These artests knew who Webb Pierce was
357768
Today's radio could care less but back in the 50's Webb Pierce
was one of the rulers of country formats. Included here are acts that worked with him (Billy Walker)(George Jones), acts that do his songs in their shows(BR549)(Dale Watson)and acts just getting into the loop (Matt King). The session players and backup singers are no slouches either.
A great primer in honkey tonk
4879115
DR J WAS  poetry in the air and  truly  one of a kind.  He is one of  the  Greatest Basketball Players and also  a very down to earth Brother.  no matter what the term you use, be it  Swag,  Cool, Cold, Smooth  Dr J  was that cat who had it like that.  now this Book Covers his  Career and what happen off the court, various Ups and downs and what shaped up his life then and now. he  left  a mark on and off the court.  He was a Black SuperStar in  an  Era where there weren't a whole lot as you have now. he broke alot of  Ground.  Doc was so Badd He made the NBA come to him and Bring him there. Michael  Jordan, Dominique Wilkens, Vince  Carter,  Kobe Bryant, Dwayne wade, Lebron James amongest others owe a debt to the  Greatness and Ground Breaking Player that Dr J Julius  Erving was.

very detail and very compelling and One of those books that allows you in to his world and  you learn so much more.
2653312
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Book-of-Basketball-The-NBA-According-to-The-Sports-Guy/dp/0345520106/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy</a>

The Book of Basketball

The book offers an interesting, informative and humorous history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) over the years.  Simmons provides a sense of historical perspective on the evolution of basketball at the professional level combined with a million references to pop culture.

Bill Simmons, ESPN.com's Sports Guy, covers a wide range of topics including:
His history attending Boston Celtics games with his father, the exciting moments at the Boston Garden, the best players to view live, how close the fans could get to the players, and how as a child he thought he was black.

What Simmons calls "The Secret", how he learned "The Secret" (an entertaining meeting with Isiah Thomas in Los Vegas), which players knew "the secret" and how it applies to building a winning team in NBA.
Russell vs. Wilt - who was the better player?

"How the Hell did we get here?" - A readable and entertaining chapter covering the history of how the NBA evolved from a low scoring physical game to its modern incantation and the changes necessary to get there. Simmons covers: the racial climate, the shot clock, Mikan, Russell, Basketball cards, Labor Relations, Red Auerbach, the fabled American Basketball League (ABA), various records (both team and individual, The Dunk Contest, Drugs, Fighting and the NBA draft.

"The what if Game" - A collection of the author's answer to 33 questions involving the NBA.  Examples include: "What if Len Bias hadn't overdosed?" and "what if Wilt ended up on the Lakers instead of the Sixers in 1965?"

"Most Valuable Chapter" - Covers the history of the NBA MVP, what he believes an MVP should be and a classification of all MVP winners ranging from valid winners to "outright travesties" in the authors view.

The rest of the book covers the Basketball Hall of Fame, The best 96 players in the History of the game (who are then subdivided into 5 separate categories of greatness), the best teams in the history of NBA, Authors  all time all star teams (both current and old school) and lastly Simmons hanging out with Bill Walton.

Simmons perspective of the professional basketball enlightens the younger fan who thinks the game began with Jordan and that Bird and Magic couldn't handle Lebron and Wade. It enhances the view point of those that believe the game began with the Bird/Magic era and think Cousy and Russell couldn't beat the college star of today. Hopefully the book can convey the beauty of the NBA today to those think the League declined after Mikan hung up his sneakers.

If you want to have a good basic knowledge of Professional Basketball, the teams, players (especially the all time greats) and the evolution of the game this is a good read.

The obvious downside to this book is the length (701 pages) and huge number of footnotes.
If you are overly sensitive on issues of sex, drugs, race and Kareem Abdul-Jar do not read this book.
3913949
If teams such as the Syracuse Nationals, Rochester Royals, and Fort Wayne Pistons mean anything to you, or names such as Dolph Schayes, Bob Pettit, Bill Sharman, and Bob Cousy ring a bell - or merely wonder why they do for many people - you will enjoy this book. It's a look at what professional basketball was like in the '40s and '50s, when the NBA was first coming to light (a mix of teams from various regional leagues) and developing. Charles Salzberg conducted 15 interviews with players from that era, asking them to relate their experiences - how they got started, what they thought of their teammates and opposing players, highlights of their careers, how they think the game has changed, what they think of basketball today (1980s) - and the results are interesting and informative.

The game was played differently back then, before the 24-second clock went into effect: it was a much more deliberate game, slower in execution, lots of passing, the set shot the main weapon. Just about all the interviewees note how the 24-second clock changed the game, made it more exciting (especially near the end of the game), some thinking it actually saved the NBA from extinction. Bill Russell is someone mentioned by many of them as having a profound influence on the game, too, and the reason for the Boston Celtic dynasty in the 50s-60s. Most of those interviewed believe that players today have more talent, especially when it comes to shooting the ball, but regret the loss of team play the way it was for them. There aren't a whole lot of surprises here (most of the interviews talk in generalities rather than specifics) and no skeletons in the closet are revealed, but for anyone getting a little long in the tooth it's a nostalgic look back at the game before multi-million dollar contracts and schoolyard antics became the mainstay. And for younger fans it's a reminder that there was basketball before Michael Jordan.
3421105
Great old footage, and great interviews (mostly with Wilt, Jerry, Bill Sharman and Gail Goodrich) of the 71-72 team.  Surprisingly gives a good background as to the Lakers move to LA and the heartache the team endured year in and year out coming up just short of a title courtesy of the Celtics reign.  Makes it even more interesting to note just how this team achieved such a level of greatness that year, when most people figured that their best days were behind them.  Only complaint is that I would've liked to seen more material devoted to Happy Hairston and Jim MacMillan (as they were vital cogs to the teams success that year), but nevertheless a great vid.  Extras include interviews with Pat Riley, Bill Walton and Tommy Hawkins, and all are very entertaining and insightful.

Even if you are not a huge Lakers fan, if you were a fan of the NBA like I was in the late 60's and throughout the 70's, buy it.  You will not be disappointed on this one.
2349424
Although later historical facts have put a few holes in the details of this CD and the original book, the content was in the main true to the actual happenings. Clifton Webb's acting job was top notch. A good spy stroy based on actual events.
4472133
As a child I grew up adoring the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA.  I almost adopted basketball as a second religion, watching and analyzing games and players while also trying to teach myself the game.  However, there were  those moments where even the stingiest of statisticians had to just sit  back and watch.  This video exemplifies those moments.  From last minute  (or second) heroics to complete and utter domination, this video covers the  pride and passion for the game of basketball with the talent and tenacity  of those who contributed to making it something special.  The years of  Finals games that were recorded visually are had their special moments  where certain players or teams stepped out of the shadows and broke the  mold to dare and accomplish mighty things.  This is a teaching tool for  those who want to be an avid fan and is a source of validation for those  who already are.  The average fan gets to see only what is present, but  this video helps re-establish the legacy of the past as well as setting the  stage for future surprises.  For the past couple years in the NBA Finals, I  contemplated that those majestic moments of sheer will and desire had  passed as the game deteriorated into slugfest after boring slugfest,  offering only the comfort that stars of character like David Robinson and  Tim Duncan achieved their ambitions but never offering an insight into what  makes the game worth watching.  Then, after this year's Laker's/Pacer's  series, I was consoled with fine basketball and the hope that another 100  greatest plays are in the making.  Until that compilation is constructed,  however, I still love to see this movie and re-live the previous one  hundred.
2507136
This is a must if you are collecting the radio shows, original TV series, or the '67-'70 version. A lot of the 50's series is on DVD, but they are scattered on all sorts of compilations. This book helps keep track of what you've got. I particularly enjoyed hearing from the extras that Webb used religiously.

But beyond Dragnet, there's a lot of interesting stuff here, how Webb was a jazz nut, including his foray into recording with his spoken-word "You're My Girl" album.

I think it's very interesting how he worked with ex-wife and her husband on Emergency! Many paramedics credit Emergency! with inspiring them to join this service. He obviously loved police and emergency services and his hometown. It makes you wonder, if Webb had lived, what his creative reaction to say the LA riots and the OJ trial would have been.
1353612
This book is the account of the life of basketball legend Connie Hawkins. You've likely never heard of him. He played in the bush leagues of the ABA, before joining the NBA with the Phoenix Suns in 1969.

In breathless paragraphs, the book explains that he was an ESPN highlight reel. He was the Michael Jordan, and Dr. J, of the pre-television NBA. He played with the greats of the NBA: Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Billy Cunningham. His exploits were passed around by word of mouth. If he was in his high school years today, we'd be watching him on SportsCenter.

But the story that resonates is the story of lost innocence. While in college, Connie was accused of helping bettors 'fix games' by shaving points. David Wolf, the author, was perfectly frank about Connie's intellectual abilities: Connie wasn't smart enough to know what shaving points meant.

In the heat of questioning by the authorities, Connie confessed to things he didn't do. As a young black man of limited education, he was intimidated and scared. His "confessions" condemned him. Connie was expelled from college. The NBA shunned him and those other players involved with the betting scandal.

The Hawk's only talent was for basketball. So he submerged himself into the minor leagues. He played for the Globetrotters. He played for the ABA, where he lead his team to a championship. But this was the basketball netherworld. Throughout these lean years, he saw the life he could have had if he was allowed into the big show. The pride he had in his game made him yearn to be in the NBA, where he could play his best against the best.

David Wolf's description of how a group of lawyers befriended Connie, and rallied around his cause is thoroughly captivating and inspiring. People were drawn to his innocence, his demeanor, his innate goodness. This group pushed the NBA to a lawsuit. Connie was innocent, they contended, and the NBA was illegally blacklisting him. In 1969, the NBA settled, and allowed a grateful Hawk to join the league at the roughed up age of 27.

He brought his dominating style to the NBA, but his prime years were behind him. Flashes of his brilliance could been in his NBA years, but the knowledgeable spectators were left wondering "What if?" Yet the book emphasizes Connie's own peace with what happened. You cheer for him. You applaud his attitude. And at the end of the book, you wish, probably for the hundredth time, that you could have seen him play.
2348839
It is hard to deny with the Book of Basketball that a lot of information will be learned.

Pluses: The top players of all time rankings were very insightful with the average of 2 or 3 pages per player. Also the top teams were ranked (tending to leaning towards teams in the 80s and early 90s. Also the Wine Cellar Team (top team ever and choosing a individual season) was very good as well.

Negative- There is some bias towards the Celtics and Laker hating going on but as a 80s Celtics fan I find it tolerable. The repeated rips of Kareem, Wilt, and Karl Malone get old. No coach rankings are a dissapointment. Probably could have been cut by 50 to 100 pages and been equally as good.

Overall: This book is a must read for any basketball fan, from junkie to casual. Just be prepared to plow through 700 pages. That lowers it from 5 to 4 stars. 550-600 would have been a lot better but still a great book.
2489606
If this impressive book by educator Robert S. Griffin accomplishes one thing, I hope it is that the critics of  Dr. Pierce and the racialist movement he represents can no longer be glibly dismissed as "Hate!".  After  listening to Dr. Pierce's short-wave radio broadcasts, Griffin became intrigued with Pierce's message and  thought there needed to be an objective account of the man and his beliefs.  As Griffin explains in the  introduction, the purpose of the book is neither to praise or condemn but to give the reader a deeper look  into Pierce's personal life and how his political ideas were formed.  It is natural that one should feel  reticent in taking Pierce's ideas too seriously, after all he freely calls himself a Nazi, but unlike others he is  articulate, educated, and has a very gracious style of oral delivery.  Besides loony ideas about gender  being a social construction, whites are evil, capitalism is exploitive and a bunch of other hooey are  endemic to our higher academic institutions, why can't Pierce's ideas get a fair hearing even if some of  them are extreme?
While this book does open up parts of Pierce's personal life, the main thrust of the book is to trace his  intellectual development from apolitical graduate student to the leading Nazi proponent in the country.  During his years as a professor at the University of Oregon he became disenchanted with the direction of  the country and started poking around at various right-wing groups.  After a brief spell with the John  Birch Society he went on to more "extreme" elements, joining up with George Lincoln Rockwell.  Finally,  after years of personal and financial sacrifice, he started the National Alliance and led it to the honorific  title as "America's Most Dangerous Hate Group"[...].
So what does Pierce believe?  As Dr. Griffin shows Pierce began his racialist path after reading Shaw's  Man and Superman.  This book instilled the idea of racial progress into Pierce; society must orient itself  toward bringing forth a higher type of man -- racial progress, the higher ascension of consciousness,  evinces the Life Force or the real purpose of the Creator.  Dr. Griffin paraphrases a speach Pierce once  gave called Our Cause, which really gets to the spiritual/philosophic heart of his beliefs.  Pierce argues that  while Europeans have been unmatched in their ability to fashion high societies, they lacked direction and  certainty, and our now lost.  If Europeans are to regain their orientation they need a new philosophy to  help them with the struggles to come.
The idea of racial progess, that race is real and that some races are more creative than others, puts him on  a collision course with the prevailing sentiments of the day.  Notions of home and country, patriotism and  kinship are out, while internationalism and diversity are seeping into both political parties.  Pierce is of  course most controversial with his statement on the Jews, who he sees as a group of people intent on  subverting gentile societies to further their own interests.  Egalitarianism in all its virulent manifestations --  communism, feminism, democracy, multiculturalism -- are wrecking our civilization and, according to  Pierce, have wholly Jewish origins.  Names like Marx, Steinem, Trotsky, Franz Boas, Ehrenberg,  Goldman are to be found everywhere there is a subversive politics.
While most European-Americans (college students especially) seem to perpetually dwell in a catatonic  stupor of political correctness, the ideas presented in this book show that there is "politics" that exists  outside of the worn, boring, hollow shibboleths of the "left" and "right".  Does either political party have the ideas that are going to insure America's survival?  Pierce's ideas are only going to get more relevant.
850915
This is a fascinating look at the great football players who did -- and didn't -- make it past the life of drugs and gun violence in what many consider a cozy Florida retirement town. Dorsey's reporting is deep, as he sources prisoners, relatives of players many may not recognize as well as those athletes they will -- Deion Sanders, Earnest Graham, Phillip Buchanon and others. This book isn't just about Fort Myers, as there are many cities with talented athletes who make poor choices and don't have the support of parents or older relatives to keep them from drugs and violence. Anyone who teaches, coaches or parents a teen or youth athlete should pass this book as a warning and a reminder of how to triumph over poor circumstances. Highly recommended read.
3010122
Robert Parry is a reporter with a wealth of experience who combines knowledge with investigative expertise and a bedrock courage to find the truth and faithfully report it.  Here is the reporter who uncovered the illegal government operation of Oliver North in the National Security Council office, which violated federal law by providing weapons, manpower, and logistical advice to the Contras in Nicaragua.  The government did its best to smear the Associated Press and later Newsweek reporter, painting him as unreliable and a man with his own agenda, but ultimately the truth won out.
Parry brilliantly documents what the Contras were really all about.  The so-called Nicaraguan freedom fighters which President Ronald Reagan referred to as "the moral equivalent of our Founding Fathers" were instead involved in a major drug networking operation, aided by the CIA.  The result was that scores of youngsters in South Central Los Angeles became drug addicts as they moved their operations into America while battles waged among young gang members over turf control.  When Senator John Kerry sought to expose what was happening he too was denounced as a troublemaker operating against America's best interests.
Parry tells about what political correctness really is, and it is far removed from what is depicted by right wingers seeking to pin the tag on liberal critics.  To Parry this correctness takes the form of barking on cue in alliance with and as supplicants to the major commercial interests which hold sway not only over those in political power, but on the media itself.  His efforts to exercise independence of judgment were accompanied by negative reactions from powers in the media as well as Washington operatives.  All the same he prevailed, and hopefully he and others will continue telling their stories despite the fervent efforts to silence them.
4972001
Even if you are not a diehard basketball fan, you will love this insider's look at the life of one of basketball's greatest.  Walton paints a fitting picture of how his life and amazing career was brought together by family, music, the great John Wooden at UCLA, and even the political climate of the time. A gripping and compelling story of his courageous and life-long battle against severe pain and injuries.
4542034
Fun biography of Charles Pierce concentrating on the material of his act. As someone who worked with him I often heard "Write That Down!" , and we did. The man was a comic genius. No two shows were alike. The book gives a good overview of a typical performance. It also, as do I suggests you check out the Charles Pierce videos on YouTube to see the man at work.
1521777
If you are an avid professional basketball fan like me who appreciates the history of the game, you should know that there are so many captivating memories surviving to this day. This book focuses on the more prominent players and plays of the NBA's past and present; the buzzerbeaters that have won championships, the slam dunks that defied gravity, the amazing assists that made you wonder if he could see through his head. All these memories come alive again in NBA's Greatest. From James Naismith's invention of basketball to George Mikan, Bill Russell,'Houdini of the Hardwood' Bob Cousy and the early dominance of the Minneapolis Lakers and Boston Celtics, to the era of great swingman such as Dr. J, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, to the continuity of today's superstars, this book has them all.

There are some feats in professional basketball that you simply never forget, such as Jerry West's last minute heave from sixty feet out, or Willis Reed's comeback in the 1970 NBA Finals, or when Michael Jordan executed a flying dunk from the free-throw line, or when Anthony 'Spud' Webb won the slam dunk contest standing at 5'7". This book reviews those highlights in great detail, plus extra statistics that summarize the changes that have taken place over a century.
4196553
I enjoyed the book, mainly because I lived in the Chicago area when Phil coached the Bulls and followed them closely.  I was always intrigued by his way of dealing with players.  Of course, he had some great players like Jordan, Pippen and Rodman in Chicago and Shaq and Kobe in Los Angeles.  But, I still think he could take a less than great team and make them Champions in a reasonable time.