No comments about Glory Days: Life with the Dallas Cowboys, 1972-1998.

5 comments about Rozelle: Czar of the NFL.

1. Rozelle: Czar of the NFL alleges to be a biography of the former NFL Commissioner, but instead it is a meandering, disjointed, almost unreadably round-about tale of certain aspects of the NFL's history. It provides remarkably little, if any, true insight on the man who served as the league's Commissioner from 1960 to 1989, relying heavily on interviews with Ernie Accorsi and Rozelle's daughter for its material but oddly enough not providing any true insight from these sources.
   
   What do I mean by meandering? Well for instance, after 250 pages of the book I've learned through the book's contents that Marlboro cigarettes were originally marketed as a "women's" brand... but I don't know what Rozelle's mindset was when the AFL came along, I don't know anything about his relationships with owners other than Dan Reeves of the Rams, and I know absolutely nothing as to what possessed the owners of the NFL to elect him as their Commissioner beyond the fact that he was a compromise candidate.
   
   Simply and bluntly put, this book is worthless to anyone wanting to learn about its subject. Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Jeff Davis in an effort to get my money back?



2. Despite what other reviewers have said, this is an excellent book. No, it's not really a biography, so if you want to get more indepth into Rozelle's divorce or what he wore to the Senior Prom, then skip the book. But, if you are interested in a first hand look at the NFL through the eyes of those responsible for its ascent, this is a great book. It very much parallels the Mark Maccambridge book, "America's Game" which is terrific. The reader learns about the intricacies of the NFL/AFL merger, the labor strife of the 70s and 80s, and the "threats" from wannabe football leagues as well as little known facts regarding Joe Namath's almost early retirement due to indirect gambling associations and the infamous Heidi Game. The book is more about the NFL than it is about Rozelle, but it's a terrific book for anyone who enjoys modern NFL history.



3. This isnt a book...it's an awful run-on sentence. This is a worthy subject nonetheless....hopefully someone who knows how to write will take on the subject someday. This is nothing but as told to Jeff Davis "kerflooey"...a word that was actually used on page 24
   
   
   Jeff Davis should have stayed dead with the confederacy....he devalues his Northwestern education with this...can the university give him an honorary defrocking for this. In sum...this book wa neither written nor edited......just bad journalism.



4. An excellent high level history of the NFL since 1950, but not so much as a biography of Pete Rozelle. There is little insight into the man. Lots of what's and when's, very little "how".
   
   Example...many instances are offered about his ordered life, his ability to make people feel at ease. How did he do it? What made him unique?
   
   Far too much reliance on Rozelle's daughter, Steve Rosenbloom, and Eddie Accorsi as sources. Too many lines of thought were opened, and then dropped. For instance, he goes on about how in the 1950's Redskins' owner George Marshall was a major player as an owner...then suddenly he disappears. Jack Kent Cooke is described as a Rozelle enemy because Rozelle married Cooke's former daughter in law...and then the point is dropped. Did Cooke every hamstring Rozelle because of the relationship?
   
   To many ideas are brought up, then dropped without completing the circle. To little is told really flesh out the picture of Rozelle beyond a stick figure with a great tan and ready smile who drank Rusty Nails and smoked too much.
   
   It is a good book...but it could have been great.



5. When I first saw this book, I knew I had to buy it and read it immediately as Pete Rozelle was one of the icons of my young life. What a disappointment :( ! The book seems to be about everyone else but Pete Rozelle - he's like a guest star in his own story.
   
   Starting from the time Rozelle was elected commissioner, we hear more about George Halas than Pete Rozelle. Why was he a compromise candidate? After his election the story meanders and deals with people, places and incidents only tangentially related to Pete and the growth of the NFL. Many times I was lost in the maze of names both personal and corporate that surround and protect the story of Rozelle from outsiders.
   
   Some of the chapters are long and rambling and make one wonder why the story of the beginning of NFL Films requires 23 pages. Other chapters are the same.
   
   I really thought I would get some more insights into the NFL I grew up with, as a baby boomer "I saw it all" from the rise of the packers to the merger, expansion and becoming the #1 spectator sport. After reading a biography about Wellington Mara and Ernie Accorsi's autobiography, I thought I'd learn more about the people who shaped the NFL. But after some 200 or so pages, I can't continue. It's too painful.

5 comments about What a Game They Played: An Inside Look at the Golden Era of Pro Football.

1. Stories about great athletes that were famous and not so famous. Each of the chapters talks about an athlete that contributed to the sport in very unique ways. After reading it, I wanted to know more about some of the characters that were great athletes and times very humorous. It's a book I will re-read and recommend highly.



2. THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT NFL STARS THAT PLAYED IN THE 1920'S THRU THE 1940'S. SUCH STARS AS RED GRANGE, SAMMY BAUGH, DON HUTSON, AND SID LUCKAMN ARE FEATURED. THEIR STORIES AND INSIGHTS ARE VERY INTERSTING AND ENTERTAINING. I BELIEVE THE AUTHOR RICHARD WHITTINGHAM, DID A GREAT JOB. THIS WAS AN ERA WHEN MEN WERE MEN, THEY PLAYED THE ENTIRE GAME. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED HOW THE GAME WAS PLAYED BACK THEN OR ARE A REAL HISTORIAN OF PRO FOOTBALL THIS IS A GREAT READ FOR YOU. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.



3. In the same vein as Lawrence Ritter with "The Glory Of Their Times," Richard Whittingham interviewed several of the diminishing handful of participants in the NFL's early days, took their words and wove an interesting and insightful book. Much like baseball when it started professionally, scheduling, paychecks, record-keeping and crowd size was often haphazard in those days, and players often played out of love of the game or to pick up some extra money aside from their regular jobs, mostly the latter. But the stories that they tell are wonderful - rugged men playing in football's infancy, helping to build the league that we know today through their legendary work. Many of the players included in the book are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, so these guys had the opportunity to be around a long time and see a lot of changes going on. It's a fascinating book about the birth and growth of the league, told by the guys who were there to help it grow - I highly recommend reading this book.



4. An oral history about the NFL's early early days, like before most of us were even born and in some cases, before our parents were born. It feels like the author took these oral histories word for word so it makes for very choppy and uneven reading, not something that you can zip thru in one reading, despite the barely 200+ pages - it's nice to read about players who I've barely heard of and some I never knew about, and also about the two way players then. I think the author could have shaped the oral histories better to make it a better read, and like I always say, beware of books which Amazon sells for at the list price - there's a reason for that.



5. This book is a collection of semi-autobiographies of many of the most famous NFL football players of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s when the league was just getting started and fighting for its spot in the sun. Each chapter centered around one player such as Sammy Baugh, Sid Luckman and host of other legendary players still alive to write their story. Its an insightful look of the "good old days" NFL, often funny and other time, amazing. The book has been well edited and reading is superbly entertaining as well as educational. Each chapter also got couple of short anecdotal stories on some of the legends of the game long gone like Jim Thorpe or Bronko Nagurski.
   
   When I read this book, there is no doubt in my mind that men who played this game back then, were probably the toughest players ever to played NFL football. Sure there are guys today who are built bigger, faster and all that, but these stories in this book make any reader realized how tough and mean, NFL used to be compared to today's soft touch rules design to lessen injuries. These players were in the game for 60 minutes, they have to be good in both offense and on defense. Compared that with the specialized players of today.
   
   This book is should be read by any fan of the NFL to give such a fan a good perception on how the NFL evolved and developed during the past 75 years.

5 comments about The Rest Of The Iceberg: An Insider's View On The World Of Sport And Celebrity.

1. After hearing Robert speak on a local radio show, I found his opinions interesting and the fact that he was obviously articulate made me curious about the book. I asked for and received it for Christmas and was not disappointed. As a huge football fan, and someone who had him on his fantasy football team both good and bad years, I enjoyed the first part of the book for it's insider's look into the life of an NFL player. Although I didn't agree with some of his positions regarding player compensation, it is basically an autobiography and therefore we must expect that the writer will tell us his opinions. Whether we agree with them or not, you must feel that he is entitled to them or you should not be reading an autobiography. The 2nd part of the book is insightful and thought provoking. Maybe it helped that I happened to agree with most of his opinions, I don't know.
   
   I guess my only real "complaint" about the book was where he tried to illustrate his point about player salaries by using analogies to more common work environments. The purpose of an analogy is usually to get the person to agree with something that they can more readily identify with and therefore agree with the original situation. But what if you do not agree with the analogy? Does that mean that you do not agree with the original statement, or does it just mean that it was a bad analogy? To me it just made him seem as out of touch to the common man as we are to the professional football player.
   
   "What would you say if your boss hired you at the same position as one of your co-workers but said that he was going to pay you a salary 5 percent lower?"
   
   Well, I just accepted a job in a field where I have 15 years experience and am working with a friend of mine who has 4 years experience. I'm making %15 less. I needed the job so I accepted it. That does not mean that I don't agree with him holding out for more money that season.
   
   "Imagine if your boss asked you to come in a few hours early every day and said he was going to pay you 1 percent of your normal salary."
   
   Many people are "salaried" employees (myself included) and are asked to come in early, stay late and work weekends with no extra pay, let alone 1 percent. I am a computer programmer in the healcare industry so I am quite sure that Robert's healthcare software company has salaried employees that this happens to all the time. Again, just because I don't agree with the analogy it doesn't necessarily mean that I agree with the practice.
   
   Other than these and a few others, I still felt it was an interesting read about an interesting person.



2. I trudged through the book hoping there would be some kernels of stimulating thought. But I never really found any. The same themes -- sometimes nearly the same sentences -- appeared over and over and over. Smith seems to want to capitalize on his football status as well as the idea that he's "articulate for an athlete."



3. I purchased this book because I find it intriguing that a guy with a gazillion dollar future ahead of him walked away from it all to pursue another path. How many of us would do the same I wonder? Smith consistently had an interesting and thoughtful perspective throughout his athletic career. And that's exactly what he still manages to deliver in this book. For those of you looking for solutions to resolve all that ills our society or a good dissing on Randy Moss for that matter, you are not going to find it here. Just his point of view, which is personally why I bought it to begin with. And whether you agree with his thought process or not, I don't think the guy needs any validation. His actions have always spoke volumes about his character. Overall, I found this book to be a commendable first time effort from a notable personality that I hope we hear more from in the future.



4. I was very disappointed in the overall content of the book. Very little insight into the game of football. The author's view of race, religion, and politics added nothing but a few pages to the length of the book.



5. Although this book would probably be best appreciated by those of us who were already Robert Smith fans, it should also be interesting to anyone who follows football. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because he kept it real--he was honest about the good and not-so-good things he had done in his life and throughout his football career. He gives readers insight into a player's frame of mind before and after games, and the drama that can sometimes occur between players in the locker room. I was a little disappointed that he didnt address some of the rumors that he has to know we have heard, but I liked that he wasn't afraid to give his opinions on divisive issues like race and religion, even though I didnt agree with some of them. I will definitely be reading this book again.

3 comments about Rockne of Notre Dame: The Making of a Football Legend.

1. 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 to Rockne, against Army), the Gipper, the Four Horsemen, and back-to-back undefeated seasons, but insights into the life and times of Notre Dame's legendary coach. Rockne championed & embodied the immigrant struggle for a place in the sun - the "fighting Irish" being a moniker bestowed on a polyglot group of newcomers to the American dream. On the gridiron it was possible to prove yourself - and show your talents - on an equal footing with older, more established schools and traditions. This conscious inclusion of the larger story gives this book an important place on the shelf, alongside Rockne's own unfinished autobiography, "We Remember Rockne", "Knute Rockne, All American", and other memoirs and studies.



2. 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 demigod Knute Rockne. Still and all, we see Rockne as he developed from a boy growing up in Chicago to the young man at Notre Dame eventually becoming the coach who, in turn, became larger than life.

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

   There are occasional 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 lifelong relationship with football.

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




3. 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.

1 comments about Driving Home: My Unforgettable Super Bowl Run with DVD.

1. This was a christmas gift for our grandson, who is a steelers fan.
   He was real excited to receive this as a gift.

2 comments about The Steve Spurrier Story: From Heisman to Head Ballcoach.

1. With all the media buzz about this book, I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype, but I gotta admit that it's one very good book. Chastain really gets into the mind and heart of a remarkable and complex man.



2. The book was written by a Spurrier fan who told me nothing new about the great coach. It was 204 pages long and the author did not get to Spurrier's Florida coaching exploits until page 143. His legendary status as a coach BEGAN at Florida. Spurrier's Gator coaching accomplishments made him the star that he is today and I was hoping to get a detailed look at HOW he was so successful at Florida. I was left wanting SO much more. It was a good look at his younger days growing up and as a player in college and the NFL. It also explored his days as a small time college coach, but the contents regarding his tenure at Florida was rather pitiful. Still, a must read for any Gator or Spurrier fan, but not a real complete work. This, I hope, will NOT be considered THE definitive Spurrier biography when it is all said and done.

5 comments about Just Give Me the Damn Ball!: The Fast Times and Hard Knocks of an NFL Rookie.

1. while i'm a big time Bills Fan i give Keyshawn Johnson madd Props for this Very Honest&Open Book.it details a Season&the Politics involved in the NFL.I'M Pulling for The Bills Vs Tampa Bay in The Superbowl.THe JEts were Dumb for Letting KeyShawn go.after what he had to deal with Growing up, The NFL is like Sesame Street by Comparison.



2. Keyshawn Johnson's memoir, Just Give me the Damn Ball, is a chronicle of one man's journey to understand himself. The "Ball" as every reader of Johnson's prose understands, is not an actual leather ball, but a metaphor for the unnameable phatom that evades all of us, and the thing that can give us, if we could just get our hands on it, a true spiritual balance that could once and for all stop the longing we all feel and that some people attribute to our being made in the image of a creator to satisfy this creater's longing. Using a musical and lyrical style, he paints a portrait of the difficulties and obstacles faced by many of our young men in this country today. And he pulls no punches; make no mistake, Keyshawn writes like he plays: often dropping the "ball", but rarely failing to dwell in those small moments of triumph. While the narrative is first person, the voice Johnson achieves can give an impression of almost total detachment. He describes his battles as uphill conquests, relaying little detail other than those of his own ability to catch the "ball", though we all know no one can hold on to the ball forever. Johnson understands this, though he never comes to the point where he feels comfortable saying it. The idea that one thing, the ball in this case, can satisfy a being, one made of skin and nerves and thick red blood, is nothing new, but Johnson is able to breath life into it by creating a world where we, while, at our core, understanding that the grasp of one object could never satisfy our depths, the pursuit of this object could give a life purpose and, ultimately, could satisfy the pointed ends of the "ball" which would only leave the middle, and though the middle could never be satisfied, the pursuit of it all, the endless journey we put ourselves in, is one that will one day be rewarded. But when will we know for sure?



3. First of all let me start off by saying that i'm not the biggest fan of Keyshawn, as a matter of fact he is probably my least favorite NFL player, I always found him to be arrogant, and this book just proved my point even more. The whole book he complains that he is not being paid enough, he hates on his coaches. When he gets the ball, I have yet soon him to put up the numbers he claims he can get. I always wondered why Shawn King was benched, even though he led tampa bay pretty far the season he started, I was not surprised to hear rumors that keyshawn had something to do with it. He proved in this book that its all about the money for him, not the love of the game. If I was a coach I would not want him on my team. The only thing I liked what Mr. Johnson had to say, especially with the new ruled that was pass allowing guys to enter the draft to play football without playing college football, is that there is nothing like playing college football. Again, this is just my opinion of Mr.JOhnson, I could be totally wrong, he could be the most humble player in the NFL.



4. Great guy! Mr. Johnson is gutsy. He's not afraid to take on the sacred cows of the NFL. His numbers would tell you that he is an above-average receiver, while Keyshawon will tell you that he's the best receiver of all time. Who's right? I'm not sure, but reading this book will have you laughing in recognition. What a ride! His infectious smile will melt your heart and his double-talk unedited stream of consciousness logic will confound you. I only hope that Mr. Johnson will finish his career in Canada or possibly NFL Europe, which appears where he's headed. By 2007. my guess. Thank you Key! Stay hot and don't let bad stats get you down. You're a winner in my book. Which, I'm thinking of titling "Keyshawon Johnson: Genius and Scholar."



5. I can't believe the hype surrounding this overhyped, overrated NFL receiver. To think , Jets could have had Marvin Harrison (a surefire hall of famer) instead of Keyshawn the 1996 draft.

5 comments about Namath (Icons of the NFL).

1. This is a well-written exhaustive biography of one of the NFL's most colorful and exciting players. His tale is replete with history and fantasy and well-wishing fans.



2. I was very pleased with this purchase. I have purchased things on Amazon previously, and can tell you that I have always admired the efficient handling of each transaction. This particular purchase was handled equally well.
   
   The Namath book has a little more significance to me, as it was a last minute purchase before Christmas and I was surprised and pleased that I was able to get as quickly as I did and at a reasonable price.
   
   Joseph DeJesus



3. I GAVE IT TO HIM FOR CHRISTMAS AND HE FINISHED WELL BEFORE NEW YEARS.



4. Just like the author, this book is a winner! This makes a great gift for the book lovers and sports fans in your life. Readable and written as if a friend is telling you the stories, warm and casual without any airs. Joe Namath's appeal is timeless, his talent is revered by athletes and non-athletes, and his honesty is heartwarming. He is a good storyteller and his experiences are worth telling. Truly, an enjoyable read for anyone. This is a story of courage, pain, perseverance and commitment-to the game, to his family, and to himself. Reading about his injuries gives insight into the physical punishment and the steel discipline needed to play the game of football AND the game of life. The pictures are wonderful, too. Even the front and back inside covers of the book have pictures. It's like getting a photo album, a great story, and a bonus DVD, all in one book. Touchdown!!



5. An entertaining book, very much a quick read, boasting fantastic photos of a true NFL legend.
   
   I found the first half of the book to be the best as after that it seemed to descend into a discussion of Namath's business pursuits (restaurant chain, movies, advertising).
   
   In a perfect world, I would have liked less publicity photos and more pictures of his football playing and more indepth on his playing.
   
   This is not a biography of the man, but more of a coffeetable look at him, which is not to say that it is bad.
   
   An enjoyable book.

2 comments about 10 to 4 Brett Favre's Journey From Rotten.

1. The book 10 to 4 was totally awesome. It gave you a great insite as to how close Brett came to not playing football past high school. It shows you there are probably allot of athletic individual who never get a chance at college or pro out of high school. A great book to read whether you are a Brett Farve fan or not.



2. Great insight ito college recruting. This book makes you wonder how many great players may have been overlooked by recruters.