The Bus: My Life in and out of a Helmet by Jerome Bettis, Gene Wojciechowski
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Book Reviews of The Bus: My Life in and out of a Helmet
Book Review: Gotta love the Bus!
Summary: 5 Stars
You gotta love a man who writes honestly about himself and his life. The book is interesting and very well written. If you want to know more about Jerome's life, get the book.Book Review: Thank you!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am very happy with my experience ordering from you. This was a gift, the book we ordered arrived on time, in great condition. We couldn't ask for more...Book Review: Great Story
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a good story of growing up and choosing the right paths. That mistakes can be fixed and football is the greatest sport ever.Book Review: great book
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this as a gift for a steelers fan. It was inexpensive but he thanks me all of the time.Book Review: RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "THERE'S A HEART IN THIS BUS!"
Summary: 4 Stars
All football fans know about the "Bus". The 5 foot 11 inch 238-255 pound (Depending on the week.) battering ram of a running back. Bettis is the epitome of the blue collar "OLD SCHOOL" football player. You know He's coming, He's telling you He's coming. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or the suns shining, He's coming off tackle, and there is going to be some banging, and there is going to be pain. He's giving pain and he's taking pain, but that's how he's paved his way to a sure to be first vote election to the National Football League Hall Of Fame, and how he gained 13,662 yards, scored 94 touchdowns, and became a Super Bowl Champion.
While these are interesting and impressive numbers, I learned a lot more important things about the "Bus", and the education starts before you even reach the table of contents. The "Bus" has what amounts to an open letter to the world from his heart, dedicating this book to his deceased Father. Jerome states that his Dad taught him what it means to be a Father, a husband, and a man. What he says next brought tears to my eyes, because it is the exact, same, exalted feelings, I always state to the world about my dear departed Father. "My Father was the best Father in the world. He was my hero. Whenever somebody asks who inspired me, my answer is always the same my Father."
Bettis grew up with loving parents in a bad part of Detroit where his Father worked two jobs and education was stressed in their household. When some older kids in the neighborhood starting messing with Jerome, and tried to hurt him, his Mother found out, and I'll let Mrs. Bettis tell you what she did: "I tracked those kids down and I said, Don't you touch him. I'll kill you. Don't even look at him. I was a fearsome mother. We scared the fire out of them." Jerome was a geek, wore glasses, and did not have any football posters on his wall, nor did he harbor any dreams of being a pro football player. What he did dream of becoming was a "PRO BOWLER"! His favorite athletes were Hall Of Fame bowlers Earl Anthony and Marshall Holman. I'm sure some fans may be surprised that Jerome was a National Honor Society member. When he got involved in football in high school he burst upon the national scene, and narrowed down his college choices to Notre Dame and home town Michigan. Much to the dismay of hometown fans he picked Notre Dame. His story then chronicles his rise to college All-American and first round NFL draft choice. The very first thing he did with his bonus money was buy his parents a new house.
The "Bus" hits the truth as hard as he hits the defensive line with some of his straight from the hip declarations. Such as regarding his Rams teammate Jim Everett with the following description: "The worst thing you can call a player is soft, and Everett was as soft as puppy fur." Or in describing Steeler teammate and quarterback Mike Tomczak: "I'm not blaming Tomczak for the loss, but that was one of those games you need your quarterback to win it for you. Tomczak wasn't that kind of quarterback. That's not his fault. Usually we just needed him to manage the game for us. But when we needed him to win a game for us, he didn't have that type of talent."
There are many more interesting inside "tidbits" ranging from the "Bus" faking an injury, to the game he had to take three shots in his ankle and eight shots in his groin to be able to play. They're all hard-hitting, but what else would you expect from a hard-hitting blue collar Bus!