Lessons of the Game: The Untold Story of High School Football (Paperback)

by Derek Sparks (Author), Stuart K. Robinson (Author), Dale Dixon (Author) "I should have let the phone ring..." (more)
Key Phrases: Valley Prep, Mater Dei, Southern Section (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Derek Sparks is a young man whose life has been mired in controversy...The door was open to confusion and corruption, something not unusual to....high school athletes..." -- Shelly Smith-ESPN Sports Reporter

"Lessons of the Game, delivers a message the public needs to hear." -- George Raveling-T.V. Commentator

"This is the most shocking story that I've heard in my 20 years of association with athletics, you don't this kind of stuff on the NCAA level." -- Stan Thomas, former Commissioner of Athletics-CIF

Product Description
Payoffs (under the table cash), grade tampering , eligibility scandals, illegal recruitment tactics, lies, deception and immorality are all a continuous part of this real life story.

It shows the twisted nature of coaches, administrators, and family, hell-bent on winning while ambivalent to the academic and personal development of the student athlete.

Derek Sparks shows us what it takes to keep a dream alive, in this story of his transfer to four different high schools in four different years. He faces the challenges of loneliness, temptation, ostracism, while living in a gang-land enviroment. He also fights a desperate battle to prove his eligibility, while protecting his scholarship offers, and acheive qualifying SAT scores even after an insidious vow from his coaches: "YOU'LL NEVER PLAY ORGANIZED FOOTBALL AGAIN!"

Derek's story delivers a message to today's students seeking a future in athletics, or to the average student seeking a future in life. It tells of the wisdom and maturity a 21st century student must have to steer their way through a maze of manipulators and opportunists.

Through his mistakes and his successes, Derek conveys his testimony with a vision of a better way. END

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Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Game Time Publishing (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967147115
• ISBN-13: 978-0967147116
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #757,296 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for any student-athlete, December 3, 1999

By	Konrad Pimiskern (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

As a former student-athlete I knew that stuff like this went on. But I had no idea the extreame lengths that "Grown-ups" will go to move themselves one more rung up the ladder at the expense of our children. We are concerned for our children. We try to tell them to stay away from drugs, crime, violence, bad influence, but we are blind to the gross misconduct of people in positions of trust and authority, especially if it means a scholarship. There is nothing of value that a person can learn from a school if the "Grown-ups" that nurture them in those tender years teach them through example to be corrupt or corruptible people. Derek Sparks is a walking talking example of someone who fought against all odds to become his own man. This is a must-read for any and all aspiring student-athletes. -Konrad Pimiskern

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How true is it?, January 15, 2003

By A Customer

Hello,
I just finished this book and found it very interesting being as how i just finished my first season as a high school quarterback, and i have many of the same aspirations to do what he dreamed of doing. I was wondering though how much of a sugarcoat was put on derek in this book. it played out looking like everyone else were the bad guys. I wondered if one of the so called bad guys were to write a book stating his side who would you belive. But anyhow it was an exelent book and i encourage every one to give this book a try!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites!, December 22, 2002

By	Mary Closson (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

I became a fan of Derek Sparks after hearing him speak at the YMCA Apple Cup Rally Benefit Dinner. He was amazing! Today, a month later, I can still feel the power of the GAMETIME message. I am 33 years old and Derek helped me examine myself and my life . I have a renewed spirit and confidence in the days ahead. I applaud Derek for his work with youth and his courage to make a difference.

His life story is sad and heart wrenching, but at the same time refreshing to know that we all can survive the Lessons of Life and live to tell the good news.