World Famous Comics: Game of My Life Philadelphia Eagles: Memorable Stories of Eagles Football (Game of My Life)
Game of My Life Philadelphia Eagles: Memorable Stories of Eagles Football (Game of My Life)
By: Robert Gordon Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Format: Illustrated Label: Sports Publishing LLC Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 227 Publication Date: October 01, 2007
Product Description: Prominent players who have worn the legendary Eagles jersey share their fondest single-game experience and memories - some are championship games, while others seem ordinary save for extraordinary personal meaning. Legendary Eagles like Chuck Bednarik and Tommy McDonald are among those former players profiled. The books provides an in-depth look into the men and games that helped shape and build the Philadelphia Eagles franchise to the elite status it now holds. Other Eagles featured include Bill Bergey, Seth Joyner, Keith Jackson, Gary Cobb, Brian Baldinger, Bill Bradley, and Vince Papale.
Eagles Fans - A Must Read! I was fortunate to get one of the last copies of Bob Gordon's book about the 1960 Eagles NFL Championship seaosn. It's out of print now.
But in "Game of My Life", Bob gets us inside the minds of some truly great Eagles players, some of whom played on that 1960 team. We get to read about Tommy McDonald's recollections of playing in Philly, and you may be surprised by the game he picks as the "Game" of his life.
Bob also captured the thoughts of Andre Waters just before he tragically died. With that in mind, reading his account of the game of his life is poignant in retrospect.
There's Vince Papale telling his own story, and we hear from old timers like Bill Bradley, Chuck Bednarik, Vic Sears and Ernie Steele, tha latter two of the early days in Eagles football. Remember the Steegles? The Frankford Yellow Jackets?
Then there's a recollection of that tremendous game in 1991, which has become Eagles folklore, and which has been called the "House of Pain" game. Remember, Eagles vs. Houston. Wes Hopkins nailing Ernest Givens over the middle! Andre Waters policing the whole field such that no Oiler receiver would go near the center of the field. Were we ever prouder of that defense then in that game? It's all here as told by ? (don't want to spoil the fun!).
We hear from Brian Dawkins, Frank Lemaster, Bill Bergey, Keith Jackson, Mike Quick, Timmy Brown and more. Dick Vermail weighs in as do Bill Campbell, Merrill Reese, Brian Baldinger and Dave Spadaro.
What makes each chapter so special is Bob's ability to interweave the history of the game selected by each player with the memories and images from the player's mind. Having that context makes the moment more enjoyable and special.
Each chapter also tests our knowledge of Eagles trivia. These questions are treats in themselves and will enhance your stature the next time you're at Lincoln Financial Field, grilling the hot dogs and drinking the beer hours before the next game, challenging your buddies to a delightful one-on-one about Iggles heroes from the past. And if you're an Eagles fan dislocated from the Philly area, well read a chapter, close your eyes, and you'll be back there at the Vet too.
You know, we all remember where we were when JFK was shot or when the Challenger blew up. For us diehard, ever-faithful Eagle fans, our lives are marked by the moments we share from Eagle games, won or lost. As certain songs make up the soundtrack of our lives, so too do certain special moments watching the Eagles on those small black and white TVs (or listening to a transistor radio) or today with the 50" flat screens, or maybe screaming your tonsils out, or crying our eyes out at the Vet or the Linc, or maybe Franklin field, all those special moments describe and define our lives just as much those songs or the history we witnessed. We were there, watching, listening, whatever. Bob captures those moments and lets us live them again. He provides focus on those fuzzy details in our minds, the ones we tell our kids and grandkids, and maybe great-grandkids about, you know "Billy, I was sitting there in 30-degree weather under a blue sky when Timmy Brown ran that kickoff back....," or "Suzie, I was walking through the bird house at the Philly zoo listening to my radio when so and so intercepted that pass...."
If you cried when they blew up the Vet, or raised your fist too when they carried Jeff Kemp off the field, or stood in near-silence at the Linc when the clock wound down and the Iggles beat the Falcons to get to the Super Bowl, you are the type who will pick up Bob's book and then call in sick at work, till you get to the end. Better yet, as the heroine said in the movie, "You had me at hello....", "Game of My Life" will have you at the Preface.
Bob is no novice writing about Philly teams. I've read all his books about the Eagles, Phillies, Villanova (my alma mater). But "Game of My Life" is his best, by far. You can't be a TRUE Eagles fan without owning this book on your shelf. I've read some chapters several times. I just can't put it down. I just plain enjoy the memories so much I want to re-live them again and again. You will too.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
