Much Lies Beneath
By John D Darjean, Charles C Brooks

Brandon Lawtell is a country boy from Redstick, Louisiana whose life-long dream becomes a reality when he signs a pro baseball contract with the best baseball team ever. While making his way up through the minors, his dream rapidly becomes tarnished as he begins to see many shocking things happening around him that utterly destroy the image that he has always had from childhood of pro baseball and everything that he thought it stood for. Brandon is caught up in a whirlwind of corruption, turmoil, and threats. He is torn between making a decision to forget what he knows, keep quiet, and continue to advance in his career or to speak up for the things he believes to be right and to protest against the things that he knows in his heart are wrong. He knows that if he makes the latter decision, he is jeopardizing his career and his future and will most likely be sentencing himself to being banned and blackballed from the one thing he loves most in life. Brandon decides to do what is right. Brandon’s actions are driven by his concern for the integrity of the game, his fellow baseball players, the baseball fans, and especially our future generation, our children. Through Brandon’s courageous effort, baseball fans will soon learn the truth that has been hidden from them for over 15 years. Read Brandon Lawtell's account of witnessing firsthand the smuggling of illegal immigrants into the U.S. by dark of night from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Read of corruption within the ranks of Pro baseball against itself as scouts are caught falsifying birth records, skimming off the top of signing bonuses, and receiving payoffs from the illegal immigrants in return for getting them into the U.S. and signed to a Pro baseball contract. Read Brandon Lawtell's account of management's behind-the-scenes acceptance and encouragement of the usage of illegal drugs while at the same time outwardly denouncing knowledge of their use. Read Brandon Lawtell's depiction of actual incidents of corruption, lies, racism, self-serving attitudes and uncaring concern for the fans, the adults and kids who love baseball, its players, and all that they believe it stands for. Read Brandon Lawtell's compilation of actual stories given to him by Big League players who wanted him to speak out for them to reveal never before known secrets about baseball that the players have kept hidden for years to protect their careers and pensions.

Much Lies Beneath
The author of MLB is trying to get the Truth out and seems to have relied upon his faith to do so. In this day and age, people forget that the truth is an important moral issue and many look at the truth in disdain. It is also important to remember that God is a presence in many lives. He is hope for the future and he is the one clear presence that remains faithful when all else fails.
I not only found this book compelling, but I found the truth refreshing. It only reinforces what the media is telling us; namely: that the sports big wigs want us to believe all is ok and illegal immigration and enhancement drugs are ok...or ok until they get caught and then the sole responsibility gets carefully shifted to the ball player with the organization completely "innocent". Isn't it funny that the more and more truth we read, only proves that the American people are misconstrued to be naïve and utterly incapable of thinking for themselves?

I applaud the efforts of the authors and I loved the story. Kudos to the truth and kudos to morals! I hope that this message gets out and enhancement drugs in baseball become a thing of the past. I also hope that if one wants to come to the United States, they remember they are completely welcome...the legal way.

Pastor Bob Caviness

Much more than just about baseball.
A friend of mine asked me to read "Much Lies Beneath" because it has some interesting insights into the inner workings of Major League Baseball (MLB) and life in general. So I gave it a read, and was surprised at how well written and relevant it is. The author, Mr. John D. Darjean, with Mr. Charles C. Brooks, takes the reader through the life of a young man (the author) who was on the edge of success or failure. And even though the author does not dwell on his faith, it becomes readily apparent that he is a believer in the Lord. This helps him to make some more appropriate life choices.

The picture described is believable and fascinating. And even though the facts are disappointing, it is understandable that the "Bigs" are only interested in the bottom line and not very interested in the men who are the game--from the use of performance enhancing drugs to the illegal importation of foreign players. Sad, but again it all seems to come down to money. What Mr. Darjean, describes seems to be a part of a bigger problem that is ailing America: the lack of honesty, integrity and ethics that are creeping into evermore aspects of our society.

The story is interesting and the author takes the time to explain many of the details that helped to shape his life and his career. Once you understand these aspects of the man's life, what he is trying to do for the youth in this country is very laudable. Mr. Darjean's ongoing endeavors, to help young people through the game of baseball, are very noble and very worthwhile. I applaud his selfless efforts!

I highly recommend this book regardless of your level of interest in Major League Baseball. This book is about life's lessons, and is, therefore, a must read!

Blackballed but not out of the game
I met John at a book signing event and was most impressed with him as an individual. It is evident in talking with him only a few minutes that he has a passion for the sport of baseball and for youth. I was presently surprised at how well MLB was written.

It is easy to see how a young man thrown into the type of life style that he portrays, as one following around profession athletes, might have a hard time keeping his moral compass pointed North. Everything from beautiful groupie women throwing themselves at the players to older players who theylook up to who are doing drugs, it is amazing that any of them survive. Thank God there are still players like Nolan Ryan's, Pudge Rodriquez, Brent Farve, and many more who have survived that arena and still kept their life on course.

Much Lies Beneath is the struggle of one black athlete that often goes off track, he is caught up in the swirls around him, to the point that he gets blackballed out of professional baseball. However having met him I know that he is back on track and he is now coaching kids who want to learn the sport the right way. He may not be in professional baseball but he is certainly still in baseball.

If you like baseball there are some parts of the book that will make you uncomfortable but over all I highly recommend MUCH LIES BENEATH. It is well written and easy to read

George Dalton