Product Description

"This book is wonderful." Ryder Cup golf hero, Paul McGinley. "Inspirational and uplifting true stories. It's a gem." Ireland & Lions rugby hero, Ollie Campbell. "True sporting stories with heart warming endings." International athletics champion, Sonia O'Sullivan. "A cracking book. Read it." Champion jockey, Richard Dunwoody. This unique collection of true short stories reveals how the 'brotherhood' of sport brings men and women together - even the most unlikely of brothers: including warring German and British soldiers or, more recently, Iranian and US players; a heavyweight boxer carries his old adversary's coffin, or football fans mourn another club's loss; an Englishman abandons his dream and saves a Frenchman's life; an Australian refuses temptation to make history to protect a past hero; a Czech secretly gives his gold medal to an opponent; through to a Palestinian kidnapper who shares a moment of sporting kindness with a western prisoner. This book captures these magical moments, and many more, from sports and countries around the world. A sample of the short stories in this unique book: 1908 A Moving Finish Line, A Wobbly Italian And Sympathetic Queen; 1914 Warring German & British Play Football & Celebrate; 1936 Blond German Helps Black American During Hitler's Olympics; 1948 A Sad Celebration, A Standing Ovation & Three Cheers; 1958 Irishman Saves Lives and Honour in Munich Air Crash; 1969 America's Jack Nicklaus Gives A Brit A 'gimme' Ryder Cup; 1976 Fujimoto Shattered Knee Doesn't Affect The Team; 1981 German Pallbearer Lays His Old USA Adversary To Rest; 1995 Mandela Calms The Rage and Boosts The Strength; 2003 Cycling's Gentleman's Club Wait For Leader To Remount; 2007 Alan Johnston's Palestinian Kidnapper's Sporting Kindness; 2008 101 Year Old Marathon Runner Helps Next Generation; 2008 He Junquan, The Quintessential Sportsman;

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199208 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 210 pages

Customer Reviews

A Real Gem
Came across this little gem while waiting for a delayed flight out of Dublin airport. Rather then getting pissed-off with the prolonged wait, I settled down for a light refreshment, got totally immersed (in the book), read close to half of these wonderful stories and ended up feeling in a far more favourable frame of mind. The high-maintenance, big-bucks sportsworld of today could really do with a reconnection to the spirit displayed by the outstanding people in this book.
Every Premiership chairman should stick a copy in their players' Christmas stockings.
A very well put-together collection and you don't even need to be a sports fan to appreciate it. Powerful stuff - highly recommended.

Fabulous, uplifting, stories that remind you of what is important in life
I haven't finished this book yet but look forward to the next story. Each one is powerful, encouraging and if not life changing it is, at the very least, day changing. It makes you remember what is important in life and approach your own day with a more positive, community spirited attitude. Don't we all need a bit of that in this day and age.
The author P.R.Smith has hit on a missing link in life and sports today and the reminder is like manna in the wilderness, water in the desert, light in the darkness. It refreshes the spirit, strengthens the heart and offers direction for the soul, not to mention making you laugh one minute and cry the next.
Like others I notice who have written a review here I'm not even a big sports enthusiast. You don't need to be. This is a book about compassion, spirit and heart, it's just it happens to be set in the sports arena and as a result makes you more interested in the sports from which the stories originate.
This will make a great Fathers day/Birthday/Christmas present for any man...and any woman come to that.
A real gem of a book.

Great Moments Of Sportsmanship
This is a cracking read. It's about time all those unsung heroes got a well deserved pat on the back. They're all champions at heart. Great Moments of Sportsmanship & Extraordinary Sports People