Cedar Valley Athlete asked several “sports figures” in and around the Cedar Valley what their favorite books were pertaining to sports. Here are some of their recommendations and how their lives have been touched.
Jeff Frost,
Athletics Director/Assistant Principal, Waterloo West High School
“My favorite sports book is former Indianapolis Colts
Head Coach Tony Dungy's book, Quiet Strength: A Memoir. The reason I liked it so much is because this book transcends sports and really is about life in general. It talks about overcoming obstacles— his were dealing with race, and how you can still succeed. He really focuses on his principles and priorities in life, which haven't always been football. It always reminds me, and I try to remind my coaches, you MUST have balance in your life. It also talks about personal tragedies, such as the suicide of his son and how he and his team rallied after that and won a Super Bowl. I often use several principles and ideas from this book in newsletters, emails, and bulletins to my coaches in discussing perseverance, ethics, and keeping that balance in your life.”
Gary Rima,
The Sports Guy, KXEL Radio
”My favorite book is A Season On The Brink by John
Feinstein. It is a book the author wrote after spending a full season with then Indiana Hoosiers head basketball coach Bobby Knight. I truly enjoyed it for a couple of reasons. First of all, it is a true story book, and I love books that are based on a true story or give accounts of actual things that happened. Second, I was a big fan of Bobby Knight back then and also thought how fun it would be to spend a season with Coach Knight with free access to all practices, meetings, games, interviews, etc. Also, I loved the behindthe- door or behind-the-scenes stuff the author was able to share with the reader.”
Troy Dannen,
UNI Director of Athletics
“John Feinstein - A Good Walk Spoiled. Pretty much anything by Feinstein is on my list - particularly anything golf related. Most of what I prefer reading is not sports related. Thomas Friedman - The World is Flat. Roman history - The Fall of the Roman Empire / Caesar Life of a Colossus.”
Dan Corbin,
General Manager, Waterloo Bucks Baseball
”Wrigleyworld by Kevin Kaduk. As a Chicago Cubs fan, Wrigley Field and the area around it (Wrigleyville) might be one of the greatest places on earth. In this book by Kevin Kaduk, the author quits his job as a Kansas City sportswriter and moves into the Wrigley Field neighborhood to follow the Cubs for a summer. To be honest, this is something I've dreamed of doing since I was in college, but never had the gumption to do. So, I get to live vicariously through Kaduk during his summer under the sun in 2005. The great thing about this book is that it focuses more on the atmosphere of Wrigleyville and Cubs fans, rather than dissecting each game of the season. A great read if you're a baseball fan.”
Bobbi Petersen,
UNI Volleyball Coach
“As far as a sports book that is very hard!!! A couple favorites: A more educational one, Talent is Never Enough by John C. Maxwell. Leading With the Heart by Mike Krzyzewski. Never Die Easy, Walter Payton's autobiography”. (Editor’s Note: Bobbi is a huge Walter Payton fan. One of her daughters is named Payton after the Bears star.)
Troy Becker,
Assistant Activities Director, Track/Cross Country Coach, Cedar Falls High School
“One of my favorite books was by Lance Armstrong
- It's not about the Bike. I really like the chapter on survivorship and how he talks about getting back on with his life. He talks about how his priorities and thinking have changed as a result of the cancer. My favorite quote is: ‘The truth is, if you asked me to choose between winning the tour de France and cancer, I would choose cancer. Odd as it sounds, I would rather have the title cancer survivor than winner of the tour, because of what it has done for me as a human being, a man, a husband, a son, and a father.’"
Matt Harken,
Director of Football Operations, UNI Football
“Bill Parcels—Finding a Way to Win: The Principles of Leadership, Teamwork, and Motivation. This book is full of stories and examples that relate Coach Parcell’s leadership style and philosophy to real world situations. Whether he was at Hastings College, the New York Giants, or New England Patriots, the book is all about having a plan and doing whatever it takes to execute your plan to become a winner. The book was written early in his career, so it is pretty cool to see how he has not wavered from what he believes in through the years. No matter where Coach is, he applies his principles and finds a way to win.”
Amy Van Arkel,
Dike-New Hartford Head Girls Basketball Coach
“Standing Tall by Vivian Stringer. I played at Iowa not too long after she left there. There was still a buzz about her. When people talk about her, there is an energy. I love to hear about strong women. Doing so creates a motivation, determination, great hope and this drive to want to do the best I can using any gifts I may have. Something I really appreciate about her is her balance. There is no doubt she is a successful basketball coach, but she is an amazing mother, a loving wife, and a community grower. By that I mean she brings whatever group she is a part of closer: her teams, her staff, her immediate and extended family, the fans, other coaches, and so on. Her competitive spirit showed a tough side of her, and her decisions she made for her sick daughter and to move to Rutgers for her boys showed a warm heart. Reading that book made me want to be a better person, and I think that says a lot about who wrote it.”
To purchase these and other great sports books, check out the new online store at www.cedarvalleyathlete.com/pages/store
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