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33-Year-Old Rookie (2008)

by Chris Coste(Favorite Author)

3.56 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1616831715 (ISBN13: 9781616831714)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Random House Publishing Group

review 1: First off, let me say that I have total respect for Chris Coste. Eleven years in the minor league is usually enough for any player to retire. He stuck it out and finally made it to the major leagues. What I didn't like was there was a lack of being humble. Through the book, he would constantly bring up about how he was overlooked, which may have been true, but was a constant theme in every chapter. The lack of modesty made the book hard to get through the whole thing. I made it through, because I hate starting books without finishing them. I also hoped for something to really change my mind, but found nothing by the end of the book.
review 2: The 33-year-old Rookie vs. The Dog KillerI love sports. I love the possibilities, the dreams, the striving. Athletes man... moreifest determination, grit, and desire on a mental, spiritual, and physical level unmatched in any other arena. More than anything, I'm thankful for the inspiration, and many times, the absolute wonder of some athletes' accomplishments. And sometimes I'm crestfallen and/or disgusted by their downfalls.This year, we were blessed with witnessing Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt's God-like victories at the Olympics. I was terribly saddened by Ryan Shay's untimely death during the Men's Olympic Marathon Trials. I was also deeply disappointed by Marion Jones' disgrace and subsequent sentencing of six months in prison for lying about using steroids and a check-fraud scam.The behavior of athletes does influence us. They are role models. They should be held to a higher standard. There could not be two athletes more at the opposite ends of the spectrum than former NFL player Michael Vick and Philadelphia Phillies' catcher Chris Coste.I bring up these two guys because I just finished reading Coste's book "The 33-Year-Old Rookie" and an article in Sports Illustrated about what happened to the 51 pit bulls seized from Vick's dogfighting operation.There were some similarities in my reaction to these stories. Tears came to my eyes when Chris Coste finally made it to the The Show after 11 years in the minor leagues. His story was was one of gratitude and humility. There were no sex scandals, doping, wife-beating, drugs and alcohol abuse, or even much foul language. I only remember one bad word in the whole book.Tears also came to my eyes reading that 47 of the 51 dogs, taken after local and state authorities busted Vick's Bad Newz Kennels, survived and have found loving homes. Dogs like Sweet Jasmine, Teddles, Zippy, Grace and Sweet Pea are putting back together their shattered lives. They are healing, and in some cases, helping to heal others.The article highlighted a quote by Gandhi over the entrance to Oakland Animal Services that I'd like to share. "The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." It's probably a good thing that I was not called to judge Michael Vick. He would not have done well if he had had to sustain the same punishments his dogs survived.These two men could not be more different. Coste was awarded the 2007 Media Good Guy Award. I had no idea they gave an award for being a good guy. He is definitely the right guy to win it. Vick received 23 months at Leavenworth.As for me, I can't wait for Spring, Opening Day, hot dogs, the National Anthem, and the seventh-inning stretch. I may not know a lot about Baseball, but I know enough to know that it is an open-eyed meditation. It is a call for the community to come together and watch the slow unfolding of competition.The 33-Year-Old Rookie reminds me that the long, cold winter will soon end with the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. It reminds me why I love Baseball, and why I admire athletes' determination, grit, and desire. less

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