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Book Reviews:
Raging
Bull
By:
Jake La Motta
Plot: Jake La Motta tells his life story in Raging Bull and in the first chapter he opens up by starting to tell why he likes to fight and how he started fighting. He talks a little about his family and explains why he was a bad kid growing up.
Why read? This book is worth reading because it tells the story of a great boxer and if you like sports, this is a good book to read. It tells the struggles that come with being both successful and not successful. Submit a review
Friday Night
Lights
By: H.G Bissinger
Recommended by: Eric O.
Plot: Residents of Permian, Texas live and die with their football team. The major dream of the football team, along with the rest of Permian, is to reach States and win the championship for that year to be forever immortalized.
Why read? It gives you a clear understanding of what kind of impact a simple sport can do to a town. The high school football team alone represents Permian. The motto of the team is “Whatever it takes,” which is exactly what they will do to win States. Submit a review
The Blind
Side
By
Michael
Lewis
Recommended by: Brian G.
Plot: The title refers to the blind side in the game of football. The blind side is when the quarterback is going for a pass and its the spot behind him where he cannot see.
Why read? The book is worth reading because it helps kids that may not know the game of football well to know the game a lot better. It also helps kids who don’t watch sports like football to get an understanding of a spectacular sport. Submit a review
Moneyball
By: Michael Lewis
Recommended by: Andrew S.
Plot: Michael Lewis explains how Billy Beane was able to build a franchise with a much smaller payroll than most other teams. He uses statistics such as on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS to scout his players. Throughout the book he gives examples of players he had drafted.
Why Read? I am a huge baseball fan and this is one of the most interesting baseball books I have read. The book makes it easier to understand Billy Beane’s strategies and how he has achieved such success. Submit a review
The
Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty
By: Buster Olney
Recommended by: Trevir N.
Plot: This book is about the Yankees’ 2001 and 2003 seasons, where they made the World Series but were unsuccessful in winning them. It talks about how the franchise players like Paul O’Neil and Tino Martinez were finished with their careers and the Yankees were on the downfall. It deals with events that occurred in the locker room and what players said during these times.
Why read? This book is worth reading because it deals with the greatest franchise in all of sports. It is also written by a well-known sports writer who used to work with the Yankees but now works for ESPN. Submit a review
It's
Not About the Bike: My Journey Back To Life By: Lance Armstrong
Recommended by: Pragna G.
Plot: The book follows the life of Armstrong and his journey as a bike rider and as cancer patient. Lance Armstrong describes the various obstacles that he faced as he tried to succeed through various phases and roles that he plays in his life: Cancer Survivor, Husband, Father, Son, and Human Being.
Why read? Not only a biography, the book also works as an inspirational work. It motivates the readers to take their problems as challenges that can overcome. In addition, it provides information of how to deal with a shocking news in the middle of your nearly perfect life. Submit a review
3 Nights in
August By: Buzz Bissinger
Recommended by:
Mr. Brady
Plot: 3 Nights is an incredibly detailed book about the intricacies of Major League Baseball. In looking at one three game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, Bissinger (the author who also wrote Friday Night Lights) takes you inside the mind of a manager and his ballplayers. He realistically describes the seemingly endless decisions involved in every moment of a baseball game.
Why read? If you love baseball and would enjoy looking at the game the way a manager might, this book gives you an unprecedented glimpse at what being inside the dugout is really like...
Luckiest Man: The
Life and Death of Lou Gehrig
By: Jonathan Eig
Recommended by:
Dmitriy Y.
Plot: The life story of Lou Gehrig, how he got into baseball, and how ALS put to and end the career of one of the greatest baseball players ever.
Why read? It’s a very sad but inspiring story that anyone can appreciate, baseball fan or not.
Designated Hebrew
By: Ron Bloomberg
Recommended by: Dave F.
Plot: He was the first designated hitter in baseball and he happened to be Jewish. This book tells the story of the Designated Hebrew himself, Ron Bloomberg.
Why read? This book is worth reading because it shows that you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and no matter what anybody says or does to you, you should still follow your dreams.
Hoops
By: Walter Dean Myers
Recommended by:
Augustine T.
Plot:
The main characters in the book Hoops are Lonnie Jackson, his mom,
and his basketball coach. This book takes place in New York City, 1960. All
eyes are on seventeen-year-old Lonnie Jackson while he practices with his
team for a city-wide basketball Tournament of Champions. His coach, Cal,
knows Lonnie has what it takes to be a pro-basketball player, but warns him
about giving in to the pressure. Cal knows because he, too, once had the
chance--but sold out. As the Tournament nears, Lonnie learns that some heavy
bettors want Cal to keep him on the bench so that the team will lose the
championship. As the last seconds of the game tick away Lonnie and Cal must
make a decision.
Why read?
The book Hoops is worth reading because while it tells the story of
Lonnie's basketball struggles, so does it tell about his life struggles
outside basketball. These struggles are the same for most teens.
Heart
of a Champion By: Carl Deuker
Recommended by: Dan
P.
Plot:
The main character Seth meets a kid named Jimmy who is
one of the better baseball players and they grow up playing together through
the highschool team. However along the road some conflicts happen that could
cease their dream of playing the game.
Why read?
This book is worth reading because it
has a great story line and at parts keeps you in suspense. It has everything
that good novel should entail.
Tournament
Upstart By: Thomas J.
Dygard
Recommended by: Tariq
S
Plot:
This book is about a group of boys from a small town that plays
basketball. There are many conflicts within this book such as, with the
players chemistry as well as a playing huge schools with big
time players.
Why read?
I enjoy these types of books because they involve sports and other
conflicts. I enjoy reading about any sport especially when it can be
related. It is worth reading because its not a hard book to read, and very
entertaining.
Crackback
By: John Coy
Recommended by:
Najee M
Plot:
The story is about a high school kid named Miles. He plays for a high
school football team. When his favorite football coach resigned from the
job, a new coach fills in the spot. Miles does not like the coaching
style,and there is tension between them. But another problem happens in his
life. Some of his teammates decide to take steroids. This is a life of a
teenaged football player that goes through a lot obstacles in his life.
Why read?
The book is interesting and fun. If you play a sport you will relate
to it
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