O'Brien: A Life Under Center

Discussion in 'New York Jets' started by ukjetsfan, Oct 22, 2024.

  1. ukjetsfan

    ukjetsfan Well-Known Member

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    Hi everyone, this is a thread to let you all know that my biography of Ken O'Brien is at the proofing stage and is scheduled to be published on November 18. I've been working on this for several years but started serious writing about a year ago.

    O'Brien was my first favourite player on the Jets. Having started to follow them in 1983, I was starting to really understand the game just as he emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. As always seems to be the case with the Jets, the good times did not last, but he remained a favourite of mine and I still remember those heady days in 1985 and 1986, and the brief flashes of brilliance that followed. I wear my No. 7 jersey every time I go to London to watch the Jets, and it always seems to be the only one in the stadium.

    The book covers O'Brien's college years at UC Davis, his early days in the NFL, his peak and his decline. For many of you it will be a familiar story but I hope I will have dug up a few details that you may have forgotten or didn't know in the first place. For others, this might be the first time you have ever really heard of the guy.

    I would welcome your comments, and I will be posting a link to the book on Amazon when it is published. And who knows, maybe looking back might be more fun than wallowing in this awful present!

    [​IMG]
     
    Jojo, kevda5n9ne, SOJAZ and 18 others like this.
  2. Brook!

    Brook! Soft Admin...2018 Friendliest Member Award Winner

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    I am so happy and proud at the same time.

    I will sticky this thread now for more visibility. I hope you will receive enough feedback from our forum members to keep this thread alive.

    Lastly, I will add "PLEASE READ" to the title to make it more visible. Do I have your permission?
     
  3. ukjetsfan

    ukjetsfan Well-Known Member

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    That’s a very thoughtful suggestion, Brook, but I don’t want to come over as pushy! Hopefully people will take a look anyway, but making it sticky would be really great, thanks!
     
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  4. Losmeister

    Losmeister Well-Known Member

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    very cool, brother...

    yes, there were some heady days... 10-1 !!!
     
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  5. Savatage

    Savatage Well-Known Member

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    Awesome and best of luck with it. I'm definitely interested.
     
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  6. Dierking

    Dierking Well-Known Member

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    “Grampa, do you remember what a productive offense looked like?”
     
  7. sozopol

    sozopol Well-Known Member

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    Wow! That is so cool, congratulations on seeing this project through to this stage! Impressive.

    10-1.... and then suddenly 10-6.... and then the Giants win the super Bowl... ah the life of a Jets fan :(:(:(
     
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  8. ukjetsfan

    ukjetsfan Well-Known Member

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    It's funny how things repeat themselves... it was a really strong offense in 1985 and 1986, but the line was a problem. There were times when the entire line was made up of guards and centers and every time the Jets tried to draft a tackle... they turned into guards. They juggled the line like you wouldn't believe - tackles moving to guard, guards moving to tackle, even a tackle moving to center - it was like there was no distinction between the positions.
     
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  9. ConcordeChops

    ConcordeChops 2018 International Poster Award Winner

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    Subway series!

    I haven’t posted here for years but I’ll be investing in this. As another long-suffering 1983-er, this was my favo(u)rite era so looking forward to picking this up.
     
  10. NY Jets68

    NY Jets68 Well-Known Member

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    Awesome. So now when the kids ask what I want for Christmas...
     
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  11. Brook!

    Brook! Soft Admin...2018 Friendliest Member Award Winner

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    Where have you been chief? We missed you!
     
  12. twown

    twown Well-Known Member

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    Very convincing deep fake of O'B's feet moving on the cover.

    ;)
     
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  13. Fiftynine

    Fiftynine Well-Known Member

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    Congrats on getting published! Looking forward to giving it a read!
     
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  14. LAJet

    LAJet Well-Known Member

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    Wishing you nothing but good fortune on the sale of the book. I like Kenny a lot. Saw him here in LA many years back as an assistant coach in HS, long time Manhattan Beach resident.
     
    #14 LAJet, Oct 22, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2024
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  15. Brook!

    Brook! Soft Admin...2018 Friendliest Member Award Winner

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    I pledge to buy 5 books on Amazon and give away 4 of them to TGG folks.

    I will also DM Woody the trust fund baby. Will tell him if he endorses it on Jets twitter, I will stop going after him on Twitter. I am sure he will be glad if I stop going after him on twitter.

    You are the man my friend, you are the man!
     
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  16. jetophile

    jetophile Bruce Coslet's Daughter

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    Congrats! Did you self-publish? Did you do actual interviews (phone, vid conferences) or just straight research? So many questions!

    Good luck to you!

    Edit: A word.
     
    #16 jetophile, Oct 22, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2024
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  17. stinkyB

    stinkyB 2009 Best Avatar Award Winner

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    Granted I was a kid (and loved KennyO.. and anything JETS) but I remember a Laser arm.... lead feet.

    Serious dedication from you guys across the pond... Good Luck
    I will purchase one.... but I want a printed version. ;)
     
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  18. Dierking

    Dierking Well-Known Member

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    cold
     
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  19. 24McNeil

    24McNeil Well-Known Member

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    i despise Ken O'Brien... it's because of him that I am now a Jets fan..... and i will never forgive him.
     
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  20. LAJet

    LAJet Well-Known Member

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    Colder than cold.
     
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