Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size (he stands 6'4") for a guard, Frazier is regarded as one of the best point guards in the history of the game. As their floor general, he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only 2 NBA Championships (1970 & 1973), and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Upon his retirement from basketball, Frazier went into broadcasting; he is currently the color commentator for telecasts of Knicks games on the MSG Network. ... Read more

Product Description
For millions of basketball fans in the 1970s, Walt Frazier, nicknamed Clyde, defined the word cool. One of the greatest point guards in NBA history, Clyde guided the New York Knicks to their only two championships with a style and flair that was wholly his own. Worshipped for both his skills on the court and his flamboyant fashion sense off it, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987, was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players in 1996, and is currently the Knicks' color analyst on the MSG Network ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

FINALLY back in print!


This review is of the new 2010 edition of Rockin' Steady:

Rockin' Steady really defies description, but anyone who has ever laid eyes on the original book has never forgotten it. Walt Frazier remains one of the coolest players in NBA history, and this book was written back in 1974 during his days with the Knicks. For a long time, the only way to get this book was to pay a fortune for it on eBay, but now it's back in print, thank god.
I'm not sure if "Clyde" was the blueprint for characters like Shaft, but looking at the photos in this book makes you think he might have been. Mink coat, Rolls Royce, a circular bed with a mirrored ceiling - Clyde definitely was stylin' and profilin' back in the day.
The subtitle of the book is "A Guide to Basketball and Cool," and you definitely get both. There is tons of interesting insight on guys Walt played with and against, like Earl Monroe, Jerry West, and Pistol Pete, plus good tips and strategies. There is also an equal amount of advice on how to build a wardrobe, how to brush your mustache, how to pick the right girl, how to catch a fly in midair - yes, you read that right - and lots more. It is a wild ride and an amazing piece of NBA memorabilia and a document of 1970s culture.
It seems like everything from the original version is here, including the color illustrations and vintage photographs, plus a new foreword by Ira Berkow and a new afterword by Clyde himself. HIGHLY recommended - if you like 70s style or the NBA, you need to own this book.

A man in complete control of his life
Along with "Wilt; Just Like Any Other 7-foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door," this is among the funniest sports books ever written. In it, we learn, inter alia, how Mr. Frazier prefers to keep the interior of his home ("dark, like a nightclub"), how Mr. Frazier washes his face (alternating hot and cold washcloths), how Mr. Frazier catches flies with his bare hands (illustrations included!) and how Mr. Frazier once caught a full beer glass in mid-fall without spilling a drop.

Recommended.

Hilariously self-centered
Walt Frazier is a man in complete control of every aspect of his life.

In this book you learn:

How he washes his face (alternating hot and cold water).

About his apartment's lighting scheme ("dark, like a nightclub").

How to catch a fly in midair (employ your flexor-extensor muscles; Walt includes a sketch with this topic.)

Along with "Wilt: Just Like Any Other 7-Foot Black Millionaire Who Lives Next Door," this is one of the funniest sports books ever published. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the NBA's 50 greatest players of all time tells how to follow all the slammin' and jammin' action in this popular sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

One of several good resources
I liked this book. I see a two-star comment criticizing the book, in part, for the author reliving the good old days. Well, for me this was great background and color that breathes life into the X's and O's. These are not just war stories; it is a rich history, some of which may not be told anywhere else Yes, it may be light on strategy. I have not read the Dummies book -- in part because it is not available on Kindle. This book could have been better organized. For example, it should have listed all the positions, and describe what they do completely, in one place instead of scattering it across several places.

If you are serious about basketball you are not going to rely on one book. I think this book should be one of those.

Probably the complete introduction to basketball
The author intends and succeeds to introduce basketball fans of all ages to the beauty of basketball.
No matter you are 12 or 70, this book helps you understand fully what the game is, teaches you about the history of the american basketball, gives you precious info about positions, different leagues, how to watch a game, famous players, network, newspapers and web sites.
It may be not an interesting book if you bought it for scrimmages and other technical info, but I don't think that was the purpose of the book. It's just a brilliant introduction to the basketball game.
Don't buy any other basketball book before reading this one "court to court". It pays you off.
I highly recommend it to basketball lover.

Don't Buy this Book
Buy Basketball for Dummies instead.
In search of a book which would get me up to speed about a sport which I had never played but which my sons have become increasingly passionate about, I bought and read both. You would be and idiot to buy The Complete Idiot's Guide to Basketball.
The author appears to be more preoccupied with telling you how wonderful he and the players of his (long bygone) era were. The references to today's players are painfully few. His snipping asides against the work ethic of today's players should have no space in a book of this sort; it serves only to make him sound whinny. His writing is practically devoid of humour and his descriptions of plays and strategies are fairly tedious. The game just does not come alive under his pen. Had I been an absolute newcommer to the sport when I read this book, I would have encouraged my boys to take up more exciting sports like synchronised swimming. FOrtunately, I had watched several live and taped games and had my children's interest to help me realise that there was much more to basketball than I could find in the pages of this book.
Try again Mr. Frazier

a great book
this book is a must for folks that respect the basics of Basketball.and who better to show&tell than one of the Greatest players of All-Time in Walt Clyde'Frazier.he was a great defensive player&scorer.also he knowsthat Wilt Chamberlin was the Greatest Player ever.he breaks everythingdown.

Clyde covers the basics entertainingly and understandably.
Classy Clyde Frazier covers the fundamentals of basketball: the vocabulary, the role of each position, the basics of offense and defense, and a few common set plays.His writing is fun to read if a bitdumbed-down (hence the title).He draws examples largely from his playingdays, but knows well and comments aptly on players of all eras.He drawsthe distinctions between college and pro ball and includes women's and highschool ball, but properly focuses primarily on the NBA, where the game isplayed at its highest level.He shows you what to focus on when you watcha game and demonstrates how each player's skills come into play in thecourse of offense and defense.This book will enhance the novice'sappreciation for and enjoyment of the game; from what I have read of DiggerPhelps' "Basketball for Dummies," I'm glad I read Clyde's bookinstead. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Thad Matta, Walt Frazier, Chris Lowery, Jamaal Tatum, Troy Hudson, Mike Glenn, Ashraf Amaya, Chris Carr, Joe Meriweather, Chico Vaughn, Dick Garrett, Nate Hawthorne. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 45. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Thad Matta (born July 11, 1967 in Hoopeston, Illinois) is an American college basketball coach. He is the current head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team. He was hired as the 13th head coach in Ohio State history on July 7, 2004 after the school had fired previous coach Jim O'Brien. He is one of just two coaches nationally to post 20 or more wins in each of his first ten seasons as a head coach. Matta has led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten Conference regular season championships, the 2007 and 2010 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament titles, a runner up finish in the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 2008 NIT Championship. Matta also tied the record for most wins by a first-year coach at Ohio State (20). A basketball standout for the Cornjerkers at Hoopeston-East Lynn High School in Hoopeston, Matta was a two-year starter for the Butler University Bulldogs in three seasons after transferring from Southern Illinois University as a sophomore. He led Butler in assists (100) and three-point field goal percentage (.433) in 198788 and in free-throw percentage in 1988-89 (.872). He served as a team co-captain (one of three Butler tri-captains that year on Barry Collier's first team in 198990 and finished his career in sixth place on Butler's all-time list for free-throw percentage (.800). He earned a B.S. degree from Butler in 1990. Matta enjoyed his Butler career-high point total of 21 points against Xavier University at the Cincinnati Gardens March 2, 1989. In total, Matta spent six seasons as...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=4210112 ... Read more

Product Description
Ranked among the NBA’s fifty all-time greatest players and beloved by millions of fans as one of the best and most colorful personalities ever to grace the game, Walt "Clyde" Frazier is the ultimate basketball insider and a devoted student of the game. In The Game Within the Game, Frazier offers an original and incisive look at where the NBA is today. Part analysis, part expert instructional, part personal narrative, Frazier’s book reveals in each chapter a new component of "The Game Within the Game" -- his keys to success in basketball and in life. He also shares with readers his vivid memories, anecdotes, and of course, his often controversial opinions. Most of us will never get to sit courtside next to Walt Frazier while he breaks down the game for us, play by play and player by player. Reading The Game Within the Game is the next best thing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Dishin' & swishin'
Clyde gives it to you straight and he's right on the money -about the game itself and today's NBA.

Great Book for coaches to share
Walt Frazier hits the nail on the head with his insights into the game as it is played today compared to the way it should be played.

Can Clyde Save the NBA?
Everyone involved with the NBA should read this book.From my viewpoint, as a 40 year old fan and as someone who loved and played basketball through my freshman year of college, Clyde cogently points out the attraction of the game and most importantly where today's professional game has gone dangerously awry.

I'm old enough to remember Clyde's championship Knick teams and still take inspiration from the way those incredible individuals all focused on teamwork.

As the NBA stumbles and bumbles (a nod to Clyde) and becomes more and more irrelevant to a formerly passionate fan base, David Stern and company should take Clyde's analysis to heart.If things don't improve the NBA could soon stand for Nothing But an Afterthought in the world of professional sports.

Ira Berkow, the co-author of the first Clyde book, Rockin' Steady, says about The Game...
"It's an excellent and provocative book." I don't think there's a former great with more cogent things to say about the game of basketball than Walt Frazier. I enjoyed this book immensely and I think it's great for old-timers who remember watching the grace and skill Clyde played the game with and "newbies," who want to learn how to play winning basketball. The chapters on Money, Race and The Players' League are particularly insightful and honest. If you like basketball and care about its evolution, then pick up this book and read it.

lighthearted fun
The Game Within the Game by Walt "Clyde" Frazier with Dan Markowitz is an entertaining, if lighthearted meditation on the game of basketball.Clyde takes modern ballplayers to task for the way they approach the game, but the book is at its best whenever he casually mentions his own youthful indiscretions, like the time he invited two women to the same game and was so worried they'd find out about each other that it wrecked his concentration on the court. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great player and a great season
Walt Frazier, a flashy guard who was known for his defense and wardrobe, recounts the 1969-70 championship season of the New York Knicks, one of the greatest teams in NBA history.The Knicks with Frazier, Dick Barnett, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley got off to a 23-2 start, including 18 consecutive wins (a record at the time).Frazier gives a good account of the streak and the playoff games.

The Knicks, Frazier says, had it all--"glamour, intelligence and true grit."The Knicks were completely unselfish and played team defense.Each player made the others better.They were one of the most intelligent teams ever.

En route to the championship, the Knicks defeated the Baltimore Bullets, 4 games to 3; the Milwaukee Bucks, four games to two; and the Los Angeles Lakers, 4 games to 2.In the final game versus the Lakers, Frazier picked up the slack for an injured Willis Reed, who barely dragged himself onto the court and somehow played 20-plus minutes.Frazier scored 36 points, registered 19 assists and tallied five steals.

Frazier is frank and honest in the book.He lists who he thought were dirty players and says that Hall of Famer Bob Cousy, who was a player/coach for the Kansas City Royals, was arrogant when he inserted himself, at age 40, in the waning minutes of a close game against the Knicks.Frazier also writes how Willis Reed, who later became coach of the Knicks, traded him to Cleveland without even telling him.

This is a good book to read if you're a fan of Walt Frazier, the New York Knicks or the NBA during this era.

thecoolman
walt frazier is my all time favorite ball player. he was the coolest player . i've always admired him for that. most of all i shook hands with him & got his autograph. i enjoyed reading the book. i've learneda lot from him and from a great friend, joe bourne, who said, "Always stay focus on what you're doing, don't let anything distract you".David Chan**** ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A demonstration of hard work being the precondition for success, even for natural athletes
This is an excellent book about a major sports star written for the late elementary school student. It describes how Walt grew up in a segregated society and some of the problems that he faced when growing up. His years at Southern Illinois University, where he left in frustration, worked hard to increase his strength and then his success, as one of the best basketball players in the country is an inspiration. One of the best things that sports books for young people do is to describe the hard work that successful athletes have done to reach their level of success. Burchard is very clear that nothing came easy to Frazier; he earned all of his success. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography stressing the basketball career of New York Knicks guard Walt Frazier, including detailed accounts of key games in his career. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than a half century, the New York Knickerbockers have been one of the most recognizable and popular teams in professional sports. But the best stories about the Knicks have never been published before - they've only been shared by those "in the know" who work in and around the team. For the first time, these stories are captured straight from the mouths of those who know them best - former playes, coaches, towel boys, announcers, employees and administrators. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Read
this is a Must have Book for any Fan of the NBA.this Book talks about all of the Great Knicks&is truly Great to reflect on.those Great Knicks Days seems so long ago but they really weren't that long ago.Clyde the Glide,Earl The Pearl through the Present.

A must read
If you're a Knicks fan - or even just a basketball junkie - Garden Glory is for you. An easy read with great stories told by those who lived it. I could never have gone to the Old Garden, but the mental pictures the book creates is marvelous.

But the big unanswered question that I need to know is: What was Spree REALLY wearing when they came to his house in Milwaukee?

A must read...

Good take on the years of the Knicks
The Garden and the Knicks, a match made in heaven.This book delivers the best insight into the New York Knicks and its best players.From Clyde, to Willis, from Patrick to Houston, this book tells it all. Even has some great storys and pictures of the Old Garden a definent must read ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 182 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. ... Read more