Genius: Bill Walsh and The San Francisco 49ers

David Harris, a former writer for the New York Times Magazine and Rolling Stone, has written an excellent book on Bill Walsh and the creation of the San Francisco 49er dynasty.

The title of the book is "The Genius: How Bill Walsh Reinvented Football and Created an NFL Dynasty."

Harris, who is a long time Niner fan, follows Walsh from his youthful love of football into the tumultuous world of college and pro football jobs.

Walsh's first mentor Paul Brown took a perverse joy in tormenting his disciple and later spitefully undermined his efforts to work as a head coach. The man Walsh later worked for, Forty Niner Owner Eddie Debartolo, dark side is painfully clear as is his willingness to spend vast amounts of money to win at any cost.

The Coach's often painful relationship with his family and legendary players like Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, and perhaps most of all with the often abusive Eddie D is detailed. It also portrays the emotional toll the coaching life took on Walsh.

The book documents how Walsh developed and perfected his West Coast Offense which dominated the NFL for a decade. It also gives the reader Walsh's thoughts on facing bitter Forty Niner Eighties Era rivals like the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, and the Dallas Cowboys.

The book is not just a collection of football facts and game recaps. The author enlivens the tale with personal stories of the Forty Niners.

We read of free spirited tight end,and pilot, Russ Francis buzzing the practise field in a vintage World War Two Mustang Fighter Plane, over weight tackle Bubba Paris hiding caches of chicken wing bones in his training camp dresser draws to avoid fines, defensive end Fred Dean spurning weight lifting while chain smoking cigarettes, Joe Montana's development and struggle with Steve Young, drug problems on the Niners, the NFL players strikes, Eddie Debartolo's alcohol fueled abusive rages, and the Super Bowl hangovers that effected the franchise.

In one bizarre episode a joyful Eddie D sent Walsh a stunning escort woman wearing only a t-shirt and a sign that said "I'm Bill's" around her neck. The gorgeous girl appeared at Walsh's suite as a victory reward. Walsh declined the gift graciously. Eddie later bought him a house in Tahoe as a Super Bowl reward but the owners mood swing were erratic  and he just as often threatened to fire Walsh as he did reward.

Coach and Owner eventually became close friends once Walsh retired and the pressure of constantly winning the Super Bowl was relieved. Eddie D wanted to win over all else and it created an often ugly pressure in the organization.

Much of the book is in Walsh's own words or collected from his friends, family and former players. The author writes in an engaging way which makes the book highly readable.

Its a fine book for 49er and Football fans everywhere.