Polamalu

Looks at the life, career, and humanitarian efforts of the defensive player for the Baltimore Ravens.

The biography of pro football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu

The inspirational story of Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu Troy Polamalu was the guiding spirit behind a Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty that won two Super Bowls and led the NFL in total defense five times during his 12-year career. His explosiveness and instinct shone on the field, yet is is Polamalu's grace and character, his humility and dignity that have made the greatest impression on those closest to him. This biography, the first written on the Steelers' Hall of Famer, was over a decade in the making. Author Jim Wexell covered every step of Polamalu's career and interviewed countless family members, friends, coaches, team officials, front office executives, and teammates to produce a moving portrait of a remarkable athlete. Polamalu's days as a child in Santa Ana, California; his formative years in Tenmile, Oregon; his college days at the University of Southern California; and his glory days with the Steelers are all covered in this essential chronicle of a Pittsburgh great.

Provides a biography of Troy Polamalu, winner of Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006 and 2009, and famous for his long hair.

This title introduces readers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, providing exciting details about today's stars and going deep inside the key moments of the team's history. The title also features informative "fast facts," a timeline, and a glossary. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing Company.

Longlisted for the PEN/ESPN Award “Everything that’s rousing and distressing about block-and-tackle football is encompassed in Tropic of Football. . . illuminating.” —Newsday How a tiny Pacific archipelago is producing more players—from Troy Polamalu to Marcus Mariota—for the NFL than anywhere else in the world, by an award-winning sports historian Football is at a crossroads, its future imperiled by the very physicality that drives its popularity. Its grass roots—high school and youth travel program—are withering. But players from the small South Pacific American territory of Samoa are bucking that trend, quietly becoming the most disproportionately overrepresented culture in the sport. Jesse Sapolu, Junior Seau, Troy Polamalu, and Marcus Mariota are among the star players to emerge from the Samoan islands, and more of their brethren suit up every season. The very thing that makes them so good at football—their extraordinary internalization of discipline and warrior self-image—makes them especially vulnerable to its pitfalls, including concussions and brain injuries. Award-winning sports historian Rob Ruck travels to the South Seas to unravel American Samoa's complex ties with the United States. He finds an island blighted by obesity, where boys train on fields blistered with volcanic pebbles wearing helmets that should have been discarded long ago, incurring far more neurological damage than their stateside counterparts and haunted by Junior Seau, who committed suicide after a vaunted twenty-year NFL career, unable to live with the demons that resulted from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Tropic of Football is a gripping, bittersweet history of what may be football's last frontier.

Bill Parcells may be the most iconic football coach of our time. During his decades-long tenure as an NFL coach, he turned failing franchises into contenders. He led the ailing New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories, turned the New England Patriots into an NFL powerhouse, reinvigorated the New York Jets, brought the Dallas Cowboys back to life, and was most recently enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Taking readers behind the scenes with one of the most influential and fascinating coaches the NFL has ever known, PARCELLS will take a look back at this coach’s long, storied and influential career, offer a nuanced portrayal of the complex man behind the coach, and examine the inner workings of the NFL.

An insider history of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the NFL draft. A singular, transcendent talent can change the fortunes of a football team instantly. Each year, NFL teams approach the draft with this knowledge, hoping that luck will be on their side and that their extensive scouting and analysis will pay off. In On the Clock: Pittsburgh Steelers, Jim Wexell explores the fascinating, rollercoaster history of the Steelers at the draft, from Terry Bradshaw through Troy Polamalu and beyond. Readers will go behind the scenes with top decision-makers as they evaluate, deliberate, and ultimately make the picks they hope will tip the fate of their franchise toward success. From seemingly surefire first-rounders to surprising late selections, this is a must-read for Steelers faithful and NFL fans eager for a glimpse at how teams are built.

Hines Ward’s journey to Super Bowl XL started thousands of miles away when he was born in Seoul, South Korea. In this inspiring narrative, Hines Ward and the Pittsburgh Steelers: Super Bowl XL, young readers will see how Hines fought discrimination at an early age and grew up to become one of the most talented receivers in the NFL. Kids will become part of the action as the Pittsburgh Steelers win game after game to finally become Super Bowl XL champions. Large, full-color photographs and engaging narrative text will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they cheer on Hines and the Steelers.

Even if you don’t know his name, you know his hair. Troy Polamalu, whose flowing locks are featured on television commercials, may be a good-natured, soft-spoken shampoo pitchman in the locker room, but every Sunday during football season, he’s considered one of the most talented and hard-hitting defensive backs in the NFL. His unique combination of athleticism, strength, and intelligence enables him to be a complete defensive player, covering receivers on one play, and tackling runners on the next. Off the field, Troy is a religiously devout family man whose favorite pastime is growing orchids. His road to football greatness and personal spirituality is an inspiring story that proves with hard work and a belief in oneself, anyone can make dreams come true.