McGovern, Robert P. 1966- (Robert McGovern)

PERSONAL:

Born 1966, in NJ. Education: Graduate of Holy Cross College; Fordham Law School, J.D.

ADDRESSES:

Home and office—VA.

CAREER:

Lawyer and writer. Played professional football for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots. Military service: U.S. Army's 18th Airborne Corps, judge advocate general.

WRITINGS:

All American: Why I Believe in Football, God, and the War in Iraq (autobiography), William Morrow (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

A former professional football player, Robert P. McGovern has also served as a prosecutor in the U.S. Army and is the author of the book All American: Why I Believe in Football, God, and the War in Iraq. In his book, McGovern primarily discusses his football days as well as his time serving in the Iraq war as a prosecutor. In addition to writing about his childhood and touching on topics such as the use of steroids in sports, the author reveals his own philosophies about the Iraq War and what he perceives as its central role in fighting the war on terror. A strong supporter of the war, McGovern states that one of his goals in writing the book is to help convince Americans opposed to the war that it is essential and, as a result, turn them into supporters of the war. He also discusses his role as the lead prosecutor in the case of Hasan Akbar, a U.S. soldier who attacked his fellow soldiers with grenades in Iraq in 2003. A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that All American is "full of gridiron pratfalls and hymns to teamwork." A contributor to Kirkus Reviews wrote: "His ideologically driven autobiography denounces steroids, extols Ronald Reagan … and explains why loyal Americans shouldn't criticize the war."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

McGovern, Robert P., All American: Why I Believe in Football, God, and the War in Iraq, William Morrow (New York, NY), 2007.

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2006, review of All American, p. 1115.

Publishers Weekly, November 20, 2006, review of All American, p. 56.

ONLINE

HarperCollins Web site,http://www.harpercollins.com/ (June 25, 2007), brief profile of author.