Product Description: New York Giants beat writer Ralph Vacchiano examines the quarterback position in the NFL from all angles, using Giants quarterback (and Super Bowl XLII MVP) Eli Manning as his primary focus.
When Eli Manning found teammate Plaxico Burress in the end zone with just 35 seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLII, he completed what was perhaps the greatest game-winning drive and unlikely upset in Super Bowl history. But the drive, which also included a remarkable escape and pass completion to unheralded receiver David Tyree, was the culmination of years of promise and development. Champion quarterbacks aren't made overnight.
With Manning, the Super Bowl MVP, as its focal point, New York Daily News Giants beat writer Ralph Vacchiano's Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback is a fascinating insider's look at the National Football League, how stars are made and crushed, and how fortunes are won and lost on the performance of one man: the quarterback. From the bold draft day trade that brought Manning to New York, through his dramatic ups and downs on and off the field, his first training camp to his last-minute heroics in Super Bowl XLII, Vacchiano takes a candid and revealing look at the people and events that made Manning's and his 2007 Giants' success one of the greatest stories in modern sports history. Complete with exclusive interviews with NFL stars, coaches, and executives and a foreword by former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, Vacchiano uses his unfettered access to the world champion Giants to present a true, behind-the scenes look at the quarterback and team that defied all of the experts and oddsmakers to pull off one of the most phenomenal upsets in pro football history. 25 b/w photographs.
Hero of 1000 faces First published in 1949, Joseph Campbell wrote a definitive book about the role and nature of heroes in mythology throughout human history, "Hero of 1000 faces." According to Campbell, "A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man." After watching Eli play over the last 3.5 years, it is clear that by any definition Campbell has come up with, Eli Manning is an archetypical hero. Vacchiano's book basically reviews the key points in this hero's development--and these points are important for all of us to review to see how we can do better too. There's not a whole lot in this book that hasn't already been covered in the media, so if you've been keeping close tabs on the Giants over the years, you may not learn much. However, it's never a waste of time seeing again "how it's done." Kudos to Vacchiano for reviewing the subject in an eminently readable form. Kudos mostly though to Eli for making the book possible!
Reporting...the way it is supposed to be done. What sticks out above everything else in this very well-researched account of Eli Manning, is Vacchiano's startling ability to draw the reader in emotionally. In particular - Vacchiano's gripping account of that famous final drive in the Super Bowl against the undefeated New England Patriots. Having watched - glued to the screen, waiting for Manning to implode, and yet he didn't - that gut-scrambling final 2-plus minutes, I can say it was some of the very best drama football has produced. What is remarkable is that Vacchiano, through his writing, matches the virtuoso moment. The fact that readers were already well aware of the outcome, makes this an even more astonishing feat of writing. I ripped through those last 40 pages, even though I knew what the end result was... The tendency in books like this is for the writer to gush over the subject...accolade after accolade. Vacchiano steers away from the expected. At times, it's a harsh, clinical evaluation of the subject. Vacchiano, as every reporter writing a book should do (but few accomplish), taps on a wealth of resources. Former Giants Ernie Accorsi writes the forward and is quoted throughout...but there are also dozens of others involved. This is not only a must-but for Giants' fans, but for fans of solid writing (ahh, that drama!) as well. A stirring achievement by one of the best football beat writers in America.
Must buy Book For anyone who is a football fan, and especially a Giants fan this is a must buy book. This book gives an excellent recount of Eli's first 4 years of his career and does an excellent job of showing just how much an NFL QB goes through. This is an excellently written book with good inside detail from ex NFL QB's and coaches. I'm not much of a book person and could not put the book down.
Eli is official REAL giants fans and true supporters of Eli from day one will love this book. Everyone knew that it was a rough journey to the top for Eli, but until reading this book, you will never know exactly how much he had to go through.I would recommend this to any hardcore Giants fan who cant get enough inside information.The book is well written and has alot to offer in terms of insider anecdotes, a must have for the true Giants fan.
Wonderful Read for the Manning Fan This book is great and I would recommend it to every Eli Manning Fan !!!
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