[edshuck]

In Concord California, not far from here, there is a high school football team that lost last night.

http://sfgate.com/sports/preps/

I am a bit unsure of what levels are so I cannot relate high school and levels. But the article will relate most of the problem.

I am not interested in long winning streaks by any team. Regardless of the level of play.

I am interested in the struggle.

But now these kids will be hit with being the ones that lost "the streak". Maybe. Hope not.

But I do know that some of the parents were holding their kids with potential back from the 9th grade, just to put on a year and 20 pounds of muscle.

Thoughts?

[kall]

Wow! 151 games in a row is freakin amazing!

Bummer for them that they lost, but...as they say, it is only a game...and it is put into perspective by the fact that their 2003 MVP was shot dead less than a month ago.

I can look back to the days where The All Blacks were effectively an unstoppable force, winning almost every game they played. Those days are gone now.

[edshuck]

There is a book by John Grisham "Bleachers" about football. And a small town. The players. The fans. The girlfriends. The coaches. The gay guy coming out. Vietnam. Desegration.

The name of the team, Spartans. Color of uniform, green. Their streak ended at 86? I think.

He gives all of them personality. It is also on tape and cd. Check it out.

Kall, is there a link to a bookseller?

A bit more of a review.

The main character returns to the town after being away for several years. He had played quarterback for the Spartans. Had loved the coach, Eddie Rake. He had left the town hating the coach. Rake is dying. It is more, much more.

It is the story of a small town trying to find something that it can claim as its own. The booster club, who after cutting the grass and lining the field, trim the errant blades of grass by hand. Almost a fanatical fetish.

The field is not a playing field, it is an alter. And for many years, the high priest was Eddie Rake.

There will be a point where Grisham takes you to the edge of loathing of Eddie and as only the best authors can do, gives you a lots of reason to love him.

If you played a team sport. This book will bring emotion. It did not change anything about me, but it did remind me that I am human and some of the foolish things I did, were just that, human.

[kall]

Originally Posted by edshuck

There is a book by John Grisham "Bleachers" about football. And a small town. The players. The fans. The girlfriends. The coaches. The gay guy coming out. Vietnam. Desegration.

The name of the team, Spartans. Color of uniform, greeen. Their streak ended at 86? I think.

He gives all of them personality. It is also on tape and cd. Check it out.

Kall, is there a link to a bookseller?

How's this?

[edshuck]

Great!

I checked the reviews on tha Amazon site. They kind of pan it. I thought it was good. As I said above/.