How Football Explains America [Paperback]

 

Using some of the most prominent voices in pro sports and cultural and media criticism,How Football Explains Americais a fascinating, first-of-its-kind journey through the making of America's most complex, intriguing, and popular game. It tackles varying American themes—from Manifest Destiny to "fourth and one"—as it answers the age-old question, “Why does America love football so much?” An unabashedly celebratory explanation of America's love affair with the game and the men who make it possible, this work sheds light on how the pioneers and cowboys helped create a game that resembled their march across the continent. It explores why rugby and soccer don't excite the American male like football does and how the game's rules are continually changing to enhance the dramatic action and create a better narrative. It also investigates the eternal appeal of the heroic quarterback position, the sport's rich military lineage, and how the burgeoning medium of television identified and exploited the NFL's great characters. It is a must read for anyone interested in more fully understanding not only the game but also the nation in which it thrives. Updated throughout and with a new introduction, this edition bringsHow Football Explains Americato paperback for the first time.

 

Sal Paolantoniois a national correspondent for ESPN, covering the NFL forSportsCenter,Sunday NFL Countdown, and ESPN.com. He hosts ESPN’sState Farm NFL Matchupon Sunday mornings. He is a former sportswriter and political correspondent for thePhiladelphia Inquirerand served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He lives in Moorestown, New Jersey.