History buffs and sports fanatics alike will enjoy the book A Big Mess in Texas: The Miraculous, Disastrous 1952 Dallas Texans and the Craziest Untold Story in NFL History by David Fleming. Personally, I fit into both categories so I was intrigued to read about something I had no knowledge of prior to receiving this book as an advanced reader copy. I have been watching the NFL since 1985 and actively reading history books since the early 2000s. I can confidently saw I’ve never read a story quite like this one.
You, too, may have missed this wacky but true story of the year football came to Texas, many years prior to the Dallas Cowboys’ establishment in the Lone Star State. In the early 1950s NFL teams were losing money nearly every season. The New York Yanks were one of these failing franchises that the owner sold back to the league. Then young Texas millionaire Giles Miller gathered investors to bring professional football to their state for the first time. It was a mess from the very beginning, making for an entertaining read.
The Jim Crow South meant African-American athletes were treated terribly despite their athletic skills. The players were out of control with barroom brawls and strip poker parties. With unbelievable stories of excess and dysfunction, A Big Mess in Texas makes for a fascinating and informative quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
