The Redskins Encyclopedia
by Michael Richman
List Price:
Our Price: $25.22
You Save: $13.78 (35%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.65 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Michael RichmanEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-28
ISBN: 1592135420
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Temple University Press
Book Reviews of The Redskins Encyclopedia
Book Review: Hogs, Diesels, Smurfs, Fun Bunches, Posses and Over The Hill Gangs
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Let me start this review by admitting that I am not a Redskins fan, I am actually a Cowboy's fan and a fan of the NFL in general. Being a transplanted Texan 20 years removed from home, living here in the shadow of the nation's capital I finally decided to learn more of the nitty gritty of the Redskins rather than just boo and jeer them.
Former Defensive lineman Dexter Manley (who wants his ashes scattered over the RFK turf after his death) writes the forward.
This book does not disappoint. It is huge! It must weigh several pounds. Every season since the Boston Redsins of 1932 up through last years 2006 team is covered with it's very own chapter.
There are several speciality chapters...my favorite of course is the one devoted to the Redskins VS Cowboys. I knew most of the stories (Kenny Houston's tackle, Clint Longley's miracle ect...) but there are some quotes and stories that I had never heard before.
There are hundreds of photos in this book. All black and white which is fine by me. It lends a certain historical flair to the book....exactly what you'd expect from and encyclopedia from back in the 60's which is what this book reminds me of except it is devoted to only one subject...the Redskins. I guarantee you there are pictures in this book that you have never seen. The picture of Andre The Giant holding Joe Theisman on page 100 is unbelievable.
Speaking of the pictures check out the rather un-pc picture on page 57 of the 1962 Redskins cheerleaders, complete with buckskin style uniform, a brave's feather head band and bare footed. Boy would that catch some guff these days. Funny you can have modern cheerleaders practically naked and everyone thinks it's great but put a white chick in a fake indian costume and protestors with picket signs most likely will show up.
President Nixon's facination with the team and Coach Allen is examined in print and photos. Say what you will about the man....President Nixon really loved football, even going so far as to suggest plays for coaches to use in Super Bowls!
The book speaks about the team name and let me say that anyone who thinks the the team using the term Redskins is insulting should take a look at this book and see the pride and devotion that the team name, logo and mascots have been embraced by the Redskins faithful. I can understand how someone would find the term offensive but in this particular case they would be wrong. I actually hope the team never caves in and changes the name.
You want to see real controversy...imagine if all the owners go together and decided to name their teams after all white/european mascots/themes....no more Indians, Braves, Redskins, Warriors, or Semminoles...from now on it will be Vikings, Celts, Saxons, Spartans, Cossacks, Conquestadores, Gauls, Romans, Scotts, Hessians, Dragoons, Centurians, Rough Riders, Fusiliers and so on...then you would really see some folks crying "racism".
Sorry to devolve into that rant but if you are really follow the Redskins that subject must be addressed.
I have heard conflicting stories as to the origins of the Redskins fight song and that is discussed at length in the book, even the history of the Redskins band (one of the few things I like about the team) is in this book. Think back to high school and college football...the very distinct and special sound of the drums...man did that sound like football on a crisp autum day. Most NFL teams don't even have a band but rather a PA guy blasting the crown with Hells Bells, The Final Count Down or that Gary Gliter tune. Not the Redskins, they still have a real band making real football music. Bravo, well done! Thank god Snyder did not fire them.
Speaking of owners, the misadventures of the various (George Preston Marshall, Jack Kent Cooke, Dan Snyder) Redskins top dogs are covered. Of course the Jack Kent Cooke stories are the best, the other guys are colorful and powerful but there was something special about The Squire. I wish the story about the guy riding on the hood of his drug dealer wife's jag would have been in the book but I guess it was a little too spicy for football fare. Piss off Jack Kent Cooke and you were on the fast track to unemployment or some other equally unpleasant thing. John Riggins was one guy who actually got the better of Mr. Cooke...he sat out an entire season to make his point and in the end it was the Redskins that cried uncle and went knocking on the door of The Diesel's lean-to.
Speaking of Big John....Riggins once told Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'connors to "loosen up baby" and he then proceeded to pass out under a table while Vice President Bush gave a speech. I wish this book had the photo of him being dragged out of the room. I actually once won a radio contest and was sent to New Orleans for an NFL game of the week because I sent a question into Riggo back in his Greaseman show days. The question was "what happens at the bottom of the pile?". His answer is unprintable in this review. Riggo was one of the very few Redskins I ever really liked. I can't believe the Jets traded him?!
I learned some things....everyone know about Lombardi but I never knew packer legend Curly Lambeau was a Washington Redskins coach...you want to know what the Redskins paid in trade for john Riggins or Sonny Jurgensen or Wilbour Marshall...well this book will tell you that. There are stories about the racial integration of the team in 1961 and about the game being played on 07DEC41 when word of the Pearl Harbor attack was received that were new to me. Pretty cool stuff.
A words on stats and records. Any Redskins stat you can think of is covered in this book. I look at stats all the time for my fantasy football squads and as a part of my being a regular NFL fan and the only better place to get stat information than this book would be at NFL.com (a pretty amazing collection if you haven't checked it out already) under the stat tab. Every coach, every playoff game, every free agent siging (especially the 2000 season attempt to buy a quick winner) are examined in depth.
This book claims that the Washington Redskins should be "America's Team"....sorry that title is already taken. But as a Cowboy fan I wish Dallas has a book equal to this one. It quite simply is the end all be all of everything Washington Redskins. If you need a gift for a Skins fan this is the ticket.
Summary of The Redskins Encyclopedia
The Redskins Encyclopedia brings to light the team's history and tradition in the most comprehensive account ever written about the storied NFL franchise. Readers are exposed to a treasure-trove of information about the Redskins.
Sports Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Sports Books
The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revisedby Arnold Schwarzenegger
Simon & Schuster; Published: 1999-11-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.05
Price in other shops:
The Encyclopedia of the Winter Olympics (Watts Reference)by John F. Wukovits
San Val; Published: 2002-03; School & Library Binding; Book
Best price: $33.00
ESPN Southeastern Conference Football Encyclopedia: The Complete HistoryESPN; Published: 2009-07-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.59
Price in other shops:
The Encyclopedia of the Swordby Nick Evangelista
Greenwood; Published: 1995-05-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $81.49
Price in other shops:
Great Sporting Quotationsby David Pickering
Cassell Reference; Published: 2001-08-22; Paperback; Book
Official Manchester United Illustrated Encyclopedia Hbby Chez Picthall
Andre Deutsch; Published: 1998-10-30; Hardcover; Book
Race, Culture, and the Revolt of the Black Athlete: The 1968 Olympic Protests and Their Aftermathby Douglas Hartmann
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2004-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $64.97
Price in other shops:
Encyclopaedia of Sports Sciences and Medicineby ACSM
Collier Macmillan Ltd; Published: 1971-06; Hardcover; Book
The Racegoers' Encyclopediaby John White
HarperCollinsWillow; Published: 1992-05-04; Hardcover; Book
Glamour Girls: The Illustrated Encyclopediaby Steve Sullivan
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 2000-03-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
NFL Team Embossed Trifold WalletsRico Industries, Inc.; Rico; Sports
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - NFL: Washington Redskins - 3 Greatest GamesWarner; Release date: 2008-10-28; DVD
Best price: $10.29
Price in other shops:
The Redskins Chronicleby Rich Tandler
Game by Game Sports Media; Published: 2009-07-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.96
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - NFL: America's Game: Washington RedskinsTeam Marketing; Release date: 2007-10-02; DVD
Best price: $2.85
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - NFL's Greatest Rivalries: Washington Vs DallasWarner; Release date: 2010-09-14; DVD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Redskinology Trivia Challenge: Washington Redskins Footballby Kick The Ball
Kick The Ball; Published: 2009-06-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.95
NFL Super Bowl Collection - Washington RedskinsWarner; Release date: 2005-11-08; DVD
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
NFL: History of the Washington RedskinsWarner; Release date: 2008-10-07; DVD
Best price: $9.49
Price in other shops:
Then Gibbs Said to Riggins: The Best Washington Redskins Stories Ever Told (The Best Sports Stories Ever Told)by Jim Gehman
Triumph Books; Published: 2009-09-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.80
Price in other shops:
Washington Redskins: The Complete Illustrated Historyby David Elfin
MVP Books; Published: 2011-08-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.99
Price in other shops: