While we may sometimes think of athletes as just huge meatheads with nothing real to offer the world, this is not always the case. Some athletes are very articulate and can tell a great, harrowing or happy story. And while there are dozens of great athlete autobiographies out there you should check out, here are three of the best.
1. Open
(source: bookdepository.com)
Open is the autobiography published in 2009 by Andre Agassi. Agassi is among the best and most popular tennis players of all time. In this book, he speaks a ton about his career, his childhood and more. He also admitted to a number of shocking things about his career including: The fact that he used and tested positive for meth in 1997, he hated the sport throughout his career for the pressure it put on him and more. It is truly Agassi being open about his life in every sense of the word and is a fantastic read.
2. The Game
(source: amazon.ca)
While most sports fans obviously know Ken Dryden best as the six time cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens, but he is so much more. He is a Cornell graduate, has a law degree and is a former Member of Parliament. This book was published in 1983 and was an instant classic. The book is an account of the 1978-79 Montreal Canadiens and basically goes on to detail his life as an NHL player. It goes over the pressure of being a NHL player, gives a behind the scenes look at a team and about life outside the arena.
3. Playing With Fire
(source: reynaud-bray.com)
Playing with Fire is the autobiography written by former NHL player Theoren Fleury and published in 2009. In the book, he speaks about how he became a star player, became a Stanley Cup winner and more. However, the book often takes a very dark tone as Fleury battled drug and alcohol addiction throughout his career and speaks very candidly about it. His addictions and pressures in life almost led him to commit suicide. Also in the book, Fleury claims he was sexually assaulted by his former coach Graham James, and James was eventually sentenced for the crime. The book is tragic at times, but definitely worth checking out.
