Short description
Providing revealing cultural insight into what makes winners of the greatest players of sport, frustrated sportsman, Ian Stafford, shares with readers his exciting, hapless and painful adventures around the world as he puts his physical and mental skills to the ultimate test attempting to mix with the best of the sporting world.
Review
Sports journalist Stafford crossed the line and took to sport himself. For a year he played with the best. He trained with the Brazilian team Flamengo, he played squash with Jansher Khan, he ran a 3000m steeplechase with the Kenyans, rowed with Steve Redgrave, played cricket with the Australians and boxed with Roy Jones Jnr. It is a fascinating exercise in self-humiliation, but the real interest comes with the insight we get into the psyche of the champions, both the individuals and, perhaps more tellingly, the teams where ego and talents are subservient to team success. (Kirkus UK)