The Steve Young Story

By Laury Livsey

Book Overview

Despite being the highest-ranked passer in the National Football League in 1992 and 1993, San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young was tagged a ?loser? when the 49ers failed to win the Super Bowl during both campaigns. But Young persevered, and with an unwavering belief in his talents and a will to win that is second to none, he realized his quest for a Super Bowl ring in 1994 when the 49ers crushed the San Diego Chargers 49-23 in Super Bowl XXIX. For years, Young toiled in the shadow of his legendary predecessor, Joe Montana, who led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories as the pre-eminent team of the 1980s. But Super Bowl XXIX was Young's time to shine. He earned Most Valuable Player honors for throwing six touchdowns in the game, but more important, he etched his name forever in the annals of football history. Despite the odds, a new legend was born… .This is Steve Young's story. Steve Young has encountered seemingly insurmountable challenges at every step of his football career. As a freshman at Brigham Young University, he was the Cougars? eighth string quarterback. After working his way into a starting role, Young had the dubious honor of living up to the legacy of BYU passing legend Jim McMahon. Following BYU, Young signed with the Los Angeles Express of the fledgling United States Football League, but the league folded after a handful of mediocre seasons. His next team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, were perennial doormats in the National Football League. When he finally signed with the competitive and respected San Francisco 49ers, Young was relegated to a backup role behind Joe Montana, then considered the greatest NFL quarterback ever. When at last he replaced Montana in the 49er lineup, the media and 49er fans forced Young to live in his predecessor's shadow. Though under continuous pressure, Young never lost touch with his own identity. Whether scrambling to avoid the clutches of blitzing linebackers or trying to live up to impossible expectations placed on him by 49er fans, Young remained devoted to community, religion, and his fierce desire to succeed. Young's focus and tenacity culminated in his legendary performance in Super Bowl XXIX. After a long wait, Steve Young finally emerged on top. Against all odds, he became the quintessential hero, a man millions of fans respect and admire. This is the story of his triumph. About the Author Laury Livsey is a writer and editor in Salt Lake City, where he lives with his wife and two children. His articles have appeared in numerous national magazines and newspapers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761507566
• ISBN13: 9780761507567
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Very Insightfuland Well-written.

I read this book when I became a Steve Young junkie while at BYU. I am still at BYU, and still a S.Y. junkie, but at least now I know a lot more about the man. The authors of this book seem to have gotten close enough to the protagonist to show some of the most private aspects of his personality. I got a truer sense of who Steve really is, what he believes, and why he comports himself the way he does. Apart from being well-written and chronologized, the book provided a lot of back-ground kowledge with regards to Steve's football career, starting out with his college experience, as well as some of the challenges he had to face in the AFL and NFL, right up to the point where he led his team to a superbowl victory during the 1994 season. It also invoked a lot of compassion in me for Steve Young, because one only has to read the book half-way to realize that the path he had to travel to success was not an easy one. It has inspired me in many ways. I would recommend this book not only for people who are interested in the 49er Quarterback, but also for those who don't favor him that much, or who don't really know a lot about him. For those of us who will never meet the guy, this is the closest we will ever get to his inner-self, to understanding where he's coming from, and perhaps, eventually understanding Steve, the man.

The most comprehensive book on Steve Young

A lot of books have been written on the 49ers' great Quarterback Steve Young but none is as deep in details as this one. It is entertaining, absolutely interesting and (i would say) formative because it teaches about how fulfilling our dreams, heading in the good direction...I loved this book.

The best available book on Steve Young!

This book is informative and brilliantly written. Unlike the other books on Steve Young that I have read -- books which often rely on "angles" about this man's life -- this book is an honest and compelling account. It's writing is tight and detailed. I loved this book.