Rudy, no more-Dr. Kenneth Polke will tell you his inspiring tale of how he overcame obstacles and played in the NFL with his book Conquering your Adversities.
The book is both a memoir as well as a self-help guide. It tells the story of Dr. Polke’s inspiring life, starting with his childhood in Cleveland, where he was raped by the Mafia, going to Catholic school and then seeing the violence of the Vietnam War. His neighborhood became known in Bomb City USA. While all this happened, Polke remained firm in his determination to follow the narrow and straight path to the NFL.
Although I don’t like football, I love stories about people who make dreams come true. Every page in this book has both. Conquering Your Adversities was a great read. Dr. Polke kept a close eye on the events outside of his own personal world, in his community and across the country. The book is filled with nostalgic memories about America’s greatest days and its worst times, but also some of the most difficult. The Polke family is at the center of this story. Polke recounts growing up with his little brother, sister, and then a baby sibling in Collinwood. He read to his children and taught them everything, from the Mafia to sports. His mother worked at Jergens to ensure that they were able to have everything they required. Polke was the son of middle-class, hard-working parents who instilled the Ozzie/Harriet values in his children. They also gave them strength and an ethical code that they could follow when faced with temptation.
As a youngster, Dr. Polke was constantly in danger. To keep him from trouble at the public schools, his parents sent him to Catholic School. But even with the help of nuns, he was prone to stealing communion wine from church. The Mafia ran the streets in Dr. Polke’s neighborhood. Although he never met them directly, he knew they were there and he took their cues about how to handle different situations.
Danny Greene was the most prominent Mafia figure in the area. He would be the subject later of Kill the Irishman. Greene was Dr. Polke’s childhood friend. He was very happy to have a one-on-one encounter with him. This allowed him to see why Greene was considered a Robin Hood figure in his neighborhood, even though he knew Greene made mistakes.
Even when things were difficult, Dr. Polke managed to stay positive and persevered. However, the temptation to choose the easiest path to success was always there. Sometimes, when he wasn’t able to save enough money or his dreams weren’t coming true, Dr. Polke would watch wealthy guys driving past in beautiful cars and realize that this lifestyle could have been his if he joined organized crime. He instead chose to play football as his path out.
His football career has been impressive. Although he may not be well-known today, he has gone a long way in his career. His high school memories of playing football on the field are stories he tells. As he speaks with college recruiters, we experience butterflies in our stomachs. And then, the moment he gets his call, we all feel as if our hearts are about to burst when we see him. Polke was a player for two NFL teams, though I do not want to spoil the excitement.
He decided that he wanted something more and walked out of football.
To find out what Dr. Polke went through, you’ll need to go back and read his story. Conquering Your Adversities’ chapters end with several challenging questions. These are designed to help readers think through Dr. Polke’s story and reflect on similar difficulties they have faced. Then, the next chapter will offer a list of ways to conquer them. The book ends with a set of challenging questions that encourage readers to reflect on Dr. Polke’s story, think about similar challenges they have faced and find ways to overcome them.
This book will inspire you if history is your passion, it’s a great read for anyone who loves football, Cleveland or Clevelanders, and you can relate to the story. It’ll also help you overcome any adversities you may face. Although there are many self help books, none can compare to the one that Dr. Polke has written. He shares his own story and helps you get inspired.