Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Haiku and Other Whimsical Observations to Help You Understand the Modern Game

Gregg Easterbrook (aka Tuesday Morning Quarterback) has been my favorite columnist since I first found him on Slate a while back. When the football season concluded this year, I knew I had to get this book to fight withdrawal over the season.However, I soon found one major flaw--the only one I ever found: It's far too short. I read it in one sitting. While I truly enjoyed it, it seemed that, if the pictures and such were removed, the remaining text would be no longer than one of his columns.The insights are still great, and the concept of football haiku--not to mention its excellent execution--is something that I still love the idea of.

For those fans of Easterbrook's TMQ column at slate.com, this book is right up their alley. A Brookings Inst. Fellow writing football haiku's? What took so long? A great survey from the edges of football with plenty of humor thrown in. Definitely going to buy a few copies as stocking stuffers for the lads who rejoice in every Giant victory. The Heidi game and blitz strategies. Only Easterbrook.

I found this guy on Slate.com last year and I have been hooked ever since. How can you not like a guy who pokes fun at one of the games that tries to be really stodgy? Anyways, when I read his column today, I found out that a book was made so I of course had to buy it and I'll have to say that I'm not disappointed even though I've read most of it before. The Haiku are new though. Who'd think that football could be the subject of Haikus? Excellent book, makes me want to go out and find his other books.

My 5 star rating is given solely on the interview with Greg held earlier today on public radio. I know little about football. By choice. However, I recognize and freely admit I'm in the minority of those in my circle of friends. Two interesting tidbits Greg shared - 1. he equated this with the immutable (whatever that word means!)law of physics: After years of observation and recordkeeping, Greg says the immutable law of football is that the team that completes a fake kick wins the game. 2. The team with the most overdressed (wearing too much clothing due to cold weather)coach, loses the game. So..focus on the coach who is shivering in the blustery wind n weather. Lastly, Greg read about five of his haiku's and they were great. I ordered five books for holiday gifts. I'm sure I'll sneak a peak as a minimum through one of them before wrapping.