Customer Reviews

Running for My Life: My Journey in the Game of Football and Beyond

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When the first page of the first chapter of a book takes the reader on a trip to *DEATH-ROW-AT-ANGOLA-STATE-PRISON-IN-LOUISIANA* you can be sure you're not at the beginning of a typical sports book! The author Warrick Dunn is assuredly a star football player in the NFL... and a former college All-American at Florida State University... and a first round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers... and the twenty-second player in NFL history to rush for ten-thousand-yards in his career... and the owner of many more enviable statistics...

**BUT**... more than anything else in the world... Warrick is his Mother's son... and there is nothing in his lifetime that he's prouder of! Warrick's Mother was much more than a Mother to him... they were also best friends. Part of the dedication in the front of the book is to his Mom and other special individuals... but... the story that unfolds as the author shares the innermost secrets... hopes... dreams... and pain of his very soul... are all a testament of the impact that his loved and idolized Mother... had on Warrick... and through him... on the world.

Betty Dunn Smothers was a Baton Rouge police officer and a single Mother with six children. In addition to working fulltime as a police officer she also took on after hours security work at department stores, convenience stores, and football games, in order to survive as a single Mother of six. On January 7, 1993 while working an extra-duty security job at a Piggly Wiggly grocery store she was taking an employee to make a night deposit at the bank... and she was ambushed and shot and killed. Officer Smothers was Warrick's Mother. Warrick would never be the same. A senior in high school, Warrick had to become the Parent of his five brothers and sisters. Throughout the story that follows, which includes his college and professional football careers, Dunn had to carry the extra burden of making sure his family was safe, disciplined, and going in the right direction. When Warrick was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft and signed the lucrative contract that followed... he never forgot where he came from... and the lifelong stress and dreams that his deceased Mother had always carried with her... especially the dream of a single Mother to get a nice home for her kids. His first NFL coach was a devout-spiritual-man, Tony Dungy. Tony told him that one of the first things he should do is make a commitment to helping the community. Warrick had already had that desire, but hadn't really found the right vehicle that would make him feel complete. Then... because of his never-ending thoughts of his Mother... he devised a way to help deserving single Mom's down on their luck.

"IT HAD TAKEN A WHILE, BUT I'D REALIZED MY DREAM. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TRANSLATE MY TALENT ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD INTO SOMETHING TRULY MEANINGFUL FOR HARD-WORKING, DETERMINED PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT A HANDOUT, BUT JUST NEEDED A BOOST. I KNEW THAT WAS WHAT MY MOTHER WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST PROUD OF: NOT MY RECORDS, NOT MY AWARDS, BUT THE WAY I USED MY WORLDLY SUCCESS TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK."... "AND THAT'S HOW *HOME-FOR-THE-HOLIDAYS* GOT ITS START." "TO DATE, *HOMES-FOR-THE-HOLIDAY* HAS HELPED 77 FAMILIES WITH 201 CHILDREN IN TOTAL. THE WARRICK DUNN FOUNDATION NOW HAS THE CAPACITY TO SPONSOR TEN HOMES ANNUALLY." Warrick assists with the down payment, along with everything imaginable a new homeowner would need to start a dream of living in a house they couldn't have afforded otherwise... everything from furniture... to a refrigerator... to food in the refrigerator... lawn mowers... even flowers and a toothbrush.

The author has come a long way from the awful night he lost his Mother in a brutal murder... and on October 23, 2007 Warrick sat face-to-face on death row with the man who killed his Mother and best friend... and asked why?

Warrick Dunn is an absolute role model in any way you care to define it. Today... and everyday... since his Mother left this earthly world... he is making her proud... and also making the world a better place.

This book I will say has been one of the best I have read for a long time. Mr Dunn has been a hero of mine on and off the field for a long time too. The book was well written, for it repeating itself, I do not agree with that. I call it refreshing everyones memory. It was a very emotional book to read, I was crying and cheering as I read it. Even if you are not a NFL fan, it is a great book on life and makes you think why things happen for a reason. Before i read this book I knew Dunn on the field more then off. Now I can say one of the best running backs is also a genuine down to earth person. The one quote by Frederick Douglass, that was included in this book made me really think that was "It is easier to build strong children then to repair broken men. That is what America needs now a days and Warrick Dunn has proved that it can be done in this book and he has done it in his life. I will be buying many copies for gifts.

I enjoyed this book and learned quite a bit about a guy I always admired. When you watch football games you don't know all this kind of detail about a player. I never knew how much the death of Warrick Dunn's mom affected him and his family. My favorite two players in the NFL are Warrick and Brett Farvre. Now it looks like they are both out of the NFL.
Anyway, if you are a fan of Warrick or a fan of FSU football, you have to read this book.

Warrick Dunn is an amazing human being as well as one of the best running backs of all time. He is my favorite player in the NFL. The flow of the story is a little back and forth at times, but is a very good read and an amazing and inspiring story!

While I had a hard time putting the book down because I'm such an avid Warrick Dunn fan and supporter, the author spent way too much time repeating parts of the story, almost verbatim. This book can be read in half the time because so much has already been said that it can be skipped over in the coming chapters.

Great book to learn more about Warrick Dunn. Being a football player is just a small part of this big man.

for the coaches that devote and dedicate their time and talents to our children. Warrick Dunn repeatedly gives his successes to the coaches that helped him to become who he is today. His dedication to his family, before and after the tragedy, are not only inspirational, but make him a hero among heroes. I read, I cried, I read some more, I cried some more.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a 'feel good' story, I bought this book for my son who is a middle and high school coach to see how inspiring he may be to his athletes. A true role model not only as a son, but as a sibling, a team player and as a community advocate.

As an FSU student the same time Warrick was, I was amazed to read this book. I never knew the depth of his loss and how he dealt with it. He is truly an amazing person and I really enjoyed reading this book. I bought one for my mom and aunt too! Thank you Warrick.

This was Really Awesome. I couldn't put the book down and finished it in just a few days. It was well written and really spoke to the heart of family, tradgey, love and the pain that you must overcome to survive. Warrick is and always has been a Hero of mine and this book just made it even more so. Thank you SO MUCH for carrying this book and getting it to me so rapidly. I bought some for gifts and believe they will enjoy the book as much as I did.

I thought the actual story of the family was great. But the writing was a little rambling and included too many repeat stories. The story could have been pieced together a lot better.