Author: Fred Segal
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762475463
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 270
Book Description
Sports fans love holding media "experts" accountable for bad predictions. Since 2015, Fred Segal has chronicled “unprophetic” sports predictions on the internet. His Freezing Cold Takes social media pages feature quotes and predictions from members of the sports world that have aged poorly or were, in hindsight, flat-out wrong. The pages have become a guilty pleasure for hundreds of thousands of sports fans who love to see (okay, and mock in good humor) sports media’s infamous “hot takes” that went cold. With this book, Segal focuses on the NFL, and provides a vast collection of poorly aged predictions and analysis from NFL media members and personalities about some of the most famous teams and players in the league’s history. He also explores ill-fated commentary related to draft picks, hiring decisions, and some of the NFL’s most notable games. But this book is not simply a list of quotes. It delves through content mined from internet archives and original interviews with media, players, and coaches. Segal provides important background surrounding each featured mistake to offer essential context as to why the ill-fated prediction was made as well as why the personality who made the prediction is eating their words. Together, the fourteen chapters—each spotlighting Freezing Cold Takes about a specific team or topic within a certain defined period—create a wholly unique and endlessly entertaining lens through which to explore NFL history. A few illustrative examples: (1987-94 San Francisco 49ers): “The 49ers should do everyone a favor. Trade Steve Young. The myth. And the man.” (1989-93 Dallas Cowboys): “The Vikings fleeced the Cowboys to get Herschel Walker” (2000 New England Patriots): "The Patriots will regret hiring Bill Belichick" (2008 Green Bay Packers): "Brian Brohm has more upside than Aaron Rodgers" (NFL Draft Picks): “The Dolphins could have had their next Dan Marino if they selected Brady Quinn” (2007)
Freezing Cold Takes: NFL
Author: Fred Segal
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762475463
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 270
Book Description
Sports fans love holding media "experts" accountable for bad predictions. Since 2015, Fred Segal has chronicled “unprophetic” sports predictions on the internet. His Freezing Cold Takes social media pages feature quotes and predictions from members of the sports world that have aged poorly or were, in hindsight, flat-out wrong. The pages have become a guilty pleasure for hundreds of thousands of sports fans who love to see (okay, and mock in good humor) sports media’s infamous “hot takes” that went cold. With this book, Segal focuses on the NFL, and provides a vast collection of poorly aged predictions and analysis from NFL media members and personalities about some of the most famous teams and players in the league’s history. He also explores ill-fated commentary related to draft picks, hiring decisions, and some of the NFL’s most notable games. But this book is not simply a list of quotes. It delves through content mined from internet archives and original interviews with media, players, and coaches. Segal provides important background surrounding each featured mistake to offer essential context as to why the ill-fated prediction was made as well as why the personality who made the prediction is eating their words. Together, the fourteen chapters—each spotlighting Freezing Cold Takes about a specific team or topic within a certain defined period—create a wholly unique and endlessly entertaining lens through which to explore NFL history. A few illustrative examples: (1987-94 San Francisco 49ers): “The 49ers should do everyone a favor. Trade Steve Young. The myth. And the man.” (1989-93 Dallas Cowboys): “The Vikings fleeced the Cowboys to get Herschel Walker” (2000 New England Patriots): "The Patriots will regret hiring Bill Belichick" (2008 Green Bay Packers): "Brian Brohm has more upside than Aaron Rodgers" (NFL Draft Picks): “The Dolphins could have had their next Dan Marino if they selected Brady Quinn” (2007)
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762475463
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 270
Book Description
Sports fans love holding media "experts" accountable for bad predictions. Since 2015, Fred Segal has chronicled “unprophetic” sports predictions on the internet. His Freezing Cold Takes social media pages feature quotes and predictions from members of the sports world that have aged poorly or were, in hindsight, flat-out wrong. The pages have become a guilty pleasure for hundreds of thousands of sports fans who love to see (okay, and mock in good humor) sports media’s infamous “hot takes” that went cold. With this book, Segal focuses on the NFL, and provides a vast collection of poorly aged predictions and analysis from NFL media members and personalities about some of the most famous teams and players in the league’s history. He also explores ill-fated commentary related to draft picks, hiring decisions, and some of the NFL’s most notable games. But this book is not simply a list of quotes. It delves through content mined from internet archives and original interviews with media, players, and coaches. Segal provides important background surrounding each featured mistake to offer essential context as to why the ill-fated prediction was made as well as why the personality who made the prediction is eating their words. Together, the fourteen chapters—each spotlighting Freezing Cold Takes about a specific team or topic within a certain defined period—create a wholly unique and endlessly entertaining lens through which to explore NFL history. A few illustrative examples: (1987-94 San Francisco 49ers): “The 49ers should do everyone a favor. Trade Steve Young. The myth. And the man.” (1989-93 Dallas Cowboys): “The Vikings fleeced the Cowboys to get Herschel Walker” (2000 New England Patriots): "The Patriots will regret hiring Bill Belichick" (2008 Green Bay Packers): "Brian Brohm has more upside than Aaron Rodgers" (NFL Draft Picks): “The Dolphins could have had their next Dan Marino if they selected Brady Quinn” (2007)
Underdogs
Author: Zach Berman
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762493526
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Following a season with incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, the Philadelphia Eagles went on to do what fans had all but written off as impossible: for the first time in the franchise's history, Philly won a Super Bowl. Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter Zach Berman takes fans on a journey through the action-packed season -- from the preseason and midseason player pickups that shaped a championship team to the gut-wrenching injury of star quarterback Carson Wentz through to the bold play calling and nail-biting moments in Super Bowl LII, in which the Eagles bested the favored-to-win New England Patriots. A book unique in its scope and insight thanks to Berman's on-the-ground reporting, Underdogs will detail the unlikely story that captured national attention; explain how the team resonated among a desperate fan base that waited 57 years for a championship; and even delve into the players' social activism during a particularly political NFL season. With a foreword by beloved Philadelphia radio announcer Merrill Reese and an 8-page full-color photo insert, it's the perfect keepsake item for anyone who bleeds green. During his six years covering the Birds, Berman has developed relationships with some of the most notable characters that led the team to Super Bowl victory. In Underdogs, he'll explain why Nick Foles contemplated retirement on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP. He'll detail Howie Roseman's journey to NFL executive of the year after being cast aside by former coach Chip Kelly. He'll show Malcolm Jenkins' journey to team captain, how Chris Long's life changed in a Tanzania hotel bar, why Eagles kicker Jake Elliott didn't consider football until he was chosen at random at a high school pep rally, and where Carson Wentz ate dinner the night before he left for the NFL Draft. These more obscure stories offer incredible context and depth to an already fascinating story of success against the odds.
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762493526
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Following a season with incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, the Philadelphia Eagles went on to do what fans had all but written off as impossible: for the first time in the franchise's history, Philly won a Super Bowl. Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter Zach Berman takes fans on a journey through the action-packed season -- from the preseason and midseason player pickups that shaped a championship team to the gut-wrenching injury of star quarterback Carson Wentz through to the bold play calling and nail-biting moments in Super Bowl LII, in which the Eagles bested the favored-to-win New England Patriots. A book unique in its scope and insight thanks to Berman's on-the-ground reporting, Underdogs will detail the unlikely story that captured national attention; explain how the team resonated among a desperate fan base that waited 57 years for a championship; and even delve into the players' social activism during a particularly political NFL season. With a foreword by beloved Philadelphia radio announcer Merrill Reese and an 8-page full-color photo insert, it's the perfect keepsake item for anyone who bleeds green. During his six years covering the Birds, Berman has developed relationships with some of the most notable characters that led the team to Super Bowl victory. In Underdogs, he'll explain why Nick Foles contemplated retirement on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP. He'll detail Howie Roseman's journey to NFL executive of the year after being cast aside by former coach Chip Kelly. He'll show Malcolm Jenkins' journey to team captain, how Chris Long's life changed in a Tanzania hotel bar, why Eagles kicker Jake Elliott didn't consider football until he was chosen at random at a high school pep rally, and where Carson Wentz ate dinner the night before he left for the NFL Draft. These more obscure stories offer incredible context and depth to an already fascinating story of success against the odds.
Determined Look
Author: Three Year Letterman
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781724926227
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 92
Book Description
"Determined Look: Stories of a Youth Football Coaching Legend" is written by Three Year Letterman, a thirty-nine-year old college dropout who lives in a Northeast Georgia. He is the coach of a youth football dynasty. Unlike many youth sports coaches, Coach Letterman angrily rejects the notion that the purpose of youth sports is to have fun. He instead adopts a win-at-all-costs approach. This sometimes involves him intentionally trying to make players quit, recruiting players that he knows are too old for the league, and "altering" residency papers. Coach Letterman is also very proud of the fact that he "rakes in $29.35 an hour plus bennies and a cell phone" and "lives in an apartment complex with a pool and computer lab." He lettered for three years in high school football at wide receiver. He still wears his letter jacket to this day and stands in the student section when he watches high school football games. He's also a rabid University of Georgia football fan who takes takes pride in the fact that he barks at opposing fans. This book includes twenty-eight chapters of Coach Letterman offering youth coaching tips and opining on a variety of topics. Topics include "How to Attend a High School Football Game and Post-Game Field Party in Style," "Turning the Local School System from Adversary to Co-Conspirator," and "How to Dominate a Deposition."
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781724926227
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 92
Book Description
"Determined Look: Stories of a Youth Football Coaching Legend" is written by Three Year Letterman, a thirty-nine-year old college dropout who lives in a Northeast Georgia. He is the coach of a youth football dynasty. Unlike many youth sports coaches, Coach Letterman angrily rejects the notion that the purpose of youth sports is to have fun. He instead adopts a win-at-all-costs approach. This sometimes involves him intentionally trying to make players quit, recruiting players that he knows are too old for the league, and "altering" residency papers. Coach Letterman is also very proud of the fact that he "rakes in $29.35 an hour plus bennies and a cell phone" and "lives in an apartment complex with a pool and computer lab." He lettered for three years in high school football at wide receiver. He still wears his letter jacket to this day and stands in the student section when he watches high school football games. He's also a rabid University of Georgia football fan who takes takes pride in the fact that he barks at opposing fans. This book includes twenty-eight chapters of Coach Letterman offering youth coaching tips and opining on a variety of topics. Topics include "How to Attend a High School Football Game and Post-Game Field Party in Style," "Turning the Local School System from Adversary to Co-Conspirator," and "How to Dominate a Deposition."
Mind of the Demon
Author: Larry Linkogle
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762448903
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 242
Book Description
Larry Linkogle was a child-prodigy motocross racer who turned pro at age 15. A daredevil and rebel from the start, he quit the sport in spectacular fashion during a major national event and went home to create a new extreme sport -- Freestyle Motocross (FMX) -- marked by high-flying stunts and death-defying action. From there, the ride just got wilder. On a lark, he and a friend created The Metal Mulisha -- now a top brand in FMX -- and he was on a fast track to the good life. But after a near-fatal accident, "Link "made a series of decisions that almost finished him off for good -- getting involved in prescription drugs, drug and gun running, underground fistfighting, and other behavior that compromised his health, his relationships, and his career. After hitting rock bottom and experiencing a moment of clarity, Link began to turn things around, salvaging and strengthening the things that mattered most. Now an icon to millions of extreme sports fans, Link is well on the road to a happy ending.
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762448903
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 242
Book Description
Larry Linkogle was a child-prodigy motocross racer who turned pro at age 15. A daredevil and rebel from the start, he quit the sport in spectacular fashion during a major national event and went home to create a new extreme sport -- Freestyle Motocross (FMX) -- marked by high-flying stunts and death-defying action. From there, the ride just got wilder. On a lark, he and a friend created The Metal Mulisha -- now a top brand in FMX -- and he was on a fast track to the good life. But after a near-fatal accident, "Link "made a series of decisions that almost finished him off for good -- getting involved in prescription drugs, drug and gun running, underground fistfighting, and other behavior that compromised his health, his relationships, and his career. After hitting rock bottom and experiencing a moment of clarity, Link began to turn things around, salvaging and strengthening the things that mattered most. Now an icon to millions of extreme sports fans, Link is well on the road to a happy ending.
America's Game
Author: Michael MacCambridge
Publisher: Anchor
ISBN: 0307481433
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 610
Book Description
It’s difficult to imagine today—when the Super Bowl has virtually become a national holiday and the National Football League is the country’s dominant sports entity—but pro football was once a ramshackle afterthought on the margins of the American sports landscape. In the span of a single generation in postwar America, the game charted an extraordinary rise in popularity, becoming a smartly managed, keenly marketed sports entertainment colossus whose action is ideally suited to television and whose sensibilities perfectly fit the modern age. America’s Game traces pro football’s grand transformation, from the World War II years, when the NFL was fighting for its very existence, to the turbulent 1980s and 1990s, when labor disputes and off-field scandals shook the game to its core, and up to the sport’s present-day preeminence. A thoroughly entertaining account of the entire universe of professional football, from locker room to boardroom, from playing field to press box, this is an essential book for any fan of America’s favorite sport.
Publisher: Anchor
ISBN: 0307481433
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 610
Book Description
It’s difficult to imagine today—when the Super Bowl has virtually become a national holiday and the National Football League is the country’s dominant sports entity—but pro football was once a ramshackle afterthought on the margins of the American sports landscape. In the span of a single generation in postwar America, the game charted an extraordinary rise in popularity, becoming a smartly managed, keenly marketed sports entertainment colossus whose action is ideally suited to television and whose sensibilities perfectly fit the modern age. America’s Game traces pro football’s grand transformation, from the World War II years, when the NFL was fighting for its very existence, to the turbulent 1980s and 1990s, when labor disputes and off-field scandals shook the game to its core, and up to the sport’s present-day preeminence. A thoroughly entertaining account of the entire universe of professional football, from locker room to boardroom, from playing field to press box, this is an essential book for any fan of America’s favorite sport.
Running That Doesn't Suck
Author: Lisa Jhung
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762466723
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 302
Book Description
Running doesn't have to suck. Ease yourself into a comfortable routine (promise!) with this hilarious and approachable guide to workouts and nutrition from an experienced athlete. We've all side-eyed the chipper runners jogging by in their short-shorts and "Fun Run"-finisher tops and felt a little envious. How do they get out there and do it every day? How did they become Runners? Though it's theoretically one of the most natural sports for humans, the general response to running tends to be, "It's hard. It sucks. I wish I could do it." If you want to enjoy running, this helpful and humorous guide will get you started, keep you going, and teach you to "embrace the suckiness" (Hint: You don't have to run at 6 a.m. and you definitely don't have to wear short-shorts). You'll also find body maintenance tips, nutritional guidance, and running etiquette pointers. And, when you're feeling discouraged, Jhung's down-to-earth advice will help you stay motivated and confident. With smartly organized chapters that you can read in any order, this book includes insights from professional runners, sports psychologists, coaches, physical therapists, and Jhung's own two-decade writing and running career. Whether you're looking for inspiration or setting specific goals, this book has everything you need to get hooked on the sport.
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762466723
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 302
Book Description
Running doesn't have to suck. Ease yourself into a comfortable routine (promise!) with this hilarious and approachable guide to workouts and nutrition from an experienced athlete. We've all side-eyed the chipper runners jogging by in their short-shorts and "Fun Run"-finisher tops and felt a little envious. How do they get out there and do it every day? How did they become Runners? Though it's theoretically one of the most natural sports for humans, the general response to running tends to be, "It's hard. It sucks. I wish I could do it." If you want to enjoy running, this helpful and humorous guide will get you started, keep you going, and teach you to "embrace the suckiness" (Hint: You don't have to run at 6 a.m. and you definitely don't have to wear short-shorts). You'll also find body maintenance tips, nutritional guidance, and running etiquette pointers. And, when you're feeling discouraged, Jhung's down-to-earth advice will help you stay motivated and confident. With smartly organized chapters that you can read in any order, this book includes insights from professional runners, sports psychologists, coaches, physical therapists, and Jhung's own two-decade writing and running career. Whether you're looking for inspiration or setting specific goals, this book has everything you need to get hooked on the sport.
When Pride Still Mattered
Author: David Maraniss
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0684844184
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 1012
Book Description
By the time he died of cancer in 1970, after one season in Washington during which he transformed the Redskins into winners, Lombardi had become a mythic character who transcended sport, and his legend has only grown in the decades since. Many now turn to Lombardi in search of characteristics that they fear have been irretrievably lost, the oldfashioned virtues of discipline, obedience, loyalty, character, and teamwork. To others he symbolizes something less romantic: modern society's obsession with winning and superficial success. In When Pride Still Mattered, Maraniss renders Lombardi as flawed and driven yet ultimately misunderstood, a heroic figure who was more complex and authentic than the stereotypical images of him propounded by admirers and critics.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0684844184
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 1012
Book Description
By the time he died of cancer in 1970, after one season in Washington during which he transformed the Redskins into winners, Lombardi had become a mythic character who transcended sport, and his legend has only grown in the decades since. Many now turn to Lombardi in search of characteristics that they fear have been irretrievably lost, the oldfashioned virtues of discipline, obedience, loyalty, character, and teamwork. To others he symbolizes something less romantic: modern society's obsession with winning and superficial success. In When Pride Still Mattered, Maraniss renders Lombardi as flawed and driven yet ultimately misunderstood, a heroic figure who was more complex and authentic than the stereotypical images of him propounded by admirers and critics.
Not Without Hope
Author: Nick Schuyler
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061993980
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 256
Book Description
On February 28, 2009, Nick Schuyler went on a deep-sea fishing trip with three friends: NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley, former University of South Florida football player and Nick's best friend. What was supposed to be a day of fun and relaxation aboard Cooper's twenty-one-foot vessel turned nightmarish in the Gulf of Mexico, seventy miles west of Tampa, Florida, when a tragic mistake caused their boat to capsize. With no food or water, no emergency beacon to alert authorities, the four athletes clung to the overturned hull through the night—battling hypothermia, hallucinations, hunger, dehydration, and huge pounding waves, as they prayed, spoke of their loved ones, and shared what they would have done differently with their lives. In the end, only one would reach dry land alive. Much more than a riveting true account of survival, Not Without Hope is Nick Schuyler's inspiring story of courage, resolve, and friendship.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061993980
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 256
Book Description
On February 28, 2009, Nick Schuyler went on a deep-sea fishing trip with three friends: NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley, former University of South Florida football player and Nick's best friend. What was supposed to be a day of fun and relaxation aboard Cooper's twenty-one-foot vessel turned nightmarish in the Gulf of Mexico, seventy miles west of Tampa, Florida, when a tragic mistake caused their boat to capsize. With no food or water, no emergency beacon to alert authorities, the four athletes clung to the overturned hull through the night—battling hypothermia, hallucinations, hunger, dehydration, and huge pounding waves, as they prayed, spoke of their loved ones, and shared what they would have done differently with their lives. In the end, only one would reach dry land alive. Much more than a riveting true account of survival, Not Without Hope is Nick Schuyler's inspiring story of courage, resolve, and friendship.
Forgotten Sundays
Author: Gerry Sandusky
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762452498
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 218
Book Description
Forgotten Sundays is the coming-of-age story of a father-son relationship and the value of a good name, which Gerry Sandusky knows all too well. He has had to endure having an unfortunate name in sports, but to him the Sandusky name means something entirely different: honor, integrity, endurance, and suffering and sadness. Forgotten Sundays follows the life and relationship between Gerry Sandusky and his father -- former NFL tackle John Sandusky and coach for the Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and Miami Dolphins under the tutelage of legendary Coach Don Shula. Gerry spent his summers observing his father in NFL training camps and his Sundays with superstars, Hall of Fame players and coaches from Johnny Unitas to Dan Marino, from Don McCafferty to Tom Landry. Gerry's relationship with his father evolved through stages of worship, disillusionment, vulnerability, tragedy, and friendship. Along the way he learned about the nature of manhood from observations, clues, and interactions -- more often than not unspoken. It was when Gerry reached fatherhood himself and when John Sandusky began to tumble into the gauzy confusion of Alzheimer's disease that he began to understand his father on a much deeper level. Heartfelt, intelligent, at times humorous, at times tragic, Forgotten Sundays explores the intricacies of a father-son relationship and the nuances of how and what a son learns from a father. It plumbs the meaning of a family name, and it is an inspiration to others to embrace their own legacy and cherish their memories.
Publisher: Running Press Adult
ISBN: 0762452498
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 218
Book Description
Forgotten Sundays is the coming-of-age story of a father-son relationship and the value of a good name, which Gerry Sandusky knows all too well. He has had to endure having an unfortunate name in sports, but to him the Sandusky name means something entirely different: honor, integrity, endurance, and suffering and sadness. Forgotten Sundays follows the life and relationship between Gerry Sandusky and his father -- former NFL tackle John Sandusky and coach for the Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and Miami Dolphins under the tutelage of legendary Coach Don Shula. Gerry spent his summers observing his father in NFL training camps and his Sundays with superstars, Hall of Fame players and coaches from Johnny Unitas to Dan Marino, from Don McCafferty to Tom Landry. Gerry's relationship with his father evolved through stages of worship, disillusionment, vulnerability, tragedy, and friendship. Along the way he learned about the nature of manhood from observations, clues, and interactions -- more often than not unspoken. It was when Gerry reached fatherhood himself and when John Sandusky began to tumble into the gauzy confusion of Alzheimer's disease that he began to understand his father on a much deeper level. Heartfelt, intelligent, at times humorous, at times tragic, Forgotten Sundays explores the intricacies of a father-son relationship and the nuances of how and what a son learns from a father. It plumbs the meaning of a family name, and it is an inspiration to others to embrace their own legacy and cherish their memories.
League of Denial
Author: Mark Fainaru-Wada
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0770437567
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 457
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “meticulously documented and endlessly chilling” (The New York Times) exploration of the NFL’s decades-long attempt to deny and cover up mounting evidence connecting football and brain damage. “A first-rate piece of reporting [that] adds crucial detail, texture, and news to the concussion story, which despite the NFL’s best efforts, isn’t going away.”—Time ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Boston Globe, NPR “Professional football players do not sustain frequent repetitive blows to the brain on a regular basis.” So concluded the National Football League in a December 2005 scientific paper on concussions in America’s most popular sport. That judgment, implausible even to a casual fan, also contradicted the opinion of a growing cadre of neuroscientists who worked in vain to convince the NFL that it was facing a deadly new scourge: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a chronic brain disease that was driving an alarming number of players—including some of the all-time greats—to madness. Everyone knows that football is violent and dangerous. But what the players who built the NFL into a $10 billion industry didn’t know—and what the league sought to shield from them—is that no amount of padding could protect the human brain from the force generated by modern football. In League of Denial, award-winning ESPN investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru expose the public health crisis that emerged from the playing fields and examine how the league used its power and resources to attack independent scientists and elevate its own flawed research—a campaign with echoes of Big Tobacco’s fight to deny the connection between smoking and lung cancer. They chronicle the tragic fates of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was so disturbed at the time of his death he fantasized about shooting NFL executives, and former San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau, whose diseased brain became the target of a scientific battle between researchers and the NFL. Based on exclusive interviews, previously undisclosed documents, and private e-mails, League of Denial is the story of what the NFL knew and when it knew it—questions at the heart of a crisis that threatens American football—and of the battle for the sport’s future.
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0770437567
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 457
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “meticulously documented and endlessly chilling” (The New York Times) exploration of the NFL’s decades-long attempt to deny and cover up mounting evidence connecting football and brain damage. “A first-rate piece of reporting [that] adds crucial detail, texture, and news to the concussion story, which despite the NFL’s best efforts, isn’t going away.”—Time ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Boston Globe, NPR “Professional football players do not sustain frequent repetitive blows to the brain on a regular basis.” So concluded the National Football League in a December 2005 scientific paper on concussions in America’s most popular sport. That judgment, implausible even to a casual fan, also contradicted the opinion of a growing cadre of neuroscientists who worked in vain to convince the NFL that it was facing a deadly new scourge: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a chronic brain disease that was driving an alarming number of players—including some of the all-time greats—to madness. Everyone knows that football is violent and dangerous. But what the players who built the NFL into a $10 billion industry didn’t know—and what the league sought to shield from them—is that no amount of padding could protect the human brain from the force generated by modern football. In League of Denial, award-winning ESPN investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru expose the public health crisis that emerged from the playing fields and examine how the league used its power and resources to attack independent scientists and elevate its own flawed research—a campaign with echoes of Big Tobacco’s fight to deny the connection between smoking and lung cancer. They chronicle the tragic fates of players like Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was so disturbed at the time of his death he fantasized about shooting NFL executives, and former San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau, whose diseased brain became the target of a scientific battle between researchers and the NFL. Based on exclusive interviews, previously undisclosed documents, and private e-mails, League of Denial is the story of what the NFL knew and when it knew it—questions at the heart of a crisis that threatens American football—and of the battle for the sport’s future.