Although this book tells the compelling life stories of fifteen sports legends, it is not restricted to a listing of statistics and awards. In each story, readers will see how the Italian-American culture helped to mold these gifted athletes into the type of men who could achieve superstar status, along will how each athletic achiever cultivated specific character traits to reach success. Joe DiMaggio exemplified the quiet strength, discipline, and loyalty of his father, an Italian immigrant who worked as a fisherman to support his wife and nine children. Rocky Marciano relied on a unrelenting determination while training and fighting to become the heavyweight boxing champion. Joe Montana was known as the "Comeback Kid" because he never gave up during a game, no matter the odds. Montana is perhaps most famous for his last-minute come-from-behind drive to win Super Bowl XXIII. He credits his parents with developing his inner drive to succeed. DiMaggio, Marciano, and Montana are just three examples of the Italian-American sports heroes documented in this book. All fifteen athletic achievers built upon their Italian-American background to transcend their respective sports into the level of American legend. As a result, The 15 Greatest Italian-Americans in Sports is a gift of heritage and pride for Italian-Americans, providing important insights into their cultural history. In addition. It preserves the legacy of heralded athletes for all generations of American sports fans.