The Game and the Glory
by By Lewis, Gregg and Akers, Michelle
Category: Sports & Recreation , Soccer

One look into her eyes and you know she means business; get the ball anywhere near her and you&apos;ll find out for sure. This is not your run-of-the-mill, world-class athlete -- this is Michelle  Akers, a champion whose incredible drive and skills are legendary in women&apos;s soccer. This is the woman USA Today called the 'heart and soul' of the history-making 1999 U.S. Women&apos;s World Cup Soccer Championship Team. The Game and the Glory takes you inside the life of one of the greatest female athletes of our time and shows you what makes a true champion. It&apos;s more than ability -- it&apos;s an inner fire that blazes its hottest when the winds of adversity blow their strongest. But for all her tremendous grit and ability, there is one opponent even Michelle Akers can&apos;t shake. It&apos;s called Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS), and it affects every area of her life, draining the energy needed just to function, let alone play sports. Akers may be the only person with CFIDS who has ever continued to compete on a world level. From her childhood infatuation with soccer, to high school days in Seattle playing with the U-19 Flyers, to the rigors of the U.S. Women&apos;s National Team, Akers retraces her guts-and-glory road to the Rose Bowl and the 1999 World Cup victory. You&apos;ll learn about the indomitable drive to win that has made her one of the top scorers and most feared opponents in women&apos;s soccer. And you&apos;ll witness the unflagging endurance that has propelled her past multiple injuries and the ravages of CFIDS to sustain a fifteen-year career with the national team. You&apos;ll also read about Michelle&apos;s life off the playing field: her relationship with family, coaches, friends, and teammates, her personal struggles, and her faith in Jesus Christ that has kept her fighting -- and winning -- against unimaginable odds. Former U.S. Soccer coach Tony DiCocco has called Michelle Akers 'the best woman that&apos;s ever played the game, period.' The Game and the Glory will show you why. Here, in her own straightforward words, is the true-life story of an amazing athlete -- and a remarkable woman.