This book skewers they NCAA in as ruthless a manner as the NCAA treated student athletes and coaches. From swimmers banned from competeing simply because they took of time from school to compete in the Olympics to kangaroo courts where the rules of evidence do not apply, the NCAA meted out out their own particular brand of injustice.

This book is a must read for any aspiring softball player, or any female athlete! I knew who Dot Richardson was before, but reading this book really introduced me to her personal life, and i cold definetly relate. In this book, Dot tells of her journey to the top, and her struggles along the way, starting from when she was a little girl right up to winning the gold in atlanta. Her stories are inspiring, some funny, others very touching. Any serious softball player or athelete can relate to her experiences some way, and that, along with wonderfully entertaining stories are what makes this book a true 5 star must read!!

I would recommend this book to any female that likes sports and softball in particular. It tells of the struggles that Dot and women around the country went through to play sports. She is one of the most inspirational people in sports today. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it and i was finished in two days. Dot is an exceptional athlete and human being, and one of my heroes!

I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ANY FEMALE ATHLETE, OR THE PARENTS OF ANY FEMALE ATHLETE. DOT RICHARDSON IS A PHENOMENAL SOFTBALL PLAYER, ATHLETE, AND PERSON. SHE HAS SUCCEEDED IN MANY ENDEAVORS WITH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE. I HAVE A TEEN-AGE DAUGHTER INTERESTED IN SPORTS AND THIS BOOK EXPLAINS MUCH OF WHAT A FEMALE ATHLETE GOES THROUGH. A YOUNG GIRL READING THIS BOOK WOULD HAVE TO COME AWAY EDUCATED, REFRESHED AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD! ASIDE FROM ALL THAT, IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING READ AND A GREAT SPORTS BOOK. I HAD A TEAR IN MY EYE WITH ALMOST EVERY CHAPTER. TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY THE WAY DOT DID WOULD HAVE TO BE THE GREATEST HONOR IN SPORTS.

If you think this is just the typical sports biography containing the typical boasts about on-the-field exploits and off-the-field hi-jinx, remember the subject is Walter Payton, and think again. This book is not even a sports biography. It's a life story, and by that I mean, a story about life. To linger or dwell on what Walter did on the gridiron would be to minimize and trivialize what he accomplished in life, and I say this realizing that he was one of the two greatest football players ever. The book is an easy, informative, and interesting read. You learn about his life in football, but the book is not a study in X's and O's. Instead you learn of Walter's work ethic, his compassion and empathy for others, his fun-loving ways, his sensitivity, his selflessness, his toughness, and his courage, to list only some. He operated a philanthropic foundation that reached out to millions in his lifetime. He anonymously distributed hundreds of thousands of toys at Christmastime. Even after he became gravely ill, he campaigned for greater awareness of the need for organ donors. And he raised two children who have become promising young adults, which he felt was his greatest accomplishment. Walter Payton inspired millions of his fans by giving his all on every play, and he lived his life off of the gridiron the way he did on it: he went all out and made the most of it. That the book was finished in an oral-history style, is fitting. It was never like Walter Payton to talk a lot about himself. Credit is due to his family members and friends, for being so open about their feelings about the man. The book has the ring of the absolute truth. It has been written: "Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy." This book is anything but that. Like the man they called "Sweetness," Never Die Easy is an inspiration. The tragedy rests with our society, which lost this great hero of humanity at such a young age.

Some of us never know God's true purpose for ourselves. But for Walter Payton his unsurpassed talent on the gridiron was only to set the groundwork for his true purpose in life. If you only know of Walter Payton the football player, then you must read this book to learn the real reason Walter Payton was known as Sweetness. The style in which this book was written may not be as sophisticated as some readers may require. But the simplicity of the format lends it to being read by adults and children a- like. Walter can therefore continue to reach the children, just as he did before his untimely passing.

This book was enjoyable and touching. I read it from start to finish without stopping. The structure of the book makes it easy to understand and follow. Specific topics are addressed in each chapter with separate accounts of the narrator and then by Payton and Payton's friends.

Payton was a warrior on the football field and a philanthropist and businessman after his career ended. This book will give you a glimpse into his entire life. Walter Payton was a man to be admired for his playing ability and his sweetness as a person. If you are a Walter Payton fan read this book!

This is a very good book about the man who put LSU basketball on the map.(excluding Pistol Pete) Coach Brown is very straightforward about every aspect of his coaching and the players he coached. This is an excellent book for young coaches.

WOW! Great, fast, informative and fun.

Dale Brown beats to a different drummer and this book let's you see the world from his perspective. My respect for him goes up immensely. But the highlight of the book is the basketball stories. My favorite subjects were 1.his relationship with John Wooden, 2. recruiting top-notch players, 3. Shaq and how he met him, 4. dirty recruiting, 5. why he hates the NCAA, 6. the role of media and fans and 7. Bobby Knight and their feud.

Dale admits his faults and explains his logic. He never bent his principals and I respect him for that. A 200 page, quick read and worth every minute. Whether you like Dale or not, read this book and you will have more respect for him and enjoy yourself along the way.

I loved this book. I knew Dale Brown as a friend of my family for as long as I can remember. In this book it shows everybody what Dale is really about. He is a person who is strong on his morals, a loving family member, and will do anything for anybody. I wish everybody had a little bit of Dale Brown in them it would make this world a better place.

Interesting and thought provoking. You will learn in-depth information about recruiting and why athletes may look at certain colleges. There is a lot of sleaze in college recruiting and this exposes quite a bit.

The book eventually became repetitive as he continued to build his case against the shoe companies. Yes, there is a problem but no alternative solution was really suggested. I'm glad I read it and would encourage college basketball fans to read.

A friend of mine played D1 basketball and pro overseas. He toured America including Hawaii before he was 16 even though he came from the worst ghetto in Memphis where he say 6 people killed and was robbed twice himself. Although he started as a Prop 48, he eventually received his degree. While I don't like the influence of shoe companies, he is an example of a productive man that the shoe companies may have helped. It's not an issue with easy answers.

However not always balanced, SOLE is a page turner for sports fans that enjoy the stories off the playing arena.

Wetzel and Yaeger provide interesting cases and a great work of journalism, however the line between reporting and storytelling is often blurred.

The best way to enjoy this book is to come away entertained, informed, but not disillusioned.

As a pretty dedicated fan of college basketball, I had heard coaches rail on about summer recruiting, AAU middle men and shoe companies. Now I know why. I encourage anyone who cares about the game to read this. It details not only how things have gotten corrupt, but why. Instead of using broad strokes to declare summer recruiting as a bad development, Sole Influence shows why in detail. Myron Piggie stuff alone is worth the read. The solutions are complex, but given the amount athletic directors and college coaches are working on it, something is inevitable. After reading this, fans will know why the sooner the better. The best basketball book I've read in years. Authors make a complicated story very readable and easy to follow.

The NFL loves to portray its players as gladiators on the field, but gentle giants off. Benedict and Yeager let us in on the truth, which is that the brutality doesn't end when the whistle blows. I was disgusted not only by the crimes revealed, but also by the lack of adequate punishment in most of the cases. This book is not always a page-turner, as the authors document many players' criminal histories in great detail, but it's a must for professional football fans who want to know the truth about Sunday's heroes.

Benedict and Yeager describe a vast array of criminal patterns of dozens of current and former NFL players -- including some hideous and barbaric acts for which certain players suffered far too little (if any!) jail time. Because of the variety and brutality of the crimes described, more than the quality of the writing itself, the book is riveting reading; although there is a strongly sensationalistic, tabloid-style undercurrent to the whole piece which may repulse more careful readers. I finished this book with three outstanding impressions:

1) Far too little attention is given to the successful redemption of specific players who have stopped their criminal ways and become solid, admirable citizens (e.g., "Hollywood" Henderson or Cris Carter);

2) The writes make a convincing argument that the pampering which star players recieve in late childhood immunizes them (in their minds) from consequences for their actions; and

3) The authors clearly intended to be shocking at least as much for their own fame and fortune as for any noble social reform. After all, these criminal records are public, and were already well documented in the popular sports media.

Serious football fans and sociologists alike should read this book to learn of a surprisingly sinister element that is liberally sprinkled among Sunday's heroes. But while reading, cast a healthy dose of skepticism at the intent of the writers.

This is a book that every sports fan with a conscience should read.

No. It doesn't say that "all football players are criminals," but it does say that the behavior of male athletes off the field is not highly scrutinized before they are in the professional ranks and even when iniscretions of players or coaches (often an understatement of some of the acts described in the book) are made public while an athlete is professional, the team wants the incident swept under the rug.

Parents of star high school male athletes need to see this book so they know what's going on in their students' high schools.

The stories hit you one after another. They may shock you, but after the shock wares off, you'll realize you're reading a classic investigative masterpiece that could bring about change, if the forces in the NFL are willing to listen to the authors.

This book was slanted to create confusion. The truth behind this incident was never fully disclosed to the public. Yes, Mr. Tarkanian is a great coach, but the picture that prompted the entire deal was never about him. The reason why the picture appeared in the public is a greater story than you could ever imagine, and no one thought of asking the right questions. Mr.Yaeger missed many of the facts with his own interpretation of reality, but that's what a scandel is all about? Some day the true story will be told!

I enjoyed this book, mainly because I am a fan of Jerry Tarkanian. I would read this again because I found it enjoyable. I did not live in Vegas while Tark was there, so I can't verify if it's truthful or not, but it is a good read.

October 6, 2002

Hoping for a peek into the arena of sports agency, I
picked this up one lazy afternoon. Wow! I suppose if
you're the right sort of person with the right sense of
humor, you could have a lot of fun wallowing inside this
fellow Drew Rosenhaus's own fascinated vision of himself
and his life--replete with numerous descriptions of how
crafty and tough he is, as well as an insert bikini photo
of his model girlfriend (with whom he's formed a deep,
lasting pair-bond, I'm sure).

However, it's more likely you might be left gaping at a
printed ego that approaches the sociopathic, pondering
about what publisher and editor were possibly thinking,
and wondering how many Drew Rosenhauses are out
there, tolerated, even rewarded, in this, the tackiest,
but best dressed, of all possible worlds.

Tolerated and rewarded not just in professional sports,
which would be bad enough, but in civil law, corporate
finance, government . . .

This book gives people a look at the business side of the NFL; the high risks, the hard work, and the BIG rewards. Drew doesn't do bad as a writer, but he does get a little egotistic. But, hey, who said an ego was a bad thing? Drew reveals the glamorous life of a smooth talking, money making agent in A Shark Never Sleeps.

I want to be a sports agent when I grow up and that is why I read this book. I found it very interesting. It is poorly written and Drew does talk highly of himself quite a bit , but I still enjoyed it because that is my dream proffession.

This book is a disturbing look at the win at all costs, I don't know you if you're hurt tactics of Lou Holtz. A school with the rich tradition of Notre Dame seems to be above the law. But it is more Lou Holtz the Notre Dame. The same things occured at Minnesota and Arkansas during Holtz's tenure at those schools. The book is outstandingly written with stories right from the mouths that witnessed them. The players stories really make this book believable. A great book!!

Very well prepared book. Being interviewed with numerous players and assistants, who have worked with Lou Holtz, the authors earn all the applause for their naive work for this book.

Actually, all the things included in this book, are the realities of the college football in any level. Steroids, ignoring the injured players, high coach blood pressures, off-field aggression of the players etc. This is not just the Notre Dame, this is everybody in that level.

But, Notre Dame is in another league, on their own. They are not supposed be like the others, they must be different. If they act like the "common football players", or if a "common coach" coaches there, then this kinda books will follow one another.

An important book for anybody who is interested in college football, how it goes and how it works.

I did not give 5 stars, because I felt like the authors have something personal against Lou Holtz, and, I must admit, they used it very well in this book.

This was a great book by Don aeger and Douglas Looney on what actually happens in South Bend, Indiana, the home of the Fighting Irish. In the locker room, at the practices...they explain everything that happened during the coaching tenure of Lou Holtz with quotes from his former players and other colleagues. It was wonderfully written and great to read.

I like basketball. I think Karl can coach. I don't think he wrote a good book. Maybe the problem is his agent or the publisher, because there isn't enough substance here to fill a pamphlet let alone a book written by a pro coach with "insights" into the game. The book is principally a look back on George's most successful seasons with the Sonics (he now coaches the Bucks). As for his questioning the "screwing around" with the game, his questioning doesn't kick in until the book is nearly over and the "questioning" is broad and nearly worthless. I was expecting some opinionated material as to the state of the game, its marketing, the officiating (spelled: no travelling calls, no palming calls, no 3 second calls and the blatant protection by the refs of such stars as Jordan and Shaq). Again, I suspect some marketing exec or George's personal agent suggested this book. George should have ignored them. If you can't tell it like it is while you're in the game, then wait until you're out of the game and then let 'er rip. George's book belongs at the far end of the bench.

George Karl as a coach in the NBA has a great deal of influence on the careers of any young man the he deals with. It is really too bad that he chooses to be creative when he decides to pass along information about one of them. One paticular incident in the book is about my son and me. His recollection of this incident is so far from what actually happened that I had to read it several times to believe what was written. It is just too bad that a man of this stature decides to be so petty.