Overview

""His passion for the game is unparalleled! It's a love story worth reading!"" -Steve Wright, author of Aggressively Human, entrepreneur, NFL veteran with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Raiders ""This book gives you the other angle of pro sports, the side of the officials who work their way up to the bigs to be loved or hated."" -John Ziemann, Band President Baltimore Colts' Marching Band/Baltimore's Marching Ravens Think you know football? Not until you ride along with ""Sweet Lou"" Hammond as he pursues his dream of officiating in the National Football League-a dream he discovers comes at a steep price. More than a sports journal, Lou's story is a hilarious and heroic journey from the hardscrabble lot at Baltimore's Radecke Park to the manicured lawn at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens. His whistle-stops to success include every level of the game from sandlot to professional. Go behind the scenes and learn about the third team that plays every down. See the game between the white lines and from the press box. Meet the players, owners, and fans who created today's football juggernaut. As ""Sweet Lou"" says: ""It's the best seat in the house, but you have to stand.""

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9798888244265

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Reviews

""As an undrafted free agent from Northern Iowa who played for eleven years in the NFL, I know the dedication it takes to suit up for a game. But that virtue doesn't pertain to just players and coaches. Just ask any football official. Better yet, just read about the career of Sweet Lou, and you'll discover the domain of tryouts, training camps, clinics, chalk talks, and film sessions does not belong exclusively to players and coaches. For over fifty years, Lou has been officiating football at every level. To last that long, you simply have to love the game. Having played in Baltimore before and after the Colts moved, I know about the love affair between the fans and its team. Having grown up in Baltimore, Lou was one of those fans. His passion for the game is unparalleled! It's a love story worth reading!"" -Steve Wright, author of Aggressively Human, entrepreneur, NFL veteran with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Raiders ""Despite playing seventeen years of organized football, including six in the NFL, I learned so much about the intricacies of officiating that I had never realized. People don't know how difficult it is to become a respected official and the time and effort that has to be invested from the sandlots to the NFL. Lou has embodied all the traits that go into being a successful official, husband, and father. My only wish is that I had met him sooner. His story is an easy and entertaining read!"" -Sam Havrilak, NFL veteran with the Baltimore Colts and New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl V champion, first player in Super Bowl history to complete a pass, catch a pass, and take a handoff ""When Lou Hammond states that he came from the sandlots, correction. He earned his stripes on the dirt lots just like his childhood hero, Johnny Unitas. This book gives you the other angle of pro sports, the side of the officials who work their way up to the bigs to be loved or hated. Going back over fifty years, it's a sports history lesson on how the game has changed and those who changed it. Lou is a true professional who has heart and pride in his job. If you want to witness the game from the field to the press box, then I highly recommend They Call Me Sweet Lou."" -John Ziemann, Band President Baltimore Colts' Marching Band/Baltimore's Marching Ravens ""As a football coach, I have always had a great relationship with the officials. With Lou, I had a great relationship with a great official. This is evidenced by the fact Lou issued me my only penalty in my thirty-six years of coaching. It was well deserved as I was making my point past the hash mark. I've always found Lou to be a referee who was knowledgeable about the complicated rules of football. Our friendship remains despite that one penalty."" -Gordy Combs, head football coach for seventeen years at Towson University, commentator with Towson Football Network for ten years

"""As an undrafted free agent from Northern Iowa who played for eleven years in the NFL, I know the dedication it takes to suit up for a game. But that virtue doesn't pertain to just players and coaches. Just ask any football official. Better yet, just read about the career of Sweet Lou, and you'll discover the domain of tryouts, training camps, clinics, chalk talks, and film sessions does not belong exclusively to players and coaches. ""For over fifty years, Lou has been officiating football at every level. To last that long, you simply have to love the game. Having played in Baltimore before and after the Colts moved, I know about the love affair between the fans and its team. Having grown up in Baltimore, Lou was one of those fans. His passion for the game is unparalleled! It's a love story worth reading!"" -Steve Wright, author of Aggressively Human, entrepreneur, NFL veteran with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Raiders ""Despite playing seventeen years of organized football, including six in the NFL, I learned so much about the intricacies of officiating that I had never realized. People don't know how difficult it is to become a respected official and the time and effort that has to be invested from the sandlots to the NFL. Lou has embodied all the traits that go into being a successful official, husband, and father. My only wish is that I had met him sooner. His story is an easy and entertaining read!"" -Sam Havrilak, NFL veteran with the Baltimore Colts and New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl V champion, first player in Super Bowl history to complete a pass, catch a pass, and take a handoff ""When Lou Hammond states that he came from the sandlots, correction. He earned his stripes on the dirt lots just like his childhood hero, Johnny Unitas. This book gives you the other angle of pro sports, the side of the officials who work their way up to the bigs to be loved or hated. Going back over fifty years, it's a sports history lesson on how the game has changed and those who changed it. Lou is a true professional who has heart and pride in his job. If you want to witness the game from the field to the press box, then I highly recommend They Call Me Sweet Lou."" -John Ziemann, Band President Baltimore Colts' Marching Band/Baltimore's Marching Ravens"

Author Information

Lou Hammond has officiated football games for over fifty years in sandlot, high school, college, flag, semipro, arena, the Canadian Football League, and the National Football League. During his career, he served on the board of directors for various leagues and conferences. He currently works game-day functions in the booth for the NCAA and NFL. In addition to his many awards, he was elected to the Minor League Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Paul Travers, a prior Marine Corps officer, park ranger, security analyst, and ballpark tour guide, has written numerous books, including the bestseller Eyewitness to Infamy: An Oral History of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. In 2009, he through-hiked the Appalachian Trail as a fundraiser for veterans with Alzheimer's disease. His most recent book, Dancing with the Mountains: Alzheimer's, Angels, and the Appalachian Trail, chronicles that adventure.

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