The Reason We Play: American Sports Figures and What Inspires Them

by Marc Bona

Overview

An inspirational look at a diverse group of popular American sports figures and how they found success in sports and life.

Young athletes all dream of what they might become. They might see themselves as a soccer player racing through defenses at the World Cup, as a hockey player scoring the winning goal in the Stanley Cup Final, or as a figure skater in the Winter Olympics. But to get there takes hard work, dedication, and passion.

In The Reason We Play: American Sports Figures and What Inspires Them, Marc Bona profiles some of the nation’s top athletes and sports personalities from the past several decades to reveal what it takes to make it in the world of professional sports. Along with fascinating accounts of the sports figures’ lives and careers, Bona includes, in their own words, what motivated them, what obstacles they overcame, and even what books they loved to read when they were young.

Featuring athletes such as soccer icon Kristine Lilly, basketball star Victor Oladipo, and softball phenom Cat 'sterman, The Reason We Play has something for everyone. From football to rodeo, baseball to racing, the front office to coaching, the subjects all share a common trait of excellence on and off the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538140932
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/15/2021
Pages:	186
Sales rank:	1,129,284
Product dimensions:	6.33(w) x 9.37(h) x 0.63(d)
Age Range:	10 - 17 Years

About the Author

Marc Bona is a journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in newspapers, the last eight as a features writer for cleveland.com, the digital arm of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s daily paper. He has roots in sports writing, having edited and covered a variety of sports. He is the author of The Game Changer (2018) and has assisted other authors on several nonfiction sports titles.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

1. Brian Boitano, Figure Skating: A California Kid Learns to Skate

2. Bobby Bowden, Football: Born to Coach

3. Dave Burba, Baseball: An Ohio Homecoming

4. Todd Christensen, Football: Big Player, Big Words

5. Frank Deford, Sports Writing: A Born Storyteller

6. Tony Dungy, Football: Calm and in Control

7. Mike Eruzione, Hockey: Believing in Miracles

8. Gerry Faust, Football: A Dream Fulfilled

9. Tony Granato, Hockey: Basement Dreams

10. Tim Green, Football: A Busy Man

11. Janet Guthrie, Auto Racing: Speedy Trailblazer

12. Lou Holtz, Football: The Upbeat ‘Do Right’ Coach

13. Tom Kurvers, Hockey: The World Traveler

14. Vern Law, Baseball: The Deacon on the Mound

15. Kristine Lilly, Soccer: The Caps Queen

16. Kim Mulkey, Basketball: Champion Player, Champion Coach

17. Ty Murray, Rodeo: The Record-Breaking Cowboy

18. Victor Oladipo, Basketball: More Than a Player

19. Cat 'sterman, Softball: The Untouchable Tall Texan

20. Lyn St. James, Auto Racing: From Student to Teacher

21. Dick Schultz, Sports Executive: The Man in Charge

22. Andre Thornton, Baseball: Keeping the Faith

23. Mike Veeck, Baseball Executive: Director of Fun

Notes

Bibliography

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Marc Bona goes beyond the performances and careers of iconic figures in sports to uncover the person and their purpose in The Reason We Play. Written with revealing detail and expertly researched, Marc brings sporting greats into focus with a storyteller's touch that highlights why they inspire us — then and now.

Selena Roberts

Bona personally corresponded with and/or interviewed each subject to gather his material. Each profile includes an illustration of the luminary, a biographical synopsis, some quoted "words of wisdom" from the subject, and a brief list of the person's favorite books. Bona does a fine job of highlighting the hard work that these people have put into achieving their ultimate accomplishments. Because the book is aimed at young adults, in the course of his narrative, Bona deftly offers textual elucidation...about people (e.g., Nelson Mandela), places (e.g., China's Forbidden City), and concepts (e.g., stigma) with which readers may not be familiar. These athlete profiles would make good introductions to the distinguished careers of people who are not now typically prominent in the news. Because some of Bona's subjects have published autobiographies, engaging with this book could encourage additional reading. Recommended. General readers.

Choice Reviews

This nonfiction title is more than a collection of athletes’ biographies: it also inspires the reader with in-depth stories, obstacles, and motivations of each story.

Litchfield Independent Review

Marc Bona is a detailed and thoughtful reporter and writer and all of his experience is on display in this book. The array of athletes, personalities and power brokers presents a kaleidoscope of the sports world that any fan will both learn from and enjoy.

Brian Windhorst

Bona personally corresponded with and/or interviewed each subject to gather his material. Each profile includes an illustration of the luminary, a biographical synopsis, some quoted "words of wisdom" from the subject, and a brief list of the person's favorite books. Bona does a fine job of highlighting the hard work that these people have put into achieving their ultimate accomplishments. Because the book is aimed at young adults, in the course of his narrative, Bona deftly offers textual elucidation...about people (e.g., Nelson Mandela), places (e.g., China's Forbidden City), and concepts (e.g., stigma) with which readers may not be familiar. These athlete profiles would make good introductions to the distinguished careers of people who are not now typically prominent in the news. Because some of Bona's subjects have published autobiographies, engaging with this book could encourage additional reading. Recommended. General readers.

Choice