My Dirty Little Secrets - Steroids, Alcohol & God: The Tony Mandarich Story
Author
Tony Mandarich
Publisher
Modern History Press
2 Review Copies Left
As Tony Mandarich left Green Bay in February, 1993, his football career in shambles, Packer Plus staff writer, Tom Mulhern, wrote the following:
"The overriding sentiment, however, is one of emptiness. Not so much for promises unfulfilled, but for sins not repented. Maybe some day Mandarich will set the record straight and answer all the nagging questions he leaves behind. I hope so."
For all the sports writers, fans, coaches, friends and family, My Dirty Little Secrets sets the record straight. On the 20th anniversary of his draft in 1989, Tony reveals the reasons why he never achieved what the nation expected of him, and what he expected of himself. His story is an inspiration for alcoholics and drug abusers, and offers hope for those trying to help themselves out of the nightmare of addiction.
My Dirty Little Secrets promises to help readers
- Learn about the power of addiction
- Discover how co-dependency and enablers affect addicts
- Understand why treatment for addictions is so important in recovery
- Realize the importance of emotional suppot systems in the lives of alcoholics
- Accept the role of the Higher Power's grace in recovery
"My Dirty Little Secrets is a testament that faith in a higher power can bring us to salvation and light. Tony's story is touched by magic and brushes against the tragic. It's a great human journey and a victory for the human spirit."
--Jim Irsay, Owner, Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl (r) XLI Champions
After a highly successful and nationally publicized college career at Michigan State Unviersity, Tony Mandarich was drafted number two in 1989. The hype about his power and standing as a football player along with Tony's addictions, was more than he could live up to, and his life came crashing down around him. After three more years of alcohol and painkillers' abuse, Tony accepted God's hand, went into treatment and now considers it a privilege to be able to help other addicts when called upon.
Learn more at www.TonyMandarich.com
Book #6 in the Reflections of America Series
from Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com
Reviews
One Man, Two Souls
Review by Beverly Pechin for Review The Book
We've all seen and read the tell all books of former stars & players that quickly scream out big names of all those who even touched their lives during their days of "usage". Most are pretty much the same, "I made it big.. I did drugs.. I fell... I'm doing a tell all book and tossing out big names of those I did the drugs with, in hopes to sell tons of books!". Mandarich does none of that. He's open, honest, takes full blame and doesn't point fingers. Not once do you read another stars name in a way that Mandarich points fingers and "narcs" out anyone to gain fame and sell his book. I have a lot of respect for anyone that approaches such a book in this way and can only say Kudos to Tony Mandarich. You are, in every aspect of the word, a gentleman.
The story itself isn't pretty. It's blunt, it's ugly and it's truthful. It's addiction. It's also enlightening, both for those of us whom have never experienced such horrid events in our life and I'm certain, to many who are currently in the same boat as Tony had been. It's the story of one man who, somehow, found another soul and another chance at life.
Probably one of my favorite parts of the book has nothing to do with the sports aspect itself, it has to do with when Tony was first beginning his road to recovery and finds his "Soul Guide". The depth, the absolute bizarreness of the entire event leaves one speechless and knowing that something like this simply cannot be made up but only told from an actual heartfelt experience. My second favorite part is the little "dig" he gets in on former 2007 Chargers defensive back, Rodney Harrison. It's one of the few times that a name is even mentioned per say but the small appreciation you know he got with the sarcastic words "Way to go Rodney" simply made me smile.
The book is written with an easy flow that provids for quick and easy reading. It's profound in so many ways, yet not so deep you get lost in the words. It's enlightening and most of all it's soul searching style leaves you cheering for this man who began his journey in the world of sports completely wrong, only to find the right path by a miracle of miracles and realize what life is truly all about. A man who literally lost his soul, only to find it again and learn to nurture and appreciate it fully.
Reviewed on 04/03/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Beverly Pechin
My Dirty Little Secrets- Steroids, Alcohol & God: The Tony Mandarich Story
Tony Mandarich
Sharon Shaw Elrod
Modern History Press
Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail
Ann Arbor, MI48105
888-761-6268, www.ModernHistoryPress.com
ISBN-10: 193269078
ISBN-12: 978-1932690781, $19.95, February 14, 2009
Reviewed by Danelle Drake
An Entirely Different Kind of Success
Five-Star for www.amazon.com
A hero comes in all shapes and sizes. This particular hero is big; has a big heart, a big body, accomplished big dreams, and overcome some very big obstacles. Tony Mandarich is a hero. Not because of his world-class career at a college then professional football player but because of how he overcame his “little secrets” which were huge. Many who have traveled down the path as he never had the opportunity to reach the other side of the tunnel. Tony not only came to the other side but came thru a much stronger person and player.
As a child in Canada Tony know what he wanted to be. He wanted to be a professional football player and set out with mature-beyond-his-years determination to do just that. Convinced to allow their child to move to the United States in high school to better secure his path to stardom was a difficult decision for Tony’s parents. This single decision set in motion one of the greatest stories in NFL history.
Tony walks us thru his drug and alcohol filled years with the Green Bay Packers where it was truly all about him. Tony lived up to all of the hype of being the second round draft pick. Giving us behind-the-scenes detail of just how it happens I sat crying for Tony when he lost it all. Seeing this same scenario many times before; I do admit that I didn’t foresee the wonderful life that would follow. Imagining the courage it would take someone to recover from such devastation is almost hard to imagine. Tony shows that it can be done. What encouragement for those suffering from addiction. Tony turns his life around and starts anew. After several years away from playing football Tony returns the Indianapolis Colts and is better than ever! He follows his heart and reunites with his college sweetheart and lives happily-ever-after. Tony is a lucky individual who knows all to well that those suffering from addiction need someone to lean on. Tony is the shoulder for those who read this great gift!
Way too many times we see incidents where a professional athlete makes headlines for all the wrong reasons. The athlete appeals to the public as if they were the victim. Tony admits what happened and tells the tale from start to finish. Two thumbs up for the amazing man!
Reviewed on 07/02/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Danelle Drake
