Booker T: From Prison to Promise: Life Before the Squared Circle (The Soul Archives)

Cover; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Chapter 1: There's Always Next Year (TANY); Chapter 2: If Not Soriano, Beer Will Make It Better! ; Chapter 3: Everybody Needs a Scapegoat (Or Even Just a Goat); Chapter 4: It's Not Over until You're Mathematically Eliminated; Chapter 5: Winning Really Isn't Everything; Chapter 6: Loyaltiness Is Next to Godliness; Chapter 7: At Least You're Not a Sox Fan; Chapter 8: The Power of Low Expectations; Chapter 9: To Boo or Not to Boo; Conclusion: What Does All This Mean?; Appendix A: 15 Habits of Highly Happy Cubs Fans.;The Chicago Cubs tradition is one built on spectacular losing streaks and even more spectacular collapses. Yet despite all the losses and disappointments, an amazing thing happens every summer at the corner of Addison and Sheffield: millions of fans flock to Wrigley Field and millions more fans across the country regularly tune in to watch Cubs games broadcast on television. Exactly why Cubs fans support their squad with such reckless abandon isn't entirely clear, these people represent a remarkable aberration of human psychology, epitomizing the spirit and experience of dedication to a desperate cause. And the whole time, they're oddly happy. The Cubs Fan's Guide to Happiness reveals what makes Cubs fans tick and what keeps them happy. It explains why it's not over until you're mathematically eliminated, why winning really isn't everything, and why it's perfectly acceptable to blame all your trouble on a scapegoat, which may or may not be an actual goat. The book also provides educational sidebars, practical applications, and true words of wisdom from celebrity Cubs fans.

A spirited tale of redemption from a seemingly insurmountable life of tragedy and crime, this first autobiography of professional wrestler and TV commentator Booker T. Huffman details his life before celebrity status in the ring. Beginning with Booker T's single-parent upbringing after the passing of his father, this powerful account reveals the gritty reality of his formative years—from the gruesome accident Booker T witnessed at the age of 13 that led to his mother's death and his subsequent life of abject poverty as an orphan in urban Houston to years of reckless drug use, dealing, and violence that culminated in a five-year prison sentence for robbery. With engaging candor Booker T writes of his refusal to allow his years of crime to cloud his future and his decision to take responsibility for his life and make a positive impact in his community. This intimate profile chronicles his transition from absentee father to locating his child in foster care and taking custody; events that led Booker T to pursue a better life and a career with the WWE by attending World Wrestling Alliance training camp. It also sheds insight into Booker T's relationship with his seven siblings, including his brother and eventual tag team member Lane "Stevie Ray" Huffman.

Cover Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: There's Always Next Year (TANY) Chapter 2: If Not Soriano, Beer Will Make It Better! Chapter 3: Everybody Needs a Scapegoat (Or Even Just a Goat) Chapter 4: It's Not Over until You're Mathematically Eliminated Chapter 5: Winning Really Isn't Everything Chapter 6: Loyaltiness Is Next to Godliness Chapter 7: At Least You're Not a Sox Fan Chapter 8: The Power of Low Expectations Chapter 9: To Boo or Not to Boo Conclusion: What Does All This Mean? Appendix A: 15 Habits of Highly Happy Cubs Fans. Appendix B: A Century of Losing: 100 Years, 100 FrustrationsAppendix C: Frequently Asked Questions Cubs Fan's Glossary. As a six-time world champion, TV commentator, and holder of more than 35 major titles in WWE, WCW, and TNA, Huffman knows what it means to fight. He learned long before he entered the ring, when daily survival was a fierce battle.