Bloody Confused!: A Clueless American Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccer

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description

Chuck Culpepper was a veteran sports journalist edging toward burnout . . . then he went to London and discovered the high-octane, fanatical (and bloody confusing!) world of English soccer.

After covering the American sports scene for fifteen years, Chuck Culpepper suffered from a profound case of Common Sportswriter Malaise. He was fed up with self-righteous proclamations, steroid scandals, and the deluge of in-your-face PR that saturated the NFL, the NBA, and MLB. Then in 2006, he moved to London and discovered a new and baffling world—the renowned Premiership soccer league. Culpepper pledged his loyalty to Portsmouth, a gutsy, small-market team at the bottom of the standings. As he puts it, “It was like childhood, with beer.”

Writing in the vein of perennial bestsellers such as Fever Pitch and Among the Thugs, Chuck Culpepper brings penetrating insight to the vibrant landscape of English soccer—visiting such storied franchises as Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool . . . and an equally celebrated assortment of pubs. Bloody Confused! will put a smile on the face of any sports fan who has ever questioned what makes us love sports in the first place.

Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Pitch Perfect! August 7, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Culpepper's trademark brand of literate humor is put to optimal use as he gives the uninitiated American a real sense of the importance of the Premiership, not only to English sports fans but to England itself. Having waited for the book's U.S. release for several weeks, I purchased a copy immediately and finished it in one (very satisfying) sitting. Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Read August 12, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is a very entertaining book and is fascinating to read how an American sports writer learns to love sports again after discovering the English Premiership. This book is great for anyone who loves soccer, sports in general and is an Anglophile . I recommend this book to die hard soccer fans and people who are looking to learn more about the beautiful game. I will probably even read this again it was so enjoyable.

5 out of 5 stars

not as confused as before August 17, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

It was a sad day in Kentucky when Chuck Culpepper left us for Oregon. Worse, even, when he left our shores for England. But, hallelujah, he has written a book for us thirsty souls who enjoyed his writing on every sporting event his editors sent him on, and events non-sporting. Being a typical American who loves her football, the eleven-man type, the English soccer scene seems twisty (tournaments during the regular season?) but oddly familiar, too, with the descriptions of the fans of the teams. We need to sing more, it seems, to bring us even with our brethren. Wish I could have met the Blue Bear and sat in Portsmouth's home pitch and heard the die hards sing. This is Culpepper at his best, literate, readable and genuinely amazed at what he sees. I'll read it again and again until he gives us another.

4 out of 5 stars

A Fine Introduction to Premiership Culture August 30, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Let me begin by stating my credentials: I know as much about soccer as I know about knitting, which is to say I know very little. Sportswriter Chuck Culpepper knew just a little more than I when he moved to England and decided to become a fan of the Premier League.

During the first part of "Bloody Confused" Culpepper belabors the point that he was suffering from burnout from watching and interviewing pampered American athletes. The fun really begins when the writer allows the reader to get past this and move on to Culpepper's introduction to the Premiership and how he decides which team he is going to adopt as his very own so that he can once again be a "fan."

Reading this book made me want to go to England and begin following the Premiership teams. The idea of traveling the country by train to see the "four mastodons" playing Goliath to the other teams' David sounds great. Watching teams trying to stave off "relegation" sounds very exciting. And watching teams from lower leagues trying to "play up" to achieve Premiership status sounds fantastic.

I'm not sure how "Bloody Confused" will be accepted by people who are already knowledgeable Premiership fans, but it left me wanting to get on the train to go see Portsmouth play Chelsea.

2 out of 5 stars

For beginners only August 31, 2008
2 out of 6 found this review helpful

Disappointing. I REALLY wanted to like this book and I think I might have, if I did not already follow the EPL religiously. It is probably a good introduction to English football, but not much more. For a quality substitute try The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy, which is extremely well written and just a better story.

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