Tag archives for Football
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Erin Henderson, a linebacker on the Minnesota Vikings football team, has always loved big cats. While watching shows on the Nat Geo WILD channel during Big Cat Week, he was inspired to become what we like to call a “LIONbacker,” and help raise awareness of these endangered animals. He wants to make sure they will still be around when his two-year-old son grows up. He contacted National Geographic and offered to raise both awareness and money through his “Sacks for Cats” campaign–he pledged to make a donation for every sack he made during the 2012-2013 NFL season.
Henderson recently visited National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. with his family to present a $5,000 check to the Big Cats Initiative.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Tangerine
AUTHOR: Edward Bloor
Paul Fisher is a pretty nerdy-looking kid. It’s mainly because of the thick, Coke-bottle like glasses he has to wear since he lost some of his eyesight in an accident as a child. Paul was perfectly happy with his home in Houston, Texas, having friends he enjoyed spending his time with. However, all that changed when he moved to Tangerine, Florida, in the 7th grade. Florida was quite different from Texas with its muck fires and sink holes. But Paul really doesn’t mind all of those things though. What does bother him is his older brother, Erik. Erik is a high school football star and his dad has plans from him to join the pros one day. In fact, the family is so focused on the “Fisher Football dream” that they don’t see what Erik is really like. Erik has a dark side and to get what he wants, he will do anything. He puts on a nice act when adults are around, but even then he is scheming. Ever since Paul was a child he has been in constant fear of Erik. As Erik’s actions become more and more terrible, it is up to Paul to show his parents what sort of person Erik really is.
Paul finds that the one good thing about moving is that he can look forward to soccer at his new school. At his old school he didn’t make the team, so moving presents an opportunity to do what he loves instead of being overshadowed by Erik. Along the way, Paul learns lots of life’s lessons from his new classmates.
There is a lot of symbolism in this book, so try to think about the actual meaning of the text and how the symbols enhance the story. I was impressed with the action and how intense the story was. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time and it will engross you from start to finish.
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Rivalry
AUTHOR: John Feinstein
Hey, I’m back. I’m writing about a mystery book. I liked this book because it also involves sports. It is a series of books; all have something to do with sports. It’s about two teenagers who are reporters for two different newspapers. Stevie and Susan Carol are their names.
They were both invited to the Army vs. Navy game, which is a big football rivalry. The game would take place in D.C. Each reporter would each be assigned a team to cover. Stevie went to West Point to check out Army and Susan Carol hade to go to Annapolis, Maryland to see the Naval Academy.
When the game day finally came the refs were not being fair and both coaches were REALLY mad. It turns out the same refs were at he previous game for both teams and weren’t being very fair in those either. Can Susan Carol and Stevie get to the bottom of this? I can’t tell you that. You are going to have to read the book to find out. I think that if you like mystery or sports or both then this is the book for you. I recommend this book for kids 10-13. It keeps you up all night because you just can’t put it down.
Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Until next time: Hasta la vista amigos.
BOOK NAME: Two-Minute Drill, A Comeback Kids novel
AUTHOR: Mike Lupica
This time I’m writing about a sports book on football. Two-Minute Drill is about a kid named Scott that meets a kid named Chris, and they both love football.
Scott showed Chris his backyard football field that even had goalposts. They practice every day. They both try out for the Eagles and make the team. Chris is the quarterback and is one of the best players. Scott sits on the bench most of the game, but likes to practice drop-kicks in his backyard. A drop-kick is like a punt except it bounces before it’s kicked, and you can get three points or an extra point after a touchdown.
Scott is the brainiest kid in his sixth-grade class. Chris is the best football player in the school. Chris isn’t a very good reader, and Scott isn’t that good at football. So they made a deal. Scott would help Chris with his schoolwork and Chris would help Scott with football.
At the championship where the Eagles play the Lions, the Lions scored a safety to make the score 2-0. And that’s how it stayed until the 4th quarter. On third down Chris was sacked and got injured and the Eagles used their last timeout. The Eagles’ coach wanted to try and get a touchdown, but Chris told the coach that Scott could make a drop-kick. There were 2 seconds left in the game and Scott made the kick to make the score 3-2 – a baseball score! The Eagles won the Championship.
I liked the book because it was all about sports and I like sports too. Look in stores, because Mike Lupica has other books like Miracle on 49th Street and Hot Hands. I’m reading Hot Hands next. It’s about basketball.
