A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football
Decoding America's Favorite Game
By: Mark Oristano
Published: August 1, 2009
Format: Paperback, 160 pages
ISBN-10: 0982160119
ISBN-13: 978-0982160114
Publisher: Synergy Books
"Football is an amazing, endlessly fascinating game, and the good news is it's not nearly as difficult as it might seem to become a knowledgeable fan", writes thirty-five year football broadcaster with the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, and NFL Films, Mark Oristano, in his insightful and engaging book on understanding the sport of football A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America's Favorite Game. The author presents his guide to deciphering the intricacies of football for the novice or casual fan in a friendly, folksy style that doesn't insult the intelligence of the reader, while also sharing inside stories of professional football to entice the veteran gridiron watcher.
Mark Oristano understands the sport of football, and especially the professional National Football League, from the inside. His three decades of working with the finest coaches, players, and officials in the sport gives him a unique perspective, from which to coach the everyday football fan about the game. The author recognizes that football is a complex game, complete with an intricate set of rules, and its own language and jargon. Mark Oristano demystifies the hieroglyphic type playbook, the on field activity that appears at first glance to be random, and the thinking behind the action that makes the game so endlessly exciting for millions of fans. The author shares the basics of the seeming multitude of plays, and explains in everyday language the reasons for the motion of the players. Through it all, Mark Oristano's love of the game and its personalities sparkles through the pages.
Mark Oristano (photo left) breaks down the offense, defense, and special teams into plain no nonsense terms, removing the mystery for their appearance on the field. He describes, not only the purpose of each of the three teams, but also the role and type of player that is part of each of these groups. The author illustrates his explanations with examples of great players and coaches, past and present, to share a deeper understanding of the concepts. He also shares valuable lessons on the different plays of the game, from coin toss and kickoff to the two minute warning. Mark Oristano even provides a wonderful break in the book to represent half-time, prior to continuing his always entertaining discussion of the joys of watching football.
For me, the power of the book is the ease with which Mark Oristano presents his guide to understanding football. With his long experience in the broadcast booth, it would have been easy to take football knowledge for granted. Instead, the author describes the sport in a friendly, accessible manner that is not condescending or simplistic. The lively descriptions of the game, plays, and players are interspersed with intriguing and humorous anecdotes involving some of the biggest names in football history. This personalizing of the sport provides interest for the seasoned football fan, as well as introducing the novice viewer to the wonderful personalities who made football their passion. Indeed, Mark Oristano's deep love of football is seen on every page and in every delightful story he conveys to the reader. The book even includes a valuable section on the rules of the game that will provide even long time fans with some critical information.
I highly recommend the personable and fan friendly book A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America's Favorite Game by Mark Oristano, to anyone seeking a reader friendly primer on the rules, plays, and players of the great game of football. The author shares his decades of wisdom and experience with novice and experienced gridiron fan alike, with a light hearted and engaging style, that turns learning the complexities of the sport into as much fun as viewing the game itself.
Read the fun and enlightening book A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football: Decoding America's Favorite Game by Mark Oristano, and share in the fun at your next football watching event. Whether viewing a televised professional or college game, or attending a game at your local high school, your knowledge and appreciation of the sport will be enhanced greatly by reading this book. It's a definite touchdown of a book.
