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Shoot First, Pass Later: My Life, No Filter
In this honest, no-nonsense book by one of the greatest American stars the NHL has ever known, Jeremy Roenick showcases his skill as a hockey storyteller In his one-of-a-kind way, Roenick shares stories from his 20-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks, providing an inside perspective on the oddities of life as a pro athlete. He explains why he openly considered the pros and cons of fighting a fan, opens up about tales of partying on road trips, and even how he became friends with former Vice President Dan Quayle. In one chapter, Roenick lends the pen to his wife, Tracy, to tell her side of the story. Nothing is held back as J. R. reveals his opinions about teammates, opponents, and the future of the game.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 27, 2015
7 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Roenick
6 books4 followersJeremy “J.R.” Roenick was born January 17, 1970, and is a former American National Hockey League player. He was drafted eighth overall in the NHL Entry Draft in 1988 by the Chicago Blackhawks.
He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and the San Jose Sharks over the course of his 20 year NHL season career.
He represented TEAM USA in numerous international tournaments, including two Olympics, 98′ & 02′ collecting a Silver Medal in Salt Lake City 2002. On November 10, 2007, he became the third American-born player to score 500 Goals.
On August 6, 2009, Roenick announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. Roenick finished his career having scored 513 goals with 703 assists in 1,363 games, for a total of 1,216 points.
Jeremy is famously noted as one of the most colorful personalities on and off the ice, and undeniably the most fan friendly star the NHL has ever produced.
Charitable work has always been a big part of Jeremy’s life, traveling North America supporting many causes helping to raise money and awareness.
Jeremy is currently enjoying a new career as an analyst for NBC Sports. His career as an analyst kicked off working for NBC ‘s network coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics where he acted as the counterpart for Mike Milbury. Jeremy’s successful coverage during the Winter Games led to NBC offering him a contract to join the network full-time.
Jeremy has now added “author” to his resume, completing his first Biography titled “J.R” which highlights his illustrious career and personal stories during a very outspoken and opinionated time in his life.
He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and the San Jose Sharks over the course of his 20 year NHL season career.
He represented TEAM USA in numerous international tournaments, including two Olympics, 98′ & 02′ collecting a Silver Medal in Salt Lake City 2002. On November 10, 2007, he became the third American-born player to score 500 Goals.
On August 6, 2009, Roenick announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. Roenick finished his career having scored 513 goals with 703 assists in 1,363 games, for a total of 1,216 points.
Jeremy is famously noted as one of the most colorful personalities on and off the ice, and undeniably the most fan friendly star the NHL has ever produced.
Charitable work has always been a big part of Jeremy’s life, traveling North America supporting many causes helping to raise money and awareness.
Jeremy is currently enjoying a new career as an analyst for NBC Sports. His career as an analyst kicked off working for NBC ‘s network coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics where he acted as the counterpart for Mike Milbury. Jeremy’s successful coverage during the Winter Games led to NBC offering him a contract to join the network full-time.
Jeremy has now added “author” to his resume, completing his first Biography titled “J.R” which highlights his illustrious career and personal stories during a very outspoken and opinionated time in his life.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 21, 2023
I love this guy’s honesty, and he doesn’t mind showing his behavior, loss of temper, sense of entitlement, and using the third person to refer to himself. He gives himself the nickname “Styles” and gets a license plate to let everyone else know. Love this guy as a character and an author. He doesn’t mind showing his surprise and slight anger at his poor daughter who fell pretty close to his tree, in his mind. And he talks of karma in a knowing way, relating his bad luck on the golf course and at the Casinos. What great stories, and never believable in the culture of hockey. Poor JR has such a bad reputation as a human being that he won’t likely get enshrinement that he desperately wants (and likely deserves) in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Great introduction chapter by his running buddy, Chris Chelios.
More great stories, and interesting that he really wanted to move into a management role of some sort with a team, even talking with the Commissioner about starting the team in Seattle, nearly 10 years before it happened. He also recognized Vegas’ potential to field a team. The prank on San Jose teammates Setoguchi and Mitchell is priceless!
Amazing that he had a chapter entitled Regrets, because he didn’t strike me as a person who could admit he was wrong. Last sentence he does admit (once) having a God Complex…hmmm… once? 😂 two chapters wasted though on him rating the best players in the game today (2015). Really? And then a chapter listing all the athletes that he considers friends. (Needless to say, his once-best friend Tony Amonte was not listed. Not a surprise there, considering Amonte passed on being interviewed for Roenick’s first book, remembering Roenick’s slash to Amonte’s head for no reason.). Hmmm again. And then he has a chapter on his special buddies, Dan Quayle and Benny Netanyahu 🫣. I did love his ending chapter on his top 27 moments. Nice job, JR 👍 🥅 👏
Postscript… This book was written in 2015, well before JR’s eventual faux pas, being himself on a podcast that teasingly admired and demeaned coworkers… so innocuous, compared to some of the stuff in this book. So I feel bad for Roenick, and will give him 4 stars, when I gave his first book only 1 star. As an author, I appreciate the funny and honest opinions, despite his rampantly skating ego.
More great stories, and interesting that he really wanted to move into a management role of some sort with a team, even talking with the Commissioner about starting the team in Seattle, nearly 10 years before it happened. He also recognized Vegas’ potential to field a team. The prank on San Jose teammates Setoguchi and Mitchell is priceless!
Amazing that he had a chapter entitled Regrets, because he didn’t strike me as a person who could admit he was wrong. Last sentence he does admit (once) having a God Complex…hmmm… once? 😂 two chapters wasted though on him rating the best players in the game today (2015). Really? And then a chapter listing all the athletes that he considers friends. (Needless to say, his once-best friend Tony Amonte was not listed. Not a surprise there, considering Amonte passed on being interviewed for Roenick’s first book, remembering Roenick’s slash to Amonte’s head for no reason.). Hmmm again. And then he has a chapter on his special buddies, Dan Quayle and Benny Netanyahu 🫣. I did love his ending chapter on his top 27 moments. Nice job, JR 👍 🥅 👏
Postscript… This book was written in 2015, well before JR’s eventual faux pas, being himself on a podcast that teasingly admired and demeaned coworkers… so innocuous, compared to some of the stuff in this book. So I feel bad for Roenick, and will give him 4 stars, when I gave his first book only 1 star. As an author, I appreciate the funny and honest opinions, despite his rampantly skating ego.
October 14, 2017
Good easy hockey read. I am a sucker for all american hockey players, but great to learn more about JR and an attitude that said our country is a as good as Canada at hockey and getting better every day. I am going to read his first book now, as I am more interested in his youth/junior hockey career.
August 14, 2024
I am a lifetime Roenick fan...now
Never really liked JR and I am not sure why! I decided to give him a shot and read this book. What can I say... I have no good reasons not too...I watched him play many times for the Coyotes... That should have been enough too be a lifetime fan! Thanks JR!
Never really liked JR and I am not sure why! I decided to give him a shot and read this book. What can I say... I have no good reasons not too...I watched him play many times for the Coyotes... That should have been enough too be a lifetime fan! Thanks JR!
July 6, 2019
Not as entertaining as his first book and certainly not free of filler. Still, JR's honest and brash way of voicing his opinions is fun to read.
July 28, 2023
Jeremy Roenick’s first book, his autobiographical “J.R.”, was everything a fan would expect from the slick-talking, loud-mouthed former hockey player. The read was fun, raw, honest and it totally felt like JR was telling you a story right there in person at some dive bar. His follow-up, SHOOT FIRST, PASS LATER, feels like extra material that was tacked together as sort of a post-script.
Don’t get me wrong. When Roenick talks, people listen. He is an entertaining and engaging speaker who always adds humor to his insights. And for that aspect alone, SHOOT FIRST, PASS LATER is a fun, satisfying read that any fan would enjoy. Unfortunately here, JR tends to ramble on about golf. A lot. Two full chapters worth as well as significant portions throughout. Reading about golf is about as exciting as it is watching the event on television, and for a hockey fan who is used to fast-paced action, golf is like attending a Grateful Dead jam session after leaving a Thrash Metal concert.
What does make JR’s book great, however, is when he is laying out all of his opinions. He talks the about the current state of the game, both calls out and praises players and, best of all, offers key advice to young players who are looking to work up through and into the NHL. When he gets repetitive on topics and stories covered in his first book, the pace again slows.
Again, the tone and and familiarity incorporated within is what makes this a easy, enjoyable read. And face it, true believer, if you are a JR fan, you're already sold. And you will enjoy it. Just like the tale of his 500th goal, though, the finale might not be as spectacular as originally desired.
More great stories and reviews are on ice at Read @ Joe's
Don’t get me wrong. When Roenick talks, people listen. He is an entertaining and engaging speaker who always adds humor to his insights. And for that aspect alone, SHOOT FIRST, PASS LATER is a fun, satisfying read that any fan would enjoy. Unfortunately here, JR tends to ramble on about golf. A lot. Two full chapters worth as well as significant portions throughout. Reading about golf is about as exciting as it is watching the event on television, and for a hockey fan who is used to fast-paced action, golf is like attending a Grateful Dead jam session after leaving a Thrash Metal concert.
What does make JR’s book great, however, is when he is laying out all of his opinions. He talks the about the current state of the game, both calls out and praises players and, best of all, offers key advice to young players who are looking to work up through and into the NHL. When he gets repetitive on topics and stories covered in his first book, the pace again slows.
Again, the tone and and familiarity incorporated within is what makes this a easy, enjoyable read. And face it, true believer, if you are a JR fan, you're already sold. And you will enjoy it. Just like the tale of his 500th goal, though, the finale might not be as spectacular as originally desired.
More great stories and reviews are on ice at Read @ Joe's
February 12, 2017
Roenick writes as fast as he talks -- that's pretty fast.
Clearly, the guy loves himself (show me a professional sportsman who doesn't have an ego) but despite that, he comes across as a pretty funny person who you'd love to have a beer or three with. The follow-up to his first book of anecdotes is amusing and an easy read, with some surprising revelations contained within.
And some good stories, too. My favourite passage from the book: Once, when I backed down from a confrontation, I heard someone call me a “pussy”. When I looked into the stands, I realised it was my mother.
If you like J.R. on NBC, you'll probably like this book.
Clearly, the guy loves himself (show me a professional sportsman who doesn't have an ego) but despite that, he comes across as a pretty funny person who you'd love to have a beer or three with. The follow-up to his first book of anecdotes is amusing and an easy read, with some surprising revelations contained within.
And some good stories, too. My favourite passage from the book: Once, when I backed down from a confrontation, I heard someone call me a “pussy”. When I looked into the stands, I realised it was my mother.
If you like J.R. on NBC, you'll probably like this book.
December 28, 2015
I bought this book for my husband. He kept reading it and laughing so much I had to pick it up and give it a read. I was extremely impressed with how well the narrative was. Roenick engaged you with each story he told about his career, family and friends. It was like you could picture sitting at a bar with him listening to his tales. It also gave me a new appreciation for the man. I knew he loved his fans but to read the stories touches your heart. It makes me know that I chose the right man to follow. My favorite story was about the cat. It was wrong and made me laugh so hard I was crying. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves hockey or enjoys a few hilarious stories.
January 11, 2016
Honest and Engaging!!!!
Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish... Felt like I was sitting in a bar with the man listening to him reflect back on his career and life telling it like it is, the good, the bad and everything in between. To be honest much more than I was expecting - thanks for letting us in JR :)
Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish... Felt like I was sitting in a bar with the man listening to him reflect back on his career and life telling it like it is, the good, the bad and everything in between. To be honest much more than I was expecting - thanks for letting us in JR :)
May 20, 2016
I was not a Jeremy Roenick fan going in, but I am now. He may be a bit arrogant, but he speaks his mind. It is refreshing in a world when everyone apologises at the drop of the hat that he sticks to his beliefs. He may not always be right, but he has reasons.
This book is more than the NHL or sports it is about life.
Jeremy you are human, keep doing what you are doing!
This book is more than the NHL or sports it is about life.
Jeremy you are human, keep doing what you are doing!
February 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this entertaining look at life inside and outside of the NHL turned NBC Analyst's life. It reads easily and before you know it you are at the end. Loved watching him play hockey and I enjoy him on nbc sports.
November 25, 2015
JR always has entertaining stories.
It was fun to be first-hand in some of them. We all miss him in San Jose. He is hard to replace.
It was fun to be first-hand in some of them. We all miss him in San Jose. He is hard to replace.
January 7, 2016
Good book, but not as good as his book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews