[.ca] Football For Dummies (ISBN 0470125365)

From Amazon.com:
At last, the Dummies series is tackling football. Former Raider all-pro defensive end and current Fox TV analyst Howie Long calls the signals, and if he doesn't always go deep--he's got a lot of ground to cover--at least he connects. With all its X's and O's, football is a complicated sport, and Long works hard to smooth the way: "Once you break through that initial fear of being overwhelmed by football and what you don't understand," he counsels, "I know everything else about the game, like dominoes, will fall into place." In his role as guide, Long plays those dominoes, from peewees to the pros to the fantasy leagues, explaining positions, analyzing offenses and defenses, and detailing strategies. As with all Dummies guides, the fun part is the "Part of Tens," the series of top-10 lists that dig in for the final chapter. He scores big with his inclusions of John Hannah and Hugh McElhenny among the greatest offensive players ever, but should be penalized for overemphasizing tight ends and forgetting the electricity that wide receivers bring to the game. This, of course, reflects a defensive end's natural bias; since they muck it up more with the hulkier tight ends, they simply let the speedballs fly by. --Jeff Silverman

A lifesaver!:
I used to HATE football, mostly because I just didn't understand what was so exciting about watching a bunch of guys chase an oblong-shaped ball and pile on top of each other every time the whistle blew. But, after a life of sitting through high school football games as a marching band member, after attending a Division I college where football was a big deal, and after having a boyfriend who lived and breathed the sport, I finally decided to learn about football and understand what the all hype was about. I'd like to say that, after reading "Football for Dummies," I finally get it. Football is one of those sports you have to understand in order to appreciate. This book is a great starting point for those who know absolutely nothing about the sport. Howie Long (the cute guy from the Radio Shack commercials) explains every aspect of the game clearly and with great enthusiasm. His passion for the sport comes right off the page, and you can't help but feeling the same. Howie touches ALL the bases...from the rules to terms, positions, plays, penalties, referee hand signals, the history of football, uniforms, coaches, even fantasy football. He leaves no stone unturned. The book opened my eyes to America's most popular sport. Now when I watch a game, I actually ENJOY it. It managed to erase my prejudices against the sport and instill a new love for it. And believe me, that was no small task. This book demystifies a complex, yet fascinating, sport.

You never can know too much...:
I've been a football fan for over 25 years and enjoy the game a great deal. So picking up a Dummies book seems a little embarrasing considering that I should know everything about the game. However I learned awhile ago that the only dummies are the ones who assume they know it all. I've read a few on different subjects and learned quite a bit to even impress so called experts on many subjects, so I though what the heck I might pick up a little more knowledge right? In this book Howie has something for everyone. As an avid fan I enjoyed covering the basics and learning a lot more about the finer points of the game. It is put in a simple and informative way and Howie shows little biased in his opinion even though he was a defensive star. Now I truly understand the game from a whole new perspective. Of course this book won't make you a head coach but I'm positive it will enhance your viewing experience. Now when I pick up an NFL preview magazine or watch the upcoming reports on TV I get even more pumped for the season. This book was definetly a great buy and it will sure come in handy when the girlfriend asks what a 'nickleback' is. It sure is easier to pass along the book than to have to explain. Even though thanks to Howie I finally undersatnd what it is myself. Great book!

Second Edition is Good:
This is a good book for people who's understanding and following of football ranges from totally clueless to moderate interest. The second edition picks up some key things that were absent from the first edition like overtime and how it functions on the college and pro levels. Pretty easy read that isn't patronizing, and even people who understand football will find the facts and personal stories in the book exciting...if you're comfortable reading a book that says "Dummies" on the cover, that is.

Good overall, but missing something:
And that something is any mention of OT. I know that NFL (and even college) OT changes over the years, but Howie doesn't even mention it. It's almost amusing because for the "dummies" - well, we might as well assume after reading the book that there is no such thing as OT. It would not hurt to revise this book to at least state that at the end of regulation play, if the score is tied, the game goes into OT. No need to get specific (although what harm would that do?). An oversight on the publisher's behalf.

Good But Too Focused on NFL:
This was a good book, but too focused on NFL. If you are a big-time NFL fan, it might be nicer, but I prefer college football. This is only important because of the final sections of the book where there are the top-10 lists (which are really top-10-NFL lists). Otherwise, it does an adequate job. The for-dummies part was adequate, but not extensive. The personal experience was good and kept my attention.