Parcells

by Bill Parcells

  Acknowledgments

  Bill Parcells and Nunyo Demasio are grateful to everyone who helped us produce this book. Bill asked me to get more specific in acknowledging the cast of dozens.

  At the earliest stage, 2008, the brilliant Kurt Andersen, who I’m fortunate to call my “pro bono consigliere,” gave input on the concept, read material, and granted access to his massive Rolodex. Five years later, after I wrote most of the book with Bill’s imprimatur, we hired the David Black Agency, whose namesake president teamed with literary agent David Larabell and their assistant, Sarah Smith, to adeptly fine-tune our proposal and secure a contract with an ideal publisher: Crown Archetype, an imprint of Random House.

  My trusty and astute publishing lawyer, Eric Rayman, helped negotiate multiple contracts while scrutinizing the intertwined moving parts. As I once told Eric, who also gave us valuable feedback on the manuscript, it’s good to have a member of the so-called Harvard mafia watching your back.

  Bill and I especially thank Rhahime Bell for financing the bulk of this endeavor, waiting more than a half decade for a return, and resisting the temptation to get life insurance on me. Essential aid also came from Dr. Kafui Demasio; Doug Lo, “the mayor of Seattle”; and Dr. Craig Moskowitz. Without Rhahime and company, a book of this scope would have remained a pipe dream.

  You’re in good company partnering with any group overseen by Crown publisher Tina Constable, whom we nicknamed the Big Tina. Her empire contains several sharp, hard-working people like publicity director Tammy Blake, production-editorial director Amy Boorstein, managing editor Rachel Meier, and assistants Jennifer Reyes and Jenni Zellner. Regardless, the Big Tina herself displayed extraordinary multitasking abilities, which included occasionally sending inspiring e-mails. Bill and I were delighted to have someone with Tina’s energy and leadership embrace our vision.

  After acquiring the book, her lieutenant, Mauro DiPreta, showed a combination of both street smarts and book smarts while steering the project. He navigated Parcells’s idiosyncrasies so skillfully that I warned him against leaving to run his own publishing house until after the book’s release. Alas, months before Parcells hit the shelves, Mauro departed for the top job at a different publisher. Another of Tina’s editors, Dominick Anfuso, picked a striking cover image and positioned Crown’s folks for the home stretch.

  Bill and I are grateful for editorial director Jacob Lewis’s orchestration, judgment, and cool to help overcome a late manuscript despite the tremendous inconvenience to his crew, including Mark Birkey, a persnickety and versatile production editor. Jacob went beyond the call—even taking one during his summer vacation. Copy editor Aja Pollock’s eagle eye took the book to a higher level.

  Thanks goes to Matthew Martin, the associate general counsel of Random House, for vetting the manuscript. Dan Zitt, the publisher’s audiobook guru, displayed passion and creativity, turning it into a quality recording.

  The leader of my own editorial team, Peter Guzzardi, lived up to his reputation as a book doctor with few peers. Peter remained enthusiastic and diligent while polishing the manuscript for more than a year. Considering Bill’s long, storied life, the word count threatened to reach War and Peace proportions, but Peter’s exquisite trims under deadline pressure made the cuts virtually unidentifiable.

  Much of the football insight came from our NFL historian, researcher, and fact-checker, Dan Daly, whose encyclopedic knowledge impressed even the great Bill Parcells. We were lucky to land someone like Dan, an author himself, most recently of The National Forgotten League, which examines the NFL’s first fifty years.

  Lisa Buch did yeoman’s work as our photo researcher, helping us sort through so many photos, digging up some gems, giving sharp input, and allowing Crown’s art department, including designer Barbara Sturman, to do its thing. Author Jamie Malanowski, an original member of my team, markedly helped organize and improve my copy and gave key editorial advice.

  Eye doctor Craig Moskowitz offered the invaluable perspective of a well-rounded and well-read sports fan. We heeded many of his suggestions, like identifying the left anterior descending artery as “the widow maker” for the chapter covering Bill’s heart surgery. I’m also grateful for the feedback of John Huey despite his busy schedule overseeing Time Inc.

  Before Bill and I looked for the right publisher, a detailed, written critique by author Ira Berkow made us feel as if we were on the right track. I have an inkling that until Bill saw Ira’s letter in early 2012 on multiple chapters, he wasn’t quite sure what he’d gotten himself into.

  Ann Tanenbaum, the publisher of her namesake international company, provided encouragement, candor, and wisdom, especially during the late stages. Author Steve Coll, my ex–managing editor at the Washington Post and now the dean of Columbia Journalism School, offered guidance. And in an unforgettable gesture, Richard Stengel took time from his hectic schedule running Time to offer an opportunity for freelance work until I landed a book deal.

  During an important juncture, my cousin Dr. Kafui Demasio provided housing in Westchester County. Down the stretch, though, I all but lived in the New York Society Library, an author’s haven with its private rooms and numerous quiet spots. When the assistant head librarian, Carolyn Waters, first gave me a tour, I was hooked.

  In one telephone conversation early on, author Michael Lewis candidly conveyed the project’s challenges based on his experience penning a cover story about Bill for the New York Times Magazine in 2006. But even before I wrote one word, ESPN’s publishing honcho Gary Hoenig expressed enthusiasm about Parcells, and envisioned James Gandolfini playing the lead role in a movie adaptation. Gary’s boss, John Walsh, sat down with me to convey ideas for the manuscript. And author David Maraniss let me pick his brain about his methods for producing his classic book on Vince Lombardi.

  Special mention must go to Bill’s ex-wife, Judy; their daughters, Dallas, Jill, and Suzy; and his girlfriend, Kelly Mandart, for trusting me with sensitive information, providing insight into the man behind the icon.

  George Swede gave me a tour of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, where he grew up with Bill. And Army Capt. Robert McGovern, a former NFL linebacker, took me around his hometown of Oradell, New Jersey, where Bill lived during his high school years.

  At least four interviewees died before the book’s release: Dr. V. Paul Addonizio, former NFL coach Ron Erhardt, ex–Giants wideout Stacy Robinson, and filmmaker Steve Sabol. Dr. Addonizio, a prolific heart surgeon, explained Parcells’s bypass in layman’s terms, and gave me an open invitation to watch him perform surgery. Sabol provided unfettered access to the treasure trove of video at NFL Films in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

  Greg Aiello, the NFL’s PR chief, answered numerous questions about the league or connected me with the right folks.

  Kathleen Smith, the owner of the Saratoga Arms hotel, gave me a tour of Saratoga Springs, New York, helping to show why Bill settled down there. Thanks also goes to Kathleen’s staff, including daughters Amy and Sheila and Judy Kennedy, for its hospitality during my many trips to see Bill.

  Random House’s Bette Graber and Regnery’s Katharine Mancuso helped us cut through red tape for copyrighted material. The two daughters of late author Bill Libby, Laurie Brazzle and Allyson Tayson, granted permission to excerpt from Libby’s The Coaches with no strings attached. A shoutout goes to Oklahoma-based Kelli Masters, the groundbreaking NFL agent and attorney for her last-minute services.

  The one and only Alexa Roubachewsky tolerated my obsession with the book, although she did say that I should “marry Bill Parcells” instead of her, spurring an impromptu call from him.

  For several years, Bobby Green, a member of Bill’s inner circle, was a de facto assistant. A range of support came from Kwesi Arno, Jarrett Bell, Kenyatta Bell (no relation), Greg Bishop, Tor Bornholdt, Anthony Brown, Damien Brown (no relation), Bobby and Milano Buckley, Les Carpenter, Fame Cohen, Ronard Coombs, Heni Ozi Cukier, Charlotte Evans, Mike Florio, Peter Forbes, George Francois, John Gad
o, Leah George, Damon Hack, Tom Hamaric, Cathy Henkel, Gary Howard, Harry Jaffe, Joe Jeannot, Ken Langone, Greg Lee, Mark and Paul McCarthy, Isabel Murphy, Bill Nedoroscik, Glenn Nelson, Steven O’Reilly, Tim Smith, Tanya Young, Zack Secilmis, Stephen A. Smith, and Ned Vail.

  Special gratitude goes to Richard Johnson, Rev. Dr. K Karpen, Lleanna McReynolds, Olga Obymako, Cynthia Round, Anne Scirmont, Rev. Dr. Esteen Tapp, and Hubie Toth.

  I would never have gotten anywhere in my career without Seattle’s incomparable Carole Carmichael, Neil Amdur, Leon Carter, Milton Coleman, Marie Davitt, Len Downie, John Huey, Terry McDonell, Norman Pearlstine, Pam Robinson, George Solomon, Barry Werner, the late Dr. Roger Wetherington, and Kevin Whitmer. I’m grateful for writing pointers from Ira Berkow, Robert Lipsyte, Bob Roe, and George Vecsey. Special thanks goes to ESPN executives Rob King and Leon Carter and Washington Post managing editor Kevin Merida for being role models; and to the great Donald Graham for his galvanizing notes over the years. Leon occasionally took my calls past midnight for updates on the project.

  Not surprisingly, our family members played crucial roles in this endeavor. Doug, Bill’s youngest brother, hosted me in the Oradell home where the Big Tuna lived as a teenager. Thanks goes to my sister Fafa, for her miscellaneous assistance; brother Bubu; niece “little” Aseye; aunt Phoebe; cousin Ezekiel; and the matriarch, Dorcas Demasio, a.k.a. Queen Dorcas.

  It took almost an entire year to convince Bill to cooperate in this type of endeavor. The turning point came after I sent him a twenty-page summary about my mother’s life: moving from Ghana to Harlem, USA, then working day and night to put five kids, including three boys, through college. Bill contacted me the next day, said that I should be writing her story instead of his, and invited me to his home in Saratoga Springs.

  We wish our siblings were still around to check out Parcells—Bill’s brother Don and my sister Aseye and brother Nana—but we know that they are watching and smiling, maybe even reading.

  The Coaches

  As Florida State linebackers coach in 1972, Bill Parcells read the preface for Bill Libby’s The Coaches, published that year by Regnery. Feeling that it eloquently described his profession, Parcells condensed the 1,039-word introduction into roughly 390 words that hit home the most. The coach laminated the shortened version. Throughout his long football career, he re-read it, especially during tough times. Below is the exact wording from Parcells’s sheet.

  He is called “Coach.” It is a difficult job, and there is no clear way to succeed in it. One cannot copy another who is a winner, for there seems to be some subtle, secret chemistry of personality that enables a person to lead successfully, and no one really knows what it is. Those who have succeeded and those who have failed represent all kinds—young and old, inexperienced and experienced, hard and soft, tough and gentle, good-natured and foul-tempered, proud and profane, articulate and inarticulate, even dedicated and casual. Most are dedicated, some more than others. Some are smarter than others, but intelligence is not enough. All want to win, but some want to win more than others, and just wanting to win is not enough in any event. Even winning is often not enough. Losers almost always get fired, but winners get fired, too.

  He is out in the open being judged publicly almost every day or night for six, seven, or eight months a year by those who may or may not be qualified to judge him. And every victory and every defeat is recorded constantly in print or on the air and periodically totaled up.

  The coach has no place to hide. He cannot just let the job go for a while or do a bad job and assume no one will notice as most of us can. He cannot satisfy everyone. Seldom can he even satisfy very many. Rarely can he even satisfy himself. If he wins once, he must win the next time, too.

  Coaches plot victories, suffer defeats, and endure criticism from within and without. They neglect their families, travel endlessly, and live alone in a spotlight surrounded by others. Theirs may be the worst profession—unreasonably demanding and insecure and full of unrelenting pressures. Why do they put up with it? Why do they do it? Having seen them hired and hailed as geniuses at gaudy, partylike press conferences and having seen them fired with pat phrases such as “fool” or “incompetent,” I have wondered about them. Having seen them exultant in victory and depressed by defeat, I have sympathized with them. Having seen some broken by the job and others die from it, one is moved to admire them and to hope that someday the world will learn to understand them.

  All-Parcells Team

  OFFENSE

  QUARTERBACK

  PHIL SIMMS, New York Giants

  VINNY TESTAVERDE, New York Jets

  DREW BLEDSOE, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys

  OFFENSIVE TACKLE

  JUMBO ELLIOTT, New York Giants

  BRUCE ARMSTRONG, New England Patriots

  MARK COLUMBO, Dallas Cowboys

  GUARD

  BILL ARD, New York Giants

  WILLIAM ROBERTS, New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets

  CHRIS GODFREY, New York Giants

  CENTER

  KEVIN MAWAE, New York Jets

  ANDRE GURODE, Dallas Cowboys

  BART OATES, New York Giants

  RUNNING BACK

  CURTIS MARTIN, New England Patriots, New York Jets

  O. J. ANDERSON, New York Giants

  JOE MORRIS, New York Giants

  THIRD-DOWN RUNNING BACK

  DAVE MEGGETT, New York Giants, New England Patriots

  TONY GALBREATH, New York Giants

  FULLBACK

  MAURICE CARTHON, New York Giants

  KEVIN TURNER, New England Patriots

  SAM GASH, New England Patriots, New York Jets

  WIDE RECEIVER

  KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys

  TERRY GLENN, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys

  WAYNE CHREBET, New York Jets

  TIGHT END

  MARK BAVARO, New York Giants

  BEN COATES, New England Patriots

  JASON WITTEN, Dallas Cowboys

  RETURNER

  DAVE MEGGETT, New York Giants

  TROY BROWN, New England Patriots

  PHIL MCCONKEY, New York Giants

  FIELD-GOAL KICKER

  MATT BAHR, New York Giants, New England Patriots

  ADAM VINATIERI, New England Patriots

  DEFENSE

  DEFENSIVE END

  GEORGE MARTIN, New York Giants

  LEONARD MARSHALL, New York Giants

  GREG ELLIS, Dallas Cowboys

  NOSE TACKLE

  JASON FERGUSON, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys

  JIM BURT, New York Giants

  JAY RATLIFF, Dallas Cowboys

  INSIDE LINEBACKER

  HARRY CARSON, New York Giants,

  PEPPER JOHNSON, New York Giants, New York Jets

  DAT NGUYEN, Dallas Cowboys

  VINCENT BROWN, New England

  OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

  LAWRENCE TAYLOR, New York Giants

  DEMARCUS WARE, Dallas Cowboys

  CARL BANKS, New York Giants

  ANDRE TIPPETT, New England Patriots

  WILLIE MCGINEST, New England Patriots

  BRAD VAN Pelt, New York Giants

  MO LEWIS, New York Jets

  CORNERBACK

  MARK COLLINS, New York Giants

  MAURICE HURST, New England Patriots

  MARCUS COLEMAN, New York Jets

  AARON GLENN, New York Jets

  EVERSON WALLS, New York Giants

  SAFETY

  TERRY KINARD, New York Giants

  DARREN WOODSON, Dallas Cowboys

  LAWYER MILLOY, New England Patriots

  PUNTER

  SEAN LANDETA, New York Giants

  TOM TUPA, New England Patriots, New York Jets

  Bill Parcells’s Unsung Opponents

  MORTEN ANDERSEN, KICKER

  New Orleans Saints (1982–94), Atlanta Falcons (1995–2000, 2006–7), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002–3),
Minnesota Vikings (2004)

  “I always thought he would make the kick.”

  WILLIAM ANDREWS, FULLBACK

  Atlanta Falcons (1979–83, 1986)

  “Best blocker I ever coached against. Good, tough runner. Career cut short, but a man’s man on the field.”

  RANDALL CUNNINGHAM, QUARTERBACK

  Philadelphia Eagles (1985–95), Minnesota Vikings (1997–99), Dallas Cowboys (2000), Baltimore Ravens (2001)

  “First new-wave quarterback. Dangerous as a runner. Strong arm. Needed to be accounted for; made defenses cautious.”

  LYNN DICKEY, QUARTERBACK

  Houston Oilers (1971–75), Green Bay Packers (1976–85)

  “Moved an offense against almost anyone. Smart and dangerous.”

  ROY GREEN, WIDE RECEIVER

  St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1979–90), Philadelphia Eagles (1991–92)

  “He came into the league as a nickel back, and moved to wide receiver. Blazing fast. He kept me up at night for about eight years.”

  RON HELLER, OFFENSIVE TACKLE

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–87), Philadelphia Eagles (1988–92), Miami Dolphins (1993–95)

  “Rough and tumble. Great competitor; would never give in.”

  WALTER JONES, OFFENSIVE TACKLE

  Seattle Seahawks (1997–2009)

  “Box-car type with good quickness. Capable of dominating.”

  CORTEZ KENNEDY, DEFENSIVE TACKLE

  Seattle Seahawks (1990–2000)

  “Quick, thick, and difficult to block. Good pass rusher for an inside player.”

  BRIAN MITCHELL, RUNNING BACK, RETURNER SPECIALIST

  Washington Redskins (1990–99), Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2), New York Giants (2003)