Product Description
Is a Career as an Elite Athlete in your Future? Are you ready to reach the next level in your sport with state-of-the-art training and nutrition? Are you starting a new sport and want to do things right Becoming a top-level athlete takes hard work, practice, commitment and dedication. But of course, you already know all that. But, did you also know that the decisions you re making about your mental and physical well-being right now can directly impact your future? The Care and Feeding of an Athlete is your guide to a successful and healthy future in your favorite sport. Being a leading high school player, collegiate or professional player means becoming physically and mentally prepared to take on the game. From effective stretching to proper diet and healthy sleep patterns, The Care and Feeding of an Athlete shows you smart strategies to put you ahead of the pack ensuring your success on the field. The Care and Feeding of an Athlete includes: Inspirational quotes from athletes and coaches the pros State of the Art training and stretching techniques Essential mental preparation exercises Injury prevention and treatment Smart nutrition for at home, on the road or at a restaurant Time management strategies for home, school and practice No matter what kind of equipment you use or what kind of sport you love, The Care and Feeding of an Athlete is a must-have guide to make it to the top as a serious athlete. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great advice for armchair athletes...
While this book is a great resource for parents of young athletes, or young athletes themselves, I have found the recommendations on nutrition extremely helpful.The information in Branner's book persuaded me to make changes in my eating habits and I have more energy and feel better as a result. It's an easy read and full of good advice for anyone, not just athletes.

The book covers the exercise, mental, emotional, and nutritional aspects of raising a kid who enjoys sports
Toni Tickel Branner has three books out on the "Care & Feeding of ...".While there are differences in this book (the quotes and some non-soccer advice) a lot of the language is exactly the same.My first review was of her book for the soccer player.So, I don't think you need all three.Just pick the one that is most focused on what it is you do.Just as she has adapted her text, I have only slightly altered my review.

We all know that exercising our bodies is good for us.We also know that real life is full of competition and there is winning and losing in all that we do.Athletics lets us exercise, have fun, and learn about competition when the stakes seem big, but are usually small.Organized sports consume more and more time in the life of many American children and young adults.As the author notes, "you learn to push yourself to your fullest potential, learn to take criticism as a compliment, and learn to gain confidence from each experience."

The author takes a responsible approach to fitness, nutrition, and competing to enhance your child's life, not consume it.Besides her own experience as an exercise physiologist, she has a board of medical and exercise experts who, I assume, looked over this material.

She also realizes that kids play sports differently and have different skill requirements according to age or grade level.Her advice for playing, learning skills, and warming up take all this in mind.I particularly like her discussion of common injury types and what you can do to prevent them. She also discusses the mental and emotional aspects of the game, including handling stress.Her food advice is quite good; if a bit too vegetarian for my tastes, but nothing here will be anything but good for you.She also deals with body image and distorted eating.

The author also guides you through getting the most from sports camp, how to be good sideline parents, and what to think about to become a successful and happy sports family.She also has a chapter on life lessons that can be learned from sports.

Good stuff.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Advice that can be applied to all forms of physical activity
Although the title indicates that this book is useful only for the caregiver of an athlete that is incorrect. The emphasis on proper nutrition is something that all people should learn and practice and the advice on activities such as how to properly warm up, train and work out is applicable to all serious physical activity. Finally, the discussion of the value of athletic competitions in building social skills, responsibility, a sense of achievement and how to deal with failure is an additional positive aspect of the book.

Note: Branner is also the author of two others book with the titles "The Care and Feeding of a Soccer Player" and `The Care and Feeding of a Dancer." A lot of the text in those books is identical to this one, so if you buy one you for some practical purposes have the other two.

Fills a much needed void
Too many kids and parents are pushing themselves to hard on and off the field.Branner teaches kids and parents how to take care of the young athlete and make sure they are around and healthy for those all important college years.Fantastic nutritional advice maximizes health and shows the importance of water, anti-oxidants and proper eating as a vital part of a young athletes road to collegiate or professional sports success. ... Read more

Product Description
Massage away your aches and pains. Self-Massage for Athletes will have you feeling better fast by showing you how to apply the same strokes and techniques used by professional massage therapists. With chapters on acupressure, trigger point therapy, shower massage, and more. Clearly written and beautifully photographed, this handy guide is your invitation to join the millions of active people who already use self-massage to improve the way they feel and perform. Complete with more than 100 photos, 176 pages, and index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Lack of depth
I don't know why there are so many 5-star reviews. This book is too gerneral and i found it impractical to massage just based on its instructions. it doesn't explain the techniques in details and you won't learn to use your hand as a massager from this book. if you're a serious athlete, you may find it disappointing.

Rubbed me the wrong way........
I found the book to be just too general, stressing the value of the massage.

Just so-so
1/2 the book was spent on benefits of massage.2nd 1/2 was rather superficial.Not much depth.

Great Resource
This is an excellent reference book for any athlete. It is written in a very easy to understand and easy to read style.The topics are thoroughly explained and the pictures are very clear.It is very comprehensive explaining not only the mechanics of self-massage, but the benefit of visualization and using mental focus to enhance the experience.The book is a great introduction for beginners and useful reference for veterans.Given the reasonable price, this is a great value for your money.

Good basics for self massage
I've been using the techniques in this book for several months and it has helped me to keep exercising on a daily basis. This applies to more than athletes, anyone with aches and pains could benefit from this book. Besides relieving soreness pains from exercising it also helps me with the neck and shoulder pain I get from sitting at a desk at work.

The book is laid out with lots of extra space and pictures, this may seem overdone for some but it does make it easy to read. A good bit of the book is spent to convince the reader of the benefits of self massage itself not just the techniques.

This book is best for someone just getting started in self massage, for someone already experienced with self massage there may not be much new.

All in all a good beginner self massage book.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

An especially inspirational read for women of all ages.

Women Who Win: Female Athletes on Being the Best is an anthology of portraits of champion ten female athletes. A black-and-white photograph of each woman introduces her section, peppered with snippets of interviews, tales of training regimens, and stories of the raw struggle required to become the best of the best. The women covered are big-wave surfer Jamilah Star, jockey Julie Krone, soccer player Julie Foudy, runner Deena Kastor, gymnast Wendy Hilliard, volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, swimmer Lynne Cox, basketball player Tamika Catchings, triathlete Karen Smyers, and rock climber Lynn Hill. An amazing true account of what it takes to reach the top of one's game, and an especially inspirational read for women of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
On playing fields and street corners, in backyards and gyms, the people in this arresting array of pictures are unselfconsciously exploring the physical and emotional pleasures of competition and play. Each image offers an affirming and satisfying answer to the question at the heart of Game Face: What do girls and women look like when freed from traditional feminine constraints, using their bodies in joyful and empowering ways?

To show America what women’s sports looks like, Jane Gottesman searched through the work of our country’s best photographers, from the newest photojournalists to artists such as Annie Leibovitz and Ansel Adams. The result is a unique and inspiring document of the tremendous impact that the growth of female sports at all levels is having on society—and on women themselves.Amazon.com Review
A friend was looking for a great book for a young woman, to help ease her into adulthood. The usual fiction fare came to mind, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, To Kill a Mockingbird, and so on. Then I came across Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like? and immediately decided this was the perfect choice for a preteen girl. In fact, it's a great addition to your mother's coffee table, your best friend's bookshelf, and your sister's "girls rule" collection.

Created and edited by Jane Gottesman, and including a foreword from Penny Marshall, this book takes you on a romp through women in sports from the 19th to the 21st century. The pictures capture superstar athletes like Serena Williams and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, along with small-town sports victors like the determined young "tomboy on a skateboard." The photographs range from showing the agony of defeat to the gritty triumph of victory on the faces of women from all around the world. It's a truly magnificent display of woman power on the field and court, in the ring and stadium, and beyond. Definitely recommended for all the "girlz" in your life. --E. Brooke Gilbert ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

gave as a gift
Good coffee table/picture book. Gave it to 8 and 10 year old nieces as a gift.

Perfect condition as promised
All of the books that I ordered (18) at a time were delivered in great condition and in a timely manner.Amazon.com separated the shipments to halep them arrive faster without extra postage which helped a lot.Thank you amazon.com!!!

This book fell apart!
The book may be all of the things everyone says, but my copy has completely fallen apart. We did not abuse this book in any way, pages simply started falling out of it.It was poorly made.Amazon has refused to replace it since it purchased it over 30 days ago.Apparently, they do not stand behind faulty merchandise they sell.In any case, who wants a book where 1/2 the pages are falling out?I recommend that you do not purchase this, simply because it's poorly constructed. Or, buy it from a different retailer who will replace it if your copy starts to self destruct as mine did.

Shows the true female athlete
I saw the exhibit of the photographs in this book at the Smithsonian a year and a half ago and I was captivated.I knew immediately that I wanted this book.As an athlete myself, I know what all the stages of sports really are and I connected with the emotions expressed in the litte stories throughout the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially developing female athletes, because it is inspirational and exhilarating!!

Game Face: What DoesA Female Athlete Look Like?
Great book for all ages.A lot of the pictures don't need stories to accompany them, they speak for themselves.Excellent book to read and also to give as a gift to any young up and coming athlete. ... Read more

Product Description
In the GameGay Athletes and the Cult of Masculinity

Eric Anderson - Author

SUNY series on Sport, Culture, and Social Relations

Summary

Examines the relationship between gay male athletes, sport, and American masculinity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Accepting
Anderson, Eric. "In the Game: Gay Athletes and the Cult of Masculinity", SUNY Press, 2005.

Accepting

Amos Lassen

I just came across Eric Anderson's book about gay athletes and was surprised that it had not yet been reviewed. Gay athletes have been in the news so I naturally thought that there must have been some interest in the topic. Maybe now there will be.
Anderson's work is based upon interviews with both openly gay and closeted athletes. He explains how homophobia is practiced in sports and how gay athletes manage to get around it. We read individual experiences and we see that athletes are slowly coming out, not being content to be treated as second class citizens. The views we have had of masculinity have changed greatly in the last few years and we no longer need a "don't ask, don't tell" on the playing field like some feel we need in the armed services.
Just as the gay lifestyle has begun to go mainstream and no longer regarded as a sickness so have gay athletes been able to come to terms with whom they are and thereby come out. This is only the beginning and I think there will be more coming out as time passes.
... Read more

Product Description
After 47 years behind the camera Walter Iooss Jr. can't quite put a number on the countless sports subjects he has photographed throughout his career. But whoever the portrait, whatever the setting, a common theme runs through his personal archive: All are athletes lured into the joy of sport. In a 256-page panoramic collection, Iooss handpicks more than 150 of his classic images--dozens never before published--to create a cinematic compilation of his work.

For Iooss--whose efforts have graced the cover of Sports Illustrated nearly 300 times--every picture really does tell a story. Here he highlights his favorites with behind-the-scenes anecdotes. For the famous "Blue Dunk" overhead shot of Michael Jordan taken in 1987, Iooss personally painted the parking lot, stationed himself in a cherry picker and waited for the shot. While shadowing Tiger Woods from hole to hole in Carlsbad in 2000, the photographer purposefully wore dark glasses the entire day so as to not look in the golfer's eyes. And in 2003, Iooss literally couldn't sleep the night before reuniting Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for their first photo together in 30 years. In a lyrical display, we witness a creative evolution as Iooss continually discovers new ways and approaches to capture the athletic spirit. Iooss's passion, power and perspective are clearly at play in this artful package. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Heavy Waste of Space but Great Photographs
This is the kind of cumbersome coffee table book you thumb through once and then ignore for the rest of your life.The photography is great, and my husband the sports nut appreciated receiving it, but it honestly got packed into a trunk when we moved, and I didn't realize it was missing until I emptied the trunk 8 months later.It's heavy.It gets in the way of the piles of junk mail that collect on surfaces. Our shelves are too flimsy to hold it. Paper covers on hardback books rip, and the tattered look makes you like it even less.It also collects fingerprints.This book might save my life some day when I need to bludgeon an intruder.Until then, it collects dust.

Very nice book.
A very nice book and will make a nice Christmas present for my grand children, who are into sports.

Striking sports photos
This is an awesome book of photos I've not seen before.I've been a subscriber of SI for over 30 years and at least half of the photos I had not seen.The photographer's eye is exceptional....and lucky to a degree.I also got this book for my son.

Love It
I bought this for my boyfriend's birthday and he totally loves it.We were NOT disappointed.The pictures are precise and vibrant.The stories with the pictures are interesting and fun.Any picture of Michael Jordan is impressive.

sort of re-hashed....
I love Walter Iooss, but the picts in this book are sort of re-hashed. Book arrived with torn cover, inside in perfect condition. There are better Iooss books.. ... Read more

Product Description
This new educational and clinical reference provides a comprehensive discussion of general medical conditions and associated pathologies confronting athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers of all levels. Featuring NATA Educational Competencies, it covers evaluation techniques and equipment, pharmacological principles, complete coverage of all body systems and conditions, and special populations. Red flags for serious or life-threatening conditions are highlighted throughout, as well as implications for practice and participation in sports and competition. An accompanying DVD provides 230 minutes of video displaying narrated procedures, animations of important concepts, and self-assessment exercises designed to reinforce the skills and information presented in each chapter of the book. * Hundreds of illustrations detail anatomy, physiology, evaluation, pathology, and treatment. * Vivid, full-color pathology photos in an 8-page insert, as well as photos included throughout the book, help readers visualize and compare confirmed diagnoses for signs, symptoms, and assessment. * Pharmacological content provides a comprehensive overview of medical treatment and associated outcomes while also pointing out possible adverse effects. * Learning objectives and key points, as well as a wide range of tables and boxes, a full glossary, and appendices help the reader extract and pinpoint information quickly. * Red flags integrated within each chapter highlight critical information for safe and effective patient care. * Consistent format for presentation of pathological conditions includes a brief description of the condition, signs and symptoms, referral and diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, treatment, lifespan considerations, and prognosis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for Athletic Training majors
Easy to read and comprehend...clear and to the point.Not as in depth as a pathophys. text. ... Read more

Product Description
Improve performance in any sport with Russia’s most guarded training secret

For elite sports training, nothing compares to the impact that kettlebells have on the entire body, and author and trainer Dave Bellomo now brings the power and benefit of these Russian-inspired weights to any athlete.

Working the entire body at different angles, this popular training program provides you with rapid gains in strength, speed, and endurance—all requirements for proficiency in any sport. This powerhouse program also gives you customization tools for setting personal goals and tailored eight-week workouts to answer the needs of your specific sport.

Kettlebell Power Training for Athletes:

• Presents more than eighty illustrated exercises for quicker learning on how to train with the weights
• Helps you gradually build a training foundation for a healthier lifestyle
• Includes sport- and goal-specific programs so you can go directly to that section of the book for your needs
• Features photographs from award-winning photographer Bruce Curtis

Whether you are training for the gridiron, the Octagon, or the Pentagon, these simple tools will help you produce the most extraordinary results you have ever seen.

Author Profile
Dave Bellomo (Williamsport, PA) consults high-level athletes such as Mixed Martial Artists and World's Strongest Man competitors as well as elite military and law enforcement professionals such as members of Homeland Security and US Special Operations. He designed kettlebells that appeared in the major motion picture, Never Back Down. He currently resides in Pennsylvania with his wife and 5 children, and can be found online at www.davebellomo.com. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Poorly written and poor illustrations
A poorly written book with a limited amount of pictures to correctly illustrate the proper way to use the kettle bell. There are many others books on the market which would better serve the purpose for learning how to do a great kettle bell workout. This book had too much repitition and was not well written. Don't waste your money

New to Kettlebells
I'm a weightlifter looking to incorporate something different to change up the routine. This book is the perfect solution for someone looking to learn the proper techinques to get into kettlebell training. I also liked the fact there were different routines illustrated for whatever sport you are training for. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to take their strength training to the next level. Bellomo does a great job using his personal experience in Kettlebell training to set you in the right direction. Enjoyed it!

The best kettlebell book.
If you are looking for a great book showing you how to use kettlebells for a variety of different sports,this is it. This is the best book of its kind I have ever found.

Kettlebells made easy
The detailed exercise descriptions and specialized combinations of routines (circuits) take all the guesswork out of making kettlebells an effective part of your training routine.The workouts are designed to combine cardio and strength training into a single session and the order of the exercises in the various circuits maximize the workout to ensure you are getting the most out of the session.I like to create a month of workouts from the book and copy the circuits from the book onto a notepad I can take to the gym, working well.Great book!

A biased review
As my title indicates, I may be a bit biased in my review of this book. Here is the reason: I personally had a chance to train with Dave. Try as I may, it is difficult to separate this fact from my review of this book. In December of 2004, I had ACL replacement surgery. I credit Dave with helping me recover as quickly and to the extent that I did. Within 4 months I was ready for golf. Okay, laugh if you will, but golf requires a range of motion, balance and a strength to be able to rotate through the golf swing. Believe me, this was not a simple task on a gimpy knee. Dave helped me gain the strength and stamina I needed to be able to get back the necessary muscle for my golf swing. And he did this in the time frame that I wanted to. And as for skiing, another passion of mine, I was back to skiing the next season. And, with more endurance and strength than before my surgery! Kettlebells, once I was recovered from the impact of the surgery, became a regular part of my routine with Dave. He was constantly mixing it up on me, but I always looked forward to the training with kettlebells. The range of motion, the strength necessary, and the cardio impact from a session of kettlebells is an all-around workout. Most of you will not be able to train personally with Dave. But this book is the next best thing. The many photos and the descriptive narrative is the alternative to being able to work out out with Dave. As I read the varieties of workouts in the book, they reminded me of the personal sessions that I had with him. So if you can't work out with him personally, get this book, get some kettlebells and start the routines. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Product Description

The quality assurance procedures and accreditation used in sport science laboratories in Australia are respected worldwide. Now you can put these protocols to use in your research or training program with this authoritative guide from the Australian Sports Commission. Physiological Tests for Elite Athletes is your best source for standardized test protocols for athletes in 17 internationally recognized sports.

Using the protocols in this breakthrough book, researchers in any country can standardize procedures and share data. And athletes and coaches can compare data from different labs for analyzing results and planning training regimens. While learning about controlled test procedures, students of exercise physiology can compare their test scores with those of top-level athletes.

The normative data for these tests have been collected from athletes competing at national and international levels. Thoroughly practical, the book provides principles and examples of test protocols, data analysis, and data interpretation.

Physiological Tests for Elite Athletes presents guidelines for pretest preparation of labs and athletes, with five reproducible forms. The book takes readers through discussions of general assessment procedures, including
-blood lactate testing,

-anthropometric testing,

-blood sampling and handling,

-flexibility assessment,

-VO2max assessment, and

-various methods of strength and power testing.
The book also provides sport-specific information in the assessment of athletic performance. All 17 sport-specific chapters include step-by-step protocols particularly suited to testing athletes engaged in that sport. Extensive tables offer normative data for various national and international sports, including
-basketball,

-tennis,

-cycling,

-triathlon,

-soccer,

-rugby, and

-cricket.
In addition, the book's treatment of the difficult area of strength assessment is the most extensive available to date.

In all, Physiological Tests for Elite Athletes provides a complete international review of athlete testing. It's the most comprehensive applied testing manual available for exercise scientists and students of exercise physiology.

Product Description
This book is an interactive, hands-on guide to negotiating, drafting and litigating agreements in the context of representation of professional athletes. The book begins with the negotiation and drafting of a standard form athlete representation agreement. In so doing, it details all of the NCAA amateurism rules and the legal do's and don'ts relating to the recruiting of pre-professional athletes. Subsequent chapters track the typical progression of a successful professional athlete's career: the drafting, negotiating and (where necessary) litigating of product endorsement and license agreements in the increasingly important context of protecting professional athletes' rights of publicity. Interactive group negotiation/drafting hypotheticals are also provided in the areas of fantasy sports, and of representing the mature athlete who is nearing the end of his career. The book concludes with a Jerry McGuire-type litigation hypothetical and settlement agreement negotiation exercise involving the super-agent entering and exiting the mega agency. The Manual will allow any instructor to use the text on a stand-alone basis, or as a companion to Weiler's Sports and the Law, 3rd Edition, or other sports law casebooks. ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever had to sacrifice training or competing because of your diabetes? If you have, or if you just never want to be put in that situation, The Diabetic Athlete is just what you’ve been looking for. Inside this helpful guide you’ll find detailed advice on blood sugar regulation, medication, and nutrition for 73 sports and activities.

Written by Dr. Sheri Colberg, a diabetic athlete with a PhD in exercise physiology, this book draws on the experiences of hundreds of diabetic athletes to provide the best advice for type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Specific insulin advice is included for NPH and lente, ultralente, and pump users. And profiles of elite and amateur athletes, from golf to scuba diving, show how they cope—and thrive—in their different environments.

No other book gives so many sport-specific recommendations to help you safely and fully pursue the activities you enjoy. With Dr. Colberg’s advice you’ll feel better than ever while training for fitness and sport performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Worthwhile Read
I am a Type 2 diabetic using an insulin pump. I participate in several sports including SCUBA diving. The book is not a step by step instruction guide but gives you the issues that one must deal with in specific sports. Reading all the sections gives one a overall idea of what a diabetic on meds or insulin should be concerned with when being physically active.

Good book and Useful - But needs and update
Hopefully an update is on its way for this book! It is a great book but we are beyond NPH and its issues. With some of the newer longer-acting insulins, there are new techniques to try...

With the advent of the CGMS, very valuable information is available to an athlete if they can afford to buy one and/or if their insurance company covers one.

Not what I expected
This was not quite as helpful as I'd hoped. I can understand why, since there is no one answer for the challenges of managing diabetes and exercise. It listed many types of exercise and then what various diabetics might do in certain situaitons, but the end result is that you STILL have to figure it out for yourself. I guess I was looking for more guidance, and more physiological information. Still worth purchasing, and there is a new version in the works by the same author.

OK , But not exactly what I was looking for.
The book was informative but not exactly what I was looking for. It was geared more for a person who was taken insulin or on a pump. I was looking for something more in line with someone on an oral medication with type-2 Diabeties. But that taken into account it was both easy to read and very informative. I'm glad I have it in my library.

the diabetic athlete
My son is 12 years old and a very strong, diverse athlete.He plays ice hockey, baseball and football and is very organized and very driven.As a newly diagnosed diabetic, we have many many questions about how diabetes is going to affect his life.This book gave me many ideas and made me realize that my son is first and foremost an athlete and we will fit the diabetes into his life.



He is doing really well and told me yesterday that having diabetes isn't such a big deal.We are well into the baseball season and looking ahead to hockey.I was very nervous about handling low blood sugars, but he seems to take it all into stride.



I highly recommend this book -- it is easy and interesting to read. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

What a book!
Matt Long is an inspiration to all of us.I wasn't able to put this book down.I remember hearing Matt's story a few years ago and couldn't believe he could run a marathon after his accident ( I can barely make it from the couch to the refrigerator).Charlie Butler did a great job bringing Matt's story to life.Off the couch and on the treadmill tomorrow for the Vaughaner!

Attention All Athletes
I met Matt in the schoolyard down (nov 09) the block from where he and I lived on the ues of Manhattan. We were both walking our Australian Shepherds and I noticed his unique walk and Ironman hat. We started chatting and I remembered reading his story in the newspapers. I expressed interest in doing Ironman Florida, but was concerned with getting in. Matt assured me i would be doing IM FL in 2010. His encouragement propelled me a year ago and reading his story in this book 2 weeks before I take on the beast of the Ironman was a HUGE inspiration.

I recommend this book to any athlete and happy to have met Matt in person. His story is truly amazing.

Wow~ Inspirational and Funny!
By the third page of "Long Run" by Matt Long, I could hear his voice in my head: A hard-working, hard-living, hard-loving NY firefighter with a big ego and a big heart. Now take that guy -- the one you know from every stereotype -- and throw him under a 40,000 bus. How will he respond? What will he do to get himself back to fighting shape? Can he, or does the facade crumble in face of advesity?

The answer lies in Matt Long's story, but you can tell from the cover that he's not one to go down fighting. From learning to walk to learning to control his bodily functions to learning to run, this man is full of determination and is an "Ironman" in more ways than one.

Since I was training for a half-marathon while reading this book, it held special significance for me. And when I was out there on the course, feeling a little tired and achy, I didn't even think about quitting. After all, if Matt Long can come back from what he did, I could certainly finish a 13.1 mile race.

Thank you, Matt, for inspiring me and thousands of others.

A must read for anyone!!!Inspiration beyond belief.
This book is not only for athletes - it is for anyone.Matt takes us to a place inside each of us - that place where we reach deep and keep on keeping on!!!! Matt never gave up after being hit by a bus on his bicyle and being near death - he is truly an inspiration to anyone.You should share this book with your friends and family - it makes you forget about those little aches and pains you have when you realize all Matt when through and endured.If you know anyone going through depression or a major illness - please let them read this as it will help them through the tough times.I had the privilege of meeting Matt a month ago by accident(well I shouldn't use that word) and I just knew I wouldn't be disappointed with this book - he is just that special and it shows in his book.
Matt was kept alive for a reason and this book and his foundation I WILL are only the beginning!!!!

Totally inspirational and incredible to believe!
This story is amazing.From what life has brought to Matt Long and how he has handled the challenges, it is truly remarkable.I am not a runner due to knee injuries, but am inspired to give it more of a try than I ever have before.Thank you Matt for sharing the good, bad, and ugly details which truly encourages people to get motivated and improve their own lives. ... Read more

Product Description
Overtraining Athletes: Personal Journeys in Sport seeks to communicate the complex subject of overtraining to help athletes, coaches, parents, and sport science professionals understand the dangers of overtraining and take steps toward prevention. Using history and research, current experts' perspectives, and athletes' personal experiences, Overtraining Athletes identifies forces that push athletes to overtrain by sharing the struggles of those athletes and the sport professionals who seek to help them.

The text employs a nonlinear structure, allowing the flexibility to sample chapters from each of its four parts based on interest and level of knowledge about the topic. By presenting the phenomenon of overtraining from a variety of perspectives and with varying degrees of technicality, the book engages a wide range of readers while presenting significant research and studies in the area. Each of the four parts of the text displays a distinct method for discovering how overtraining affects athletes, coaches, parents, and professionals.

Part I begins with a review of research examining aspects of overtraining, including prevalence, physiological and psychological manifestations, and outcomes. It concludes by discussing risk factors that increase the probability of overtraining. In part II coaches' and sport scientists' views on overtraining risk factors are presented. The authors interviewed 14 experts from major sport organizations in Australia to glean their perspectives on the possible variables associated with overtraining. With the perspectives of these experts, readers may identify the characteristics, behaviors, and experiences of susceptible athletes, as well as the situations, factors, sport cultures, and people that both pressure athletes to increase their training and affect athletes' needs for recovery.

In part III the focus turns to the experiences of the athletes. Drawing on interviews from 13 athletes with identified histories of chronic overtraining, the authors present three aggregate case studies:

• A professional footballer influenced by economic forces, internalized clichéd slogans, tough sport cultures, and traditional abusive practices
  
• A triathlete obsessed with the pursuit of the Olympic gold
  
• A young gymnast-turned-cyclist pressured by abusive coaches and an overinvolved parent

Product Description
The debate over big-time college sports, never far from the front pages, has once again moved from simmering to hot. Congress has been investigating the tax-exempt status of the NCAA in part because of questions about how commercialized college sports contribute to educational values. Athletes are challenging the NCAA on antitrust grounds to get a bigger share of the revenue. Against this backdrop, more faculty are beginning to be concerned about what is happening at their own universities and to the educational system as a whole as rampant commercialism further invades campus life through big-time sports.

A leader among faculty fighting back has been Allen Sack, a co-founder of the Drake Group whose writings and public appearances, including work as an expert witness, have gained him wide recognition as an outspoken advocate for athletic reform. This book brings together in a compelling way both his personal story of life as a highly recruited athlete out of high school and a football player at Notre Dame under legendary coach Ara Parseghian and his fight, since then, as a scholar-activist against what he calls the 'academic capitalism' of the system under current NCAA rules.

Sack distinguishes his own position, as an advocate of athletes' rights, from the reformist stance of NCAA President Myles Brand, who believes that commercialized sport and education can peacefully coexist, and the 'intellectual elitist' position of people like William Dowling, who would like to see big-time college sports kicked off campus altogether. It is a battle with high stakes for all concerned, not least the athletes whose exploitation by the system has been the motivating force for Sack's own campaign, now stretching over several decades. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Amazing and insightful book
Allen Sack's book, Counterfeit Amateurs, is an insightful, first-hand account of the problems in intercollegiate sport. Sack masterfully intertwines his experiences as an athlete at Notre Dame with the problems facing collegiate sport today. He is able to go from the past to the present seemlessly and presents evidence that the the world of intercollegiate sport has become big business with a focus on commercialization and making money and away from the athletes who are producing the revenue. Thus, Sack makes a critical argument for athlete's rights.

This book is an incredibly important contribution to the field. I require it of my graduate course in Sport and Higher Education and the students loved it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan or teaches about collegiate sport.

Essential reading
There are three books in the history of collegiate sports reform that are must reads:Beer and Circus:How Big Time College Sports Has Crippled Undergraduate Education by Murray Sperber, College Athletes for Hire: The Evolution and Legacy of the NCAA Amateur Myth by Allen Sack and Ellen Staurowsky, and Confessions of a Spoilsport: My Life and Hard Times Fighting Sports Corruption at an Old Eastern University by William Dowling. Let's add a fourth book:Counterfeit Amateurs: An Athlete's Journey Through the Sixties to the Age of Academic Capitalism. In fact, I would say that if you are going to read one book in the field of collegiate sports reform in the year 2009 then it should be Sack's volume. It captures the history of the sports reform movement and discusses the major issues that continue to plague intercollegiate sports.

However, what makes this book so important and unique is its author: Allen Sack. As a former football player at Notre Dame, a college faculty member, a father of college athletes, a leader of the sports reform minded Drake Group, and an organizer for athletes rights, Sack has walked the walk and can speak to the issues from multiple perspectives. Throughout the narrative, Sack shows great concern for the athletes who play the games but are not being educated or who receive phony degrees from complicit faculty in easy majors that require little effort. Indeed, college athletes, especially African-Americans, in the modern era are being exploited like never before. The rampant commercialism of intercollegiate sports, the lax oversite organization (the NCAA) that runs the entire perversion like a wealthy corporation interested in profits rather than a sports governing body interested in athlete welfare, and colleges and universities who have shamelessly sold their souls to boosters and corporate America, share equally in this ongoing tragedy.

This is a very passionate book written by an author who has advocated reform for the past 30 years. It should be read by anyone who cares about young athletes and their desire to become educated like any other student.The one universal fear expressed by many however is that it is simply too late to reform something that is so corrupt and yet so firmly implanted in the American culture.

Must read for enthusiasts
This is a great journey into the "good ol' days" of college football but furthermore a mandatory read for any college sport enthusiast who wants to better understand how big time college sports have transformed into what they are today and what is to be expected in the future stemming from incomparable first hand experiences starting in the 60's right through today. I highly recommend this book!

Dr. Kadie Otto, Western Carolina University
Allen Sack's first hand account of the dilemma facing big-time college athletes is insightful.The fact that our country's best athletes have to choose between their "contractual obligation" (in the form of a "scholarship") verses that of their academic well-being is disheartening.Sack's book is a must read for sports enthusiasts!Counterfeit Amateurs lends itself well to discussions pertaining to the ethical, legal and sociological implications of commercial business entities continued exploitation of thousands of young, talented men.Seemingly, a case of Capitalism at its finest?Alas, a shame for our institutions of higher education.

Div I college football programs are semi-pro, not student-centered
For those interested in big time college football and basketball played by students with actual academic standards versus semi-professional sports programs conducted on the fields of college campuses, this book is an easy yet interesting and important read.

Contrary to the NCAA's claim that all its collegiate members engage in amateur sports, Dr. Sack details how Division I college football and basketball programs are not academic-related, amateur sports. As a former big time college football player drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and, subsequently, as a university professor for over 35 years, he presents information from his extensive experience as a scholar and while working for the NCAA and on behalf of college players who submitted complaints against it.His work supports the important role of amateur and student-athletics in its true sense: athletic competition by students as part of the larger educational experience, not sports participation by young men aged 18 and over for the production of revenue rather than the emphasis being on their academic achievement foremost of which is earning a college degree.

Academic institutions, particularly institutions of higher learning, have a responsibility to uphold the public trust by striving for honesty and integrity in their pursuit of truth and scholarship. However, the current conduct of Division I football and basketball programs operate as a sham in portraying players in these sports as mere amateurs when levels academic efforts and graduation rates are so poor. In this evocative book, all that Allen Sack is askingfor in his evocative book is honesty. Universities are purportedly one of our society's greatest bastions protecting against such hypocrisy.

Erosion of public trust has resulted from recent revelations of corporate greed and the too numerous illegal allegations of high level government officials over the past few years.Dr. Sack's work illuminates the similar type of actions that goes on in big time football and basketball programs today.Hopefully, this book will be one catalyst to help bring integrity to the way the NCAA operates and drives Division I football and basketball programs to be conducted in an honest way that encourages scholastic achievement as much as winning games and generating revenue.




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Product Description
Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a legandary sports star? Talent? Determination? Teamwork? You're right, but it takes more than that. Using everyday items like toy airplanes, Coke bottles, and pencil sharpeners, and with fun and fascinating tales of each player's life -- on and off the field -- Hanoch Piven shows us what our favorite pro-athletes of the past and present are really made of. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fun facts and higher level thinking
This book shares "fun facts" about 23 sports personalities. The portraits of each athlete in this collection are created with a collage of toys, objects and illustration. Piven's book is equal parts biography and "I Spy" fun.

Using an odd assortment of objects, he accurately captures each athlete's appearance and comments on their personality and abilities. David Beckhamis captured with gold glitz hair, referee whistle eyes and a bottle of pink nail polish for a nose. The amazing assembly looks just like him. Interesting facts about the sports figures are included in the paragraph on the page and a "Did you know" fact crawl across the bottom.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee, of long jump fame, is created with hinged measuring sticks for arms and legs and "leap frog" toys as her feet. Joe DiMaggio is featured as a baseball card, his eyelids are Marilyn Monroe coin keepers and his eyes are a rose bud. Baseball bats are his eyebrows and his mouth is a classic Greek column (class act, DiMaggio.)

Baseball, football, soccer, Olympic champions, Formula I, Nascar, and golf are all represented. One of my favorite portraits is Lance Armstrong, His nose is a bicycle seat, bike gears at the top of his head show the mental workout of the Tour de France (a souvineer Tour Eiffel in the background) and a bike chain mirrors the lines on his forehead. His mouth is a "Live Strong" bracelet.

Words do not do the book justice. I can imagine showing this book to a class with an Elmo so they can all see the detail in each portrait. Educators are always looking for material to engage higher level thinking, right? Well, here you go. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first comprehensive textbook to examine the developmental experiences of college student-athletes. Revised and updated the second edition presents new chapters on diversity issues female student-athletes African American student-athletes transitions life skills and common clinical concerns. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

one hour workouts
perfect!i can drop in a specific type of wo (endurance, speed, strength for swim, bie, run), when i am in a bit of a hurry (planning wise or workout wise), or i just want to do something different.
love the format.

An Excellent Source of Workouts
You get that for which you pay.This book delivers on its promise.None of the workouts are "run for one hour" either.As an active triathlete, I am always looking for workouts to insert into my annual training plan.This book comes with 50 base, tempo, and speed workouts in each discipline.Basically, that gives you five or six workouts you can incorporate into each phase of your training (base, build, peak, etc).In addition, the authors provide advice on almost all the workouts on how to change it up, adapt it to your situation, and create different flavors of the same workout.For those of us that crave variety, this book doesn't have enough workouts to build an entire annual training plan for every distance, but it does have some really good workouts and advice on how to implement them.

I gave this book five stars because it is deserved.What frustrates me, however, is a lack of "advanced workouts" that coaches save for the athletes they are personally training.Even just one or two of those per discipline would have been nice (and that's really the only complaint I could come up with :-).Overall, this book is an excellent value.A few judicious purchases of other books with workouts combined with some internet research, and you'll have everything you need to fill in the workouts for an entire season of triathlon training. ... Read more

Product Description
From Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe, African American athletes have been at the center of modern culture, their on-the-field heroics admired and stratospheric earnings envied. But for all their money, fame, and achievement, says New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden, black athletes still find themselves on the periphery of true power in the multibillion-dollar industry their talent built.

Provocative and controversial, Rhoden’s $40 Million Slaves weaves a compelling narrative of black athletes in the United States, from the plantation to their beginnings in nineteenth-century boxing rings and at the first Kentucky Derby to the history-making accomplishments of notable figures such as Jesse Owens, Althea Gibson, and Willie Mays. Rhoden makes the cogent argument that black athletes’ “evolution” has merely been a journey from literal plantations—where sports were introduced as diversions to quell revolutionary stirrings—to today’s figurative ones, in the form of collegiate and professional sports programs. Weaving in his own experiences growing up on Chicago’s South Side, playing college football for an all-black university, and his decades as a sportswriter, Rhoden contends that black athletes’ exercise of true power is as limited today as when masters forced their slaves to race and fight. The primary difference is, today’s shackles are often of their own making.

Every advance made by black athletes, Rhoden explains, has been met with a knee-jerk backlash—one example being Major League Baseball’s integration of the sport, which stripped the black-controlled Negro League of its talent and left it to founder. He details the “conveyor belt” that brings kids from inner cities and small towns to big-time programs, where they’re cut off from their roots and exploited by team owners, sports agents, and the media. He also sets his sights on athletes like Michael Jordan, who he says have abdicated their responsibility to the community with an apathy that borders on treason.

Sweeping and meticulously detailed, $40 Million Slaves is an eye-opening exploration of a metaphor we only thought we knew.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Ridiculous!!!
This is one of the most racist books I have ever read. The author blames the white race for everything that happens to black athletes. These black athletes were the ones that chose money over principal so I fail to see how that is the fault of white owners. they had a choice, they chose to be selfish and disown their communities and their race! Why is it that only white athletes will accept less pay to stay with a team out of loyalty? Maybe the author should examine that! He states that whites exploit black athletes when they are actively out there "whoring" themselves out to the highest bidder! They have no semblence of honor or integrity. They were given a choice, don't blame whites because black athletes don't care about anything but a paycheck!

Greaaat Book
This is a must read for all black/minority athletes. This book gives insight of whats really goin on in the world of sports and it helps you understand the struggle of black atheletes from day one. Black athletes need to wake up and smell the roses and start coming together so we can take over this market that wouldnt be able to survive without us.

This book also gives insight on how whites and jews have been getting rich for years off of black entertainers, athletes, rappers, and singers. As long as we stay divided they will continue to make more money off us than we make for ourselves. Books and stories like these in this book should be included in every history book in America. Finally somebody tells the truth of what went on and whats goin on and whats to come .

Must Read For Young Athletes
Very insightful and useful to any young athletes who desire a career in professional sports.

40 Million Dollar Slaves
Rhoden examines how today's Black athletes, with all of their wealth and status, are just another type of slave, with the playing fields being today's plantation.A good history lesson is found here, in addition to the author's ideas about how today's Black athletes should collectively unite for a stronger presence in sports organizations, not just from the player side, but as far as management/ownership is concerned. Rhoden gives us brief glimpses into the stories of Black athletes like Tom Molineaux, Rube Foster, Lusia Harris, and relates their impact on sports.Of course, no book about sports would be complete without a piece on Michael Jordan.This is a very informative read.Well worth an addition to your library.

INTENSE SPORTS AND HISTORY !
As a sportsfan, this is a must read! The author's writing style was fantastic. The way the title of the book was introduced to the reader was outstanding, like watching a car accident unfold. Exposing racism in the beginging stages of sports is a hard pill to swallow but very necessary, truth hurts! It's amazing to know that men envied by the masses for their lucrative salaries and lifestyles are virtually powerless in the strategic scope of sports. If you enjoy history, sports, and stories of triumph and struggle you will love this book. ... Read more