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The Water Boy: From the Sidelines to the Owner's Box: Inside the CFL, the XFL, and the NFL
Praise for The Water Boy "From league to league, from country to country, from small towns to big cities, Bob has seen it all! His football tales and football travels are fascinating. Bob Ackles has literally gone all the way!"
— Chris Berman, ESPN "I have known Bobby Ackles since he was the Water Boy. Now he is the Wonder Boy ! Bobby Ackles didn’t put the BC Lions on the map once. He put them on the map twice! Bobby has done more for the game of football than anyone I know. And he isn’t stopping yet. Go, Bobby, go!"
— Allan Fotheringham, Author "Bob Ackles is in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is also a charter member of the ‘Nice Guys Hall of Fame.’ I’m honored to call Bob a friend. He is one of the most accomplished executives in all of sports and his story will be must reading for any sports fan."
— Bill Pollian, President of the Indianapolis Colts "Bob and Kay Ackles have experienced ultimate highs and lows in every level of professional football in two countries. In the years Bob worked for me both with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins he was a loyal, tireless worker. He was always upbeat and positive. Bob and Kay are wonderful people who have some great stories about their experiences."
— Jimmy Johnson, Former Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys "Bobby Ackles is truly a living legend in British Columbia. He proves that nice guys can win! They don’t make ’em any better than Bobby!"
— Jim Pattison, President, the Pattison Group
— Chris Berman, ESPN "I have known Bobby Ackles since he was the Water Boy. Now he is the Wonder Boy ! Bobby Ackles didn’t put the BC Lions on the map once. He put them on the map twice! Bobby has done more for the game of football than anyone I know. And he isn’t stopping yet. Go, Bobby, go!"
— Allan Fotheringham, Author "Bob Ackles is in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is also a charter member of the ‘Nice Guys Hall of Fame.’ I’m honored to call Bob a friend. He is one of the most accomplished executives in all of sports and his story will be must reading for any sports fan."
— Bill Pollian, President of the Indianapolis Colts "Bob and Kay Ackles have experienced ultimate highs and lows in every level of professional football in two countries. In the years Bob worked for me both with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins he was a loyal, tireless worker. He was always upbeat and positive. Bob and Kay are wonderful people who have some great stories about their experiences."
— Jimmy Johnson, Former Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys "Bobby Ackles is truly a living legend in British Columbia. He proves that nice guys can win! They don’t make ’em any better than Bobby!"
— Jim Pattison, President, the Pattison Group
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 5, 2009
The late Bobby Ackles relates his experiences garnered from over 50 years of professional football. Definitely not the sleazy tell-all book that some ego driven superstars spew forth. Bobby tells us about the business side of the game and how he built his respected reputation as a leader and builder of football teams. A man for whom a handshake meant something.
An enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys football and especially those fans of the CFL.
An enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys football and especially those fans of the CFL.
August 11, 2017
I knew absolutely nothing about Bob Ackles before cracking open this book, but I found it interesting that a water boy could come out of Canada to work in the CFL, NFL, and XFL. Hell, he even got to General Manager at a few points and worked with the Dallas Cowboys.
His stories are fun, and his knowledge of the football business is second to none. You can tell this is a guy who really has seen it all.
What really drew me to his writing was his "can-do" attitude. Yes, he started as a water boy. I think at one point he refers to him being 5'5".
Yet, not at one point does he bemoan his inability to play. He just gets in the league any way he can and starts working. He works for free at the start. He learns everything he can. He gets to know all the players and gets into a million hilarious scenarios with them. He learns. He experiences. He gets out there and sees the world. Oh, and he oil paints in his free time, or searches for missing players in the wetlands of the American South.
I can't give him the late Bob Ackles five stars because he does go on long low-value digressions from time to time that detracted from the main arch, but I still loved this book.
His stories are fun, and his knowledge of the football business is second to none. You can tell this is a guy who really has seen it all.
What really drew me to his writing was his "can-do" attitude. Yes, he started as a water boy. I think at one point he refers to him being 5'5".
Yet, not at one point does he bemoan his inability to play. He just gets in the league any way he can and starts working. He works for free at the start. He learns everything he can. He gets to know all the players and gets into a million hilarious scenarios with them. He learns. He experiences. He gets out there and sees the world. Oh, and he oil paints in his free time, or searches for missing players in the wetlands of the American South.
I can't give him the late Bob Ackles five stars because he does go on long low-value digressions from time to time that detracted from the main arch, but I still loved this book.
November 20, 2021
What a life Bobby Ackles lived! At 15 years old, he skipped school to become the water boy for the newly formed BC Lions football team. Over time this led to his promotion to equipment manager, and then to higher up executive and scouting positions (including General Manager). He then transferred his skills to the NFL, where he worked for multiple teams (beginning with the prestigious Dallas Cowboys). He then worked with Vince McMahon to help form the XFL. Finally he returned to the CFL as GM of British Columbia once again.
Over 50 years in pro football. 30+ in the CFL, over 15 in NFL, and 1 in XFL. All from the beginnings as a water boy.
Over 50 years in pro football. 30+ in the CFL, over 15 in NFL, and 1 in XFL. All from the beginnings as a water boy.
September 4, 2021
I've never been big on biographies, but this one was amazing.
January 10, 2009
BIOGRAPHY
I knew Bobby Ackles...We had a 'lobster fest' in Secret Cove in the summer of 2007.
What a great guy , a great wife and a great family. Like us, he loved the water and he and his son (of the Calgary Stampeders) spent a lot of time on it.
Sadly he passed in early 2008...just 3 weeks before another ' lobster fest'.
I loved the book because it is a great story of '...waterboy to the team to the owner's box'.
A great autobiography of a real achiever.
Hos boat of course was the MS "Waterboy".
I knew Bobby Ackles...We had a 'lobster fest' in Secret Cove in the summer of 2007.
What a great guy , a great wife and a great family. Like us, he loved the water and he and his son (of the Calgary Stampeders) spent a lot of time on it.
Sadly he passed in early 2008...just 3 weeks before another ' lobster fest'.
I loved the book because it is a great story of '...waterboy to the team to the owner's box'.
A great autobiography of a real achiever.
Hos boat of course was the MS "Waterboy".
February 25, 2013
A terrifically honest insiders perspective of football operations. Bob did a great job of mostly removing his ego while offering up candid examples of the oversized egos that can dominate a franchise. A little sluggish and plodding at times with play by play accounts of games remembered, but mostly a quickly moving and enjoyable journey through three professional football leagues.
July 11, 2010
DEDICATED MAN. RIP
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews