New Michael Holley book: War Room - Bill Belichick and the Patriot Legacy

[Seneschal2]

On Sale: 10/4/2011

It Books

This is a football book with three central characters: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, and Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

Michael Holley will follow Belichick, Pioli, and Dimitroff through the entire 2010 season—from training camp 2010, through the Super Bowl, and into the April draft—exploring the personal connections of the three men and the increasing influence of the Patriot way.

...Holley will have unique access to all three NFL teams throughout the entire season. And, during the three days of the draft, he will be in all three draft rooms.

---

Hope the Pats draft board is revealed...

Can't wait...opcorn:

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Re: New Michael Holley book: War Room, Bill Belichick and the Patriot Legacy

On Sale: 10/4/2011

It Books

---

Can't wait...opcorn:

Sound likes an entry for the Holiday wish list....if you can wait several months after the initial press date..

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: New Michael Holley book: War Room, Bill Belichick and the Patriot Legacy

I'll simply skip the post season playoffs chapters. Used to be my favorites.

 

[Brady2Welker]

Re: New Michael Holley book: War Room, Bill Belichick and the Patriot Legacy

I haven't finished Patriot Reign yet, but if this new book is anything like Patriot Reign I'll go out and buy it definitely! The idea of finding out about Randy Moss trade from the inside is going to be epic.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: New Michael Holley book: War Room, Bill Belichick and the Patriot Legacy

I haven't finished Patriot Reign yet, but if this new book is anything like Patriot Reign I'll go out and buy it definitely! The idea of finding out about Randy Moss trade from the inside is going to be epic.

Reign was excellent. Make it so again Michael!

 

[jmt57]

I enjoyed Patriot Reign quite a bit; I'll be interested in seeing how this book works out. Holley obviously can't be in three different war rooms at the same time so I'm curious how he's going to fill in all the bits and pieces without leaving the reader feeling short-changed. Maybe since the draft now takes place over three days he'll spend one day in each one.

I know Belichick gave him free access when he wrote Patriot Reign, but didn't Holley take time off from his job at the Globe when he wrote that? Did Holley take any time off this past fall?

 

[Koma]

On Sale: 10/4/2011

It Books



---

Hope the Pats draft board is revealed...

Can't wait...opcorn:

You owe Bart Scott $1 now

Sounds like a very interesting book, though. Thanks for posting.

 

[Froob]

Loved patriot reign(and I don't read books very often ). Hopefully he ran out of time to write the post season chapter.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I enjoyed Patriot Reign quite a bit; I'll be interested in seeing how this book works out. Holley obviously can't be in three different war rooms at the same time so I'm curious how he's going to fill in all the bits and pieces without leaving the reader feeling short-changed. Maybe since the draft now takes place over three days he'll spend one day in each one.

I know Belichick gave him free access when he wrote Patriot Reign, but didn't Holley take time off from his job at the Globe when he wrote that? Did Holley take any time off this past fall?

I don't think he took time off, but back then he was a columnist at the Globe pretty exclusively so other than filing his required pieces per week no one noticed that he wasn't in the office much... I believe none of his peers knew what he was doing and the fact he was imbedded within Gillette daily with access none of them dared dream of (and got to remain imbedded after 2002 ended disappointingly) somehow didn't slip out. And he didn't tip his hand because he knew if he started using the insider information he was privy to and gathering for the book the level of access would diminish. Belichick apparently sensed he was an actual journalist and could be trusted to maintain certain confidences in real time (kind of like the pool reporter at the SB practices and the broadcast teams at the network have to) in exchange for the insight he would gain via access. Heck, he got to drive to Annapolis with Bill when he went to visit his folks... He got to sit in meeting rooms and hear game plans revealed... He got to sit in on post game film critiques and hear coaches talk frankly about players... Because they trusted him to be discreet with that information in the moment if not in the book. And while he revealed some things in the book we would never have known, he did so rather discreetly and without sensationalizing it.

He learned a lot particularly about how little reporters generally know about actual organizational and team dynamics and what really goes on behind the scenes even if they have individual sources feeding them potentially slanted snipets for whatever reason... And that showed in his writing and his radio work in the aftermath. And he clearly came away from the experience with a deeper appreciation for who and what Belichick is than he had even begun to develop after 2001 (because prior to that he was a critic based solely on listening to his peers here and in Cleveland...which is what drove Felger bonkers because at the time he felt he was the BB/Kraft toady who deserved the book break - only by then he was guesting on WEEI and proving he was willing to be a talking head db as long as it got him ahead in the multi media business...).

I'm frankly a little surprised Holley has allowed his publisher to pre promote the book like this. Knowing it is in the works and he has (and has had) that kind of access again may make life with his insecure peers in radio and on Comcast a little tougher...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm frankly a little surprised Holley has allowed his publisher to pre promote the book like this. Knowing it is in the works and he has (and has had) that kind of access again may make life with his insecure peers in radio and on Comcast a little tougher...

I'm guessing "allowed" isn't the right word . . . "wasn't able to stop" is probably nearer the mark. . . .

 

[Dufflebagz]

Loved patriot reign(and I don't read books very often ).

Same with me. I rarely read for enjoyment but Patriot Reign was an amazing book and I can't wait for the upcoming one.

I'm amazed that i'm giddy about a book

 

[DarrylS]

About a year ago I emailed Holley and gave him an idea for a book..

The story line would be following some draft picks that the Pats were working out, fast forward to the actual draft.. and then picking it up after the draft and following the new players as they get ready for TC...

This may meet some of my needs, but would love to know how all this works, not only on draft day.. but how do rookies get acclimated into housing, our culture and how do they get indoctrinated in the Patriot Way.. what transforms them from college kids to pro football players.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

About a year ago I emailed Holley and gave him an idea for a book..

The story line would be following some draft picks that the Pats were working out, fast forward to the actual draft.. and then picking it up after the draft and following the new players as they get ready for TC...

This may meet some of my needs, but would love to know how all this works, not only on draft day.. but how do rookies get acclimated into housing, our culture and how do they get indoctrinated in the Patriot Way.. what transforms them from college kids to pro football players.

Now that would be an interesting read - well done sir!

 

[PatsFanSince74]

On Sale: 10/4/2011

It Books



---

Hope the Pats draft board is revealed...

Can't wait...opcorn:

Yeah. Dream on. I can see the paragraph now.

"I knew I was in the Patriots Draft Room because that's what the sign on the door said before they put on my blindfold.

"Coach Belichick had promised to answer my questions about the Board itself and he was true to his word. 'Yes, there is a Board. It's about five feet to your right. It's ten feet wide and five feet high. It's white and it has names on it. This year we're using blue markers, last year we used the black ones.'"

 

[Froob]

I wonder if he'll do one on the bengals draft board sometime. It'd be him, Marvin Lewis,Mike Brown,their one scout, and a computer on espn.com.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I wonder if he'll do one on the bengals draft board sometime. It'd be him, Marvin Lewis,Mike Brown,their one scout, and a computer on espn.com.

They hired a scout?
I hope this book is as good as his first. The first one caught a lot of people by surprise that Holley was allowed such access but we've come to know BB differently over the years.

 

[bucky]

Great news. But how can he be in 3 draft rooms at the same time???

 

[aluminum seats]

I disagree about Patriot Reign a little bit. Thought it was an enjoyable read, but really superficial given the amazing access he had. Felt like he should have had the material to go a little deeper. But it was fun to read I guess.

 

[FCB02062]

The 2010 playoffs will be short chapter...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Great news. But how can he be in 3 draft rooms at the same time???

One each day; it'll be interesting to see what order (I'd guess NE-KC-ATL).