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I Call the Shots | 
 enlarge | Authors: Johnny Miller, Guy Yocom
Publisher: Gotham
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 949704
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 1592400728
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.352
EAN: 9781592400720
ASIN: 1592400728
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
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Product Description
A straight-shooting look at the hottest issues and controversies in golf today, from the games most popular and provocative commentator Johnny Millers brilliant career as a professional golferincluding U.S. Open and British Open championshipshas been followed by a fourteen-year tenure in the broadcast booth as Americas most respected television golf analyst. In I Call the Shots he offers his no-holds-barred opinions, with trademark insight and wit, on all things golf: from the decline of playing etiquette to boorish fans; from legendary victories by the games greatest champions to monumental chokes that have destroyed careers; from the current state of the PGA Tour to the future of the game itself. In this completely revised and updated paperback edition, Miller offers his opinions on Tiger Woodss latest struggles and the 2004 Ryder Cup in an all-new chapter. Packed with the best and worst Johnny has seen in more than thirty years as a champion player and cherished announcer, I Call the Shots is a must-read for any golfer or fan of the game and is sure to be fuel for controversy and conversation on fairways, in locker rooms, and at nineteenth holes across the country.
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"Johnny Miller's brilliant golfing career, which includes winning the U.S. Open and the British Open, has been matched by his success as America's most respected television golf analyst. Known for delivering both criticism and praise in a colorful tone matched by none, Johnny takes on such issues as: o The rise of ""Smackdown Golf"" and the decline of manners in a game that was once a bastion of decorum o The truth about choking, and how to tell when pros are succumbing to pressure o How mega-long ""courses for horses"" are driving everyday hackers-the heart and soul of golf-away from the game o Johnny's ""Fields of Dreams"": the Top-10 courses he's seen and played o The reason PGA players tremble when they see Tiger Woods step on the first tee-and how they're now mustering the courage to take him on o The role of teaching ""gurus,"" and why they sometimes hurt players more than help them o Johnny's analyses of the game's best players, from Nicklaus to Woods to Sorenstam, and why the 1970s was golf's Golden Age Full of quips, anecdotes and ideas that will enrich every reader's appreciation of the game, I Call the Shots promises to be the most talked-about book on the links this year."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Blather and Bluster Until the Last Bit September 25, 2007
This book is full of just what we expect from Johnny -- a quick read, conversational, straight from the hip to the gut, without much care for factual or grammatical detail. But then, at the very end, Johnny includes an unedited letter from his late father, written to his son. That brief chapter is a surprise hole-in-one at the end of a predictable round.
Entertaining enough December 30, 2006
Like other reviewers, I noticed factual errors while reading this book. I also was puzzled that Johnny stated Tiger would beat Jack in his prime -- then later listed the five greatest golfers of all time as Jack, Jones, Nelson, Hogan, and Watson. No Woods in the list.
But it's an entertaining book and I enjoyed reading it. And for the record -- Johnny has recently admitted he was wrong to predict Tiger would not pass Jack's major record.
 Johnny shares candid opinions August 15, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Despite the factual errors, this book is great. Johnny Miller gives lots of great insight into the particular golfing style of many players of his generation, as well as the current group of top professionals. One thing I found odd, though, was Johnny's unusual praise for Billy Casper. Sure, Casper was good, but Johnny gushes over him like he was better than Arnold Palmer. If you enjoy golf, you will enjoy this easy to read book.
 Entertaining read for the casual golf fan May 1, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
We all know Johnny Miller as the "straight talking, hard hitting" golf commentator for NBC Sports. My dad and his generation also know him as a multiple-major winner who once was the legitimate rival of Nicklaus, Watson and Trevino. Being under 30, I have to rely on the accounts of Miller's game. I know him as a commentator, and that is the perspective that I brought to this book.
I didn't focus on the omissions and errors that others have lamented in previous reviews. I chalk that up to editing and honest mistakes. Besides, I think it adds a certain level of unintentional humility to the effort. When I listen to old-timers talk in general, I tend not to correct their every mistake. I let it go and hope that my kids or their kids don't call me to the carpet for my errors in the future. That being said, Miller has set himself up to be criticized for any mistake because he is such a hard ass on players and their breakdowns.
As for the book, I found it to be an easy, quick read. I am a sports fan and I like to hear honest opinions on sports and athletes. If noting else, Miller is honest with his opinions. He also tends to be a bit boastful of his accomplishments, but again, I don't mind if he wants to relive his glory days. Have you ever heard Jack not bring up how successful he was? I think Arnold Palmer is one of the only champions in any sport who doesn't blow his own horn.
Overall, if you are a golf fan or player, I think that you will find this to be a good read. I would put it behind Feinstein's "A Good Walk Spoiled" in terms of quality, but that is actually saying a lot in my opinion since I think that AGWS is one of the best sports books I have ever read. Ultimately "I Call the Shots" is on par with Reiley's "Who's Your Caddie".
Nice Swing, Army Golf August 6, 2005
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Having grown up a young sports fan in the 70s in Napa it was inevitable that I become a fan of Johnny Miller. Johnny was a local resident and in my mind, the most exciting golfer during his time. Johnny wasn't subject to the king-like glorification applied to Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and seemed to be much looser and free than Watson or Weiskopf. Much like many of the Bay Area sports stars of the day (think the Oakland Raiders) Johnny seemed accessible and open to his fans. Since then I have enjoyed listening to Johnny on NBC where his freewheeling style and honesty makes compelling commentary. Now that you know where I stand on Johnny, here comes the book review.
I Call the Shots really is Johnny's editorial on the game of golf. The memoir is un-bracketed by time and or scope and therefore is wide-ranging and I think a little broad. I very much enjoyed Johnny's recount of events that have occurred during both his playing career and his broadcasting career. Of particular interest to me was his self-criticism of his comments about Justin Leonard during the `99 Ryder Cup. One gets the clear message from this event and throughout the book that Johnny himself is not exempt from the honest critique he is sometimes criticized for from tour players and more boring announcers. Johnny's comments on his favorite courses and the choking continuum are fun to read although almost totally predictable. Even more compelling are the descriptions of the "inside" events that occur on Tour like accusations of cheating, gamesmanship on the course and player personalities, however these are few and far between in the course of the book. It appears to me that Johnny is much more willing to editorialize on the game of golf and not the players of golf. Most of his stories/essays seem unfortunately short and thin as if the editor was barking at him for breadth instead of depth. This leads to complete dogs of subjects like "Broadcasting does and don'ts", "Rules of Golf" and "Future Predictions" which almost seem like filler. I'm also at a loss as to how certain top topics get little to no discussion like equipment limits vs. course design. Even so, the book reads quickly and for any of the more die-hard fans of the game of golf it is definitely worth the time.
Overall the book is a good first effort for one of the great voices of the game to spout ideas about just about everything. Unfortunately for me, I know Johnny has more to say than what I read. I think he should be given a mulligan by the Publisher and allowed to write a book more targeted on fewer topics. Also if we want to win the Ryder Cup Johnny should get a look as Captain.
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