Marc Bona - The Reason We Play: American Sports Figures and What Inspires Them

The Reason We Play

American Sports Figures and
What Inspires Them

Marc Bona

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available

Names: Bona, Marc, author.

Title: The reason we play : American sports figures and what inspires them / Marc Bona.

Description: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Grades 79 | Summary: More than just a collection of biographical portraits of famous athletes, this book also inspires middle school and high school students through the athletes' stories of their favorite books, what motivates them, and what obstacles they have overcomeProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021011751 (print) | LCCN 2021011752 (ebook) | ISBN 9781538140932 (cloth) | ISBN 9781538140949 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Professional athletesUnited StatesBiographyJuvenile literature. | Professional athletesUnited StatesConduct of lifeJuvenile literature. | Motivation (Psychology)Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC GV697.A1 B568 2021 (print) | LCC GV697.A1 (ebook) | DDC 796.04/40922 [B]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021011751

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021011752

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

The idea for this book came to me years ago, but I suspect it has always been rumbling around in my brain since I was a kid. This was the type of book I enjoyed when I was young.

When I embarked on these journeysof finding the subjects, reaching out, and researching their livesI learned this would not be entirely a solitary project. Any book project is dependent on support from so many people, and I realized early on that was especially true for this book.

The research in finding athletes, coaches, and others formed a literary iceberg. I spent quite a bit of time on my own trying to find notable individuals who would be interested in telling me about books they read that stuck with them and advice they might have for kids. For a variety of reasons, many prospective subjects chose not to participate. My research was a constant reminder about the importance of perseverance. But along the way I had people who helped, and for that, I am grateful.

My sister, Maria Bonavoglia, brought her intelligent non-sports-fan eye to these pages to make sure my writing chapter after chapter was clear. My editor wife, Lynne Sherwin, reads everything I write, catching big-picture issues and minute problems, pointing out questions that should be asked, suggesting clarifications, and noting typos.

My neighbor, Mark Holaday, was of great assistance in connecting me with Gerry Faust. My friend Chris Lamb helped me reach out to Mike Veeck. His son, David Lamba sharp sports fantook an early read and offered me a kids perspective when he was a youngster (hes now studying sport management in college). My former colleague, sportswriter Amy Rosewater, gladly offered advice as did prolific columnist, author, and coworker Terry Pluto. Two colleagues lent their support: Chris Quinn, vice president of content for Advance Ohio, and Chris Fedor, a beat writer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The staff at the northwest branch of the Akron Public Library was always of service. My agent, Anne Devlin, believed in this project from the beginning. Christen Karniski, my editor at Rowman & Littlefield, guided me with a steady hand.

Brian Shellitos illustrations grace the pages. Through his eye the reader gains a clear picture of the athletes, coaches, and others, helping shape the literary portraits I tried to create.

Every one of the subjects in this book deserves a shoutout, if not a dedication. I cant thank them enough for taking time from busy schedules to answer my letters, which I wrote and mailed over several years. I had known something about everyone in here, but it wasnt until I dived into reading stories and books for my research that I came to learn so much more about them. College basketball coach Kim Mulkey was the first to respond, and receiving her letter gave me an initial boost of confidence. Tim Green, who I had interviewed for a feature story once, went above and beyond for me. He is as accomplished as an author as he was a football player. He is a testament to not wasting time, and I appreciate his willingness to contribute, as well as his gritty determination in life. Two of the subjects have since diedTodd Christensen and Frank Deford. I always enjoyed watching Christensen play and hearing him interviewed, and I loved reading Deford. Rest in peace.

Finally, if you are a youngster reading this book and want to be a writer, I encourage you to keep reading! Books open worlds and help you learn. They are an escape, and they make you think. So... read on!

A California Kid Learns to Skate

When you think of ice skating, cold places come to mind, like Canada to the north. Or maybe Minnesota in the Midwest. But California?

Brian Boitano was raised in Northern California, in what is known as the Bay Area. When he was eight years old, his mother took him to the Sunnyvale Ice Palace to see the Ice Follies, a show in which skaters in elaborate costumes leap, spin, and dance. Brian was amazed. One of the skaters was dressed as a beautiful Egyptian queen. He sat in awe of the performers in their colorful costumes gracefully sailing across the ice.

After the show, he couldnt stop thinking about the performers. He had played Little League baseball, and his dad was the coach. But Brian wanted to try figure skating, and he quickly fell in love with the sport. The decision he made to give up baseball and concentrate on skating altered his life.

Brian was born October 22, 1963, in Mountain View, California, where he had a great childhood. I was very independent and had a great imagination. He also was adventurous and loved to roller skate as fast as he could and then leap and spin in the air.

So his parents started taking him to ice skate. A woman named Linda Leaver watched Brian carefully at the rink. Linda knew a lot about skating; she was a coach who had helped many young skaters. After seeing him she went home that night and told her husband that Brian was the best little skater she had ever seen and one day would be a world champion.