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The Athlete: Greatness, Grace and the Unprecedented Life of Charlie Ward
The complete, ultimate biography of Heisman Trophy winner, Florida State national champion and New York Knicks point guard Charlie Ward
It takes a once-in-a-generation athlete to win a national championship as a quarterback for Florida State, reach the Sweet Sixteen three times as a point guard for his school, and then go on to become a starting guard for the New York Knicks in an NBA Finals. Yes, Charlie Ward's athletic accomplishments truly know no peer. Combine a twelve-year NBA career with a College Football Hall of Fame career and the portrait of a humble, magnanimous leader takes shape.
The Athlete is the first definitive biography of Charlie Ward. Culled from hundreds of articles, clippings, books and original interviews with those who know Charlie best, this story begins with a foundation of college athletic excellence laid down by his father. From there, Jon Finkel traces Ward's background from small-town Thomasville, Georgia to football-crazed Tallahassee to basketball Mecca Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ward's remarkable journey includes staggering setbacks--from a near career-ending leg injury in high school, to academic obstacles prior to attending Florida State, to not being drafted by an NFL team after winning the Heisman Trophy. Through it all, Charlie's calm demeanor, high character and unshakeable faith buoyed his belief that be it basketball or football, grades or career, he was going to succeed and set a strong example along the way.
As electrifying as Charlie Ward's highlight reel, The Athlete is a towering sports biography, epic in scope and triumphant in its portrayal of one of the greatest modern athletes the world has ever seen.
It takes a once-in-a-generation athlete to win a national championship as a quarterback for Florida State, reach the Sweet Sixteen three times as a point guard for his school, and then go on to become a starting guard for the New York Knicks in an NBA Finals. Yes, Charlie Ward's athletic accomplishments truly know no peer. Combine a twelve-year NBA career with a College Football Hall of Fame career and the portrait of a humble, magnanimous leader takes shape.
The Athlete is the first definitive biography of Charlie Ward. Culled from hundreds of articles, clippings, books and original interviews with those who know Charlie best, this story begins with a foundation of college athletic excellence laid down by his father. From there, Jon Finkel traces Ward's background from small-town Thomasville, Georgia to football-crazed Tallahassee to basketball Mecca Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ward's remarkable journey includes staggering setbacks--from a near career-ending leg injury in high school, to academic obstacles prior to attending Florida State, to not being drafted by an NFL team after winning the Heisman Trophy. Through it all, Charlie's calm demeanor, high character and unshakeable faith buoyed his belief that be it basketball or football, grades or career, he was going to succeed and set a strong example along the way.
As electrifying as Charlie Ward's highlight reel, The Athlete is a towering sports biography, epic in scope and triumphant in its portrayal of one of the greatest modern athletes the world has ever seen.
302 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2017
5 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Jon Finkel
38 books18 followersJon Finkel is the award-winning author of 1996: A Biography, Hoops Heist, The Life of Dad, Jocks In Chief, The Athlete, Heart Over Height, “Mean” Joe Greene and more. His books have been endorsed by everyone from Mark Cuban and Tony Dungy to Spike Lee, Kevin Durant and Chef Robert Irvine.
He has written for GQ, Men’s Health, Yahoo! Sports, The New York Times and has appeared on CBS: This Morning, Good Morning Texas, and hundreds of radio shows, podcasts and streams. Jon was recently profiled in The New Yorker about the awesome community he’s built around his Books & Biceps newsletter. They describe him as “a gym rat’s Reese Witherspoon”.
His upcoming biography, Macho Man: The Untamed, Unbelievable Life of Randy Savage, comes out Spring 2024.
He has written for GQ, Men’s Health, Yahoo! Sports, The New York Times and has appeared on CBS: This Morning, Good Morning Texas, and hundreds of radio shows, podcasts and streams. Jon was recently profiled in The New Yorker about the awesome community he’s built around his Books & Biceps newsletter. They describe him as “a gym rat’s Reese Witherspoon”.
His upcoming biography, Macho Man: The Untamed, Unbelievable Life of Randy Savage, comes out Spring 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 10, 2018
Even if you're not from Tallahassee (which I am), love sports (which I do) or cheer for Florida State (which I will to my dying breath) you will enjoy this book.
Clearly and thoughtfully worded about truly one of the greatest athletes and gentlemen of the last 50 years. Faith, family and football (and also basketball!).
Clearly and thoughtfully worded about truly one of the greatest athletes and gentlemen of the last 50 years. Faith, family and football (and also basketball!).
June 18, 2022
There was a lot about Charlie Ward I had either forgot or straight up did not know. I forgot he was undrafted in the NFL. That in itself is a travesty. It wasn't as if was a fringe Heisman winner; An afterthought or abiritian. No, he had a fantastic FSU career and deserved to be drafted. In the right system, there's no reason to think he couldn't have had a successful NFL career. Ward was a few years ahead of his time. Maybe?
But the book itself was great. Well written and Charlie comes off as a good, humble guy.
But the book itself was great. Well written and Charlie comes off as a good, humble guy.
May 13, 2020
This book provided a great story on the wonderful life of Charlie Ward. I attended FSU from 1992 to 1996 and saw him upclose for 2 of my years there. Filling in the blanks before he got to FSU and everything that happened after he left were great for me! Reliving the triumphs and accolades while he was at FSU were just as great, especially with the background information on what was happening with him and the team.
February 21, 2022
Great book
This was a great book about one of the greatest athletes ever, who is often forgotten. He was a quiet athlete who needed this book to get the recognition he deserves.
This was a great book about one of the greatest athletes ever, who is often forgotten. He was a quiet athlete who needed this book to get the recognition he deserves.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews