Even if you are not a fan of the New England Patriots, and I fall into this category, you will enjoy the “From Darkness to Dynasty,” which chronicles the unlikely path the team traveled from debuting as an original AFL franchise, to turning it around and becoming a NFL dynasty. As Thornton documents, the franchise didn’t even have a home stadium for the first decade, as the team played at college stadiums. The Patriots even played at Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox.
Thornton offers a unique blend of NFL history with levity, as he highlights the many Sullivan family blunders through the years, including missing out on coaches Vince Lombardi, Joe Paterno, and Chuck Noll. Speaking of blunders, the Patriots agreed to move a home game across the country to San Diego. The following year, at the mercy of sharing a stadium, they moved another home game to Alabama, playing Joe Namath in front of his college home base.
Thornton recounts the tale of head coach Clive Rush, who grabbed a live microphone and received an electrical shock. On the field, the coach received bench penalties for arguing with officials. Rush called press conferences just to chew out writers he disagreed with. In another New England gaffe, the team traded future hall of famer Nick Buoniconti, who became a star with the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, and would win back to back super bowls.
In the 1970’s, it appeared the team’s fortunes were changing by landing franchise quarterback Jim Plunkett in the NFL draft, but as Thornton explains, the team traded him away. Plunkett would win two Super Bowls rings with the Oakland Raiders. Finally, in the franchise’s twenty sixth season, the team qualified for the Super Bowl. However, the Patriots were no match for the Super Bowl shuffling Chicago Bears, who won by a mere 36 points.
“From Darkness to Dynasty” is a fun audiobook filled with fun (and maybe not so fun for the Patroits) stories, such as the 1960 open try outs, missing out on Fred Dryer, who later starred in the 1980’s crime drama “Hunter.” Don’t worry, Thornton covers the infamous “snow plow game.” Let us not forget the Victor Kiam era, and the Lisa Olsen (lady reporters in the lockerroom) fiasco. And of course, the Jackson tour that forced the Sullivan family to sell the team.
I highly recommend ‘From Darkness to Dynasty” for all sports, and absolutely enjoyed the top notch narration of Chris Andrew Ciulla.
The audiobook is available from downpour.com
By: Jerry Thornton
Narrated by: Chris Andrew Ciulla
Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
Release date: 09-06-16
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.