The Matheny Manifesto
A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life
Mike Matheny was just forty-one, without professional managerial experience and looking for a next step after a successful career as a Major League catcher, when he succeeded the legendary Tony La Russa as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012. While Matheny has enjoyed immediate success, leading the Cards to the postseason four times in his first four years−a Major League record−people have noticed something else about his life, something not measured in day-to-day results. Instead, it’s based on a frankly worded letter he wrote to the parents of a Little League team he coached, a cry for change that became an Internet sensation and eventually a “manifesto.”
The tough-love philosophy Matheny expressed in the letter contained his throwback beliefs that authority should be respected, discipline and hard work rewarded, spiritual faith cultivated, family made a priority, and humility considered a virtue. In The Matheny Manifesto, he builds on his original letter by first diagnosing the problem at the heart of youth sports−it starts with parents and coaches−and then by offering a hopeful path forward. Along the way, he uses stories from his small-town childhood as well as his career as a player, coach, and manager to explore eight keys to success: leadership, confidence, teamwork, faith, class, character, toughness, and humility.
From “The Coach Is Always Right, Even When He’s Wrong” to “Let Your Catcher Call the Game,” Matheny’s old-school advice might not always be popular or politically correct, but it works. His entertaining and deeply inspirational book will not only resonate with parents, coaches, and athletes, it will also be a powerful reminder, from one of the most successful new managers in the game, of what sports can teach us all about winning on the field and in life.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 3, 2015 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780553446715
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780553446715
- File size: 1334 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Library Journal
February 15, 2015
This memoir in the form of a manifesto draws its origins from a letter Matheny wrote to parents who asked him to coach a local youth baseball team. In it, he laid firm ground rules not only for how the team would operate but also how parents would participate. The letter went viral and has been touted as a vision of how youth sports in the United States can be improved. Matheny, a former major league catcher and current manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, expands on topics found in the manifesto, using experiences from his childhood and coaching career. He suggests ways youth sports could be made more enjoyable for children while aiming to improve their skills. He also takes moments to talk about how his experiences and views of sports can be used to create a more fulfilling and peaceful life. VERDICT Matheny does a lot of, "I don't claim to have all the answers, but" which is usually a qualifying statement that comes before acting like you have all the answers. Still, he has a proven method to improve youth sports, and a lot of his views on life come from famed college basketball coach John Wooden.--Matt Schirano, Magnus Wahlstrom Lib., Bridgeport, CT
Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Formats
- Kindle Book
- OverDrive Read
- EPUB ebook
Languages
- English
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