Reviews (1)

The Best Book Ever
If you don't know Fritz Pollard you must read this book.It provides insight into him and the people closest to him.It raises your spirits and makes you want to accomplish great tasks.This is an A+++++++ book for anyfootball fan. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Elway Story
The name of the book is Elway because it is about him. This book is a good book because he tells about his whole life. There are a lot of good pictures in this book. This is a good book because John Elway wrote it. I like when he broke his leg. It shows you how much he loves the game. The only thing they should of had more of is touch down passes. This book is for all ages.

Excellent pictoral history of Elway's life!
If I was going to rate my personal enjoyment of this book, I'd give it 5 stars, easily -- 6, if I could. However, the critic in me did notice some improprieties. The book reports a few minor factual mistakes. For example, the inner jacket flap mistakenly reports that Elway will be entering (in 1998) his 15th NFL season, when in fact it was his 16th. Elway himself at one point confuses the sequence of plays when recalling "The Drive" in the 1987 AFC Championship. He also claims to have been ahead at halftime in his first two Super Bowls, even when, a few lines later, he recalls that in his 2nd Super Bowl (against the Washington Redskins) the opposing team took the lead in the second quarter. The reason for these indiscretions is more due to the format of the book than a problem with Elway's or the editor's memories. This book is autobiography only in the loosest of senses; the text is very brief, and in it Elway offers his views on his own childhood, his career with the Broncos, the current state of the NFL, and a smattering of personal life philosophy as well. It is not presented as a comprehensive life story, but more like an extended interview/monologue, and no one but the "statistics hounds" (like me) will even notice the rare and incidental factual errors. Some of the text also appears to have been lifted from earlier interviews; at one point, while describing how he dodges defensive ends, Elway refers to a game he played "the other day" in Minnesota, yet at the publication date (early 1998) Elway had not played a game in Minnesota for a year and a half. This book is also very expensive, compared to corresponding books of its type. However, the aforementioned criticisms are very minor, and if you can get past the cover price, and are an Elway fan, you will love this book. Despite being brief, the text is written entirely by John Elway himself (making the book unique, in that no other book offers a wholly first-person perspective of Elway), and does cover his entire life up until the publishing date. The paucity of text in this oversized book also makes the numerous photographs stand out all the more, and the photographs are beautiful -- like the text, they range all the way from Elway's childhood to his triumph in Super Bowl XXXII. Despite the criticisms offered above, this is a very fun book to read and glance over for the Elway fan. As I said in the beginning, the "objective" side of me noticed a few improprieties in the book, but the "fan" side of me didn't care and loved reading it anyway. Highly recommended.

Photographic celebration of John Elway
This book is simply excellent, combining amazing photographs with commentary from the great man himself.

SuperBowl XXXII is extensively covered and there are photos from Johns personal life, growing up and present, with his family and around his home. You get to hear John's views on things away from football also.

I just wish this book could have been bigger and with more photos from other key points in John's carear, especially the Denver-Cleveland AFC Champ series which are not given enough depth.

This is a great summary of #7's life.
For all you Elway fans out there, this book is a keeper. With great photos and words coming right from John himself, you'll love the book.

Pricey pictorial review of what makes Elway tick.
For Elway fans, this book provides insight on the athlete's personal philosophy, career, and family life. Unfortunately, many of the photos are grainy--they look like assorted 3x5s and wallet photos that have been enlarged to fit a coffee table size book. The sparse text has also been enlarged into huge bold font to justify the price and size of this book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great subject matter makes a great book.
I have always said that if I had a son worthy of playing big-time college football, I'd send him to Penn State to play for Joe Paterno. My thoughts haven't changed a whip since reading this book. Michael O'Brien does a wonderful job in detailing the life and philosophy of one of the most colorful and downright good people to ever live.

O'Brien pulls no punches. Paterno is brash, at times mean and expects a lot out of his players, but he is also a loving father figure to players and the student body. Paterno is no saint though. If you don't produce, you are in trouble... but isn't that the way of the world. His philosophy, richly detailed in a chapter on Patero's coaching style, should be copied by the Spurriers and the Sabans of the world.

I haven't read any other O'Brien books, but I definitely will be looking for them on my next trip to the book store. This book is a quick read, but it makes you feel good about the world again when you realize that there are still people like Paterno out there that don't compromise themselves for money and fame.

Now I just wish O'Brien would write a book on Coach K because if I had a son that was good at hoops I'd send him to Duke.

Don't Buy This One if you Own Other Paterno Books
If I had bought this book first, I probably would have been happy with the book. But as an owner of four other books relating to Coach Paterno I found this one to be a repeat of the other writings. I really learned nothing new from this book at all. Maybe I expected too much or maybe Paterno's story has already been told.

Take that, Beano Cook!
There are a lot of biographies out there written by people who assume that simple fame warrants public interest. This is not one of them, because Joe Paterno is a truly fascinating man. Success and prestige don't often go hand in hand, but somehow Joe has made it work, and is the reason that Penn State isn't just another big-money school trying to win football games on the backs of exploited kids. If how he does that in this day and age isn't intriguing, I don't know what is. For anyone who has ever turned on a Saturday football game and wondered what possesses the guy in the nerdy rolled-up pants and coke-bottle glasses to keep going, then you have a valid question which this book can answer in a way that will captivate you, page after page. For once, we have a book about football that isn't about football at all--it's about what an extraordinary person can do to a little agricultural school to put a tiny college town on the map in the greatest way possible.

Put a thermometer to the JoePa sentiments in State College and you may be surprised that a fervent admiration that pervades the town, and for good reason. Hey, there has to be some reason we would like a guy enough to make a bean bag doll out of him...give him his own ice cream flavor (Peachy Paterno)...and put his face on mugs...and golf balls. ("Guaranteed to go up the middle three out of four times.") ...The fact is, the guy has integrity that borders on insanity, and that makes him interesting as heck.

On a final note, this is a dangerous book in that it will feed an obsession born of fandom. Be careful with this book. I have a friend, the daughter of Penn State's president, and every year she obliges me by hand-delivering a batch of Santa Joe cookies to the Paternos at the bowl games. Make sure you don't go as far over the edge as I did.

Paterno in 3-D
This is no breezy read for Nittany Lion fans to dip into during lulls in tailgating. Rather, O'Brien's book on Paterno is a prodigious work of research, richly detailed, exhaustively documented, and persuavive in its ultimate, but not surprising, conclusion. Though the author refers to his subject as "Joe" throughout the book, he's no starstruck fan. He comes by his points honestly, much like the coach's father, Angelo Paterno, would have urged: "Think, think harder." O'Brien has produced an insightful, three-dimensional portrait of Paterno, perhaps the most complete chronicle of the coach's life ever written. Along the way, he establishes himself as a credible and dispassionate observer. There are plenty of books on Joe Paterno and Penn State football. Most are highly polished works of campus public relations. "No Ordinary Joe" stands out from the crowd as perhaps the most insightful, most balanced, and ultimately, most satisfying of them all.

34th Season opener-Biggest win ever-
Joe's leadership & Strategy beat Arizona by wide margin..a fitting tribute for Happy valley..Let's hope Joe goes on..to atleast 2000... ... Read more

Book Description

George Allen was a top-ranked NFL coach throughout the sixties and seventies, coaching in turn the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Washington Redskins. Raised in a home dominated by her three football-obsessed older brothers and her father's relentless schedule, Jennifer Allen came of age in a cauldron of testosterone and win-at-all-costs mentality.

Buffeted by the coach's tumultuous firings and hirings, the Allen family was periodically propelled to new teams in new cities. And while her French-Tunisian mother attempted to teach Jennifer proper feminine etiquette, the author dreamed of being the first female quarterback in the NFL. But as she grew up, she yearned mostly to be someone her father would notice. In a macho world where only foot-ball mattered, what could she strive for? Who could she become?

Allen has written a poignant memoir of the father she tried so hard to know, about a family life that was willfully sacrificed to his endless fanatical pursuit of the Super Bowl. What emerges is a fascinating and singular behind-the-scenes look at professional football, and a memorable, bittersweet portrait of a father and his daughter, written in a fresh and perceptive voice. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Personal Football Book
As an avid football fan, George Allen is one of the greatest NFL Coaches of all time.Throughout the book, Jennifer Allen describes they storybook life of an NFL coach from a footbal and personal perspective. George's rough-and-tough attitude made two winningless teams, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins, into champions.However, his personality as a coach effected his role as a father, which created tension between him and his children.As the his only daughter, Jennifer tries to win her father's affection as she struggles of being a product of an NFL coach and well-known celebrity.

Not what I was expecting.
As a lifelong football fan I was hoping that "Fifth Quarter" would include more about football than Allen puts into her memoir. However, the book is well-written and engaging. If you're looking for a book about George Allen, this isn't really the book to read. However, if you're looking for an interesting book detailing the childhood of a coach's daughter, "Fifth Quarter" might be the book for you.

What a depressing Whine-fest
This entire story could have been written on the cover of a matchbook and saved me the time I wasted reading it.Endless complaining about her parents and siblings, If the peoples identities had been with held until the end, one might have expected to find out this was the childhood of a serial killer or some one else you might have expected to have a miserable childhood. Why would anyone even bother to write a book about people she seemed to care for as little as her family is beyond me except to possibly capitalize on her Dad's famous name and make a few bucks.A depressing read.

This is a chick book, not a sports book
I was misled by a review in SI that said this was a great book. If you're an Oprah fan, then it's a great book. If you want to learn about the life of an NFL coach, the Washington Redskins or football in general, you're better off buying a subsciption to Sports Illustrated or reading the sports page.

About 80 percent of this book is about the struggle of the writer to get her father's attention and approval. Another 10 percent has to do with her mother, her brothers and the writer's life away from her house. Maybe 10 percent has to do with football. It is a maddening experience to put up with the "I was a girl, girls weren't important to my dad, someone please pay attention to me" anecdotes and thoughts in the hope of getting to, say, the Washington Redskins' 1972 season where the team finally made it to the Super Bowl, and then when you get there have Jennifer Allen say in almost these exact words, "I don't remember much about that the season the Redskins went to the Super Bowl." I almost hurled the book across the room.

It is unfortunate that George Allen essentially ignored his family in his obsessive quest to do what he believed he was born to do: coach. No kid should have to grow up with that kind of home life, and it's obvious that her father's inattention has left its mark on Ms. Allen. But darn it, this is an Oprah book of the month selection, not a sports book. Someone should be clear on that!

A few words about George Allen ... I am about Jennifer Allen's age. I am a lifelong Redskins fan and grew up in D.C. When Mr. Allen took the team to the Super Bowl, it was a highlight of my young life. I remember him licking his fingers, tugging his hat and mentioning milk as his drink of choice. I had no idea that he ignored his family. I'm sorry he did that, but I am also grateful that the man came to my hometown and coached my favorite team and finally made it a winner. I wish the book had a little more about what made George Allen such a successful coach and a lot less about the struggle of a little girl to get close to her daddy.

Your dad would be proud
Yes, I'm an old Redskin fan and was mildly curious about the George Allen era.I was not prepared for this powerful story of George Allen the father and his arms length relationship with his daughter, Jennifer. Yes, the mother Etty and the sons, George, Bruce, and Gregory, are in here too, but Jennifer you finally have the starring role in the George Allen Story.This is a sometimes gripping and often humorous story of a daughter's search for self.My only criticism is of the title which suggests a sports book.It is not worthy of this well-told story about a daughter's search for meaning in her life and, coincidentally, her dad's struggle to make sense of his own life too. ... Read more

Book Description

Contrary to rumors on campus and in the local press, Cynthia Pemberton did not set out in 1992 to destroy the long-honored football team of Linfield College, a small liberal arts school in Oregon.Instead, the Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Sports wanted to make athletic opportunities equally available to both women and men-simply to make the college comply with the law. Her six-year crusade for full implementation of Title IX made headlines across the nation.Here is Pemberton's autobiographical account of what would become the ordeal of her life.

When Pemberton first arrived at Linfield in 1989, she accepted the logic that the more lucrative men's sports earned male players preferential treatment.Men's teams were outfitted at the college's expense, but Pemberton began noticing that the women often had to buy their own equipment and shape their practice and facility use schedules around the men's sports.Also, scant resources were available for the recruiting and coaching of women athletes.It became clear that their success would always be limited unless policies changed.

The author recounts her steps in prodding Linfield to gender awareness and then to justice.For six years, Pemberton endured harassment from her supervisor, attempts to derail her professional development, and smear campaigns in local newspapers, while her supporters on campus faced intimidation.She had come to the brink of financial ruin and psychological exhaustion by the time her lawsuit against the college was settled.

The struggle for gender equity in sport is far from over, but Pemberton leaves a legacy for women athletes, their coaches, and school administrators.Her book conveys bold determination and is rich with insights into the workings of the legal system and academic bureaucracy.It will enlighten anyone who pursues educational and social change-and teach a new generation of women not to take their rights for granted. ... Read more

Book Description

Perhaps the most unassuming and unlikely hero in Kansas City sports history, Priest Holmes has already etched his name in the Chiefs' record books. He led the Chiefs in rushing for the second year in a row in 2002 and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. The five-foot-nine package of dynamite led the NFL with 24 touchdowns and was on pace to break the single-season mark of 26, set by St. Louis's Marshall Faulk in 2000, but missed the final two games of the season with a hip injury. Holmes has a love of the game that can be traced back to his prep days at John Marshall High School in San Antonio, Texas. He went on to enjoy a solid career at the University of Texas and beyond. The story of Priest Holmes's rise to the top of the NFL is the stuff legends are made of. The devout father of two young boys has risen to new heights in the annals of the NFL. Perhaps the only thing more difficult than tackling Holmes is getting him to open up about his success on the playing field. That's why his teammates, opposing players, his coaches and some very special fans will paint a vivid picture of what Priest Homes means to Kansas City -- both on and off the field -- in Priest Holmes: From Sidelines to Center Stage. ... Read more

Amazon.com

How good a coach was Knute Rockne? It hardly matters. Killed in a plane crash at the height of his fame, his 1931 death was dubbed "a national disaster" by President Hoover, and his fable was forever set as a leader of men and the father of the Fighting Irish. Still, this son of Norwegian immigrants was good enough to have deserved most of the legend he so carefully and systematically constructed around himself. In 12 years at Notre Dame, he transformed a regional Catholic college into a football powerhouse of national interest. His teams marched through a stunning five seasons without a loss. When the famed "Four Horsemen" in his backfield flagged, he had the memory of George "Win one for the Gipper!" Gipp, a true reprobate who in no way resembles the sappy deathbed myth Rockne perpetuated, to wave for inspiration. The Rock's knowledge of the game and talent as a coach wasn't nearly as important or lasting as his unabashed ability to promote and market his school, his players, his program, and, ultimately, himself.

A solid sports biographer, Ray Robinson has previously parsed the lives of Lou Gehrig and Christy Mathewson. Here, he takes the stone statue that has come down to us of St. Knute and dusts it off until the cracks are visible. Despite that, Robinson's respect for Rockne and his accomplishments come through clearly both on the field and off. In one telling incident early in his coaching career, Rockne, still several years from embracing Catholicism, stands up staunchly to the anti-Catholic sentiments of an Indiana senator and the KKK. "The more Rockne was exposed to prejudice around him," writes Robinson, "the more he was attracted to the religiosity of his surroundings." Which, in the end, made Notre Dame football not just his job, but his mission. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Brings the legend to life...
My ole man went to Notre Dame... so I've been steeped in the rich legacy of Fightin' Irish Football. This book is by far one of the better books on Notre Dame football in its heyday under Knute Rockne who forged that legacy. The team that brought us the forward pass left a rich history worth examing. This book captures the essence of Rockne, his leadership style, his character and his ambition to excel.

An Olympian god comes closer to human.
While acknowleging the legends surrounding one of the greatest coaches in any sport anywhere, but not attempting to pass them off as fact, Ray Robinson does not stoke the inspirational fires of the mythological demigodKnute Rockne.Still and all, we see Rockne as he developed from a boygrowing up in Chicago to the young man at Notre Dame eventually becomingthe coach who, in turn, became larger than life.

Mostly, the reader isinvited to visit a time when Knute Rockne was arguably the brightest staramong the numerous sports heroes of the '20's.While Irish, Catholics andespecially Irish-Catholics were almost universally reviled and the power ofthe Klan was at its height, the immigrant from Voss, Norway lead Notre Dameto the forefront of college football's national stage.

There areoccasional glimpses of Rockne off the football field and I, personally,would have liked to have gotten to know more about Rockne the man. However, this is, first and foremost, a story about Knute's lifelongrelationship with football.

This book is designed for college footballfans, especially fans of Notre Dame.Notre Dame detractors may also getsomething out of the book, if for no other reason than it makes it a littleeasier to understand why Notre Dame football is what it is today.

Stirring football stories & insights into the life & times
The most enjoyable sports book I've read since, well, "Stirring Football Stories", this book gives the reader not only such favorite moments in the history of the game as the winning forward pass (Dorais toRockne, against Army), the Gipper, the Four Horsemen, and back-to-backundefeated seasons, but insights into the life and times of Notre Dame'slegendary coach. Rockne championed & embodied the immigrant strugglefor a place in the sun - the "fighting Irish" being a monikerbestowed on a polyglot group of newcomers to the American dream. On thegridiron it was possible to prove yourself - and show your talents - on anequal footing with older, more established schools and traditions. Thisconscious inclusion of the larger story gives this book an important placeon the shelf, alongside Rockne's own unfinished autobiography, "WeRemember Rockne", "Knute Rockne, All American", and othermemoirs and studies. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Book
Wow...what a book and story by Josh Heupel. He is truly an outstanding young man with his head on straight. A must read for all, even if you are not from Oklahoma. I don't live in Oklahoma and just heard about the book.

The story of an extraordinary young man
Josh Heupel is a cut above your average athlete, not in terms of physical ability, but in hard work, dedication, and faith. He was the biggest key (along with Coach Bob Stoops and his staff) to the resurrection of the Oklahoma Sooner football program to national glory. As a diehard Sooner fan, I found this a very enjoyable read. As a Christian, I found it inspirational. Although Josh is listed as the author, it's clear that most of this book was written by his collaborator, who interviewed friends and family to get the full picture of this remarkable young man. There are a few chapters penned by Heupel, including a message he gave at church the Sunday morning following the Big 12 Championship game. The last section details each game of the Sooners championship run, which admittedly will probably only be of interest to Sooner fans (me!) I would like to have seen Josh talk more about the day-to-day experiences, the interaction with teammates and coaches, that type of thing. Maybe it will be up to someone else to write that book. I recommend this book for young people, Oklahoma Sooner fans, and Miami Dolphin fans (the Dolphins drafted him in the sixth round, and if they read this, they'll have no doubt that Heupel will be a great player for them in the NFL). Josh Heupel will be a success in whatever he does, and this book shows you why.

Heupel is first class all the way
This book will be treasured by Sooner Fans forever. We are very lucky to have had such a great guy lead our team to the NC. Josh is such a wonderful guy and a great leader. Seeing the pictures in the book brought back great memories. This book is a MUST HAVE for any Sooner fan.

A Stirring Read
Josh Heupel shares his most inner thoughts as he retraces the long road from South Dakota to the hallowed ground of Owen Field at OU. You'll discover a very humble man who wasn't always close to God, but in time turned his life around and achieved the pinnacle of college football. No Sooner fan should miss this book filled with great trivia as well. Thanks for the excitement you gave us Josh and may the road continue to be straight and narrow for you... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I Remember Bud Wilkinson
It is a fun book to read because it tells the reader how Bud Wilkinson was a football coach for young men that only players on so many other teams could only dream about. Bud Wilkinson was a coach who enjoyed the game and enjoyed practice aand he let his players do the same! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Aptly titled
As a baby boomer, I just missed the years of "the greatest generation." This book captures the best of what that era produced.

A man of humble beginnings, without pretense and without pursuit of glory, rose to glorious heights anyway. A football hero, a World War II hero and a man faithful throughout to his country, family and morality, achieved things that most of us can only dream of. This is a great, heart warming and inspirational read! ... Read more

Book Description

A "high porch picnic" is a Texas expression for "an excep- tionally good time". And during Fry's glorious career as one of college football's most unique coaches, that's a goodway to describe his life. Ranked 10th on the all-time coll- egiate list for Division I victories, Fry has successfully combined his football coaching savvy with a down-home charm to make him one of the game's most colorful personalities. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

When Iowa football became powerful again
As a long-time fan of the Iowa Hawkeye football time, I watched them get repeatedly shelled during the late sixties and the seventies. Teams used to defeat them by thirty or more points and rarely have to throw a pass. In 1979, the savior arrived in the form of coach Hayden Fry, but at first it did not seem that that was the case. His statements like, "Scratch where it itches", at times sounded so homey that many people wondered if he was just another over-hyped coach who would add to the string of failures.
However, that all changed in the first half of the first game the Hawkeyes played under Fry. They stormed ahead of Indiana 26-3 in the first half, although they ultimately lost 30-26. From that point, everyone was a believer and his teams went on to give us some of the most exciting moments in our lives. This is Hayden's recollection of his life, although most of the ink is used to describe his years at Iowa, and there is very little of a personal nature that does not directly involve football. Reading it brought back so many fond memories of listening and watching, that I found myself reliving some of those times. If you are a Hawk fan, then this is a book that you must read.

Remarkable "Program Turn-a-Round" career of Hayden Fry.
Easy reading book on the very successful career of legendary (ranks as 10th all-time winningest coach in NCAA history) college football coach Hayden Fry, known nationally as the long-time and much loved coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes ("Americas Team"). The book chronicle's his [unprecedented] success in "turning-a-round" hapless football programs at SMU, North Texas and Iowa. Highlights include his 17 bowl games (including 3 trips to the Rose Bowl), spending a lot of time with the Iowa Hawkeyes where he coached for twenty years, including 3 Big Ten Championships, but also recalls his days at SMU where he was the man responsible for integrating football in Texas (SouthWest Conference)- arguably his greatest achievement in his football career. His days as a high school and college standout player are also explored - a true "aficionado" for the game of football! Hawkeye fans and football fans alike will enjoy this "yarn" from one of the most colorful characters in college football in a generation!

Legendary, colorful coach looks back on career
Hayden Fry is a revered figure in the state of Iowa, and rightly so. He arrived in Iowa City in 1979 and quickly resusitated one of the worst football programs in the country. Under Fry's direction, the Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl three times in a nine-year span. Fry also integrated the Southwest Conference at Southern Methodist, and in this well-written autobiography, he brings his long, career successful career to life and recalls many colorful anecdotes. This is an entertaining and illuminating book from one of the most significant coaches of his generation.

EXCELLENT-IF YOU 'RE NOT A HAYDEN FRY FAN YOU WILL BE!
THROUGH HIS STORIES AND MEMOIRS HAYDEN FRY SHOWS EVERYBODY ONCE AGAIN THAT HE IS A "CLASS ACT".HE MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A HAWKEYE!! THANK YOU HAYDEN! ... Read more

From the Publisher

Football Giant Y.A. Tittle was the most magical and unlikely quarterback hero of the 1960's--the old man performing miracles in a young man's game as he lifted a mediocre Giants team to championship level and earned his place in the Football Hall of Fame.

Dianne Tittle de Laet, an accomplished poet and harpist--who also happens to be Y.A. Tittle's daughter--has written a life of the man that, unlike any other football book, is at its heart a father/daughter story. Assembled in the manner of a scrapbook of memories, family lore, and photographs, Giants & Heroes follows Y.A. through his youth in East Texas, his college days at LSU, and a professional career in which he shattered passing records while playing for the Baltimore Colts, the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants.

As a girl, Dianne was consumed by a passion for the ancient Greeks, their poetry, music, and values, and had little interest in her father's "work." It was only later in life, when she herself became the mother of a teenage football player, that she began to think about the game's mysteries and came to appreciate the courage and special finesse which made her father-- "Y.A." -- a sports icon. Her journey into the past is at once a rediscovery of a long gone era--when quarterbacks called their own plays and, during the off-season, sold insurance door-to-door to make ends meet- -and a daughter's intimate portrait of her father. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A QB for History
Calling all LSU, SF 49er, and NY Giants fans. This book is a fun read, and leaves one with the feeling of having intimately known one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever wear a football uniform. As opposed to many sports books, the author's vantage point allows her to tell the story of this football icon with refreshing sensitivity. The author, through her lively descriptions, tells the story of how from his humble beginnings in East Texas, Y.A. Tittle rose to become the toast of New York, and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.

Y.A. Tittle's unique athletic abilities, and sense of humor are framed by the parables of Greek mythology. This unique treatment is appropriate, because the author provides an inside view of growing up with a legend.

THE BALD EAGLE SOARS
I LIKED SEVERAL THINGS IN THIS BOOK. I ALSO DISLIKED A FEW THINGS IN THIS BOOK. IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN IT STAYED FOCUSED ON THE CAREER AND LIFE OF Y.A. HIS EXPERIENCES WITH THE COLTS, 49ERS AND GIANTS IS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER WHO DOES A GOOD JOB OVERALL. BUT SHE RAMBLES ON AND ON ABOUT SOME BORING CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND NEVER REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB OF TELLING US WHAT KIND OF PERSON AND FATHER TITTLE IS. SHE TRIES TO BE TO TOO DEATILED AND CREATIVE DESCRIBING THINGS OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. BUT SHE IS TALENTED AND VERY SWEET. I DONT WANT TO BE TOO HARD ON THIS BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL GIANT FANS AND FANS WHO WANT TO READ ABOUT A GREAT QUARTERBACK. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In One Dream: The NFL, Woody Falgoux follows 10 unsigned rookiesthrough New Orleans Saints training camp as they battle heavy odds to make theteam. For those who were not drafted, practicing with the pros in the swelteringLouisiana heat provides an opportunity to show you can hit, run, or do whateverelse needed to stand out. Everyone knows a number of players will be axedthroughout the grueling process (only 8 percent of unsigned rookies getcontracts), so every drill and scrimmage matters, and each precious down playedin a preseason game offers a fresh chance to be noticed by the staff. Some getplenty of chances; others seem outcast from the beginning.

Falgoux has a gift for storytelling, and the book unfolds with style and grace.In describing the frustration of one of the collegiate-stars-but-unsigned- nobodies at a scrimmage shortly before the first preseason game, he writes:

He's a young man staring at Goliath, a man who's a little frustratedbecause he can't really whack people out here, even though he's just whacked [arunning back]. He knows tomorrow he'll have the chance to whack 'em all.Finally, he'll really do, whether one calls it violence or vindication orvictory, what he does best.

The coaching staff must make its choices, whether random, planned, fair, orbizarre. One Dream offers a memorable look at a pro team's camp and theperspiration and aspirations of 10 young players trying to make the choiceseasier. Strongly recommended. --Michael Ferch ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Enjoyable and Insightful
In July 2000, eleven undrafted rookies showed up at the New Orleans Saints training camp - 10 players and a fledgling writer - brought together in pursuit of a dream. In this his first novel, Woody Falgoux pursues his own dream as he follows 10 undrafted rookies through the most challenging 6 weeks of their careers. The odds are heavily against them. Beyond the rigors of training camp, the players face the unsettling question of who they are if the dream dies - complicated issues at delicate times. Balancing perseverance and tact, Falgoux delivers an insightful perspective of these players, as well as training camps and the business that has become professional football.

Everyone has dreams. Falgoux does justice to his and the those driving the 10 rookies at the focus of this book.

What every NFL fan wants to know
This book is precisely what every NFL fan wants to know about what it takes to make a professional football team's roster. Woody does an excellent job at grabing your attention within the very first pages and holding it to the very end. If you are a fan of the NFL, this is a must read and Woody will have you turning each page anxiously awaiting the fates of the players struggling to make the Saints team. This book is masterfully written and you will find yourself rooting for the underdogs. Woody is a gifted story teller and makes you feel like you are sitting along side him at the Saints training camp. At times, I was rooting for Woody himself as he describes the difficulties the media encounters from the Saints organization during training camp. I highly recommend this book and only hope Woody has his second book in the works.

Feel the rush
An amazing read! The author puts you into the mind, body
and soul of the players. It is more than a book about football, it is about having hope and chasing a dream. Even
when you know you wont win. Read it and pass it on,
quickly.

The Hard Road to the NFL
Woody had a great premise for a book, let's follow undrafted rookie free agents through training camp showing the emotional highs and lows of who makes the team. Since his favorite team is the New Orleans Saints, the story starts in a small humidity oppressed Louisiana town that is the sight of training camp. Woody does a great job getting to know the players and attempting to know management and how decisions are made. It's clear very early that the NFL and the Saints don't know what to make of this book and seem to have some concern that it will be a hatchet job.

But Woody writes like a true Saints fan who wants to know the players and what it's like to try to make a team. The deck is really stacked against these guys as they must beat out returning players and drafted rookies. Woody gives great examples of the many undrafted free agents who went on to become quality NFL players. But this year's group doesn't appear to have an immediate star and some of the players start dropping immediately. Some of the rookies have great practices followed by weak practices. Some have minor injuries that limit their already limited playing time. And some are trying to fill positions where there are no real spots.

It makes for an interesting read from the early cuts to the few that make it right to the final cut. Woody does a good job of showing the fears, insecurities and sacrifices these players make trying to fulfill their dream. Read this book if you are a fan of football.

The Perfect Gift for Football Fans
I bought several copies of Falgoux's book for the football fans in my family and they were a huge hit. By our next family gathering, One Dream was the one and ONLY topic ofconversation. This book is extremely well-written, informative and impressive in it's ability to show the human side of what has become a mega-industry in the US. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

As he did for his previous books, My Greatest Day in NASCAR and My Greatest Day in Golf, sports journalist Bob McCullough has crisscrossed the country interviewing legendary football players who are in the Hall of Fame. In addition to asking about their greatest day, McCullough has expanded these interviews to include thoughts on their greatest college day, greatest opponent, and greatest teammate.

The players include:
Chuck Bednarik*Bobby Bell*Raymond Berry*Terry Bradshaw*Willie Davis *Frank Gifford *Bud Grant*Bob Griese*Jack Ham*Michael Haynes*Sam Huff*John Henry Johnson*Sonny Jurgenson*Leroy Kelly *Paul Krause*Steve Largent *John Mackey *Wellington Mara *Gino Marchetti * Bill Parcells*Pete Pihos *Lawrence Taylor *Gale Sayers*Bob St. Clair*Jan Stenerud *Don Shula*Bart Starr*Jim Taylor *YA Tittle *Paul Warfield

With first-hand accounts from so many football greats, My Greatest Day in Football is the perfect gift for football fans everywhere.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Players - Great Memories
McCullough had an interesting concept for this book. He picked great professional football players (Hall of Famers) from each era of the game and asked them to tell about their greatest day in professional as well as college football. In addition, he asked them about their greatest opponent and their greatest teammate. All in all, twenty-nine of football's greatest were interviewed. It is a group of players sure to bring back fond memories of great players, great teams, and great games. Included among those interviewed are Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Chuck Bednarik, Raymond Berry, Frank Gifford, Lawrence Taylor, and Y.A. Tittle.

As might be expected, many of the remembrances are centered on championship contests, Super Bowls, and Hall of Fame experiences. Many of the players didn't respond to the questions concerning opponents and teammates, but most did talk about college games or others as well as their NFL experiences. Raymond Berry, for example, remembered his first championship game as a member of the Parish, Texas high school team. All, however, spoke of their induction into the NFL Hall of Fame as among their fondest memories.

I had, of course, heard or read about all the athletes included in the book, but I didn't know much about the careers of some of the early heroes such as Pete Pihos or Bob St. Claire. Reading through the various stories was like getting a football history lesson.

This is an interesting and easy to read book. I finished it in two sittings and enjoyed every chapter. If you are a fan of NFL football, you're sure to find some keen memories kindled as you read this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Football genius Bill Parcells isn't one to mince words. "I'm56 years old," he says at the beginning of The Final Season, "and I don'tintend to be coaching when I'm 60." Unless something changes radically, he'salready honored that intention with three years to spare.

The coach who led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories and turned the NewEngland Patriots into AFC champions came back to New York in 1997 to tackle therebuilding of the woeful 1-15 Jets. Within a year they were legitimatecontenders, playing for the AFC Championship. When the 1999-2000 season kickedoff, hopes were soaring at the Meadowlands. But there was new ownership tocontend with. Keyshawn Johnson demanded a renegotiation. Injuries sidelinedWayne Chrebet, and quarterback Vinnie Testaverde went down in the season opener,lost for the year. Suddenly, the Jets were 1-6. Then came the turnaround.Sparked by the inspired--and unexpected--play of third-string QB Ray Lucas, theJets wound up winning seven of their last nine, and then, equally unexpected,Parcells retired as head coach. In perhaps the season's most bizarre fiasco, hisdesignated heir, Bill Belichick, resigned immediately.

The Final Season is Parcells's week-by-week account of the campaign. Ifyou love football, the chronicle is good inside football. Parcellsprovides detailed analysis of every win and loss and uncensored assessments ofhis players, himself--"Our general manager (that would be me) didn't have agreat year," he admits--and the flap-turned-farce that attended his exit. Butit's more than that, too. Final Season is a story of ups and downs, ofstrong emotions, of coping with frustration and disappointment, and of unifyinga team when the chips are down. Parcells is savvy, complex, never shy, and neverboring. With The Final Season, he cannily marches readers down the fieldjust as he did his teams. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Football Czar spekas
A perfect illustartion of the greatest football coach ever !! Yes, even better than Me Lombardi himself. First of all, it was a wonder Bill continued to write this book when his team was 1-8. Almost every story has a happy ending right ?? Well not exactly. Being a Parcells fan (followed him fron NY, to NE and back to NY) I followed this season closely. For a team to go 1-8 and win ther next 7 in a row with nothing to play for, is amazing. Parcells is the greatest motivator ever. The book talks about his relatrionship with the players. Yes, he actually got along with his players, well some of them. But the one relationship he'll never forget will be the one with The Boy Wonder. You'll have to read the book to understand.

Add A Star If You Are A Jet Or Giant Fan
I have been a long time New York Giant fan which of course makes me a long time Bill Parcells fan. Even though it has been many years since Parcells has left the Giants I have still followed his career closely. I even found myself routing for the crosstown rivals when he became the Jets head coach. Parcells does a good job conveying the ups and downs of his last season as an NFL coach and he adds enough insight to his years with the Giants and Patriots to make this book intersting to fans of both of these teams. The Final Season just wasn't interesting enough to be a great book. Don't get me wrong it was a good read just not a great one. Jet fans will probably love this book and Giant Fans will like it. However, the average football fan will not find enough here to hold their interest. Wait for the paperback.

Wanna be an NFL Coach?
For those of you who fantasized about what it would be like coaching an NFL team, Bill Parcells aided by Will McDonough offer the opportunity to find out what it is like.

Parcells takes readers through his entire final season with the New York Jets in 1999, when he ultimately concluded that this would be his final coaching responsibility. Jerry Jones has since hastened Parcells out of retirement at a hefty salary to jumpstart the formerly mighty Dallas Cowboys as he had earlier altered the fortunes of the New York Giants, New England Patriots and Jets respectively.

You cannot help coming away with an admiration for Parcells due to his rock-ribbed honesty. Here is a man who will criticize his players if he believes they are giving less than 100% or playing less than intelligent football. He blames himself for losing a game in the closing stages by "getting cute" and calling for a pass which was intercepted and ultimately cost his team the game when it would have been wiser retrospectively to keep the ball on the ground. When assistant coach Dan Henning tells him that his insistence on keeping Rick Mirer in the lineup as starting quarterback in the face of less than awesome performances stemmed from a stubbornness to face the facts since Parcells made the trade in his general manager's capacity, the coach, rather than blowing up over having his ego assaulted in the manner that a smaller man would, ends up agreeing with Henning. Accepting genuinely felt constructive criticism in a positive manner is the hallmark of a mature and honest man.

In addition to telling us plenty about strategy, how games were won and lost, and providing his opinions on players he reveres, such as his own sterling running back Curtis Martin and respected opposing quarterback Dan Marino of the Dolphins, Parcells tells about the deeply rooted pressures in NFL coaching. He reveals about his bypass operation and expresses dismay over his inability to sleep and nervous eating anxieties when the season is in full swing, leading to weight gain. He also weighs in on his view of the poor performance of certain NFL officials, especially in key situations, a problem which has magnified since this book appeared. Parcells expresses his concern as well over the rise of fan hooliganism, fearing that perhaps America may follow the example ultimately of the European soccer rioters.

If you love pro football, this is a can't miss read. The coach is an intelligent man of candor with plenty of interesting things to say.

Final season?
i doubt Parcells is DONE with football as a coach.. I'm sure there will be PART 2 because this guy will coach somewhere sOON.

As for the story it was easy ready and it was pretty cheesy. Nothing really BIG or personal described in the book. For a man as criticial as he is, I expected more DEEP thoughts in this book, but it never happen.

A half-hearted effort
I looked forward to this book with great anticipation. Bill Parcells and his legacy here in New England and how he left the team were front page news here. His personality is larger than life. His press conferences were must-see TV.

That said, this book was disappointing. It started out well, the first portion of this book is riveting, and gives you real insight into his thoughts, and how he puts a team together. Where it goes downhill is after the Jets very first game of the '99 season where they lose multiple starters for the season, including the starting QB. Going into the season the Jets were considered by many people a favorite for the SuperBowl. If it were to follow the team through a season like that, it would've been a great read throughout. Instead, after those injuries, Parcells basically mails it in for the rest of the book, in my opinion. What could've been a great book instead becomes a mediocre effort. ... Read more