The Pep Talk: A Football Story about the Business of Winning

by Kevin Elko, Robert L. Shook

The Pep Talk is a sports story-with solid business applications-about an underdog football team defeating a formidable opponent. Typically, a novelette of this type peaks at the end of the game, but it's in the pep talk where the real story begins.
A stranger convinces the coach of a team with a 24-game losing streak to allow him to give a pep talk before they go up against a winning team. The underdog team is victorious because of the influence of this stranger. The pep talk and the actual game are intriguing, but the real story begins 29 years later when the coach, suffering from a brain tumor, discovers the stranger had prophesized specific events that occurred in the ensuing game. Is there a logical explanation? Is there a spiritual explanation? The answers to these questions capture the reader's attention to the very end.

Genres: Sports, Business, Nonfiction

147 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2008

Reviews

[John Dobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Kevin Elko's book The Pep Talk is a book that energizes by reminding readers of the basics of moving ahead in life and finding purpose and direction. Co-authored by Robert L. Shook, this fictional tale uses the backdrop of high school football to dramatize the power of thinking in the right way about the greatest challenges we face in life. There are 12 lessons presented in The Pep Talk, but it's fare more than just a list of stuff to remember. I think anyone could gain some great insights by reading this book that is based on Christian principles. I would recommend it to high school age and up. You can find out more about Dr. Elko at http://www.drelko.com/ and Robert L. Shook at http://www.robertlshook.com.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an amazing book to read and I would read over and over again. The Pep Talk is about a guy by the name of Mr. Christopher who comes in and gives a pep talk to a group of high school football players from Lincoln High School. He shares with them many stories and quotes the bible over and over again by using 3 key verses in the bible which were Mark 11:24, John 20:29, and Joshua 1:9. There were 3 football players on the team who had these names and the next night after getting the pep talk they played the Jacktown Giants. The best team in the region and on that night the underdogs beat them while Mark broke up 11 passes and had 24 tackles on the night. Then John (Johnny) had 20 catches for 29 passes and finally Josh's number was 1 and he scored all of the teams points with 9. To this very day they still don't know if Mr. Christopher was real or if he was an angel, because none of the other players remember him besides Mark, Johnny, and Josh and their coach Jack Morris. One thing they do know is that the pep talk that Mr. Christopher told them changed there lives forever and it has stuck with them the rest of their lives. They are all now very successful in life and have done wonderful things for people throughout the years. I would suggest going to your local book store right now and purchasing this book, it is that good!!!

[John David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about a small town in Ohio's high school football team and how they accomplished the impossible. The book starts out describing how Lincoln, Ohio was in its 'glory days' when the steel mill was booming and the high school football team was great. Scince then, the town took a hit when the steel mill closed and the Linclon Lions ceased to have the winning spirit. The coach of this football team, Jack Morris, walks into the town's diner to have a cup of coffee on the day before facing the Jacktown Giants, he State Champs for 3 years running. All of the sudden a stranger enters the diner and sits down next to Jack and starts talking to him and introduces himself as Mr. Christopher. He talks to Coach Morris on his situation with playing the Giants an doffers to give a pep talk to the Lions. Jack lets him come that evening after practice. Mr. Cristopher gives a great message about self-confidence, loving eachother, trusting eachother, and playing 'one play at a time.' The next night, the Lions play their hearts out. There is even a surprise at the end, but you have to read the book to find the rest out. This is a great motivational book that applies to all life situations. Everybody should read this book!

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Think: Self-help book meets novella. A good concept. Unfortunately neither aspect is very compelling. The characters were two dimensional and the plot was a bit over the top. I did want to keep turning pages to see where it would end up, but overall rather ho-hum.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Can't wait to see him speak on Wednesday morning.

[Bill Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to read this book at least once a year if not twice a year---this is a book I share with a lot of people.