Review of "Banned"

Having remembered Michael Ray Richardson during his NBA days before he was banned from the league, I was interested in this book to see whatever happened to him when he decided not to return to the NBA when reinstated.  It was a great story - all basketball fans should read it.  Here is my review of his memoir "Banned." 

 

Title/Author:

“Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption” by Michael Ray Richardson with Jake Uitti

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Michael Ray Richardson was an exciting, excellent NBA guard in the early 1980’s before he succumbed to the world of drugs, most notably cocaine. He was one of the first players to receive a lifetime ban from the NBA for drug use, but eventually got clean and was reinstated to the league in 1987.  However, he never returned to the league and instead enjoyed his time playing in Europe and coaching minor league basketball.  His journey is told in his memoir written with Jake Uitti.

Drafted in 1978 by the New York Knicks, Richardson realized his dream and goal of playing in the NBA was going to become a reality. His description of his life previous to this draft was enjoyable to read.  It didn’t have any really shocking parts – was raised by a single mother (although his father was part of his life), saw blatant racism, vowed to make a better life for himself and his mother through basketball and went to college through the game.  The only surprise there might be that instead of a storied basketball school, Richardson became a first-round draft choice after playing at the University of Montana.  He does look back fondly at his time at the school and his youth before that in Denver.

It’s refreshing to read about a person who became an addict accepting all responsibility for their actions and not saying that this was because of situations, people or other issues beyond their control.  He realized that he was the one who gave in to the temptations and did not protest when he received the ban.  In fact, later on, he gives the NBA Commissioner at the time, David Stern, credit for saving his life for taking that action.  It is also clear from Richardson’s words that this wasn’t something that he just discovered after his low point – he knew what he was doing was wrong, but just couldn’t stop.

It's also nice to see two other aspects of Richardson’s life – he takes responsibility for the failure of his marriages (not all of them due to drugs) but makes sure that he remains a father figure for his children. It was also great to read about his time playing in Italy as he became a very popular player there where people still would chant his name when he appeared at a function long after his playing days were over. It was clear that he relished his time there and felt it was the right decision for him to remain overseas instead of returning to the NBA.

Throughout the book, Richardson is upbeat and positive, despite the addiction that ended a promising NBA career.  His story is certainly one that is inspiring and shows that one doesn’t have to take the same path after recovery to make one’s life productive after a bad event.

I wish to thank Skyhorse Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption: Richardson, Michael Ray, Uitti, Jacob, Gervin, George, Lieberman, Nancy: 9781683584902: Amazon.com: Books

 

Review of "Backspin"

A different kind of book on basketball was offered to me for a review on life in professional basketball overseas.  I was intrigued and gratefully accepted the offer.  I am glad I did as I enjoyed this memoir by Pete Strobl.  Here is my review of "Backspin."

Title/Author:
“Backspin” by Pete Strobl

Tags:
Basketball, autobiography, professional, college, overseas

Published:
2013

Length:
327 pages

Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:
When most basketball fans in the United States think of professional basketball, the NBA immediately comes to mind. However, there are many professional leagues in Europe and Asia as well. Several American players will play in these leagues and will face challenges along the way. Pete Strobl was one of these players and he decided to write a book on his adventures in Europe when playing in several countries.

“Backspin” takes the reader through Strobl’s playing career at Niagara University and his stops in various European countries, including France, Austria and Germany. The adventures and experiences he has at each stop is described in vivid detail. Some of the stories are downright funny (the adventures of the grey Omega that he drove from California to Niagara University), some are poignant (how he felt when an inexperienced player took a bad shot at the end of a championship game) and some are uplifting (his story of courting and marrying his wife Sheryl and the birth of their children).

What I like best about this book is that Strobl never comes across as too emotional while telling these stories. Through his writing, he doesn’t come across as getting too excited about the highs, nor too depressed about the lows. He keeps an even keel throughout his career in Europe. He also writes well about his trials and tribulations of being an American in a foreign country and needing to quickly adapt to the culture and languages. My favorite story of these was early in his first stop in France, he was mocked by a store clerk by asking if she had any English language magazines – and she did it in English! Later, after he learned to speak French well, he returned, asked the same question in French, and got a much different reaction.

There is plenty of basketball talk as well for the hardcore fan, especially about his college career at Niagara and his days playing in France and Austria. He recalls important games, some of his memorable episodes with teammates and the work he put in to become a better player at each stop. This work ethic not only helped him on the court but also to be able to quickly adapt to new cultures and languages at each stop in Europe.

Overall, this is a very good book about Strobl’s life before, during and after his overseas professional career. Written in a very even-handed manner, it is a good read for those who like memoirs and for basketball fans. The latter category will even learn a little more about professional leagues that are not the NBA.

I wish to thank Mr. Strobl for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I skim?
No. The stories each are an integral part of what has made Strobl who he is today and each one of them tells an interesting fact or tidbit about his life.

Pace of the book: 
Very good. It is not too slow so that it drags, nor is it a quick pace as each story should be absorbed instead of skimmed.

Do I recommend?
For readers who like personal introspection into the lives of the book’s subject, this is the perfect book. It covers more than just basketball - it truly is a book on the adventures of life.

Book Format Read:
Paperback

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Backspin-Pete-Strobl/dp/0988179903/ref=tmm_pap_title_0