Summerall: On And Off The Air

THIS BOOK BY FORMER NFL STAR AND SPORTS BROADCASTER PAT SUMMERALL IS TRULY A GREAT BOOK. PAT TELLS THE READER ABOUT SOME GREAT NFL MOMENTS AND GAMES HE WAS INVOLVED WITH ALONG WITH SOME INSIGHTS AND OPINIONS ON MANY RIVALS, COACHES AND TEAMATES. WE REALLY GET A GREAT LOOK AT FOOTBALL DURING THE 1950'S AND 1960'S WHEN PAT WAS A PLAYER. AFTER HIS RETIREMENT AS A PLAYER. HE BECAME A VERY SUCESSFUL BROADCASTER FOR CBS SPORTS AND DID MANY NFL GAMES AND OTHER MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS GOLF, TENNIS AND OTHERS. BUT ALONG THE WAY, PAT BECAME AN ALCOHOLIC AND WAS NOT A FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN NOR A HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE. TO ME THE MOST FASCINATING PART OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT HIS ADMISSION TO BE AN ALCOHOLIC AND HIS LIFE IN RECOVERY AND AS A CHRISTIAN. HIS TELLING OF THE CRISIS IN RECEIVING A NEW LIVER AND THE AFTER EFFECTS ARE TRULY SCARY AND HILARIOUS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL FOOTBALL FANS AND FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDICITIONS AND ARE NOW RECOVERING. A VERY STRONG AND HUMBLE PERSON PAT SUMMERALL, DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THIS BOOK. A MUST READ.

Pat Summerall fails to pull any punches (on himself) with this suprisingly honest and candid appraisal of his life's journey. No one would have blamed the author for dancing around the dark holes in his experiences, but he deftly tackles them head-on and isn't shy about exposing his shortcomings, both professionally and personally. In short, this is a refreshing memoir of opportunities taken and opportunities lost...and a pleasant reminder that people can indeed change.

I read this book a few months ago and found it fascinating. Having grown up listening to Summerall and Brookshire, and then Summerall and Madden, I always enjoyed his call of a game. When Summerall was involved, you knew it was a big game. Because he was so silky smooth, I assumed he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but nothing could be further from the truth. This book details his rough childhood, his college days, his pro days, his days as an announcer, and indeed his victory over alcoholism and a failed liver. I found the book to be uplifting and have an even greater admiration for Summerall than I did before (though he certainly was a flawed man back in the day). I thought of this book recently because he's been back on the air broadcasting a couple games and it's been great hearing his voice again, even if it (and he) is showing some age. Summerall tells a great story and provides you with numerous anecdotes that you won't soon forget.

A wonderful account of the 40's, 50's, and 60's and beyond. If you followed college and pro football in those years, this is nostalgia with a capital N. Pat's successes and problems are laid out in a humble way, and his faith statement will be hard to match anywhere in professional sports. This book reads like a (lengthy) newspaper account of the great game (wherever and whenever it was played).

I enjoyed ths uplifting story of Pat Summerall's life and successes. There are quite a few good anecdotes about his years in football and broadcasting.