Companions in Courage

As a perennial All-Star in the National Hockey League, Pat LaFontainewas one of the first American-born superstars in a sport dominatedtraditionally by Canadians and Europeans. Then in 1996 a blindside blowto the head smashed him to the ice. From that moment on, physically, psychologically, and spiritually, LaFontaine was a changed man. In thisremarkable book -- a book that must be read by everyone who thinks thereare no true sports heroes anymore -- LaFontaine chronicles his awakeningto what winning and losing are really all about.

Even before his injury, LaFontaine had devoted time and money to helpingkids with incurable diseases. But with his career cut short, LaFontainebegan to survey the sports world and see whom he admired most. Theanswer was not a list of headline grabbers or record breakers. Instead, LaFontaine saw other athletes -- some well known, some not -- who hadovercome incredible odds on and off their fields of competition. NowLaFontaine shares with us the extraordinary stories of these real heroescompeting not just for wins or losses but, in many cases, for lifeitself.

Among these inspiring portraits in courage is