Blackie: The Steve Black Story (Mainstream Sport)

ThisengagingautobiographydocumentsSteveBlack'sjourneyfromlifeasabouncerinNewcastletotheglobalsportingachievementsthatfollowed.Blackiscommonlyregardedasoneofthemostinspirationalfitnessgurusintheworld.Hehasworkedwiththefinestsportsmeninbothrugbyandfootball,whilehisadviceandmotivationalskillshavebeensoughtbymany,includingKevinKeegan,PeterReidandPaulBracewell.Itisinrugby,however,thathehasreallymadehismark.HisinvolvementinthegamebeganwhenhetookuphiscurrentpostwithNewcastleFalconsattheinceptionofthe'rugbyrevolution',whichcatapultedhimintoadifferentsphere.HewasthensignedupbymanagerGrahamHenryastheconditioningcoachfortheWelshnationalside.FollowingthiscamehisselectionfortheBritishLionstourofAustraliain2001.In2003,hewasnamedasoneofthekeyfactorsbehindRugbyWorldCupheroJonnyWilkinson'ssuccess.However,Black'sstorycouldhavebeenverydifferent.At16,heworkedasabouncerforavarietyofroughpubsinNewcastleuponTynebutdifferedfromtheherdinthathefollowedastrictreligiousandmoralcode.Whenthepubscenebecameincreasinglyviolent,Blackbowedoutandwenttocollege,whereheattainedanhonoursdegreeinsportssciencebeforeembarkinguponacareerinsport.IBlackie/Iisaninspirationalreadforanyonewhoseekssuccess,beitinsportorlifeingeneral.