Customer Reviews

Hero of the Underground: A Memoir

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Have you ever been addicted to drugs? Have you ever known anyone addicted to drugs? Have you ever been involved in an intervention?

The first twenty pages of this biography of former Nebraska Cornhusker All-American -- three-time-member -- of an NCAA football champion -- a first round NFL draft choice -- and a short lived NFL player... Jason Peter... is so "mind-crazed"... drowned in paranoia... non-stop... "Pulse-pounding"... "Heart-throttling"... and so... absolutely embedded... in complete mental and physical "INSANITY"... that if the reader has not been personally involved in a similar situation... you will believe wholeheartedly that it was all contrived by the author.

Jason comes from a loving family with an older and younger brother, all of whom excelled in football. His older brother not only played at the University of Nebraska also, but had a successful NFL career. Younger brother Damian was destined to be better than both of his brothers. In fact, then Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, while on national TV after recruiting Damian to play for the Fighting Irish said: "Damian Peter was maybe the best offensive lineman that Notre Dame had ever recruited." Damian then had a fluke accident diving into a swimming pool at a friend's house. Damian was critically injured, and was paralyzed, until a wonder "test" drug gave him his physical movement back. This led to the absolute, most pointed comments in the entire book, other than the wanton, depraved, decadent, debauched, degenerate, destructive, drug use, that asphyxiates ninety-five percent of the entire story. The entire time that Damian was in intensive care and recovery... and even when he came back to school to watch helplessly from the sideline... Holtz never once, even called his one-time "prized" recruit, to see how he was doing... or to wish him well. Jason unabashedly states: "I STILL WOULDN'T TURN DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPIT IN LOU HOLTZ'S "EXPLETIVE" FACE. EACH SATURDAY IN THE FALL WHEN HOLTZ MAKES HIS JOVIAL, DUMB-"BUTT" REMARKS ON ESPN, I HOPE HE KNOWS THAT THERE'S AT LEAST ONE FAMILY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCREEN, THE PETER FAMILY, THAT KNOWS WHAT A PIECE OF SNAKE "CRAP" HE REALLY IS."

If there is a word that can make addiction seem like a graphic understatement... then that would be the word I would use to describe Jason Peter. He "DEVOURED" (Abused would be like saying a little baby kitten played with a ball of yarn.) ENORMOUS-MASS quantities of cocaine... heroin... crack... meth... continually, consecutively and concurrently. During one period in time, his cocaine use *ALONE* was *TEN-THOUSAND-DOLLARS-A-WEEK*. In addition to all the drugs listed above... NOTE: Potential reader... please clear your eyes and mind for this next statement: "HE ALSO MESSED AROUND WITH KETAMINE ON OCCASION. KETAMINE IS A CAT TRANQUILIZER."

The author should be thanking the Lord three times a day that he is alive, and there are incidents in the book where he could have been killed very easily, and there are times he attempted or contemplated suicide. No reader should view this as a happy "partying" book. I do believe the author did not show enough remorse, as he relives his drug saturated life, with a bit too much braggadocio. About the fourth or fifth time Jason was going to enter rehab, he rented a private jet for THIRTY-THOUSAND-DOLLARS, and bought TEN-EIGHT-BALLS- OF COKE, and SEVEN-BUNDLES OF HEROIN, and contracted for the services of two hookers for his flight to "salvation".

The author is lucky he's alive... and even luckier... that his family loved him enough to keep praying for him.

Great book!

I'd personally never even heard of Jason Peter, but the backstory sounded amazing and I love the NFL, so after reading several reviews I decided to give it a try.

Jason Peter is a prime example of how the NFL spits you out when your no longer worthy of playing, this book in no way puts down the NFL, it just once again brings to light just how harsh the system is, one of my favorite lines in the book best describes it,

"When you put on your team colors, you are no longer a person--you are a cog in a machine. That is how a team operates, and that is what wins games. People are discarded in this game when their usefulness is at an end."

JP's career was in jeopardy because of injuries, then he got hooked on pain killers, the pain killers led to cocaine, the cocaine to meth and crack

his journey thru drugs/rehab is insane, he was an unemployed millionaire with a raging drug problem

good, good stuff!!!!

I am a huge Husker fan, Nebraska Alumni, and actually had a class with Jason Peter (which he never showed up to except on 'unannounced' attendance days). I was disappointed and disgusted by the self indulgent style of writing. I felt like this was nothing more than a platform for him to boast about sexual conquests, fame, and money. The fact that he had to be in a luxury rehab center makes him sound like a pampered sissy!! Furthermore, was there an editor involved in the publishing of this book? From random misplaced letters to misspelled words to the incorrect use of words - this book was a train wreck! I am very happy that Jason has gotten clean and moved on with life. But the lack of humility in which this book was written is despicable! It made me think of the James Fry novel, "A Million Little Pieces" (you know, the one that was completed fabricated?) and wonder if this is actually true! Best wishes to Jason Peter the high school football coach - but I say "don't quit your day job"!!!

Rarely do I pick up a book that refuses to be put down. Hero of the Underground is this kind of book. If page one doesn't suck you in, you might want to check your pulse. From the beginning, this book takes you on the ultimate roller coaster ride, touching the highest of highs (figuratively and literally) and the lowest of lows (literally). I'm struggling to find the appropriate words to describe this book, but only because it is so powerful. Raw, unabashed, in your face, pedal to the metal, and inspiring all come to mind. The bottom line is that any Husker football fan, any pro football fan, any sports fan in general, or any current/recovering drug addict and their family/friends should read this book. I bought the book on a Thursday after work and had it finished the following night. I'm telling you...this book is so well written that it's impossible to put down for more than a short time (i.e. to sleep). Jason Peter wrote this book like he played football...all out, all the time. No holds barred. I read a lot of books and it's the best I've read this year...easy!

Firstly, it's worth mentioning that not only do I have no interest in sport, but I specifically have no interest in American football (I'm a sluggish Australian cartoonist, not a sporting type at all).
Despite this I found Hero of The Underground utterly compelling.
I read the whole thing in one sitting - I couldn't put it down.
It's honest without being cloying.
It's shocking without being sensational.
Jason Peter's story reads like a man planning a train wreck and then climbing on board for the ride.
I couldn't recommend this enough.

For those who love Nebraska football this is a fascinating, well-written book. It should be mandatory reading for any drug addict. Jason is lucky to have survived.

Always wanted to get a hold of this book, finally did through Amazon, and got it in great condition at a low price.

This book is a moving story about a young man that made bad choices and learned from them hopefully has moved on to have a changed life. Wish everyone would read this book and see how great it is.

This book definately grabs your attention from the get-go! I am not that big of a book reader but this book tells the story of how drugs almost completely destroyed a life of a human being. Very intense..Would recommend it for anyone to read.

Should be required reading for NFL rookies! A well written and dramatic story of a descent from everything to nothing. A good kid, well intentioned, but injuries plus pain set him on a course. A warning: every page is laced with expletives, which fit the story but are not suited for all. Jason Peter is now getting his life together back in Lincoln where his stardom began. He hosts a radio sports talk show. Let's hope he makes it! Good book. Buy it!




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