Book Shelf: Theo Fleury Details Wild Life In New Release

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED notes former NHLer THEO FLEURY at one point "seemed a lock for the Hall of Fame," but his autobiography "PLAYING WITH FIRE" depicts how his career "unraveled in a haze of alcohol abuse." Fleury in the "harrowing memoir" discusses his addictions and "says that he was sexually abused as a teen" by former junior hockey coach GRAHAM JAMES (SI, 10/19 issue). In Toronto, Dave Feschuk wrote the book is "filled with egregious detail of Fleury's near ruin," including a look into a "rare life that saw Fleury blow through most of the [US$50M] he earned in salary while battling his demons at craps tables and inside coke-snorting washroom stalls" (THESTAR.com, 10/15).

KEEPING IT REAL: In Cincinnati, Joe Reedy noted Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco's latest autobiography, "OCHO CINCO: WHAT FOOTBALL AND LIFE HAVE THROWN MY WAY," hits bookstores October 27. Reedy wrote the book "has something for everyone." Reedy: "If you like the ninth-year wide receiver, there are plenty of things to enjoy. If you don’t like him, there’s nothing in here that will change that opinion. It’s Chad being Chad, and he has another forum to get his word across" (CINCINNATI ENQURIER, 10/10). Meanwhile, USA TODAY's Sean Leahy notes Ochocinco "offers a frank criticism of team president/owner MIKE BROWN, considered by some among the more frugal owners in the league." Ochocinco in the book writes, "Mike Brown doesn't have any real help, he doesn't have enough help. ... We need to get real help. I've been here eight years. I've seen it with my own eyes. I've seen how it works" (USATODAY.com, 10/16).

GOING BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL: USA TODAY's Reid Cherner noted N.Y. Times reporter JOE DRAPE has written "OUR BOYS: A PERFECT SEASON ON THE PLAINS WITH THE SMITH CENTER REDMEN," after spending a year in Smith Center, Kansas, profiling the local high school football team's attempts at winning its "fifth consecutive state title while attaining and then hopefully maintaining the nation's longest winning streak." Drape was "given total access to not only the football team but almost every business and home in the town." Drape: "They were proud of their community and how they live. ... They try to connect you and introduce you to everyone else" (USA TODAY, 10/15).

NOTES: Crain's Chicago Business' ED SHERMAN's first book, "THE GREAT BOOK OF CHICAGO SPORTS LISTS," co-written with WSCR-AM host DAN MCNEIL, hit stores this week. Sherman wrote the book is an "all-encompassing best-worst, overrated-underrated, memorable forgettable series of lists on our local heroes, past and present" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 10/13)...."SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: THE GOLF BOOK" hit stores Tuesday with a retail price of $29.95. The book, which contains a foreword by writer ROY BLOUNT JR., traces the game from its 15th century roots to the current day and contains 300 black-and-white and full-color photographs (SI).