A Few Seconds of Panic

{{Short description|2008 book by Stefan Fatsis}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

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| name = A Few Seconds of Panic

| image = A Few Seconds of Panic.jpg

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| author = Stefan Fatsis

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| country = United States

| language = English

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| genre = Sportswriting

| published = 2008

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A Few Seconds of Panic is a nonfiction first-person narrative by Stefan Fatsis, published in 2008. The book chronicles Fatsis, a professional 43-year-old sportswriter working for The Wall Street Journal, and his attempt to play in the National Football League.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92556070 |title=Sportswriter Puts NFL Dream Into Action |publisher=NPR |date=2008-07-15 |access-date=2012-08-16}} Along the way, he relates the personal stories and struggles that professional football players face in the league.{{cite web|last=Elejalde |first=Alexia |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/jan/31/sports/chi-0131-a-few-seconds-of-panicjan31 |title=Featured Articles From The Chicago Tribune |publisher=Archives.chicagotribune.com |access-date=2012-08-16}} After some setbacks, Fatsis eventually finds some success as a backup placekicker for the Denver Broncos.{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4151970 |title=Dove Valley Days: Aug. 8 |publisher=The Denver Post |access-date=2012-08-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3513158 |title=Uprights Citizen – ESPN The Magazine |publisher=ESPN |date=2011-04-04 |access-date=2012-08-16}}{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/22363 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722042652/http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/22363 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |title=

Chat with author Stefan Fatsis |journal= SportsNation |publisher=Espn.go.com |access-date=2012-08-16}} The book's title comes from Jason Elam's description of being a kicker as "hours and hours of boredom surrounded by a few seconds of panic."{{cite web|author=Contact Leitch: Comment |url=http://deadspin.com/298196/inside-jason-elams-incredible-kick |title=Inside Jason Elam's Incredible Kick |publisher=Deadspin.com |date=2007-09-10 |access-date=2012-08-16}}

A Few Seconds of Panic has been compared to George Plimpton's Paper Lion, a 1966 book wherein the author joins the Detroit Lions as a backup quarterback.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/8419.html |title=Stefan Fatsis: Inside a Player's Mind | People & Politics |publisher=Washingtonian |date=2008-07-01 |access-date=2012-08-16}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/stories/2009/2370673.htm |title=A few seconds of panic: a journalist's experience of high-performance sport|journal= The Sports Factor |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2009-01-23 |access-date=2012-08-16}}{{cite web|last=Watson |first=Tom |url=http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews2/9781594201783.asp |title=A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-foot-8, 170-pound, 43-year-old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL |publisher=Bookreporter.com |date=2008-07-03 |access-date=2012-08-16}}