When the Game Is On the Line: From the Man Who Brought the Heat to Miami and the Browns Back to Cleveland, An Inside Look at the High-Stakes World of Sports Deal Making [Hardcover]

Rick Horrow (Author), Larry Bloom (Author), Lary Bloom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2003

Have you ever wondered how a monumental new sports stadium ever gets built? Why a major-league team "moves" from one city to another? How one city beats out a dozen competitors for an expansion franchise? Or what really happens behind closed doors, when billionaire team owners, cagey politicians, and pin-striped lawyers hash out the details that can make or break a city's dreams to attract or keep a team? In When the Game Is on the Line, Rick Horrow pulls back the curtain to reveal the real stories behind the biggest sports deals of the past twenty years, many of which he has brokered, to the tune of some $13 billion in infrastructure investment alone. Since his first battles, squaring off against legendary Dolphins owner Joe Robbie and a backstabbing Miami City Commission, Horrow has tangled with some of the most colorful figures in sports management and civic development, including NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and golf superstar Jack Nicklaus. The results have included new stadiums in dozens of cities (from Boston's FleetCenter to Denver's Invesco Field), off-season training facilities, league expansions-and the bragging rights to go with them. When the Game Is on the Line takes you beyond the bleachers and into the smoke-filled rooms, where big egos clash, coalitions are built, and multi-million-dollar agreements are put in play. For anyone interested in the high-octane world where sports, politics, and business meet, When the Game Is on the Line will be a must-read.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In an eye-opening lesson in high stakes politics, big business and civic responsibility, Horrow discusses the deals that create new stadiums and bring sports franchises to cities. In tracking his rise from first-year lawyer to multimillion-dollar deal broker, Horrow's narrative becomes at once a memoir, how-to business manual and self-help guide. Through a series of trial-and-error attempts to lure pro sports to his home city of Miami, Horrow takes readers through the crucial steps that helped him create his trademark public-private partnerships, which have satisfied billionaire investors, local politicians, league officials, inquisitive lawyers and skeptical taxpayers in cities like Boston, Cleveland and Oklahoma City. Horrow, though a cagey bargainer when it comes to his deal brokering, is refreshingly honest when portraying sports big shots like golfer Jack Nicklaus, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and franchise owner Art Modell. Always the dreamer with an eye on the prize, Horrow (with help from journalist Bloom) makes a strong case for tying arts projects and infrastructure financing to team and stadium investment to create civic pride and rejuvenation. His infectious energy and positive spirit make this a must read for anyone interested in the sport of business and the business of sports.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A fascinating examination of the considerable realm where sports and business overlap...An insightful read." -- Library Journal 4/15/03

"Entertaining and unsettling...refreshingly free of business jargon." -- Boston Globe 7/13/03

"Horrow has been a key player, often behind the scenes, in the field of building fields of dreams." -- Newsweek 5/12/03

"Horrow knows how to get a stadium built." -- Fortune

"Horrow pulls back the curtain to reveal the real stories behind the biggest sports deals of the past 20 years." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram 5/5/03

"Most sports fans have never heard of Rick Horrow, but he plays a huge role in their lives." -- Scripps Howard News Service

"Most sports fans have never heard of Rick Horrow, but he plays a huge role in their lives." -- Scripps Howard News Service

"Your probably couldn't throw a ball in any sports arena without hitting Rick Horrow or his work." -- Palm Beach Post

"Your probably couldn't throw a ball in any sports arena without hitting Rick Horrow or his work." -- -Palm Beach Post

"[A] very readable and entertaining narrative...[a] fun book." -- Miami Herald 4/28/03

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (April 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738208078
• ISBN-13: 978-0738208077
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,051,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, February 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: When the Game Is On the Line: From the Man Who Brought the Heat to Miami and the Browns Back to Cleveland, An Inside Look at the High-Stakes World of Sports Deal Making (Hardcover)

For readers who like to know what goes on behind the scenes in the business of sports, this book is just the ticket. What struck me is the readability -- like a novel -- and I learned a great deal about the characters involved in high-profile decision-making, and how power is wielded. Highly recommended.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Publicity Seeker Offers Nothing New, January 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: When the Game Is On the Line: From the Man Who Brought the Heat to Miami and the Browns Back to Cleveland, An Inside Look at the High-Stakes World of Sports Deal Making (Hardcover)

Horrow's self-grandizing in this book is unbelieveable. I didn't know he was so great until he wrote this book. According to him, he was the sole reason why the NBA came to Miami -- gee, over 2.5 million potential fans, and lots of moula had nothing to do with it. Oh, and he gives "insightful" testimonials about several big-name sports celebs, including Nicklaus and Al Davis (they both have big egos) what a revelation! Did anyone check out Horrow's credentials to see how many failed sports ventures he has been involved in? Plenty. And now we're all supposed to turn to him for insight? Horrow's book offers nothing new, on the subject of the sports/entertainment industry as it exists today, or will project into the future. Amazon.com should be embarassed by the industry-written "positive" reviews that it allows up on its web-site to promote the sales of this book. Don't ever buy it if you want to learn something new, or read something from someone who has had success in the sports industry in the past. Look for it in the discount bin soon, to keep open your windows, or for a doorstop.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, July 23, 2003

By 

George W. Bowser Jr. (VA. Beach, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When the Game Is On the Line: From the Man Who Brought the Heat to Miami and the Browns Back to Cleveland, An Inside Look at the High-Stakes World of Sports Deal Making (Hardcover)

As a soon to be lawyer as Mr. Horrow, this is a very informative book as to the world of Sports Business. He really provides insight into all aspects of Sports, including the political battles. This book is very encouraging and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to get into the business aspect of sports.