You Herd Me!: I'll Say It If Nobody Else Will (32 page)

From that point forward, the pieces started to fall into place. Good fortune played a key role.

In a random conversation with ESPN’s Matthew Berry, I was connected to literary agent Richard Abate. After struggling to connect with two previous book agents, I drove to New York almost
resigned to the inevitable conclusion of the project. Instead, his instincts and energy were a perfect match.

We agreed that in order for this book to come together I needed to work with a sharp and experienced writer who would push me—and the project—to a new level. “Have you heard of Tim Keown? He cowrote that book you were just reading in my office. I’ll give him a call.”

Tim has several bestsellers to his credit, and I drove home that night figuring my chances of landing him were somewhere, statistically, below slim. But people do occasionally hit holes in one. A man once landed a jetliner on the Hudson River. It could happen, right? College tuition isn’t getting any cheaper. Maybe he has several kids. Hopefully thirteen.

A few days later I was told Tim had agreed to help me.

There is no other way to put this—good fortune was on my side that day.

Many people say that writing books is a daunting and exhausting experience. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve never enjoyed any project or teammate more in twenty-five years in the business.

I viewed each of our phone calls as an opportunity to prove to Tim that he wasn’t wasting his time. That’s how respect works, at least for me.

I feel lucky to have worked with Tim and I just want him to know that. I want you to know that, too.

C
OLIN
C
OWHERD
is currently the host of
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
on ESPN Radio and ESPNU. He is also a former cohost of the show
SportsNation
on ESPN2.