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

~ (Author) "Twelve and one. How was that for a chest-bumping way to open a season?..." (more)
Key Phrases: football pants, championship game, fan book, Super Bowl, Jere Longman, New England (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

About the Author

Jere Longman is a reporter for the New York Times who has written about sports for nearly a quarter century, including a three-year stint covering the Eagles for the Philadelphia Inquirer. His two previous HarperCollins books are the bestselling Among the Heroes and The Girls of Summer. He has lived in the Philadelphia area for the past twenty-three years.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (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: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #604,572 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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)

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

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining read, if you're from Philadelphia, January 28, 2006

By	Mindy A. Chandler "Bitter Girl" (Stuck in Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is entertaining if you're an Eagles fan. It revolves around a select few rabid fans. If you're a resident of Philly or surrounding suburbs, you'll understand the undying loyalty, and appreciate the history surrounding the team and the city.