Monte Burke | Author of "Men of Troy" | Ep. 1006

·1 hr 11 min·5 clips

Pete Carroll told his first NFL press conference 'there are no rules here,' horrifying the old-school team owner.

Tom Rowland welcomes back author Monte Burke after five years. Burke explains he recently published two books in six months, one on Pete Carroll's USC football era and another a fly fishing collection. He finds working on two subjects creatively refreshing. Burke details how he chose to write about Carroll's nine-year window at USC, describing it as a unique, celebrity-filled era that ended in scandal. He contrasts Carroll's unconventional, 'player's coach' style with Nick Saban's more militaristic approach. Burke discusses his writing process, relying on his agent to filter ideas, and notes the enduring challenge of writing. He expresses strong opposition to AI, calling it plagiarism and a threat to human purpose and jobs. The conversation shifts to purpose and obsession, with Burke linking the drive of top coaches and anglers like Steve Huff. He recounts fishing with Huff and the guide's role as a 'dream maker.' Burke shares a poignant story about the end of Huff's partnership with Dell Brown due to Brown's age. He reveals Huff's interests outside fishing, like bicycling and reading nonfiction. Rowland and Burke discuss the transfer of excellence across fields, citing examples like Andy Mill and Deion Sanders. Burke recommends three novels: 'The Great Gatsby,' 'Light Years,' and 'Whiskey When We're Dry.' He reflects on the personal impact of his fishing book 'Lords of the Fly.' The episode concludes with Burke's current projects and where to find his books.

As heard by us

Monte Burke follows obsession from elite football coaching into the craft of becoming a guide.

Monte Burke's conversation with Tom Rowland looks at excellence across football coaching and fishing, using different worlds to ask what top coaches, anglers, and guides tend to share.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play when you want a calm look at how excellence takes shape, from Nick Saban and Pete Carroll to Steve Huff on the water.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Tom Rowland Podcast