Synopses & Reviews
Mention the name Bud” to football fans in Minnesota and they will immediately assume you are talking about Bud Grant. A sports legend in the state from his days at the University of Minnesotawhere earned nine letters in football, basketball, and baseballGrant sealed his place in Twin Cities history by coaching the Vikings for a remarkable 18 seasons and leading the team to four Super Bowls. Years after his retirement he remains a revered figure, and fans have been eagerly awaiting this autobiography of a man they loved but did not always understand. In I Did It My Way, Grant tells the story of his remarkable life for the first time, sharing several never-before-told stories. He recalls surviving polio as a child and becoming a successful multisport star in college before playing both basketball and baseball professionally. He recounts his early coaching career in Canada, where he led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to four championships before heading south of the border to become the second head coach in Vikings history. Grant recalls in vivid detail his 18 seasons on the Vikings sideline, including the Vikings four trips to the Super Bowl. He shares stories about legendary players, including quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp and the defensive line of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsenbetter known as the Purple People Eaters. He shares the inside story of his controversial retirement in 1983 and return to the sideline in 1985. The beloved coach reflects on his unique beliefs and idiosyncrasies, including his famous love of cold-weather football and prohibition of gloves and sideline heaters. In retirement, Grant has worked as a consultant for the Vikings, playing a role in securing the teams new stadium. A lifetime outdoorsman, he is an outspoken champion for hunting, fishing, and environmental protection. More than just a football book, I Did It My Way is the rich tale of a man who lives life to the fullest and in the process became a hero to many Minnesotans.
Synopsis
Minnesota sports legend Bud Grant tells the story of his remarkable life as a player and coach in this rich firsthand account. From surviving polio in childhood to a shining college sports career and playing both basketball and football professionally, and from coaching a championship-winning Canadian team to leading the Minnesota Vikings to four Super Bowls, Grant shares his personal perspective for the first time in this autobiography with entertaining detail and refreshing openness. The book recounts his experiences with star players and gives the inside story on Grants controversial retirement in 1983 and his return to the sideline in 1985. Minnesota sports lovers will also enjoy Grants reflection on his own idiosyncrasies, including his famous love of cold-weather football and banning of sideline heaters, and his postretirement life spent devoted to environmental protection and being an outdoorsman.
About the Author
Bud Grant is a retired Minnesota Vikings coach who led the team for 18 seasons and to four Super Bowls and 11 division titles. One of the most successful coaches in the history of the Canadian Football League, Grant coached the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to four Grey Cup championships in 10 seasons. He is also a former player in both the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. He lives in Bloomington, Minnesota. Jim Bruton is the author of The Big House: Life Inside a Supermax Security Prison, Gopher Glory: The Pride of the Maroon and Gold, A Tradition of Purple: An Inside Look at the Minnesota Vikings, Vikings 50, and We Love Our Twins and the coauthor of Every Day Is Game Day and A Passion to Win. He is a former football player for the Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. He lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Sid Hartman is one of the most recognizable sports figures in the history of the Twin Cities. His first column appeared in the Minneapolis Daily Times in 1945 and he has been a sports announcer at WCCO Radio since 1955. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fran Tarkenton is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame and is recognized as one of the greatest players of all time. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.