top sport star

Although I have read and pedaled a fair amount, I found this book interesting as it revealed the specifics of the work and training that produced Armstrong's remarkable accomplishments in cycling. As with any book, it provided bits and pieces both known and new. Simple, clear, and direct, it outlines a comprehensive program that can serve as a "preflight checklist" -- for newcomer or veteran. The book pulled together information that I had read or heard here and there. The weight training program is good for off-season cross-training and is clearly cycling specific. The dietary information and recommendations have the ring of common sense about them. As well the techniques and tactics for cycling are precise and easy to understand. The book does not provide too much info but simply gets to the matter at hand. Reminds me of the Greg Lemond "Complete Book of Bicycling" brought up to date. And as with Lemond, Armstrong and his story are inspirational -- an aspect of the book that can provide just that little extra push in training -- "Hey, if Lance can..." The Armstrong tale is extraordinary by any measure and this book affords us an inside look at the actual program that was hinted at in his book, "It's not About the Bike." (Aside re. "It's not About the Bike": the book is from the "gee whiz" school of sports writing but the story is so powerful that it compels ones attention and admiration -- esp. the portion dealing with what the Armstrongs went through to have a child). In sum, we all need more from guys like Armstrong to inspire our best efforts -- on the bike and off.

While most of the text of the book seems to be written by Chris Carmichael, Lance's personal coach, there are snippets of "What would Lance do?". These are very helpful and inspirational to novices like myself, and cover such various topics as diet to weight training. I was referred to this book by the bicycle shop where I purchased my road bike. The salesperson who helped me had taken up biking later in life, like myself. He had made amazing progress, and attributed it to Lance's book. For those like myself, who are on the steep part of the learning curve, it's good to have an accessible role model (Lance Armstrong) by means of this book. Although workouts are sketchy, each type of training is detailed, chapter at a time. I am still in base training and not yet into the seven week programs, but am looking forward to applying the workouts in my training regimen.

This was the first cycling/training book I picked up when I started trying to get myself back in shape. After dropping 50 pounds and being in the best aerobic shape of my life I can honestly say that this book got me going in the right direction in regards to training routines and nutrition. It is simple and a must read for beginners. More advanced cyclist might find it a little dull but there is still useful information no matter your skill level. Chris's other book, "The Ultimate Ride" is a great follow up to this book.

Basically, you know the story. Vince Vaughn owns a ratty, falling down, looser membership gym accross the street from the Global-Gym owned by ben stiller as an over the top fitness trainer. Basically, ben "I've never turned down a movie role" stiller has two characters he can play. One is the along Came Polly, Meet The Parents, Duplex, middle aged zero-self confidence neurotic nerd, and the other is Derek Zoolander. This is who he played in Dodgeball. It was bascially zoolander all over again. I actually had a chance to see zoolander this weekend because TBS was playing it 37 times in a row, and after seeing Dodgeball, it's obvious that almost all the same things that were funny about dodgeball were the same exact jokes in zoolander. THANK GOD they got vince vaughn, I suppose Owen Wilson was busy doing something so they couldn't get him.
The only thing REALLY good about this movie was rip torns character, the Mr. Miagi of dodgeball himself, who comes out of retirement to coach the underdog team. He was funny.

The jokes were terrible. There weren't nearly enough scenes of the actual dodgeball matches. If you've seen the trailer for this movie, then you've seen probably half of the actual dodgeball game scenes already. They only played ONE GAME before they got in the finals. What a joke. Nearly 99% of the laughs come when somebody gets hit in the balls with a dodgeball, which happens like every scene. Except for when they're getting hit in the balls with a crescent wrench, but you'll have to see the movie to learn about that one.

So, all in all, I really wish I would have waited for this to come out on DVD, and gone and seen Chronicles of Riddick instead.

I saw this movie yesterday with a friend and we both loved it. It's about a guy (Vince Vaughn) who owns a crappy little gym called Average Joe's with only a few very dedicated members. Across the street, there's a bigger, more fancy gym owned by Ben Stiller's charcater. Stiller tries to buy out Average Joe's, but Vaughn and the very dedicated members of his gym simply don't want to leave it. They have to come up with $50,000 to keep the gym, so they all decide to play in a dodgeball tournament with a grand prize of $50,000. Stiller's character finds out, so he and his crew enter the tournament just to beat out Vaughn.

Stiller is amusing in his role, but I don't really think he's that funny. The funniest character in the movie is definetly Patches, the crazy washed-up ex-dodgeball player who trains his team by throwing wrenches at them. Why are the crazy people always so much fun to laugh at?

But anyway, this is a mostly entertaining film. A few jokes fall flat, but for the most part, it'll get the laughs out of you. If you enjoy pirates, crazy people, cheerleaders or the sport itself, dodgeball is for you.

P.S.: THEY MENTION MY BAND'S NAME, "JABBERWOCKY", IN THE MOVIE. How much ass does that kick?

this is a truly great movie. granted, it is not very pansohic, but nonetheless, it is quite hilarious and the absurdity of it all will leave you gyrating upon the floor of the cinema.