Title/Author:
“A View from Two
Benches: Bob Thomas in Football and the Law" by Doug Feldman
Tags:
Football (American),
biography, legal, Bears, Lions, Chargers, Giants
Publish date:
May 15, 2020
Length:
264 pages
Rating: to
4 of 5 stars (very
good)
Review:
While it isn't common,
there are examples of professional athletes who have studied law while they
were still playing sports and some have gone on to prominent legal
careers. One such athlete is Bob Thomas,
an associate justice for the Illinois Supreme Court. His football and legal
careers are the subject of this biography by Doug Feldman.
Thomas kicked 11 years
in the National Football League, primarily with the Chicago Bears, but also kicked
for the Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers and New York Giants during his
football career. Feldman does an
excellent job of portraying the life of a NFL kicker being a nomadic one, as
most kickers will often be signed by teams for brief periods to either replace
an injured kicker (as Thomas was in San Diego and New York) or to find yet
another kicker who will consistently perform under pressure. Thomas proved that
during his time with the Bears, setting team records for scoring and remaining
highly ranked in those categories for the team.
Despite the many
changes, Thomas had settled in Chicago and that is where his family life was
settled and where he not only studied law but became a practicing attorney,
including late in his career when he kicked for other teams. His family's adventures were handled by his
wife Maggie, whom Feldman does mention prominently, especially when they are
moving around.
Once Thomas's career
track changes from football to the law, the book also takes a different track
as Thomas's faith is discussed more frequently. There are Biblical scripture
readings that Bob and Maggie used to help them get through troubled times. Bob's legal career was very successful,
moving up quickly through the process to become first a judge, then a justice
on the Illinois Supreme Court. There is
even a trial in which Bob sues a small newspaper for defamation that reads like
a quick, exciting legal thriller.
While the book is approximately
70 percent about Thomas's football career and 30 percent about his legal career,
both parts are equally engrossing and make for good reading. Anyone interested in football, especially
kickers, will enjoy that portion of the book while those interested in his time
on the Illinois Supreme Court will like the book as well.
I wish to thank University
of Northern Illinois University Press for providing a copy of the book in
exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
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