meeting tom brady

Reviewed by Charmayne Mulligan, Davenport University

2 december 2015       archive

In this book, part diary, part travelogue and part memoir, King recounts his efforts to play a single game of catch with the New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, beginning in the Spring of 2013 and continuing throughout the 2013-2014 football season. The book concludes with an epilogue written after the Super Bowl in 2015. King gathered information from interviewing individuals connected in some way to Brady, from former players to Patriot staff.

Feeling the strain of his middle-aged existence, King decides to embark upon this journey to meet his hero. King writes, "I'm thinking that I sure would like to play one game as Tom Brady. And I'd like to walk down the street just once as him, to take a blissful bath in that respect and adoration" (p. 246). He's interested in whether Brady is indeed on a decline, as pundits have claimed him to be, while King himself admits he knows he is.

Although he competed once in the Boston Marathon, other than walking his dog, Ruby, and occasional strolls with his child, King hasn't done much physical activity in recent years. Being a parent and working full time hadn't left much time for King, and he uses this text and quest to spur his return to athletic activities, including participating in the Middle-aged Football League (MFL).

Because he and his wife got rid of their television set, he has to find a local pub to watch football games, Pier 27 Lounge, which is attached to a local pizza parlor. King manages to attend a few Patriots games in person. Otherwise, the book recounts his viewing experiences at the lounge along with a colorful cast of characters King has named Loud Brady Lady, Dr. No-No-No, Dolphins Guy, Nick Name and Gangly John.

Sprinkled throughout the text are bits and pieces of King's own life, which he juxtaposes against Brady's existence – both his superstar self as well as the normal guy he must be to his wife and children. The text is structured around what questions he and others would ask Tom Brady should he ever get a chance to sit down and chat with him or play the game of catch. He also recounts each of the games during the season with statistics when appropriate, and provides details of the several games and one press conference he was able to attend.

King asks of all of those he meets "What question would you ask Tom Brady?" with varying results. He even went so far as to set himself up in several public places with a sign reading "What would you ask Tom Brady?" Questions generally focused on Brady's play, his life with his family, and his finances. The questions provide some insight into how fans think about players outside of viewing the games.

King admits his quest is a bit self-serving and maybe even selfish and the book largely is as well. However, it reads quickly and the hand-drawn cartoons by the author are engaging. While the ideas presented are not unique to King, there are a few revelations in the text:

Ultimately, middle-aged or older fans of professional football, especially the Patriots, may find a bit of themselves within the text which may reflect their own questions about their place in the world and what their life might be like among fame and fortune. Fans of Tom Brady will enjoy King's perspective as a fan on the 2013-2014 season and the various interviews the author conducted with those connected to Brady. This book will be of most interest to others like King who spend time thinking about why sports are important to them beyond the simple entertainment value of individual games.

Meeting Tom Brady: One Man's Quest for Truth, Enlightenment, and a Simple Game of Catch with the Patriots Quarterback. Richard J. King. ForeEdge, 2015, 247 pages, $24.95

Copyright © 2015 by Charmayne Mulligan

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