Showing posts with label Sports and Recreation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports and Recreation. Show all posts

1/15/2010

Review of Kitchen Afloat: Galley Management and Meal Preparation (Paperback)

A well-written book, nicely organized with good examples of the how and why.As a new boater with enough experience to understand the limitations of meal preparation on a boat I found this book of great help.Nice chapter on charter provisioning.If you are very experienced or passage making I don't think it will be much help.I originally found this book written up in a US Power Squadron magazine.Glad I clipped the article and finally purchased the book.I certainly will be much better prepared.

Product Description
This book will take you through the intricacies of your galley, help you choose supplies and provisions to fit your cooking and cruising styles, and teach you to plan and execute workable menus both at dock and underway. Written from a cook's perspective, it includes valuable, up-to-date information about water, stoves, refrigeration, nutrition, food safety, storage, menu planning, meal production, and clean-up appropriate for all types of boating styles and excursions. One special chapter is devoted to recipe development, and features a complement of original recipes.
Contents include: Outfitting your galley, food safety and storage issues, meal planning, provisioning for special trips, and much more.

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1/04/2010

Review of The Bogeyman: Stalking and Its Aftermath (Paperback)

This book is divided into two parts, chapter by chapter. The first section that of the author's narrative on her own personal stalking experience, and then well researched information on how to recognize and deal with stalkers. The second part contains important information purveyed in a semi-academic fashion. The author's personal narrative, however horrifying - is written in a 'cutesy' tone, with explanation points throughout and comments to herself such as 'I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too'. In addition throughout the narrative, the author finds it necessary to put in brackets what SONG the reader should be humming to any particular part of her tale i.e. ('hum along with Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole's 'When I Fall in Love''). The writing is in effect terrible and cliche ridden with bad attempts at humour. A clever writer might have been able to pull off some dark humour in even so grim a tale, but Dr. Meinberg is not that writer. This is not a good book.

Product Description
The Bogeyman represents the author's personal history as it pertains to stalking experiences and related information. This encapsulated version condenses forty years of stalking experiences into a mere ten chapters. Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg honed her survival skills long before any research, facts, and figures were considered, and before the word stalking was coined. She learned everything the hard way--without books, advice, or professionals, to guide her--through firsthand experience alone. Alongside her personal saga, the book presents added material, listing expert opinions, information, and resources, serving as supportive and reinforcing background for her experiences. Research now tells us that one in twelve women in the USA, and a growing number of men, will be stalked at sometime in their lives. Over one and a half million adults are stalked annually, with the vast majority of victims being the average, normal, everyday citizen. Could one of your family members or friends become a victim? Could you? Find out what to expect, and how to protect yourself and loved ones. Take action!

About the Author
Considered to be the longest stalked person in the nation, Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg doesn't let such negative experiences stand in her way or slow her down. As an educator, author, and speaker, she has been the subject of numerous articles, and interviewed on cable, national and international television shows, along with hundreds of radio programs.

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1/03/2010

Review of Slices: Observations from the Wrong Side of the Fairway (Paperback)

I love golf as much as I hate it, and I.J. Schecter understands how I and most other golfers feel. The great thing about this book is that he writes it for the majority of golfers instead of the few at the top. It's about the challenges we all face when trying to feather a chip, or hit a downhill putt, or just keep our damn drives straight some of the time. And he describes this stuff in extremely funny ways that are so original. You feel like you're on the course with him as you read the different stories -- half the time laughing out loud. I don't know if I was laughing at his experiences or because they make me think of my own, but the point is I was laughing, and smiling, and enjoying myself. What a great book to have. It reminds you that most golfers are in the same boat together, and it gives you lots of great laughs at the same time.



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12/21/2009

Review of Logic of Steel: A Fighter's View of Blade and Shank Encounters (Paperback)

The Logic of Steel is the second book that I have read from Mr. LaFond.Like his first book, "The Fighting Edge", I was taught techniques of self-defense.As I was transported into the seedy world of knife encounters, I realized that I need to purchase a gun.I definitely would be on the losing end of a shank attack, especially if I can't tell I'm being stabbed!I really enjoy his style of writing.The information flows easily and the author does not write above your head.The dialogue was hilarious.I can't believe what people will do and say.The chapter headings and quotes are the best, particularly his use of the actual words from ancient Greek and Roman soliders.The Logic of Steel will give you the knowledge of how to handle yourself if in a knife attack and what you can do to get out of the situation.However, I must say that the Eboniclanguage was a little confusing to follow.Thanks for the glossary.I will end with my two favorite lines from the book.

Tatto Rick -- "There is no objective truth.Life is a subjective mess...Chaos is the rule.Order is a mathematical fantasy."

James La Fond -- "The true study of fighters is the study of the fighter's character, not his technique."

Product Description
The Logic of Steel is not about the art of knife fighting. Its sole purpose is to capture the cold, hard, logical nature of edged-weapon encounters as experienced by author James LaFond and more than 90 other people. This analysis of more than 250 knife fights is told from the perspective of the attackers, eyewitnesses and victims. The action is broken down by weapon type and use patterns. The circumstances, motivations and mechanics of real-world blade and shank encounters are illuminated through the use of gripping (and sometimes comical) first-person accounts, photographs and hard statistics. The author also examines the psychology, injury patterns and legal ramifications of knife fighting, as well as providing invaluable tips on preventing clinches and groundfighting from escalating into a knife fight, surviving unarmed against a blade-armed assailant, "dressing for success" against a knife fight, spottinga knifer and predicting his behavior before it's too late, assessing when it is in your best interest to run for your life instead of fighting a knife-wielding opponent and much more.

About the Author
James LaFond works as a night laborer in Baltimore, where he has been documenting the violent underside of the human population and the relationship of ordinary aggression to contemporary martial arts studies since 1966.

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12/12/2009

Review of Baseball in San Diego: From the Plaza to the Padres (Images of Baseball: California) (Paperback)

No pun intended, this is a diamond in the rough of sport's books.It is original research, not a second-hand, garden variety, cut-and-paste cookie-cutter.Bill Swank has been consumed by the history of the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League ever since his retirement as a Probation Officer with the County of San Diego.His beautifully written first book, "Echoes from Lane Field", captured the history of the Padres from 1936 to 1958 through first-person interviews with many of the players of that era.For "Baseball in San Diego: From the Plaza to the Padres," Bill had to dig into San Diego's historical archives and talk with the few remaining players from the 1920s and 1930s.The rest of the early ballists went to the dugout in the sky a long time ago. "Plaza" precedes "Echoes", covering the period from 1871 to 1936.In this before-radio era, baseball was more than a metaphor for life. It was the center of life in sunny San Diego for the better part of the year. Swank mined San Diego's rough diamonds and created a gem of a history book.Go San Diegos. Go Bears. Go Pickwicks.

Product Description
Baseball in San Diego: From the Plaza to the Padres, takes the reader on a seven-decade journey from Horton Plaza, the site of San Diego's first base ball game in 1871, to lower Broadway and the future home of Lane Field. Before the Pacific Coast League, San Diego had three Class D teams. One was the Bears, whose frustrated owner Dick Cooley complained, I don't believe they'll make baseball pay here in a thousand years. With America's finest year-round climate, barnstorming and black baseball were popular attractions. Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants practically lived in San Diego in the winter of 1913. All the while, there were constant struggles between the forces of amateur and professional baseball for players, diamonds, and sports coverage.

About the Author
Bill Swank has been called San Diego's preeminent baseball historian for his extensive work on the San Diego Padres. Aided by over 150 rare photographs primarily from the San Diego Historical Society, this book is the perfect complement to his previous Arcadia title, Baseball in San Diego: From the Padres to Petco.

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12/05/2009

Review of The Race for the Triple Crown: Horses, High Stakes and Eternal Hope (Paperback)

"The Race for the Triple Crown" is not in the usual run of amiable puff jobs about Thoroughbreds and their owners.For one thing, the author is an award-winning sportswriter for the "New York Times."For another, he is a dedicated horse-player---Damon Runyon; bettin' on da gee-gees; bookies; "The Daily Racing Form"---that sort of scene.Finally and perhaps most importantly, he owned and raced a Quarter Horse named Oh Desperado, who turned out to be a whiz at dressage.

Joe Drape begins his story in June, 1999 when the big, beautiful Charismatic, a former claiming horse fractured his foreleg in the Belmont, just seconds away from becoming the first Thoroughbred in twenty-one years to win the Triple Crown.The book ends with Tiznow's victory in the 2000 Breeder's Cup Classic and the death of his eighty-three-year-old owner, Cecilia Straub-Rubens, three days later.

In between, Thoroughbred owners "spent $510,834,975 on 8,779 yearlings at auctions in the United States in hopes that one of them was the right horse for the 2002 Triple Crown."

The author writes primarily of the owners and trainers, by turns foolish, determined, and hopeful, and some of whom were real S.O.B.s.One of the prominent players is the trainer D. Wayne Lucas, who won the first two races in the Triple Crown in 1999, and then won the third leg in 2000.He is also one of the aforementioned S.O.B.s---one might even call him the Patton of Thoroughbred training.I finished this book with a tremendous admiration (although not liking) for Lucas, especially for winning the 2000 Belmont with a mediocre horse and sheer tactical brilliance.The author is still kicking himself for not betting on Lucas's horse in that race.It would have been his fifth winner on a Pick-Six ticket.

"The Race for the Triple Crown" is rich in the detail of what it takes to purchase a Thoroughbred at auction (lots of money, lots of testosterone, and lots of research).It portrays the agony and ecstasy of owning, training, and riding a potential Triple Crown horse.Here is the true story of the relationship between D. Wayne Lucas and Charismatic's jockey, Chris Antley.Here's what it feels like to try and outbid a Maktoum at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.Here are the reasons why you shouldn't plan a celebratory dinner in advance of a Thoroughbred race.Here is Bob Baffert, "intoning, `Houston, we got a problem' into the microphone at the 1996 Preakness when his horse Cavonnier was on his way to a fourth-place finish."

This is an absolutely riveting story for readers who are already somewhat familiar with Thoroughbred racing.I loved it.However, I disagree with the cover blurb that says it is "a delight for both aficionado and novice."If you're looking for a starter book on Thoroughbred racing, try "Secretariat: The Making of a Champion" by William Nack, or "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand."The Race for the Triple Crown" has so much insider detail that a newcomer to racing might become totally confused if he or she doesn't already recognize some of the players, e.g. Pat Day, More Than Ready, Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Jenine Sahadi, and The Deputy (for starters).



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12/04/2009

Review of Kaiju Big Battel: A Practical Guide to Giant City-Crushing Monsters (Paperback)

This book is a clever parody of three silly genres all at once: Japanese monster movies, the Manga craze, and professional wrestling. Largely I think it works well as a satirical piece of humor and social commentary, but mostly it is just good old fashioned fun.

The basic premise is that the evil Dr. Cube has created giant monsters that fight each other in the "Kaiju Big Battel" arena for entertainment of the masses. There are good and evil Kaiju, and some rogues that can change allegiances at the drop of a hat. The monsters here are not your typical Japanese Godzilla copycats, but rather creative originals such as Call-Me-Kevin (my personal favorite), the ridiculous looking Sky Deviler, and the heroic tuber, Silver Potato.

The book is broken down into a biography section, a section of famous Kaiju bouts, and assorted other features such as "How Sky Deviler's Digestive System Works" and "Silver Potato's Holiday Miracle". There is even a color spread that has very amusing faux-Japanese translations like: "Who is the sphincter mouth of depth-perception irrelevant monster? Sky Deviler most high ugliness the dive bomb swoop. Special appetite skill combine with brain lentil size create the deadliest!"

I found the book quite entertaining and diverting. I particularly love old Japanese monster movies, and seeing this pay homage to them while concurrently mocking Manga and wrestling made this book totally worthwhile for me.


Product Description
Kaiju Big Battel, a series of live events that revolve around tournament-style performances, is a tongue-in-cheek hybrid of Japanese-monster-movie mayhem and lowbrow pop-culture. These sold-out events feature a roster of over thirty monsters battling in a modern conflict of epic proportions.

Kaiju Big Battel, the official guide, will provide an overview of the Kaiju universe, principally the key monsters and the epic battles, for devoted fans and new readers alike. In addition to a 16-page full-color insert of Kaiju studio photographs and a glossary, Kajiu Big Battel will be ornamented with a safety manual, weapon profiles and a guide to the inner workings of the Kaiju world. A crash course in everything Kaiju, readers would be well-advised to pay careful attention as those uneducated in monster mayhem could be imperiled next time Kaiju Big Battel erupts in their neighborhood!

The Big Battel Rages on in the Kaiju Universe!

Planet Earch is under threat. Scattered throughout the galaxy is a monstrous mob of maniacal villians, alien beasts, and city-crushing monsters that are waging a war against one another. In a recent New Year's Eve Kaiju Big Battel, Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle defeated RoBox:

"Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle couldn't wait for the ball to drop to avenge his shocking loss to the newest Kaiju Hero, RoBox, at Kaiju Rampage New York. As Louden Noxious counted down to the stroke of midnight, the killer klucker burst into the Danger Cage and began to lay waste to the snow-covered cityscape. Seeing this wanton destruction, newly constructed Kaiju Hero, RoBox rushed the Cage to put a shop to the terror. This was perhaps the robotic Hero's biggest mistake of the night.

Fresh from an extended stay in China with his sensei, Mr. Wong, Soup unleashed a barrage of devastating new maneuvers upon Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle. High-flying flips and crushing corkscrews quickly overloaded RoBox's circuts and the new Hero was unable to mount any signifigant counter attack. Finally Soup delivered the Bouillion Back Flip for the pin, earning the right to fufill his new year's resolutions: to kill again!"

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12/02/2009

Review of Bowling Across America: 50 States in Rented Shoes (Hardcover)

This is the true story of a man who does what many in their late 20's always dream about, wander with a purpose.The author is a man in his late 20s, several years into the grind of life, who experiences the death of his father.This leads him to analyze his own life and is the catalyst for an adventure his father first started but was interrupted by life (work, family etc.)Walsh's dry wit and insights keeps the narrative moving along and is what separates this from a standard tale of a "quarter life crisis."I laughed out loud on a dozen different occasions.

"Bowling..." does a wonderful job capturing the angst, dilemmas and sources of happiness that is so typical of that segment of life.Walsh does a masterful job weaving in past experiences into the present that paints a wonderful self-portrait and offers the reader ample opportunity to relate.Scattered throughout are some wonderful insights on bowling, life, family and relationships.This is a great read.




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Review of Perfect Lies: A Century of Great Golf Stories (Paperback)

With stories as random as any other collection that I have ever read, Perfect Lies truly is the perfect book. Reading this collection cover to cover has left inspired and it also left me begging for a sequel.If youlove golf and don't feel you have the heart and spirit of a true golfer, Ihighly reccommend that you purchase this book from Amazon! As soon as Ifinished each story, I found myself excited to begin the next. Make thepurchase now! Don't hesitate one moment!

Product Description
Spanning 85 years and including writers from several countries, Perfect Lies features classic stories such as F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Winter Dreams", and new stories from rising stars. Includes a total of 25 stories.

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11/27/2009

Review of The Heart of the Order (Penguin Sports Library) (Paperback)

Thomas Boswell hits another home run with this graceful collection of his top writings from the 1980's.This Washington (DC) Post sportswriter takes us into the locker room and the board room, letting us get to know figures such as Earl Weaver, Tommy John, Rod Carew, Edward Bennett Williams, Gary Carter, Davey Johnson, etc.We see Joe DiMaggio emerge from semi-reclusiveness at age 68, and Ozzie Smith add verbal acrobatics to those he performs on the field.These warm pages flow with humanity, delve into tragedy (Dick Howser's death from cancer), and remind us that in the 1980's top stars made "only" $2 million per season.Boswell offers a host of predictions, focuses heavily on the Baltimore Orioles, and as often happens in the media, barely mentions the non-glamour teams (Twins, White Sox, Pirates, Mariners, etc.).But the author captures the romance of baseball, which engulfs him as solidly as it does so many of us fans.

This is superb baseball writing, as were his earlier books, WHY TIME BEGINS ON OPENING DAY and HOW LIFE IMITATES THE WORLD SERIES.




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11/11/2009

Review of Ice & Mixed Climbing: Modern Technique (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert) (Paperback)

This is one of the latest guides on ice climbing.It therefore covers the most modern techniques, is up to date with equipment, and has great color photos.Written by Will Gadd it definitely has the flair of an individual author, reads more like a pro's guide than a technical reference.The type of material covered and order is great.However, the editing of this guide is severely lacking.It suffers from incorrect captions, bad figure references, transposed terms (convex vs concave) and complex procedures described in steps that tend to get you lost in confusion rather than clarify.

If you're an already accomplished ice climber, there will be a few "take home" concepts ("tracking"/cycling vertical progression, and his personal take on mix climbing techniques for instance).A beginner will benefit more from this guide (after reading twice to work around the editing problems).

A second edition, edited properly, will be a top-notch guide on this sport.

Product Description
From one of the most prominent names in climbing today, a full-color, comprehensive guide to a sport experiencing a renaissance.

"Mixed climbing is my favorite discipline. It's the most funbecause it has the fewest rules-sort of like professional wrestlingcompared to boxing." So says Will Gadd, as profiled in FiftyFavorite Climbs. Here the champion ice climber presents the sametechniques and veteran wisdom he imparts to those who attend hisannual clinics. These include: step-by-step instructions for the swing(ice axe), the kick (footwork), and putting it all together(tracking); how to "read" ice to select your line and follow itsafely; and drytool techniques for mixed climbing. Training exercisesand inspirational stories complete this seminal guide.

This is the seventh installment in The Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series

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11/10/2009

Review of Tales from the Triple Crown (Hardcover)

Veteran turf writer Steve Haskin strides past the typical coverage surrounding the rich history of the Triple Crown to pen this enjoyable romp for racing fans or those who follow the sport during the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

The 21 stories feature the extreme highs and frustrating lows from the backside, with the roller-coaster ride life can bring off the track.

There are fresh angles to older stories, like the disappointment of trainer Bud Delp after Spectacular Bid lost his bid for the Triple Crowndue to a safety pin; along with new gems, with a chronicle of jockey Angel Cordero's misadventures in trying to get home after winning the 1985 Kentucky Derby aboard Spend a Buck.

There are also nice features on the recent heroes, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones, along with a moving piece on Barbaro.

This is a solid example on how a book does not have to run according to form to be a fun read.



Product Description
Steve Haskin takes readers behind the scenes to introduce them to the trainers, jockeys, and horses seeking the worlds most elusive sports prizethe Triple Crown. Haskins personal involvement, keen eye for a good story, and conversational writing style make readers feel like they are living the moment with him.

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11/09/2009

Review of The Perfect First Mate: A Woman's Guide to Recreational Boating (Paperback)

Congratulations to the author. Thanks to Joy Smith, I can relax more while packing for our cruising vacations. By sharing her experience in boating it has made preparation decisions more efficient and economical for me. I saw myself in some of her situations and I had a good laugh. I was also surprised to know that there is more than one "Captain Myway"!!!!

Product Description
The position of First Mate is often less than glamorous, especially when serving with a strong-willed captain who has more boyish enthusiasm than organizational skills. After 20 years of sailing with 'Captain My Way', Joy Smith shares the hard-won secrets of keeping both boat and crew in shipshape.

From packing and planning to enjoying life aboard and ashore, The Perfect First Mate helps boaters streamline tasks and maximize efficiency, safety, and comfort while leaving plenty of time for pleasure. Contents include storage issues, moving and sleeping comfortably below decks, keeping the cabin warm/cool, counteracting boat odor, mold, and mildew, and dealing with trash, laundry, and marine toilets. One entire section is devoted to food: provisioning and storage, equipping the galley, and cooking, with original recipes included. Smith also provides an in-depth discussion of how to protect against the elements, avoid injury, and deal with the logistics of sailing, from planning, navigation, and weather to performing First Mate duties on deck.

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11/04/2009

Review of I Golf, Therefore I Am--Nuts! (Paperback)

This book was a happy surprise as I am not a golfer. I bought the book as a gift for a golfer friend. As I was thumbing through it, I started to read the stories and ended up reading the whole book. The fun and easy to read stories are belly laugh funny and really can relate to many things in life, not just golf. Maybe I'll even be inspired to take up golfing - maybe.


Product Description
Finally, a book that delves into the warped and obsessive mind of today's golfer. Whether your idea of golf is an occasional round with fellow duffers at the local muni or frequent forays to far-flung courses in search of the perfect round, you'll identify with this book like no other.

Popular golf humorist George Fuller will have you laughing as he makes light of the idiosyncrasies of otherwise sane people who are addicted to this holy, wholly frustrating game.

I Golf, Therefore I Am--Nuts! brings out the humor in situations that all golfers can relate to:

  • Looking for Mulligan, the patron saint of forgiveness
  • The hype architects and developers use when describing a new course
  • Quirks, quips, and superstitions from the PGA Tour
If your eyes light up every time you read about a new driver, your TiVo has golf programming that originally aired in 2004, you receive holiday cards from greenskeepers, or your golf wardrobe doubles as business casual, then I Golf, Therefore I Am--Nuts! is for you.

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10/31/2009

Review of Have Glove, Will Travel: Adventures of a Baseball Vagabond (Paperback)

I was going to rate this book three stars, but the book rallied in the last few chapters.I was not interested in reading about Bill Lee's adventures around the world as it applied to drugs and other hell-raising escapades.He was put on baseball's black list after going AWOL during a game with the Montreal Expos when a friend of his was unfairly, according to Lee, released.There is a wonderful chapter on the conversation he had with Ted Williams.Williams, of course, claims he made a living off of dumb pitchers.However, Lee challenged Teddy Ballgame by saying he could tell him one reason Williams was such a good hitter that Ted wasn't even aware of.The skeptical, but curious, Williams decided to hear what Lee had to say.After having Williams conduct a simple experiment involving his eyes, Lee made a believer of Williams in regard to which of Williams' eyes was the dominant one.Lee genuinely loves the game of baseball as has previous generations in his family.In fact, his aunt, Annabelle Lee, was a professional ballplayer for nine seasons as the ace left-hander for several women's baseball teams during the 1940's.Her uniform hangs in the Baseball Hall of Fame.For Lee to continue playing wherever a ballgame can be found shows he has a genuine love for the game.There are some very funny anecdotes that will be fun to pass on to others.I give the book four stars rather than five, due to a lot of the aforementioned mischief stories involving drugs and alcohol.The last forty pages, however, make this book a worth while read.



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10/30/2009

Review of The Last Good Season: Brooklyn, the Dodgers, and Their Final Pennant Race Together (Hardcover)

Even though I was only five years old when the Dodgers left Brooklyn, I always had a fond spot in my heart for the team. I collected Brookyn Dodger yearbooks over the years.This book, by Michael Shapiro, brought out many interesting facts which I did not know, such as it was only at the end of the season did the Dodgers actually sell out any games.Even though Ebbets Field only held 32,000 I assumed there were several sell outs during the season.Yes,the Dodgers were profitable but O'Malley was a business man and saw (like the Braves) he could makesignificantly more money.Knowing that area of Brooklyn, that if the stadium was built in 1957 and the teams which would have included Koufax and Drysdale they would have succeeded greatly.Also, the book points out the relationship between Robinson, Campenella and Newcombe. I was not aware of the relationship between the three. I could not believe Newcombe left Ebbets Field, after getting knocked out of the 7th game of the World Series.Yanks start Johnny Knucks against the leagues MVP and Cy Young winner and Newcombe gets knocked out and leaves the Field.I found it incredible that the day after the World Series the team leaves for Japan.I wonder how todays players would react. I wonder why Rachel Robinson declined to be interviewed by the author, I believe she could have added greatly to experiences at Ebbets Field and Brooklyn in the 1950's.I enjoyed the part when Sal Maglie first came to the Dodgers and his reception in the clubhouse.The best part was describing Brookyn in the 1940's and how it was transforming in the 1950's.I read the Boys of Summer many years ago, but this book by Michael Shapiro is clearly superior.I would recommend this book to any baseball fan from that era, especially Brooklyn Dodger fans.Both O'Malley and especially Robert Moses are the real villians here.



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10/27/2009

Review of Equalizers (Black Medicine) (Paperback)

I have read the whole Black Medecine serious and thought that they were absolutly great. I enjoyed the first and the second volumes about the preasure points and the weapons at hand. I liked most of the third volumeon low blows and different self defence techniques. Now this book is anexellent summary to all of them. I expected a book on how to kill someone,but instead Mashiro explains on how to use the weapons, techniques andpreasure points to make your opponent submit with as little effort asposible. The techniques are effective and something that a none martialartist can use in a everyday life. They are simple and very usefull. Ienjoyed the book and think it is a must in any self deffence library.

Product Description
Learn how to utilize the intimidation and shock force even of unfamiliar weapons in this long-awaited fourth volume of the acclaimed Black Medicine series. Dr. Mashiro shows you how to pick up and operate modern spray and electric shock weapons, firearms, hatchets, knives, sticks, shields and more under the stress of an actual violent attack.

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