Head on: A Memoir

by Larry Csonka

"No matter what your style, you have to take a beating."
--Larry Csonka, Life magazine, October 6, 1972

Larry Csonka ran the football with audacity and authority. He lived his off-the-field life with equal abandon. As part of the NFL's 100th Anniversary, the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins were named the best team in NFL history; in Head On, Csonka pulls back the curtain to share how he and his teammates achieved their legendary Perfect Season. From quitting football at a young age, to his often combative relationship with Coach Don Shula, to brazen exploits with his NFL pals, Csonka narrates a life that is colorful, unbridled, and thrilling.

Csonka, a gifted storyteller more at home in the wilderness than on a football field, found himself hanging out with Burt Reynolds, Dick Butkus, Lee Majors, Joe Namath, and Elvis Presley during his football years. But his moments outside the spotlight reveal the most about this larger-than-life figure--early run-ins with the law, confronting thieves with a sawed-off shotgun, taking sniper fire on a USO tour of Vietnam, meeting a daughter 25 years after her birth, and being adrift on the Bering Sea at night with gale-force winds raging.

Csonka's authentic voice and unfiltered brand of storytelling is insightful, compelling, humorous, vulnerable, and refreshingly frank. For fans of the game--or anyone who loves high adventure--Csonka's Head On is a captivating, nostalgic account of grit, grace, and gumption told by an iconic Hall of Famer who continues to gain ground--figuratively, literally, and unapologetically--every day.

Genres: Football, Sports, Biography, Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much to my surprise, I discovered Hall of Fame football player Larry Csonka and I have a bit in common. We were both born in rural areas in Ohio but spent many of our working years in Florida. That's where I first encountered Csonka, well, virtually via my tv screen, during his Miami Dolphin glory days. We both also felt Alaska calling us, although his call seems to have come much earlier than mine via a 1955 copy of Field & Stream that showed an Alaskan grizzly decimating a camp in Alaska on the cover. Mine came from Gary Paulsen's "Woodsong", so I guess you can say we were both drawn by the power of images. I now live in Alaska and Csonka operates a hunting/fishing tour in Alaska part of the year. Heck, he even lives in my general area. Yep, Alaska's call is strong.

In any case, while I found his football memories intriguing, it was the Alaska connection that drew me to his story, I must admit. That said, I'll never watch a football game again where the tv cameras pan to show us an encounter along the sidelines and just assume it's all business. The players may be focused on a game but the coaches and players are human, as are the officials, and Csonka shares some humorous encounters and happenings in the process of telling his story. The injury levels are chilling, too. It'll help if you're a football fan, of course, but there's enough non-football to hold the interest of those who prefer the human story, the background that brought Csonka to where he is today, such as his sister being attacked and stabbed. It's also amazing to see how naive he was, even as a professional football player, "back in the day". Can you imagine any football player today, for instance, not being aware of female impersonators and the wonders and football mad frenzy of New Orleans when hosting a Super Bowl? Names like Elvis, Burt Reynolds, Joe Namath and, whoa, even Donald Trump entered and left his world. It's to his credit, although he was certainly no saint, that Alaska seemed to have a stronger hold on him than all the glamour of celebrity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you're a football fan, whether of the Dolphins or not, you'll find the recounting of games and players fascinating. If you simply like intriguing memoirs that show where someone famous came from, you'll find his memories of his early days and family influences of interest, not to mention the fact that, whoa, Larry Csonka was once bullied unmercifully. That farm boy has come a long way. He also survived a horrendous storm in a relatively small boat on the Bering Sea while filming his show "North to Alaska," a memory that gave me chills while sitting safely on my own couch.

Bottom line, this one is a winner. It may not compare to a Super Bowl trophy and ring, but Larry "Zonk" Csonka has a winner in "Head On." Thanks to #NetGalley and #BenBellaBooks - #MattHolt for giving me this peek into my fellow part-time Alaskan, Larry Csonka.

[Joseph Carabello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Look Behind the Scenes

An interesting look at a successful pro football career and all that goes on to make it a success. More than what the fan sees on TV, Zonk tells all. For older fan there is trip down memory lane with recaps of games and a long list of players of the era. A fun read for any sports fan, especially college and pro football.

[Joe Iovine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories from a great player

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve admired Larry Csonka as a straight up the middle, hard hitting, ultimate fullback since I was a kid in the early ‘70s, living in Florida. So I was happy to encounter his book. It reads fast, easy and fun. As an Ohioan with a wife from the Akron area it was particularly engaging to read about his growing up around Stow and other familiar northeast Ohio cities. But it’s not all football. Larry provides insight into Donald Trump, USFL and the long term brain damage his chosen career can cause. Overall, an honest, well written, informative retrospective .

[Robert J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always admired Larry Csonka

A class act who has lived a life based on hard work and integrity. His life is the quintessential aphorism to work hard and play harder.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: ZONNNKKKAAA… THE SOUND OF A MAN SMASHING THROUGH THE LINE… AND LIFE!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry Csonka is in both the College and Professional Football Hall of Fames! He was a literal human battering ram. Since I was born in New York the Syracuse Orangemen were one of my favorite teams… so I followed closely their constant flow of all-time great running backs… including but not limited to… the greatest football player of all-time Jim Brown… Ernie Davis… Jim Nance… Floyd Little… and the author of this amazing book… Larry Csonka.

Being that I’m an old Grandpa now… hopefully many of you will understand when I describe this book… as written like an old-time sports biography I read growing up. It’s written like you’re sitting in your living room… or on a barstool and right next to you is the author Larry Csonka… telling you his life story. From his days growing up on a farm in Ohio.. his high school days… his life and times at Syracuse University… to his All-Pro days under Coach Don Shula on the Miami Dolphins. It of course includes being a key member OF THE ONLY UNDEFEATED TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL… THE 1972 DOLPHINS!

Larry tells every step of his life in a straight forward manner and includes all the mileposts… not only of his success… but makes sure to point out the human mistakes he made along the way… from youth… to teen… to adult. Especially meaningful and touching… and a great educational and inspirational tale… is how he changed his life as he faced his mistakes. It is extremely gratifying when Csonka goes way out of his way to thank Principal Lawrence Saltis… who saw something in Larry and saved him from juvenile hall… and made him come to his office every day to study football… when Csonka knew nary an intricate detail of football strategy. He thought so highly of Mr. Saltis… that along with sharing the impact he had on his life… he included a picture of him also. His coach at Syracuse University… Ben Schwartzwalder… and Dolphin head coach Don Shula… are also covered in detail… and honored with literary praise for their place on the pedestal of Csonka’s life.

An enjoyable part of the author’s writing style… that is successful… where most authors’ fail… is in the “flash-backs”.. that are inherent in his storytelling. As an example… when discussing his undefeated season with the Dolphins in 1972… he flashes back to his undefeated season in high school… quickly and coherently… and then almost seamlessly… takes the reader back right to the original time frame he started with. Same thing with stealing a car or a bike.

I would imagine that most people who are going to read this book have a love for football… so some of the pieces to the puzzle of Csonka’s life… will be both informative… humorous… and or… emotional… and sometimes a combination of them all. As all knowledgeable football fans know… Csonka was a powerful… physical… fullback… who would rather run through someone than try to run around or away from a defensive opponent… so it’s extremely enjoyable when the Hall of Famer… ties his football success to his farm boy youth:

“WHEN I CARRIED THE BALL, I EMULATED BRONKO” (HIS IDOL… THE LEGENDARY BRONKO NAGURSKI) “I DROPPED MY SHOULDER AND TRIED TO RUN THROUGH WHOEVER WAS IN FRONT OF ME. AND I WAS GOOD AT IT, BUT I’D HAD LOTS OF TRAINING ON THE FARM. I COULD CARRY A BUCKET OF GRAIN THROUGH A BUNCH OF HUNGRY COWS AND MAKE MY WAY THROUGH, PUSHING THEM OUT OF THE WAY WITHOUT DROPPING THE BUCKET OR SPILLING ANY GRAIN. AFTER THAT, CARRYING A FOOTBALL THROUGH A BUNCH OF HUMANS DIDN’T SEEM THAT TOUGH. AND LIKE BRONKO, I DIDN’T HAVE SPEED, BUT I HAD BALANCE AND A STURDY FRAME AND A WILLINGNESS TO DISH OUT PUNISHMENT… AS WELL AS TAKE IT.”

As I am an HONORABLY-DISCHARGED-VIET-NAM-ERA-VETERAN… one particular segment of the book really affected me… and gave me an even deeper respect for Csonka. In 1971 with the Viet Nam War still raging… and Larry a member of the Miami Dolphins…he joined seventeen other NFL players to “entertain” the troops in Viet Nam. When they got there they were surprised to find out that they weren’t going there to be on a stage like a Bob Hope TV special… but they were dropped in to fire bases in the middle of the action. In fact while he was on a small plane shots hit the plane that missed the fuel tank by mere inches. Csonka’s words and descriptions were to me the most powerful in the book.

“HERE I’D ASSUMED WE PLAYERS WOULD BE WORKING USO SHOWS. BUT THERE WERE NO SHOWS. WE DID GET TO SHAKE A LOT OF HANDS, AND HOPEFULLY LIFT SOME SPIRITS, BUT WE ALSO EXPERIENCED **REAL-WAR**!

On the way back they stopped in Manila to visit seriously injured… burn victims and amputees…

***”IT WAS THE ROUGHEST FIVE DAYS OF MY LIFE!!***

“THE BURN CENTER WAS EVEN MORE HORRIFIC. I THOUGHT I HAD A DEFINITION FOR THE WORD TOUGH, BUT I DIDN’T. AND UNTIL I WALKED THROUGH THE BURN CENTER AND SAW COUNTLESS SOLDIERS BLISTERED BY NAPALM, I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT DEPRESSION WAS. MOST OF THESE MEN WERE TOUGHING IT OUT, BUT A FEW WERE JUST HANGING ON BY A THREAD. MY G-D, I THOUGHT, HOW DO YO LIVE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR TORSO SCORCHED, YOUR FACE OBLITERATED?”

“THE IMAGES OF THE BURNED AND INJURED SOLDIERS I VISITED IN MANILA WERE SEARED INTO MY PSYCHE. THEY WOULD ALWAYS BE WITH ME. I UNDERSTOOD THAT THEIR LIVES HAD BEEN FOREVER ALTERED. I WASN’T SURE MINE WOULD EVER BE THE SAME EITHER.”

The beauty and strength of this book… is that it is TRULY a life story. Larry shares his partying exploits… his mistakes… his unbelievable accomplishments… his growth to fully appreciate the team concept and teammates… and life in its best and worst… and most challenging moments… including years later when he faced death in a storm in the Bering Sea while filming an outdoors show he developed on ESPN.

And amid all of this human tumult… it is written and told… like he’s sharing a drink with you… exactly like a normal human being would do. Just like he never ran around a defensive player… he runs right over every experience in life.

[Josh Liller · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime Dolphins fan this book was a must-read once I learned of its existence and I picked it up to take a break from more serious history. Head On is specifically a football memoir (Csonka states in the book he plans a second memoir focused on his time in Alaska), one whose writing was specifically motivated by the death of Don Shula (who was 91) and Csonka's buddy Jim Kiick (from Alzheimer's caused by CTE).

The first third of the book is the best as Csonka recounts his college years at Syracuse, interspersed with flashbacks to his youth in rural Ohio. It's a creative way to vary the traditional biographical formula. Surprisingly, Zonk was not an athlete growing up, only getting into football because of a mentor. He comes across as a bit mischievous, especially in his youth. More importantly, he comes across as grounded, human, and relatable. It was a sharp contrast to the last biography I read before this, Greenlights, in which Matthew McConaughey comes of as a madman from an family of lunatics.

CTE looms over the whole book. Csonka is very conscious he's fortunate to still be mentally sharp despite the hits he took, including one where he blacked out twice and nearly had to have his skull drilled to relieve pressure...and only missed two games. However, I noticed something that goes unmentioned in the text: Csonka's memories, especially of football games, seem more detailed before that severe concussion than after. His stories with the Dolphins seem more about off-the-field things. If you've read the excellent Seventeen and Oh: Miami, 1972, and the NFL's Only Perfect Season then you're probably not going to learn anything new about the famous undefeated team.

One major post-football event that is covered in detailed is Csonka's harrowing experience in Alaska that required rescue by Coast Guard helicopter. This experience is related in the narrative immediately after The Longest Game, the infamous Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game, and the placement feels random.

The whole World Football League deal with Csonka, Kiick, and Paul Warfield (who shared an agent) is covered well here - the other highlight besides the Syracuse chapters. Csonka's three seasons with the Giants and his final season with the Dolphins feel almost like an afterthought, covering only about 10% of the book. His work with the USFL's Jacksonville Bulls is also covered briefly, mostly to relate his experience meeting Donald Trump in 1985 and to explain how he met his partner (both life and business), Audrey Bradshaw. Zonk speaks very kindly of his first wife, Pam, through the narrative, portraying his marriage as something that slowly unraveled over time due to various stresses related to his career. Csonka's other post-football activity, like his three seasons as co-host of American Gladiators, are mentioned very briefly - presumably (hopefully) to be saved for the planned second memoir mostly about Alaska.

Besides being a must-read for fans of the Miami Dolphins and/or Syracuse Orangemen (and football buffs in general), I would moderately recommend it for people who like biographies of interesting people doing interesting things. It's a fast read and will give you an interesting look at classic football.

[Scott Nickels · Rating 4 out of 5]

An audio book entitled “Head On?” An autobiography written by Larry Csonka? A book, when finished reading by me, includes being run over by a 245 pound man in peak athletic condition running at full speed with a forearm shiver to my head? Okay, the last sentence was not literally true but maybe, perhaps, could’ve happened after going to one of the many bars (preferably late, late, late night places that Csonka and some of his football teammates went to during his professional career as a legendary fullback that not only scored touchdowns but also ran purposely into players on the other team.
So his story as a legendary Hall-of- Fame running back that, during his peak years, became nicknamed Sundance to his backfield running partner Jim Kiick (Butch Cassidy), offers a frank view of his life, from quitting football at a young age, to his sometimes good, sometimes not-so-good relationship with his Hall-of-Fame coach Don Shula, to his on-again, the off again relationship with his childhood sweetheart/former wife, to his brazen actions both on and off the football field to…we’ll this sentence is way too long to describe a life “well-lived.”
So you will enjoy his entertaining life and how Csonka tells his story. I came away glad I know the man underneath the face mask. I’m not sure he realizes how selfish he comes across as he tells his story, whether telling about how he required his childhood sweetheart to go along with all the big decisions in his life. He mentions his two sons in passing and then they exit his life “stage” not to be referenced again. And boy does he enjoy chasing that “filthy lucre” money as his primary consideration even if it diminishes his family life, or his professional life.
So I have NetGalley to send thank for the chance to enjoy Csonka share his version of the “The Larry Csonka Story.” For me it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane and recommend that trip for other “classic” football fans all over.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What can I say about a sports autobiography that is this good?
I enjoy sports (auto)biographies, and this is one of the best I have read. I really enjoyed learning more about Larry Csonka and all of the other players from his era. I remember all of these names from when I was a kid and my dad watched football.
I am fascinated by how people achieve greatness, which is what Csonka did. He was an Ohio farm boy who became a football legend. He tells his story including major turning points in his life that led him to success. You do not have to be a football fan to appreciate this autobiography. Larry Csonka is a hard-worker and a great personality. His stories are funny and touching and relatable. Of course, there are plenty of interesting football anecdotes told from his first hand perspective.
In the epilogue, he explained what happened to all of the people who played a role in his life on and off the field. This provided perfect closure. I feel that I know Larry Csonka and would like to know him better after reading this book. I am motivated to watch videos of his football games and the Dolphins' undefeated season. A good work of nonfiction gives the reader ability to discuss the subject with others and a desire to learn more. This book does that.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Ed Moorhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though he retired from pro football before I was born, I've always considered Larry Csonka one of my favorite players of all time. I started rooting for the Miami Dolphins at 12 years old because of their star QB, Dan Marino, but quickly developed some admiration for the Dolphins teams of the 1970s (including their unbeaten season). That era of football was one I always wished I had witnessed, and so I devoured as many NFL Films productions I could about those Dolphins teams. Csonka was a favorite because of his hard-nosed style, and like many players of his era, he seemed larger than life to me. His memoir, while not all that well-written, reads as though he's a favorite uncle recalling his glory years. He writes of them with great pride and I pictured him excitedly narrating the book in a "can you believe this?" style of storytelling, a smile on his face the whole time. It's clear that he revered Coach Don Shula, and it was fun to read about how close he was with his teammate, Jim Kiik. I was hoping the book would include more about his adventures in the Alaskan wilderness (it certainly touched on it here and there), but perhaps that's another book altogether. As we get further and further away from Csonka's era of football, it was nice to read his recollections from his point of view. He's certainly a treasure. 3 Stars.

[Bethanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

👏👏👏👏👏 LARRY freaking CZONKA!! This book was IT for me!! I was born in 1991 into a household of Miami Dolfans and I grew up on the pride of the '72 season players and stories and I have always felt like it was a part of my identity BUT I never knew how much I never knew! This memoir was INCREDIBLE. Every single Dolfan needs to read this book. I laughed, I cried like a bitch, and I walked away with a deeper pride of the Miami Dolphins than I started with. I am beside myself. I don't have the words to genuinely express how much this book brought to me. Thank you for everything you have done to build our franchise up to what it is today! I am hoping for years and years of further success and to be perfectly honest, I hope your record never get broken, not even by the Dolphins. You guys were it and always will be! And your description of "The Greatest of All Time" vs. "The Great of your Time" was spot on!! you can't compare the game play of today to the game play of your time! Think about all the guys who wouldn't have cleared concussion protocol and been able to do what you guys did, so ferociously and in pain to boot. You're a boss, Larry. In most of my reviews I say "I hope no one reads this" but today, I HOPE YOU READ THIS bc I would love to meet you one day. Thank you for everything. Seriously.

[Bill Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What could be better than an insiders account of the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The only team with the perfect 17-0 record. Larry Csonka is only a few years older than I and I followed him from his days at Syracuse (following Floyd Little and Jim Brown) to his days with the Dolphins. Preceding all this were his days on the Ohio farm, his not-perfect days as a school boy or living in the dorms at Syracuse etc. He describes his love of the outdoors--fishing hunting and how his celebrity status allowed for him to be on American Sportsman and even have his own outdoors TV show. There were descriptions of his running back partner Jim Kiick, coach Don Shula, and a lot of funny stories about life in the NFL in the 70's. He described the 1971 playoff game with the Kansas City Chiefs that was double overtime and a no-name running back for the chiefs (Ed Podolak) broke all records for yards rushing and receiving (the Dolphins won).
So with so many stories and insider perspectives, why only 3 stars? Maybe the reader (it was an audio book), maybe the stories were not that engaging. Whatever the reason, Csonka still resides in my hero hall. I still see him as one of the toughest players of the game and take no shame stating he was one of my inspirations to play the game.

[Todd G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a Dolphins fan since about 1974. Larry Csonka was the catalyst to my becoming a fan: he was in a poster I bought at 7-Eleven back in then and ever since I bleed aqua and orange. I was thrilled to be able to read about who I feel is one the best if not the best Dolphins player in team history. Others have come and done great things (Dan Marino, for example) but Csonka was THE workhorse…one of the main blocks that was the perfect team in 1972. I would even hazard that if Csonka wasn’t on the team there would have been no Perfect Season.
Csonka did a great job telling his story, interspersing childhood memories with stories of his football career. The flashbacks did well to back up Csonka’s attitude about life and his pursuit of being the best he could. And I couldn’t help but feel bad for him as he deceived what he went through post-Dolphins.
I will read ANYTHING Dolphins related (I did read “Seventeen And Oh” as well). If others can possibly write as well and be as open as Csonka was then I can only hope for more insight into not only the Perfect Team but to the story behind the team I’ve followed for roughly 2/3 of my life

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another look at not only one of the Dolphins but also a Hall of Fame football player. He goes into his childhood and some of the hijinks he got into and also how he got into playing football and then going to the University of Syracuse. From there he goes into his time with the Dolphins the games played and his teammates, along with the perfect season they had. Also how Kiick and Warfield ended up going to the WFL he does not say it but maybe if they had stayed they might have gone to the playoffs again and who knows anything could have happened. The book is filled with his memories of teammates and his life after football When he was up in Alaska he had one moment where the Coast Guard had to rescue him and others as their boat sank in the frigid waters. A really good book and worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir from perhaps the greatest all-around fullback to ever play the game, “Head On” features a collection of memories from various moments in Larry Csonka’s life. From growing up in rural Ohio to an unreal life schedule at Syracuse to his halcyon days with the Miami Dolphins, “Zonk” is a mix of Paul Bunyan and one of the Festrunk Brothers.

The chronological jumps can make it difficult to follow the narrative, and there are significant stretches of his life that seem to be almost completely skipped over. There is a pervasive melancholy throughout the book as well, as lost potential, lost friends, and lost opportunities abound.

In the acknowledgements, Csonka recognizes how quickly the book had to come together to align with the 50th anniversary of Miami’s 1972 “Perfect Season,” and that haste is sadly evident in “Head On.” Longtime Dolphins fans will appreciate the insights, but there is very little new here that hasn’t been shared in other, better books, and one finishes this account wishing there was a little more transparency and even vulnerability from the author.

[Stan Crader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having met Csonka a few times…and entertained him in my home, I knew for certain that while he was a football great, football didn’t define Larry Csonka. “Head On” filled in the blanks for me, explaining the background to Larry, the person, the outdoorsman, the boy from rural America who survived fame. Csonka’s story is one of a person who worked very hard to achieve a dream that frequently, narrowly, eluded him. Csonka is a great American; he happened to be good at football, but he’s better at being a normal person.

[Chip Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good in depth autobiography about one of the toughest running backs of the 70s. It's not necessarily chronological but he does manage to cover his life. He does address the problem with CTE his teammates have had. Almost all of his late teammates had it at the time of their death. Zonk does not seem to be suffering from this presently but does have other issues. I like how he didn't criticize modern players as soft. He believes players should be judged in their respective eras. The stories about the Dolphins were great for me.

[Hillsullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first house was on Progress Park on the Csonka Farm in Stow, so I had to read this book. Lots of little trivia about the area. I cannot figure out where a reservoir might be in Munroe Falls, and the only city mispronounced was Solon. I also worked for a few years with Larry's cousin Bill Csonka. I was a fan of Shula and Landry, found them charasmatic. I guess I like master minds. Those who like football may appreciate it more.

[Kent Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blast from my past and I'd completely forgotten the WFL. Csonka writes like he plays, straightforward and head on. I do wonder if any other offensive player has ever been flagged for unnecessary roughness while carrying the ball.

Also, the two greatest onomatopoetically named fullbacks from the game meeting -- Bronco Nagurski and Larry Csonka -- should have known.

[Joel Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for this book all my life!
There was nothing more fun than being a kid in S Florida in 1972, and being swept up in the Dolphin mania led by the swaggering, hard nose running of Mr Csonka!
This is Csonka in his own words, and it hits a false note.
Highly entertaining and informative.

[Catherine Linneweber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Head On !

The Dolphins were exciting to watch especially Larry !!
This book let me go back in time to remember how great Larry was.
Thanks for writing this book.
I have wondered about the others players and he answers all my questions about since they retired.
I still have and wear every superbowl game day my Csonka jersey 👍🏻😜

[J. Scott Frampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite power running back of all time. The original tough guy who is also a nice guy….and a good guy. The anchor of the 72’ Fins. Great book, that fills in many of the gaps. Enjoyable audio book too.

[Paul Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone raised on 1972 Dolphins lore, I greatly enjoyed this book. It’s filled with stories from Larry Csonka’s Dolphins days and his life before and after that, all written in his no-nonsense first-person style. If you’re a fan of that team or that era or NFL history, you’ll like this.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Csonka was just before my time, so I knew who he was but didn’t have much of a recollection of watching him play. Most poignant to me was his relationship with and respect for Don Shula.

[Michael Battista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zonk

Was never a fan of his but part of the reason I read bios is to get to know people and I'm good with Zonk now. Look forward to his Alaska book.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you are or ever were a Miami Dolphin fan in the 1970's, this book is a must read.

[Ken Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Nice to read a factual memoir of an all time NFL player. Anyone old enough to remember the 72 dolphin season will appreciate.

[Scott Kardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who is a fan of the Miami Dolphins football team.

[Kevin Rumsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even a Vikings fan can enjoy this book

[Robertgravlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually it’s more 3/12 stars