Alive & Kicking; The True Life Story of How an NFL Star Survived Ulcerative Colitis and Ostomy Surgery
San Diego, California: The Firefly Press, 1996. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. Trade paperback. 277, [3] pages. Inscribed to President and Mrs. Bush by the author, Rolf Benirschke, on the half title page. Inscription reads: President and Mrs. Bush, It has been a real pleasure getting to know you and the family and watching Marvin recover so completely. Thank you for your support of this book and the people who struggle with IBD. I admire you both greatly! Rolf Benirschke. Book includes Dedication, Acknowledgments, Introduction,and Appendix. Chapters cover Redemption; The Early Years; The Next Step; Storm Clouds; Slowly Sinking; Early Call; Lightning Strikes; He Ain't Heavy; One More Time; Return to Sender; Not a Third Time; Home Sweet Home; On Mailbox at a Time; It Takes Little Steps; Larger than Me; Getting the Word Out; Checking It Out; A Surgery to Anticipate; Along Came Mary; Want to Buy a Vowel?; and Two-Minute Warning. Appendix includes Interviews, Questions, Answers, and Information. The first interview is with Marvin Bush. Rolf Benirschke was an up-and-coming placekicker for the San Diego Chargers, earning a reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. But then a little-understood intestinal illness turned his life upside down. Despite four major abdominal surgeries that left him near death and wearing an ostomy pouch, he surprised his medical doctors and his Charger teammates by returning to the NFL for seven more seasons. He is the national spokesman for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. In 1996 he published, Alive and Kicking! from which his famous quote "It's not what you become, it's what you overcome" was first observed. Alive & Kicking is the autobiography of one of the best place kickers in NFL history. Drafted by the LA Raiders in 1977, the 334th player out of 335, Rolf was a twenty-two-year-old rookie from UC Davis. Soon traded to his home team, the San Diego Chargers, Rolf was in the unenviable position of being a rookie on the last-placed team in the NFL. That first season with the Chargers, Rolf broke the team record kicking twelve consecutive field goals. Assailed by severe cramps and a fever, believing he just had the flu, Rolf took the field the on a Sunday game against the Raiders. But when his symptoms persisted and tests were conducted, it was concluded that the young kicker was suffering from Crohn's disease. As Rolf's fame as a kicker grew to the point where he had converted 34 of his last 38 kicks, his condition worsened. But with support from his coaching staff and the public, he continued to play. Finally, during a return flight to San Diego fresh from a loss to the New England Patriots, Rolf collapsed. Rolf Joachim Benirschke (born February 7, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Diego Chargers (now the Los Angeles Chargers) from 1978 until 1986. In 1980 Benirschke returned to kicking and played seven more seasons with the team before retiring in 1987 as the team's all-time leader in points scored (766). He was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1983. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1983 season. Following his retirement from football Benirschke tried to find a career in television and was hired by Merv Griffin as host of a daytime game show. He has been involved in a variety of activities since then. Condition: Very good.
Keywords: Ulcerative Colitis, Ostomy Surgery, National Football League, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, IBD, San Diego Chargers, Kicker, Field Goals, Placekicker, Marvin Bush, President George Bush
ISBN: 1885553404
[Book #81869]
Price: $750.00