THE REAL ALL AMERICANS The Team that Changed a Game, a People, a Nation

Most sports fans will recall the name of Jim Thorpe, the Native American athlete who won the decathlon Gold Medal in the 1912 Olympics. Fewer will remember his exploits as a college football player. And fewer yet will recall his school, Carlisle, which was a boarding school for Native Americans. The school was an attempt to make Native Americans more like white Americans. Their football team, which relied on speed, grace, and athleticism rather than brute strength, significantly changed the game of football. Jenkins explores the history and sociology of the school and its prominent figures. David Pittu offers a solid reading, combining a fan's excitement with an appropriate level of reserve. The abridgment is generally smooth, but there are points where listeners are set up for a deeper discussion and the topic abruptly changes. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]