What do you think?
Rate this book
Bury Me in My Jersey: A Memoir of My Father, Football, and Philly
Born and raised in Eagles country, Tom McAllister learns from his father and brother the rules of being a football fan. Spending Sundays in the infamous 700 level of Veterans Stadium, or sitting in front of the TV with his father in a nearby recliner, Tom sees both the ugly and beautiful sides of Philadelphia football. Like all true Philadelphians, he connects with the players. From icons Chuck Bednarik and Steve Van Buren to modern-day greats Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, and Brian Dawkins and controversial stars such as Terrell Owens, the Eagles players become a part of McAllister’s life. Watching them every Sunday, he tries to develop his own identity as a fan. Torn between his father’s calm and levelheaded fandom and the rowdy, profane, and violent crowds of Philadelphia legend, Tom struggles to achieve balance.
As a rabid Eagles fan, Tom McAllister experiences plenty of defeats and disappointments, but his biggest challenge is coping with the premature loss of his father to cancer. In Bury Me in My Jersey, McAllister explores the connection between his dedication to the Eagles and the death of his father. He details the intense bonds—between fathers and sons, among friends, and even between a city and its football team—and chronicles the joys and sorrows, victories and failures, of a lifetime of sports obsession.
Any fan can Tom drinks to excess, spends countless hours every week posting to an online Eagles message board, and spies on players in the fruit aisle of the supermarket. Without the example of his father to guide him, Tom often finds himself stumbling off track. But it is his girlfriend and eventual wife, LauraBeth, who keeps him grounded as he matures into adulthood.
A touching, funny, beautifully crafted memoir, Bury Me in My Jersey is not only a marvelous tribute to a father, a way of life, and a team and its devoted followers but also a love letter to the city of Philadelphia.
As a rabid Eagles fan, Tom McAllister experiences plenty of defeats and disappointments, but his biggest challenge is coping with the premature loss of his father to cancer. In Bury Me in My Jersey, McAllister explores the connection between his dedication to the Eagles and the death of his father. He details the intense bonds—between fathers and sons, among friends, and even between a city and its football team—and chronicles the joys and sorrows, victories and failures, of a lifetime of sports obsession.
Any fan can Tom drinks to excess, spends countless hours every week posting to an online Eagles message board, and spies on players in the fruit aisle of the supermarket. Without the example of his father to guide him, Tom often finds himself stumbling off track. But it is his girlfriend and eventual wife, LauraBeth, who keeps him grounded as he matures into adulthood.
A touching, funny, beautifully crafted memoir, Bury Me in My Jersey is not only a marvelous tribute to a father, a way of life, and a team and its devoted followers but also a love letter to the city of Philadelphia.
- GenresSportsMemoirNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Tom McAllister
8 books203 followersTom McAllister is the author of the novels "How to Be Safe" and "The Young Widower's Handbook," as well as the memoir "Bury Me in My Jersey." He is the non-fiction editor of Barrelhouse magazine and the co-host of the weekly Book Fight! podcast. His shorter work has appeared in a number of places, including Best American Nonrequired Reading, The Collagist, Hobart, The Rumpus, and The Millions. He lives in New Jersey and is an Associate Professor in the English Department at Temple University.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 20, 2013
This is pretty much the best book I've ever written.
February 15, 2025
Contextual stars for sure given the last week but I love a Philly-based memoir and loved the play by play recaps of some of the heartbreaking early 2000s. Since I was in middle school, I remember the crushing disappointment but have lost many of the details. I’d be interested to read more by this author and now I want more Eagles fans to write memoirs through “the Eagles Lens.” I’d read them all (or at least most of them).
OH and I would have loved a new addition with his story of the 2018 Super Bowl win because this man much have been out of his damn mind.
OH and I would have loved a new addition with his story of the 2018 Super Bowl win because this man much have been out of his damn mind.
November 1, 2009
I finished this book a week ago and I'm still talking to people about it. I admit, I didn't know what to expect at first - honestly, I thought I wouldn't know enough about football to enjoy it. (Full disclosure: I come from a line of sports fanatics - female fanatics. Mom's week revolves around game day while Dad is in a corner somewhere reading Watership Down. Truthfully, I never felt I was obsessed enough to inherit the fandom.) Also, I haven't set foot in Philly in years, except for a layover at the train station. (I've never even had a cheesesteak!) So... would I "get it"? I wasn't so sure. But lately I've been reading a lot of novels about oversexed middle-age mopers, so, when I saw this at the bookstore, I thought it would be a good chance to switch things up.
Best decision I've made this summer. I never read any of Tom's stuff at Iowa, so had no preconceptions going into it. While all the Workshop material - Frank's eviscerations, Foxhead Tuesdays, the assholes at the Sports Column, bbqs in the park - was great (and personally resonant), I found Tom's complicated relationship with Philly (the high school rivalries, the class anxieties at cheesesteak shop, the "Twilight Zone" Chiefs-Eagles game in KC) absolutely fascinating. Mostly, though, Tom's dad was so vivid to me. I'm feeling verklempt just writing about it. Just a rare, loyal, decent guy. I felt his loss deeply in the book.
The accounts in here are very candid - painfully so at times (I can't believe they got into a scuffle with a 10-year-old) - but because of it, it's an honest, sometimes uncomfortable, ultimately profound portrait of masculinity... a much-needed perspective, especially after all the whiny, schlubby navel-gazers I've been reading about. I commend Tom for showing us at his worst (without grandiosity or self-pity), which might sound like a strange thing to say, but the book couldn't have achieved what it did without it.
After I finished, I trawled the various Eagles blogs out of curiosity. My mom would be proud.
Best decision I've made this summer. I never read any of Tom's stuff at Iowa, so had no preconceptions going into it. While all the Workshop material - Frank's eviscerations, Foxhead Tuesdays, the assholes at the Sports Column, bbqs in the park - was great (and personally resonant), I found Tom's complicated relationship with Philly (the high school rivalries, the class anxieties at cheesesteak shop, the "Twilight Zone" Chiefs-Eagles game in KC) absolutely fascinating. Mostly, though, Tom's dad was so vivid to me. I'm feeling verklempt just writing about it. Just a rare, loyal, decent guy. I felt his loss deeply in the book.
The accounts in here are very candid - painfully so at times (I can't believe they got into a scuffle with a 10-year-old) - but because of it, it's an honest, sometimes uncomfortable, ultimately profound portrait of masculinity... a much-needed perspective, especially after all the whiny, schlubby navel-gazers I've been reading about. I commend Tom for showing us at his worst (without grandiosity or self-pity), which might sound like a strange thing to say, but the book couldn't have achieved what it did without it.
After I finished, I trawled the various Eagles blogs out of curiosity. My mom would be proud.
June 10, 2010
Disclosure: I know Tom, a bit, from when we were both living in beautiful Iowa City awhile back. In fact, when this book came out, I interviewed him for The Millions. You should go read that interview. I think it's a pretty good one, but of course, I'm biased.
I really enjoyed this book. I know that the word "football" will scare off many of you, but don't let it. This isn't a book that will spend pages describing what the Sam linebacker does. McAllister does a great job giving enough info about the game to be engaging to the novice without getting too bogged down in the details. I thought his take on the condition of the modern fan was fascinating. He delves into his obsession with the EMB (Eagles Message Board) -- and internet fan message board he belongs to -- and shows how close we can all feel to the players on the field. One particularly great scene involves him chasing his favorite player on the freeway, potentially risking his life and that of his wife.
In fact, scenes like that are where the book really shines. Because McAllister doesn't go easy on himself, ever, it makes the maturity he gains throughout the book much more gratifying. It takes balls to write an honest book like this, and apparently McAllister's got em. He's upfront about the fact that he didn't always handle his father's illness in the best way (though his immense love and respect for his dad is self-evident on every page). When he describes a night of debauchery outside Veterans stadium, he doesn't shy away from his unsavory deeds, nor does he make them out to be worse than they were. I came away from the book feeling that, above all else, it was him on the page. That's important for a work like this.
This is a great book about fathers and sons, of course, but it's also a fascinating and thoughtful examination of what it means to say "This is me. This is what I'm about."
I really enjoyed this book. I know that the word "football" will scare off many of you, but don't let it. This isn't a book that will spend pages describing what the Sam linebacker does. McAllister does a great job giving enough info about the game to be engaging to the novice without getting too bogged down in the details. I thought his take on the condition of the modern fan was fascinating. He delves into his obsession with the EMB (Eagles Message Board) -- and internet fan message board he belongs to -- and shows how close we can all feel to the players on the field. One particularly great scene involves him chasing his favorite player on the freeway, potentially risking his life and that of his wife.
In fact, scenes like that are where the book really shines. Because McAllister doesn't go easy on himself, ever, it makes the maturity he gains throughout the book much more gratifying. It takes balls to write an honest book like this, and apparently McAllister's got em. He's upfront about the fact that he didn't always handle his father's illness in the best way (though his immense love and respect for his dad is self-evident on every page). When he describes a night of debauchery outside Veterans stadium, he doesn't shy away from his unsavory deeds, nor does he make them out to be worse than they were. I came away from the book feeling that, above all else, it was him on the page. That's important for a work like this.
This is a great book about fathers and sons, of course, but it's also a fascinating and thoughtful examination of what it means to say "This is me. This is what I'm about."
July 25, 2019
[2010] Came to this book through Book Fight!, a weekly podcast the author co-hosts with a long time friend of his. I really enjoyed this book. I think he did a great job with it, especially considering he was still in his twenties when he wrote it. Don’t have to be a football fan or to have prematurely lost a loved one to share the passion and loss he talks about here. Was able to hear the same voice and sense of humor in the book that I hear in the podcast so it felt authentic. Was quite hard on himself, but I suppose we’re all hard on ourselves for the things that we’ve done in our lives that we’re not proud of. And maybe that’s okay. And the difference between a fan and a fanatic? Never more clear than right here!
February 7, 2016
1st Confession: I am a faithful listener to the podcast Book Fight!, hosted by Tom McAllister and Mike Ingram. Because the podcast takes the form of an hour-long conversation between friends, one begins to assume that he is included in this conversation beyond his role as a passive listener. He focuses on the host’s congeniality instead of their inherent distance from his computer in Iowa. He begins to feel as though he would be welcomed to pal around had he a microphone with a 976-mile cord. Which is all to say, it is as though I am a friendly acquaintance of Tom’s, no matter if we’ve never met.
2nd Confession: As is the M.O. here on Goodreads, one’s review must comment on the relatability of the text. Bury Me in My Jersey rates high on relatabiliy. Things I have in common with Tom, each to their varying degree: I was born in Germantown, Philadelphia and grew up near the city. I was in a long-distance relationship for two years with the woman I would then marry, a nurse and admittedly, a much better person than I am. I moved to Iowa City for school. I am a fan of the Eagles. Dalessandro’s is the best steak shop in the city.
3rd Confession: The format of this review is stolen from the second chapter in the book, which may have been a poor choice on my part because I cannot comment on the book directly. I am force to be redundant, as in a third grade book report. “I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it is great.” We know I like the book. We know because I think it “great.”
4th Confession: I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it is explicitly “not a story about the redemptive power of sport…not a story about how football saved my life. It is not about how football helped me overcome my grief, nor how football caused my grief.” I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it is about “isolation and the things we do to overcome our loneliness…about emptiness, and not knowing how to fill it.”
5th Confession: I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it isn’t reductive about sports fandom. Tom is capable of giving heart to the violent fervor, while being honest enough to share the residual guilt. We read of his path as a fan from the early years of watching the Fox29 football broadcast with his Dad and brother to the later years of rage & commotion in rushing the line for playoff tickets, of busting a stadium seat out of sheer anger when the Eagles “once again [played] like they didn’t care who won or lost.” We read of his mellowing out.
6th Confession: I like Bury Me in My Jersey because I called my dad after finishing, told him about the book, offered to lend it to him, and then I said “love you” as a goodbye. I know, in part to Bury Me in My Jersey, how fortunate I am.
2nd Confession: As is the M.O. here on Goodreads, one’s review must comment on the relatability of the text. Bury Me in My Jersey rates high on relatabiliy. Things I have in common with Tom, each to their varying degree: I was born in Germantown, Philadelphia and grew up near the city. I was in a long-distance relationship for two years with the woman I would then marry, a nurse and admittedly, a much better person than I am. I moved to Iowa City for school. I am a fan of the Eagles. Dalessandro’s is the best steak shop in the city.
3rd Confession: The format of this review is stolen from the second chapter in the book, which may have been a poor choice on my part because I cannot comment on the book directly. I am force to be redundant, as in a third grade book report. “I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it is great.” We know I like the book. We know because I think it “great.”
4th Confession: I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it is explicitly “not a story about the redemptive power of sport…not a story about how football saved my life. It is not about how football helped me overcome my grief, nor how football caused my grief.” I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it is about “isolation and the things we do to overcome our loneliness…about emptiness, and not knowing how to fill it.”
5th Confession: I like Bury Me in My Jersey because it isn’t reductive about sports fandom. Tom is capable of giving heart to the violent fervor, while being honest enough to share the residual guilt. We read of his path as a fan from the early years of watching the Fox29 football broadcast with his Dad and brother to the later years of rage & commotion in rushing the line for playoff tickets, of busting a stadium seat out of sheer anger when the Eagles “once again [played] like they didn’t care who won or lost.” We read of his mellowing out.
6th Confession: I like Bury Me in My Jersey because I called my dad after finishing, told him about the book, offered to lend it to him, and then I said “love you” as a goodbye. I know, in part to Bury Me in My Jersey, how fortunate I am.
November 16, 2010
I won this book on first reads and was quite excited to win this particular giveaway. It’s no secret that I am a huge Philly sports fan. I don’t think any of my friends, colleagues or casual acquaintances aren’t aware of this fact. I could spend 10 pages writing a detailed review of this memoir, but I’ll spare everyone the huge word count for a slightly large one.
Where Tom excels with his book is his ability to describe how the eagles make him feel: equal parts pride, love and torture. There are passages where I feel like I’ve felt the exact same way at the exact same moment in time. My displacement from the greater Philly area to NYC 8 years ago is no match for his removal to Iowa for a few years, but I can definitely relate to the detachment from the mass hysteria of Philly’s fans. I too feel like no one here gets it half the time. I can’t explain to them why I’ll watch a Philly team get blown out in spectacular fashion during a regular season game without ever changing the channel or giving up. I can’t adequately express what Allen Iverson means to me. Or why I thought Randall Cunningham was so exciting as a kid. (I’m watching the Eagles on Monday Night Football as I type this – VICK GOES LONG TO DESEAN JACKSON FOR A TD BABY!)
But then there were times when Tom chronicled being the stereotypical jackass fan from Philadelphia. The exact type of fan everyone here expects me to be when my rooting allegiance is revealed. Then they’re shocked to find out that I’m NOT an awful human being who sees myself as better than everyone else. I’m torn with how to take this side of Tom. I’ve known many people like him growing up. I’ve been good friends with exactly none of them. This is not to say that he must be a bad guy. And he even admits to himself many times over that he KNOWS how much of a dick he’s being half the time. I guess admitting the problem is the first step?
Tom is also completely obsessed with our beloved football team. I love the eagles. I really do. But they do not rule or control any aspect of my life. Tom is by no means a BIGGER Philly fan than I am, nor is he a GREATER fan. No. The difference between us is lateral. He is a different TYPE of fan. I don’t think it’s wrong to say he’s a different type of PERSON. I have my obsessions just like anyone else. For tv shows. Books. Music. Sports. Countless other things. But I have never been the kind of person that will sign up for and post to a message board. I have not and will not ever become a legitimate stalker (and I live in NYC where I could make a habit of doing this if I so chose. I’ve been excited at my luck to catch a glimpse of a few of my favorite famous people in real life. I don’t stop everything I’m doing to follow them in the supermarket until they leave) (VICK RUNS IN A 2ND TOUCHDOWN!).
Also, while I felt the attempt at bringing his non-football life into the fold with stories of his father and wife, those relationships never really connected the way his love of the Eagles did. I worry that this might make him sad to know. Then again, the fact that I anticipate him being disappointed that it comes across this way might be a sign that he got through after all (LESEAN MCCOY FOR TD #3! – this is all so distracting and fast-paced, there are probably numerous typos and grammatical errors in this review).
Where Tom excels with his book is his ability to describe how the eagles make him feel: equal parts pride, love and torture. There are passages where I feel like I’ve felt the exact same way at the exact same moment in time. My displacement from the greater Philly area to NYC 8 years ago is no match for his removal to Iowa for a few years, but I can definitely relate to the detachment from the mass hysteria of Philly’s fans. I too feel like no one here gets it half the time. I can’t explain to them why I’ll watch a Philly team get blown out in spectacular fashion during a regular season game without ever changing the channel or giving up. I can’t adequately express what Allen Iverson means to me. Or why I thought Randall Cunningham was so exciting as a kid. (I’m watching the Eagles on Monday Night Football as I type this – VICK GOES LONG TO DESEAN JACKSON FOR A TD BABY!)
But then there were times when Tom chronicled being the stereotypical jackass fan from Philadelphia. The exact type of fan everyone here expects me to be when my rooting allegiance is revealed. Then they’re shocked to find out that I’m NOT an awful human being who sees myself as better than everyone else. I’m torn with how to take this side of Tom. I’ve known many people like him growing up. I’ve been good friends with exactly none of them. This is not to say that he must be a bad guy. And he even admits to himself many times over that he KNOWS how much of a dick he’s being half the time. I guess admitting the problem is the first step?
Tom is also completely obsessed with our beloved football team. I love the eagles. I really do. But they do not rule or control any aspect of my life. Tom is by no means a BIGGER Philly fan than I am, nor is he a GREATER fan. No. The difference between us is lateral. He is a different TYPE of fan. I don’t think it’s wrong to say he’s a different type of PERSON. I have my obsessions just like anyone else. For tv shows. Books. Music. Sports. Countless other things. But I have never been the kind of person that will sign up for and post to a message board. I have not and will not ever become a legitimate stalker (and I live in NYC where I could make a habit of doing this if I so chose. I’ve been excited at my luck to catch a glimpse of a few of my favorite famous people in real life. I don’t stop everything I’m doing to follow them in the supermarket until they leave) (VICK RUNS IN A 2ND TOUCHDOWN!).
Also, while I felt the attempt at bringing his non-football life into the fold with stories of his father and wife, those relationships never really connected the way his love of the Eagles did. I worry that this might make him sad to know. Then again, the fact that I anticipate him being disappointed that it comes across this way might be a sign that he got through after all (LESEAN MCCOY FOR TD #3! – this is all so distracting and fast-paced, there are probably numerous typos and grammatical errors in this review).
July 13, 2010
This book was an odd mix. The parts about his Dad and what he learned from him were great. The other parts read like an apology for being the kind of sports fan that being an ass is okay if you are being an ass to fans of other teams.
October 19, 2021
Maybe certain things predispose me to liking this book. I've lived in Philly my entire life, I love the Eagles and have had awkward interactions with Eagles players, I drink a lot. But I find myself continually drawn to this book because of the things that aren't similar. I think it's unfortunate for potential readers that this gets labelled a football book. Bury Me in My Jersey is about sports in the same way that Slaughterhouse-Five is about time travel.
McAllister's relationships to his father, his future wife, and the disparate sides of his own personality make up the crux of the book. It's hard to imagine such a deeply personal book being so immediately relatable but his ability to communicate emotion in light and genuine way allow it to be so. I don't remember why I bought this, but when I eventually cracked it I couldn't put it down. In the few hours it took to read I laughed a lot, was sad a lot, and smiled a lot. It's hard to ask for much more.
McAllister's relationships to his father, his future wife, and the disparate sides of his own personality make up the crux of the book. It's hard to imagine such a deeply personal book being so immediately relatable but his ability to communicate emotion in light and genuine way allow it to be so. I don't remember why I bought this, but when I eventually cracked it I couldn't put it down. In the few hours it took to read I laughed a lot, was sad a lot, and smiled a lot. It's hard to ask for much more.
August 30, 2023
As a young kid growing up not only in Canada, but in a small hockey town, I never cared for that sport so I didn't really fit in. But somehow, I found football. More importantly, I found the Eagles!
I purchased this book many years ago in the thick of my Eagles fandom; I never finished it. Flashforward to my late 20's I readdressed this book and I'm glad I did.
Tom has the ability to write in a way that tells his own tale but in a relatable way. Sharing his experiences made me laugh and cringe at the same time; was I too this fanatical? Yes.
This book isn't just for the Eagles fan, it's for the football fanatic or the one that has grown up and realises just how they matured and can poke fun at themselves along the way. I realize though I didn't walk the same neighborhood as this guy, but I had similar life experiences and I think that was Tom's purpose of this book, to connect with readers through that. It was a really fun read and I'd recommend this book to anyone.
I purchased this book many years ago in the thick of my Eagles fandom; I never finished it. Flashforward to my late 20's I readdressed this book and I'm glad I did.
Tom has the ability to write in a way that tells his own tale but in a relatable way. Sharing his experiences made me laugh and cringe at the same time; was I too this fanatical? Yes.
This book isn't just for the Eagles fan, it's for the football fanatic or the one that has grown up and realises just how they matured and can poke fun at themselves along the way. I realize though I didn't walk the same neighborhood as this guy, but I had similar life experiences and I think that was Tom's purpose of this book, to connect with readers through that. It was a really fun read and I'd recommend this book to anyone.
May 20, 2017
The Philly native, Tom McAllister, tells the tale of how football can connect us through the generations. His sudden tonal shifts from talking of football to speaking of the loss of his father provide for us what only a book about football can. He walks through the highs and lows of his fandom, and his life. He does not shy away from exposing some of the most regrettable moments in his life in a way that makes us reflect on our own failures. From the first moments with his dad to the last this book reminds us all what is really important. Family. Friends. Football.
December 22, 2017
Any sports fanatic (especially those from Philly) should read this book. McAllister's accounts of his obsession are frequently hilarious and completely relatable (albeit sometimes cringe worthy). Come for the sports but stay for the family. The author's rendering of his loved ones (especially his father and wife) offers a completely different facet to the narrative that transforms entertaining anecdotes into a moving testimony to the power of wonderful people and relationships.
May 20, 2020
I’m not an Eagles fan but live in suburb near Philadelphia so I am in Philly fan country. Bought this book 10 years ago and started reading and didn’t like it. Just read entire book. It’s a quick read. I enjoyed the author’s description of his childhood, relationship with his father and wife and his grad school experience in a writing program more than his descriptions of the Eagles and their fans. Rabid Eagles fans would probably enjoy this book more than I did.
December 25, 2018
Always a fan of memoirs, I was not let down by this book at all. There are many levels of nuance to the story told, just as there are many levels to nuance in finding oneself and overcoming grief.
If you are a fan of football, especially Philly football, definitely consider giving McAllister's memoir a chance.
If you are a fan of football, especially Philly football, definitely consider giving McAllister's memoir a chance.
September 8, 2019
Enjoyed reading this book. Took me through different emotions as I read about the football memories and wishing how the author would have felt once the Eagles finally won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. Great read.
May 19, 2022
A very talented writer who wrote a disappointing and I think misguided memoir. Full review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XWBy-c0gUN4
July 12, 2025
I've never read this book, but for some reason I had it rated as three stars on here. That's weird. Anyway, I'll give it 5 stars just because I'm a huge fan of the author's other books and his podcast. Book Fight forever!
January 2, 2016
I'm an Eagles fan. Like the author, I didn't choose to be an Eagles fan. I was born into it. Philly born & bred. Even though they didn't grow up in Philly, my kids are Eagles fans. I don't understand picking a team to root for and then discarding them. I was amazed the first time I met a real Yankees fan. I was in college, not very worldly, and I worked with this guy who lived north of Trenton. He grew up a Yankees fan. Root for the Yankees? Root for an American League team? Blew my mind. Latter I met a guy who had moved from Philly to LA and changed his allegiance to the Dodgers. Criminal. An acquaintance who had professed a like for the Eagles, professed to me recently that she doesn't like the Eagles anymore since they hired Chip. Good riddance you charlatan. Anyways, this book, to me, juggles three subjects: A coming of age story, a son's relationship with his father and Eagles fandom. A true life "Silver Linings Playbook". McAllister is a rabid fan. While I consider myself a fan, I can't say I'd get into a fight over the Eagles or trash a room after a lose. In that way, I identify with the author's father. The father is a bit more reserved in his fandom, while Tom McAlister seems to be a bit more of a hooligan fan growing up. I can't imagine someone beating someone else up over the outcome of any sporting event. I'm happy that the author chose not to have any mention of the Eagles at his wedding. His girlfriend/wife is too good for him. Please stay on her good side Tom! I've lived away from the Philly area for over 30 years, so I have carry my allegiances like the Jews wandering the wilderness. It's great to be back in Philly during the football season. The Town turns green. It's awesome.
So... it's 9 months latter and I'm finishing this review. Not adding more about the book, but updating the state of Eagledom. I got a chance to see the Bird at the Linc. They won, beat the Saints. A beautiful warm autumn day. An Eagles win. Now... Chip is gone. Lurie released him after the must-win game with the Washington NFL Team. A mediocre team in the dysfunctional NFC East, the Birds were still in contention with 2 weeks left in the season. We lost. The season's over. After 3 years of Chip, Lurie decided he didn't like the direction the team was going. I had pretty much resigned myself to another year of mediocrity under Kelly in 2016. However, we know have at least a year of mediocrity under a new as yet to be decided coach. I don't think Roseman is the GM to rebuild the Eagles. We don't have a franchise QB and the O-line sucks. ARRGGGHHH...
So... it's 9 months latter and I'm finishing this review. Not adding more about the book, but updating the state of Eagledom. I got a chance to see the Bird at the Linc. They won, beat the Saints. A beautiful warm autumn day. An Eagles win. Now... Chip is gone. Lurie released him after the must-win game with the Washington NFL Team. A mediocre team in the dysfunctional NFC East, the Birds were still in contention with 2 weeks left in the season. We lost. The season's over. After 3 years of Chip, Lurie decided he didn't like the direction the team was going. I had pretty much resigned myself to another year of mediocrity under Kelly in 2016. However, we know have at least a year of mediocrity under a new as yet to be decided coach. I don't think Roseman is the GM to rebuild the Eagles. We don't have a franchise QB and the O-line sucks. ARRGGGHHH...
October 16, 2010
I was a little skeptical of this one, because I'm not really a football fan. But it got good reviews and some authors I like blurbed it so I gave it a shot, and I'm so glad I did! First of all, the writing is really strong. You can tell this author has a lot of talent and that he's worked very hard on the language, which you unfortunately can't say about a lot of memoirs.
I also loved how honest and compelling the narration was. He doesn't make a lot of major confessions like you'd find in some memoirs (drug abuse, sexual abuse, that kind of thing) but you feel like he's laying out all of his faults on the table, and he's totally ruthless in exposing his own weaknesses. Also, the voice is consistently very funny.
There's some football talk, and I imagine that carries even more weight for big sports fans, but I thought it was handled in a way that it wasn't distracting, and it was easy to follow, and it even helped me gain some insight into why people might be huge sports fans.
Couldn't recommend more. A great book.
I also loved how honest and compelling the narration was. He doesn't make a lot of major confessions like you'd find in some memoirs (drug abuse, sexual abuse, that kind of thing) but you feel like he's laying out all of his faults on the table, and he's totally ruthless in exposing his own weaknesses. Also, the voice is consistently very funny.
There's some football talk, and I imagine that carries even more weight for big sports fans, but I thought it was handled in a way that it wasn't distracting, and it was easy to follow, and it even helped me gain some insight into why people might be huge sports fans.
Couldn't recommend more. A great book.
March 10, 2013
This memoir is pitch perfect. Tom captures his relationship with his dying father through their mutual relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles in a moving and effective way. Among the characters in the book are the City of Philadelphia and a world famous Philly cheese steak shop.
His description of a mob of Eagle fans waiting to buy tickets for a playoff game captures the mood of a city and the mindset of the true sports fan. He notes the small details, Wendell the teenager who camps out in a comfortable pup tent while Tom and his friends reduce police barricades to kindling for impromptu trash can bonfires.
He looks at his own behavior critically and accurately reports his boorish over the top behavior as a visiting fan at a Kansas City Chiefs game. It is also an interesting rumination on writing. His father supports his early efforts. The prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop admits him because Frank Conroy notes his potential.But it is clear that his true training ground for his writing is his posts as swamistubbs on the Eagles Electronic Message Board. Highly recommended.
His description of a mob of Eagle fans waiting to buy tickets for a playoff game captures the mood of a city and the mindset of the true sports fan. He notes the small details, Wendell the teenager who camps out in a comfortable pup tent while Tom and his friends reduce police barricades to kindling for impromptu trash can bonfires.
He looks at his own behavior critically and accurately reports his boorish over the top behavior as a visiting fan at a Kansas City Chiefs game. It is also an interesting rumination on writing. His father supports his early efforts. The prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop admits him because Frank Conroy notes his potential.But it is clear that his true training ground for his writing is his posts as swamistubbs on the Eagles Electronic Message Board. Highly recommended.
March 31, 2014
I'm a fan of the author's Book Fight! podcast. He has discussed the story of this book. It was published by Random House, he got a decent price for it--essentially everything hopeful authors want. Then, it got no promotion, is now out of print, and apparently The Silver Linings Playbook is the Eagles fans' book of choice.
So what is this book that came so close to success? It's the story of author's attempt to fill emptiness in his life. He swings wildly between being a decent human being and being a raging force of id. "My dad is so wise. I wish he were still alive." "I stole a police barrier and set it on fire." "My future wife is intelligent and kind. I wrote her a poem." "My friends and I pushed a ten-year-old who cheered against the Eagles." At times it was strange and uncomfortable to read.
It's compelling to hear someone write well about something they feel passion for. It was a bit like an origin story for Book Fight! And honestly, I wasn't sure if I'd care for a book will so much football in it, but I read the whole thing in a day.
So what is this book that came so close to success? It's the story of author's attempt to fill emptiness in his life. He swings wildly between being a decent human being and being a raging force of id. "My dad is so wise. I wish he were still alive." "I stole a police barrier and set it on fire." "My future wife is intelligent and kind. I wrote her a poem." "My friends and I pushed a ten-year-old who cheered against the Eagles." At times it was strange and uncomfortable to read.
It's compelling to hear someone write well about something they feel passion for. It was a bit like an origin story for Book Fight! And honestly, I wasn't sure if I'd care for a book will so much football in it, but I read the whole thing in a day.
November 8, 2010
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads. I hesitated about entering the giveaway for this book, because I am not a huge sports fan. However, something about the blurb intrigued me and I thought I might like this book. I'm so glad I did enter and win this book, because I liked it very much. It is a very touching memoir about an "extreme" Philadelphia Eagles fan who comes to grips with his Eagles obsession. In the process, he deals with the overwhelming loss of his beloved father from whom he acquired his love of Philly football.
Thank you Goodreads First Reads and Tom McAllister for the gift of this book. I look forward to following this promising and talented young writer.
Thank you Goodreads First Reads and Tom McAllister for the gift of this book. I look forward to following this promising and talented young writer.
November 5, 2010
As a diehard Eagles fan, I felt I had to buy this book. It is not long and is easy to read; I connected so much with so many of the Eagle stories/memories he has (that I myself have also) that I seriously felt like I grew up in the same house as him (or he was at least a cousin or something!). Tom describes his pain in vivid detail (that pain that all Eagle fans have had since probably 1960 now, the last Championship) and I found myself thinking, "yes, that is EXACTLY how I felt that day." Some parts brought back memories too painful to want to remember of games blown, etc and others made me laugh out loud. While I was a little perturbed by his memories of his behavior at times (as he relived games he went to, etc), I admired his candidness and his admissions of such behavior.
February 6, 2016
The most notable of this memoir’s many achievements is its thematic sprawl, covering manhood, romantic love, grief, writing life, the unique experience of living in Philadelphia, and being a sports fan without once feeling unwieldy. The author’s self-awareness, which often involves a lack of self-awareness in his younger days, is often moving, often funny, and wholly original for tackling the strange, rarely explored intersection between sports fandom and trying to live an examined life. Particularly insightful is McAllister’s three-dimensional look at his relationship with his wife and his father, addressing how they helped him decide who he should be.
August 22, 2011
Very good read; you do not have to be an Eagles or football fan to enjoy it (but it would probably help). The author's description of the interactions on the EMB (Eagles Message Board) is hilarious, the typical chauvinistic, false bravado, and ill-informed non-sense that can be found on most sports talk boards. But, mostly, it is a series of memories of watching football with his now-deceased father.
June 16, 2013
It's not so much about football as it is obsession, and using that obsession to get over a family tragedy. Football fans who've watched games with their dads will love it, but I think anyone who's gone a little overboard with their passion at one point in time in their life will empathize with this memoir.
January 18, 2015
Enjoyed it. I felt it ended kinda suddenly, but it's more of a "comes to terms with" story instead of having an epiphany or understanding to tie things off.
... It must be said that I picked it up because I'm a fan of the "Book Fight!" podcast. It's a relief to know that the author is, indeed, a good writer. But don't pick it up expecting the same sort of anecdotes as in the podcast.
... It must be said that I picked it up because I'm a fan of the "Book Fight!" podcast. It's a relief to know that the author is, indeed, a good writer. But don't pick it up expecting the same sort of anecdotes as in the podcast.
February 5, 2015
I heard about this book from listening to a podcast that the author does called Bookfight. I really enjoy the bookfight podcast and had a great time learning more about the author's personal life. Thanks!
March 28, 2011
Loved the writing style. Met the author and found him to be very interesting and well-rounded young man.
August 1, 2012
It was entertaining, but it defintely is meant dor men. But men who are Philadelphia Eagles fans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews