Champions of Faith: Catholic Sports Heroes Tell Their Stories | 
 enlarge | Author: Thomas A. O'toole
Publisher: Sheed & Ward
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $17.09
You Save: $5.86 (26%)
New (17) Used (13) from $9.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 705778
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 230
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.6
ISBN: 1580510914
Dewey Decimal Number: 282.092273
EAN: 9781580510912
ASIN: 1580510914
Publication Date: May 15, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Buyer satisfaction guaranteed! Excellent customer service. Cover shows little or no shelf wear. Shipping from CA.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Book Description
Are there heroes anymore? What role, if any, does faith play in the life of high-paid, famous athletes? Through the words of a wide range of popular athletes, Champions of Faith reveals that heroes still exist and that for many of those who take their role-model status seriously, faith plays a major part in their success and their witness. Over a period of two years, author Tom O'Toole, a devout Catholic and seasoned journalist, interviewed Catholic sports heroes such as Sammy Sosa, Lou Holtz, Mike Ditka, Dave Wannstedt, Suzie McConnell-Serio, Lenny Wilkens, "Rudy" Ruettiger, Alberto Salazar, Bobby Allison, Danny Abramowicz, Tara Lipinski, Ray Meyers, Fr. John Smyth, and Cammi Granto. Champions of Faith collects their stories of triumph and struggle, belief and doubt and offers wisdom, humor, and insight into the life of faith to form an inspiring book for people of all ages and backgrounds.
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| Customer Reviews:
 The Role Models We Need June 14, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Getting committed Catholics to share their faith is tougher than getting a Trappist to do a monologue. O'Toole manages to get these champions to share the meaningful role of their faith in their lives and their successes.
I never knew this side of Lenny Wilkins whom I have always admired as a class guy. Ditka is a boyhood hero since my dad got him to speak to our parish Holy Name Society in about 1963. Lou Holtz is a blast.
When I was a boy, reading the stories of sports heroes was inspiring to me. This book will do the same for today's kids. Buy it and give it to your children, and grandchildren. My God son loved it!
 Nice Chicago Sports centered book on the Faith May 31, 2002
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Not the smoothest of writing styles, but a great subject and intense attitude of the Catholic faith.
Written in interview style this book does not flow as it could. The sports stars are interesting and the faith spoken by most of them is clear and powerful but the "too live" interview style weakened the message for me. I was hoping to get some intense Catholic sound bites from great sports heroes but I came away feeling that it could have been stronger and easier to read.
It does feature quite a few Chicago area sports people so it gets my Chicago thumbs up. But sports and faith should be stronger than this book gives off.
Read Me December 19, 2001
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you are a Christian and are interested in athletics at any level, this is a book you should read. Or buy it for a special friend. O'Toole explores the connection to Faith for some names you will recognise. Yes, there are still heroes and they will not be drawn in by the dark forces that assail those who strive for greatness. O'Toole's combination of Christionaity and journalism makes for a very readable narative. I heartily recommend it.
It is about time... July 11, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Finally, someone has written about the persistent connection between athletics and christianity without excerpting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes playbook. The author manages to get hard cases like Mike Ditka to speak openly about their faith; not an easy task as Catholic athletes (unlike their born-again christain cousins) seem reluctant to share such intimate stories. Or perhaps no one besides this author has bothered to ask. I keep thinking that these athletes and coaches would be great models to Catholic kids, if only they knew the stories. I particularly liked the Lenny Wilkens interview, the rare combination of Catholic-African-American athlete. Only one question: where is the Bill Bradley interview? I learned during the recent presidential campaign that Bradley is a Catholic convert. I'll wait for the sequel.
Honest, funny, and holy. May 28, 2001
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Enjoyed the book. Liked the way many of the athletes covered tied into one another. They knew each other, worked together, spoke of each other, etc. Was as honest portrayal of those featured without unnecessary dialogue. Great intellectual writer who writes from the heart and pays attention to details. Buy one ... buy three ... and give them as gifts.
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