Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story

by Rocky Bleier, Terry O'Neil (Collaborator)

The story of football player Rocky Blier who went from fighting in Vietnam to becoming a Superbowl Champion.

Genres: Sports, Football, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Gretchen Bierenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the BEST come back stories you will ever read. It will inspire you and remind you that we are all human and face major life set backs, but it also gives you the hope, strength, and fortitude to keep focusing on what you want out of life and to keep that goal in the front of your mind no matter what. No need to be a football fan to love this book, but if you are than this becomes a double gem for you. This is the original version of the book and a re-release "Special Edition" is out now that adds new chapters and never before seen photos. This is a quick read and perfect for anyone
ages 13-103. If you are studying the Vietnam War this is also one to read in addition to the the focused military history books. It helps to paint a picture of what it was like to be a young man in America at that time. The new book can be found at Rocky Bleier (dot) com and each book purchased assists with Veterans causes.

[Marianne Grashoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, especially a fan from the 70's, and you know even a little bit about Rocky Bleier's story, this is a must read. While I did not find his early years particularly compelling, his attempts to make it to the NFL, his subsequent injury while serving in Vietnam and the rehabilitation and frustration that followed, are harrowing and well told. The version of the book I read included a new foreword by current Steeler Alejandro Villanueva, also a veteran, and an epilogue about the writing and staging of the one man play about Rocky's life that he himself performed, are also well worth a read.

[Gary Sites · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this while Bleier was still playing for my favorite team, the Steelers. A lot of kids have athletes as role models. Bleier was mine, and still is.

[Nick Graeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rocky Bleier a war veteran and a NFL quarterback for the Steelers. Rocky played football his whole life and ended up being a late round draft out of Notre Dame, as he is going through summer conditioning he is drafted into the Vietnam war. During the war rocky is shot once and hit with a grenade and left with shrapnel up and down his thigh and almost loses a couple toes. When he is sent home for rehab to rebuild those muscles Rock goes back to the Steelers with his numbers being better than they were before the war. At the time the Steelers did a grading system that was 1-5. 1 was outstanding and 5 was you were cut. Rocky went from high 4’s before the war to mid 2’s after the war. Yes, he had many people telling him to quit pro football because he would never be good enough to play again with his injuries the way they were. Each time Rocky was faced with this situation he would go out onto the field and prove those people wrong. Rocky wasn’t a first nor second string quarterback, he was the kicker for the start of his NFL career. The only time he was put in for QB was when it wasn’t such a strong team that they were up against or Terry Bradshaw and the other quarterback was out for either injury or rest. Rocky is most definitely a person to look up to when faced with challenges in life and how to overcome them as well as using them to your advantage to make you stronger.

[Zach Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a Steeler's running back named Rocky Bleier. Rocky Bleier is a football player who was in the army and got shot. The doctors told him that he would never be able to walk again but he didn't let that stop him. Then Rocky started to play football again and he was not as tall and not as big as all of the other people. Rocky then won a super bowl with the Steelers and still kept playing football. My favorite quote from the book is " a hand grenade blew one-half shoe size out of my right foot". I like this quote because it talks about all of the struggles that he had to go through just for him to be able to play football again. I gave this book a 5 star rating because I like sports and I like how it talks about what this guy went through to do what he loves to do. I would reccomend this book to people who like sports and people who love history about players.

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have possessed this book for 45+ years. It is falling a part just a little bit but it is still a timeless story of determination and courage of the Pittsburg Steeler running book. He was told he would be lucky to walk again after the injury in Vietnam that interrupted his dream of playing in the NFL. Who doesn't love a story of the ultimate underdog drafted in the 16th round and barely hanging on until he eventually worked himself into the starting line-up in Super Bowl IX, a victory against the Vikings for the first championship of the storied franchise.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very inspiring book. I didnt realize how serious Bleier's wounds were in Vietnam until reading this. His come back efforts were incredible. The only thing I was disappointed in was the lack of detail about his rehab from 1969-1971.

[Kurtis Barker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed.
Ordered this book for my father a Vietnam Vet...
Was charged over two weeks ago and it never shipped.
I've written 6 emails to Rocky's shop and they've all gone unanswered.
I now have to dispute the charges with my cc company. Rrr.

[David Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rockys will to persevere is strong as he leads you through the early part of his life. Something unexpected I take away is his support network, Rocky is open and works through his problems with the help of that network… you don’t have to be strong alone.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspirational story of Steeler great Rocky Bleier's fight back from a Vietnam war injury to a starting position on their 1975 Super Bowl winning team. (He would end up with 3 more Super Bowl rings but this book was written in 1975.)

[Patrick Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable tale of Bleier's story of going from a soldier who almost lost a leg to a football champion after being told he would never walk again.

[D.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book long ago. It was great. Bleier is an inspiration. I was fortunate to meet him, and he was also humble and kind.

[Slatteryjm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story - perseverance is the key

[Megan Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Kraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is interesting because it covers so many subjects. It is not merely a rehash of the Steeler Super Bowl teams of the 1970's. Bleier writes of his attempts to avoid the draft - sometimes with misrepresentations with the aid of the Steelers organization. Those attempts failed, resulting in Bleier being sent to Vietnam in 1969. The book discusses the battle in which he was injured and his long recovery. The book is detailed about that recovery and is superior for that reason to the movie of the same name that came out in 1980.

The book explains why Bleier remained out of the lineup, but was still able to stay on the team, through the beginning of 1974. Concepts like waivers, the taxi squad, injured reserve, etc. are explained in some detail.

The book discusses the strike of 1974. That story is virtually forgotten now, but it was a big deal in the year that the Steelers won their first Super Bowl. Bleier tells the story of the 1974 season and Super Bowl IX. His book provides many details that contradict documentaries that were made twenty or more years later. This book is more credible than those documentaries.

I did not give the book higher marks because it repeated clichés about the war that a soldier like Bleier would not have been in a position to know. It was as if someone decided to insert politically motivated statements in an otherwise informative manuscript. This is all too common in the past few decades and hampers how we are informed on a variety of subjects.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was born and raised with the Steelers and greatly respect and admire all that has Rocky accomplished. Heck, I even had him sign my book. However, he is not a literary genius. I found the sentences to be choppy and the series of events were not strung together fluently. While the information about his childhood all the way through his Super Bowl championships are interesting, reading the book felt like a ponderous task rather than an enjoyable read. Sorry Rocky! You are still one of my heroes!!!

[Patrick Wasik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching account of one mans war at home, abroad, and then handicapped in a new war at home. This book really puts in perspective that, barring excuse-making, you can climb the highest mountain if you work hard and have the most determination. Although I am not a Steeler fan, this also is another shining example of what an amazing citizen of human kind that Art Rooney really is to the world. I hate the Steelers, but I love this book and I definitely respect the Steelers.

[Chris Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book since I am a Steelers fan and it was the first novel that I had ever read. Inspiring tale of Bleier overcoming all odds to achieve his dream. It's a theme that has been overdone to death, but this is one of the originals and was fresh for its time. Also, interesting insight to the Steelers locker rooms of one of the best teams of all time.

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very inspirationial story of a Vietnam Vet's return to football glory. The training schedule he followed can be used by anyone. I read this one during high school and used the running routine. a must read for the Pittsburg Steeler fan. I never liked the Steelers but I respect Rocky Bleier.

[Mattc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this 25 years ago in paperback. It is a Vietnam story and a comeback story. I want to reread it - I think I lost my copy, though.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspirational. I was lucky enough to have heard him speak (and get his autograph plus wear his super bowl rings). The book was just as good as him in person.

[Caoimhin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this thoroughly. Written right after the Steelers first Super Bowl win.