritizing how to spend your time.To that end, the "Day Hike!" book by Blair is better, although it includes only about 70 hikes.

Do yourself a favor...
We used the book to research our hikes before we arrived in the area. It helped us plan our route, time and stopover points. It gave a number of clues to things we didn't want to see as well. Couple of things you should know when using the book though. Trail descriptions don't always start at a trailhead so you might have a longer trip to get there than you think. Significant information is contained in the introduction to each of the sections and without it you will be confused by some of the trail information.But the biggest clue is this...don't try to use this book without a detailed map of the area. You will have lots of trouble finding trailheads if you use only the book. For example, Hike 133 tells you to take a specific FS road. However, there are two major forks that are not marked and without a map you'll have the opportunity to spend 3 hours driving each option like we did, on some "interesting" logging roads. You can get the maps at local stores like the Merchantile in Lake Quinault. We are very happy that this book directed us to the South Fork Hoh Trail (Hike 162) which was outstanding. The trails from the visitor center are a disappointment after that great trail. ... Read more

Book Description
The Berlin Olympic Games have their 70th anniversary in 2006. Hitler's Olympics creates a vivid account of the disputes, personalities and events of what was one of the largest propaganda exercises in history. The success of black American Owens allowed the Nazis to claim that their policies were not racist--and it was the Americans who were accused of anti-semitism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book
This was a very well written book. I enjoyed the person stories of some of the athltes. What I did not like was some of the more choppy sections with sentences like "And that was the second day" or "And on the 15th the Fins arrived". While it did allude to the timing of everything, it seemed a bit choppy.

Overall, I would highly reccomend the book, it was an informative and entertaining read. ... Read more

Book Description
35 Olympic athletes share their personal stories, including: Cliff Meidl, canoe/kayaking: Electrocuted and pronounced dead three times, came back to compete in Olympics despite losing functional use of his knees. Laura Wilkinson, diving: Three of the people closest to her died within a year, but she turned their memories into positive energy to accomplish her goals. Duncan Kennedy, luge: Overcame bleeding on the brain stem to compete again, also defended an African-American U.S. luge teammate against German Skinheads and was severely beaten. Bela Karolyi, gymnastics: Put U.S. Gymnastics on the map in the international arena, coaching, among others, Mary Lou Retton and Dominique Moceanu. Nancy Schultz, wrestling: When her husband, Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz, was murdered, she took over and established a foundation, and two wrestlers from their club went to the 1996 Olympics. Lenny Krayzelburg: The top U.S. and World backstroker came to America from Russia because his parents wanted a better future for their children. Jill Newman, triathlon: While walking dogs, she suffered a broken hip that went undiagnosed for several weeks, but came back and returned to the top of the rankings. Ugur Taner, swimming: Parents came to America from Turkey to give their children a shot at prosperity and opportunity. Sarah Leith, canoe/kayaking: Overcame dyslexia and uses her talents to motivate others who cope with learning disabilities. Angel Perez, canoe/kaying: Swam across the Rio Grande in his underwear to defect from Cuba while competing in Mexico City. Leslie Milne, field hockey: Lost her husband to cancer but persevered - now is an emergency room doctor, and she still has her Olympic bronze medal. Michael Norment, swimming: Trying to become first African-American member of U.S. Men's Swim team. Mary Lou Retton, gymnastics: Stormed onto the scene and in her first major international competition won the all-around gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. Scott Ikl, sailing: The Olympic sailor saved the sailing program at his college and built it into a national powerhouse. Iris Zimmermann, fencing: Has set the standard in U.S. fencing. Her father came to America from Germany and her mother from China. Tony DeBoom, triathlon: The former Army Ranger decided to pursue his Olympic. He lost his father after a triathlon, but uses his father's memory to push forward. Mary Joe Fernandez, tennis: Never let tennis rule her life, she is also the all-time most medaled female U.S. Olympian in tennis. Yewki Tomita, gymnastics: Coached by his father, who came to America from Japan, he overcame the setback of falling short of winning at a national meet to set an even higher standard for himself. B.J. Bedford, swimming: She learned about herself and how to be part of a team to reach the highest level of competition late into her 20s. Jay Hakkinen, biathlon: Raised in Alaska, he is the best hope the U.S. has for a medal in 2002 in men's biathlon. Erika Brown, curling: An all-Big 10 Conference golfer, Brown used those skills to help make the U.S. Olympic Curling team twice - she was the youngest Olympian on the 1988 team. She is now a physician's assistant. Bobby Brewer, swimming: Major injuries forced him to leave the water, apparently for good, until an award of his fell off the wall and hit him on the head, knocking some sense and perspective into him. Lindsay Benko, swimming: One of the rising stars, she overcame the fear of competing with and against the best swimmers in the world when she stepped onto her college campus as a wide-eyed freshman. John Roethlisberger, gymnastics: Major knee surgery forced him to re-evaluate his career and goals. He came back, and has never been better. Barb Metz-Linquist, triathlon: Playing in "God's Playground" of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, she found the direction she needed. Vitaly Marinitch, gymnastics: Gave up a chance to represent Ukraine in to come to U.S. Mark Ruiz, diving: Moved to America from U.S. territory Puerto Rico to pursue his Olympic dream and represent America. Robin Goad, weightlifting: Succeeded in proving lifting weights didn't make women "big and bulky" but rather made them more physically fit and confident. Allison Weston, volleyball: Led Nebraska to its first national championship in volleyball and quickly made the jump to the U.S. Olympic team. Steven Lopez, tae kwon do: Younger brother of the sport's legend, Jean Lopez, and hopes to help U.S. make mark in newest Olympic sport. Kristen Maloney, gymnastics: Ms. Consistent without much flash, she simply gets the job done and won back-to-back national championships in 1998 and 1999. Trifun Zivanovic, figure skating: Severely injured in a car accident, he came from modest beginnings in a sport that requires money. He also delivered pizzas to earn money as he prepared for the U.S. Nationals. Josh Davis, swimming: Triple gold medal winner in 1996 Olympics, the team captain hopes to swim in the 2012 Olympics - and the others between now and then. Barb Kunkel, tae kwon do: An injury ended a promising basketball career. To rehabilitate the injury, she found a sport that could take her to the Olympics. Dan O'Brien, decathlon: "Dan and Dave" were all over the place before the 1992 Olympics, but at those Games, Dan was absent after not qualifying. He won gold in 1996. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Olympic SpiritBook Review
It is an excellent book and very inspiring.I have many people in our school who love to read it. ... Read more

Book Description
Watched every two years by more than 2.5 billion people, the Olympics are much more than the world's largest regularly scheduled sporting event; they're an international political and economic colossus. The meaning of the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius now applies as much to the fast media saturation, high financial stakes, and strong political interests of today's Games as it does to the athletes' performances in the sports competition itself.

Power, Politics, and the Olympic Games chronicles the influential individuals, groups, and events that have shaped the Olympics since the modern Games began in 1896. This insightful and highly readable work offers a critical, historical perspective of the political and social controversies that have surrounded the world's greatest sports spectacle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Politics of the Olympics
I read this book for my term paper for 8th grade on the Politics of the Olympics.We could choose any topic from history, so that's what I chose, because I'm a swimmer.It was really helpful and interesting.It's sad there's so much fighting that has nothing to do with the sports, but that's the way the world is.I wish I could take Prof. Senn's college course.

Politics and Sports Intertwined in the Olympic Games
Alfred Senn is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison History Dept., and that is where he first developed his course entitled "The Political History of the Modern Olympics."This book is theresult of two decades of research and interviews of athletes, sportsfederation administrators, and Olympic officials beginning during the USboycott of the Moscow Games in 1980.This book is a comprehensivepresentation of much of the information from his lectures, and forms thebasic text of the course for undergraduate students.Readers withinacademia will benefit from its quality scholarship and solid documentation. The general public will enjoy its easy readability and gain a broaderknowledge of the "behind the scenes" maneuvering and politickingof the leaders of international sport. What this book can offer that othersoften cannot is the view from the other side of the "IronCurtain."Senn is a Soviet scholar by training and his book includesa large amount of material gathered exclusively from Soviet files andinterviews, a resource closed to many other authors.In the final pages ofthe book he devotes considerable attention to the breakup of the SovietUnion and the athletic consequences of that disintegration for the EasternEuropean sports "machines." I strongly recommend this text toanyone wishing to expand his or her knowledge of the workings of theInternational Olympic Committee and the political conflicts that havearisen over the years within the Games themselves or the Olympic structure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

These Stories Stuck With Me for 20 Years
I read this anthology several times as a teenager in the '80s.I've never forgotten several of the stories.In fact, between the latest world events, the 2004 election season, the 2004 Olympics, several of the stories kept popping back into mind unbidden this summer.So I acquired an unscratchable itch to revisit the book, and here I am.The review by Randy Stafford is dead-on; there are a half-dozen real gems in the book and then there are some more forgettable stories.However, since I find that the gems are still sparkling in my memory some 15-20 years after I last read the book, and it's only in the context of this anthology and its general theme of competition that they shine together, I have to argue that the anthology deserves more than Randy's 3 stars.I've found this is a collection that my bookshelf can't be without any longer!

More Than Just Olympic Contests
Olympic contests between the Soviet bloc and America were often exploited for propaganda purposes, the outcome of an athletic event supposedly saying something significant about the victor's country.This 1984 anthology, from the height of the Cold War, has several stories built around that notion.

Tom Sullivan's "The Mickey Mouse Olympics" and Nicholas V. Yermakov's "A Glint of Gold" both feature Soviet and American Olympic athletes genetically modified for their events.Sullivan plays the notion for genuine laughs.Yermakov's story is much more serious and shows the price the competitors pay as propaganda pawns.He also works in a defection subplot.

Walter F. Moudy's "The Survivor" abandons all together the notion of mere symbolic combat in the Olympics.In his future, the USSR and USA each put 100 man combat teams into the arena, and they don't come out till one side is annihilated.It's all televised, of course.Moudy is not content to just do a story of future gladiatorial matches.He also delves into what the combat conditioning does to the soldier, what kind of person it produces.It isn't idle speculation, either,because all the survivors of an Olympic War Game get to do whatever they want with no legal sanctions.It's one of the highpoints of the anthology.

Not all of the stories deal with future Olympics; the general theme is competition.

In the case of the dentist in Piers Anthony "Getting Through University", basis for his novel PROSTHO PLUS, the competition is to get accepted to galactic University, School of Dentistry.Anthony creates an entertaining story out of the complexities of dentistry on the galaxy's aliens.

Other highpoints are Norman Spinrad's "The National Pastime", "The Wind from the Sun" by Arthur C. Clarke, and "Prose Bowl" from the team of Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg.Spinrad's story tells of the invention of Combat Football and its fans very violent enthusiasm for it.It's a 1973 story but hasn't dated that much, especially since wrestling promoters now talk of starting their own football league.Clarke's story combines hard science and melancholy in a solar sail race.Also titled "Sunjammer", it was probably the first story to use the idea of solar sails."Prose Bowl" makes hack writing into an hilarious spectator sport, but it also says some serious things about writers and their audiences.

On the decidely low end of the anthology are Jack Vance's "The Kokod Warriors", about aliens who fight elaborate combats and the humans who bet on them, and Charles Nuetzel's "A Day for Dying", one of those stories with a decadent society of televised bloodsports and an unconvincing revolution to topple it.George Alec Effinger's "From Downtown at the Buzzer", about some aliens fascination with basketball, is marred by a vague ending.

In the entertaining-but-nothing-special category are the rest of the anthology's works.George R.R. Martin's "Run to Starlight" has aliens playing football against humans.The aliens turn out to have a more realistic view of the games' ultimate significance than the humans.Bob Shaw's "Dream Fighter" is another one of those stories where combatants assault each other mentally with horrifying symbols.Suzette Haden Elgin's "For the Sake of Grace" is a feminist story about a poetry contest on a world with an Arab-type culture and the young girl who dares to enter it despite the horrifying consequences of failing.Robert Sheckley's "The People Trap" is a witty, grim tale of a race for land in an overpopulated world."Why Johnny Can't Speed" by Alan Dean Foster is another combat on the highways story.It was possibly a response to Harlan Ellison's classic "Along the Scenic Route"."Nothing in the Rules" by L. Sprague de Camp is about the chaos caused by a mermaid entering a swimming match."The Olympians" by Mike Resnick is not, despite the title, a future Olympics tale.The Olympians are an elite group of humans who specialize in humiliating aliens in athletic competitions.

There are enough good stories here to justify taking a look at this anthology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not very fast paced
The book effectively and accurately presented the facts but, was wasn't fast pace enough to keep my interest.I will say that it was very exciting in the way that it desribed the USA vs. Soviets game.Overall, it was good but not good enough to get that fourth star.

Perhaps the Greatest Coaching Job in the History of Sports


A great chronicle of those heady days in Lake Placid nearly 25 years ago. Everyone seemed to find something they liked in this improbable victory. For me it was the coaching job turned in by Herb Brooks. It may be the greatest coaching job in the history of sports. Here are excerpts from an AP article about the late Coach Brooks which says it all:

Herb Brooks was behind the bench when the American Olympic Hockey team pulled off the greatest upset ever at Lake Placid NY in 1980, beating the mighty Soviets with a squad of mostly college players.That shocking victory, plus beating Finland for the gold medal, assured the team a place in immortality.

The young U.S. team was given no chance against a veteran Soviet squad that had dominated international hockey for years and had routed the Americans 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden the week before the Olympics.

On Feb. 22, 1980, the U.S. team scored with 10 minutes to play to take a 4-3 lead against the Soviets. As the final seconds ticked away, announcer Al Michaels exclaimed, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

It remains one of the most famous calls in history.
Brooks' leadership helped turn a ragtag team into champions. He had hand picked each player.

"You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back," Brooks once said. "I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country."

Interviewed years later on why he headed to the locker room shortly after the Miracle on Ice, he said he wanted to leave the ice to his players, who deserved it.

Players kept a notebook of "Brooksisms," sayings the coach used for motivation, such as: "You're playing worse and worse every day and right now you're playing like it's next month."

But, before playing the Soviets, Brooks told his players: "You're meant to be here. This moment is yours. You're meant to be here at this time."

"He was ahead of his time," team member Ken Morrow said. "All of his teams overachieved because Herbie understood how to get the best out of each player and make him part of a team. And like everyone who played for him, I became a better person because I played for Herb Brooks."

Born in St. Paul, Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he later coached from 1972 to 1979, winning three national titles. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

When Brooks decided to coach the 2002 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team at Salt Lake City, he was asked why he would return after writing the most improbable story in hockey. "Maybe I'm sort of like the players -- there's still a lot of little boy in me," Brooks said. "And maybe I'm a little smarter now than I was before for all the stupid things I've done."

Brooks was the last player cut on the 1960 U.S. gold medal team, and unfairly so, the victim of favoritism by his coach. But he persevered, and played on the United States Olympic Hockey Team in 1964 and 1968. And when he coached the 1980 Olympic Team, he did not repeat the mistake made by his 1960 coach. It was difficult and painful, but he did the right thing selecting the players for his 1980 team. And as they say, the rest is history. Or was it really a miracle? That is left for each reader to decide for themselves.

In an interview at his White Bear Lake home not long before his untimely death, Brooks described to the Minneapolis Star Tribune about watching one of his favorite movies, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

"You know, Willie Wonka said it best: We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams," Brooks said. "We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams. I'm a dreamer."
_________________________________________________________________

The book is the story of the team and its coach as they prepare for and play in the 1980 Olympics. Now out of print, original copies are sought after collectibles usually priced over $150, and well worth the price in my opinion.

The BestTrue Sports Story
I bought this book 25 years ago and loved it. It is much more accurate than the other stories/movies because the authors discribe the contributions of ALL of the teamates and not just the media favorites. Mark Johnson actually gets recognition in this book. It also does a great job of showing how Herb Brooks did the coaching job of his life. The players bonded because they all hated the way Herb worked them. They won just to show him they could.Now if I could just remember who I lent my copy to......

Very good book!
Very well written. The "insider's" story on how the team was put together.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ
IF YOU LOVED THE U.S.A. BOYS WINNING THE GOLD YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK.THE ONLY THING I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK IS THAT I WAS DONE READING IT.ONCE YOU START YOU WILL NOTBE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN TRUST MEIT IS THATGOOD. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A picture history of Olympic Park 1887-1965
I grew up in Irvington, new Jersey where Olympic park was and never knew the history.Found it extremely interesting and may buy more copies for friends.

Oh the Times...There a Changin'
Anyone that is interested in New Jersey History, or just to go back in time when times were not as complicated, then this Book is for you! It is about one of the Greatest Amusement Parks & all of the difficult times & mostly all of the Fun Times all the Visitors that went there had.This Book is a Must Have for your Collection. Long Live The Memory Of Olympic Park! Peace

It brings a smile to your face.
Olympic Park was more than an amusement park with a big swimming pool.It was an experience shared by countless people who had a personal and emotional attachment to it.This book brings back vivid memories and captures the essence of a time and place that will never be again.

graet for anyone who remember the fun times at olympic park
i recommend this book very highly. if you know anyone who remembers olympic park this would be a great gift for any occassion. ... Read more

Book Description

For over one thousand years between 776 B.C. and A.D. 395, princes, statesmen, and famous athletes gathered every four years at Olympia in western Greece to compete for the olive crowns of the ancient Olympic Games. Judith Swaddling traces the mythological and religious origins of the games and describes the events, religious ceremony, and celebrations that were an essential part of the Olympic festival. The book also features a large, detailed model of the site of ancient Olympia, where, alongside religious and civic buildings, there grew an elaborate sports complex with a stadium for 40,000 spectators, indoor and outdoor training facilities, hot and cold baths, a swimming pool, and a race course.

For this revised edition, three new chapters have been added, covering the diet and medical treatment of athletes; sponsorship, patronage, and propaganda; and revivals of the games. Superbly illustrated with vases, sculpture, and other works of ancient art, and with new views of the site, the new edition of this indispensable account of Ancient Olympia and the games now includes color reproduction for over half the illustrations, as well as many additional pictures.

Customer Reviews (1)

Olympia & the Ancient Games
When you buy a book that deals with a certain subject, you look for a few things that make the book worth your time. You want the book to give you the feeling of the time, you want to be entertained, you want to learn things, and have an easy reading experience. This book passes with high marks on all cases. Now, granted this book is not that long, but in some ways that's the beauty of the work.

If you are truly interested in the Ancient Olympic games, then I vow to you that this is the book to buy!!! The book is presented well and does not become dull from the start to the finish.

thank you for your time ... Read more

Book Description
Few world cities have a record as long, as fascinating, or aswell-documented as Beijing's. A capital almost continuously for more than athousand years, the city has been Khubilai Khan's Mongol headquarters, hometo emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the main stage forCommunist-era achievements and upheavals. Beijing is the first bookin English to trace this vibrant city's history from its earliest days tothe present. It highlights recent changes in the city as its more thanfifteen million people live through record-level economic growth andintensive preparations for the 2008 Olympics. Focusing on the lives ofordinary residents and rulers alike, the authors examine the controversialdestruction of historic districts as well as the construction of newresidential and business districts and Olympic venues. Extensivephotographs and paintings, many not previously published, offer a windowonto Beijing not only in major phases of its past, but also in itsstartlingly different present. Compelling and revealing, Beijing arrivesjust in time for the city's turn in the Olympic spotlight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Must read before you visit
I found this book tremendously helpful before my first visit to Beijing. It gives perspecitve for all vsitors to the city and puts Beijing in the context of the history of China. Easy to read for the nonacademic, I found this essential to a full appreciation of this remarkable city.

Beijing: From Imperial Capital to Olympic City
You are in for a treat! To understand China one must understand Beijing. While written by academics it is highly accessible to the lay public - it is MUST READ for anyone who has ever visited Beijing or is contemplating a visit. The photos and color plates are fascinating. It will be of interest to anyone who wishes to understand the culture, food, customs and the multi layered history of Beijing and of China - it also provides a nuanced view of urban planning gone awry in one of the fastest changing cities on the planet.

A great reference book on Beijing for everyone
This is a great reference book for historians doing research or for anyone who wants to learn more about Beijing and Chinese history.The book leads you from Beijing's rise as an imperial capital city to its emergence as an Olympic City. Although Beijing's history is long and complicated, the authors have succeeded in the difficult task of putting so much information into a book yet keeping it succinct, interesting, and easy to follow.The fascinating stories of ordinary residents add a personal touch to the book, while the pictures revive many details of the past.

I have been to Beijing many times.But after reading the book, I felt like wanting to go back right away to find out more about this capital city.
... Read more

Book Description
Higher, faster, stronger... The Olympic motto conjures images of heroes whose achievements transcended their athletic prowess--Jesse Owens, Mark Spitz, Nadia Comanesci--but also of tragedy and disgrace--the Israeli hostages in Munich, the Salt Lake City bidding scandal, payola to influence scoring. By 1980, the modern Olympic movement was gasping for breath, bankrupt financially, politically, and culturally. But under the leadership of Juan Antonio Samaranch, and, subsequently, Jacques Rogge, the Olympics began a journey back from the brink. Michael Payne, who served as the International Olympic Committee's top marketer for over twenty years, offers unprecedented access to the people, the negotiations, and the machinations behind one of the most dramatic and colorful turnarounds in business or sports history. Through a multi-pronged strategy, the IOC managed to secure lucrative broadcasting commitments, entice well-heeled corporate sponsors, and parlay the symbolism of the Olympics into a brand for which cities around the world are willing to invest billions of dollars--with the potential for tremendous payoff. The 2008 Games in Beijing, for example, are expected to involve over 10,000 athletes from 200 countries, draw 20,000 media representatives, and generate over $4 billion in sponsorships and broadcasting rights. Packed with previously untold stories from the high-octane world where business, sports, politics, and media meet, Olympic Turnaround is a remarkable tale of organizational renewal and a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of the world's most iconic brand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent
none of the books out there can show us what had happened inside of the olympics. it consists of many interesting stories that we haven't known yet.

after reading the book, i also realized how important the sports markeing is for companies to try to go to a next level.. ... Read more

Book Description
On Washington's Olympic Peninsula more than 1400 square miles of rugged mountains, richly forested river valleys, and pristine wilderness coast have been preserved as Olympic National Park. From rain forests with more than 160 inches of annual precipitation to arid rainshadow slopes, from rugged glacier-covered mountains to the wild Pacific coast, the park's varied ecosystems feature an extraordinary range of plants and animals, including many species found nowhere else on earth. This illustrated complete guide covers geology, wildflowers and other plant life, rain forest ecology, glaciers, wildlife, rivers, the Pacific coast, and visitor information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great guide to the Olympic Peninsula
This book covers just what the title promises - - the geology, rain forests, rivers, ocean, alpine regions, and other areas of Olympic National Park.It's a little jarring to see Indians included as part of the "natural" history, equivalent to Roosevelt elk or Olympic marmots, but McNulty treats white settlers and the National Park Service in the same way.

McNulty weaves together an overall story of the peninsula despite dividing it into habitats and the like.This makes it a good read from start to finish, but it would also be useful as a companion for a visit - - just read the rainforest chapter when you're in the rainforests, and so on.

McNulty also includes various personal moments, all well-timed and appropriate in length.This is not a personal memoir but these memories truly enhance the natural history that he presents. He also has an infectious enthusiasm, makes this book a lively read for a general audience.

It also has beautiful pictures.

In short, a great book if you're at all interested in the Olympic Peninsula.

A good overview to a spectacular park
Olympic National Park rangers often recommend this book as the best overall guide to this intriguing wilderness region.With environments as diverse as wavespept Pacific coasts, glaciated alpine country and lushtemperate rainforests, McNulty had his work cut out for him in capturingthe essence of the Olympic Mountains.All in all, he has done an excellentjob, hitting on these topics, as well as the humanhistory andconservation issues of the region.I was disappointed with his coverage ofthe rainforests, whose stunning grandeur really deserves more than thebrief chapter he gives them.To his credit,though, he concludes the bookwith an extensive bibliography that will satisfy anyone who wants to delvedeeper.All in all, I would say that this book earns a home in thebackpack or suitcase of anybody who plans on visiting this wonderfulNational Park. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Map for a good overview of Olympic National Park
This contour map provides a lot of information on a 25.5 by 37.5 inch piece of paper that folds down to approximately 4.375 by 9 inches.The paper has a glossy surface and is a heavier stock than used for road maps to improve its abilitiy to withstand typical handling.The paper is supposed to be waterproof and tear resistant.My experience is these Trails Illustrated maps hold up reasonably well but will definitelyshow some wear at crease lines if used a lot. The scale is 1 cm = 1 km or 1 inch = 1.6 miles with a 100 foot contour interval.

One side of the map details the bulk of the park which is away from the west coast and includes the eastern or drier part of the park.This eastern section includes the spectacular alpine regions of the park including the glaciated Mt. Olympus areaand the popular Hurricane Ridge and Heart of the Hills area.The other side of the map details the coastal strip of the park and access roads to the wetter western side rain forest valleys including the Hoh River valley.

The location of features such as campgrounds, back country camp sites, beach headlands that must be bypassed when hiking the beaches at high tide, information centers, handicap accessible areas, ranger stations, boat ramps, picnic areas, and places to eat or spend the night in the park are noted with symbols.Boundaries of the park, the national forest, indian reservations, stove only regions(no open fires), and wilderness areas are each shaded a different color.Back country campsites are listed alphabetically with the coordinates on the map specified. Of course, all primary trails are marked with bold, black dashed lines and the limited number of secondary trails are marked with similar but finer lines. There is a short discussion on park regulations, weather, wildlife, and safety.A diagram is provided to identify the appropriate USGS 7 1/2' topo map for each section of the area covered by the map and its perimeter.

Certainly the map is useful for planning a trip to the area and is a handy tool to have while there.Some may question whether the map is sufficiently detailed at its large scale for back country wilderness travel and might opt for USGS topos for a backpacking trip. The trails are, to my experience, well maintained and marked and the attentive backpacking party may prefer to use only this map. This is a decision that should not be made lightly. A discussion of plans with rangers at the Wilderness Information Center or ranger stations elsewhere in the park should be part of any trip into the backcountry.A key detraction to the map is the lack of any distances between road and especially trail intersections and this is why I've given it a 4 star rating.The smaller coarser scale park service map provided after paying the entry fee and available for free at locations in Port Angeles such as the visitor center does include trail distances.For the money, this Trails Illustrated map is a good tool to have if you are planning at trip to this park. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best Short Hikes in Washington's South Cascades & Olympics
I give it a 3 because the trails described are truly short 1 to 3 miles.The audience for this book is families with children.More serious day hikers should use other books.

GREAT hikes !
A fabulous book, leading you to easy/attainable hikes into beautiful pristine forest and family entertainment. ... Read more

Book Description
The ancient Greeks were famous for their love of competition and athleticism. Their most important sporting festival, held at Olympia and honoring Zeus, became the inspiration for our modern Olympic games. It was open to the citizens of every Greek polis, and became so important, that all warfare had to be suspended for its duration. This book runs through the entire five-day session of the ancient games. The athletes' training and the actual sporting events--some familiar, some quite strange to the modern reader--are described in vivid detail and illustrated with both classical art from the collections of the British Museum and photographs of the modern Games. Day Two, for instance, starts with morning activities (a procession into the hippodrome, chariot and horse races), followed by the afternoon pentathlon events (discus, javelin, running, jumping, and wrestling), and ends with the evening celebration (winners' parade, victory hymns, feast, and revels). Supplemental sidebars--such as Homer's description of Odysseus' triumphant discus throw and an explanation of why athletes and trainers had to appear naked--add lively, colorful detail. Commentary on the modern Games and a running comparison of modern and ancient athletic events is scattered throughout the book, providing an important historical perspective on today's Olympics. Three supplemental chapters--"Women at the Olympics," "Games Elsewhere in Greece," and "The End of the Olympics"--complete this fascinating look at ancient Greek customs, competitive spirit, and character. ... Read more