The Water Boy: From the Sidelines to Owner's Box: Inside the CFL, the XFL, and the NFL - Tapa blanda

When Bobby Ackles became the B.C. Lions' originalwater boy, he probably never dreamed that he wouldlead the team to a Grey Cup victory over 50 years later. Fromhis earliest days with the team to becoming its general managerand now president, Ackles has demonstrated a commitmentand dedication to football in the CFL, NFL and XFL. After leaving the Lions in 1986, Ackles joined the DallasCowboys as Vice-President and served six seasons withthem before moving onto the Phoenix Cardinals and laterthe Philadelphia Eagles. In 2000, Ackles was named Vice-President and General Manager of the XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws.With this achievement, Ackles became the first and onlyman to hold executive positions in all three football leagues. Finally, in 2002, Ackles returned to the home of his firstfootball triumph, and brought the struggling B.C. Lions backto the top of the CFL by 2006. In this engaging personalmemoir, Ackles takes the reader through the growing andchanging world of football, both from a Canadian and anAmerican perspective, where he lays down the differencesbetween the two sport cultures, and reveals the dynamics ofcreating a winning team. It's the story of his passion and hisdrive, and his rise from a humble beginning to becoming oneof football's most respected executives.

Bobby Ackles is President and CEO of the BC Lions Football Club and has been an integral part of the team for over 50 years. From his earliest days as the team's first Water Boy, Bob rose through the ranks to become Director of Football Development, Assistant General Manager, and was the Lions' General Manager for 11 years. After 34 years with the Lions, Ackles joined the Dallas Cowboys as Vice President of Pro Personnel and then Vice President of Player Personnel. He has also been an executive with the Phoenix Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Miami Dolphins of the NFL, as well as Vice President and General Manager of the Las Vegas Outlaws. This put Bob in the history books as the only man to hold executive positions in the CFL, NFL and XFL. He rejoined the BC Lions in 2002, promising to deliver another Grey Cup within five years. This promise was fulfilled a year early when the Lions captured the Cup in 2006. Ackles is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. He has been honoured with the Jack Diamond Award by the Jewish Community Centre as Sportsman of the Year and is a Schenley Award of Excellence winner. He sits on the board of directors for the Vancouver YMCA, and he was presented the President's Award for Excellence for his fundraising work for Nanook House. Bob and his wife, Kay, live in Vancouver. Ian Mulgrew is currently a senior feature writer and legal affairs columnist for The Vancouver Sun . Ian's work is regularly featured in national magazines, and several film and television companies have optioned his stories. He has co-produced and hosted numerous television programs ranging from current affairs to music. He is the author, co-author, or ghostwriter of six other books.