The Bus: My Life in and out of a Helmet [Hardcover]

Jerome Bettis (Author), Gene Wojciechowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2007

He was one of pro football’s most beloved and respected stars, admired not only by NFL fans and his own teammates, but by his opponents as well. Super Bowl champion; six time Pro Bowler; NFL Comeback Player of the Year; NFL Man of the Year; fifth all-time leading rusher in the NFL; future Hall of Famer; now NBC Sports commentator.

You may think you know Jerome Bettis, but you don’t.

In The Bus, Jerome Bettis tells his full, unvarnished story for the first time--from his sometimes troubled childhood in inner-city Detroit to his difficult transition at Notre Dame, to a pro coach who almost caused him to quit the game, to a trade for the ages that resulted in ten glorious seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As a chunky child wearing glasses, Jerome’s only sports-related aspiration was to become a professional bowler. But growing up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Detroit, he eventually found his escape on the high school football field, thanks to the devotion of hard-working parents, a concerned coach, and his prodigious talent. He arrived at Notre Dame as one of the nation’s best prep players, but despite his incredible performances, he never stopped worrying that he would somehow blow his chance to make good. Drafted and later discarded by the Los Angeles Rams, it was in the football-obsessed city of Pittsburgh that Jerome found his home and became a legend.

The Bus captures the sweetness and honesty of Bettis, but also details the jaw-dropping, violent nature of the game he loved, the mind-boggling injuries he endured, and the cut-throat NFL business tactics he overcame and later mastered. Through it all, Jerome was also a loving son, an adoring father, and the ultimate teammate and mentor.

The Bus not only takes you under the helmet, but inside the huddle, the locker room, the practice field, the negotiating table, the owner’s office, and the Super Bowl sideline. You’ll learn how Bettis became The Bus, how he helped engineer the greatest trade in Steelers history, how he almost cost Pittsburgh a conference championship, and how sweet it was to win—finally—one for the thumb.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The National Football League's fifth all-time leading rusher tells of his journey from growing up on Detroit's mean streets to playing for the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. As a child, Bettis wore nerdy glasses and preferred bowling. In high school, he began playing football, but also started running with a smalltime neighborhood gang that sold drugs and carried firearms. He credits his escape from crime to his high school coach and his parents for laying down the law as well as the shock of seeing a friend get shot. A highly recruited high school player, he played three years at Notre Dame before turning pro with the Rams (both L.A. and St. Louis). During the latter part of his 13-year career, he had to compete for playing time and deal with a litany of injuries. For his last pro football game, he returned triumphantly to Detroit, which hosted the 2006 Super Bowl. Writing in an easygoing, honest voice, Bettis gives readers a good look at the inside stories of college recruiting, professional contracts and the agony of NFL injuries. He also dishes out opinions on players, calling former Rams quarterback Jim Everett soft as puppy fur and Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski a coward who specialized in cheap shots. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Bettis used natural ability, hard work, and emotional stability to put together an award-winning NFL career that ended in 2006 when his Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl. Bettis was raised on Detroit's mean streets, but thanks to loving parents and a moral compass, he avoided most of the serious missteps common to many in those circumstances. He became a Detroit prep star, earned a scholarship to Notre Dame, and after a successful career there, went on to stardom with the St. Louis Rams and later the Steelers. Bettis' abilities as a player secured one level of stardom, but it's always been his humor and one-of-the-guys demeanor that linked him most closely with fans. Wojciechowski, a senior writer for ESPN and coauthor of, among other books, Rick Majerus' classic memoir, My Life on a Napkin (1999), brings out all Bettis' best qualities in this enjoyable sports autobiography. Lukowsky, Wes

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; Complete Numbers Starting with 1, 1st Ed edition (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385520611
• ISBN-13: 978-0385520614
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "THERE'S A HEART IN THIS BUS!", September 8, 2007

By 

Rick Shaq Goldstein "*SHAQ*" (Danville, Ca, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Bus: My Life in and out of a Helmet (Hardcover)

All football fans know about the "Bus". The 5 foot 11 inch 238-255 pound (Depending on the week.) battering ram of a running back. Bettis is the epitome of the blue collar "OLD SCHOOL" football player. You know He's coming, He's telling you He's coming. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or the suns shining, He's coming off tackle, and there is going to be some banging, and there is going to be pain. He's giving pain and he's taking pain, but that's how he's paved his way to a sure to be first vote election to the National Football League Hall Of Fame, and how he gained 13,662 yards, scored 94 touchdowns, and became a Super Bowl Champion.

While these are interesting and impressive numbers, I learned a lot more important things about the "Bus", and the education starts before you even reach the table of contents. The "Bus" has what amounts to an open letter to the world from his heart, dedicating this book to his deceased Father. Jerome states that his Dad taught him what it means to be a Father, a husband, and a man. What he says next brought tears to my eyes, because it is the exact, same, exalted feelings, I always state to the world about my dear departed Father. "My Father was the best Father in the world. He was my hero. Whenever somebody asks who inspired me, my answer is always the same my Father."

Bettis grew up with loving parents in a bad part of Detroit where his Father worked two jobs and education was stressed in their household. When some older kids in the neighborhood starting messing with Jerome, and tried to hurt him, his Mother found out, and I'll let Mrs. Bettis tell you what she did: "I tracked those kids down and I said, Don't you touch him. I'll kill you. Don't even look at him. I was a fearsome mother. We scared the fire out of them." Jerome was a geek, wore glasses, and did not have any football posters on his wall, nor did he harbor any dreams of being a pro football player. What he did dream of becoming was a "PRO BOWLER"! His favorite athletes were Hall Of Fame bowlers Earl Anthony and Marshall Holman. I'm sure some fans may be surprised that Jerome was a National Honor Society member. When he got involved in football in high school he burst upon the national scene, and narrowed down his college choices to Notre Dame and home town Michigan. Much to the dismay of hometown fans he picked Notre Dame. His story then chronicles his rise to college All-American and first round NFL draft choice. The very first thing he did with his bonus money was buy his parents a new house.

The "Bus" hits the truth as hard as he hits the defensive line with some of his straight from the hip declarations. Such as regarding his Rams teammate Jim Everett with the following description: "The worst thing you can call a player is soft, and Everett was as soft as puppy fur." Or in describing Steeler teammate and quarterback Mike Tomczak: "I'm not blaming Tomczak for the loss, but that was one of those games you need your quarterback to win it for you. Tomczak wasn't that kind of quarterback. That's not his fault. Usually we just needed him to manage the game for us. But when we needed him to win a game for us, he didn't have that type of talent."

There are many more interesting inside "tidbits" ranging from the "Bus" faking an injury, to the game he had to take three shots in his ankle and eight shots in his groin to be able to play. They're all hard-hitting, but what else would you expect from a hard-hitting blue collar Bus!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jerome Bettis opens the world of the NFL to readers., September 20, 2007

By 

Aaron White (Aaron White, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bus: My Life in and out of a Helmet (Hardcover)

In this book Mr. Bettis offers an account of his life. I was surprised by the honesty with which he wrote the book. He wrote about his failures as a child growing up in the inner city of Detroit as well as his struggles in the NFL. He elaborates on many NFL related issues he was involved with.

Personally, reading a first hand account of some of the injuries was very interesting. I recall the 'fog bowl' playoff game when Pittsburgh travelled to New England in the playoffs and lost. Little did I know that The Bus had a groin injury that game and played anyways. Fans rarely hear about player injuries unless the player's on the injured list. It was interesting to read about that situation and have it come full circle as a fan not understanding why The Steelers didn't run the ball well in that game.

Most news headlines about this book state that Mr. Bettis faked an injury during his career to stay with the team. That assessment wasn't correct. He faked the timing of the injury, but not the injury itself. When I read the book I very much sympathized with his reasoning for doing so.

I learned a few life lessons in the book as well as reassured me of others. As a top player in the league, Mr. Bettis constantly had critics and had to work for everything he earned. Nothing was ever handed to him. Once he was in the league, he had to work harder to stay in the league.

If you're a fan of sports or of great success stories you'll love this book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a winner!, September 29, 2007

By 

Karen M. Marlett (Montoursville, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bus: My Life in and out of a Helmet (Hardcover)

Just like "The Bus" himself, this book is a winner. It is a must-read for all "Bus" and/or Steeler fans. He is witty, personable and honest and presents an insider's look into the workings of the NFL and also into his personal life. The story is one that will inspire any young person to "follow your dream", but is realistic in emphasizing the hard work, determination and resilience involved in achieving success. I would highly recommend it!