chapters.indigo.ca: Playing with Fire: Theoren Fleury, Kirstie McLellan Day: Books

About this Book

Format:Hardcover

Dimensions:6.25 x 9.5 x 1.19 in

Published:October 14, 2009

Publisher:Harpercollins Canada, Limited

The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
ISBN - 10:1554682398
ISBN - 13:9781554682393

From the Publisher

Theo Fleury, at 5'6" made a name for himself in a game played by giants. A star in junior hockey, he became an integral part of the Calgary Flames' Stanley Cup win in 1989. Fleury's talent was such that despite a growing drug habit and erratic, inexplicable behaviour on and off the ice, Wayne Gretzky believed in him. He became a key member of the gold medal-winning men's hockey team at the 2002 Olympics.

The Colorado Avalanche picked up Fleury for the playoffs, and when he signed with the New York Rangers, he was a kid in a candy store. After one season of his next multi-million-dollar deal, this time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Fleury suddenly called it quits and wouldn't explain why.

In Playing with Fire, Theo Fleury takes us behind the bench during his glorious days as an NHL player and talks about growing up devastatingly poor and in chaos at home. Dark personal issues haunted him, with drinking, drugs, gambling and girls ultimately derailing his Hall of Fame-calibre career.

About the Author

"I've known Theo Fleury since back in junior, and I always hated playing against him. Theo was the ultimate competitor. He would do anything to win. That kind of attitude is tough to beat. He was an emotional guy, and when we ended up on the same team in Colorado in 1999, he was still a pest. If I scored, he would come over and pound me on the back or jump up and hug me and get on me for not celebrating enough. I am really glad Theo has come out on top."
- Joe Sakic, Captain, Colorado Avalanche ()

From The Community

Who's Listing it as a Top Ten

This title has appeared in 9 Top Ten lists. See the most recent lists below:

Fall Preview: Biographies & Memoirs

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Sporting Spirit

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My Hockey Books part 6

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Topselling Products at chapters.indigo.ca

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Online Bestselling Books

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My Favorite Sports Books

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New & Hot Non-fiction

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Average Customer Rating:
Reviews from the Community5 Reviews

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Kim Robinson
Interesting hard story

2 weeks ago

I have always been a Theo fan so I got the book right away. It is a difficult story to read for sure. You get a few little breaks from the difficult parts when he describes many of the best hockey games he has been in and of course, he comes through it all at the end. However, tons of swearing in it and when my 13 year old wanted to read it, I wasn't sure about it. He read the first chapter and then decided maybe he wouldn't read it after all. Theo is certainly an amazing person and his story… + read more
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Greg Cruickshank
- 3 people found this helpful
Blunt in more ways than one

3 weeks ago

Theo pulls no punches as he weaves the readers' minds through a shocking, and exciting life. The book is a must read for any hockey fan and would entertain even those who aren't. The story begins with an un-spectacular childhood and continues on to follow the rise and fall of the carreer of one of the best players to ever play in "the show" (pound for pound). The book contains many amusing stories about various NHL superstars, and includes deep a look into the life of an alcoholic… + read more
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Matt Allec
- 1 person found this helpful
This book has it all!

4 weeks ago

"Playing With Fire" written by Theoren Fleury, far exceeded my expectations. Once I picked it up it was very hard to put back down. Whether you are a sports fan or not, you will enjoy this book. It provides a detailed look into Theo's life and both the positive and negative experiences that he encountered. It also outlines his experiences with sex, drugs, alcohol and abuse. It is also a story about an individual who fought back, an individual who dedicated his very existence to being the best… + read more
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Troy Gillard
- 8 people found this helpful
Brutally Honest, and in the end... Triumphant!

4 weeks ago

I have rolled my eyes at Theoren Fleury may times in recent years... after reading this book I regret each and every time I did. What Theo went through is something I would never wish upon anyone, not even my worst enemy. He had his childhood innocence stolen by a man he trusted and for that I truly feel sorry for him. But for as much as this person (who's name I refuse to even type) is responsible for much of Theo's troubles... Fleury also pulls no punches when it comes to accepting… + read more
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Brie Beazley
- 7 people found this helpful
Playing with fire...

4 weeks ago

This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Actually, it's one of the best books I've ever read. I've read a lot of memoirs and biographies, and this one is brutally honest -- heartbreakingly so. Theo Fleury's book contains many stories. It's the story of a Canadian who grew up poor on the prairies and clung to his dream like a lifeline. It's a story of a broken, lonely childhood plagued by demons and abuse. It's a story about the drive to be the best at a particular sport. It's a story… + read more
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