MIKE Sports Comic Books
FREE Series | Volume 6 Soccer Comics
©2013 New Vision Entertainment www.theemike.com Introduction
Known as football throughout the non-American sports universe, soccer boasts its own unique language, eccentric expressions and unparalleled personalities.
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport by a long shot, in spite of its peculiarities. For example, soccer keeps time in the exact opposite direction of every other sport on the planet. Secondly, soccer matches, not games, are played by men wearing boots rather than cleats atop a pitch instead of a field.
When overdone, soccer’s inexcusably melodramatic flopping may sully spectators’ enjoyment. Soccer fans also get flummoxed by the inexplicable calculation of stoppage time and anti-climactic penalty kick shootouts that decide championship games.
However, this international sport has flourished for generations.
Incredible athletes, iconic coaches and passionate fans cause both the wealthiest and poorest nations of the world to bask in the brilliance of the Beautiful Game.
In this FREE soccer book, you won’t need to fear the sport’s most frightening characters, aptly nicknamed Scarface and The Cannibal.
You’ll enjoy reading about the cleverly named and highly entertaining British soccer players Spice Boy and Calamity James.
You’ll even discover there really was a Fifth Beatle. You’ll look up to the goal scoring exploits of taller, long-necked stars The Giraffe and Two Meter Peter.
You’ll relish in the allure of the Beautiful Game, the cleanliness of a goalie’s extra-tidy clean sheet and the “joie de vie” that a Frenchman named Va Va Voom exudes.
References to monarchs, leaders and twentieth century politics are captured by this sport. Expect to meet a Kaiser, a Child of the King and come face to face with soccer’s impenetrable Berlin Wall.
You’ll be impressed by a Genius, dazzled by a Magic Dwarf and enchanted by a Portuguese player with Magic Feet.
Finally, after a little assistance from soccer’s most debated Hand of God, you’ll finish this FREE read by paying homage to the sport’s most sacred celestial stars - Messi and Pele.
Kick this book around on your own or pass it to a friend.
If you love the Beautiful Game, you’ll want to share these clever comics and lively sports trivia with fellow soccer fans.
And, best yet, the book is FREE!
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! Table of Contents
Introduction Why read this FREE soccer comic book? Favorite #25: Scarface Favorite #24: Stoppage Time Favorite #23: Child of the King Favorite #22: Ref Swallowed Whistle Favorite #21: Brazil’s Joy of the People Favorite #20: Two Meter Peter Crouch Favorite #19: The Cannibal Khalid Boulahrouz Favorite #18: Came Out Flat Favorite #17: Va Va Voom Favorite #16: Calamity James Favorite #15: Clean Sheet Favorite #14: The Kaiser Favorite #13: The Giraffe Favorite #12: Lots of Weapons Favorite #11: The Genius Favorite #10: Marta Favorite #9: Flopping Favorite #8: Magic Dwarf Philipp Lahm Favorite #7: The Berlin Wall Favorite #6: Spice Boy David Beckham Favorite #5: Fifth Beatle George Best Favorite #4: Magic Feet Cristiano Ronaldo Favorite #3: Hand of God Goal Favorite #2: Lionel Messi Favorite #1: Pele FREE Bonus Books Meet the MIKE Makers Why read this book?
As the sports world’s ultimate talking head, I immediately connect with readers. Sports fans of all ages love my colorful stories, candid comments and creative content. My books are always entertaining and easy to read.
Plus, the unique sports comics that accompany each chapter cleverly capture the essence of the featured player, team, coach, play and, in this book, soccer expression.
As an added bonus, I always offer something for FREE in each of my sports comic books. See the back of this book for details.
Check out my author profile on Amazon.com, follow me on Twitter and fan me on Facebook. Straight talk. No static.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports!
#25 Soccer Comic Franck Ribery earned his nickname Scarface from the noticeable facial scars he suffered in a car accident as a child.
His frightening speed, chilling patience and punishing style truly scare his opposition on the soccer pitch. Plus, the scars on his face have made many compare Ribery to Al Pacino’s frightening character Tony Montana from the movie Scarface.
This Frenchman may look like a back yard brawler, but his game is beautiful on the soccer field. Legendary French midfielder Zinedine Zidane once called Ribery, “the jewel of French football.”
One of European football’s top overall players, Ribery signed with Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich in 2008. While with the German club, Ribery’s outstanding play has been instrumental in Bayern Munich’s success, which includes the 2013 UEFA Champions League championship.
Many fans focus on the scars lining Franck Ribery’s face. But, Scarface’s energy, incredible pace and overall beautiful skill on the pitch have made him, like Al Pacino’s legendary character, a superstar.
Not on the big screen, but in international football.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #24 Soccer Comic Stoppage Time in soccer is one of the real mysteries in sports! Many soccer fans don’t understand the eccentricity of this time keeping method practiced in soccer games at every level across the globe.
Exactly why is it called Stoppage Time when the clock continues to run in the overtime period - backwards?
Let’s just say the clock continues to run in the exact opposite direction of every other clock in every other sport in the world.
Stoppage Time is so confusing that it’s certain to give migraines to fans outside the sport. For example, they wonder what the top secret formula is to actually calculate Stoppage Time. Does it require an abacus or an advanced degree in math? Or, do the refs just guess?
While watching UEFA Champions League games, most fans expect results to boil down to a ref who arbitrarily uses some arcane formula to determine a few extra minutes of action at the end of a game.
If there’s one thing that needs to be stopped about soccer, it’s the ridiculous notion of Stoppage Time itself.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #23 Soccer Comic In the 1981 movie History of the World Part I, comedian Mel Brooks popularized the saying, "It's good to be the king."
Being king might be great, but it could be totally intimidating if you’re an offspring athlete who sets out to play the same sport as your legendary - and royally talented - dad.
Jordi Crujff, son of legendary Dutch soccer star Johan Crujff, did just that. He followed in the fabulous football boots of his father, Johan Crujff, named in 1999 the European Player of the Century.
Son Jordi Crujff was so successful on the soccer pitch that he earned the titled nickname Child of the King. The younger Crujff’s international soccer career exceeded the expectations of the naysayers. His on-field success silenced critics and overcame all doubts about his ability.
Johan Crujff, the King of Dutch soccer, may have sired the younger Jordi. However, Jordi's long, impressive career as both player and coach is testament that this son of a soccer king is certainly no child.
MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports!
#22 Soccer Comic Regardless of the sport, referees take lots of heat for the impossible roles they perform.
Fans routinely hoot, heckle and holler at refs, whether they’re commenting courtside, from the upper deck, at a sports bar or even from their own living rooms.
This clever comic brings one of my favorite sports clichés to life. It captures the accusation that a ref swallowed his whistle during a key play in the match.
This soccer illustration metaphorically proves an old adage. The actions of the players should decide the outcome of a close game - not a really bad call from an overzealous ref who should have swallowed his whistle in the first place.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #21 Soccer Comic These words are written on the tombstone of our next soccer star. “Here rests in peace one who was the Joy of the People.”
Often compared to Lionel Messi, Manuel Garrincha, known as Joy of the People, exploded onto the world soccer stage after overcoming a challenging childhood in the projects of Rio de Janiero.
During his time with the Brazilian nationals, Garrincha was an unstoppable right wing who led his country to World Cup crowns in 1958 and 1962.
Unfortunately, this brilliant footballer became a poor alcoholic. In his post soccer playing days, this star striker suffered physical, mental, emotional, marital and financial troubles. His pained life may always remain a mystery to those who knew him.
Despite his personal problems, Manuel Garrincha will never be forgotten. For the joy he brought to Brazilian soccer fans and the symbol of success he brought to the sport, he’ll forever be Brazil’s Joy of the People.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #20 Soccer Comic Most fans’ favorite nickname for the rail thin 6’7” Crouch is Two Meter Peter because he stands about two meters tall. The British media also named him Crouchy for his grumpy attitude and Coat Hanger for his lanky frame.
Despite the barbs for his unusual height, redheaded features and skinny build, Two Meter Peter is a solid striker with a very good touch on the ball.
Two Meter Peter has laced up his soccer boots for several English Premier League teams. The unlikely tallish Crouch proved stereotypes wrong, playing for the English national team since 2005, collecting 42 caps and netting 22 goals. He wore his country’s colors in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
In spite of the heckling, Two Meter Peter has set himself apart as a talented – if not unlikely – soccer favorite.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #19 Soccer Comic What started as a mis-quoted sound bite evolved into one of soccer’s most menacing nicknames – The Cannibal.
Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz became known as Khalid The Cannibal when he played for Hamburg SV in the German Bundesliga. Boulahrouz once joked that he would eat an opponent raw, a comment that immediately stuck and morphed into the horrifying nickname.
Boulahrouz’s talent for hard tackling and tenacious play made him a fan favorite. During his two years in Germany, he amassed an uncommonly high 16 yellow cards and three red cards.
The Cannibal’s play in the 2006 World Cup added to Boulahrouz’s notoriety. He was sent off the pitch during Holland’s loss to Portugal when appearing to intentionally kick star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite his reputation as hit man of soccer, the fearless Boulahrouz excelled as a staunch defender who routinely outplayed opponents on the pitch. Complimentary or not, he unwittingly deserves his threatening nickname – The Cannibal.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #18 Soccer Comic In soccer, where scoring can be exceedingly difficult, it’s imperative that players be mentally and physically prepared for a game.
If not, an otherwise powerful team can find itself flattened by a superior and better prepared opponent.
The players in this comic may not resemble top European clubs like Bayern-Munich, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea or Manchester United.
But the image does impart a valuable lesson: To avoid embarrassment, be ready to play and never come out flat!
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #17 Soccer Comic Thierry Henry’s breakaway speed, splendid soccer skill and passion for life (popularized by Renault Clio television commercials in Europe) spawned his nickname Va Va Voom.
It’s no surprise that this electrifying, handsome Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the world’s top strikers and a global fan favorite.
Henry’s storied career has included stints with the world’s top football clubs. He’s played for Juventus in Italy’s Serie A, Arsenal in the English Premier League and FC Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga.
In addition to his coveted World Cup Championship with France, Henry’s trophy case comprises two EPL titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal and an astounding six total titles with FC Barcelona.
It’s easy to understand why soccer fans show their love for the highly accomplished and immensely popular Henry whenever and wherever he hits the pitch by showering him with chants of Va Va Voom!
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #16 Soccer Comic David James may not possess the most flattering nickname in sports. However, this good natured goalie easily laughs off the unwarranted title of Calamity James.
The genesis of the Calamity James nickname began when James was in goal with Liverpool in the 1995 season: he allowed 20 goals in 11 games. The cheeky nickname reached new heights when, ten years later, James allowed four second half goals to the Danes in England’s disastrous 4 – 1 loss.
The talented James played in the English Premier League for five teams before retiring in 2011. He once held the EPL record for 536 total appearances as well as for a remarkable 173 clean sheets.
Now admired for his charity work off the pitch, this likeable and more than capable goalie is anything but a calamity.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #15 Soccer Comic No other sport flaunts its language with the poetic depictions and eccentric expressions of soccer.
Whether it’s a bookable offense for wayward defending, bringing one’s side level in a match or dispossessing the ball from an unexpected midfielder, soccer’s colorful language truly entertains.
A nil nil match serves as another example of the sport’s unique language. Instead of applauding the goalies for their shut out work in goal, announcers gush over the keepers’ clean sheets.
Sure, you may need an interpreter or a glossary of terms to understand the eccentric vocabulary of soccer.
But, you’ll instinctively know that a goalie’s clean sheet is something to cheer about – if he’s defending your side’s goal.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #14 Soccer Comic From his sweeper back position, this Kaiser ruled over the soccer pitch like a monarch.
Franz Beckenbauer’s incredible strength and superb defensive skill enabled him to dominate opponents. With 103 caps and 14 goals for Germany, this soccer king still reigns as the only footballer in the history of the sport to win World Cups as both a player (1974) and manager (1986).
Kaiser transformed the game of soccer and won the 1972 and 1976 European Footballer of the Year titles for his spectacular attacking play. He became one of the first defenders in the world to leave his defensive back position and make long runs into his opponents’ backfield.
Call him whatever royal title tackles your fancy. Whether Emperor Franz, Caesar of Soccer or Bayern Munich Monarch, Franz Beckenbauer will always be Kaiser of soccer.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #13 Soccer Comic The leg up Jack Charlton enjoyed over the competition was actually his neck. This 6'3" athlete towered above most opponents on the soccer pitch. His nickname Giraffe was born when a rival English coach remarked that the red haired, freckled Charlton kicked like a mule and headed the ball like a giraffe.
With a career spanning an incredible 21 years, Britain’s lean and long necked Charlton is considered the best header of the soccer ball to have ever taken the pitch.
His greatest accomplishment as a player occurred in 1966. Teaming with his more famous and athletically gifted brother Bobby who played for Manchester United, the Giraffe played an integral part on England's World Cup Championship squad which defeated West Germany 4 - 2.
Jack Charlton continued as a manager and soccer statesman after his retirement. This Giraffe proved he stood just as tall off the pitch as his accomplishments towered above others on the soccer pitch.
MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports! #12 Soccer Comic There are few more intimidating warnings than hearing your opponent has lots of weapons. This armed and dangerous expression is readily apparent in this comic.
When considering the prowess of teams like FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, the sports cliché lots of weapons comes to life. These UEFA Champions League powerhouses field impressive line- ups in which any number of players can score.
The police of political correctness probably appreciate my keeping real weapons out this image. However, the point is evident.
Even though depicted as a computer virus, water balloon or good old stink bomb, the soccer team in this comic has lots of weapons, indeed.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #11 Soccer Comic With a nickname like The Genius, you’d expect to find this guy in the library or laboratory.
But, the origin of this player’s nickname came from Dejan Savicevic’s spectacular play on the soccer pitch in Serbia and Montenegro as well as throughout Europe.
European football fans, especially those in northern Italy, have vivid memories of this fantastic midfielder. Savicevic starred for A.C. Milan as a brilliant attacking center back. He helped lead the premier Italian team to three Serie A titles in the 1990s and a 1994 UEFA Champions League title game against FC Barcelona. The Genius was instrumental in two goals during the title match.
After watching this Montenegran on film, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to admit that Savicevic is truly The Genius on the soccer field.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #10 Soccer Comic The global sports expression Beautiful Game has always been synonymous with Brazilian football. Through deft touches, brilliant runs and spectacular finishes of its iconic male players, soccer crazed Brazil has generously exported its Beautiful Game around the globe.
But Brazil’s Beautiful Game has also produced a female athlete to typify the moniker. Brazilian export Marta Viera da Silva carries on her country's Beautiful Game tradition by dominating the women's game with unrivaled athleticism and panache.
Soccer purists regard her as the female version of Pele. The 5'4" Brazilian's dazzling play earned her the coveted FIFA World Player of the Year honors an unheard of five years in a row.
Marta's clever passes, flicks and tricks with the ball have magnetized fans wherever she's played. It's easy to see how this radiant Brazilian has made the Beautiful Game an even more beautiful sight to behold.
MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports! #9 Soccer Comic Many American sports fans still can’t stomach soccer. It’s probably due to all the ridiculous flopping!
American sports fans may revel in the histrionics of WWF, but the drama-queen dilettantes of soccer are far too over-the-top for the traditional American male. Falling, flailing, and suffering players miraculously arise after dramatic encounters on the pitch and create far too much drama for not-so-gullible American spectators.
For gutsy American sports fans, the silly shenanigans of flopping in soccer play way too much like a bad Italian opera.
Forget about the flopping!
USA fans favor American football every time.
MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports! #8 Soccer Comic Standing not much taller than a corner flag, this German soccer player perfectly matches his Magic Dwarf nickname.
Considered one of the top FIFA players in the world, the quick and fast 5’7” Philipp Lahm packs a whole lot of punch into his pint-sized frame.
Spectators are often amazed by the Magic Dwarf’s speed, athleticism and amazing ability on the soccer pitch. Lahm regularly dispossesses opponents of the soccer ball in the open field.
Leading Germany to third place finishes in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, the Magic Dwarf has emerged as the obvious leader of the German national team.
German soccer fans are certain to witness more from this little Lahm in the future. In 2014, expect the under-sized Magic Dwarf to play bigger than his already over-stated height and lead the German national team deep into the final rounds of the World Cup tournament.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #7 Soccer Comic Nicknamed the Berlin Wall, Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro made certain that nothing got past his defensive position on the soccer pitch.
Like the hundred mile long cement wall that divided Germany during the Cold War, nothing got past Cannavaro. His brilliant defensive play during the 2006 World Cup in Germany demonstrated to FIFA fans around the globe why adoring Italians named this fortress-like footballer the Berlin Wall.
FIFA recognized Cannavaro’s excellence by awarding him the 2006 Ballon d’Or as the Top Football Player in the World.
He became the oldest player to receive soccer’s highest individual honor. Standing just 5’9” – far shorter than the famed 12’ high concrete wall that divided Germany - there was nothing short about Cannavaro’s performance in soccer.
When sizing up Fabio Cannavaro’s impact on the soccer pitch, no one will argue that he played like the Berlin Wall.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #6 Soccer Comic During the 1990s, Posh Spice of the all-girl British pop group the Spice Girls sang, danced and jiggled her way to global stardom.
At the same time, her husband David Beckham emerged as one of the most celebrated soccer stars on the planet and unwittingly acquired the tongue-in-cheek nickname Spice Boy. Now one of the most marketable athletes in the world, Spice Boy David Beckham has cultivated a global following during his professional soccer career.
Once Major League Soccer’s highest paid player with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Beckham proved that he won wherever he played. The Brit won two MLS Cups with the Galaxy and a La Liga Championship with Real Madrid. He also took six EPL titles, two FA Cups and the 1999 UEFA Champions League crown with Manchester United.
Beckham also captained the English National Team, scoring 17 goals in 115 international appearances that included two World Cups.
Sports fans around the world, and those who desire to “bend it like Beckham” with pinpoint accuracy, embrace Beckham as one of the world’s best footballers - even with the cheeky nickname - Spice Boy.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #5 Soccer Comic The Beatles were exploding as the British rock ‘n roll sensation just when George Best emerged as a beloved football star from Northern Ireland.
As a matter of coincidence, Pete Best preceded Ringo Starr as drummer of the Beatles and holds the unofficial legendary rock n' roll title as Fifth Beatle.
Soccer fans, especially those of British descent, universally recognize Northern Ireland's flamboyant footballer George Best. They named him the Fifth Beatle for his iconic celebrity as one of the world's most gifted and entertaining soccer players.
This 5'9" Northern Irishman plied his trade for eleven years with Manchester United in the vaunted English Premier League where he scored an astounding 179 goals in 470 appearances.
In his native Belfast, the following words are written about soccer’s Fifth Beatle that any fan - including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - would agree upon:
"Maradona good. Pele better. George Best."
MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports! #4 Soccer Comic Cristiano Ronaldo is heralded in the soccer world as Magic Feet. His famous step-over move and ferociously powerful shots earned him the nickname, but the Portuguese striker’s overall skill and toughness reach far beyond his fantastic feet.
The speedy Ronaldo has brought fear into the hearts of opposing teams each time his Magic Feet have touched the ball.
In 2009, Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid paid a $130 million transfer fee to Manchester United for Ronaldo. The move created a never before seen $1.3 billion buy-out clause for any other club interested in securing his services. His $20 million per year contract, not including earnings from endorsements and public appearances, makes him one of the richest footballers on the planet.
Magic Feet continues to dazzle fans and frustrate defenders. Ronaldo is the complete soccer player, more than capable of scoring against any opponent with his head or, in his case, his Magic Feet.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #3 Soccer Comic The most famous missed call in the history of World Cup soccer is memorialized with a divinely inspired nickname – the Hand of God.
During the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match-up between Argentina and England, Argentina’s Diego Maradona illegally punched a loose ball in the box into the back of the net. Confirmed by video footage, Maradona’s handball goal should have been disallowed.
Instead, the goal stood. The Argentine striker credited his unlikely goal to both his head and the Hand of God. More than 25 years later, the Hand of God goal replays itself in heated debates.
When discussing soccer heroes, Diego Maradona is instantly named along with Pele, Lionel Messi and Johan Crujff. Maradona’s deft touches, sudden bursts of athleticism and amazing soccer skill secure his lore among the sport’s greatest icons.
However, fans’ recollections of this athlete will never forget how he illegally scored a goal in a vital World Cup victory . . . with a little help from the Hand of God.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #2 Soccer Comic Lionel Messi’s collection of four Ballon d’Or Trophies for FIFA Player of the Year testifies to why this tiny Argentine is currently the greatest soccer player in the world.
This pint-sized FC Barcelona prodigy makes a mockery of the misperception that “bigger is always better”. The indomitable spirit of this 5’6” footballer known as the Atomic Flea has driven him to the height of soccer excellence.
Named among TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in 2012, Messi enjoyed perhaps the most prolific year in the history of the sport. In 2012 the Atomic Flea scored an astonishing 91 goals in all competitions for FC Barcelona and his native Argentina.
A five-time La Liga Champion in Spain, Lionel Messi has won three UEFA Champions League titles and brought home an Olympic gold medal in 2008 from Beijing while representing his native Argentina.
When it comes to size and spunk, this Atomic Flea effortlessly flitters around soccer pitches across the globe and regularly takes a bite out of the back of the net.
MIKE – thee ultimate talking head on sports! #1 Soccer Comic Mention the name Edson Arantes de Nascimento and only staunch soccer fans will recognize it. But, say Pele and nearly everyone on the planet will recognize this Brazilian.
Universally regarded as the best international footballer of all-time, Pele's awesome career was recognized in 1999. He was named Footballer of the Century by the International Federation of Football.
Pele's team accomplishments are unrivaled. Pele stands as the only player in soccer history to play on three World Cup championships teams. He starred on Brazil's 1958, 1962 and 1970 title teams.
Dutch midfielder Johan Crujff once claimed, "Pele was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic." German defender Franz Beckenbauer remarked, "Pele is the greatest player of all time. He reigned supreme for 20 years.”
Crujff and Beckenbauer are right. There's no one else like Pele."
MIKE - thee ultimate talking head on sports!
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FREE sports comic books can be safely downloaded at no charge by clicking on the cover images of books on the following pages.
You will be directed to the www.theemike.com web site where you can safely download PDFs of the FREE books. Click on yellow cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on yellow cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on purple cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on purple cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on purple cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on purple cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on purple cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Click on purple cover above to safely download FREE MIKE Sports Comic Books from the www.theemike.com web site. Meet the MIKE Makers, Jim and Maura Sweeney, as well as the other contributors to this unique sports property. Jim Sweeney – Author
Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Jim grew up with a passion for sports and fun. He played baseball, basketball, soccer and street hockey as a kid. After graduating from the Lawrenceville School in NJ, Jim attended Boston College and started on the school’s basketball team for four years in a row.
Sweeney captained the Eagles from 1977 – 1980 and received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation’s top NCAA basketball player under six feet tall.
After a 20-year-career in sales, Jim closed the computer agency he founded to pursue a fun career in sports entertainment. Along with his wife Maura, Jim founded New Vision Entertainment, LLC with a desire to positively impact others through sports and entertainment.
Jim developed MIKE as an alter-ego sports personality and has penned 30+ books under the MIKE name for both kids as well as adults.
In addition, Jim has written dozens of audio monologues and hundreds of blogs through the voice of the MIKE character. The blogs can be read on www.theemike.com as well as other sports sites.
Now in his fifties and living in Florida, Jim continues to play basketball regularly – though more slowly now! The MIKE Maker is a World Masters & World Senior Olympics Basketball Champion as well as a seven time USA Masters Basketball Champion in the 45+, 50+ and 55+ age groups. http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdsweeney Maura Sweeney – Publisher
A three-time best selling publisher of Inky Winky Spider pre-school books, Maura is an author, Huffington Post contributor, video blogger and a founder of The State of Happiness Talk Radio Show in Florida.
Maura became the driving force in encouraging her husband out of a highly successful business and into the pursuit of his dream – to create MIKE into the sports world’s ultimate talking head.
Maura is MIKE’s co-creator and publisher.
For more on Maura – http://www.maura4u.com The Illustrators
Kevin Riley – Kevin Riley’s animations appear on Jumbotrons for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals and Orlando Magic. The Emmy Award winner’s work has also been featured on Nickelodeon, Noggin, Cartoon Network and Discovery Kids TV. Kevin resides in Tampa, Florida where he is founder of Riley Animation.
Richard Betancourt - Richard Betancourt studied drawing and painting at La Academia de San Carlos in Mexico and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Illustration from Art Center College. Residing in his home state of California, Richard started Milkbar Comics, an independent monthly comic.
Alex Salsberg - Cartoonist Alex Salsberg is the man behind Poke Gravy Studios in Boston. An ardent New England Patriots fan, Alex has created animation and illustration for many clients including Nickelodeon and National Lampoon. Alex has drawn the cover and the other complimentary artwork in the book. His work can be seen at www.PokeGravy.com. Kaley Sweeney - Editor
As editor, Kaley infuses youthful enthusiasm and insight into the MIKE Sports Comic Book series.
At 21 years old, Kaley holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Boston University and is pursuing her Master’s at Harvard University.
Kaley works as Editor of the World Photo Organization On-line Magazine and is co-founder of Empowered Voices, a non-profit that raises awareness for women in developing countries. http://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleysweeney The MIKE sports property is expected to be seen and heard on television, the web, radio and Jumbotrons.
MIKE is a registered Trademark. MIKE and all the artwork in this book are the property of New Vision Entertainment, LLC.
Special thanks to these MIKE contributors:
Kevin Riley – Animator Greg Stauffer – Studio Production Dave Rittenhouse – Studio Production Amy O’Hara-Cusick – Legal