|
Any Sabres fan should own this book. This a great book that looks into the life and mentality of a true hockey player.
From his first day at junior hockey to his last day on the ice as a Buffalo Sabre, authors Ray and Bailey expose the human side of the ups and downs of a professional athlete - what scares them and what drives them - first, as a green rookie putting on a team sweater for the first time and later, as a seasoned veteran. What I liked most about this book was the honest and open way the authors described the fears and insecurities of Rob Ray, not just as he was on his way to the NHL, but once he got there, as well. The book is engaging, thoughtful and very well-written and I highly recommend it to all sports fans. We all think of professional athletes as pampered stars who believe that the world revolves around them. Rayzor's Edge shows what it is really like for a kid growing up in a small town in Canada, working his way through junior hockey, dreaming to one day play in the NHL.
This is a book for fans and players. Rob Ray and Budd Bailey have given us a great real life story. Gene F. This book is great. As far as I can tell, it's the best thing to come out of the Sabres this season.
If you are a Sabres and/or Rob Ray fan, you will undoubtedly enjoy this book. Later in the book, Ray offers some new (to this reader, at least) thoughts regarding the mysterious departure of Buffalo Sabres Coach Ted Nolan. As a former Buffalo area resident and Sabres fan who has been somewhat distant from the team for quite awhile, I found a couple of sections of Rob Ray's book particularly interesting. First, he discusses the controversy surrounding star goalie Dominik Hasek's injury during the 1996 - 1997 playoffs.
It is refreshing to see a sports biography written by a role player, by someone who watched many of his team's greatest moments from the bench or even in street clothes. Sports superstars write books all the time, often after only one good season. While he would happily deck anyone on the ice, he seems to hesitate to say anything that might offend anyone he played with (with the notable exception of a certain Czech goalie), or even fought against.Enjoy this book for the story of a player who did his job as best he could, and still can't seem to believe he got to play in the the bigtime. And it is also refreshing to read the story of a player who made it by being the ultimate team player, a guy who had to struggle through the minors to make it.The book's main weakness is the Ray may be too nice a guy. Mostly it's the same story: How I overcame (insert minor setback here) by being blessed with incredible talent to become rich and famous.Rob Ray's story is a bit different. Ray had to struggle his whole life to make it in hockey.
|
