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 enlarge | Author: Mark Bowden
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Category: Book
List Price: $23.00
Buy New: $12.96
You Save: $10.04 (44%)
New (31) Used (10) Collectible (5) from $11.49
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 3991
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 087113988X
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.332640973
EAN: 9780871139887
ASIN: 087113988X
Publication Date: May 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080818211952T
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| Customer Reviews:
 The definitive account July 8, 2008
Mark Bowden has crafted a terrific narrative of the THE GAME, the one that changed everything. He places the weight and the credit where it belongs and explains how each major event unfolded. Mainly he provides background and insight into a group of extraordinary men and how everything came together at just exactly the right moment and in exactly the right place. He contrasts the glamorous, endorsement contract lives of many of the Giant players with the hardscrabble, sooty backwater of neighborhood Baltimore where the Colts lived and worked.
He explains the pivotal plays in the game and how early unsuccessful plays actually set up later successes. He describes the crowd, a significant part of which rooted for the Colts. Finally, he covers the personalities behind the legends throughout the book, delving into the background of each critical player and coach, right down to Frank Gifford's whining which continues to this day. This is a must read for anyone interested in how the NFL came to be.
The Greatest book on The Greatest Game Ever Played June 22, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Mark Bowden has written a brillant book on the Giants VS Colts,1958 Championship game. Bowden brings the game and the inpact it had on the sport into perfect harmony. His insight into the meaning of the game beyond the score brings greater understanding of today's billion dollar NFL brand. Whether your a football fan or a fan of American culture Bowden's work is a remarkable merging of the the two. Enjoy the read.
 Lightweight treatment of a great game June 16, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
December 28, 1958 marks one of the most classic moments in NFL history. That's the date the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in sudden death overtime to win the NFL title as 45 million fans watched on television. It marked the birth of the modern NFL as football began to step out of the shadows of baseball.
The match up featured the greatest concentration of football talent for one game as 17 future Hall of Famers were involved. It pitted a team of self-made men and the league's best offense (Colts) versus a team of glamour boys and the best defense (Giants).
Author Mark Bowden tells the story of the 1958 championship game through a handful of players and coaches such as Raymond Berry, Weeb Ewbank, Sam Huff, Tom Landry (Giants' defensive coordinator) and Vince Lombardi (Giants' offensive coordinator). Bowden's exceptional study of Berry is the cornerstone of the book.
Bowden recounts how Johnny Unitas and Berry teamed up to take the Colts 86 yards in two minutes to tie the game. And, how Unitas engineered the 13-play drive in overtime to secure the thrilling victory. Unitas' greatness and leadership in the game elevated him to the highest echelon of NFL quarterbacks.
Interestingly, many of the players didn't realize that the game would continue into sudden death overtime after it was tied in regulation.
As a writer, Bowden makes the reader feel like he's in the middle of the game. He makes you wish you had been able to witness this great game. You envy those who did. NFL Commissioner Bert Bell called the Colts-Giants sudden death overtime game, "The greatest day in the history of professional football."
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it's definitely a lightweight treatment of the subject. The book is 239, easy-to-read pages. When I finished the book, I wanted to read more about the game and its impact. I suspect many other readers will feel the same way.
The Best Game Ever June 9, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Mr. Bowden does an excellent job.. I was growing up in Baltimore at the time. He accurately captures things I remember, and gives enormous (and fun) incite into the rest of the story.
The Beginning of the Modern NFL May 31, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
A great book! What an amazing group of players and coaches who went on to define the NFL. Truly as the Sports Illustrated cover stated. "How Raymond Berry and Johnny Unitas invented the modern NFL."
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