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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
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The Catch: One Play, Two
Dynasties,
and the Game That Changed the NFL
by Gary Myers
THE
CATCH is one of the most famous plays in NFL history. Joe Montana’s
pass to Dwight Clark in the waning minutes of the NFC Championship game
on January 10, 1982, has been shown in replays repeatedly. Gary Myers
takes readers behind the scenes to the stories that surround THE CATCH
as he examines the history of two dynasties, the San Francisco 49ers
and the Dallas Cowboys.
THE CATCH is a moment that stands out to me in football history. The
game between Dallas and San Francisco was the first full football game
I’d ever watched and I sat anxiously glued to my television set as I
began my now lifelong love of football and the 49ers. THE CATCH
immortalizes that moment for me personally, but it is so much more than
just the story of Dwight Clark’s catch.
Gary Myers provides readers tidbits of insider history, the sort of
details that a fan just watching the game might have forgotten. He also
brings back the forgotten memories of the trash talking of the game,
the horrendous poem recited by Drew Pearson, and the rise and demise of
the careers of two of the NFL’s most historic coaches, Tom Landry and
Bill Walsh. The stories in THE CATCH extend far beyond just those that
happened on the field that day, providing a nice context for this
memorable moment in football history.
THE CATCH is a book that is easily enjoyed by football fans, but
especially 49er and Cowboy fans. I’ve enjoyed sharing tidbits from the
book with my husband, a Cowboy fan, while also appreciating the scope
of knowledge Gary Myers demonstrates about both football teams. The
format of the book is a bit disjointed and yet once I started reading,
I had trouble putting it down. THE CATCH is a fascinating look back at
a piece of football history and some of the greatest players and
coaches to ever enter the game.
Publisher: Crown
(September 2009)
Reviewed
by Debbie, Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
Review Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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