Straight Shootin' J.R.

Jeremy Roenick was known as a hard working, tough hockey player that didn't meet a microphone that he didn't like in his playing days, and certainly, there's no microphone that he won't turn down now that he's an analyst on NBC Sports' hockey shows.  So, it should be no surprise that he has an autobiography out in J.R.: My Life as the Most Outspoken, Fearless, and Hard Hitting Man in Hockey (published by Triumph Books in the U.S., and is under a different title and published by Harper Collins in Canada).  The autobiography, written with some help from USA Today columnist Kevin Allen, is an earnest look into the life of a player that either you loved or hated, and sometimes both at the same time.

Some of the highlights in the book include his insight into a locker room when he first started out, his often contentious relationships with his coaches, and addressing some of his comments from his current job as an analyst concerning Patrick Marleau and a hit on Kris Letang by Eric Nystrom last season.  Though there are instances where I think he could have gone further in depth such as his early childhood, there are some that he talks about in depth that define Roenick as a man, such as his relationship with his wife Tracy and how certain players have influenced his style such as Gordie Howe, Mark Messier, and Mike Modano.  The book also offers a different point of view on people such as Mike Keenan and Wayne Gretzky, both of whom Roenick as respect for, but as you read, wasn't always a 24/7 deal.

When reading the book, Roenick challenges you to think and to ask, in his words, "What the $%&* was Roenick thinking?"  There were plenty of instances of the latter, and certainly many of them will have you laughing along or shaking your head.  The autobiography is definitely a must-read if you're a fan of Roenick, want to know what was going on behind the scenes, or just want to have a good laugh.  Be warned, as Roenick pulls no punches here.