Best Football Books?
Does anyone have any recommendations for good football books? I just oredered Take Your Eyes Off The Ball 2.0, and the parts I read in the preview were quite entertaining. I have about 90 minutes per day on the train to read, so would love to hear some of your favorite books.
I'm familiar with Endzone, 3 and Out, Bo's Lasting Lessons, and 40 Years in the Big House. Also have read a bit of Essential Smart Football by Chris Brown.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
Brandon's Lasting Lessons, now with a new foreward
October 18th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^
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October 18th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
October 18th, 2016 at 3:17 PM ^
I recently gave my copy to my mother to read, as she had not yet done so, and about three days later I get a call from her as she's reading through the gory descriptions of the fall of 2014 and all she tells me is, "Now I understand why you kept saying in 2014 that the only way to mod that blog would be to tear it down and start over."
October 18th, 2016 at 2:16 PM ^
I assume you have read the originial "Bo" book with Mitch Albom. I am going to get negged for this, but I did always like "Something For Joey". Additionally, "When Pride Still Mattered" (Lombardi) is a good read.
For the record, Fuck Penn State.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^
write the original Bo book (see below). And fuck Mitch Albom and his 4th grade, money grubbing, mail-it-in sports writing
October 18th, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^
Fair enough, but I did enjoy the BO book a great deal regardless of the author. Also liked the Fab Five book (still like both, in fact).
However, I was 8 when I first read the BO book, so 3rd grade writing might be more accurate.
October 18th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^
M football and I hold no personal animosity, but Albom's Fab 5 book detailed poor Chris Webber's inability to afford pizza. Like 95% of what the BigEaredLittleGuy has produced, that book is shit.
October 18th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^
You are absolutely correct. I remember that story about him looking at his jersey in a store window selling for 80 or 90 bucks, but couldn't even by a slice of pizza for $1.50 (sob). I agree completely that the book is quite a load of shit. However, the first time I read that book, I was 12 or 13 and none of the other shit had come out. Webber attended Country Day with a couple of my friends' older brothers, so I did get to meet him a few times. The dude was not hurting for money at any point in time, but was always very nice/cordial (remember, I am 12 and he is a huge super star at the time).
Upvoted because I never assume animosity on an anonymous message board, but appreciate you saying so.
October 19th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^
I had never heard that Albom didn't write "Bo". Was there an uncredited co-author?
October 18th, 2016 at 2:18 PM ^
Covered the Packers 1967 season that culminated in the famous Ice Bowl NFL championship game against Dallas. Gives an inside look on what is was really like to play for Vince Lombardi.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
Was just about to recommend this one. Was one of my favorites as a kid growing up and watching football in the 1970s and 80s. Really well written, tons of great stuff about Lombardi, and Kramer is a very likable guy. Plus the added bonus at this point of some real historical perspective.
Despite my love/hate thing with the Lions you should also read Paper Lion by George Plimpton where he takes part in training camp with the team as a QB. Hysterical.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
was truly one of teh greats. +1
October 18th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^
When I was in 7th grade at Cranbrook (1971) we actually shared practice fields and lockers with the Detroit Lions for the first two weeks of school. Picture that for a second - a 7th grade football team sharing lockers, fields and showers with professional athletes. I can rember having to show my school ID to a security guard to get to the field cause the Lions HC Joe Schmidt was convinced the Vikings were spying on him. I can remember fielding punts (or at least trying to) from Herman "Thunderfoot" Weaver and holding the ball so Errol Mann could practice field goals. The times were VERY different back then.
I passed the late Alex Karras leaving the locker room the day he was cut (I had turned my ankle at practice and had to leave early) and almost got knocked down as he charged out. And the day I decided to take a shower and found myself surrounded by Lem Barney and Mel Farr was truly terrifying I was I discovered that God didnt create all of us exactly "equal" if you know what I mean.
October 18th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^
csb
srsly
October 19th, 2016 at 5:56 AM ^
... the point about us not all being "equal" reminded me of a "cool story, bro" - which actually is a cool story from my bro.
Back in the early 90's, my brother graduated from Specs Howard and got an internship with Channel 2. One night he was at The Palace helping with some post-game work, and was in the "Bad Boys" Pistons' locker room. He told me all about it, said it was lots of fun, but then lowered his voice and confidentially told me,
"Jesus Christ - James Edwards is hung like a bear!"
I thanked him for sharing such valuable information.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^
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October 18th, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
I liked that one, I also liked Next man up by Feinstein
October 18th, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^
Collision Low Crossers is my favorite football book.
I've read all of Bacons books and the Faulk book. Not that those aren't good. Just for context.
October 18th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
The author embeds himself with the Jets coaching staff/front office for a full year. You get a great sense of the people involved, from Ryan and Pettine to Revis and Sanchez. You'll come away with a great appreciation of how complicated the game of football -- and runnign a football team -- is, how f*'d up it is to be a coach, and a little bit of why the Jets are, well, the Jets.
Plus David Harris gets a little love, if you need a Michigan angle to keep you going.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
This thing is great not so much for the information, but for the true throwback style of sportswriting that was going strong through the mid-70s (Falls, Puscas, Green), but clearly dying by a thousand Albom cuts by the mid-80s
October 18th, 2016 at 3:28 PM ^
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October 18th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
October 18th, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^
No politics and whatnot, but the MSU football coach is an author now. That's why his team is struggling, he's focusing too much on his writing career.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
Poor Mark D'antony. No respekt.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
October 18th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
I was probably 10 and saw a book with football players on the cover and picked it up. I immediately started having to swallow my hysterical laughter. The opening scene is still a little risque, but back in the day.... whoa!!!. Anyway, a few minutes later mom yells from another room "JIM, ARE YOU READING MY BOOK???!!!" Busted.
October 18th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
The inspiration for the quarterback played by Mac Davis in the movie was former Cowboys QB "Dandy" Don Meredith. Meredith stated that 90% of the debauchery in the book actually happened. Shoot, if it was only 50%, Don had a boatload of fun!
October 18th, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^
that much i can tell you.
October 18th, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^
Truth. Our lads weren't exactly choirboys.
October 18th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
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October 18th, 2016 at 4:08 PM ^
North Dallas Forty is my favorite.
A close second is Semi-Tough by Dan Jenkins.
October 18th, 2016 at 5:41 PM ^
Check out Saturday's America - the most revered college football book of all time. Worth the read.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
Friday Night Lights is just as good if not better than the movie they made.
The Blind Side is infinitely better than the trash movie they made.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
by Alex Karras.
For the honeymoon story alone.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^
October 19th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
Agree that Natural Enemies is great, as is his book on the early days:
Stagg vs. Yost: The Birth of Cutthroat Football by John Kryk.
If you like reading about the old days of college football, I also enjoyed:
The Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation by Dave Revsine
October 18th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
1. Meat Market - Inside College Football Recruiting - Highly reccomend.
https://www.amazon.com/Meat-Market-Smash-Mouth-Football-Recruiting/dp/1…
2. The System - The Glory and Scandal of Big Time College Football
https://www.amazon.com/System-Scandal-Big-Time-College-Football/dp/0345…
3. Friday Night Lights - Same as the movie but a great straight up book
There's also this random guy John U. Bacon. I've heard he writes some insightful stuff about the team we've all learned to love!
October 18th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
Friday Night Lights is amazing. The storyline is pretty great but most people tend to overlook the terrific social commentary in that book and there's plenty of it.
I also like Natural Enemies. 100 Yard War about the Ohio State rivalry is OK too.
I saw End Zone at the library yesterday and I passed on it, although I'll probably grab it at some point.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
Fatso Art Donovan, Awesome book on the 50's and 60's. Great Bobby Lane story.
October 18th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
End Zone, Don Delillo
October 18th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
by John U Bacon
Not totally a football book, but a helluva read.
October 18th, 2016 at 11:01 PM ^
of John U. Bacon's books.
October 18th, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
The Berensta(e)in Bears. Hello from the alternate universe where it's Berenstein and not Berenstain!
October 18th, 2016 at 3:06 PM ^
Boys Will Be Boys by Jeff Pearlman
Dixieland Delight and On Rocky Top by Clay Travis