Sidelines and Bloodlines : A Father, His Sons, and Our Life in College Football

"Ryan McGee has been one of my closest friends for nearly half our lives, and my admiration for his storytelling ability is infinite. Sidelines and Bloodlines is his deft storytelling at its best. Fathers and sons and sports--and the impenetrable bonds forged and memories created when they intersect." --Marty Smith, New York Times bestselling author and ESPN reporter Football is a game of lines--on and off the gridiron In Sidelines and Bloodlines, Ryan McGee--co-host of the popular Marty & McGee show on ESPN Radio and SEC Network--teams up with his father and brother to share lessons learned between the white lines, featuring a cast of characters that runs from no-name small college athletes and coaches to one-name legends such as Holtz, Paterno, Tebow, and Bo. The McGees provide a rare and often hilarious glimpse inside the lives of college officials, detailing how a love for the game convinces accomplished professionals from all walks of life to voluntarily endure ceaseless insults and highly public criticism. The book contains memorable stories of brawling high school referees and making awkward small talk with George Lucas and Darth Vader at the Rose Bowl to the heart-tugging story of young sons in the stands on a Saturday as a stream profanity-laden insults directed at their father drowns out the marching band. Sidelines and Bloodlines delivers laughs, tears, and a deeper understanding of a life in stripes America's Great Game Brings Together Individuals Of All Ages, From All Walks Of Life. And These Literal And Figurative Lines Are The Connective Tissue That Weaves The Bonds Between Coaches And Players, Fans And Star Players, And Fathers And Sons. For Espn's Ryan Mcgee, Football Is A Lifelong Passion Formed From Growing Up As The Son Of Dr. Jerry Mcgee, A Man Who Wore Stripes For Decades As One Of The Most Highly-decorated Officials In College Football History. In Sidelines And Bloodlines, Ryan Mcgee Teams Up With His Father And Brother To Share Lessons Learned Between The White Lines, Featuring A Cast Of Characters That Runs From No-name Small College Athletes And Coaches To One-name Legends Such As Holtz, Paterno, Tebow, And Bo. The Mcgees Provide A Rare And Often Hilarious Glimpse Inside The Lives Of College Officials, Detailing How A Love For The Game Convinces Accomplished Professionals From All Walks Of Life To Voluntarily Endure Ceaseless Insults, Public Criticism, And The Expressed Goal Of Doing One's Job On A Very Public Stage In A Way That Will Hopefully Not Draw Any Attention To How That Job Is Done. From Hilarious Stories Of Brawling High School Referees And Making Awkward Small Talk With George Lucas And Darth Vader At The Rose Bowl To The Heart-tugging Story Of Young Sons In The Stands On A Saturday As A Stream Profanity-laden Insults Directed At Their Father Drowns Out The Marching Band, Sidelines And Bloodlines Delivers Laughs, Tears, And A Deeper Understanding Of A Life In Stripes. "...ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee enlists the help of his father and brothers to tell the story of a life lived in black and white. McGee traces his father's 36-year career, from a small college game in 1973 in Greensboro, North Carolina, with a few hundred fans to the 2009 BCS Championship Game with 27 million... Sidelines and Bloodlines isn't just about college football, officiating, or even funny stories from the road. It is about fathers and their sons and the connections so many children make with their parents through the unique magic of sports."--Dust jacket flap