The Whole Ten Yards

by Frank Gifford

"Eloquent testimony not only to the fragility of the human body but to its durability as well." The Washington Post Book World.
He was the handsome golden boy out of USC, the star running back for the New York Giants, and — for the last twenty-two years — the stalwart voice of ABC's "Monday Night Football." But for Frank Gifford, the road to success did not come easy — whether on or off the field.
Now, for the first time, this intensely private man tells his inspirational story, providing an insider's look at the NFL replete with shocking and humorous anecdotes. A classic memoir of a true American gridiron hero.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

285 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Gifford was a great football player at a time when pro football was just beginning to gain prominence. He was also one of the first players to make the transition to an entertainment star as well. One little known fact is that Gifford was one of the founding members of the NFL Players Association, the first effort to band together for better pay and conditions. Given the modern state of the game, the initial requests of the players as recited by Gifford are extremely modest.
Given that Gifford’s life spanned the days from when the NFL was a minor sport until it became the monetary powerhouse it is today, his memoirs are interesting reading. A short time after Gifford retired, he joined the broadcasting team for Monday Night Football, remaining there for 27 years. It was in this role that he truly became a household name.
Like so many athletes driven to succeed, Gifford came from deep poverty, when he was young his family sometimes resorted to eating dogfood. Therefore, his story is both a rags-to-riches story as well as a historical recapitulation of the NFL going from a minor sport to arguably the most popular one in the United States.
As a final note, after he died, an examination of Gifford’s brain revealed that he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consider it a good sign when you finish a book by an author you've never read, and immediately search out and read their other work. That was the case for me with Frank Gifford. Surprised by the writing skills of Gifford in The Glory Game, I found the Whole Ten Yards at a local library, and perhaps you should too. Gifford in print is nothing like the polished, safe, professional broadcaster we knew for decades on ABC Sports. He is open, honest, irreverent, personal, funny, and self deprecating. He has a great memory and tells great stories. Even his fairly short chapter on his relationship and time with Kathie Lee is reasonably easy for a football fan to get through, mildly interesting, and very personal. All men should be so lucky to find and love a woman that much. I'm not sure why this book wasn't more successful, perhaps it suffered in the marketing department. It is well worth searching out and checking out. Nice goin', Frank.

[Patrick Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Think I might be a bit too young and English to get a lot of the references to various American shows and presenters. I have a fascination with the 1950's Giant team and the book gave an insight into one of the most prominent members of that team!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting perspective on Frank Gifford's life. If you've grown up watching Gifford and MNF, and the whole Kathie Lee saga, you get a pretty good idea of what his thoughts are.

But, most interesting and funny were all the times Frank had with Dandy Don Meredith. Just a riot. Beyond that, some funny and distrubing thoughts of the downfall of Howard Cosell.

A good account of behind the scenes in football journalism from one of the best football players ever....

[Bud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest book by Gifford. Loved reading about Toots Shor's place. The 50s in America were a very interesting era. Yes, Frank love(s) dropping names, but that also made the book a little more entertaining.