New York Times bestselling sportswriter Michael Holley takes readers behind the scenes of the relationship that transformed the Patriots from a middling franchise to the envy of the NFL. No head coach-quarterback pair has been more successful in NFL history than Bill Belichick and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. They have won four Super Bowls; six AFC championships; and thirteen division titles. And now Holley takes us inside their relationship; dissecting how these men and their team came to dominate football. Belichick; a genius as a defensive coordinator; had been a five-year flop as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Upon his controversial arrival in Foxboro; though; he quickly began to remake the team at every level--scouts; coaches; and players. His bold; calculated approach had fans up in arms; sportswriters questioning his intelligence; and players wondering how long they would last on the team. Meanwhile; buried down in the 2000 NFL draft; the 199th overall pick was a skinny kid from the University of Michigan named Tom Brady who many scouts thought would never succeed at a professional level. The lowest of the four quarterbacks on the team's depth chart; he appeard to be just one of the guys. Like Belichick; though; he lived for football; and he knew the playbook as well as Drew Bledsoe; the franchise quarterback. And when Bledsoe was injured in 2001; Brady took the job and vowed to never give it back. The handsome Brady became a star; wearing hand-tailored suits; appearing in movies and on magazine covers; and marrying a supermodel. Belichick; with his trademark cut-off hoodies; was the opposite of a fashion plate. Together; the odd couple somehow rose above controversies and tragedies. Draft picks were lost; suspensions given; lawsuits filed. As their legends have grown; so have their critics; with some of those critics operating from NFL headquarters. Despite that; with Belichick's deft and brilliant strategy in the draft year in year out and Brady's exacting decision-making on the field; the Patriots cultivated an atmosphere of success and won a stunning 75 percent of their games together. Respected and reviled; Belichick and Brady have set the bar high for excellence in a league designed for parity. They have rarely been understood. Until now. Based on dozens of interviews with former and current players; coaches; and executives; Belichick and Brady is an eye-opening look at the minds; motives; and wild ambitions of two men who have left an indelible mark on the game of football.
#269588 in Books James Donovan 2013-05-07 2013-05-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 1.38 x 5.50l; 1.00 #File Name: 0316053732528 pagesThe Blood of Heroes The 13 Day Struggle for the Alamo and the Sacrifice That Forged a Nation
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The book was in excellent condition when I received itBy LDN gunnerFirst I want to say I received this book a week before the scheduled day . The book was in excellent condition when I received it . Now to the book. This book is the best told story about the Alamo!!! The author James Donovan took the main characters and decribed how each one ended up at the Alamo. I was reading this book when we visited San Antonio and visited the Alamo. I could not put this book down !!! If you are like me and watched Davy Crockett on television you will really enjoy this book . This book is loaded with history!! Please buy this book if you are interested in the Alamo!! I would give it ten stars if I could !!!4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. New Research Tells New StoriesBy Gene Eric SaleckerI have read dozens and dozens of books about the 13 day siege and battle of the Alamo and James Donovan's "The Blood of Heroes" is one of the best. Not only does the book contain much new material; acquired through thorough research; but Donovan is an excellent writer. Some of the new material contains the supposition that David Crockett died in the small U-shaped lunette outside the west wall. Donovan writes that after the Mexican column that was attacking the south wall veered towards the southwest corner and left Crockett and his men with nothing to shoot at; the frontiersman and some of his men rushed over to the west wall to add their firepower to the men defending that wall against the attackers from the northwest and southwest. When a source reported that Crockett's body was found in the "small fort opposite the town;" Donovan takes this to mean the west wall lunette.Donovan also gives you a short chapter at the end of his book giving new evidence to support the story of Travis drawing the line in the dirt; and the escape of Louis "Moses" Rose. His research is top notch.Donovan's book is even handed; giving the perspective of the Mexicans; the Texans; and even some civilians. It is a great read and a wonderful book. I highly recommend it.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Excellent account of events leading up to the battle of the Alamo as well as the after affects of the battle.By Sharon L. KeimI generally do not read historical non-fiction but I went in search of information regarding the Alamo due to a fiction book I had read. I wanted more in-depth information about it other than "Remember the Alamo." I really had no idea why the battle was fought and definitely did not know it was pivotal in the forming of Texas. I don't know what I was doing during history class in school; but this book made me wish I had paid closer attention.This book was so well written that it did not feel like I was reading a text book. The "story" of the Alamo and events leading up to it unfolded in a natural way that was easy to follow and understand. Just as important was "the rest of the story" after the battle had been fought. In reality it sparked a nation to join in the battle to free the Texians from the dictatorship of Santa Anna and helped "forge a nation."
