It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium: Football and the Game of Life by Bradley

LSU fan, loved it
A reviewer, an 8th grader in SC, 03/21/2008

I read It Never Rains In TIger Stadium without knowing who John Ed Bradley was. He did a beautiful job writing the book. HE made me laugh and feel happy and sad. I never realized how much a college football career affected life after college. I loved the way he described his father when John was a little boy. One of my favorite things in the book was the way Bradley explained, in detail, almost every moment in his experince in NCAA football. I always wanted to know what went on behind the scenes in the college football world. He described what went on on the sidelines during the games when he was playing and when he wasn't playing. I really enjoyed reading about the life in football written by one involved with college football. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of college football and to anyone who appreciates a well written book.

Also recommended: :07 Seconds or Less

Non-sports fans should not be scared away because...
Patrick, a reader., 03/17/2008

this book is about much more than football. It's a about discovery of certain truths by an introspective man in the middle of his life. Namely that friendships forged in times of strife endure even when they are ignored. The non-chronological orientation of the book takes some time to get used to, but it is there for a purpose. Mr. Bradley looks back at his time as a football player using particular episodes to frame the stories associated with the more recent reconnection with teammates and coaches. There is more than a touch of melancholy in his writing and Mr. Bradley recalls decisions that may the reader wince as they read them. He writes of football, love, loss and forgiveness with the maturity of a man that has spent a great deal of time pondering the subjects. As it ends you get a sense that he is still on the road to reconciling his past life as a football hero with his present as a writer.

Also recommended: On this subject of growing up as a middle age man, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE

Poignant, Honest, and Direct
Bob, an avid reader of sports history, 03/03/2008

John Ed Bradley reexamines his own past in a very poignant, direct manner. He reveals his own insecurities in a way that that you both empathsize with him, but you sense his own isolation from those people in his life. It is a fascinating look at growing older and not letting your past dominate your life. At the same time we are all products of previous events in our lives and they shape us. John Ed's struggles mirror those of anyone trying to find their own identity and coming to terms with the changing seasons of one's life.

What a great writer
George, A reviewer, 02/08/2008

This was a real page turner for me. I always love great stories having to do with sports.

Also recommended: Head Games by Chris Nowinski

No rain here
A reviewer, A reviewer, 01/02/2008

Bradley gives the reader a unique look at what happens when the cheering stops. This is not just another ex-jock taking a trip down memory lane talking about the good old days, but rather how a former SEC all- conference player delt with real life. Bradley didn't go to the NFL or into coaching, instead he chose to follow his dream of becoming a writer. Some wondered if he had taken one to many blows to his headgear by not pursuing the pro game. John Ed Bradley writes that he too wondered if he was doing the right thing after he left the glory that comes with Saturday afternoons on the turf of LSU's Tiger Stadium. His journey is an interesting one and I enjoyed every page of his book. One might assume that a young man with all of the accolades that Bradley garnered as a college player would produce a gilded path to success. Not so, his was a tough road to the pages of novels, The Washington Post, GQ, Sports Illustrated and other publications. He is a gifted writer and this book flows through the highs and lows of his life after football. You do not have to be an LSU fan or a football fan at all to enjoy this book. It is a well written and heart-felt work.