Guest Review: INSTANT REPLAY by Tony Verna

Instant Replay: The Day that Changed Sports Forever
By Tony Verna
ISBN-10: 0977913147
ISBN-13: 978-0977913145
Paperback, 226 pages
September 30, 2008
Creative Book Publishers International
Reviewed by Cynthia Murphy


Super Bowl Sunday seems like an appropriate time to learn more about the instant replay. (After all, it does appear in every game.) I don’t remember a time when the instant replay wasn’t a regular part of televised sports. So, like a lot of people, I have always taken its presence for granted. Tony Verna’s Instant Replay: The Day that Changed Sports Forever should change that perception of the instant replay.

For the record, the first instant replay occurred on December 7, 1963 during the annual Army-Navy football game. Director Tony Verna invented the technique to replay the previous action on the field. The story of how the replay was developed is interesting. The technology used for this innovation was clunky and surprisingly primitive to say the least. Verna was working as a director for CBS at the time of his invention. He was already known as one of the whiz kids of the business. The instant replay made news, but Verna‘s involvement was often overshadowed. Unfortunately, this achievement has only recently been attributed to him. This has led to some justified anger from Verna.

At times, Verna’s anger regarding the predominant misinformation seems to take over the book. In fact, the “Coda” at the end appears to be an outlet for his frustrations. Verna tries to make this section seem less like a rant by having his researcher interview him. Unfortunately, it stills comes across as a rant about Roone Arledge and his claims that he invented the instant replay. Verna’s anger is certainly justified. I didn’t know who invented the instant replay until I read this book, but Verna’s account is compelling. After reading his story, I hope Tony Verna can set the record straight about the invention of the instant replay.

Instant Replay is an interesting and informative book, but it has some serious flaws. One major flaw is its title. While Instant Replay is a catchy title, it doesn’t reflect the content of the book accurately. The invention of the instant replay is only a small part of story. The book actually tells the story of Tony Verna’s career in television. The instant replay invention occurs in the second chapter. It is a pivotal moment in the book, but definitively not the focus of the book.

Another key flaw is the editing. This is a fascinating story, but it needs a sharper focus. Verna meanders through his story. He throws in random anecdotes throughout. While this storytelling technique has its own brand of charm, it can also be distracting. Some of the anecdotes wander pretty far from the main story, so they make this a tough book to pick up and read for just a few pages. Sharper editing could have easily solved this problem. It could have also forced the removal of the “Coda”. This unnecessary chapter inadvertently makes Verna sound bitter. This type of behavior seems like it should be beneath him. Better editing could have also helped with the chapter length. The chapters in this book are extremely long. Breaking them up would make this much easier to read.

Instant Replay: The Day that Changed Sports Forever is a fascinating look at one man’s long, illustrious career in the television business. It is misnamed, but it is a great read for anyone interested in the history of television and sports. Instant Replay could actually be used as a guide for aspiring directors. Tony Verna offers an insider’s look at the world of television. Despite its flaws, Instant Replay is a highly entertaining book.