Fatso: Football When Men Were Really Men

by Arthur J. Donovan, Bob Drury

Art Donovan, the former All-Pro lineman with the Baltimore Colts, recounts the days when football was played by real men, not the contemporary players with their workout videos and stock portfolios. A bright, witty assessment of football in the 1950s.

Genres: Sports, Football, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Humor, Memoir

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Mikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely hilarious. Published in 1987, it's still a great read today. They just don't make 'em like they used to anymore. Today's football players are pampered and coddled. They wouldn't have lasted a second in the days of Art Donovan, Norm Van Brocklin and Chuck Bednarik. If you're a football fan, this should be required reading. Donovan's incredible memory and story-telling abilities really shine in this book. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions while reading this. While difficult to find new at a good price (it's out of print), you can easily find used copies all over the internet (it was an extremely popular book when it came out). This is the kind of book that would make a great and surprising gift for that football fan you hold near and dear, although I strongly suggest you read it first before giving it away.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot of fun stories of players and just the overall gameplay in the NFL of the 50s. Donovan is a character and the whole book is entertaining. He also has stories about his father the famous boxing referee.

Highly recommended, just a breezy easy book filled with funny football stories.

[Bob Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great memoir from a genuine SOB. I love Art Donovan, a True Hall of Fame person. The Man's father officiated the second Louis-Schnelling fight, and Donovan re-tells the story beautifully.

[Dave Buie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art Donovan’s "Fatso: Football when Men were Really Men" is a true gem for football enthusiasts, offering a side-splitting glimpse into the bygone era of gridiron glory. Published in 1988, this book stands the test of time as a delightful and entertaining read that showcases the stark contrast between the tough-as-nails football players of yesteryear and the more pampered athletes of today.

Donovan's witty prose and incredible storytelling abilities shine through every page, making this book an absolute joy. From the larger-than-life characters like Art Donovan, himself to the legendary Norm Van Brocklin and Chuck Bednarik, the author's vivid recollections paint a vivid picture of a time when football wasn't just a game—it was a gritty, no-holds-barred battle on the field.

The humor in "Fatso" is nothing short of infectious. As a reader, you can't help but laugh at Donovan's anecdotes and the colorful tales of a football era that seems almost mythical by today's standards. His incredible memory for detail brings the past to life, and you'll find yourself transported to a time when men played the game with a raw intensity that is, unfortunately, rare in today's more sanitized version of football.

One of the book's charms is its ability to resonate with football fans across generations. While the football landscape may have evolved, Donovan's storytelling transcends eras, making it a timeless and relevant read even decades after its initial publication. In an age where players are often shielded from the hardships of the sport, "Fatso" serves as a nostalgic reminder of the blood, sweat, and tears that were once synonymous with football.

Despite being out of print, "Fatso" remains accessible to avid readers and football enthusiasts alike through the used book market. Its popularity when first released ensures that copies can be easily found online, making it a worthwhile addition to any football fan's collection.

"Fatso: Football when Men were Really Men" is not just a book; it's a journey back in time, a hilarious recounting of an era when true warriors played football. If you're a football fan, this should unquestionably be on your reading list. It's the kind of book that entertains and provides a valuable perspective on the game's evolution. Consider it a surprising and cherished gift for the football lover in your life—just be sure to enjoy the laughs yourself before passing it.

[B. R. Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is w/o doubt the funniest sports book I have ever read. I read it back in the 80s and I recently read it as I was reading a Joe Namath biography. Art Donovan (Fatso) was a DT on some very good Baltimore Colts teams and played with Unitas and other great players. He's a great storyteller and a guy you'd love to meet. He's from the Bronx (born in 1924) and his father was a very well known and respected boxing referee. Donovan doesn't pull any punches in the book. He tells it like it was, his version anyway. I recall seeing him on the Johnny Carson Show years ago and Johnny got a real kick out of him. If you'd like to learn about football before it became "show business" then you might enjoy this book. 3+ stars.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humorous and sentimental book about the good ol’ days of pro football. The book reads like a long interview about the numerous stories and characters of the day. The stories do tend to stumble into each other with no clear break between but overall an entertaining and quick reading book.

[Dennis Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw an old clip from the Johnny Carson show with Art Donovan talking about his life in football. The clip was hilarious and so was able to find this book on e-bay. Art was a lineman in the 50's and 60's. Some great stories for all the football fans out there

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notwithstanding the slightly cringey title, this is a memorable story full of feeling, pain (broken fingers), joy, humor and sadness (even big lugs cry).

[Jack Greenwood]

Loved the book great history and the 1958 game at Yankee stadium will always be the greatest game ever played. Art is a great story teller and his father was a boxing ref.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny ah memoir

[Tim K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining funny read…no doubt a character, Art Donovan, is on full display with plenty of football anecdotes from the 50’s and 60’s.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recently deceased Hall of Fame defensive tackle Art Donavan's autobiography. Many ribald tales. Donavan, son of a world famous boxing referee and grandson of a tough civil war vet, grew up in the Bronx, fought as a South Pacific marine in WWII, played college football for Notre Dame and Boston College, then played ten years professionally. Donavan started with some really bad teams and then was the mainstay defensive lineman for the great Baltimore Colts teams of the late 1950's.

Fatso is long on drinking stories (so and so drank too much, did something stupid, everyone laughed; so and so drank like Funny Metaphor) but light on the football games themselves. NFL games last 60 minutes. Donavan sagely notes that out of that 60 minutes there is only 12-15 minutes of actual play--and since he played defense he only played half of that. They'd spend a week preparing for 6 minutes of action.

IMO the color was overwhelmed by repetition. I think you could condense this 200 page book by 100 pages without losing content. I almost gave up on the book.

Donavan's 1920-1940's Bronx childhood and his boxing anecdotes were interesting.

If you, like most sports fans of a certain age such as myself, grew up on stories of Unitas and the 59-60 Colts, Fatso is worth an hour or two's library read but I'd say that is it.

[E. Zengel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating recount of the way football was played - as a sport and as a business.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fatso: Football When Men Were Really Men by Arthur J. Donovan and Bob Drury (William Morrow 1987) (796.332) is simply a collection of funny football stories by everyone's favorite fat retired defensive tackle, Artie Donovan of the late '50's era Baltimore Colts. He played in what many regard as the greatest football game ever, the 1958 NFL Championship game, in which the Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants. It appears that the co-author just turned a tape recorder on in front of Artie and then transcribed the results. He was the Jerry Clower of pro football. My rating: 7/10, finished 8/20/13.

[Tom Gase · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot of interesting funny stories about Art Donovan's career with the Baltimore Colts in the 1950s.That being said, the stories just went on and on and they were good, but wanted to know a little more about the games and that era. I think it was a matter of I had already read two books on this, "Johnny U" and the "Greatest Game Ever Played" so a lot of his story was repeat stuff for me. Still an interesting character and a short quick read.

[Reading Fool · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was funny and irreverent, just like the author. It made me appreciate football history and how it truly was in the early days of pro football. Nothing like it is today. Artie Donovan is a treasure.

[Chris Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The late Donovan's tale of football as played by men is a must. Art told it like it was. A truly humorous book.

[Rambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy anecdotes from the days when football was really football, I strongly recommend this. It will have you smiling from the preface to the back cover.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book from a durable old school football player who played during a time of tough conditions and low pay. He is a fabulous storyteller.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun stories from an old school football guy.