I have always believed that the locker rooms and press boxes of the sporting world provide some of the finest examples of journalism. Many of the country's best writers can trace their ancestry to the sports pages of newspapers that sadly no longer operate with the ubiquitous coverage that once existed.

If you still long for quality writing and are a lover of football, get yourself a copy of THE GAME. A gifted American sportswriter, Peter King wrote for Sports Illustrated from 1989 to 2018. His work included a weekly column, “Monday Morning Quarterback.” In addition to penning five football books, King has been named National Sportswriter of the Year three times.

"In the chapters of this engrossing book that move from 1984 to the present day, King does more than provide readers with great stories and studies. He illuminates the broader cultural history of how the sport has become embedded into American life."

THE GAME is the product of 40 years of reporting and inside access to professional football during an era when the NFL ascended from being the stepchild of Major League Baseball to becoming a cultural and commercial juggernaut. In the chapters of this engrossing book that move from 1984 to the present day, King does more than provide readers with great stories and studies. He illuminates the broader cultural history of how the sport has become embedded into American life.

King discusses the merger of the NFL with the fledgling AFL and the creation of the Super Bowl. There is the difficult story of the final year of Bill Walsh’s coaching career with San Francisco. The strike and some of the athletes who crossed the picket lines in 1987 get exhaustive coverage here, as does the advent of free agency in 1983 and the NFL’s response to the 9/11 tragedy.

In addition, King is wonderfully adept at painting vivid portraits of the players and coaches who have made the NFL what it is today. There is a chapter on the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes connection, a coach/quarterback relationship that is both effective and enduring. There is a trip on the Madden Cruiser, the vehicle that John Madden, who disliked flying, used to travel on from one game site to the next. Encountering the personalities on these pages is like paying a visit to the NFL Hall of Fame.

The book includes a vast array of anecdotes that will delight both rabid fans and those who just want to know more about football. As a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears, I was surprised to learn that Jerome Bettis almost became a Bear midway through his career. Another extraordinary chapter is “When Scouting Became a TV Show,” which chronicles the creation and eventual growth of the NFL Combine. When the Combine was conceived, teams tried to keep the sessions for players private. But the media thought that fan interest would justify expanded coverage. They were correct, and now the Combine is a multi-day event that is broadcast live on the NFL Network.

In just a few short weeks, it will be time to start thinking about holiday shopping. If you have a football fan on your list, THE GAME is a must-purchase. With its insight and sweep, it is an essential account of professional football history from an exceptional storyteller.