"Lord, I don't ask that I should win, but please, please don't let me finish behind Akabusi."
Undefeated
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Undefeated (Catching inspiration and hope thrown by athletes of integrity) Dave Branon, Bethany House, Minneapolis, 2006 ISBN 978-0-7642-0293-3 (171 pages)
The book consists of features on 35 Christian sportspeople - the best known to an international audience being Allyson Felix, Betsy King, Dwight Howard, Aaron Baddeley and Tim Howard. As well as professionals, college and high-school sportspeople are included.
Each chapter deals with an incident or aspect of the sportsperson's career. Branon then adds Scriptures, which are relevant to the experiences referred to. This will provide excellent sporting examples for sermons and youth talks. That all seem to be presented as victorious saints - rather than real people with struggles - did bother me.
Also, if you don't know your CBA from your WNBA, your NAIA from your UCSB, your Heisman Trophy from your Bruno Nagorski, if you struggle to distinguish Reggie from Peyton or Alex, believe that offensive players should get a red card, if you think speedway is on two wheels and are unfamiliar with the concept of retiring a number -and I am all of those - then much of the book will go over your head!
What Dylan Thomas said about UK and American having the barrier of a common language, is also applicable to sport!