All the Good in Sports: True Stories That Go Beyond the Headlines | List Price: $12.99
Discount Price: $5.49
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Binding: Paperback
sure to be a huge inspiration [Posted on 2007-11-08]
Sports personalities are so often revered for their physical accomplishments or else shunned for their moral faults. The world puts these people on a pedestal and expects them not to be human. Mike Sandrolini takes a closer look and finds something spectacular to cheer about in his offering, "All the Good in Sports: True Stories That go Beyond the Headlines."
With twenty contemporary sports personalities, sportswriter Sandrolini goes behind the top scores and record breaking events to get personal with the special purpose of each of these stars. They are all quite human and reveal their humbling efforts to share their faith. Christian Hosoi, of skateboarding fame, shares his story of finding God in his jail cell. Mariano Rivera, Yankees' 1999 World Series MVP, explains how he is grateful to God and how he enjoys gathering with young minor leaguers for Bible study. Mary Lou Retton, the famed gold medal winning gymnast, is now a motivational speaker and author and openly shares her dedication to being a Christian. Matt Hasselbeck, Ruth Riley, Payne Stewart, and Dave Downing, among others, also reveal their faith.
Clearly demonstrating that it's not all about the multi millions, Wheaties boxes, and adoring fans, the athletes exhibited here are so much more. Author Mike Sandrolini presents a higher purpose than winning the game in his stories. Well presented and interesting to read, the collection is based on sports and faith. To any Christian sports enthusiast, this book is sure to be a huge inspiration.
Super look at "super" athletes [Posted on 2007-12-14]
Reviewed by Dara O' Sullivan
Being successful in the highly lucrative and pressurised world of professional sports is not generally regarded as being compatible with a strong Christian lifestyle and testimony, and understandably so. The temptations and pitfalls of ridiculous levels of wealth and adulation that land on the shoulders of generally young, attractive, talented people, too often brings with it a sideshow of lurid and troubled personal lives.
All the Good in Sports is a compilation of life stories and accounts that provides a refreshing contradiction to this unfortunate reality. It is a pleasant surprise of a book, particularly for the non-American reader, who would likely not be at all aware of the number of highly successful professional sports players, actively bearing and promoting a Christian testimony.
The book gives snapshot accounts of the lives of 25 sportsmen and sportswomen, drawn from football, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, gymnastics, baseball, and other sports. Each account begins with a summary of the sportspersons career and achievements, followed by an extracted article from the Sports Spectrum magazine, which focuses in a particular way on the Christian aspect of the sportsperson's life and how it fits in with their success.
It is certainly fascinating to discover just how many of these undoubtedly exceptional individuals lead totally ordinary lives behind the scenes, and are faced with the pressures, troubles and fears common to all. A common theme of the book is just how many have been through personal tragedy of some shape or form. Often it is in such times that their Christian testimony begins or is strengthened.
One aspect that is not really touched on is the thorny issue of whether or not professional sport is fundamentally compatible with a Christian lifestyle. To many Christians, the obligation to ply ones trade on the Lord's Day can be a bridge too far. Unfortunately, this appears to be assumed a non-issue.
Otherwise, All the Good in Sports is a refreshing, and at times, inspirational, read.
Armchair Interviews says: A pleasant compilation of `good-news' stories.
Pretty solid [Posted on 2008-01-07]
The book is kind of short but its a bunch of little excerpts from well-known athletes. The little i have read of it is pretty good.
Quiet Strength [Posted on 2008-01-27]
Book in very good condition. Wonderful book & I highly recommend it for excellent reading & encouragement. Made his game more interesting & newspaper articles a great addition to the book.
good service [Posted on 2008-02-19]
Great service, speedy delivery - The book itself is pretty simple and I wouldn't recommend the actual book itself.
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