Mojogal's Full Review: H. G. Bissinger - Friday Night Lights
I am constantly amazed at the number of people who fall into the trap set by Mr. Bissinger. He came into my town, deceived the citizens, brought the eyes of America down upon Odessa, produced a bestseller, and never looked back. Might I add, congratulations Bissinger, you have greatly displayed your ignorance for Odessa, Permian, and Texas high school football.
I am currently a student at Permian, and I find it a privilege to be able to attend the most incredible and fascinating high school in America. My whole life, I have been a great fan of all of Permian's attributes. Yes, football has brought a remarkable sense of being able to achieve every goal possible. This is the secret of Mojo, to conquer the unconquerable. Mojo is not a voodoo chant that Bissinger implies it to be, it is an aura felt by all Permian people, and sensed by anyone who comes in contact with us. The only way to explain Mojo is to experience it, ask anyone from the very respectable Arlington High team of 1987.
Bissinger highlighted four main Permian players, Mike Winchell, Brian Chavez, Ivory Christian, and Boobie Miles. All but one graduated from college, and another player, Don Billingsley, now has two degrees. Yet in the book, high school was depicted as the high point of their life, and these men were thought to not even make it through college. There are many people who are successful from Odessa, one of the men that started this website was a graduate from Permian. Yet Bissinger chose to only depict the negative things that come out of this school. Many young boys dream of wearing the sacred black and white. That in itself is a good thing. Tradition is the backbone of my school. We not only have one national championship in football (1989), but four other national championships in other sports. The pride felt in Permian is in support of all programs. In the book, women are seen as inferior to men, which is not completely true. Male bigotry is everywhere, not just Permian High. This is just another example of the author telling only part of the story.
Bissinger used sensationalism, a type of journalism that was very manipulative. I do agree that everything in the book was true, but the facts were used to appeal to the reader. Of course Friday Night Lights would produce controversy in Odessa, that is what will happen when anyone steps on your toes. Mr. Bissinger in fact tried to schedule two book signings, the first time he received a death threat, the second time he canceled because he was upset the coaches would not speak to him.
Friday Night Lights does have an entrancing story line. Keep in mind that I am a primary source from Odessa, and I experienced all that went on during this time period. This book will always have a special meaning to me, it is a reminder of how no matter how often people try to bring us down, we shall always succeed. As our Alma Mater states, "On ev'ry field of battle, will our banner ever wave. There will be a glorious victory for Permian High always."
The classic, best-selling story of life in the football-driven town of Odessa, Texas, with a new afterword that looks at the players and the town ten ...More at Buy.com
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