Romo: My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons - Softcover

Romanowski, Bill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006115217X ISBN 13: 9780061152177

Publisher: Harper & Bros., 2006

Synopsis

Off the field, Bill Romanowski was a caring father and devoted husband.

On the field, Romo was unstoppable, terrorizing the NFL for sixteen brutal years.

Some players called him a throwback, some called him mean, some called him dirty. But they all respected him and would much rather have played with him than against him. Coaches loved Romo for the heart and soul he gave to the game. He was rewarded with two Pro Bowl appearances and four Super Bowl rings, but it all came at a heavy price: dozens of concussions that have led to dizzy spells, memory lapses. . . and questionable choices that undermined his integrity. Would he do it all over again? Romo the intimidating linebacker would in a heartbeat. Bill Romanowski, however, would do things differently today.

About this title

About the Author

Bill Romanowski lives in California with his wife, Julie, and their two children.

From Publishers Weekly

This is the oddest football autobiography ever published because the book is 30% football and 70% apothecary. Romanowski, a former all-pro NFL linebacker and a member of four Super Bowl winners, was known in his day for his reckless abandon on the field—and his dirty hits. In the beginning, he describes"a reawakening of my conscience," but then, with demented relish, goes on to talk about his dirty hits on opponents and teammates alike, and his singular determination to get his body in shape so he could play in the NFL. He goes on about the powers of good nutrition, but soon starts naming the drugs and steroids that put him on the field: THG, DMSO cream, prescription strength Motrin, Supac, Naprosyn, ephedrine (which, along with heat stroke, reported helped kill NFL player Korey Stringer in 2001, but has a fan in Romanowski: "Ephedrin has its benefits.... It worked for me") and Phentermine, an appetite suppressant with amphetamine-like effects for which Romanowski would stand trial for illegally obtaining—and be acquitted. What is almost as shocking are the innumerable concussions that Romanowski received during his career and how he suffered significant memory loss—but kept on playing. It seemed inevitable that Romanowski would get caught up in the BALCO steroid trial of Victor Conte Jr., who copped a plea this past summer to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and money laundering. Romanowski testified, with immunity, before Conte's grand jury. Romanowski has a way with words ("My rage was the orgasm of my fear"; "I got his testicles in my hand and twisted them with all my anger"), which 60 Minutes plans to feature in an interview in October. This book is sure to make noise this fall and probably head straight for the bestseller lists. (Oct.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Harper & Bros.
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 006115217X
• ISBN 13: 9780061152177
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 314