Title/Author:
“Lasting Impact: One
Team, One Season. What Happens When Our Sons Play Football” by Kostya Kennedy
Tags:
Football (American),
high school
Publish date:
September 6, 2016
Length:
272 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars
(outstanding)
Review:
The sport of football
has been under the microscope for several months due to issues on many fronts:
domestic violence incidents involving professional players, the overall culture
of the game and the safety of the players’ long-term health due to the concerns
about the number of concussions suffered.
All of those topics and more are explored in this excellent book on a
high school football team by Kostya Kennedy.
The book takes the
reader through the 2014 football season of New Rochelle High School, a New York
City suburban school district. The area is a melting pot of all levels of
affluence, of various races and various family dynamics. The football program, led by coach Lou
DiRienzo, is one of the more successful teams for many years. The players are proud to be wearing the Huguenots
jersey and many come back to visit.
One of these former players, Ray Rice, came back to visit during that 2014 season when he was the flashpoint of the issue of domestic violence in professional football. This section of the book was a good example of the main characteristic of this book that I thought made it an excellent read: it was fair, free of inflammatory talking points and explained the issue in a thorough manner.
One of these former players, Ray Rice, came back to visit during that 2014 season when he was the flashpoint of the issue of domestic violence in professional football. This section of the book was a good example of the main characteristic of this book that I thought made it an excellent read: it was fair, free of inflammatory talking points and explained the issue in a thorough manner.
Concerns about player
safety and concussions are also explored from the point of view of coaches, players
and parents. The culture of the game will make players not want to suggest that
anything is wrong with them physically. There is concussion treatment protocol that
all teams must follow, but it relies on player self-reporting, Because of this,
according to a quote in the book, “There may be as many concussions that go
unrecognized as go recognized on the football field.” But as to WHY this is the case – the culture
of the game – is explained quite well through the book.
Kennedy does address
the question most often posed to parents – would he let his son play
football? By following the season of a
successful high school football team, he explains his position in a manner that
will make any person think about his or her perspective of the sport. This is done not only in the last chapter
when he addresses the question directly, but in each previous chapter when
Kennedy captures the spirit, the drive and the passion these young men have for
the game of football and the school. No
matter the level of interest one has in the sport, this is a fascinating book
on the game and the young men who play it.
I wish to thank Sports Illustrated for providing a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying links:
Kennedy is fantastic writer. Timely topic. A very good read. Any book that uses the word "lugubrious" gets a favorable review from me.
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