The Paolantonio Report: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players, Teams, Coaches, and Moments in NFL History, by Sal Paolantonio with Reuben Frank, is yet another fan item, but one designed to spur controversy and armchair debate. Paolantonio, a sportswriter and ESPN fixture for years, compiles subjective lists of the NFL’s big on-the-field moments and movers and shakers, categorizing his coverage by underrated and overrated. Chapters are divided into player positions, coaches, teams, Super Bowl performances and Hall of Famers. For example, quarterbacks Joe Namath, Brett Favre and Terry Bradshaw are dubbed overrated, while QBs Len Dawson and Ken Anderson achieve an underrated grade, with Paolantonio running through career stats and accomplishments and putting them into contemporary perspective. The idea here is to start the discussion, of course, and this book will be handy to have around on Sunday afternoons for reference, or for simple diversion during those lengthy TV timeouts.
Valiant Women is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II.