|
Together they tell the inside story of the rise and fall, and rise and fall, of America's Team in lurid detail.At times seamy, at others shocking, Pearlman recounts the characters and events that shaped the NFL's most visible franchise. This is the perfect sequel to Landry's Boys by Peter Golenbock. Perspectives on players, coaches and ownership will change as the story unfolds.I found this book to be fascinating and highly recommend it.
If you are a Cowboys fan, football fan, or anyone who enjoys a good read, I would definitely recommend this amazing book. The story ends with the tearful Hall of Fame induction of Michael Irvin.The amazing thing about this book is not just the brilliant, often explicit writing style, but also the details Pearlman uses to describe off-field shenanigans of NFL greats such as Michael Irvin, Nate Newton, and Charles Haley. This book chronicles the history of the Cowboys from the Jones takeover to the end of the amazing Cowboy dynasty of the 1990s. He also discusses the mishaps of the Switzer era and the eventual downfall of the team. Sure there are a few biased sentences, but for the most part, he is impartial.
He tells the story like it is. Pearlman gives in-depth details of the ousting of Tom Landry and the events that created the Cowboys of today. He then describes the rise and fall of Jimmy Johnson, the dedicated, successful, and often self-centered head coach who built the dynasty of the 90s. He gives detailed and explicit background information on many famous, and not so famous, Cowboys of the past. He not only gives an excellent history of events, but also gives in-depth details of the off-field activities of the Dallas Cowboys: sex, drugs, partying, and ridiculous behavior.Pearlman is a brilliant storyteller and reporter, who has obviously done his research prior to writing this book. The story begins with Michael Irvin's shocking stabbing of a fellow teammate and ends with his triumphant induction into the Hall of Fame.
He describes Jerry Jones' unorthodox firing of Tom Landry in great detail. He uses firsthand accounts from past players, reporters, coaches, and wives to get a behind-the-scene look at the Cowboys in both their strengths and shortcomings.The best part about Pearlman's writing is that he does not pass judgment on these events or people.
I personallywould like to take a golf club bat to his skull. Itwould be Babe's last NFL pass as he playedin the WLAF in 1991-'92. Babe Laufenberg didnot QB the Cowboys the last two games ofthe '90 season for example. Laufenberg's last pass of the game went 27 yards to TE Jay Novacekfor a TD with 2:27 left in the game. He has no objectivity what-soever. He knows Rocker was drunk when he in-terviewed him and then used that to trash thetrash-talking Rocker to build himself up. He only got one start, Dec. Atlanta, a 25-7 lossto the Falcons.
Laufenberg was a decent and servicable QB who played forthe following teams: Washington (3x), SanDiego (2x), New Orlean, Dallas, Kansas City,and Ohio of the WLF. Pearl-man is slime with a capitol 'S'. Pearlman is the most laughable 'sports-writer' on the planet. 24th v. If Laufenberg was sobad, as the non-athlete Pearlman claims,why did he last 10 yrs., in the Pros.It's easy for jerks like Pearlman, who mustknow where the body is buried (Jimmy Hoffa).,to stay employed with Sports Illustrated,and criticize REAL Pro athletes, since he neverplayed Pro storts.
The sex, the booze, and the drugs suddenly means more than the music, or in this case winning football games. Best sports non-fiction book I've ever read. With in-depth research and many, many interviews, Pearlman leaves no stone unturned. Despite being an avid Cowboys fan, peering behind the sinister curtain of smiles and one-liners it is easy to see the egos, the lies, and the "don't ask, don't tell" philosophies that undo many great teams. Often we wonder what transpires, what goes wrong so quickly with a winning team. Pearlman takes us inside the locker room, strip clubs, and party scenes of one of sports' greatest climbs and crumbles of a dynasty. With this book, the whys and hows are endless. It's like reading a biography of a legendary rock band who parties itself into splitting up prematurely.
Apart from the sordid stuff (and there is lots ) the players contribution is illuminating about how a team is built up and how little the media knows ( or reports) about what goes on behind the scenes.Its also interesting to see how hubris and envy destroy people and relationships. I just wish somebody would write a book like this about the Joe Gibbs Redskins-or maybe there weren't many coke snorting, masturbating in public nutters in the Hogs> Amazing book. All told, an excellent look at an organisation going mad.
|
