How One Resilient Kicker Learned there was
More to Life than the NFL
Description
- Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
- Title: The Point After
- Author: Sean Conley
- Genre: Biography, Football
- Length: 273 pages
- Publisher: Lyons Press
- Release Date: July 21, 2020
A vivid account of life in the NFL—and an inspiring story of everything that comes after.
Against seemingly impossible odds, Sean Conley became the starting kicker for the University of Pittsburgh in his senior year. A year later, he suited up for the Detroit Lions. But when he joined the New York Jets soon after, Conley’s injuries caught up to him, and his lifelong dream came crashing down in a crisis of denial and fear.
The Point After is an all-access look at the NFL, one of the most intense workplaces in sports. Conley describes pushing through pain at NFL training camps, surrounded by rookies, All-Pro veterans, and long-shot undrafted free agents, all hell-bent on staying in the game. He recounts the insecurities he dealt with on and off the field, and the despair that overtook him when his career ended.
But while Conley thought life was over, it was just beginning. Transcending football, this is the story of an ex–football player who discovered the true meaning of sports and life, and found happiness in the most unexpected way. Embodying the spirit of the underdog, this is a moving tale of strength, determination, and spiritual grit.
My Thoughts
First, I want to say that you don’t have to be a real fan of football to fall in love with this book. After all, I did and I only love football when my Kansas City Chiefs are winning. Which lately is quite a bit. My point is, I’m a very fair-weather sports fan. If you are too, don’t worry that this is for only sports-minded people.
Secondly, I want to say if you ever have the opportunity to have Sean Conley or his wife Karen on your team, sign them up quickly! I don’t ever remember reading about such tenacity and support before. And those qualities belong to both of them.
This story covers Sean’s childhood, football career, and family life. Surprisingly, remember I’m not a major sports fan, it captured my interest almost immediately and didn’t let up. The story felt honest and didn’t seem to hide anything. This is a man who never played football in high school, but had a dream and determination to make it to the NFL. Sound impossible? It nearly was for this young man who had such drive that he ignored pain and let his dream rule his behavior.
And this dream wasn’t ignored by his cheer leaders who completely stood beside him regardless of the brick walls that he continually encountered. His cheer leading family didn’t offer words of wisdom or try to talk him out of continuing with such a big goal. What if it didn’t work out and he became depressed, or worse? He was so determined that he became obsessed. At times this had to have been difficult for his family to endured. Yet on the upside they had to have felt elated for the positive things he was accomplishing.
This story does recount Conley’s football experiences, but it’s filled with much more. Below are a few quotes from the book that I particularly enjoyed:
(It took a little bit to locate these quotes, since heaven forbid I highlight a phrase and deface a beautiful book in the process. But, not-to-worry, I did mark the pages with convenient pieces of torn scrap paper. Alas, I have now located a few quotes in the book that I particularly liked.
She cared. My dream of a pro career wasn’t unrealistic to her. It wasn’t pie in the sky. It was something I believed in, so she believed in it too because she saw us as “we.”
I asked myself what if, over and over. I couldn’t give up my identity as an athlete. It made me tough and confident.
You won’t be successful if you just focus on what you do wrong.
This is the story of a hyperactive child who was able to direct his drive toward something he wanted badly. It’s a story that shares his ups and downs with honest accounts. It’s a love story. It’s a book with pictures included. And finally, it’s a page-turner that is well written and will hold your attention.
My Concerns
Absolutely nothing concerned me.
Final Thoughts
Fair weather sports fans or avid sports fans will not be sorry they picked up this book. Sean’s journey is a story I highly . But if you get nothing more from this review remember this, if the occasion arises you want Sean Conley and Karen on your team!
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book and the ability to post a review without any stipulations.
Rating
About the Author
A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Sean Conley fell in love with kicking at age eight. After playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh, he began a dramatic, abbreviated career in professional football, playing for the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and finally for the Scottish Claymores in Europe. That journey came with a price. As a result of overtraining, Sean suffered career-ending injuries. As part of his rehabilitation and regrouping, Sean became a dedicated yoga practitioner at the suggestion of his wife, Karen, a yoga instructor. He eventually embraced the mindfulness, meditation, and philosophy of yoga as a new life direction, and became a yoga teacher himself. He and his wife now own Amazing Yoga in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with four locations. Sean is the author of Amazing Yoga (Autumn House Press, 2010) and lives in Pittsburgh with Karen and their four children.
