Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe
by By Eisen, Rich
Category: Sports & Recreation , Football

Rich Eisen always wanted to write a book, not only because he has a lotof fun, interesting stories he’s been dying to share with everyone, but also becausehe’s interviewed hundreds of athletes---many of whom like torefer to themselves in the third person. In his eleven years as a nationaltelevision sportscaster, Rich Eisen has been envious of those athletesbecause Rich Eisen has never been able to do that on his job, so thehost of NFL Network decided to write a book and use it as an admittedlyfeeble excuse to go third-person on everybody. Not throughout the wholebook, of course. That may get quite exhausting for the reader. But foran entire book jacket? Well, Rich Eisen was all over that. That’s the why behind this book. As for the how, Rich Eisen justtook it one sentence at a time and hoped for the best. You know, startwith a few words and turn those words into sentences which turned intoparagraphs and chapters and, eventually, into this book. Rich Eisendidn’t worry about the big picture and just kept focusing on the thingsthat he could control---the keyboard, the ON/OFF button on hiscomputer, his dictionary, his thesaurus, and last---but certainly notleast---the spell-check on his word processing program. One day, whenit’s all over, only then will Rich Eisen look back on his career andtry to put it all in perspective, but right now Rich Eisen absolutelyknows he would not be where he is today without his spell-check. By now you must be wondering: What’s this book about? It’s about ajourney. It’s about eating, living, and breathing the most popular sportin the history of America. The passion. The pageantry. The pigskin.Thanks to his role as host of the NFL Network’s signature program, NFL TotalAccess, Rich Eisen gets to go to virtually every event on the NFLCalendar---the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, the Scouting Combine, the NFLDraft, and the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. You name it, Rich Eisenis there. And thanks to this book, you can go along for the ride with him---in front of the camera interviewing league MVPs and formerpresidents of the United States or behind the scenes with some of thegame’s all-time greats like Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis, and Brett Favre,just to name a few. I mean, Rich Eisen doesn’t want to name-drop. Inall seriousness, Rich Eisen doesn’t have an ego problem. At any rate, if you love the NFL (and who doesn’t), then this book isfor you. If you’re curious what it would be like to live the sportyear-round, this book is for you. You see, it’s not all about RichEisen. It’s about you reading this book and enjoying it to itsfullest. At least Rich Eisen hopes you will. Advance Praise for Total Access:“I've always admired Rich Eisen’s work, so it's no surprise to me that his book is very entertaining.  What is a surprise is that he's somehow found time to write it in between the NFL Network’s 6,347 hours of coverage of weak-side linebackers who could be draft-sleepers.  That sort of programming and this book about it are both genuine public services.”---Bob Costas“A lot of things in our lives are far less than as advertised, but this book advertises Total Access and gives you Total Access. That’s right. Total Access! I’m not kidding. I liked this book and I’m not a reader.”---Tony Kornheiser, columnist for The Washington Post and co-host for ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption“Rich uses his great sense of humor to detail the life of an on-air NFL personality. It is a world I know well, but still I couldn't stop turning the pages. It is a great read---a must for anyone who loves television and Pro Football.”   ---Joe Buck, Fox Sports