The Golden Age of Red
In the 1920s, Red Grange is a football player for the University of Illinois, and he’s risen to stardom on his play alone. What he would really like is to have a regular job, maybe in insurance, and give the spotlight to someone else. But then he scores four touchdowns in twelve minutes against the reigning national champions, and there is no looking back. As he gets more famous and then signs with the Chicago Bears, he takes on more than he ever intended. He begins to promote the fledgling NFL and even branches out into acting at the urging of his agent, C.C. Pyle. This is the story of a football star who became a reluctant celebrity and the agent who used him along the way.
This intriguing and well-researched novel takes an in-depth look at the life of Red Grange, “The Galloping Ghost.” It is written in present tense, which I found a bit awkward at times. However, I also felt transported to the 1920s, and I learned a lot about Grange, the evolution of college football, and the beginning of the rise of the NFL. It was interesting to read about the dubious C.C. Pyle, known as the first sports agent. This quote sums it up well, “The world is about to be Red’s oyster, and C.C. Pyle is holding the fork.” The football play-by-play included is well done and appreciated by this football fan. The description of Red’s celebrity at the time is astounding, as he was touted as “more famous than Babe Ruth,” for a time, and his downfall, in which Pyle had a hand, is just as fascinating. The way Red dealt with the pitfalls of fame and the lessons he learned, are an important takeaway from the book. Recommended.
