Title/Author:
“When It Was Just a
Game: Remembering the First Super Bowl” by Harvey Frommer, foreword by Frank
Gifford
Tags:
Football (American),
history, professional, Packers, Chiefs
Publish date:
September 9, 2015
Length:
252 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
The Super Bowl has grown
to national holiday status in the United States, with the game being one of the
top rated television shows every season, parties and gatherings are occurring
with many of the people not knowing anything about the game of football, and
other entertainment associated with the game such as commercials and the
halftime show have taken on lives of their own.
What can be forgotten, however, is that the game started as the idea of Pete Rozelle, the commissioner of the more established National Football League, as a championship game between the champions of his league and those of the relatively new American Football League. That first game, won by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers 35-10 over the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, has a colorful story of its own. This book by sports historian Harvey Frommer tells that story from oral recollections of many who played in the game and were important figures behind the scenes as well.
Gathering stories from many
different sources, the book shares thoughts, insights and anecdotes about all
aspects of this first championship game.
It wasn’t called the Super Bowl at first, but was used informally by
many at the event. There are excellent stories
about the mindset of the two coaches, Vince Lombardi of the Packers and Hank
Stram of the Chiefs. Some of the stories
on Stram came from previously unpublished memoirs of Stram. Most came from
players and they ranged from play calls during the game to what the coach was
like in the locker room and away from the practice field.
However, the book is far
from one that is just about the sport, the players and the coaches. There are many entertaining and revealing stories
about other aspects of this first “world championship” game. Broadcasters for the two networks that
telecast the game share their experiences.
Staff members of the teams and leagues share many anecdotes about other
logistics that had to be addressed, such as ticket sales for a game that did
not have the heavy hype that the Super Bowl has today. Getting everyone on
board for such a game also took a lot of work. Frommer takes all of these aspects, obtains information and stories from
people who were there, and weaves them together in a terrific blend of
storytelling and narrative that makes the reader truly understand what it was
like to put together that first championship game.
I wish to thank
NetGalley and Taylor Trade Publishing for an advance review copy of the book in
exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim?
No
Pace of the book:
It will be a fast paced read for readers who are familiar with the teams,
the history of the game or have researched football history. As I did not fit into any of these categories,
it was a bit slower for me as I took my time reading many of the stories.
Do I recommend?
Yes - not only readers who are interested in football history will enjoy
this book, but also readers who are only familiar with the phenomenon that the
Super Bowl has become today should read this. It will give those readers a
sense of what the event was like at that time and appreciate what it has become
today.
Book Format Read:
E-Book (Kindle)
Buying links (for
pre-orders at time of post):
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