Book – Lance Armstrong – It’s Not About The Bike

Over the years people have told me that this is the most inspiring autobiography/sports autobiography/book ever. I would probably give Johnny Mac’s ‘Serious’ that prize but this was good.

My first book in an age and I now plan to stick with my book a week goal. I started the next one the very next day.

Yes the boy done good because he fought cancer. Or rather the doctors and medicine fought cancer as he put it but he sure had the absolute determination to live. I feel determination and belief go a long way in achieving what you want.

I’m not quite sure of the hype surrounding his come back. What was he supposed to do? Become a bartender? Become a beach bum or carry on doing what he had trained for? Yes he came back better than ever because he was ecstatic to be alive. Wouldn’t you be?

All in all the book was inspiring and a lesson in that we should all get off our buts, stop moaning and do something we want to do.

7/10

Inspiration Factor 7 ½/10

8 Men and a Little Lady (Certificate 15 with caution)

A true story of water phobia and insanity 

It was the sort of challenge that one agrees on when drunk to impress the peers, usually in the pub very late on a Friday evening.

 

Sadly I wasn’t drunk and haven’t seen the inside of a pub for a record number of weeks. Therefore was obviously temporarily insane when I, a water phobic, non-sporty type agreed to go in a large but very narrow floating vessel on the usually perfect setting of Bedford’s River Ouse.

 

So why did a normally confident, stubborn and decisive person agree to this ridiculous idea? Partly not to be called a chicken for the rest of my career, partly to experience an Olympic sport but mostly to tick an achievement off the list. (It’s number 2 to surviving without cake and alcohol for 6 whole weeks – am I painting a negative picture of myself?)

 

As always, I’m sure the men were reminded to mind their language in front of a ‘lady’ only for the image to be completely shattered in the first few seconds. Having given up trying to get into the boat in a lady like fashion wearing exceptionally low slung jeans (big mistake, will know better next time. Actually, there will be NO next time!), I do believe I was the first to swear after the first sign of thunder just as I got my feet strapped in.

 

Within what seemed like a second, we pulled away from the treasured dry land before I could change my mind. Immediately my eyes shut, my head went down and my grip tightened on the bar in front of me.

 

After a while, the 5% of me that wanted to feel like the professional rowers do opened my eyes. I tried to pretend I was back on the canals of Venice to get me through the ‘experience’. For a few seconds it was pleasant, after all this was my favourite part of Bedford.

 

Then the guys put on the pressure and my thoughts were back from Venice with not a Cornetto or a song in sight!

 

I now was thinking more of films like Shipwrecked and The Storm. Where were Bruce Willis or Arnie when I needed them? The normally stunning riverside setting had become a deserted ghost town, or so I imagined because my were eyes were shut again.

 

As the crew got to the point where they were going to turn, we slowed down, just as the rain was at its heaviest. It was like a very fast fairground ride that you think is going to stop, but you don’t let go as you know it’s a trick; it’s only about to get faster going back the other way.

 

So near yet so very far. And so wet.

At this point I couldn’t open my eyes even if I wanted to because the rain was so heavy. My clothes were so wet that I must have doubled my weight so I wasn’t a ‘lightweight’ after all.

 

I now knew I was on my way back to dry land and being rescued by action hero Andy Smith (Bruce Willis’s night off apparently). The one thing that kept me going was Andy, the Cox’s humour. Although shaking with cold and fear (and I’m pretty sure pneumonia), for some reason it became too much of an effort to worry about drowning and a lot easier to see the funny side. For no apparent reason except the ridiculous situation I found myself in, I broke into a fit of giggles for the rest of the journey!

 

Although I was afraid, I did feel that even it the worst was to happen, I was in the very safe hands of 8 perfect gentlemen.

 

A survivor. (Shaken, not stirred)

Ryan Giggs

Book – Giggs, the Autobiography. By Ryan Giggs

As my all time favourite United hero, this was a must read, although it took me nearly 3 years to pick it up. (I know, my priorities have changed now, honest!)

 

I always believe the word ‘hero’ is over used but not as much as ‘legend’. I don’t think you can really be a legend until after you’ve gone, or at least after the age of 75 (I’ll regret saying that when I reach 74)

 

Hero = brave man, conqueror, champion, idol

Legend = fable, myth, fairy tale, marvel, prodigy

 

To me, a hero is someone who most of the time, does the right thing and inspires others to do the same.

 

In any case, Giggs has mostly been compared with George Best. 2 words more often than not followed by another 2, ‘United Legend’. Not something I agree with although I‘m aware I’m in the minority. As far as I can see, GB did the right for about 5 minutes, the rest of the time he did not although by my own definition, I guess he was still an inspiration to some.

 

Giggs is so much more of an all round nice guy and a gifted footballer much like one of his own favourite United player’s, Eric Cantona. ‘Gifted’ is another term I find difficult to associate with football. Talented maybe, but surely as David Beckham will testify, it takes practice, dedication, practice, patience, practice, training and practice. Talent can come with practice. With the ‘arts’ gifted can come into it but not really sports. Having said that, Springsteen’s E Street Band are the most gifted group of musicians I’m aware of but isn’t that where 20-30 years of intense practice gets you?

 

Talking of hero’s, my main football inspiration is undoubtedly Sir Alex Ferguson. The only other person to put the fear of God into me, other than my own Dad. There’s no way I would say ‘no’ to either. Ever.

Having said that, the likelihood of either asking anything of me is nil.

 

I have the utmost respect for Fergie, not that I would ever call him that to his face. It would be ‘Sir’, even before the Knighthood.

My respect for him is as a manager. As a ‘determined, won’t take second place, only the best will do, type of manager.

He is up there at the top of my list of business inspirations along with Dale Carnegie, and Richard Branson. None of these can be described as conventional in their time.

 

I wonder if Fergie would be on the list if I wasn’t a United Supporter but in the end, I’m grateful that I have had the opportunity to learn from the ‘Gaffer’.

 

While Dale Carnegie inspired my lifestyle choice as well as my management style, Branson inspired me to market well and use brands and not to care what others think. Also, that you can start a business from a shoe box. (That’s what they call spare rooms in Milton Keynes).

Ferguson taught me attitude; Think only about being the best. It’s the reason the picture of Old Trafford hands above my desk, not the team, but the ground. It represents the winning attitude during Fergie’s long reign that has made the team what it is.

 

Giggs book was a great, easy read. I love people who punctuate with ! to make a point! I do it but I’ve been told that it means the sentence wasn’t good enough! I’m going to do it anyway! Lots!

 

He talks about Ferguson and the times he did go against orders. He’s not the goody two shoes we think but he is but he is a dedicated footballer, team member and family man who likes to have fun, like the rest of us. He talks about winning and losing but more about winning. He talks about Cantona, ‘the best United footballer I have ever played with’, the famous boot incident with Beckham, marking the start of DB’s exit from Old Trafford.

 

I felt privileged to be on the inside of his story or at least the parts he is happy to share.

 

I look forward to the updated version that I trust will come with his dreaded but inevitable retirement from the beautiful game and the best team in the world.

 

9/10

Inspiration Factor 9/10 (It couldn’t be any less)