Football Star Now An Author

“Comeback Kid” by John Elway With Greg Brown (Taylor, $14.95)

All eyes will be on John Elway today as he leads the Denver Broncos to victory or defeat. But who is this guy, this veteran of 14 seasons in the National Football League and one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game?

Several books have been written about him for adults, but Elway himself has written a book for children. Who better to chronicle the life of an outstanding athlete than the athlete himself?

“Consider this book my pep talk to you,” he says in the foreword.

Kids may well be inspired by Elway’s message, which includes this passage.

“If you ask the secret of my success, most might say it’s my Godgiven athletic ability to throw a football. While talent is important, it’s not necessarily the most important thing. Thousands of talented people fail every day.

“My strength has been my will to win - that competitive fire inside.

“I never give up.”

Coming into the 1997-98 season, Elway had led 41 fourth-quarter comebacks, more than any quarterback before him - thus his nickname.

The book, aimed at 7- to 12-year-olds, should score with youngsters who love football.

This book, written with the assistance of sports writer Greg Brown (formerly of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer), is part of Taylor Publishing’s Positively For Kids series. Brown, who came up with the idea for the series, has said its intent is to “humanize, rather than glorify,” today’s role models.