Book Review

What our Group thought of the book I Am Third:
The book I Am Third is very much a sports book. Our group overall didn't like the lack of emotion in the feeling of the book. We thought that he never felt passionate about anything but football. As we were discussing this our teacher told us Gale Sayers didn't write the book himself. This made the lack of emotion in the book make sense. If Gale is a quiet, shy, reserved man of course he isn't going to spill his deepest emotions to Al Silverman to be published all over the world. We have 3 girls in our group who love reading romatic, emotional books, so we didn't feel like this book was for us. The other 3 guys in our group like football but don't live it. We also felt that the book was a bit out of order chronologically. The connection between the author and the reader just wasn't there for any of us.

Who we would recommend this book to.....
We would recommend the book to anyone who loves football and understands the game. If you want a book about a man's struggle to work past an injury far deeper than just physical, and a determination to get back into the game of football, you would like this book.

Differences..
We read the book I Am Third and we also watched the movie Brian's Song. These are some of the differences we noticed...

• Brian's Song title vs. I am Third. We were glad they changed the title because the movie was only a few chapters of the book
• In Brian's Song, we saw Gale and Brians relationship develop. The book didn't explain much of this development which led us to questions of how they became such good friends.
• Linda and Gales relationship seemed meaningful and deep. When we read the book we felt that they had a shallow relationship that didn't have much value.
• We saw how Gale's personality really was in the movie, we saw his shyness come through.
• The movie was only a section of the book. Overall the book was about Gale's football carreer instead of the relationship between Gale and Brian.

I Am Third (Chapters 17-19)

Chapter Summary:
In the Final Chapters of I am Third, Gale and Linda have a discussion about what Gale and Linda agree/disagree about the many hours Gale spends sitting at home, listening to music and relaxing. Linda tells Gale that he worries to much and Gale always disagrees on these subjects. He has his own ways of thinking about things. An example of this is when he would call the doctor at any hour and ask about any pains or feelings he had with his injury. The doctor had inspired him by showing him the difference between an athlete and a Pro. Heart, motivation and to work past pains is what a Pro player consists of. Not only did Gale play football and take care of a family, he also wanted to get a stockbroker license. He worked very hard to achieve this and he ended up passing the test. Jesse Jackson and Gale developed a good relationship with each other and Gale was motivated by Jesse and all the charity work he had done. Gale helped in many organizations and to make better the lives of others. At the end of the book, Gale and Linda decide to adopt a wonderful child to better themselves, not only the adopted child.

Group Discussion Summary:
These are some topics we discussed this lit circle.....

• Gale's charactistics... Quiet.. Shy.. Nervous..
• Linda put up with a lot being married to a football player
• Caring for children
• Helping and dedicating time to charity work
• Having children with disabilities
• Not accepting others

....Thinking Question....

Gale Sayers became a big football star and donated to many charities. Do you think people donate just to say they could say they are generous? Would it be better for them not to donate time/money because its for the wrong reasons?

I am Third (Chapters 11-16)

Chapter Summary:
In the chapters we read Gale talks a lot about his college life, football, and his wife Linda. Gale felt as if his college was foreign to him, like he was too shy, and just not good enough to be there. He would often go home and visit his family and Linda and when he would return to the college he would start crying because it was so uncomforting for him to be there. Linda, his fiance, and eventually in the chapters, his wife, really helped Gale settle down and become more of a gentleman. Linda was a worrier and Gale was a boy. They balanced each other out. During his college carreer Gale gets noticed in many ways, both good and bad. Many people were very angry that Gale did not go to Nebraska University. They just loved watching him mess up and they made sure everyone knew when this happened. Many questions were asked to Gale like "Is this your greatest accomplishments Gale??" and he would simply just say "nope." He never held a certain moment as his greatest. We noticed, while reading these chapters Gale does have a good sense of loyality which is one of his best character traits. He promised the Chicago Bears that he would sign with him even when people kept offering him better deals. He would turn them down. To complete one of Gale's best football seasons, his daughter, Gale Lynn, was born.

Group Discussion Summary:
These are a few things we talked about this meeting....

• pros and cons for Gale to choose the Bears over Kanas City
• college was not his home...... Home was with Linda
• Gale made his first big mistake
• many people wanted to recruite him
• never getting a degree- good or bad thing?
• AFL or NFL?
• accoplishments.....6 touchdowns a game.....reached 2000 yards..
• Finally accepts defeats and moves on
• Takes Linda's view on things to acount
• being an optimistic person
• the relationship between him and Coach Halas- Father son relationship

....Thinking Question.....

Gale felt so alone at college. He felt like an outsider, or someone who doesn't belong. Have you ever felt that way? And if so, why? How do you get through that feeling?

I am Third (Chapters 7-10)

Chapter Summary:
These Chapters that we read were mostly about Gale Sayers childhood. He talked mostly about how when they lived in the "Ghetto." They lacked heat in the middle of winter, food when they were growing and using more and more energy, and attention from their parents. Gale felt that he was "negletted" the most out of all his brothers. He was the middle child, who was hard-headed and he never wanted to show emotion. His parents gambled with food money and they wasted much of their pay check on whiskey. The kids often caught animals like blackbirds and fried them up for a meal between them. When they moved to Omaha, his parents' drinking problem got much worse. His mom left many times, for a couple weeks, and then came back. He also talked about his competitiveness in sports with his brother. Gale never wanted the glory of winning, he just wanted to know he beat everyone else and that he could do it. Break was almost like a brother to Gale, he went with him to college visits and they just seemed to understand each other. In chapter 10 Gale and Linda reminisce about when they told their parents they wanted to get married. Gale's parents didn't really care but, Linda's parents shunned her. They disowned her for over a year. Gale talked about college visits. He wanted to see which one wanted him more. Which college wanted thee GALE SAYERS at their college? Picking the college that would get him into the NFL is what Gale wanted. In these chapters we learn why Gale is who he is. The way he acts, the way he thinks, and the way he views things is all affected by how he was brought up and taught.

Group Disscussion Summary:
In our 3rd lit group we talked about some of these topics......

• Gale's childhood affecting him now
• being competitive- Good and bads of this
• Feeling negletted and why Gale felt like this
• How Gale doesn't really react when he breaks records
• In the game, Gale always visualized 2 or 3 steps ahead.... did he do that in life?
• They didn't notice they lived in the "Ghetto" until they moved out.
• Gale doesn't talk much to Linda
• Early Marriage
• Trophy Wifes and marriage sybolism
• Racism and reverse Racism

..........Thinking Question.........

In the book, Gale talks about his childhood for a couple chapters. He is a very shy, yet prideful and he also doesn't like to show outward emotion. We believe he is like this from the way he was raised when he was younger, like being ignored from his parents, being competitive with his brothers, and living in a crappy apartment. Do you think how you live, how others treat you, and how you feel now effect what you will be like when you are an adult?

I am Third (Chapters 5-6)

Chapter Summary:
Chapter 5 was all about the struggles and strange things that happened during the 1969 season of football for the Bears. Gale struggles with the press asking constant questions about how his knee is affecting his season and assumptions like "Let's face it, Gale Sayers is not the Gale Sayers of old." Gale knows his knee is back 100% but not everyone is so convinced. Even from time to time Gale struggles to believe it himself. One of the only people who are so confident in Gale is Dr. Fox. He reassures Gale as the season goes on and pushes him to do his best. At the end of the 1969 season, the bears had lost all but one of their games. This, to Gale, was dissapointing but it gave him a shot to show himself as good as new. Gaining over 1000 yards, and 236 carries thoughout the 1969 season, Gale had silenced the doubts about his injury. Chapter 6 is titled "Pick." This chapter was all about the friendship between Brian Piccolo. Brian was a light-hearted, always happy, down-to-earth guy. During the games, when Gale would get tired, pick was always chosen to go in for Gale. When Gale had a good game, Pick had a good game. As Brian kept filling in for Gale they almost had a telepathic connection as to when Gale was tired and it was time for Pick to go in. They ended up rooming together, which at first was a little odd for both of them since Gale was black, and Brian was white. Even though this was one of their biggest differences, it is the thing that brought them closer. Pick was diagnosed with a magiliant tumor in his lung which eventually ended his life. Even towards his last days Brian still had his great attitude which made Gale realize how dumb he was for being so selfish when he was injured. Gale won the George S. Halas award which is given to the most courageous player. He gave this award to Pick during his funeral.

Group Disscussion Summary:
During our group disscussion we talked about a couple of different topics...

• 1969 was the worst year in the Bears history for football
• Gale wanted a chance to prove himself after his knee injury
• Piccolo telling Gale that he wasn't trying his hardest
• How to learn things from a losing season
• playing sports is a TEAM effort
• many peoples lives can be affected by one person or event
• Brian reminded us of Valoree
• there is a difference between saying you live by a saying and actually living it
• bad things happen to good people

.......Thinking Question..........

Gale and Brian Piccolo had a very unusual friendship. They made fun of each other and bonded over racist jokes. What things make up a friendship? What certian things make people bond and grow together?

I am Third (chapters 1-4)

Chapter Summary:

Gale Sayers was engaged in a game of football agianst the 49ers in 1968. He was tackled and this caused him a major knee injury. After this happens, he is very self absorbed about himself, his knee, and his carreer which he thought was over. During this time Gale was upset and lost. He underwent surgery by Dr. Fox who claimed that his knee would be in as good as, if not better shape then what it was before the injury. Right when Gale got home he went right to work on getting his knee working agian. He attended many brutal workouts. In chapter 4 Gale signed a deal with the Bears for a 3 year contract. He began his football carreer agian.

Group Discussion Summary:

We talked about the following things....

• injuries and reaction
• Gale's surgery on his knee
• self pity for getting hurt
• anger towards family
• he put sports before family
• his many friends and inside jokes between them
• strived for a contract after his injury
• values to live by
• selfishness

.......Thinking Question........

In the book I Am Third, Gale is affected in many ways from his injury, from being self-centered to striving for more. How do injuries affect our personality and attitude towards others and ourself?