Bill McGrane (1933–2015)

Not a fantastic book, but pretty good subject matter. Alan Page was the leader of the Purple People Eaters, the defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings in the 1960s and 70s. This defensive unit is still heralded as one of the best of all time, and Alan Page was a god amongst men.

He was the first defense player to win the NFL MVP award, and only one person has done it since. He is in the college football hall of fame, the pro football hall of fame, and the Vikings ring of honor (plus his number, 88, is retired). When inducted into the pro hall of fame in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, he used his speech to call out for more support towards education. He wasn't just a football player, he felt that sports was a way for him to build a platform and make a difference.

He started an organization to help families get the education they deserve. While he played for the Minnesota Vikings, he went to law school. He passed the bar exam and became a practicing attorney while still a football player. He was a trailblazer in the fight for player's rights and the formation of the NFL Player's Association. To this day, their award for player advocacy is named after Alan Page.

Then, in the 1990s, Page decided to run for the Supreme Court of Minnesota, and won. He presided on the court for years, and he was in charge of appointing the committee that ruled on the controversial election of Senator Al Franken.

In short, he's one of the most exceptional men I've ever read about. A titan on the field, a fierce advocate off the field. An icon of Minnesota's history, which has always been a state that prided itself on progressive policies and mediocre sports.

One of my all time favorite athletes, this book taught me a lot about the man under the helmet. The writing wasn't exceptional, but that's alright. I wish it hadn't focused so much on other people, but apparently Alan Page was so humble he wanted his own biography to be as little about him as possible. I respect that, but c'mon bud. I didn't pay this money to read about everybody but you.… (plus d'informations)