Title/Author:
“NFL
Football: A History of America’s New National Pastime” by Richard C. Crepeau
Tags:
Football
(American), professional, history, business
Publish date:
August 1,
2014
Rating:
4 ½ of 5
stars (excellent)
Review:
There is
no doubt that professional football is the most popular sport in America now
and the National Football League is one of the most successful enterprises in
the world. How the sport and the league
arrived to this point is chronicled in this well-researched and well-written
book by Richard C. Crepeau. It is a wide
ranging book that covers mostly the business of the league and related topics
such as media coverage and labor relations.
The book mentions very little about the game itself. It could be considered more of a business book, but in a historical context. The references for the author’s research are both from academic and media sources, which leads to very interesting writing. It is mostly serious, but Crepeau shows some humor as well. One of my favorite passages in the entire book is near the end in the chapter about how the Super Bowl has turned into a national holiday. When talking about the ever-growing popularity and hype of the event, he states that “there are only two things that can stop it: a massive economic collapse or a hysterical wave of sanity sweeping the country.”
Crepeau is
careful not to show opinions in the book, but he does make clear the strengths
and weaknesses of the league’s commissioners during the period of exponential
growth of the league, which is considered to be roughly the second half of the
20th century and into the 21st century as well. The passages on labor relations under Pete
Rozelle, during which there were three player strikes, and Roger Goddell, under
whom there was a lockout in 2011, were especially balanced. This was true not only about praise or
criticism of the leadership, but also in the writing style. Crepeau wrote about
this and other business matters in a way that the average fan who does not deal
with business language would understand, but advanced enough so that those
readers who do work in this field would not consider it too simple.
No topic
related to the business of the NFL is ignored.
Franchise relocation, drug testing for both illegal substances and
performance-enhancing drugs, pension benefits, and post-concussion health
problems are all addressed in the book.
The sheer amount of topics that are covered in depth make this book
worth reading for anyone interested in the business side of the NFL. Crepeau’s
work makes that topic that sounds boring a very good read for football
fans.
I wish to
thank NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim?
No as the
book shows the fascinating history of the league, especially off the field as
both a business and as an enterprise.
Pace of the book:
It took
awhile to get through the book. It is
not one that can be read quickly.
Reading it slowly and methodically is best to understand all the intricacies
of the league.
Do I recommend?
There are so
many different aspects of the NFL that are covered, especially since the 1960’s,
that any football fan should be able to enjoy the book. This is especially true
for those readers who enjoy reading about non-football issues with the league.
Book Format Read:
E-book
(Kindle)
Buying links:
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