Joe Zagorski

"I think that Larry Little was a guy you could count on, play in, and play out. He was going to be the first one up the hill. . . come hell or high water."- Larry Csonka, Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Running Back What measures a man's greatness? For Larry Little, it is his character. Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Little shares the journey of his life in this rich and inspiring narrative. Beginning in Miami, Little followed a road that was humble and often difficult, but which eventually led him to greatness. Through his grit, determination, and passion, Larry Little left his mark on a sport that has helped to shape him into the man that he has become today. Little was a mainstay for the Miami Dolphins' offensive line for the entire decade of the 1970s, as he became a two-time Super Bowl champion. From the Outhouse to the Penthouse traces Little's steps throughout his life, a life filled with inspirational moments and lessons for future generations to absorb.

"I think that Larry Little was a guy you could count on, play in, and play out. He was going to be the first one up the hill. . . come hell or high water." - Larry Csonka, Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame Running Back What measures a man's greatness? For Larry Little, it is his character. Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Little shares the journey of his life in this rich and inspiring narrative. Beginning in Miami, Little followed a road that was humble and often difficult, but which eventually led him to greatness. Through his grit, determination, and passion, Larry Little left his mark on a sport that has helped to shape him into the man that he has become today. Little was a mainstay for the Miami Dolphins' offensive line for the entire decade of the 1970s, as he became a two-time Super Bowl champion. From the Outhouse to the Penthouse traces Little's steps throughout his life, a life filled with inspirational moments and lessons for future generations to absorb.

Willie Lanier was the first African-American middle linebacker in pro football history, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967-1977 in an era when discrimination against black athletes was still very much the norm. Lanier gave football fans a new mold of athlete, comprised of equal amounts intelligence, creativity, individualism, and collaboration. America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier explores the life and times of this groundbreaking football star. A walk-on at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, Lanier established himself as a force on the field. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967, Lanier fought his way to the starting middle linebacker position and became a Super Bowl champion, an eight time All-Pro, and the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1972. After retiring from football, Lanier went to work in the business world and became the CEO of a major US company. This book delves into Lanier’s college years, his NFL exploits, and his many successes off the gridiron, revealing a man who, through hard work and determination, made the most of every opportunity that came his way. On and off the football field, Lanier showed America a glimpse of the future, when fairness, opportunity, and racial integrity could be the reality for everyone. An inspiration for athletes and fans everywhere, Lanier’s story is that of a man who loved challenges, and faced every one of them with an unmatched drive to excel and succeed. Lanier was, and still is, a trailblazer.

The 1972 Green Bay Packers were not expected to challenge for a playoff spot, or even to top their four victories from the season before. But the players were an eclectic group of over-achievers, 20 of whom were brand new to the team. Despite disheartening decisions by a questionable head coach, they gelled almost immediately and by season's end became the only Packers team throughout the 1970s to earn a division title. This book details how they succeeded beyond all expectations and tells one of the great stories in pro football history.

The 1970 merger between the American Football League and the National Football League laid the foundation for a stronger brand of gridiron competition, providing a new level of excitement for fans. This book examines each year of the NFL's pivotal decade in detail, covering the great names, great rivalries and great games, as well as the key changes in both strategy and rules. Along the way, the author explains how pro football developed into a near-religious American tradition.