"What makes a Champion?"

I must admit that the only time I may have been in awe of athletes was prior to my teenage years. Never have I pondered over the question, what makes a champion?

However, upon glancing at the table of contents of a book entitled The Heart Of A Champion: Celebrating The Spirit And Character Of Great American Sports Heroes authored by the well-known sports writer and commentator Frank Deford, I was hooked.

Deford has written twelve previous books including novels, biography, sports, social history, humour and has been called the world's greatest sports writer. If you have won the six-time Sportswriter award of the Year and are a member of the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters, being called the greatest sports writer is an understatement.

Sports fans very often treat their sports heroes like demi- gods, however, from the very onset of the book, Deford makes it abundantly clear that athletes are neither gods nor heroes. They are our dream models. As he states: "we imagine ourselves in their places in our daydreams." Why do many of us look up to our baseball, hockey, basketball or football athletes?

According to Deford, "it is because a sports star is so visible and so beguiling, but also, classical. Athletes not only join us together in this more complicated culture, they connect us to the simpler past. In their glory, they make us feel more whole."

The book is divided into seven sections five of which deal with a particular aspect of what constitutes an essential ingredient of athletic greatness. These five are: commitment, grace, courage, team effort and perseverance. Within each of these sections Deford refers to athletes who portray a particular attribute that contributes to his or her greatness.

Who can argue that courage is the defining quality of hockey star Mario Lemieux? This Canadian hockey star suffered from excruciating back pains and was forced to undergo two operations. However, what is more amazing is that he overcame the dreadful Hodgkin's decease, a form of cancer and returned to play hockey.

How about Jackie Robinson, who Deford describes as the indisputably single most important athlete in our culture and probably the finest. The quality of grace is attributed to Robinson, who had to overcome problems with some of his own teammates, blatant racism on the baseball field, and threats from spectators. Nevertheless, he succeeded and paved the way for other African Americans to play in the major leagues.

These are just some of the many seductive stories included in the book along with the 250 full color and black and white photos and illustrations. A book I am sure will find shelf space in the homes and libraries of the many sports enthusiasts.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Posted December 1, 2002

Summary

In this exciting new book, award-winning sports writer and commentator Frank Deford captures the inspirational stories of many of the greatest athletes and teams to appear on a Wheaties box. For more than 75 years, the Wheaties box has celebrated the essence of being a champion: the character of excellence, the spirit of achievement, and the triumph of determination.

The Heart of a Champion is not just a who's who of sports legends. It honors the lesser-known champions as well as the most recognized figures in sports over the last 75 years. The Heart of a Champion pays tribute to those men and women whose commitment, determination, courage and team effort exemplify the true spirit of the archetypal champion.

This highly visual, compelling book focuses on the defining moments that turn an individual athlete or a team into a true champion. The stories and dramatic photographs of these athletes and their moments of triumph will inspire readers of all ages.