Book Description
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author captures baseball's strategic and emotional essences through a point-blank account of one three-game series viewed through the keen eyes of legendary manager Tony La Russa. Drawing on unprecedented access to a manager and his team, Bissinger brings the same revelatory intimacy to major-league baseball that he did to high school football in his classic besteller, Friday Night Lights. Three Nights in August shows thrillingly that human nature -- not statistics -- can often dictate the outcome of a ballgame. We watch from the dugout as the St. Louis Cardinals battle their archrival Chicago Cubs for first place, and we uncover delicious surprises about the psychology of the clutch, the eccentricities of pitchers, the rise of video, and the complex art of retaliation when a batter is hit by a pitch. Through the lens of these games, Bissinger examines the dramatic changes that have overtaken baseball: from the decline of base stealing to the difficulty of motivating players to the rise of steroid use. More tellingly, he distills from these twenty-seven innings baseball's constants -- its tactical nuances, its emotional pull. During his twenty-six years of managing, La Russa won more games than any other current manager and ranks sixth all-time. He has been named Manager of the Year a record five times and is considered by many to be the shrewdest mind in the game today. For all his intellectual attainments, he's also an antidote to the number-crunching mentality that has become so modish in baseball. As this book proves, he's built his success on the conviction that ballgames are won not only by the numbers but also by the hearts and minds of those who play.
Customer Reviews:
great book.......2007-08-07
I will never see Tony the same again. It is so well written that I never got bored reading it and I cannot say that for all sports related books I have read.
A Great Baseball Book.......2007-05-07
This is one of the best baseball books out there. Bissinger takes the reader to many levels of the game, and gives a lot of insite to Tony LaRussa as a manager and tactician. I strongly recommend this book for any baseball fan. It is a really great read.
A basic book on baseball.......2007-04-13
A well written book that provided some insight into the game, particularly the thought process of a manager. For that I give it three stars.
But '3 Nights' was neither as enlightening nor thought provoking as a 5-star sports book - such as 'The Game' by Ken Dryden, 'Beyond the Sixth Game' by Gammons, or Lewis' 'Moneyball'. At times, Bissigner's work came across more as a hero worship of La Russa than a study of the game, which detracted from the author's credibility to accurately assess what he witnessed and learned from the dugout.
Into the Mind of Tony LaRussa.......2007-04-10
This book provides an in-depth look at a critical three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and their archrivals, the Chicago Cubs.
Great Book for any Cardinals Fan.......2007-01-21
Buzz Bissinger is an absolutly fantastic writer. This book combines an indepth behind the scenes look at Larussa and others, but also gives a lot of inside info on players like JD Drew, Pujols, and others. I love hearing about the managerial strategy, what happens after the game, in the club house etc. I'm not a big reader, but once I started this book, I couldn't put it down.
Book Description
What would legendary Boston Celtics coach and 16-time NBA champion Red Auerbach say is the most critical quality for a person to be successful? Would his advice differ from 10-time NCAA championship coach John Wooden's? What would each say to a young person just starting out in pursuit of their dreams? What is the best advice they were ever given?
It took author Christian Klemash more than two years of research, persistence, and original interviews, but now he's ready to pass on the best advice you'll ever get. Only the rare individual has had the opportunity to pick the brain of just one legendary sports coach—let alone thirty-four of the best sports coaches of all time. Klemash gives sports fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn valuable life lessons from the most famous, intelligent, and victorious coaches ever. The legends span the sports world, from gold medal-winning gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and three-time college football championship coach Tom Osborne to four-time World Series-winning baseball manager Joe Torre and hall-of-fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.
These coaches know how to teach top athletes about character and winning, how to manage pressure at crunch time, and how to bring out the best in their players when it matters most. How to Succeed in the Game of Life shares their insights into sports, life, and the most vital keys to sustain success.Featuring Exclusive Interviews with:
Red Auerbach, 16-time NBA World Champion
Bobby Bowden, College Football's All-Time Winningest Coach, 2-time National Champion
Scotty Bowman, 9-time Stanley Cup Champion
Bill Cowher, Super Bowl Champion
Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion
Dan Gable, 15-time NCCA Champion
April Heinrichs, Gold Medal Winning Coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team
Bela Karolyi, The World’s Greatest Gymnastics Coach
Bill Parcells, 2-time Super Bowl Champion
Emanuel Steward, Boxing Trainer of 30 World Champions
Joe Torre, 4-time World Series Champion
Bill Walsh, 3-time Super Bowl Champion
Lenny Wilkens, NBA’s All-Time Winningest Coach, NBA Champion
John Wooden, 10-time NCAA Champion
And More!
Customer Reviews:
A Great Read.......2007-08-26
Wow!Could not put it down.An extraordinay self help book.Gave it to my kids they loved it.Don't miss this one
What a great read!.......2007-07-25
I took it on vacation with me and I couldn't put it down. A great book for aspiring athletes and coaches as well as your average Joe who works 9-5. The coaches discuss a variety of topics from their childhood to how they motivate their players. Any easy read for all ages.
Game of life.......2007-07-24
I've read through Game of Life and I enjoyed it very much. There are so many things to take from this book, not just into sports, but also some reflections on life. I would recommend this book to everybody.
Coaching advise from athletic coaches.......2007-06-27
A fun read, especially if yoiu're a sports fan. I read it in search of things that would help my own ability as a coach in my company. Much of it is light stuff but the easy read makes it fun nonetheless and there are few golden nuggets laced throughout the book.
Overcome Adversity.......2007-04-12
Anyone looking for inspiration, either for their own life or to share with others, will find a gold mine of quotes here. This book isn't just for sports fans.
Book Description
Harry Caray's Restaurant, "the best steakhouse in Chicago"* with "the quintessential Chicago bar"**, is named for the late, renowned baseball announcer and has been designated the Official Home Plate of the Chicago Cubs. The bar is 60'6", the exact distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate, and the restaurant houses 1,500 pieces of baseball memorabilia, including photographs, vintage newspapers, a Sammy Sosa autographed bat, and items from Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, and others. Harry Caray's is just north of the Loop in one of Chicago's most architecturally significant buildings.
The Harry Caray's Restaurant Cookbook is a visit to Chicago and the restaurant that serves "the best Chicken Vesuvio in the city"***. More than 150 recipes include "potent pasta, holy-cow steaks, and chicken fit for the Chairman of the Board." **** The stories, sidebars, and pictures bring back memories of baseball and Chicago. This important addition to the RoadfoodTM Cookbook series is sure to be a favorite with people in Chicagoland and throughout the country.
"When you only have time to visit one restaurant in Chicago, it's got to be Harry Caray's" - David M. Lissner, Dining Chicago.
* Chicago Tribune
** Jay Leno
*** Chicago Tribune and ABC
**** Chicago Sun Times
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful book.......2007-05-14
Even better than the recipes are the stories of Chicago, the cubs and Harry Caray.
Harry Caray's Chicken Vesuvio.......2005-11-07
I made this recipe for a dinner party and everyone loved it, but my husband and i thought the chicken was dry. I uesd boneless skinless chicken breasts. Has anyone else had this problem and does anyone have an answer for it? I will be making it again this week for a party. Thank you.
Holy Cow!.......2004-05-05
Great Chicago cookbook. Everything Chicago stands for in the form of great Italian recipes, great steak recommendations and the chicken Vesuvio can not be beat.
Book Description
Created in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, a unique tribute to baseball's most beloved landmark
Wrigley Field brings to life and pays tribute to one of baseball's greatest ballparks. The story of this revered park, from its opening in 1914 through today, this revered park's story is gloriously depicted in picture and in word. This up-close-and personal record, proves why Wrigley is sacred ground to millions, from its manually operated scoreboard and the climbing green ivy of its outfield walls, to the raucous bleacher bums and bright days bathed in sunlight, massaged by Lake Michigan's soothing breezes. It is a refuge, it is a haven, it is an escapefrom the workweek or from homework. Produced with the full cooperation of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field pays fitting tribute to the ballpark's extraordinary nine decadesits history and unique features, its vitality, its people, and its greatest momentsthrough intimate, enthralling perspectives from the team's official photographer, Stephen Green, as well asteam and private archives. Wrigley Field is the most stunningly visual and complete book ever on this beloved park that is like no other.
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful Photographic Portrait Of This Legendary Building.......2007-09-19
Wrigley Field may be one of the oldest arenas in the world of sports, but its one of the most legendary. The building was once called an "edifice of beauty" by Charles Weeghman, its designer. The stadium was originally named Weeghman Park when it was built in 1914, then to Cubs Park in 1920, and finally to Wrigley Field in 1926. It has undergone numerous renovations over the years since being built as a single-decked structure in 1914. It was the original home of the Chicago Whales, or Chi-Feds, of the Federal League before the Cubs moved there from West Side Grounds in 1916. It is famous for its ivy-covered outfield wall and its manually-operated scoreboard, and more recently for stirring renditions of Take Me Out To The Ball Game during the middle of the seventh inning. Wrigley Field is to baseball what the Boston Garden was to basketball and the Montreal Forum was to hockey. It may be considered a modern-day version of the Colosseum in Rome. It truly is a structure of amazing design and shows no sign of going obsolete as it is constantly being improved and updated. Colorful photographs of this sports palace abound in this entertaining and informative book. It is considered a landmark alongside all the other buildings that have made Chicago one of the world's great cities. The stadium was also home to the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for many decades before moving to Soldier Field in 1970. A must-read for baseball fans or sports fans in general, and especially for Cubs fans who have endured a losing baseball team for so many years.
A Must for any Cubs Fan!.......2003-06-05
This book is an absolute must for any Cubs fan, or any baseball fan for that matter. I've never been to the "friendly confines" of historic Wrigley Field but this book truly makes me feel as if I have. Great photos, great text,great sense of nostalgia. Overall,a fantastic book
A Must for any Cubs Fan!.......2003-06-05
This book is an absolute must for any Cubs fan, or any baseball fan for that matter. I've never been to Wrigley Field but this book truly makes me feel as if I have. Great photos, great text,great sense of nostalgia. Overall,a fantastic book
Gorgeous coffee table book for baseball fans.......2003-02-20
If you've ever been to Wrigley, few words can describe the feeling you get as a baseball fan. This book manages to capture a lot of those images and feelings, tracing the history of Wrigley Field and getting lots of insight from fans, players, coaches and more about what makes it special. Gorgeous photos throughout punctuate an excellent narrative. A must for fans of ballpark books.
Book Description
Wrigley Season Ticket 2007 gives fans the detailed information about the Chicago Cubs that they’ve craved for so long. Other preseason annuals cover all of baseball, and they’re either too expansive, too long, or not focused completely on the Cubs. But now there’s a publication just about the Cubs that can quench your desire!
Along with a preview of the 2007 National League Central and an examination of the team’s rookie pitchers, fans get to explore recent Cubs history. Included is an analysis of the team’s injury history from 2001 to 2006 and its impact, an evaluation of general manager Jim Hendry’s moves, a look back at the historic 1967 Cubs, and a celebration of Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, as he turns seventy-five.
Moreover, the Season Ticket evaluates the entire organization as well, not just the majors. Within these pages fans will find information on the team’s top prospects, a story on Felix Pie, and a discussion of the organization’s overall lack of interest in on-base percentage. On the business side, readers can see how the Cubs are covered in the media, learn about Cubs’ ticket scalping, and even get an account of ticket prices and broadcasting throughout Cubs history.
It’s all packed into more than a hundred pages of full-color, ad-free Cubs information unlike anything else on the market. Written by Cubs fans for Cubs fans, Wrigley Season Ticket 2007 is the essential season reference for all Cubs fans!
A publication of Maple Street Press, distributed by Potomac Books, Inc.
Book Description
The most definitive and up-to-date encyclopedia ever compiled on The Chicago Cubs including life-time statistics for every player to ever wear a Cubs uniform, even for just one inning.
The stories and numbers compiled here tell the tale of all the contributors to the Cubs' legacy. It includes every player who ever played for the team and features every stat and important moment alongside fascinating anecdotes, lists, and biographies from the Cubs' fabled history. Includes more than 100 photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Never received the book........2007-01-11
I was very disappointed that this book was never made available for a avid Cubs fan.
It will never ship.......2006-11-17
I ordered this book on August 23 of this year, I approved delay after delay after delay. Today, November 16, I quit. I don't even like the Cubs, I'm a Cardinals fan--I ordered this as a gift for a birthday--that was in August. If the stupid book isn't available, Amazon should really stop lying about it and just say it's out of stock already. Very, very frustrating--save yourself the angst, and just move on.
A Sad But Noble Story.......2006-02-01
This is not a story about how many times you can get up after failing, this is a story about how many times you can fail and still draw 3 million. It's about a fanbase that's so sentimental and forgiving that they can handle losing as long as there's a good tavern outside the ballpark. We'll always have the 2001 Wild Card victory to keep us warm at night. It's about a fanbase that doesn't forget the contributions of its players even if they aren;t the best role models off the fields. I salute the fans of the Chicago Cubs for their steadfast support of the worst franchise in major league history and I especially salute their marketing department for turning losing into a money-making business. Keep soaking up the sun and beer in the bleachers you delicious fans! And to all you Sox fans, NO ONE cares that you won a World Series -- Big Deal!
Schadenfreude.......2003-10-25
National rumor has it that a favorite saying in Alabama is "Thank God for Mississippi" - the reason being that while Alabama ranks 49th in countless metrics connected to wealth, lack-of-drawl, and general well-being, she can always rely on her still-more-hapless cousin to bring up the rear. In Boston we thank the Holies for the Cubs - the one team that can make us feel like the smug hosts of champions. This is a work of extraordinary detail, featuring exhaustive statistics, biographies, legends, & etc. And although it wasn't written specifically to soothe ruffled Red Sox fans, true students of the team will note than in virtually every topic on offer, the Cubs (and their supporters) are ever so slightly worse off than the benighted denizens of Fenway. Gentile struggles to put a brave face on all of this, but his various upbeat declarations carry all the credibility of a jubilant North Korean government pronouncement. The book's very cover contains a subtle concession of abject defeat in describing the Cubs as "one of the most successful franchises of the 19th century." While the Red Sox hardly ruled the 20th century, at least our championship memories are a decade younger than those of the Wrigley wretches.
Book Description
Castle takes the reader behind the management philosophies and inside the Chicago Cubs clubhouse. He delivers a unique perspective on one of the country's most popular sports franchises and analyzes why its history of shortfalls has continued despite its efforts to succeed.
Customer Reviews:
Deep inside the Cubbies.......2007-08-08
Having been a Cubs fan since the mid 1960's I was excited to read this book. I found the book both breezy and entertaining and at times very plodding and a bit dull. I really enjoyed the recaps of the seasons in the beginning of the book. Living in California I don't get a lot of the real inside stories unless I read the internet so I was reading a lot of the anecdotes for the first time.
I was especially intrigued by the stories behind Todd Hundley not really catching on with the fans. I always thought Baylor made a mistake in not starting him on that opening day.
I feel the book was at its best when it focused on the players on the field and in the clubhouse. I think too much time was devoted to Andy McPhail and Jim Hendry and the chapter about how the cubs need to be more patient at the plate while interesting was way too much in detail.
I was happy to read the chapter on Len Kasper and the other announcers.
There were way too many typos for a book of this sort. No excuse for this.
I appreciate the effort and the passion that went into writing this book.
A Disappointing Book.......2007-07-06
Subtitled "Inside the Cubs' Quest for October," this is a disappointing book about a disappointing team.
George Castle has served as the Cubs beat reporter for The Times of Northwest Indiana. Entangled in Ivy is less an examination of the disappointment of the Andy MacPhail era as it a autobiography of Castle's coverage of the MacPhail era and his retrospective observations. Which is by no means a bad thing, in and of itself.
Unfortunately, there is little new in this book for longtime followers of the Cubs. Castle does provide a nice overview of the problems of the MacPhail era. He writes of MacPhail's philosophy of trying to be "competitive" rather than trying to win the World Series, the lack of position player development, the lack of hitters' patience at the plate, and a too-small front office team (the Cubs have an assistant general manager -- Randy Bush -- this year for the first time since the Cubs hired MacPhail). In the process, though, Castle puts blame on minor issues. He argues that Wrigley Field is too old to have necessary amenities for the players, and the last few pages of the book are devoted to the supposed perils of day games at Wrigley.
Castle also provides some nice profiles of various Cubs' personalities, including Derrek Lee, Carlos Zambrano, Michael Barrett, and Len Kasper. You will come away from this book liking Ryan Dempster more than you do now, even if you already like him a lot.
Too much of Entangled in Ivy ends up being about Castle himself. Two of his complaints are of 1) the food spreads for the media, or lack thereof, at certain press conferences, and 2) the working conditions for the media at Wrigley Field.
Too much of the book is also consumed by quotes Castle obtained in interviews, as if the sole fact that someone significant made the quote makes it worth repeating. Sometimes the quote is insignificant or boring. Of course, some of the quotes probably save us from passages like this (p. 230):
"Both [Zambrano and Barrett] have tremendous baseball intellect, some of it as yet untapped. They'll be among the best at their craft when they can maximize their diamond knowledgeability while controlling their sometimes white-hot emotions. Both must learn as they go."
Additionally, there are some frustrating aspects of the style of this book. Castle often utilizes the staple of the sportswriter: passive voice construction. "MacPhail was questioned . . ." "Concerns were raised . . ." Etc. Who raised the concerns?; usually, it's likely the writer writing the story. It would be better for us to know. Castle also jumps back and forth in time from paragraph to paragraph without explaining he is doing so, so that you are not always sure what the context of a particular quote is.
The production of the book was also subpar. Strangely, the introduction in my copy of the book was cut off before the end, and there were more than a book's fair share of spelling and grammatical errors.
Entangled in Ivy is a good resource on the MacPhail era, without going into the specifics of every personnel decision. It just is not that compelling of a read.
Castle gets it right, human folly the real cause for Cubs' ineptitude.......2007-04-02
I've been waiting for years for a provacative book on the Chicago Cubs to come out and detail the shortcomings of this much-ridiculed organization, particularly the state of this franchise over the last ten to fifteen years. Like millions of other heartbroken and frustrated fans, I've been left to wonder just what exactly is wrong with this challenged organization. Why can't they turn the corner and start producing consistent winning teams, much less get in the playoffs and win the World Series? Castle maps out the blueprint of failure to a "T" and, while there are no major bombshells to be discovered, he reasons that it's all been about key people making the wrong decisions versus some silly curse.
Book Description
The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908, but they still have the game's most loyal fans. The Cardinals have won the World Series more than any other National League team in history. The Cubs have the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field, where fans watch games from apartment rooftops across the street. The Cardinals have "The Birds on the Bat," one of the most distinctive logos in all of sports. The Cubs all-time roster features Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, and the incredible Ernie Banks. The Cardinals counter with Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, and the great Stan "the Man" Musial. In 1998, the Cubs' Sammy Sosa broke Roger Maris's single-season home run record with 66 dingers. But, in the same year, the Cardinals' Mark McGwire also broke the record, surpassing Sosa's mark as well, with an astounding 70 home runs.
Now, with 101 Reasons to Love(tm) the Cubs and 101 Reasons to Love(tm) the Cardinals, fans can have at their fingertips the countless moments of exhilarating baseball these two teams have provided. Filled with stunning historical and contemporary photographs, fascinating trivia, and amazing statistics, these books are indispensable for Cub fans, Cardinal fans, and baseball fans in general.
Customer Reviews:
Lynn.......2007-01-09
I am a Cardinal Fan, however, my best friend is a Cub Fan. We enjoy seeing Cub/Cardinal games live. He absolutely loved it.
Average customer rating:
- The Greatest Second Baseman of All Time Has Written a ...
- SANDBERG IS A GOD AMONG MEN!!!!!
- SANDBERG IS A GOD AMONG MEN!!!!!
- A good biography.
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Second to Home: Ryne Sandberg Opens Up
Ryne Sandberg , and
Barry Rozner
Manufacturer: Bonus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Customer Reviews:
The Greatest Second Baseman of All Time Has Written a ..........2000-10-21
terrific account of his playing days. In his heydey, Ryno! was the smoothest fielding, power-hitting, speed-demon ballplayer A-Rod dreams he could become. No question, Ryno was the best ever. Now, read about what inspired him and how he went from a throw-in in the DeJesus-Bowa deal to MVP, HR Champ, and god of all infielders. When Joe Morgan rants about how good we was, I think he thinks we was Ryno!
SANDBERG IS A GOD AMONG MEN!!!!!.......1999-04-24
Sandberg does a great job of telling his side of the story of the Cubs downfall. In 1988 the cubs were a force to be reckoned with and just a few short years later they were in shambles. This account of Larry Himes ruining the Cubs is very true. A terrific read. WE MISS YOU RYNO!!!!
SANDBERG IS A GOD AMONG MEN!!!!!.......1999-04-24
Sandberg does a great job of telling his side of the story of the Cubs downfall. In 1988 the cubs were a force to be reckoned with and just a few short years later they were in shambles. This account of Larry Himes ruining the Cubs is very true. A terrific read. WE MISS YOU RYNO!!!!
A good biography........1998-06-30
This bio gets right down to the heart of the person and what he had to go through. Ryno was an incredable H.S athlete. I liked the fact that he revealed the reason(s) why he retired. The only thing wrong with the book is the fact that a short time after its relese, he came back, leaving the book with an open ending so to speak.
Book Description
The Chicago Cubs have one of the most colorful histories in professional sports, having tugged at the heartstrings of their fans for more than a century and a quarter. Whether they were competing for division titles or just struggling to stay out of the cellar, the Cubs have always managed to keep things interesting and entertaining. If you're a die-hard fan trying to test your knowledge or a casual observer looking to upgrade your status, Cubs Essential has everything you'll ever want to know about this beloved franchise.
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