Sidelined: Overcoming Odds through Unity, Passion, and Perseverance

by Chuck Pagano

Chuck Pagano, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has become one of the most inspiring, intriguing personalities in the game of football. Only three games into his rookie season in 2012, Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia, sidelined by the side effects chemotherapy and months of recovery. Undeterred, Pagano didn’t let the confines of his hospital bed keep him from texts, calls, and emails kept him in constant contact with players, staff, and assistants. Motivated to be just as strong and determined as their ailing coach the team started winning game after game, compiling an impressive 11-5 record. The players weren’t the only ones touched by Pagano’s hope and strength of character. Inspired by the tenacity and toughness of their beloved coach, a newcomer to town, thousands of fans united to form Chuckstrong, a movement that soon raised millions to help beat cancer. Pagano, fueled by his faith, his family, and his love of football, returned to lead the Colts to another winning season and the divisional playoffs in 2013. With Pagano’s practical lessons on living, loving, and leading, Sidelined, which includes an 8-page color photo section, inspires us all to stay in the game and never accept defeat.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2014

Reviews

[Stephen McNett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about perseverance and relying on faith and serving others to overcome adversity.

Became a lot of season recap instead of cancer fighting, but that’s to be expected in a sports book about a coach.

Pagano is an awesome coach and leader of men. Good read.

[Katrina Roets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ask my oldest and he'll tell you that unless it's his brother playing, mom doesn't care much about football. So, when this book came up as an option for review, I picked it up, not for me, but for him. After finishing it, I'm putting it on the family shelf, not his personal shelf. It has been a very long time since I picked up a book and less than halfway through it, I was reaching for a notebook to jot down some of the quotes. Even if you're not a diehard football fan, you can't help but be inspired. I've had this book for a couple of months, but something led me to pick it up the other night and the timing was perfect. I'm about to make some changes and this book is one that when things are tough, I'm going to come back to time and time again. I honestly cannot say enough positive things, so instead, I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book:

"But regardless of our circumstances, they do not define us - not unless we give in and let them. Circumstances never determine who we are; they reveal who we are."
-- Coach Chuck Pagano

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have a box of Kleenex handy.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's the messed up element of life that always gets me. Just when you get to the top of the mountain in your profession, a life-altering disease or event knocks you off balance.

Chuck Pagano after 27 years as a loyal assistant coach, finally got his chance to be a head coach and then boom! he gets leukemia.

Within this book, you will get an idea of what he went through in chemotherapy as he was still trying to coach the Indianapolis Colts with text messages and the usage of his IPad.

You can tell within this book that Pagano didn't really want to relive his struggles with hospital care, chemotherapy, and all the other stuff that went along with his treatment. Because he didn't really give a lot of dialogue on those subjects. He was more concerned with discussing the Colts' 2012 and 2013 seasons.

By reading this book, you can tell how passionate he is about coaching and how BAD he wanted to get back to coaching and living his life the way it was before he was diagnosed with leukemia.

[Amy Gay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally bought this book just because it was about our Colts coach. Coincidentally, I began reading it at just the right time, as it hit close to home with the challenges Pagano faced. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced loss or hardships in life. Although I am already a Colts fan, this book helped creat a whole new respect for the team.

[Jamie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read non-fiction, but this was interesting. My husband is a leukemia survivor, so I was sort of drawn to Chuck Pagano's story. I'm also a Colts fan. This book just gives you a behind the scenes of what was going on.

[Joseph Hageman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational and well written.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and inspiring

[Dalton Phillips]

Dalton Phillips
B3 English
October 1, 2014

Sidelined
Written by Chuck Pagano
with Bruce A. Tollner
foreword by Tony Dungy

Sidelined was written to tell the story of Coach Pagano’s journey with his fight against
cancer. Shortly after becoming the Indianapolis Colts coach in January 2012, he was diagnosed
with APL (Acute Promyelocytie Leukemia).
From his first day of being the Colts coach, Coach Pagano always told his team that they were there “to serve each other, on or off the field”. He believes that he won the fight against cancer because of the love and encouragement from his family and friends, including his Indianapolis Colts family. He knows that God played a huge role in his fight against cancer, too. The books talks a lot about his belief that everyone around him becoming “one” is what helped him stay strong to win the fight against cancer. The CHUCKSTRONG foundation raises money for cancer research so he can help other people win the fight against cancer.
Two styles of writing were used in this book; narration and description. Narration was used by telling the events of his fight with cancer. The book tells the events of his diagnosis, his chemotherapy, how he still coached his team and staff by sending them text messages, winning the fight, the first time he stepped back on the football field and more. Description was used when Coach Pagano talked about his chemotherapy treatments and how sick they made him. The reader could imagine being there in that moment through his details.
I enjoyed reading this book. I was encouraged by his story and his defeat against cancer. I have read books before about people’s lives but they were usually about how someone became an awesome basketball player or soccer player, not a person’s life story about becoming “one” with everyone around him and winning the fight against cancer.

[John Branney · Rating 3 out of 5]

How could you not like this book? It was written by a cancer survivor! Even with all of the football clichés, the book was an interesting read. However after reading it, I felt empty. I knew no more about Chuck Pagan than I did before I read the book. I knew more about the Indianapolis Colts, their opponents, and their schedule, but where is Coach Pagan, the cancer patient? What went through his mind as he fought for his life? What were the high points of his fight with cancer? The low points of his fight with cancer? How did he deal with cancer, outside of football? The reader really never finds out. Empty. One thumb up.

[Obsessed · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother is a breast cancer survivor.

My father was a victim of the same type of cancer that struck the coach. He was under the care of the same doctor. He didn't make it. Since he took part in several clinical trials, I'd like to think that he played a part in helping others survive this horrible disease.

On another note , I'm a big Colts fan and enjoyed reading the football-related portions of the book. But like a few other readers, I felt like the story told was a bit on the superficial side.

This is probably perfect for sports fans looking for an inspirational and easy read.

I was looking for a little bit more, though.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Family Christian in exchange for my honest review.

This was an easy, but captivating read. Coach Pagano begins with Spring training and takes us through his journey through his illness, he healing, and the power of encouragement from his team. Throughout the book Coach tells stories of conversations he had with players and coaches, and how each and every game during the 2012 season affected him.

Coach showed a true testament of faith during his healing, and encourages others to rely on their faith when facing battles in their lives.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far the best book I've read all year. It's more than just football. It's about faith, family, and fighting. Truly amazing. Inspirational and touching. I'm a Colts fan and this book makes me so proud to be a Colts fan. #chuckstrong. Donate to the fight.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled with this book. I love football but the recap of every game that was played during his diagnosis and recovery left me yawning. I wanted his testimony and instead I was given a play by play of his illness.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story of courage and perseverance. "Circumstances don't make you, they reveal you" - Coach Chuck Pagano