If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer?: Philadelphia, Its Faithful, and the Eternal Quest for Sports Salvation [Hardcover]

Jere Longman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 13, 2005

The last time a Philadelphia professional sports team won a championship, Ronald Reagan was in the White House and Return of the Jedi was number one at the box office. No city with all four major sports has gone longer without one. The local NFL franchise, the Eagles, has not won a title since 1960, putting its devoted fans through decades of futility and heartbreak.

Peppered with riotous anecdotes about the grandstand brawlers and football lunatics who make Philadelphia one of the most entertaining places in America to watch a game, If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer? is the hilarious day-by-day account of the operatic passion of Eagles fans in the buildup to the team's first Super Bowl appearance since 1981. With outrageous detail and beer-on-your-shoes reporting, New York Times sportswriter and longtime Philly resident Jere Longman reveals what happens when the losingest sports town in America finally has a shot at winning it all.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JerÉ Longman is a sports reporter for the New York Times whose books include the national bestseller Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back and The Hurricanes: One High School Team's Homecoming After Katrina, chosen by Slate magazine as one of the Best Books of 2008.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harper (September 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060843721
• ISBN-13: 978-0060843724
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,573,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read about a city Gone Crazy, October 27, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer?: Philadelphia, Its Faithful, and the Eternal Quest for Sports Salvation (Hardcover)

There are certain sports teams that come to mind as having a set of fans that transcendeth all understanding. The 'Cubbies' from Chicago come to mind. And Brooklyn, don't forget Brooklyn who agreed with the newspaper that the three most evil men of the 20th century were "Hitler, Stalin, and Walter O'Malley." O'Malley moved the "Boys of Summer" to Los Angeles.

Philly, on the other hand stands out as a city that has four professional teams, a tremendous collection of fans, and a football team that hasn't won a title in 45 years. Suddenly they stood a chance. The Eagles stood a chance and Philadelphia went crazy.

This is the story of the Philly fans and their magical year that in the end ran out of pixie dust. It's a great read. It also fits in very well with the book 'Next Man Up,' even though that book is on the Ravens.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fanatics unleashed, October 16, 2005

By 

dennis siegler (menlo park, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer?: Philadelphia, Its Faithful, and the Eternal Quest for Sports Salvation (Hardcover)

An absolute must-read for any lifetime Philly fan. Especially, since I'm 2,500 miles away for 16yrs. I can still hear the curses at the Vet, smell the beer on the Spectrum concourse, and feel the anxiety of impending doom. The Bay Area is a wonderful place to live, but is a joke when it comes to true team passion. May a Stanley Cup, World Series victory, and Super Bowl triumph be in the cards for the suffering Phanatics.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If Football Is a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer?, June 17, 2009

By 

Matthew (New Orleans, Lao People's Democratic Republic) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer?: Philadelphia, Its Faithful, and the Eternal Quest for Sports Salvation (Paperback)

This book captures the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles football fan as well as the fan of any team that yearns futilely for a winner for many years. As a New Orleans Saints fan, it was easy for me to identify with Philly fans who hope to win but doubt that they will.