Customer Reviews

Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a Giant fan and an Eli fan I had to get this book and read it right away. I was glad I did. I haven't missed but two televised Giants games in nearly seven years, so I thought I knew everything about Eli Manning and the Giants, but this book gave me even more insight. The pressure Eli was under when he entered the league is well established, but this book gave me a new appreciation for all the young man has been put through in just a few years. From the locker room feelings towards Kerry Collins to the shared insight of his on the road roomate, I felt as I read the book like I could feel his pressure rather than just hear about it. The way he carried himself during his rough times is a testimony to the man he is not just as a player. His refusal to ever get overly upset or throw tantrums or the fact that he never once threw his teammates under the bus (when his errors were exasberated by their mistakes on occassion)and just take the hit for the team make me a fan of his even more than I was before.

As a book, it reads well. Like a story rather than a plain vanilla biography. The insights by Ernie Arcorsi are excellent, as he experienced his own pressures the same as Eli. The two tied together forever. Great read and an excellent book, not a simple book about football but about being a man under intense scrutiny and enormous pressure. Highly recommeded! Not just to Giants fans but to any fan of football who has grown tired of selfish, spoiled, over paid atheletes and their antics.

What sticks out above everything else in this very well-researched account of Eli Manning, is Vacchiano's startling ability to draw the reader in emotionally.
In particular - Vacchiano's gripping account of that famous final drive in the Super Bowl against the undefeated New England Patriots. Having watched - glued to the screen, waiting for Manning to implode, and yet he didn't - that gut-scrambling final 2-plus minutes, I can say it was some of the very best drama football has produced. What is remarkable is that Vacchiano, through his writing, matches the virtuoso moment. The fact that readers were already well aware of the outcome, makes this an even more astonishing feat of writing.
I ripped through those last 40 pages, even though I knew what the end result was...
The tendency in books like this is for the writer to gush over the subject...accolade after accolade. Vacchiano steers away from the expected. At times, it's a harsh, clinical evaluation of the subject.
Vacchiano, as every reporter writing a book should do (but few accomplish), taps on a wealth of resources. Former Giants Ernie Accorsi writes the forward and is quoted throughout...but there are also dozens of others involved.
This is not only a must-but for Giants' fans, but for fans of solid writing (ahh, that drama!) as well.
A stirring achievement by one of the best football beat writers in America.

I too admit to being a long-time and fierce New York Giants fan and "from the start" Eli Manning fan. I knew that when Eli was placed into the starting line-up, we would have to endure growing pains and tough losses as he developed both as a quarterback and a leader for the New York Giants.

Ralph Vacchiano perfectly captures the nuances of what Eli has meant to Ernie Accorsi (then GM), the Giants, the fans and the NFL. Ralph uses an interesting and perfectly suited style of writing from an "outsider looking in" approach while still enjoying insider access and direct information that a veteran reporter has.

Having said that, Ralph doesn't bat you over the head with subjectivity. While he clearly respects and admires Eli and his family, he still maintains an objectivity that is both fresh and appealing. What differentiates this book from the multitude released in the past several months about the Giants Super Bowl Run or any other football book is the crafting and skill used. It is hard to put this book down and each chapter flows perfectly into the next. It is a compelling read.

Ralph is an excellent writer and this is an excellent book.

Neil Hickey, Reading, PA.

Let me start off by saying that while I'm a huge Giants fan, I don't believe that a great playoff run automatically makes Eli an elite quarterback. Luckily, Ralph Vacchiano doesn't try to convince the reader that he is. His fair and honest account of Eli's emotional and professional development made me a big fan of this book. He not only details Eli's first camp throught his Superbowl MVP performance but provides the reader with and inside look into Payton and Eli's relationship as well as Eli's relationship with his NY Giants teammates. In addition, he does a fantastic job highlighting the complicated and emotionally charged series of events that brought Eli and eventually a Superbowl championship to NY. This book was hard to put down and is a must read not only for Giants fans but for football fans in general. You won't be disappointed.

While Ralph clearly did enormous amounts of research and interviews, as a whole the book falls flat. The writing is scattered and jumps around quite a bit. It doesn't read like a book at all - instead it reads like cliche ridden three page sports articles mashed together.

If you like Eli Manning and the Giants you will enjoy this book. However, if you're looking for an engaging sports story skip this book.

For anyone who is a football fan, and especially a Giants fan this is a must buy book. This book gives an excellent recount of Eli's first 4 years of his career and does an excellent job of showing just how much an NFL QB goes through. This is an excellently written book with good inside detail from ex NFL QB's and coaches. I'm not much of a book person and could not put the book down.

REAL giants fans and true supporters of Eli from day one will love this book. Everyone knew that it was a rough journey to the top for Eli, but until reading this book, you will never know exactly how much he had to go through.I would recommend this to any hardcore Giants fan who cant get enough inside information.The book is well written and has alot to offer in terms of insider anecdotes, a must have for the true Giants fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It gave many insights into his personality and the development of this Super Bowl MVP quarterback. There were many exciting moments like what took place in the draft room leading up to the trade of Eli to the Giants. The relationship of Eli to his family was very interesting. It explains a lot of what he is all about. Learned to admire Accorsi's conviction. Roethlisberger was my choice but Vacchiano makes it clear that in the end Eli is the guy. The stage was set for the drafting of Eli with the ineptitude of Danny Cannel, Dave Brown, and Kent Graham. Then came Collins who looked for a while like the answer. Never knew exactly why Kerry Collins left until I read the book. A great read for a football fan. A must read for a Giant fan. A wonderful book.

William R. Gillen

Excellent book written by Ralph Vacchiano. This book, unlike others, doesn't do 'play-by-play' which is not necessary because as fans we've seen the games. This book brings behind the scenes information and insights which is very interesting to fans and generally things we would never know. Well done.

Ralph Vacchiano, the respected sports writer for the NY Daily News, offers up a poignant behind the scenes look at the career of Eli Manning. His book follows Eli's remarkable career from Ole Miss to the San Diego Chargers (where he spent all of 45 minutes) before finally landing in New York with the Giants. Amid unbelievable scrutiny and criticism, Eli perseveres in the face of adversity to lead his team to a stunning win in Super Bowl XLII. The inside scoop on the famous Draft Day 2004 trade that brought Eli to New York alone is worth the price of admission. Quite simply, a must read for all Giants fans.