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6 books to kick off the 2017 football season

Here are excerpts from six new football-themed books.

2. ‘Son of Bum: Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Football and Life,’ by Wade Phillips with Vic Carucci

  • By Ross Atkin

Unlike his dad, who wore a big ol’ cowboy hat that made him stand out on the football sidelines, Wade Phillips, the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams, dresses more conventionally. However, he’s as plain-spoken and homespun as was his father, Bum Phillips, a Texan who proved to be the perfect coach to elevate the NFL’s Houston Oilers in the 1970s. Wade naturally learned many lessons from Bum that he has applied during his own 34-year career spent as a head and assistant coach. Football has always been a family affair, which comes through loud and clear in “Son of Bum.” Wade’s philosophy, therefore, is to emphasize support, camaraderie, and getting to know his players on a human level rather than trying to bring out their best through anger and punishment.

Here’s an excerpt from Son of Bum:

“Daddy and Terry Bradshaw, the Steelers’ great quarterback, were friends. In fact, Daddy gave him a pair of cowboy boots before one of our games.

“ ‘Bum Phillips is a guy I’m just naturally drawn to because of his personality, his warmth, his friendliness, his honesty,’ Terry said. ‘I mean he’s so doggone sincere. I love him. It’s like a father-son relationship, even though I play for probably the Oilers’ biggest rivalry.’ …

“After he got out of football, Daddy did several speaking engagements in Pittsburgh. The people up there liked him. After a game in Pittsburgh, a fan ran onto the field and stole his cowboy hat as he was coming off the field. About a week or so later, he got it back in the mail. There was a note with it that said, ‘Sorry about that. Pittsburgh Steelers fans.’ ”

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Mark Sappenfield
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