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Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty

Author: Jeff Pearlman
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book

List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $8.46
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New (5) Used (11) from $4.00

Seller: TSCBOOKS
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 61 reviews
Sales Rank: 711932

Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.6

Dewey Decimal Number: 796.33264097642812
ASIN: B002EQ9LA8

Publication Date: September 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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  • Hardcover - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty
  • Kindle Edition - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys
  • Preloaded Digital Audio Player - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Nonfiction)
  • Paperback - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty
  • Audible Audio Edition - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty
  • Audio CD - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty
  • Audio CD - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty
  • Audio CD - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty
  • Kindle Edition - Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys
  • Kindle Edition - Boys Will Be Boys

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description

They were America's Team—the high-priced, high-glamour, high-flying Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s, who won three Super Bowls and made as many headlines off the field as on it. Led by Emmitt Smith, the charismatic Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, and Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, the Cowboys rank among the greatest of all NFL dynasties.

In similar fashion to his New York Times bestseller The Bad Guys Won!, about the 1986 New York Mets, in Boys Will Be Boys, award-winning writer Jeff Pearlman chronicles the outrageous antics and dazzling talent of a team fueled by ego, sex, drugs—and unrivaled greatness. Rising from the ashes of a 1-15 season in 1989 to capture three Super Bowl trophies in four years, the Dallas Cowboys were guided by a swashbuckling, skirt-chasing, power-hungry owner, Jerry Jones, and his two eccentric, hard-living coaches, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Together the three built a juggernaut that America loved and loathed.

But for a team that was so dominant on Sundays, the Cowboys were often a dysfunctional circus the rest of the week. Irvin, nicknamed "The Playmaker," battled dual addictions to drugs and women. Charles Haley, the defensive colossus, presided over the team's infamous "White House," where the parties lasted late into the night and a steady stream of long-legged groupies came and went. And then there were Smith and Sanders, whose Texas-sized egos were eclipsed only by their record-breaking on-field perfomances.

With an unforgettable cast of characters and a narrative as hard-hitting and fast-paced as the team itself, Boys Will Be Boys immortalizes the most beloved—and despised—dynasty in NFL history.




Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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5 out of 5 stars RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "SCORING ON THE FIELD... SCORING OFF THE FIELD... *COWBOYS-STYLE!*"   September 20, 2008
Rick Shaq Goldstein (Danville, Ca, USA)
37 out of 42 found this review helpful

When the first chapter of a non-fiction football book starts off with future Hall Of Fame receiver Michael Irvin stabbing a teammate in the neck with a scissors... and blood is shooting all over the room... and the intensity of the lurid details... on and off the field... regarding the famed "dynastic" Dallas Cowboys of the 1990's... never lets up for the next three-hundred-fifty-eight pages... you know you've got a great book in your hands. Any true football fan, regardless of what team you root for will want to read this book. There are so many riveting... outlandish... insider... stories... that you will constantly want to stop reading for a moment or two... just to call one of your buddies to tell him what you just read!

This book has it all. From the "humble" beginnings (as far as wins and losses that is... nothing about any of the key individuals in this story could ever be considered humble!) concerning the 1989 Cowboys who had a one-win fifteen-loss season... to the three-time Super Bowl Champions. The author smoothly gives you detailed background information on everyone from owner Jerry Jones to coach Jimmy Johnson to Troy Aikman/Emmitt Smith/Michael Irvin/Nate Newton/Charles Haley/Deion Sanders... and every Cowboy large... small... or in between... who effected the team on or off the field... good or bad. Absolutely no punches are pulled.

From drug busts, that included Michael Irvin and teammate Alfredo Roberts being caught with 10.3 grams of cocaine, more than an ounce of marijuana, assorted drug paraphernalia and sex toys... and oh yea... two strippers... to shocking exposes regarding eventual FIVE-TIME-SUPER-BOWL-CHAMPION Charles Haley who would expose himself... and "pleasure-himself"... in front of teammates in the locker room... training room... and meeting rooms... to famous quotes from players, that truly thought they were above the law, are provided... such as when three-hundred-sixty pound Nate Newton said: "WE'VE GOT A LITTLE PLACE OVER HERE WHERE WE'RE RUNNING SOME WHORES IN AND OUT, TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE, AND WE'RE CRITICIZED FOR THAT, TOO."

Did you know that when former Cowboy owner Bum Bright sold the team to Jerry Jones... that one of the conditions of the sale was that Jones had to fire Tom Landry? Landry was probably the most popular man in Texas, but Bright couldn't stand him. How did the Cowboys code of ethics compare to other big name NFL teams? One Cowboy said: "WHEN I WAS WITH THE REDSKINS COACH GIBBS WOULD SAY, "OK FELLA'S, DON'T MESS WITH STREET DRUGS OR STEROIDS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW WE DO THINGS HERE." COACH JOHNSON ON THE OTHER HAND, WOULD SAY, "DON'T MESS WITH STREET DRUGS OR STEROIDS, BECAUSE THE DRUG TEST IS IN A WEEK AND YOU DON'T WANNA GET CAUGHT." "IT WAS OBVIOUS JIMMY LACKED SOME CHARACTER IN HIS PURSUIT OF GREATNESS."

It's all here in exquisite detail. Nothing is held back. The way players... coaches... and owners... really feel! Who they think is stupid... who is smart... who had courage and who didn't. One Cowboy whose valor won over his team was Troy Aikman, of whom linebacker Garry Cobb said: AS A ROOKIE AGAINST THE CARDINALS AIKMAN "WAS KNOCKED COLD FOR NEARLY FIVE MINUTES BEFORE BEING HELPED OFF THE FIELD. TROY EARNED ALL OUR RESPECT. HE GOT KILLED AND REFUSED TO CRY. I'VE BEEN ON THE FIELD WHEN QUARTERBACKS CRY, AND IT AIN'T PRETTY. DAN MARINO WAS A CRIER - "WHOSE MAN WAS THAT! WHERE'S THE BLOCKING! WHAH!" "BUT AIKMAN - NEVER. AIKMAN WAS A MAN."

The author, Jeff Pearlman, magically, and seamlessly, weaves a story that gives you equal servings of statistical game information... unwavering disections of diverse psychological profiles... including Jerry Jones's jealousies and Jimmy Johnson's insecurities... and the sensitive human backdrop's... such as Michael Irvin... the third youngest of SEVENTEEN CHILDREN... who never had his own bed until college.

I recommend this book highly to any football fan.



5 out of 5 stars More than just a tell all   September 17, 2008
Rabid Reader (New York)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

I loved this book and I actually read it (Unlike the person's comment before mine). I read it straight through. I had to go to the bathroom at work to finish it up. I enjoyed hearing about the off the field experiences of the team members. As reported, it was salacious. However, I enjoyed even more the making of the team. The trades and behind the scene conversations that made this team what it was. Pearlman dug up amazing details with extensive reporting. There may have been a few Cowboys who didn't speak with Pearlman, but most of them did and had plenty to say. To quote Bill Simmons "Go buy this book."


5 out of 5 stars The 1990s Cowboys are perfect for Pearlman's "The Bad Guys Won" oeuvre   October 25, 2008
Andy Orrock (Dallas, TX)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Jeff Pearlman continues his excellent "The Bad Guys Won" oeuvre with this enthralling behind-the-scenes look at the 1990s-era Dallas Cowboys. It's a perfect subject for Pearlman, given his previous takes on the 1986 New York Mets and Barry Bonds.

What's notable here is the level of cooperation Pearlman received from all corners - dozens of ex-Cowboys, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry Jones, Barry Switzer and scads of insiders all contribute to a warts-and-all retelling of a wild ride. What's also notable is that Pearlman plays no favorites and pulls no punches - Jones, Johnson, Switzer and Michael Irvin get both praised and skewered despite their cooperation.

Reading between the lines, it's clear that Pearlman failed to get direct cooperation from two of the Triplets: Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. Both suffer from that, especially Smith. While the league's all-time rushing leader is lauded for his toughness, the prevailing tone depicts a selfish, me-first player. Aikman, as always, comes across as guarded and wary of being used, but ultimately is rightfully judged as supremely skilled, self-effacing and simple in that he demanded only loyalty from friends and teammates. It's left to long-time confidante Dale Hansen to defend the player against rumors and innuendo.

Oh, and as others will surely note on these pages: the passages about Charles Haley pretty much defy any description on these pages without running afoul of Amazon's censor bots.



5 out of 5 stars Loved it!   January 3, 2009
Roberto H (Dallas, TX)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I highly recommend this book to anyone who: a) was a big fan of the early 90's Cowboys, b) is curious about what goes on behind the scenes in the NFL, or c) is interested in the impact leadership has on organizations. This book comes up juicy in all three categories.

This book is great because it avoids the common mistake made by authors documenting certain teams. Instead of going through the boring minutiae of old games, Jeff Pearlman gives gripping, inside stories that no fan ever knew about. For example:

- Michael Irvin was the heart and soul of the team. Period.
- Nobody liked Emmitt Smith.
- Charles Haley, WTF?
- The players, for as much as they hated Jimmy Johnson, respected the heck out of him. How he shaped them psychologically and then kept them on the edge was stellar.
- Jerry Jones is a prideful retard, sure. But I never knew he was that big of one.
- Switzer was actually a pretty likable guy with whom you can really empathize. But, man, he really had no business being there.
- Skip Bayless is a massive dork.

I had a blast reading this book. Highly recommend.



5 out of 5 stars Great book   June 12, 2009
B. Lantz (Corona Del Mar, CA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

What a fascinating read. I would reccomend for anybody that wants to know what life as a professional athlete is really like. This book painted such a vivid description of just how different athletes are than regular people. I was amazed at how dysfunctional the Cowboys organization was during the 90's while still being considered the best franchise in sports during this time period.

Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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