Review of "The Spencer Haywood Rule"

Spencer Haywood was one of the first basketball players I enjoyed watching as a kid learning the game and when I saw this book, I was interested.  It wasn't what I hoped it would be but it wasn't a bad read either.  Here is my review of "The Spencer Haywood Rule"

Title/Author: “The Spencer Haywood Rule: Battles, Basketball and the Making of an American Iconoclast” by Marc J. Spears and Gary Washburn

Rating: 3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:  It is isn’t often an athlete will have a certain rule or process named for him or her, but Spencer Haywood is one of those athletes.  After bucking the NBA’s rule for not allowing players who did not attend at least three years of college and playing in the rival ABA, the NBA changed and allowed players that young to compete.  The amended rule was known for a long time as the “Spencer Haywood Rule” and that is the title of this biography of Haywood by Marc J. Spears.

There are many aspects of Haywood’s life that even hardcore fans of that era of basketball in the 1970’s and early 1980’s will learn.  Not many realized that he was working picking cotton in Mississippi before going to Detroit and learning that his basketball skills will bring him farther than he dreamed.  It was also interesting to read about his time on the 1968 US Olympic basketball team and his perspective on the civil rights issues of the time.  It was clear from his commentary that despite the extra attention he received and the perks that come with his celebrity, he did not forget the struggles of not only his mother Eunice but all Black Americans. 

There are some parts of his commentary, however, that will not resonate with some readers.  His language is raw at times, as he is quoted frequently in the book no matter the topic or how he is talking. He does point out many people and even cities that he felt did him wrong, whether it concerned his basketball career, his drug use (which was a part of his basketball downfall) or his personal life.  It would be safe to say Haywood experienced many highs and lows – some of which were his doing, some of which were not.  This is his life and the way that he sees the circumstances that played out to make that life the way it was.  For that, no matter how it comes across, it is authentic and therefore worth the time to read.

I wish to thank Triumph Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Link:  Amazon.com: The Spencer Haywood Rule: Battles, Basketball, and the Making of an American Iconoclast eBook : Spears, Marc J., Washburn, Gary: Kindle Store

Review of "Assisted"

Having a recent long car trip to a bowling tourney, I had the time to do something I have not done in quite awhile - listen to an audiobook.  I decided on John Stockton's memoir and it was a good choice.  Here is my review.

RATING: 4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

REVIEW: In most sports memoirs, the author/athlete spends much of the book talking about his or her sports career – whether it is about how their love of the sport came during their youth, their college or professional career and the camaraderie with teammates or competitors and their lives after their career ends – most follow this tried-and-true format.  "Assisted", the memoir of John Stockton who is the all-time leader for assists and steals, is a little different in that more of the book talks more about his family life in youth and adulthood than it does about his basketball career. 

That career, in which he played at Gonzaga followed by 20 years in the NBA, all for the Utah Jazz, was one of the most successful in the game's history. While he and the Jazz never won a championship, he and Karl Malone made up one of the more famous teammate duos and took the Jazz, who had only one winning season before Stockton joined them, to become one of the more successful franchises in the sport.  But despite all of this, Stockton doesn't write extensively about his basketball prowess or accomplishments with the Jazz. Instead, when talking basketball, he concentrates more on teammates, coaches, trainers and other important people involved in the game.  These make even better stories than his own, especially those of his first coach with the Jazz, Frank Layden, who is quoted liberally throughout the book.  He also speaks fondly of his participation on the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic basketball teams, the first two Olympic teams composed primarily of NBA players

However, Stockton spends much time in the book talking about non-basketball items, mostly his family life.  This includes both his youth and his family consisting of his wife Nada and their six children.  Of course, he mentions how sports are important in those lives, especially in his youth and his competition with his brother.  He talks about his Catholic faith and some topics that could generate some debate as well, such as his pro-life beliefs.  This is not to say that he delves deeply into a political debate or into a controversial stance.  He does state, however, how he will speak his mind and will be honest about topics like this, no matter how popular or unpopular his beliefs may be.  Something else that ties into these types of topics is his discussion of life as a Catholic in a city that has a majority of its population as Mormon – and he spends time dispelling some myths about Salt Lake City.

Listening to the audio version, especially as it was narrated by Stockton, lent an air of authenticity to the book.  This was especially beneficial for this last paragraph as the voice inflections helped to show that he was firm in his beliefs.  Although the best parts of the narration, at least for entertainment, were when he would quote Coach Layden with a deep gravelly voice. This book is one that any fan of Stockton or the Jazz will enjoy.

LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Assisted-Autobiography-John-Stockton-ebook/dp/B00F4FKSZI

Review of "Game Face"

While some people may not remember Bernard King's prowess for scoring in the 1980s, many serious basketball fans will recall his career with fondness despite being overshadowed in the minds of many by Bird, Magic and Jordan.  He was known for his privacy and he has opened up with this very good memoir.  Here is my review of "Game Face."

Title/Author:

“Game Face: A Lifetime of Hard – Earned Lessons On and Off the Basketball Court” by Bernard King with Jerome Preisler

Tags:

Basketball, professional, memoir, Nets, Warriors, Jazz, Knicks

Publish date:

November 7, 2017

Length:

360 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Bernard King is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and was one of the most prolific scorers during his sixteen year career, with his best seasons occurring when he played for the New York Knicks.  He recovered from serious knee surgery at a time when that type of injury meant the end of a career.  In addition, he was known as an extremely private person during his playing days, rarely opening up to the media about any personal issues.

In this memoir written with Jerome Preisler, King opens up about his childhood and the feelings of self-doubt that were always present in his life, even when basketball took him to places he never thought he would reach, such as college (University of Tennessee) and back home to New York.  As a Brooklyn kid, he talks about his experiences in the schools and playgrounds in the area and how he vowed to do what he could to avoid the temptations of the streets.

He also opens up about problems that plagued him during his college and professional careers, namely alcoholism and its associated issues.  He thanks his first agent for assisting him in getting the help he needed to overcome those issues as well.  King’s openness about these matters is something that he would rarely do in the public spotlight, so a reader can only imagine how tough it must have been for him to talk about these subject.  He covers a lot of ground in these areas, but there is not a lot of detail or too much anger or self-pity. These sections came across as his account of what happened, what he did to address them and not much else.

The same can’t be said for when King writes about his basketball skills, however.  It is clear how much he still loves the game and the vivid memory he has for many of his career highlights. This is true from his time playing in high school to his days at Tennessee, when he teamed with Ernie Grunfeld to form the “Bernie and Ernie Show” to his NBA career. He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets where he became a scoring machine early.  He later played for the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz before joining the Knicks where his star shone the greatest.  At each stop, he has mostly kind words for teammates, coaches and front office people.  This is true even if his experience with the team was not so great, such as his time in Utah.  It matches the rest of the book because it has a very positive, upbeat feeling even when King is discussing low points in his life.

Serious basketball fans will love the detail with which King describes the action on the court.  Whether it is describing plays that coaches draw on the board, elbows thrown by opponents such as Bob Lanier and Maurice Lucas or the sweet jump shot that made him a scoring machine, the book is chock full of game action. Casual fans who have heard about him but wish to know more will also enjoy this book.

I wish to thank Da Capo Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Format Read:

E-book (Paperback)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Game-Face-Lifetime-Hard-Earned-Basketball/dp/0306825708/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&dpID=51G2NkUNauL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail