Profiles in Sports Courage

Children's Literature - Heather McCrea-Andrews

From the battlefields of Vietnam to the gridiron of the National Football League, Ken Rappoport highlights an athlete's courage both on and off the field. Rocky Bleir, wounded in Vietnam, made a miraculous comeback to help the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl IX in 1975. All-Star and Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball seven years before the Supreme Court desegregated public schools. Keri Strugg and Lance Armstrong stand beside Rocky and Jackie to help bring courage to life in this moving anthology of power and strength. Athletes must be both mentally and physically strong, but outsiders rarely see the stories behind their tenacity. Rappoport shines a journalist's light on the personal struggles of world-class competitors, illuminating their will and drive to be the best. With The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, leading the procession, it's easy to see why inspiration and hope are the real thematic lessons profiled in this book. In a world of unsportsmanlike conduct, Rappoport reminds all lovers of sport to reach deep within their psyche and overcome adversity, be it private or public.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-In this collective biography of 20th-century athletes, Rappoport asks, "What is true courage?" That question is answered in the well-written profiles of 12 men and women whose talents and drive took them to the pinnacle of their sports (boxing, bicycling, gymnastics, mountain climbing, basketball, baseball, race-car driving, track, football, and skating) only to find themselves challenged by personal values, racism, injured limbs, crime, illness, or death of a loved one. A well-known and respected sports writer, Rappoport describes with vivid descriptions and dialogue how each athlete faced and overcame overwhelming challenges to leave a positive legacy on the lives of others. Each chapter includes average-quality, black-and-white photographs. An introduction and conclusion effectively draw the purpose of the book together. Anyone interested in sports will enjoy reading about the challenges and accomplishments of these individuals.-Janice C. Hayes, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.