Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: sport

  • The Backyard Games 

    The Backyard Games 

    With the excitement and build up for the Olympic Games this year, it is only natural that children become inspired to follow in their heroes’ footsteps. The front end pages of The Backyard Games show some sporting equipment and give snippets of information. We read that John Landy stopped in a race to help an opponent who had fallen, then went on to win the race.

    The story begins with children getting ready to present their own games. They have planned and have their own venue. Then each competitor selects a country to represent. The parade is around the clothesline, but luckily the sausage sizzle has been set up and soon the quest for gold will begin. Weightlifting, archery, bike racing and javelin throwing are some of the events attempted.

    These are the happiest, tiredest children who have had immense fun. They have handed out medals, played anthems and are ready for home until “Yumi cries out, How “bout my place tomorrow?” The drawings add details to the text and cause many pauses to examine the activities and the equipment. The text is in rhyme and adds to the spirit of the fun.  This surely promotes an interest in participating in sport, and shows the many areas children could excel in.

  • Living The Dream

    Living The Dream

    Well-known Australian author of cricket and football books, Ken Piesse’s passion for these sports is very evident in his 88th and latest book ‘Living the Dream’, which is crammed with experiences and anecdotes of his sporting life. As he engaged with so many Australian sporting superstars and heroes, this book is packed with first-hand interviews.

    In this his latest book, which spans his remarkable 60-year career covering his favourite sports, he gives the reader an insight into the character of well-known cricketers and footballers; information which rarely appeared in the news. The stories, which he shares relate not only to Australian household names like Shane Warne, Ron Barassi, Ian Chappell and Don Bradman but also to stars from other cricketing nations, like Brian Lara and Viv Richards.

    His multifaceted career in sports; journalist, commentator, after dinner speaker and bookseller, come to life in ‘Living the Dream’. He is a man with drive, ambition and some good fortune: no wonder it resulted in Ken Piesse being awarded an array of multi-media awards.

    Readers will find the photos and collections at the end of the book both interesting and informative; a must read book for cricket lovers.

  • The A – Z of Who I Could Be

    The A – Z of Who I Could Be

    26 athletes that every little kid [and big adult] should know

    As a child, Chloe Dalton and her sister loved to watch and cheer on athletes in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. They became so involved in the athletes and their achievements that, in 2020 Chloe began the platform of the Female Athlete Project. She has taken this interest one step further and presented this book, for the young and not so young. It is an A-Z list and description of 26 of Australia’s top athletes.

    Each double page features a top female Australian athlete; one page shows the athlete competing in their sport and on the facing page there is some written information about the woman and her chosen sport.

    From Paralympian Danni Di Torro, who has won medals in wheelchair tennis and para table tennis, to Ash Barty we discover and recognise some familiar faces.

    While many Olympians have names which are generally well known, sadly this is not so true of the Paralympians. Isis Holt won a Commonwealth Games gold medal and has won 5 Paralympian medals.

    There are a few thrilling stories told here as well. Yvette Higgins, scored the winning goal for the Women’s Water polo team with only 1.3 seconds left on the clock.

    The A-Z of Who Could I Be is an alphabet book with a difference. In short passages of text, we discover some new names, what they have achieved, and just how many sensational women athletes there are.

  • The First Matildas – the 1975 Asian Ladies Championship

    The First Matildas – the 1975 Asian Ladies Championship

    The Matilda’s have taken the world by storm during the 2023 Women’s World Cup series and raised the focus of women soccer and almost by default, women’s sport in Australia to the highest levels ever known, and certainly the accolades they have been receiving are very, very long overs due.

    The First Matilda’s written by Greg Downes pays tribute to the women, and the men, who formed the first Matilda’s Women’s Football team that went on to represent Australia in the 1975 Asian Ladies Championship and became known as the 1975ers.  

    How this came about and the many challenges that had to be faced, overcome and then in several instances accepted, makes interesting reading. These women, from many cultural backgrounds, came together from far and wide locations to begin the formation of what has today, resulted in a formidable force of women excelling in what was once a stanchly male dominated area.

    Each of the women that made up this historic side have been interviewed in detail about how they came to play football, how they discovered their local, or not so local sides and what it was like to train, work, and compete, before eventually going to Hong Kong to represent Australia in the AFC Women’s Cup which back in 1975 was something incredibly special.

    This AFC World Cup competition was the first of its kind and was run by the Asian Ladies Football Confederation; to get there was a challenge in itself, but one that was well met. In 2022, these pioneering women were still not recognised in full for their great achievement. Why? Because they were not men and the Football Association is still a political machine! The 2023 team will have hopefully shattered this concept for all time.

    Pat and Joe O’Connor, migrants to Australia where the instigators for the development of women’s football in New South Wales as well as going on to develop and formalise many aspects of the modern game. Joe, an Irishman from country Clair met and married Pat, a Warwickshire lass and decided to move to Australia in 1963 because of the weather and their love of the outdoors. They are now considered as the Godparents of Australian Women’s Football.

    A simple note from their son’s school asking if he would like to join the local soccer club, proved to be impetus that would result in what is today, a modern vibrant, highly respected team of Women who are taking, not only Australia but the world by storm as they continue to raise the bar for women athlete’s world-wide.

    The 1975ers, effectively the first Matilda’s began an historic journey, failed to get the recognition they well deserved but through their efforts, refusal to accept the limitation placed upon them and all the challenges of carving a place in a male dominated world of sport, have now, almost 40 years later, with the Matilda’s of 2023, finally achieved the recognition Australian women in sport so richly deserve.

    As with many books relating to a particular subject, in this case Woman Football, the material is interesting to the fans and supporters of the Sport. The style with which the history is compiled is somewhat unusual as the interviews with the women have been used as separate stories.

    These have been tied together with facts and background, which, draws attention to the women who are the focus, as they describe what it was like to be part of such a momentous change in sport and one that has seen many of them go on to be leading ‘ladies’ in the development of Women’s Football in Australia and world-wide.

  • Rediscover Your Athlete Within

    Rediscover Your Athlete Within

    A practical 10 step process to get you moving and keep you moving, for the rest of your life

    Over many years of working intimately with a broad and diverse range of people Brett Lillie has, through study and observation, learned much, discovered much and faced some serious personal issues.

    The issues were health related, a diagnosis of bowel cancer shattering. Facing the reality that something had to change in his life, he drew on not just his vast knowledge of the scientific aspects of living life to the fullest, but began to look at a new way forward into a holistic, active lifestyle, by rediscovering the Inner Athlete; the things that gave him joy, relaxation and happiness when he was younger, fitter, healthier.

    His findings are shared in Rediscover Your Athlete Within a very comprehensive, easy to read guide to discovering that which has been lost, your Inner Athlete; your pathway to your healthy, happy and energetic PM years ahead.

    Lillie says that as a chiropractor you get to know your clients well, if you are to successfully treat the issues that have bought them to your door. In doing so he realised that while he was treating them he was also on a massive learning curve. The effects of a sedentary lifestyle on his clients were not helping, along with stress and failure to make time to be able to rest the body, mind and soul, all of which he, at the age of 44 years, found out on a very personal level.

    To encourage people to get moving again, to be invigorated and re-vitalised he came up with a 10 step program to encourage you to effectively get moving, to get a fresh new perspective on life and to remain active as the years move inevitable along.

    Designed to be read step by step, you can also dive right into whatever section calls to you, but it is far more productive to begin at the beginning by making plans to succeed. As each step in the program is accomplished, the feeling of overall well-being increases, goals, both set out in the program and personal goals, are achieved, well deserved congratulations are in order.

    Gentle encouragement in a very practical manner is offered at each step, recognition that change is never easy is acknowledged many times, realistic goals are encouraged and if need be Lillie encourages the use of rituals and routines to hold the faith with yourself.

    Rediscover Your Athlete Within is a course or if you like, a program that will encourage change as well as offer support and understanding on how rediscover your athlete within, to be able to go forward with a spring in your step as a well as a fresh perspective on life. Been there, done that and guess what, it really does work.

  • Backyard Footy

    Backyard Footy

    Jy is a footy-crazy kid, who enjoys kicking, marking and scoring goals in his backyard. When the ball strays beyond the fence of his own home in the Kimberley, he discovers other children, who also love footy. Practicing by himself is fun, but doing it with new mates is much better; kicking around, tackling, and scoring goals, Jy is a winner!

    This enriching, beautifully illustrated hard backed picture book is written by winner of the black&write! Fellowship in 2022 author Carl Merrison, respected Jaru/Kija man. It is the first in the series ‘Backyard Sports’ for young readers. The rhythmic text with a repetitive line is meaningful but simple, making it perfect for emerging readers, particularly those lacking a little confidence.

    Samantha Campbell’s wonderful illustrations, reflect her life in remote communities across the Top End by not only exposing the young reader to aspects of living in outback Australia, but also to the ease with which children can make friends.

    A must for all school libraries.

  • Baller Boys Vs The Bulldozers

    Baller Boys Vs The Bulldozers

    Venessa Taylor has created a terrific series in mid-grade readers with the Baller Boys series, based around soccer, team work and life in general, which has a strong appeal to any young person who is a little bit sport mad. The Baller Boys v’s The Bulldozers is the second book in the series.

    The All Cultures (AC) United team has faced their first game of the season after a very lazy summer. Shay and Frankie are feeling the effects of far too much video a game play and not enough exercise, as Stokey Town is out-running them and seems to be going to win the game!!!

    Somewhat shame faced, even though the game was a draw, the team realise they are going to have to improve, and fast, if they want to be the Cup holders at the end of the season.

    AC United are united in more than their name they take up the challenge to get fit with a very innovative school fitness programme, but things are not going so well for Frankie; he is very worried his parents are going to buy a new house and he may be moving away from his beloved house and team.

    As the team begins to come together, horror of horrors, a girl, is bought into the side and what’s more she is good: very good. Shay is worried she may be better than him and as he is going to work hard to get the coveted title of Baller Boy at the end of the season, he sees Ashleigh as nothing but a real threat.

    Oscar’s neighbour hears their Club and football field are to be sold to developers which is perhaps almost the worst thing that could happen, but during their new fitness regimen the team run through a wooded area and hear birds calling. These birds are nightingales which live in the woods and their habitat needs to be protected.

    Along with their parents and the Coaches, Shay, Frankie and the team decide to take up the challenge of trying to get the development stopped, as well as protect the nightingale’s habitat. Will they be successful is the big concern, but they feel they, just like when they play soccer, they must work hard and be united in their cause.

    The Baller Boys v’s The Bulldozers is a very entertaining and engaging read which looks at sportsmanship, teamwork, loyalty, friendship but most importantly, working hard and doing the best you can to win the game, and if you don’t win, accepting your loss with good grace.

  • Good Night Irene

    Good Night Irene

    Having a dream and making that dream a desire requires blood, sweat and tears, if others perceive you to have a weight problem; to overcome bullies, tormentors and to rise above the pack takes courage.  From the humble beginnings, at the age of sixteen years calling a track and field event in Melbourne, the author Michael Schiavello is now one of the most recognisable and beloved broadcasters in martial arts. The picked on fat kid, who used his voice to break free, now uses it to transport viewers to the corners of the world to listen to his MMA fights, kickboxing, and Muay Thai laced with his quick witted commentaries.

    Growing up as an overweight son of immigrants, the author was plagued by bullies. Despite, assertions that he’d amount to nothing, he achieved credible final year results, though not enough to study architecture at the University of his choice. Disillusioned, his mother urged him to use his asset, a good voice; half-heartedly he undertook a stint of work experience at Triple M in 1990; his career was on its way!

    On the weekend, while his mates were out at parties with their girlfriends, his time was spent covering sports’ matches, filing reports and chasing down celebrity interviews. His interviews included comedian Billy Birmingham, Indian Test Captain Mahammad Azharuddin, Cathy Freeman, gun-toting Steven Seagal, Diego Maradona, and Hulk Hogan to name but a few. Most of these interviews did not come easily; they came as the result of commitment, dedication and investment of time with the off chance of getting a meeting with a celebrity.

    ‘Good Night Irene’ named after Michael Shiavello’s catch cry, gives reader’s an insight into aspects of his life, the behind the scenes workings of his ‘The Voice versus…’ interviews and his struggles with abuse, self-doubt and mental health.  Although readers of all ages will find this an interesting, inspiring read, Schiavello hopes it will appeal to teenagers through to those thirty year olds who are feeling directionless in life.

  • Fair Go, Sport

    Fair Go, Sport

    Peter FitzSimons is a prolific author and a well-known character. His books are known for their honesty and humour. In yet another book of sporting tales, he has written of incidents that are mostly never recounted. These short stories show sportspeople at their most witty and generous. They outline acts of bravery, as in the surfers who tuned around and swam for their mate who was about to be attacked by a shark, and acts of compassion. Quick witted exchanges between the West Indies cricket team and Sir Donald Bradman are also memorable.

    The Contents section is brief in this book. The stories are covered under the headings, The Inspirational, Only in Australia, It was better in my day, and Local Heroes. In The Inspirational, there are stories about John Landy who stopped in a race to help a runner he had injured. Betty Cuthbert’s sheer effort to get out of her wheelchair, stand, and walk to the podium to give Raelene Boyle her gold medal was unforgettable and indeed brings a tear to the eye.

    The Inspirational stories range from last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Michelle Payne, who defied odds and won the Cup on an outsider. In her speech to the nation she thanked the people who had supported her and told the rest to “Get stuffed.” Evonne Goolagong, Ron Clarke, and sculler Bobby Pearce feature in this section, and their dedication and determination are breathtaking.

    “Only In Australia” is the place where we find the story of two brothers playing against each other in AFL. As one man marks the ball and goes back to kick for goal, his brother calls out, ” My father slept with your Mother,” Not sure if that’s why he missed the goal. There is a page of poetry which is very funny, and a page of short pithy sayings for a good chuckle.

    Any sports person, would love this book, easy to read, easy to pick up, and you are guaranteed at least one laugh per page. Great Fun.

  • Patty Takes Charge: Game Day! 3

    Patty Takes Charge: Game Day! 3

    Patty Mills and Jared Thomas have created the third book in the poplar series Game Day aimed directly at sports loving children, particularly those who love basketball.

    Patty has finally been selected to play for Canberra and he is so excited. Coach Clarke feels all his hard work has paid off and now he has a chance to travel with the other boys, who have been elected from other Canberra teams, to compete in a major competition in Sydney. He is so excited he begins to feel he may have even a future in basketball.

    There is only one small problem and that is, when he is supposed to be in Sydney he is also supposed to be up in the Torres Straight at Athe’s birthday party and a family gathering. What to do?

    His mother says that it is OK and they will work around it, when he badly sprains his ankle at training and fears that he may not get to Sydney after all the effort to get everything sorted out.

    Finally, he is on the bus with the other team members, and they are heading to Sydney for the biggest event of their lives so far. Arriving at the stadium they are all overawed at the size of the venue and the huge amount of people all yelling for their teams.

    As the week goes on Paddy’s ankle holds up; the team, after being totally defeated in their first game, begins to look like a top performing team and they make it into the finals.

    Patty Mills is an Australian Olympian and NBA star. The Game Day series is the story of his growing up in Canberra as a sports mad kid and beginning to realise that with hard work and persistence, maybe he can become a champion at Basketball.

    With the series he hopes that it ‘will inspire all kids to reach for the stars, by embracing the skills and lessons we receive through culture and sport’.

    Patty Takes Charge is a lively read which teaches a little about the Torres Strait Islands culture, the dedication and commitment that goes into becoming a sports player and the rewards that can be found when you try hard.