Snake

November 7, 2016
Freeman (ESPN: The Uncensored History) admits that this less than satisfying book about NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Ken “Snake” Stabler is part biography and part appreciation, and writer and quarterback were friends—as evinced by Freeman’s overuse of Stabler’s nickname. Stabler didn’t want to play football when he was a teen; he thought the sport was too violent. But then his father bought him a black 1954 Ford in what Freeman calls “the bribe that changed football.” Stabler soon became one of pro football’s heartiest partiers in a carefree era before social media and 24-hour news cycles. He played for Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama and led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl XI victory. But he might have been right about the game’s violence; following Stabler’s 2015 death from colon cancer at age 69, researchers examining his brain discovered significant levels of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative disease likely caused by repeated blows to the head. Freeman relishes sharing Stabler’s tales of debauchery, but he gives scant detail about the “Immaculate Reception,” which occurred during a Raiders playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972 and is “one of the most famous in sports history.” Other key details are missing, too, such as the final scores of games that Freeman recaps. Unlike many of Stabler’s precision passes, this bio of the man falls incomplete.

December 1, 2016

Former New York Times sportswriter Freeman has authored several sports books including Jim Brown. Having interviewed NFL quarterback Ken "Snake" Stabler (1945-2015) several times over a 20-year period, Freeman was always charmed by him and, as such, considers this work to be more of "an appreciation" than a biography. Known as a hard-living partygoer, Stabler celebrated that life in his autobiography, Superbowl Diary. As he grew older and focused on his three daughters, he came to regret that persona. Freeman attempts to put Stabler's flaws and foibles in the best possible light by exploring the difficult relationship between the star and his dysfunctional and sometimes violent father. Also discussed are the quarterback's heroics and antics from high school to the University of Alabama under legendary coach Bear Bryant to the NFL, where he became the quintessential Oakland Raider: a randy, rowdy, rollicking rogue revered by his teammates and respected by his opponents. Stabler died from colon cancer in 2015 and was subsequently elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. VERDICT Although some details are rendered in a confusing manner, overall, Freeman writes a touching story of a lively life.--John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ

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