 
Bloody Confused!: A Clueless American Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccer
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 14
More Information
 On: 2008-11-16
I have recently become a fan of European soccer and heard Chuck Culpepper promoting his book on World Soccer Daily. It peaked my interest and I decided to check it out. The book was amazingly funny! I could not put it down. When I finally finished I was actually depressed because I knew I would miss vicariously living through Chucks stories. I have already passed it onto a friend to spread the joy.
On: 2008-10-21
Bloody Confused is a well written autobiography of what the English Premier League is all about, from an Americans point of view. It explains the various concurrent competitions, and the real mind-set of the English, through both winning and losing. Its a great book for anyone who loves sports yet quite put a finger on English football.
 On: 2008-10-16
I bought this book because i thought it was going to be like "Fever Pitch". At first the author goes on to explain about american sports, as i thought he was just trying to make his point. Throughout the whole book the author keeps comparing english football to some experience he had encountered in american sports. If i buy a book about english football, i want to read about english football, not american sports. Needless to say, i did not finish the book.
 On: 2008-10-05
Culpeppers aim in this text is to convince people who dont know anything about the world of international soccer that its a great product, and worthy of an Americans time. The problem is, unfortunately, that he skips from "soccer know-nothing" to the worst kind of American soccer fan--the pretentious, condescending know-all who is fully convinced that other countries play soccer because it is everything true and right while the Yanks represent everything stupid and wrong. And thats the text that Culpepper writes here--he misses no opportunity to tell you how enlightened he is and how stupid you and everyone else is who doesnt agree with him, and this attitude completely overshadows the good stuff thats hidden here. He takes "the beautiful game" and makes it as attractive as two political pundits throwing mud at each other on Sunday morning television. The author comes across as completely unlikeable, and he makes sure that you know how smart he thinks he is at every opportunity. Unfortunately, this approach doesnt make for much of a book.
This is, by far, the worst soccer book Ive ever read (and Jamie Trecker, the author of the last worst-ever book, probably thanks him for it), and by no means should you spend a red cent on it. There are so many good options out there in soccer books that this one isnt worth it.
On: 2008-10-03
Bloody Confused is a typical American approach to the Worlds Best Sport. Culpepper constantly repeats himself while "explaining" to US readers what the rest of the world understands with ease. Why all the comparisons to American Sport? And the nerve to even imply that the Premiership should have two divisions as MLS does here. If he had actually had to purchase a ticket to a sporting event he would have known that many of the teams, including Aston Villa, use UK Ticketmaster. And sorry about the Charlton story - Ive been treated royally by them - if the folks at the Valley didnt sell him a ticket - there were none to sell. I slogged through the entire thing (skipping over the American stories - who cares?). Miracle of Castel di Sangro was much more of an intelligent and adult accounting of a fans season as another reviewer has indicated. As a woman who travels to football (soccer to Chuck) games and competitions all over the world I would say that this doesnt give justice to the sport. Was it written for the money? For the chance to live abroad? Possibly for serialization? Go Arsenal! Go Charlton!
On: 2008-09-15
I thought this was a great book to read. Even though ive been following the EPL for several years, this book brought a birds eye view of the weekly grind of being a professional sports fan. Great bar stories as well!
I also found it helpful to get a few tips on watching the EPL in person as an American traveler. Ive always assumed you could just show up to a match that had seats available, declare your non-allegiance to any particular side and get in. Not so it seems. A little advanced planning is worth the effort or youll be watching the fixtures like the author did; out in the street looking through holes in the fences.
Only drawback is Culpeppers American political rants here and there but theyre sporadic enough to tolerate for an overall great read. Ive shared the book w/ several other soccer friends and theyve all enjoyed it as well.
On: 2008-09-12
After the World Cup of 06, which for some reason I cant answer, I followed closely, I found myself hungry for more soccer. That led me to the English Premiership, which led me to fall in love with the game. Or maybe I fell in love with what I didnt know about the game. It was like being a child again and loving sports for just being sports.
Mr. Culpepper has written an insightful, quirky, ironic, beautiful, funny account of what Americans truly are in so many aspects of life--clueless. But mostly sweet about it.
If youre a soccer fan, youll love it. If you know nothing about soccer, you may love it even more.
Because it captures a cynical sports writers journey to become childlike again. I have a feeling if Mark Twain had ever become a Portsmouth fan--the book would be a lot like this.
Definitely read it. It makes one glad theyre alive.
On: 2008-09-08
This book by Chuck Culpepper is a very well written account of a man who forsakes American sports in search of English football. The humorous chronicle of an American being thrust into the culture of English soccer provides an excellent backdrop as the book examines what makes the English Premiership the most popular sports league in the world...I highly recommend this book to any American who follows the beautiful game cause it describes very well the emotions that are entailed when following a club without being wrought into the culture.
On: 2008-08-31
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.
 On: 2008-08-30
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 Culpeppers 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.
Im 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.
On: 2008-08-29
Im almost done with this book but I already know that I would recommend this book to any soccer fan, and especially any Premiership fan! Its great to read about all the events to go on during a game in the stands. All of the Non-soccer information is also great to read about!
On: 2008-08-17
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 Portsmouths home pitch and heard the die hards sing. This is Culpepper at his best, literate, readable and genuinely amazed at what he sees. Ill read it again and again until he gives us another.
On: 2008-08-12
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.
On: 2008-08-07
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Culpeppers 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 books U.S. release for several weeks, I purchased a copy immediately and finished it in one (very satisfying) sitting. Highly recommended.
|
|
