A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays In The NFL Book

Since I rarely read nonfiction books, when I do I expect them to be real winners just like this true story of a 43-year-old sportswriter who decides to experience the life of an NFL football player by going through Broncos training camp as a field goal kicker. Not only was it the story of one man's attempt to be a professional athlete, it was also an inside look at the players and management of professional football.

Just like when I read a book that was a year in the life of the Professional Bull Riding Association - I was tempted throughout the book to Google the various players to find out how they were doing today. Many of the players Fatsis encounters are trying to overcome the odds to secure one spot on the team's final roster. Along with the physical toll the game takes on the players' bodies, the mental games that are played by coaches and team owners is depicted.

Not only do I have a different view of professional football players -I also wonder what I could do if I showed the determination of Fatsis. Professional bowling, maybe? Well, I probably should just aim for a consistent 200 game. That would be amazing enough.