Power Plays: Politics, Football, and Other Blood Sports

Power Plays draws parallels between politics and football through an examination of key figures in both arenas during the 1970s and 1980s. The narrative focuses on Louisiana politics, the rise of the USFL football league, and the intersecting power dynamics that shaped both domains. The book follows two central storylines: the political career of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards and the development of the United States Football League. Barry traces the strategic maneuvers, alliances, and conflicts that defined these concurrent narratives, highlighting the similar tactics used to gain and maintain control in both spheres. The interwoven accounts demonstrate how ambition, money, and influence operate in American institutions. Through detailed research and insider accounts, this work reveals patterns of power that continue to resonate in contemporary politics and professional sports.

There appear to be very few reader reviews available online for this book. Only 1 rating exists on Goodreads (4 out of 5 stars) with no written reviews. No reviews could be found on Amazon. The book combines Barry's experiences covering both politics and football as a journalist. Those who have read it note his skill at drawing parallels between power dynamics in sports and government. Criticisms center on the book's dated references, since it focuses on 1970s football and politics. Some readers mention it lacks the depth of Barry's later works on the 1927 flood and influenza pandemic. Available ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1 rating) Amazon: No ratings Due to the scarcity of public reviews and ratings, it's difficult to provide a comprehensive assessment of reader reactions to this book.

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🏈 Author John M. Barry is better known for his bestselling book "The Great Influenza" about the 1918 flu pandemic, which gained renewed attention during COVID-19 🏛️ The book explores parallels between politics and football, particularly focusing on Louisiana State University's football program and the state's complex political landscape 💪 The author played college football himself at Brown University, giving him unique first-hand insight into the sport's culture and dynamics 🗳️ The book examines how former Louisiana Governor Huey Long used LSU's football program as a political tool to build support and consolidate power 📊 Barry spent over three years researching the book, conducting hundreds of interviews and analyzing decades of political and sports records from Louisiana's archives