Sayers

September 1, 2007
Sayers, an NFL Hall of Famer, was a running back for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s, noted for having an elusive running style unlike anyone else's. He became an even greater pop culture figure because of the spectacularly successful 1971 TV movie "Brian's Song", adapted from his autobiography (with Al Silverman), "I Am Third". It depicted the moving relationship between the quiet African American Sayers and his ebullient Bears roommate, Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer. Sayers's second book, authored with Mitchell ("Cubs: Where Have You Gone?"), is, unfortunately, much less stimulating than his first. It is uneven and jumps around illogically from chapter to chapter. He focuses on how athletes need to "prepare to quit" during their careers so that they can live successful, fulfilling lives. It is an admirable message for which Sayers is a fine role model, but most readers would prefer more focus on Sayers's years with the Bears and his views of notable opponents and the NFL today. For Chicagoland libraries only.John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
In 1971, a made-for-TV movie moved millions to tears: the friendship between two football teammatesboth running backs, one white, one blackis put to the test and strengthened when one discovers he has terminal cancer. The movie was Brians Song, and the story was real. The cancer victim was Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo, and his teammate was Gale Sayers, a Hall-of-Famer who would become known as one of the best running backs of all time. In this as-told-to autobiography, Sayers tells his own story, paying modest homage to his own career while looking back at professional football at a time when every player wasnt a millionaire. Without sounding preachy, Sayers imparts his message that players ought to respect the game, give back to the community, and have a plan for postfootball life, and he candidly expresses his opinion that many of todays players fall short on all of these scores. An appendix in which he assembles his All-Time Bears Team is sure to give Chicago fans something to talk about. An enjoyable memoir from one of the class acts of the NFL.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)