What I have been reading lately #50

Just this morning, I finished reading Brian Billick's More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL (co-authored by Michael MacCambridge). Billick is a former offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and later head coach of the Baltimore Ravens (with whom he won Super Bowl XXXV). He currently works as a commentator for the FOX network, but his name has been mentioned as a possible candidate to fill the vacant head coaching position in Miami.

This book was published in the fall of 2009 and gives a broad overview of the current state of the NFL from the perspective of league officials, owners, general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, and players. In the book, Billick draws upon both his personal experiences as a player and coach, as well as the insights he gained from the world of television broadcasting. I enjoyed reading this book; however, I am sure that I will have completely forgotten that I ever even read it within a matter of just a few days.

Below: Brian Billick (left) talking to Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller

Milan have a new coach

A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL NOTE

6/25/2010

MILAN - A.C. Milan communicate that Massimiliano Allegri is the new coach of the First Team.
The coach has signed a contract until 30 June 2012.

THE COACH IS ALLEGRI!

6/25/2010 3:42:00 PM

Freshness, youth, determination. That's the human and professional baggage of Massimiliano Allegri, whose offensive vocation embarks at Milanello and on the Rossoneri's bench. Good luck coach! From the heart.

MILAN - Massimiliano Allegri, born on 11 August 1967 in Livorno, is our new coach. Now it's official. The announcement arrived today. All the Rossoneri fans are very satisfied. The wait made the moment even more gratifying.

As a player, his journey in Serie A took six years, from 1992 to 1998 with Pescara, Cagliari and Napoli. In reality his professional activity has been 19 years long, starting in 1984. The new Rossoneri coach ended his career on the pitch in the same summer, 2003, when Milan became European champions for the sixth time in Manchester.
As a coach, Massimiliano Allegri has worked in all categories, starting in Serie C2 with Aglianese, then in C1 with Spal, Grosseto, and Sassuolo. In Emilia, at the court of a great Rossoneri fan like Giorgio Squinzi, Allegri earned the promotion to Serie B and won the C1 Supercoppa.

Then, Cagliari. Massimiliano Allegri's destiny subtly started to cross that of Milan while he was on the Sardinians' bench.

In the first five matches of the 2008/2009 season, Cagliari always lost, despite playing well. On the sixth matchday, there was Cagliari-Milan at the Sant'Elia. Carlo Ancelotti's Rossoneri were coming off the derby victory at San Siro with Ronaldinho's goal and the Uefa qualification obtained in Zurich. The predictions were all for a Rossoneri victory, but the match finished goalless with many chances for the home side. Allegri obtained the first point of a great season (ninth place in the end for the Rossoblu, 53 points, victory in Turin against Juventus and a draw away to Inter after Acquafresca's opening goal), against the Rossoneri. For the 2008/2009 season, Allegri won the 'Golden Bench' award, given to the best coach according to Serie A and B coaches.

As a footballer, Allegri played at Pescara alongside Stefano Borgonovo, who's still very connected to the Rossoneri colors, and scored his first goal in a spectacular Pescara-Milan on 13 September 1992: it finished 5-4 for Milan with a hat-trick by a certain Marco Van Basten, whose heel has often been talked about during this summer.