For the Love of the Game : My Story

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely, positively outstanding!
Review: As you read the narrative that is imaginatively layed out with different type and size mixed in with graphics and photos you can almost hear Michael Jordan speaking. They are his words and reveal some things about his life that I've never read before...and I've read everything written about him. As you can see I am a big fan and miss him so much on the basketball court. This book is just one of the many reasons that I along with millions of other people am a big fan of his. The book is as brilliant and polished as he is and also has the same good taste he has. Another great thing about "For the Love of the Game" is it will appeal to almost anyone of any age You can skim thru and look at the photos or read the stats or read every word. Whichever way you choose you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Michael Jordan: Author, Athlete, Superstar, and Idol.
Review: For The Love of The Game: My Story is an exceptional easy to read book, which contains excellent photography. Jordan's life both inside and outside of his basketball career is explored and detailed. From why he signed with Nike to his relationship with his father to his turbulent meetings with Jerry Krause and to his life as a father and a husband are all explained with brilliant photography throughout the book. Jordan's confidence in himself is shown when he says, " On the day I decided to make myself available for the 1984 NBA Draft I knew I was going to Philadelphia." At the time Philadelphia had the first pick, however the lottery gave the first pick to the Houston Rockets. The Philadelphia 76ers had the fifth pick in the Draft that year, instead of picking Jordan the 76ers picked Charles Barkley because Jordan was already drafted. "He was my best friend and he knew everything about me," is how Jordan explains his relationship with his father. Jordan, the author of his life story, uses incredible graphics on each and every page of the book. These photgraphs capture the reader's attention. Each page's lettering is different in size, font, and color which grabs the eye of the reader immediately. When Jordan describes a shot he made to win a game, he includes a picture of the shot. Jordan does a great job describing his famous shot over Craig Ehlo, frame by frame photographs capture this Kodak moment. Inside the front and back covers are statistics of everything imaginable concerning basketball which further enhances the book. All-time stats at every arena where Jordan performed is another unique quality Jordan utilizes in this extraordinary book. Personally, as a fan of Michael Jordan, I found the book very interesting to read. From the second I opened the book until the very last word in the book I felt like I was with Jordan the entire time. My favorite parts were when Jordan kept comparing himself to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. " When Bird acknowledged my performance, I became a player," Jordan remarked. I recommend any Michael Jordan fan, basketball fan, or young athlete who wants to "be like Mike," to read the book. Anybody who wants to read a book containing award winning photography should read For The Love of The Game: My Story as well. Anyone who wants to know the importance of a father-son relationship would enjoy this book. Michael Jordan, who wore number 23 for the Chicago Bulls for many years, clearly is more than just a basketball player. He proved all analysts wrong when he led the league in scoring and won the NBA Finals. " Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls, 1984-1993. The best there ever was. The best there ever will be." This message can be found outside the United Center in Chicago. Judge for yourself by reading For The Love of The Game: My Story.

Rating:
Summary: An enlightening view of Jordan in an exquisite book.
Review: In "For the Love of the Game" the reader is treated to rare insights as to how Jordan's mind, heart, and soul are tied into the game of basketball. The voice of the book is his as well as the classy presentation of his message on each page. Each page is a treat for the eyes. What a superb job by the people who put the book together. I have showed the book to a number of people, some who are not big basketball fans, but everyone has commented on "what a beautiful book." Be warned though, once you unseal the wrapping and open it up, you will be drawn in and won't be able to put it down until you finish the journey through basketball with Michael. Like Jordan's performance on the court, you'll not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Develope A Love For The Game
Review: Many people have an inspiration or a love for something that demands them to strive for achievements. Whatever the interest, if the desire is great, can be turned into an obsession. With talent and the love, one can reach great hieghts of success. One man that fits this description is "His Airness", Michael Jordan. No athlete in any sport can come close to possessing the love for the game that burns inside of him. The information made available to the public has always been limited to what researchers, staticians, and reporters have written in a book or article. "For The Love Of The Game: My Story" is written by Michael Jordan himself, in his words, only edited by Mark Vancil, then published. Most other books about Jordan are written through some sort of bias or opinion, but this book is the story as seen by the eyes of the man himself.

Jordan describes many of his greatest triumphs and defeats both famous and not so famous. The reader is entertained with many accomplishments and setbacks in his life from childhood, to the death of his father, Mr James Jordan and his final retirement from the National Basketball Association. Mr. Jordan was the greatest inspiration in MJ's life. In the beginning, Jordan's father saw something in his son that no one else could see, not even Michael himself. Jordan thought that it was just a father's pride and hopes for his son to achieve greatness in the form of numerous father and son motivational speeches. Jordan never realized his father was right until after he established himself as the greatest basketball player to ever live. When Jordan became a father himself, he says that he now can look at his own children and see which one is going to be better basketball player or football player.

Betrayal and disappointment are also encountered in this book as Jordan explains what he calls the most trying times of his proffessional career, the situation he went through with the owners and managers of the team, Chicago Bulls. Jordan states in the book, "They were Businessmen. They were not sportsmen and they didn't have a true appreciation for the game. They made business decisions and basketball just happened to be the business." The businessmen were Jerry Kruas and Jerry Riensdorf, who had made the decision to make Jordan sit out games in order for the team to finish the season bad enough to get a high pick in the NBA Draft. This was made despite Jordan's full recovery after grueling rehab and training.

Many achievments once deemed impossible were accomplished and unreachable hieghts were reached in Jordan's life despite many doubts. He now is the most endorsing athlete of all time. Nike and Jordan have made millions upon millions of dollars together through basketball shoes and a full line of sports apparel. Although being the top shoe and sports brand, it was not Michael's first choice. Matter of fact, he did not even want to sign a deal with them because he was holding out for a deal to come with Adidas. No deal came, so he signed with Nike. The price of Nike stock in the fall of 1984 when Jordan signed, was a mere seven dollars a share. The price in July of 1998, after his sixth NBA championship ring, was $418 dollars a share.

Many people that have great wealth and fame are sometimes looked at as almost "untouchable" or as if they are on another planet. This is not the truth in Jordan's case despite being the most recognized face on Earth. Instead of forgetting who they are and where they come from, some stay true to "their game". One story Jordan remembers is of him driving the streets of downtown Chicago and spotting a high school student cutting class. Picking him up and making a deal, Jordan takes the youngster back to class. If the teen promised to go back to and stay in school, Jordan would give him the very shoes he wore on his feet. Jordan walked out of the school barefooted.

Through detailed statistics and beautifully illustrated pictures, the story of Michael Jordan by Michael Jordan will turn any reader's head. By reading this piece, a reader will quickly be transformed into a fan, but not just a fan of Jordan but also of the game he plays. While developing a sense of respect, anyone can relate to the man and his story with all aspects of life including love and importance of family and sports, developing untainted friendships, betrayal by the trusted, and suffering the loss of a close loved one. The greatest inspiration dramatically leaving someone's life is usually a reason to give up. This book will show you that the strength within yourself, when recognized, is the greatest force of all. Everyone can relate to this, even Michael Jordan.

Rating:
Summary: For the love of the game
Review: The book I read was for the love of the game. It's about Michael Jordan and his life. I'd give it four stars because it explores through his basketball statistics to personal information. He talks about how he was drafted and how he almost didn't chose nike. It talks about all the inside information. It is one of the best autobiography's I've ever read. If you like basketball or a sport, you will reall like it. I learned a lot of stuff I'd probabaly would have never known. Some of the things I didn't know was that he played baseball. He also was number 45 in basketball for a year. His first Air Jordan was band from the league. I would recommend this book for people who like sports and biography's.

Rating:
Summary: An extremely powerful, yet human portrayal of Michael Jordan
Review: The first thing that draws your attention is the high quality of the book itself. Being associated with the printing business through my work...this is definitely top of the line.

Next comes the photography...another media that I have been involved in for several years. The mix of photographs do not only show Michael the NBA superstar, but also show Michael the husband and father. The images in this book give you a true insight into what type of a man Michael Jordan really is. It is easy to see parts of your own life as you get a small glimpse into his.

Last, but certainly not least, are the words. These are not the words of a professional writer, they are the words of man who has come to realize how famous and he really is, and in many respects, is somewhat in awe of it all.

Michael is a rare individual in our society, he is wealthy beyond most of our wildest dreams, he is a master at the game of basketball, but he has found that fame and fortune are not the true measure of a man. No, its how you live your life that is truly important.

This book shows not only Michael's love for the game, but his love for life itself.