Follett Distributes Sporting Chance Press Winning Ways

sportingchancepress.com Winning Ways Books

Libraries have many choices these days on where they can buy their books.  It's not easy to secure partners who can sell your books to libraries.  For libraries and schools using Follett Corporation to provide their books, our Winning Ways Series is now available from them. Our Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways (middle grades) and Baseball's Winning Ways (young adults) are now available through Follett.

Baseball’s Winning Ways is written for enjoyment, inspiration, and information by the author of The 10 Commandments of Baseball, J. D. Thorne. Baseball’s Winning Ways examines baseball eras and their backgrounds, along with profiles of great current and past players. The drama of the game, its history, baseball superstitions, statistics, and the story of trading cards are presented clearly for readers from age 12 on up. The central theme of the book is baseball’s principles that are essential to the best baseball programs. The author points out that baseball promotes certain virtues that are so important today. These are the values that parents, grandparents, teachers, and coaches want to pass down to the next generation—as important now as ever.

 

Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways by Patrick McCaskey tells the dramatic story of George Halas and his crucial role in professional football--all written for middle grades and young adult readers. Papa Bear's leadership took professional football from its beginning into the modern age. In Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways, highlights of history are presented with vintage photographs so readers are not only  exposed to story of football, but they get  American history as well. Halas's important words of wisdom, his winning ways, are also explored and are tied into Ben Franklin's self-help methods for young people. A glossary, quiz, and discussion questions offer young football fans plenty of  learning opportunities whether at home or used in a school setting. Grandparents and parents will want to get this guide for their children and help expose them to some of the history, culture, and virtues that so important.

Poems About the Gospel: Jesus Prepared by Fasting and Praying by Patrick McCaskey

Sporting Chance Press

Surprising, inspiring, and all very human, McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel is a perfect book for all seasons. Patrick McCaskey is a Vice President and Director of the Chicago Bears. He is also a grandson of George "Papa Bear" Halas. Poems About the Gospel is available from Sporting Chance Press, Amazon and select bookstores. 

          

Jesus Prepared by Fasting and Praying by Patrick McCaskey

 

            Matthew 4:1-11

Before He gave the Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus Christ went into the wilderness.

He fasted forty days and forty nights.

He was hungry; the devil tempted Him.

Christ said, “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

Live on every word from the mouth of God.

Jesus Christ overcame three temptations.

Jesus did not seek personal glory.

He humbly did the will of God.  Amen.

When we are tempted, trust in God and pray.

Let us have fortitude and gratitude.

The grace of God leads us to victory.

The words of the Lord help us overcome

Our difficulties and our enemies.

 

Copyright 2021, Sporting Chance Press

Stories of Faith and Sacrifice

 We have been working for a decade on our Sports and Faith Series by Patrick McCaskey. And in some ways this series often reflects back on self sacrifice and giving. In 2019, we published our fourth book in the series called Worthwhile Struggle and then in 2020 we published our fifth, Sportsmanship. 

On the cover of Sportsmanship we include a famous photo of Papa Bear George Halas and Vince Lombardi. It hard to imagine two men who to better represent the struggle and hard work that went into the successful Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers football clubs. George Halas was also there in the early days of the NFL, helping to make it all work for generations to follow. It's not coincidental that both men were strong men of faith and they lived that way as well. 

On the cover of Worthwhile Struggle you will see Sister Jean of Loyola. It's hard to image a life more selflessly devoted to good than the life of a Catholic nun. Sister Jean was the team chaplain when the 2018 Ramblers went on the Final Four. And as she approached a century of living, she was asked to become a kind of media spokesman for the school. Confined to a wheel chair after a fall, Sister Jean was often wheeled out onto the stadium floor for "press conferences" and other events to help the school.  Decade after decade of service culminated in yet more service and sacrifice. 

Just as our parents and grandparents may have sacrificed and faced almost unfathomable hardships for their children, Sister Jean was out doing the same for "her Children" in Catholic Schools.  

At Sporting Chance Press, we continue to unapolgetically promote the good. 

2020 Sportsmanship

Our 2020 Sportsmanship is the most ambitious book in Patrick McCaskey’s popular Sports and Faith Series. The iconic cover photo of George Halas and Vince Lombardi says a lot about the book!

First, readers are treated to a wonderful Chicago Bears Calendar of historical events that celebrate one piece of Bears’ history for each day of the year. Facts surrounding many Bears’ players and their achievements are found here reflecting the hundred year history of the team. 

Next, individual chapters feature interesting stories, sports segments, personal reminiscences, faith experiences, and the author’s humorous musings. Reflecting the practice of classic sports journalist memoirs, McCaskey has frequently written about his favorite athletes and coaches. In Sportsmanship, the author adds a new twist to this practice by including a chapter on favorite writers who have inspired him. 

Perhaps a surprise for some readers will be the author’s chapter on biblical poems based on the four Gospels. Towards the end of the volume are McCaskey’s speeches that have been used at social and civil events, motivational presentations to churches and schools, and all types of occasions relating to his passion, the Chicago Bears.

As a Bears’ Vice President who is immersed in community outreach and personal charitable pursuits, McCaskey writes about many exceptional people that he has known along the way. Writing and speaking for many decades, the author is an athlete in his own right whose tastes in literature have influenced his career. McCaskey has always followed his grandfather George Halas’s advice to maintain a positive outlook. At the same time, readers will recognize his own enthusiasm for respecting those around him and taking time to smile and enjoy himself in his efforts.

Specifications: 

• Paperback : 368 pages
• ISBN-10 : 1734586303
• ISBN-13 : 978-1734586305
• Item Weight : 1.05 pounds
• Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.92 x 8.5 inches
• Publisher : Sporting Chance Press, Inc. (February 5, 2020)
• Price: $20, write publisher for quantity discounts. 

Sporting Chance Press Announces Publication of New Book: Poems About the Gospel

Poems About the Gospel features 150 short works written by Patrick McCaskey. Each poem provides the author's own take on an individual passage of one of the Evangelists that are often read at Mass and other Christian services. The poems reveal the thoughts and feelings of a modern man responding to the Gospel with faith, humility, and humor. The author’s poems remind us that the Christian faith is just as alive today as ever, and the inspired writings live alongside all our foibles and culture. The author’s sense of reality rushes in at unexpected times with a “time out” for humor. Readers are struck with all the author’s variety of thoughts that fall as they might, but never take away from the faith distilled. A 45+ year veteran and Vice President of the Chicago Bears, Patrick McCaskey is the grandson of founder George Halas. McCaskey has written many books on sports and faith. He serves as Chairman of Sports Faith International an initiative which recognizes people who are successful in sports while leading exemplary lives. The author also chairs WSFI Catholic Radio that broadcasts to northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

Worthwhile Struggle and Joan of Arc

We included a short piece on 15th century Saint Joan of Arc in our new book, Worthwhile Struggle, in our Sports and Faith Series by Patrick McCaskey.

Saint Joan of Arc was a patriot although she never had much backing from  her future king, the uncrowned Dolphin whom she was trying to help. Living during the Hundreds Year War, the state of France was a mess and plagued by English occupation and foreign holdouts. It was primarily the English that had Joan tried and burned at the stake, but she got no support from others. In history, the English carried the day in court, finding her guilty of heresy, executing Saint Joan and destroying any vestiges of her person--they took her ashes and tossed them into the Seine.  Later, the Pope had the whole trial reviewed and declared her innocent of heresy and a true and faithful daughter of the church. The fact that the Church ruled in one way one year and a decade later ruled another way demonstrating how civil authorities can have a bad influence the church.

Worthwhile Struggle features inspirational stories of exemplary athletes together with accounts of Patrick McCaskey’s personal experiences. Each of the first 10 chapters is titled from the author’s popular “10 Commandments of Football”—principles based on the author’s growing up in the Halas-McCaskey family with the Chicago Bears. Spending his time on faith-based initiatives and charitable causes, McCaskey is passionate about promoting the good—the focus of this series.  

In addition to many sports stories, Worthwhile Struggle includes quiz questions—often part of McCaskey’s popular presentations. In the final chapter, the Bears Vice President’s biblical poems are on display. There you will find the author’s personal celebrations on faith, struggles, and salvation. And in each chapter, there is a story of one of the great saints--like Saint Joan. McCaskey humor and enthusiasm weaves it all together in this fourth book of the Sports and Faith Series. 

Photo Source: Westminster Cathedral mosaic of St Joan is by W. C. Symons and commissioned by Catholic Women’s League in 1910.
Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
See https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7301142176/

New Sports and Faith book will be out in late November

Daniel Norris Photo 

Worthwhile Struggle features inspirational stories of exemplary athletes together with accounts of Patrick McCaskey’s personal experiences. Each of the first 10 chapters is titled from the author’s popular “10 Commandments of Football”—principles based on the author’s growing up in the Halas-McCaskey family with the Chicago Bears. Spending his time on faith-based initiatives and charitable causes, McCaskey is passionate about promoting the good—the focus of this series.  

Worthwhile Struggle is the fourth book in the Sports and Faith Series. Here's a few sentences on some of the people who are mentioned in the book:

Mike Ditka

Bears’ history comes with a lot of Mike Ditka. Six years at tight end (1961-1966) and 11 years (1982-1992) as head coach. During his time with the team, the Bears won 2 NFL Championships. He was a big part of both.

Gene Pingatore

Gene Pingatore is the long-time Head Basketball Coach at Saint Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois. The 1000game winner was inducted into the Sports Faith International Hall of Fame, which calls attention to the accomplishments of exemplary athletes, coaches, and teams. Pingatore’s program focuses on character and discipline.

Bill Wennington

Bill Wennington is a 7-foot tall 245 pound former professional basketball player who won several championships during his long career. “Wennington’s story is one of great patience, hard work, and a burning desire to succeed.”

Jim Finks

On September 12, 1974, Jim Finks joined the Chicago Bears as the executive vice president, general manager, and chief operating officer. Here is how he built the Bears’ 1985 Championship team.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton is right at the top of many sports analysts’ lists of the best players in NFL history. In 13 seasons, Payton had 3,838 rushes for 16,726 yards and 110 rushing touchdowns.

Kyle Long

Kyle is a 6-foot-6, 315 pound offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. Kyle Long was selected by the Bears with the 20th pick in the first round of the 2013 draft out of Oregon.

Tom O'Hara

Tom O’Hara was one of those runners who could not stay off the Chicago streets, alleys, parks, and paths. They led from his family’s modest Bucktown apartment to world records.

Guy Chamberlin

Guy Chamberlin won his NFL Championships in the 1920s. He was a brainy player and coach for championship teams— teams that no longer exist: The Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Bulldogs, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets.

Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers was a remarkable player. Exceptionally elusive, he used every inch of his body to twist and turn through defensive lines and past their best players. Sayers could see or sense everyone around him on the field.