The Dark Side of the Game [NOOK Book]

The View from the Broadcasting Booth by an Ex-NFLer

Tim Green was an unusual defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons. He read books in the locker room and during team meetings. He went to law school in his spare time. He had a hard time gaining weight and keeping it on. He left the game with his body and his brain relatively unscrambled (despite many concussions and stingers), and took up a new career as a broadcaster for Fox. His book is a series of mini-essays on everything you always wanted to know about pro football, but never wanted to experience. It is a gripping tale of pain, broken bodies, shattered lives, and electric moments that will remain with you for the rest of your life. I would have graded the book higher, but he did seem to skirt some of the obvious problems that professional football players experience such as groupies and deliberate attempt to maim. On the other hand, I found the book more revealing and better balanced than the 'hero' biographies and the 'broken life' tales that pro players usually produce. It is the most enjoyable book I have read by a retired NFLer. If Mr. Green had also been retired from broadcasting when he wrote this, he probably could have been more candid. Perhaps an updated version will appear in the future. For those who are interested in Deion Sanders, the book has a very interesting portrait of the man which will add to your appreciation of his remarkable career and his character. Many of the most valuable parts of the book describe all of the things that teams do that create failure. Correctly, Mr. Green pinpoints the ultimate cause of these problems as being the owner. You have to have a coach and a general manager who want to have the same style of play. Only the owner can ensure that will happen. Two things were very new to me. First, the players find the game far more exciting than I would have ever imagined. Some of the descriptions are very vivid. Going into the stadium during the introductions is apparently way beyond an adrenaline rush. It is a feeling that most of us will never experience in our lives. Second, I was surprised by how much pain permeates the lives of the players. There's even a section encouraging you not to squeeze a player's or ex-player's hand hard in a handshake, because of the on-going pain they have from hand injuries. On television, the players all seem to unaffected by pain. That's apparently an act. In reality, they wallow in pain. Because the book is broken up into different topics, you can skip to the subjects that interest you. But check out some that don't sound very interesting as well. Mr. Green has many valuable things to say. He is both intelligent and articulate. He also cares about improving the game. If you have sons, read the section about whether or not you should encourage them to play football. I don't buy his argument, however, that soccer causes more injuries than football. My experience as a soccer coach was just the opposite with the children and teenagers I knew. He obviously sympathizes with the players, which most fans do also. But he praises the praiseworthy wherever he finds them, and attacks many of the villains. After you read this book, I suggest that you think about how you could change your work to make it more exciting and valuable. If you don't like things as they are, change them! Donald Mitchell, co-author of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The 2,000 Percent Solution

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Tim Green

Tim Green is an amazing football player as well as an amazing writer. I seem to not be able to put any of his books down. This was no exeption as well. I hope to see what other books come out of this mans collection.

Now a Bit Outdated...

The Dark Side of the Game is now a bit outdated and will most likely disappoint readers, especially those familiar at all with the ways of the NFL. The writing is fair, with the numerous chapters being somewhat choppy. Many chapters could have been left out, without compromising any of the quality found in the book. Find something more current and you will most likely be happier.

One of the best books I have ever read!

This book keeps you woundering what is going to happen next. Green puts you right into the story with him. This book make you fill like a rookie starting from the begining and having to do what ever the owner and the coach says and if you don't you sit the bench till you do.

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