Category: Sports (Books)

Written by Bill Simmons 

SUMMARY:

Released by Ballantine Books and ESPN Books in 2010, sports journalist Bill Simmons lets his hyper-active commentary rip in a 735-page softcover analysis of the NBA.  Overloaded with footnotes, Simmons begins with ‘The Secret’ of basketball (hint: unselfishness is a vital component).  He tackles the Russell vs. Chamberlain debate; and then an era-by-era breakdown of the NBA’s evolution.  Next up is his hypothetical ‘what-if’ scenario game where he imagines what likely might have occurred, had certain players had gone elsewhere; revised drafts and trades; and games that impacted the NBA’s future.  Simmons also examines various ‘MVP’ controversies and offers his proposed corrections.  

For chapters six through eleven, he literally rebuilds the Basketball Hall of Fame from the ground up, as if it were a pyramid.  Starting at the bottom, players that Simmons deems worthy are profiled, as he gradually works up four levels until there is his ‘Pantheon’ of the NBA’s thirteen greatest players at the peak.  Some players are profiled side-by-side, as Simmons compares, for instance, Charles Barkley vs. Karl Malone, Dan Issel vs. Artis Gilmore, and George Gervin vs. Sam Jones.  Near the end, which Simmons dubs “The Legend of Keyser Söze,” he analyzes the NBA’s greatest squads in terms of dominance, including how the present-day salary cap would have impacted them.  In “The Wine Cellar,” Simmons assembles an immortal team by cherry-picking players from their best seasons.     

The finale is a 2009 sit-down chat he shares with Bill Walton re: life after basketball and the deep meaning of that ‘Secret,’ as how it pertains to their perceptions of Kobe Bryant.

REVIEW:

There’s no question that the verbose Simmons crams multiple books into one.  His incessantly snarky humor alone is epic, as it even further permeates an unending stream of footnotes.  Still, there are several refreshing stretches, such as the Hall of Fame player profiles, that are worth perusing.  His flippancy (i.e. a footnote dig at George McGinnis’ hapless propensity for turnovers — or a reference to the 80’s NBA coach perms trend — straight from the ‘Mike Fratello collection’) is frequently LOL hilarious.  

Yet, an unrestrained Simmons doesn’t grasp when to finally shut up or refrain from locker room-caliber profanities and icky analogies.  His exuberant ridicule of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Vince Carter, and Rick Barry, among others, is amusing, but even Simmons acknowledges that his bulldozer approach comes off pretty thick.  There’s a few sexist jibes targeting the WNBA (plus a cruel dig directed at actress Bridget Moynahan) that makes one wonders why ESPN permitted such misogynistic putdowns to see print.   

As gifted as a writer Simmons knows he is, his no-holds-barred ranting is easier to digest in far smaller bites.  As seen in a collaborative format (i.e. 2018’s Basketball: A Love Story), where he is among countless other contributors, one can better appreciate Simmons’ sometimes golden insights, that is — when properly edited. The Book of Basketball is a great occasional resource, but the author’s grating super-fan ego over-indulges itself far, far too often.    

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

Black-and-white trading card-style images of players decorate the start of each chapter. Beyond an obligatory table-of contents, there is the author’s introduction and a brief foreword from Malcolm Gladwell.  Simmons also includes acknowledgments, a bibliography, and a much-appreciated index.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars

Written by Jackie MacMullan; Rafe Bartholomew; & Dan Klores

SUMMARY:

Released in 2018 by Crown Archetype (an imprint of Crown Publishing Group), this 436-page hardcover compilation is a literary companion to the same-named ESPN documentary directed by co-author Dan Klores.  Compiled from the same 165 interviews from 2014-2017 with a cross-section of basketball luminaries (i.e. players, coaches, executives, owners, and reporters) used for the documentary, the diversified topics cover seventy years of the sport.  Presented as an informal oral history, as if it were a group discussion, the varying participants discuss:

Note: The italicized chapters indicate a short follow-up to the prior topic.

• Glimpses from Magic Johnson; LeBron James; Kobe Bryant; Cheryl Miller; Bill Bradley; Moses Malone; and so many others on their childhood discovery of basketball;
• The Celtics vs. The Lakers; 
• Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game; 
• Chamberlain’s rivalry with Bill Russell;  
• Basketball’s history with racial inequality; 
• Oscar Robertson’s anti-trust lawsuit vs. the NBA;
• The impact of Title IX and the growth of women’s basketball (including Becky Hammon’s rise as an NBA assistant coach);  
• The legacy of the Immaculata women’s college team of the early 1970’s; 
• The early impact of gambling, point shaving, and player blackballing on the sport; 
• John Wooden’s legacy (including his enduring influence on his protégés) ; 
• NCAA championship coaches reflect on winning the national title; 
• Team USA’s Olympic history (1956-1972); 
• More childhood memories from basketball legends; 
• The ABA; 
• Frank McGuire and Dean Smith’s development of the UNC men’s program; 
• Mike Krzyzewski’s career, starting as a protégé of Bobby Knight; 
• Larry Bird & Magic Johnson;
• Bird’s memorable 1987 Eastern Conference Finals steal & the Detroit Pistons Reaching the NBA Finals;
• Exemplified by the 1970’s New York Knicks, the city’s contributions to the sport; 
• The rivalry between Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma; 
• Cheryl Miller; 
• Basketball legends discuss their own hoops heroes during their youth; 
• Input on Michael Jordan as the sport’s greatest-ever player; 
• The 1992 Dream Team; 
• The rise of the WNBA;
• The impact of international players, including Hakeem Olajuwon, Tony Parker, & Dirk Nowitzki; 
• The Lakers rivalry of Shaquille O’Neal & Kobe Bryant; 
• The San Antonio Spurs’ team-oriented style;
• The Current NBA, including LeBron James and the popularity of ‘Small Ball;’ and
• The spiritual impact of basketball.

REVIEW:

This insightful anthology is the equivalent of multiple books compressed into one.  Predictably, there are sporadic dull stretches, as some chapters are more long-winded than necessary.  Still, the intimacy of Basketball: A Love Story allows readers to sit in on these thoughtful ‘group discussions.’  For instance, anecdotes re: the wild and fistfight-happy ABA era is an eye-opener, particularly as to how its anything-goes mystique would forever impact pro basketball.  The same applies to recollections of some ex-New York Knicks describing their hard-fought path to a pair of championships in between dominant title runs by the Celtics and Lakers.  

While the book’s primary focus is the pros, its various chapters pertaining to the college ranks and, particularly, the evolution of women’s basketball are also worth devouring.  A quote from Larry Bird summing up Mike Krzyzewski’s magnetic coaching ability alone: “(he) is believable,” is among the illuminating and candid assessments offered by these contributors.

For sports aficionados, this hardcover really is a gem.               

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

Separated into two sets of eight, there are sixteen pages of black-and-white and color photos.  The co-authors provide an introductory note and acknowledgements.  Besides a table-of-contents, there is also a very helpful index. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars