The keeper : the unguarded story of Tim Howard [Young readers' edition

"I believe that we will win." In the summer of 2014, Tim Howard became an overnight sensation after more than ten years as one of America's leading professional soccer players. His record-breaking 15 saves for the United States national team against Belgium in the World Cup electrified a nation that had only recently woken up to the Beautiful Game after decades of hibernation. An estimated TV audience of 21 million viewers in the U.S.—larger than those of the NBA and NHL finals—watched Howard's heroic performance against the heavily favored Belgians in which he repelled shots with his hands, feet, legs, knees, and even his signature long beard. Suddenly an athlete who had toiled in relative anonymity for much of his career became the star of his own Internet meme ("Things Tim Howard Could Save": from Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" to the Titanic), and fielded personal calls from the likes of President Barack Obama ("You guys did us proud. . . . I don't know how you are going to survive the mobs when you come back home, man. You'll have to shave your beard so they don't know who you are"). In this inspiring and candid memoir, the beloved U.S. and Everton goalkeeper finally allows himself to do something that he would never do on the field: he drops his guard. Howard opens up for the first time about how a hyperactive kid from New Jersey with Tourette Syndrome defied the odds to become one of the greatest American keepers in history. He recalls his childhood, being raised by a single mother who instilled in him a love of all sports—he was also a standout high school basketball player—and a devout faith that helped him cope with a disorder that manifested itself with speech and facial tics, compulsive behavior, and extreme sensitivity to light, noise, and touch. The Keeper is also a chronicle of the personal sacrifices he's made for his career, including the ultimate dissolution of Howard's marriage—a casualty of what he calls his "addiction to winning"—and its most painful consequence: his separation from his two children. A treat for soccer fans, The Keeper will even captivate readers who are unfamiliar with the sport but want to know what makes a world-class athlete different from the rest of us—and where that difference gives way to common ground. In This Inspiring, Down-to-earth Memoir The Revered Goalkeeper And American Icon Idolized By Millions Worldwide For His Dependability, Daring, And Humility Recounts His Rise To Stardom At The 2014 World Cup, The Psychological And Professional Challenges He Has Faced, And The Enduring Faith That Has Sustained Him. In The Keeper, The Man Who Electrified The World With His Amazing Performance In Brazil Does Something He Would Never Do On A Soccer Field: He Drops His Guard. As Fiercely Protective About His Privacy As He Is Guarding The Goal On The Field, Howard Opens Up For The First Time About How A Hyperactive Kid From New Jersey With Tourette's Syndrome Defied The Odds To Become One Of The World's Premier Goalkeepers. The Keeper Recalls His Childhood, Being Raised By A Single Mother Who Instilled In Him A Love Of Sports And A Devout Christian Faith That Helped Him Cope When He Was Diagnosed With Tourette's In The Fifth Grade. He Looks Back Over His Fifteen-year Professional Career--from Becoming The Youngest Player To Win Mls Goalkeeper Of The Year To His Storied Move To The English Premier League With Manchester United And His Current Team, Liverpool's Everton, To Becoming An Overnight Star After His Record-making Performance With The United States Men's National Team. He Also Talks About The Things Closest To His Heart--the Importance Of Family And The Christian Beliefs That Guide Him. Told In His Thoughtful And Articulate Voice, The Keeper Is An Illuminating Look At A Remarkable Man Who Is An Inspirational Role Model For All Of Us.-- Pregame. In New Jersey, Anything Is Possible ; Goals That Mattered ; My Own Private Soccer Academy ; It Will Take A Nation Of Millions To Hold Me Back ; Like Nowhere Else ; Growing Up ; We've Got Our Eyes On You ; To Whom Much Is Given -- Warning Shots. You're Not In America Anymore, Son ; The Longest Season ; Benched ; #24 ; Like Coming Home -- Nothing Gets Through. Gold Cup ; Slaying Dragons ; Look At Me Now, Poppa ; Can We Get Beyond This? -- Still Alive. Divorce ; Moving Forward ; Changing The Scoreboard ; Broken ; New Faces ; World Cup Training ; Team Usa ; Making History ; Game Of My Life. Tim Howard With Ali Benjamin. "In this inspiring, down-to-earth memoir the revered goalkeeper and American icon idolized by millions worldwide for his dependability, daring, and humility recounts his rise to stardom at the 2014 World Cup, the psychological and professional challenges he has faced, and the enduring faith that has sustained him. In The Keeper, the man who electrified the world with his amazing performance in Brazil does something he would never do on a soccer field: he drops his guard. As fiercely protective about his privacy as he is guarding the goal on the field, Howard opens up for the first time about how a hyperactive kid from New Jersey with Tourette's syndrome defied the odds to become one of the world's premier goalkeepers. The Keeper recalls his childhood, being raised by a single mother who instilled in him a love of sports and a devout Christian faith that helped him cope when he was diagnosed with Tourette's in the fifth grade. He looks back over his fifteen-year professional career--from becoming the youngest player to win MLS Goalkeeper of the Year to his storied move to the English Premier League with Manchester United and his current team, Liverpool's Everton, to becoming an overnight star after his record-making performance with the United States Men's National Team. He also talks about the things closest to his heart--the importance of family and the Christian beliefs that guide him. Told in his thoughtful and articulate voice, The Keeper is an illuminating look at a remarkable man who is an inspirational role model for all of us."-- Amazon.com "In this heartwarming and candid memoir, US national soccer team goalkeeper Tim Howard does something he would never do on a soccer field: he drops his guard. Howard opens up for the first time about how a hyperactive kid from New Jersey with Tourette Syndrome defied the odds to become one of the world's premier goalkeepers. Howard managed to keep his condition in check well enough to be drafted by Major League Soccer right out of high school. After a successful seventeen-year professional soccer career, Howard became an overnight star during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His heroic performance in goal for the United States against Belgium, in which he saved an astonishing fifteen shots--the most for any goalkeeper in a World Cup game--made him a household name as well as a trending internet meme. In the course of 120 minutes, Howard went from a player known mainly by soccer fans to an American icon, loved by millions for his dependability, daring, and humility. In this uplifting memoir adapted for young readers, Howard shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood in which he was raised by a single mother who instilled in him a love of sports and a devout Christian faith that helped him deal with the onset of Tourette's in fifth grade."--Publisher's description. A damp, dark cellar holds two cages. And for the women behind the bars, their worst nightmares are about to come true ... When Louise Russell goes missing from her home, D.I. Sean Corrigan from South London's Murder Investigation Unit immediately senses foul play. For Corrigan's own dark childhood has given him the ability not only to recognize evil in those who prey upon the innocent, but also to see a crime scene from the eyes of the perpetrator. Though Corrigan has no doubts that Louise was taken against her will, he believes she's still alive. But time is running out, especially when a body is found dumped in the woods'a woman who's a dead ringer for Louise. How long before Louise's captor gets tired of her and replaces her with another lookalike' How long before they find Louise's corpse next' Now, in order to track a psychopath, Corrigan must place himself in the mind of a killer. For it is only there that the twisted secrets of a murderer lie The celebrated soccer goalkeeper shares the story of his rise in the soccer world to becoming one of the world's finest goalkeepers and achieving international stardom at the 2014 World Cup, emphasizing the importance his Christian faith. The soccer goalkeeper shares the story of his rise in becoming one of the world's finest goalkeepers and achieving international stardom at the 2014 World Cup, emphasizing the importance of his Christian faith.