Photo provided by Bob Taylor “From Glory Days” was originally published last fall and by December was a regional bestseller in Michigan. The book was re-released in March. Author Kurt Davis will be signing his book at the Farmington Founders Festival July 18-20.

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

There’s a simple quote that stands as the basis for author Kurt David’s latest book: “One hundred percent of professional athletes ultimately experience job extermination.”

It’s that quote, or truth, if you will, that David used as the basis for his recently re-released best-seller, “From Glory Days: Successful Transitions of Professional Detroit Athletes.”

The book — originally released in the fall of 2007, became a regional best-seller in Michigan by December and was re-released in March — takes an in-depth look at 20 former Detroit professional athletes, and captures the struggles and eventual successes of life after pro sports.

“It was an idea that came to me at 4 a.m. and just started growing,” said David, 46, who played pro basketball in Europe for a year before a failed free-agent tryout and subsequent knee injury forced an end to his career. “That transition from pro sports to everyday life was something I had to deal with, something I certainly struggled with for a time. I wanted to take a look at how others dealt with it.”

“From Glory Days” takes a deeper look at the careers of five former Red Wings, Pistons, Lions and Tigers, including Lem Barney, Eddie Murray, Allan Houston, Kelly Tripucka, Dave Bing, Ted Lindsay, John Ogrodnick, Frank Tanana and Dan Petry.

 “There are so many different eras featured, which makes it so interesting. You get a look at how different things have become,” said David, who grew up in Northern Michigan before moving to Farmington. He currently resides in Commerce Township and still finds time to voluntarily help coach the North Farmington High basketball team.

“You see stories of a former Tiger who went from pitching in the World Series to working in a factory two years later. Joe Schmidt, who won a NFL title with the Lions in 1957, talks about his venture into the business world. I spoke to Pistons broadcasters who had to come to terms with the fact they were sitting on the sideline and couldn’t get out on the court.

Even Jim Northrup, who won a World Series, then got into the cattle business. … Pro Sports is a huge aspect of your life that you have to essentially lose. That can be difficult.”

David said he thought hard about the title for his book, and the latter half of the title is why he enjoyed working on it so much.

“This is the, ‘successful transitions,’” he said. “Learning the story of each person, like Dave Bing — who worked in the offseason as a way to prepare himself for life after basketball and now has a company that grosses hundreds of millions of dollars — really humanized these sports heroes. It was a treat to sit down and interview them, to learn about their transition.”

David earned a master’s degree at Central Michigan University, and besides being an author, he is also a motivational speaker and a certified counselor. He currently works as a counselor at East Middle School in Farmington Hills.

David is currently on a signing tour that has covered much of the state. His next appearance is at the Farmington Founders Festival July 18-20. David is scheduled to be joined by Northrup, Roger Mason, Ogrodnick, Greg Kelser and Ron Kramer, all of whom are featured in the book.

For more information on “From Glory Days” or ways to purchase the book, visit the official Web site at www.fromglorydays.com.

You can reach Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038.