Product Description
This work takes a long historical, social and cultural look at the history of Detroit as well as at Negro League Baseball. Stearnes and his friends contributed to the integration of America as pioneers of black baseball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting book, great historical view
This book gave a great depiction of life in Detroit in the 20's and early 30's.Not just a baseball book!!

Good book about the all around climate of the Negro Leagues
If you read the title of this book you might think you are getting a detailed account of the the life of Norman "Turkey" Stearnes and the Detroit Stars, like you get from other books dedicated to a player's life, but this book is different. The story is more about the general environment of the Negro Leagues and race relations in the United States from 1919 to 1933. Great interviews with former Negro Leaguers and fans abound in this book, and the reader will get an idea of what life was like for both players and owners at this time. Readers will not only see Turkey Stearnes, but other greats such as Oscar Charleston, Ted Radcliffe, Andy Cooper, James Bell, Bill Petway, and Josh Gibson. The rosters and season stats for the Detroit Stars at the back of the book will be particularly interesting for anyone researching these players, and there are plenty of great photos as well.

The Stars are shining in Detroit
Mr. Bak provides the reader with an insightfull, yet entertaining historical account of a segment of Americana that is too often over looked.A must read for diehard baseball fans, or anyone sincerely interested in either the history of Detroit in general or of baseball in Detroit.

Statistics compiled were as close as I've ever seen
I am Turkey Stearnes' oldest daughter and I think that the book clearly shows that these guys were very great and my dad was the greatest of all time and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. This book helps to give himthe recognition that he so justly deserves. I'm sorry that he is not hereto see all that is happening with the Negro League players. This has been along time coming. Thank You Mr. Bak. ... Read more

Product Description

Here, in this special anniversary edition, is the original, enduring story of Ernie Davis as told by those who were closest to him.

Customer Reviews (7)

Ernie Davis The Elmira Express
The book made into the recent movie is a nicely written, easy read of this great football player, and human being, as well as the good people around him, including some of those in Elmira, Syracuse and Cleveland.

Great story, poor editing
After watching the movie I wanted to know more about this incredible human being because I had no idea he had such a short life.After reading the anniversary edition, I came away with "not sweating the small stuff".But I was a little disappointed in the editing and organization of this book because it had so many mistakes and missing words.It also jumped around a lot and left me scratching my head, but I appreciate the author capturing Ernie's life as best he could.I'm sad that his mother was not present when he passed; and I would have been especially interested in Schwartzwalder's real reaction to Ernie's death.

Superb Read
Superbly written biography of Ernie Davis, a true hero whose story has been overlooked for far too long.Gallagher's obvious admiration for Davis shines through in a comprehensive, well-written and inspiring account of his (much too short) life!

For a REALLY great read try "A Halo for a Helmet
I am the official biographer of Ernie Davis.Gallagher and I were researching this story around the same time.His is a blend of quotes from many people of that period, following through Ernie's sports life."A Halo for a Helmet" is the actual life story of Ernie, told in a novel form, absolutely true in every part.It is a read you can't put down.Congratulations to Gallagher on helping the film to happen, now read the story that will touch you for a lifetime, "A Halo for a Helmet: The Whole Story of Ernie Davis".

The Elmira Express
The Elmira Express

I love the Twin Tiers in the autumn. The days are still warm; the nights cool, giving birth to vibrant fall colors. The hills seem almost alive, and the threat of colder weather is a promise on the wind. Fall in the Twin Tiers ushers in a revered tradition. When it's autumn in America, it's time for football. Across the land, in big cities and small towns, in large stadiums and rural high schools--the sights, sounds, and colors of the game are all around us. The common thread is the game, and the athletes that practice and play it with heart and determination to the very best of their abilities.

Few players have shown more heart or determination than Ernie Davis. Davis was born on Dec. 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pa. His parents separated shortly after his birth, and his father was soon killed in an accident.He grew up in poverty in Uniontown, a coal-mining town 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, where caring grandparents raised him.

At 12, Davis moved to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira. He went on to become Elmira's favorite son, both as an outstanding athlete and as a respected and well-loved citizen. Ernie's talent bloomed, and the honors came early and often. He led Elmira Free Academy to a 52-game winning streak in basketball and as a Syracuse sophomore helped the Orangemen gain their only national football championship.

As a senior in 1961, he became the first African American athlete to win the Heisman trophy and was the number one pick in the 1962 NFL draft. And then, suddenly, he was gone. He was diagnosed with leukemia the summer before his rookie season. He never played in the NFL, but succumbed to the disease less than a year later. Though Ernie never played a game for the Cleveland Browns, they retired his number 45, worn only in practice.
Davis was easily recognized as a great athlete, but his high school coach, Marty Harrigan, summed up what many felt for Ernie Davis when he said, "Everyone knew Ernie's athletic greatness, but few realized what a great human he was. His concern for his fellow man, and his affection for children, was sincere."

I think this is what moved me the most when I read The Express, The Ernie Davis Story by Robert C. Gallagher. There are lots of talented professional athletes today, and most of them are more than willing to inform you just how gifted they are, but the media exposure never changed him. "Ernie was the same kid at the end as he was at the start," said Jim Flynn, his high school basketball coach.
Ernie believed he was fortunate to be so gifted and never took his ability for granted. He worked hard both on the field and in the classroom. "Ernie was always the first one on the practice field and the last to leave." Many athletes, assured of a college scholarship, would have coasted in class, but "Ernie worked hard when it wasn't popular to get good grades. The teachers loved him. He never would excuse himself from work and say he had too many outside activities." Ernie intended to play professional football, but he knew that career expectancy in the NFL was only a few seasons, so he wanted to be prepared for another career when he retired from football. He believed that education would lead to social and economic success.

Syracuse University experienced its greatest football success during Ernie's career. The Orangemen became the national champions and winners of the Cotton Bowl. Four days before the game, Ernie pulled a hamstring while practicing place kicks. It was doubtful right up until game time whether he could play. Before leaving the game in the fourth quarter, he scored two touchdowns, including a then Bowl-record pass play, scored twice on two-point conversions, and intercepted a pass that led to Syracuse's final touchdown.

He was voted the game's Most Valuable Player. Davis was to have received his MVP award at the awards banquet that night. But when bowl officials said that only white players were invited to the dinner and that Davis would have to leave after picking up his trophy, the Syracuse team refused to attend.

It was Ernie's performance against the University of Pittsburgh that same year which inspired the nickname "The Elmira Express." Elmira Star-Gazette sports writer Al Mallette coined the phrase. Penn State coach Joe Paterno had this to say about Ernie Davis: "He's the kind of runner you hate to coach against; you can't instruct a boy to tackle a man if he can't catch him."

It was December 1961 when Ernie won the Heisman trophy. Winning the Heisman is a significant accomplishment regardless of the year or player, but it was a significant racial breakthrough at a time with segregation was just beginning to become a social issue. Today, black players often win the award, and it might be hard for his contemporaries to appreciate his achievement.

When he was in New York to receive the Heisman, Davis was treated with media coverage usually reserved for national heroes. President John Kennedy was in the city at the time and asked to see Ernie, a visit that thrilled him. "Imagine," Davis said, "a president wanting to shake hands with me."

Ernie was the number one pick for the 1962 National Football League draft following his senior year. The Washington Redskins had the initial selection, but soon traded him to the Cleveland Browns, who signed him to a three-year no-cut, no-trade $65,000 contract with a $15,000 signing bonus, a new record for a rookie.

The next summer while training for the upcoming All-Star game, Ernie awoke with swelling in his neck. A trainer sent him to the hospital, and doctors soon discovered the leukemia. At the time, Ernie and the public were told only that he had a "blood disorder". He wasn't told it was leukemia until October, after he had been in and out of the hospital. "Either you fight or you give up," Davis said in remembering how he felt when told the news.

The disease went into remission, and Davis kept planning on pro football. He practiced with the Browns. Coach Paul Brown, heeding the advice of medical people who warned him of the risks, did not play Davis. The next spring, Davis noticed more swelling and entered the hospital again. Two days later, on May 18, he died in his sleep. In Elmira, more than 10,000 citizens passed the Neighborhood House on May 21 where Ernie lay in state. Flags in the city were flown at half-mast. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, also the burial place of Mark Twain.

Universal Pictures has finished production on the film adaptation of Davis's life. The movie is slated for release Oct. 10. The book is available now. Stop by your local bookstore or library and check it out. You can catch Kevin tailgating at From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro. Stop by or tackle it online at www.wellsborobookstore.com

... Read more

Product Description

Herschel Walker is widely regarded as one of football's greatest running backs. He led the University of Georgia to victory in the Sugar Bowl on the way to an NCAA Championship and he capped a sensational college career by earning the 1982 Heisman Trophy. Herschel spent twelve years in the NFL, where he rushed for more than eight thousand yards and scored sixty-one rushing touchdowns.

But despite the acclaim he won as a football legend, track star, Olympic competitor, and later a successful businessman, Herschel realized that his life, at times, was simply out of control. He often felt angry, self-destructive, and unable to connect meaningfully with friends and family. Drawing on his deep faith, Herschel turned to professionals for help and was ultimately diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

While some might have taken this diagnosis as a setback, Herschel approached his mental health with the same indomitable spirit he brought to the playing field. It also gave him, for the first time, insight into his life's unexplained passages, stretches of time that seemed forever lost. Herschel came to understand that during those times, his "alters," or alternate personalities, were in control.

Born into a poor, but loving family in the South, Herschel was an overweight child with a stutter who suffered terrible bullying at school. He now understands that he created "alters" who could withstand abuse. But beyond simply enduring, other "alters" came forward to help Herschel overcome numerous obstacles and, by the time he graduated high school, become an athlete recognized on a national level.

In Breaking Free, Herschel tells his story -- from the joys and hardships of childhood to his explosive impact on college football to his remarkable professional career. And he gives voice and hope to those suffering from DID. Herschel shows how this disorder played an integral role in his accomplishments and how he has learned to live with it today. His compelling account testifies to the strength of the human spirit and its ability to overcome any challenge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

My thoughts on Breaking Free By Herschel Walker
I enjoyed reading "Breaking Free" by Herschel Walker, but was a bit disappointed by it because it wasn't what I thought it was going to be.He never told how his family reacted to his diagnosis of DID, nor where he was as far as his therapy today, or where he was as far as integration.I know he was trying to remove the stygma from DID, but not having suffered the extreme abuse I did, it was hard to relate to him.Also he may have grown up with very little as I did, but he's never suffered the financial hardships I have as an adult because of extreme panic and anxiety disorders I have a hard time holding a job. Plus during my abuse I received permanent damage to some of my joints and have to deal with pain on a daily basis.Unfortunately for me I don't have an alter who can take the pain so I don't have to deal with it.Where as he's got the freedom to announce to the world that he's DID, if I did that I'd have to share what caused my DID. Since I've already lost my extended family because they don't believe me about my abuse and men in my family are some of my abusers, I don't have the freedom to share my diagnosis with anyone outside my adult children, husband and one good friend and of course my therapist. This makes me feel very isolated and alone. I know Herschel understands the loneliness and isolation, but when I'm ready to write my autobiography I will have to use a "Pen Name". There are those in my family who might sue me for defamation of character as one of my abusers is in full time ministry and it would destroy his ministry, and as a Christian I just can't do that no matter what he did to me.I am glad Herschel was able to share his story and that he's benefited from it, as I'm sure others have, but I don't have the freedom he has to share his story.Over all it was informationaland good to read of someone else having what I do, but he has fame behind him and can use his name to promote his story and book, I just don't have that luxury and I have many, many, more alters than he has.Yes for him, integration is the ultimate goal, but for my alters there will never be total integration since I've been DID for over 52 years of my life and some of my adult alters as well as some of my child and middle alters refuse to integrate. Plus I don't know that I could handle the stesses of my life as a singleton.I don't like being DID, but it saved my life and it's the only life I've ever known. Good luck Herschel, it seems you're well on your way to total health.

If you're interested in the author it's likely a must read.It's lower on the list if you're main interest is the DID aspect.
I read this book for the DID aspect and not because it was written by a famous NFL star.I found his successes, despite his abuse and misfortune to be nothing less than extraordinary.He definitely puts a more positive representation of DID than other books I've read.He insists, and in fact demonstrates how his alters aided him in achieving his goals.Instead of being detrimental to his well being and causing physical harm in the form of self injury they help him withstand extreme childhood trauma and encourage him to overcome what may have been his physical limitation.They do go to the extreme in that they are able to ignore pain to the point of undergoing oral surgery with no anesthesia and playing a game with a dislocated shoulder; experiences that would be unbearably painful for the majority of individuals.His incredible discipline and resulting successes are however coupled with a darker and more harmful inability to connect with others on anything other than a guarded level as well as bouts of uncontrollable rage and conflicting voices.His story is undeniably interesting.

Unfortunately I found the writing to be average at best and the tone to be somewhat arrogant.The arrogance is contrary to his clearly stated aim to exclude any arrogance at all.His belief in God and Jesus are an innate part of his personality and he gives them credit for his drive to excel and subsequent financial stability.He claims to be frugal and to reject material extravagance; and yet there is a scene where he enters his garage and must press the unlock button on the keyless entry system to reveal to which of his several expensive vehicles the keys belonged.For me as a reader I could not reconcile these two completely opposing ideas.Either you reject materialism or you own several expensive and even rare automobiles.

I did read the entire book without giving up due to boredom or frustration with the writing, but it is not something I would recommend as a "good" book to read on the subject of DID.If you are a fan of Herschel Walker and interested in his life then I would have to say it is an enlightening and surprisingly revealing memoir and likely a must read.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a good representation of living with DID put this lower on your list.If it's Herschel Walker this books for you.

Breaking Free-Herschel Walker
Very good book!His story about how his disorder developed was quite interesting and was different from what most think of when they think of DID.It was well written and on a level that most could understand.However, while I understand that football was his life I feel that some people might be turned off when reading it because of the many many detailed accounts involving football.Overall I felt it was very good.

this book really disturbed me
I was really looking forward to this book, but was disappointed and disturbed by it.First of all, it's filled in "factual information" that is simply incorrect.At one point the author refers to DID and schizophrenia as personality disorders, and they are not.DID is a dissociative disorder, and schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder.At another point, he says that PTSD is the most widely known dissociative disorder.PTSD is not a dissociative disorder at all, it's an anxiety disorder.These distinctions may not seem important, but if you're going to attempt to explain mental disorders to the public, I think you should take the time to get your facts straight.

Then he talks about the treatment of DID and says that the goal of treatment is integration.Well, that may be his goal, but it's not "the goal."Some experts do think that people with DID need to integrate, but others think the goal of treatment should be communication and cooperation among the different alters.He also says that the patient and therapist are not equal partners in the treatment and that treatment should not be a democracy, that the therapist should be in charge.I find that appalling.The patient is the employer, hiring an employer, the therapist, to do a job for them.The patient is the one in charge, not the therapist.

Really, it seems he does not understand his condition very well.Which is OK, but if you don't understand it well, you probably shouldn't be writing a book trying to explain it to other people.

I was also confused because he stated that DID is always caused by severe child trauma, but then reported he had no severe childhood trauma.Yes, being bullied in school can be traumatic, but it doesn't usually cause DID.And he stated repeatedly that he grew up in a loving, supportive family, but when he described them, they didn't sound all that supportive.I was left wondering what things he left out or what things he is in denial about.

breaking free
I was so pleased to receive this book and its an inspiration for me to begin to read it. the wording is clear and its written in a way that for me who has D.I.D. can understand and get great comfort and encourgment to continue on my road to intergration and healing.thank you so much for herchels bravery in writting this book and give outreach for people like me. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
IN 120 years more than 800 players have turned out in the colours of Manchester City Football Club or the club's earlier guises. Of these many have earned legendary status. This book lists a personal choice of 100 of these legends (one of them never even kicked a ball) who the author thinks warrants the description. Not intended as a complete biographical dictionary, it will hopefully stimulate discussion among supporters and bring back memories of former players and former glories. Names such as Meredith, Browell and Cookson from the early days may not be too familiar to the younger supporter; likewise Swift, Cowan, Doherty and prolific goalscorer Johnson from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. In the 1950s Blues fans witnessed the efforts of Messrs Trautmann, Barnes, Clarke and Paul. The late 1960s and early 1970s brought Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison together and their combined efforts provided the wonderful triumvirate of Lee, Bell and Summerbee (not to mention Book, Young and Doyle) along with superb enjoyment and entertainment to Maine Road. In more recent times Kinkladze, Bishop, Weaver and Goater have all earned the right to be included in the club's Hall of Legends. ... Read more

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In 15 World Cup competitions, spanning 65 years, only 20 players have achieved the distinction of highest goal scorer. The only Englishman to win the Golden Boot has been Gary Lineker, with his six goals in Mexico in 1986. Now Gary is travelling the world, interviewing the leading goal scorers in each of the World Cup competitions since the event was inaugurated in 1930. The stars include Diego Maradona, Pele, Gerd Muller and Platini. His interviews focus on the drama and excitement of the matches in each World Cup, but also look at the cultural importance of football in each country. There are photographs from each location. ... Read more