This book focused on the 1958 NFL Championship game between the NY Giants and Baltimore Colts. It was the first pro football game to go into overtime with the Colts winning 23-17. This game probably was not the most artistic or aestically pleasing game ever played but its impact helped shape the NFL into the most popular game in our country today.
Bowdens narrative of the game and the stories of the men who played and coached in it is wonderful. Plenty of inside information was given on the Glamorous NY Giants led by Frank Gifford, with assistants coaches like Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry. The Colts represented the hard working town of Baltimore, led by men like Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry.
Following the game people began to see the potential that existed in televising football. The game was growing in popularity in post war America, but football was still overshadowed by the national past time baseball. This game proved to be a turning point in the games popularity as it was televised to millions of viewers nation wide.
As side note it is interesting that their are books with the same title. Each one claiming to tell the story of a different game that can make a claim to be the best ever.
Bowdens narrative of the game and the stories of the men who played and coached in it is wonderful. Plenty of inside information was given on the Glamorous NY Giants led by Frank Gifford, with assistants coaches like Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry. The Colts represented the hard working town of Baltimore, led by men like Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry.
Following the game people began to see the potential that existed in televising football. The game was growing in popularity in post war America, but football was still overshadowed by the national past time baseball. This game proved to be a turning point in the games popularity as it was televised to millions of viewers nation wide.
As side note it is interesting that their are books with the same title. Each one claiming to tell the story of a different game that can make a claim to be the best ever.