Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback

As a Giant fan and an Eli fan I had to get this book and read it right away. I was glad I did. I havent missed but two televised Giants games in nearly seven years, so I thought I knew everything about Eli Manning and the Giants, but this book gave me even more insight. The pressure Eli was under when he entered the league is well established, but this book gave me a new appreciation for all the young man has been put through in just a few years. From the locker room feelings towards Kerry Collins to the shared insight of his on the road roomate, I felt as I read the book like I could feel his pressure rather than just hear about it. The way he carried himself during his rough times is a testimony to the man he is not just as a player. His refusal to ever get overly upset or throw tantrums or the fact that he never once threw his teammates under the bus (when his errors were exasberated by their mistakes on occassion)and just take the hit for the team make me a fan of his even more than I was before. As a book, it reads well. Like a story rather than a plain vanilla biography. The insights by Ernie Arcorsi are excellent, as he experienced his own pressures the same as Eli. The two tied together forever. Great read and an excellent book, not a simple book about football but about being a man under intense scrutiny and enormous pressure. Highly recommeded! Not just to Giants fans but to any fan of football who has grown tired of selfish, spoiled, over paid atheletes and their antics.

Ralph Vacchiano, the respected sports writer for the NY Daily News, offers up a poignant behind the scenes look at the career of Eli Manning. His book follows Elis remarkable career from Ole Miss to the San Diego Chargers (where he spent all of 45 minutes) before finally landing in New York with the Giants. Amid unbelievable scrutiny and criticism, Eli perseveres in the face of adversity to lead his team to a stunning win in Super Bowl XLII. The inside scoop on the famous Draft Day 2004 trade that brought Eli to New York alone is worth the price of admission. Quite simply, a must read for all Giants fans.

Let me start off by saying that while Im a huge Giants fan, I dont believe that a great playoff run automatically makes Eli an elite quarterback. Luckily, Ralph Vacchiano doesnt try to convince the reader that he is. His fair and honest account of Elis emotional and professional development made me a big fan of this book. He not only details Elis first camp throught his Superbowl MVP performance but provides the reader with and inside look into Payton and Elis relationship as well as Elis relationship with his NY Giants teammates. In addition, he does a fantastic job highlighting the complicated and emotionally charged series of events that brought Eli and eventually a Superbowl championship to NY. This book was hard to put down and is a must read not only for Giants fans but for football fans in general. You wont be disappointed.

I enjoyed the book very much. It kept my interest for the entire time it took to finish it. A great book for the sports fan.

Mr. Vacchiano does the best he can with the story of a notoriously vanilla human being. This is not a suspenseful book, but I wasnt expecting suspense. I expected a lot of Eli Manning.

Eli Manning has won two superbowl rings. Eli Manning has more superbowl rings than Payton Manning who only has one superbowl ring. In 2007 and 2011 the Giants could have easily not won the super bowl. In 2007 the Giants started out 0-2. In the playoffs they had to go out to Tampa Bay and beat the Buckeners, then go out to Dallas and beat the Cowboys with and Interception late in the game. The Giants had to go to Lambou field and beat Bret Farve and the Packers in 0 degrees weather on a field goal in overtime. They had to beat Tom Brady and the undefeated with great defence and David Tires Great catch in a 17-14 final score. In 2008 the Giants got of to a 11-1 start and could have won another Superbowl but lost to the Eagles 23-11 in the Divisional Round. In 2009 and 2010 the Giants got of to good starts and missed the playoffs. In 2010 miracle at the Medolands cost them the Division Championship on DeSean Jacksons kick return for a touchdown. In 2011 the Giants where 7-7 playing at the Jets stadium down 7-3 at there own one yard line, I was there when Victor Cruz scored a 99 yard touchdown and went on to beat the Jets 30-15 and beat the Falcons at home and beat Green Bay and San Francisco to go to the Super Bowl and beat the Patriots to to win the Super Bowl again.

This is a must read book. Unlike the usual dry sports book, this book embraced the drama and passion of Elis story like a classical novel. It exposed the depth and weight of the pressure he endured so vividly and thoroughly that you can feel his burden, his pain and his frustration. It has brought to light the truth of Elis proffessional journey and the arduous and overwhelming odds thrown at him. It will make you reevaluate this amazing young man and realize he is rightfully deserving of our respect and admiration and it will also give you a deeper appreciation and understanding of the demands put on a Quarterback and his foundational role on the team. It is a book that gives the reader a story of courage, hope and perseverance that extends not only to the sports fan but to anyone that delights in stories of the triumph of the heart and spirit of a hero.