Boys Will Be Boys by Jeff Pearlman (1 Viewer)

[snafu]

"They were America's Team—the high-priced, high-glamour, high-flying Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s, who won three Super Bowls and made as many headlines off the field as on it. Led by Emmitt Smith, the charismatic Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, and Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, the Cowboys rank among the greatest of all NFL dynasties."

In similar fashion to his New York Times bestseller The Bad Guys Won!, about the 1986 New York Mets, in Boys Will Be Boys, award-winning writer Jeff Pearlman chronicles the outrageous antics and dazzling talent of a team fueled by ego, sex, drugs—and unrivaled greatness. Rising from the ashes of a 1–15 season in 1989 to capture three Super Bowl trophies in four years, the Dallas Cowboys were guided by a swashbuckling, skirt-chasing, power-hungry owner, Jerry Jones, and his two eccentric, hard-living coaches, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Together the three built a juggernaut that America loved and loathed.

But for a team that was so dominant on Sundays, the Cowboys were often a dysfunctional circus the rest of the week. Irvin, nicknamed "The Playmaker," battled dual addictions to drugs and women. Charles Haley, the defensive colossus, presided over the team's infamous "White House," where the parties lasted late into the night and a steady stream of long-legged groupies came and went. And then there were Smith and Sanders, whose Texas-sized egos were eclipsed only by their record-breaking on-field perfomances.

With an unforgettable cast of characters and a narrative as hard-hitting and fast-paced as the team itself, Boys Will Be Boys immortalizes the most beloved—and despised—dynasty in NFL history.

For sale September 16, 2008

LINK

 

[azgroover]

Saw this book sitting on the shelf at the library and remembered being intrigued after hearing Jim Rome interview the author last year.

I started it late Sunday and finished it this morning. Highly recommend. It's laugh out loud funny at times, x-rated at others (Charles Haley pleasuring himself anytime, anywhere), and just sad (Barry Switzer's background).

One of my favorite examples of how indifferent Jimmy Johnson was to the off field stuff was a quotation by an unnamed player who played for the Redskins and Cowboys. He said, Joe Gibbs would say "stay away from steroids and street drugs because that's not how we do it around here." Jimmy Johnson would say, "stay away from steroids and street drugs because the test is coming up next week."

 

[dgreen]

One of my favorite examples of how indifferent Jimmy Johnson was to the off field stuff was a quotation by an unnamed player who played for the Redskins and Cowboys. He said, Joe Gibbs would say "stay away from steroids and street drugs because that's not how we do it around here." Jimmy Johnson would say, "stay away from steroids and street drugs because the test is coming up next week."

I'd guess the list is pretty short of guys who played for both Gibbs and Johnson.

 

[azgroover]

One of my favorite examples of how indifferent Jimmy Johnson was to the off field stuff was a quotation by an unnamed player who played for the Redskins and Cowboys. He said, Joe Gibbs would say "stay away from steroids and street drugs because that's not how we do it around here." Jimmy Johnson would say, "stay away from steroids and street drugs because the test is coming up next week."

I'd guess the list is pretty short of guys who played for both Gibbs and Johnson.

There's so much to this book, I'd like to almost rewrite it all here. I actually learned alot about how little respect Jimmy had for Aikman early on and also how much he disliked Herschel Walker's ability--he saw him as "robotic and uninstictive." Another interesting tidbit was the owner prior to Jones made firing Tom Landry a condition the new buyer had to agree to upon the sale.

 

[dgreen]

One of my favorite examples of how indifferent Jimmy Johnson was to the off field stuff was a quotation by an unnamed player who played for the Redskins and Cowboys. He said, Joe Gibbs would say "stay away from steroids and street drugs because that's not how we do it around here." Jimmy Johnson would say, "stay away from steroids and street drugs because the test is coming up next week."

I'd guess the list is pretty short of guys who played for both Gibbs and Johnson.

Babe Laufenberg and Dean Hamel are two names that immediately jumped out as guys who played for Gibbs and Johnson's Cowboys. I believe Dexter Manley played for JJ at Oklahoma State.My guess is it's Babe. I think he's the radio color commentator for the Cowboys.

 

[dgreen]

I actually learned alot about how little respect Jimmy had for Aikman early on and also how much he disliked Herschel Walker's ability--he saw him as "robotic and uninstictive."

Did he have this disrespect prior to drafting him? That would be odd to draft someone you don't have much respect for over, say, Barry Sanders who is anything but "robotic and uninstinctive."

 

[azgroover]

I actually learned alot about how little respect Jimmy had for Aikman early on and also how much he disliked Herschel Walker's ability--he saw him as "robotic and uninstictive."

Did he have this disrespect prior to drafting him? That would be odd to draft someone you don't have much respect for over, say, Barry Sanders who is anything but "robotic and uninstinctive."

Maybe disrepect was the wrong word. But he definitely made him earn his trust the hard way. Jimmy persuaded the brass to pickup Steve Walsh, one of his Miami guys, and he told Jerry that Walsh would be the guy to take them to the Super Bowl. It then went on to say he went against his gut the next year and tabbed Aikman the starter..praying he was right.

 

[azgroover]

The book also reveals the address of the infamous "White House". A quick look on Zillow shows you that it can be yours for $300k.