Brian Piccolo: A Short Season [Paperback]

Jeannie Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2004

Chicago Bear running back Brian Piccolo died of cancer at age 26, leaving behind a young wife, three daughters, a host of friends - and a legend.More than 100,000 copies of this classic sports biography have been sold in cloth and mass-market editions. Now available for the first time as a trade paperback. Special 25th anniversary introduction by Jeannie Morris.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Rare and Beautiful Book"

-- The New York Times

About the Author

Jeannie Morris

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 25 Anv edition (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566250242
• ISBN-13: 978-1566250245
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Piccolo: AShort Season is a classic for teens on up., July 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Brian Piccolo: A Short Season (Paperback)

Although it has been awhile since I have read this book I have read it several times. The book has a gripping storyline. A Short Season draws young, male readers at first because of it's connection with professional sports. Then, it would draw readers in because of the main plot. How does a professional athlete who is in the prime of life, and those around him, deal with the devastating disease that is cancer ?

The several subplots that exist are good too. Athough Brian's Song is very good, Brian Piccolo:A Short Season gives the reader a true glimpse of who Piccolo REALLY was; both before and after his time with the Chicago Bears. Another subplot that comes out even more so in this book is the respect and honest love Piccolo and Gayle Sayers had for each other. Also, there is the subplot that explores the relationship Piccolo had with his physically challenged sister-inlaw, Carol. The latter two subplots were extreemly rare in the early 70s ( when this book was originally written ) and are extreemly important examples for our world today.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Piccolo: A Short Season, but a Triumphant One, September 4, 2001

By 

A.K. (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brian Piccolo: A Short Season (Paperback)

Brian Piccolo: A Short Season was marvelously written by Brian's close friend, Jeannie Morris. This book gives the readers a detailed view into his existence while still being discrete enough for the Piccolo family to remain happy with the biography/autobiography. Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo lived to be only 26 years of age, dying on June 16, 1970, from liver cancer. While his stay on this Earth was a brief and trying one, Piccolo made it count every single day. His story is of highs and lows, heroics and disappointments, comedy and despair, and, ultimately, tragedy. However, Piccolo lived his life ideally, paying tributes to various foundations while enjoying and loving life to the fullest. The book includes the entirety of this great man's life, from his young baseball-playing childhood to his record-setting career at Wake Forest College to his last days as a father, husband, and Chicago Bear. Piccolo was a spirit-lifting person among those he spent time with, before and after he was diagnosed with the fatal cancerous disease. His charm and wit grabbed his fellow players, his coaches, and, most importantly, the general public. While `Pic' started only a handful of games for the Bears, he rarely if ever complained despite a burning desire to play the game he loved so dearly. Piccolo was a favorite among Chicago Bears fans, and although he backed up the legendary Gale Sayers, his team-first attitude and love for the game kept him afloat until that day when the prospect of a lifetime would arise and give him the opportunity to start. Even on his deathbed, Piccolo never gave up his hope for a miraculous recovery and return to the football field. After all, Brian Piccolo's heart was never the question; it was his liver which was diagnosed with cancer. Former Bears-teammate and close friend Johnny Morris summed up Pic's life in the foreword, remarking "Brian Piccolo made it to the top at 26."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brian Piccolo, October 2, 2000

By 

Suzanne Evans (Greer,SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brian Piccolo: A Short Season (Paperback)

This book was largely like the movie "Brian's Song" about Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. Brian and Glae compete for the same position on a pro football team, then Gale gets the position. Well, along the way Gale gets hurt and discouraged, but while he is filling in for Gale, Brian helps him recover and come back to his position on the team. When Gale comes back, he gets back his old position, but Brian also starts at another one he is very successful at...Until one day. Brian becomes ill, and they discover that he has cancer. Gals stands by his friend the way his friend stood by him. It is a moving and real story.