GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- Author Ross Bernstein presents two new books, "Raising Lombardi: What It Takes to Claim Football's Ultimate Prize" and "I Love Sarah Palin/I Hate Sarah Palin." Bernstein will be available for book signings on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at "Batter-Up" on the third floor of the Mall of America.
From her unexpected emergence as John McCain's running mate to her infamous Katie Couric interview, Sarah Palin's presence in national politics has never been something people take with indifference or neutrality-she's either adamantly loved or viciously hated. Capturing both points of view in a dual flipbook," I Love Sarah Palin/I Hate Sarah Palin" offers a tongue-in-cheek, retrospective look at why people love-and love to hate-Sarah Palin.
Compiling quotes from Palin-supporters, including radio personality Glenn Beck, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former governor Mitt Romney and even reality TV star Heidi Montag, as well as quotes from Palin-haters such as TV host Conan O'Brien, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd and political pundit James Carville, Ross Bernstein, author of" I Love Brett Favre/I Hate Brett Favre," plays neutral narrator as he chronicles one of America's most fascinating and controversial pop culture figures. For every crack that John Stewart makes about Palin's claim to see Russia from her backyard-"When you think about it, Alaska is also near the North Pole, so she must also be friends with Santa"-a flip of the book reveals a quote of admiration from Rush Limbaugh-"She's enthusiastic, charismatic and infectious."
Beyond anecdotal quotes, "I Love Sarah Palin/I Hate Sarah Palin" is also a biographical snapshot of Palin's life story-starting from her youth in rural Alaska and then picking up speed in 2008 when she hit the national political scene and began her meteoric rise to fame. While Palin haters detest most things about her, they all seem to have one thing in common: they fear her. And while she may not be running for Commander in Chief any time soon, she still reigns as the ultimate "king-maker" for Republicans and Tea Partiers alike.
Featuring more than 100 politicians, political pundits, media personalities, celebrities, reality TV stars and notable bloggers from all political parties, "I Love Sarah Palin/I Hate Sarah Palin" chronicles the ever-lively commentary surrounding one of America's most prominent-and polarizing-political figures.
Berstein's other book, "Raising Lombardi: What It Takes to Claim Football's Ultimate Prize," takes a look at what it's like to be a champion. To raise it means you've won it. And to win it means you've survived a season-long journey fraught with peril and untold adversity. In his highly anticipated sequel to Raising Stanley: What it Takes to Claim Hockey's Ultimate Prize, Ross Bernstein interviewed more than 75 current and former NFL players and coaches who all had one thing in common-they're all champions.
In the book, Ross features nearly every living Minnesotan who has ever won an NFL championship - there's just 36 in history. From native Minnesotans Matt Spaeth, Ben Utecht, Chip Lohmiller, Jim Langer, Bob Stein, and the Fahnhorst brothers; to Gophers Bobby Bell, Tony Dungy, and Tyrone Carter; to Vikings coaches Leslie Frazier and Mike Singletary - both member of the '85 Bears - they're all here.
"Raising Lombardi: What It Takes to Claim Football's Ultimate Prize" features in-depth interviews, rich history, and inspirational stories of determination and perseverance from players and coaches of all eras, including: Jerome Bettis, Steve Young, Mike Ditka, Frank Gifford, Paul Hornung, Jerry Kramer, and the 2010 Packers' Mason Crosby and Cullen Jenkins, among others. These players' accounts span more than a half-century of football champions-from the NFL championship games, to the first Super Bowls matching the NFL's and AFL's best, to the modern era where conference champions meet in the most highly anticipated sporting event of the year.
Raising Lombardi is full of unheard stories, from hilarious behind-the-scenes antics in the huddle, the practice field, under the pile, and on the team plane, to poignant life-lessons and hard-earned wisdom about motivation and leadership that resonate from the locker room to the board room. Entertaining as well as compelling, readers will learn about the win-at-all-cost mentality necessary to claim the game's ultimate prize and what it truly means to become a champion. Raising Lombardi celebrates the honor, courage, and sacrifice that bonds teammates together and is a must read for any die-hard football fan who wants to know what it takes to be a winner both on and off the gridiron.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)