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Chapters: Lsu Tigers Basketball Coaches, Lsu Tigers Basketball Players, Lsu Tigers Basketball Seasons, Pete Maravich, Shaquille O'neal, Dale Brown, Dan Richey, 2009-10 Lsu Tigers Men's Basketball Team, Anthony Randolph, Homer Drew, Glen Davis, Ossie Brown, John Brady, Branch Bocock, Press Maravich, Bob Pettit, Tyrus Thomas, Trent Johnson, Stromile Swift, Dennis Wolff, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Edgar Wingard, Johnny Jones, Ed Palubinskas, Ronald Dupree, Brandon Bass, Joe Dean, Randy Livingston, Brian Beshara, Stanley Roberts, Donnie Tyndall, Bob Boyd, Rudy Macklin, John Williams (Basketball, Born 1966), Butch Pierre, Kermit Davis, Harry Rabenhorst, Ronnie Henderson, Jabari Smith, Garrett Temple, Howard Carter, Dejuan Collins, Marcus Thornton, Frank Brian, Jerry Reynolds, Steffond Johnson, Jordy Hultberg, 1991-92 Lsu Tigers Men's Basketball Team, Glenn Hansen, Collis Temple, Bob Starkey, Geert Hammink, John W. Mayhew, Kenny Higgs, Régis Koundjia, Ricky Blanton, Nikita Wilson, Maurice Carter, Josh Maravich, Dewayne Scales, Don Redden. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 228. 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: University of Phoenix, MBA '05 Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced ; born March 6, 1972), nicknamed "Shaq" (), is an American professional basketball player, rapper, actor, reserve police officer and a U.S. Deputy Marshal. He is widely perceived as one of the most dominant players in the history of the NBA. Standing at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) and weighing 325 pounds (147 kg), he is one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA. Throughout his 17 year career, O'Neal has used his size and strength to overpower opponents for points and rebounds. With the retirement of Lindsey Hunter on March 5, 2010, O'Neal is currently the oldest active player in the NBA. Following a standout career at Loui...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=147726 ... Read more

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Chapters: Pete Maravich, Peja Stojaković, Vlade Divac, Dejan Bodiroga, Darko Miličić, Aleksandar Pavlović, Vladimir Radmanović, Milan Gurović, Nenad Krstić, Milan Tomić, Igor Rakočević, Željko Obradović, Ivan Radenović, Marko Jarić, List of Serbian Nba Players, Mirsad Türkcan, Željko Rebrača, Aleksandar Radojević, Aleksandar Đorđević, Dejan Tomašević, Branislav Prelević, Predrag Danilović, Kosta Perović, Milan Mačvan, Dražen Dalipagić, Dragan Tarlać, Predrag Drobnjak, Miloš Teodosić, Nikola Vujčić, Aleksandar Nikolić, Dejan Milojević, Miloš Vujanić, Novica Veličković, Žarko Čabarkapa, Slavko Vraneš, Petar Arsić, Miroslav Raičević, Predrag Savović, Radivoj Korać, Uroš Tripković, Dušan Kecman, Mile Ilić, Zoran Savić, Nemanja Bjelica, Miroslav Raduljica, Dragan Kićanović, Radisav Ćurčić, Igor Milošević, Boban Janković, Vladimir Micov, Zoran Slavnić, Marko Marinović, Borislav Stanković, Nenad Mijatović, Branko Cvetković, Zoran Radović, Zoran Erceg, Đuro Ostojić, Dušan Jelić, Vladimir Janković, Ivan Paunić, Tadija Dragićević, Stevan Nadjfeji, Ivan Zoroski, Marko Kešelj, Dejan Koturović, Čedomir Vitkovac, Stefan Marković, Bojan Popović, Milan Jeremic, Vladimir Cvetković, Žarko Zečević, Miroslav Berić, Vladimir Štimac, Igor Kokoškov, Trajko Rajković, Petar Božić, Milutin Aleksić, Milica Dabovic, Nebojša Popović, Milovan Raković, Jovo Stanojević, Vladimir Golubović, Goran Knežević, Branko Milisavljević, Miloš Babić, Petar Popović, Miroslav Pecarski, Milko Bjelica, Radomir Šaper, Ognjen Aškrabić, Nenad Vučinić, Stefan Živanović, Vule Avdalović, Zorana Todorović, Slaviša Koprivica, Nenad Mišanović, Rastko Cvetković, Nikola Otašević, Mirko Kovač. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 290. 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: Vlade Divac (Serbian: , pronounced ) (born February 3, 1968 in Prijepolje, Se...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=322505 ... Read more

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Chapters: Pete Maravich, Shaquille O'neal, Dan Richey, Anthony Randolph, Glen Davis, Ossie Brown, Bob Pettit, Tyrus Thomas, Stromile Swift, Dennis Wolff, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Johnny Jones, Ed Palubinskas, Ronald Dupree, Brandon Bass, Joe Dean, Randy Livingston, Brian Beshara, Stanley Roberts, Rudy Macklin, John Williams (Basketball, Born 1966), Ronnie Henderson, Jabari Smith, Garrett Temple, Howard Carter, Dejuan Collins, Marcus Thornton, Frank Brian, Jerry Reynolds, Steffond Johnson, Jordy Hultberg, Glenn Hansen, Collis Temple, Geert Hammink, Kenny Higgs, Régis Koundjia, Ricky Blanton, Nikita Wilson, Maurice Carter, Josh Maravich, Dewayne Scales, Don Redden. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 176. 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: University of Phoenix, MBA '05 Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced ; born March 6, 1972), nicknamed "Shaq" (), is an American professional basketball player, rapper, actor, reserve police officer and a U.S. Deputy Marshal. He is widely perceived as one of the most dominant players in the history of the NBA. Standing at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) and weighing 325 pounds (147 kg), he is one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA. Throughout his 17 year career, O'Neal has used his size and strength to overpower opponents for points and rebounds. With the retirement of Lindsey Hunter on March 5, 2010, O'Neal is currently the oldest active player in the NBA. Following a standout career at Louisiana State University, O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. He quickly became one of the top centers in the league, winning Rookie of the year in 1992-93 and later leading his team to the 1995 NBA Finals. After 4 years with the Magic, O'Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won three consecutive c...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=147726 ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Peter Press Maravich (Serbian Cyrillic: ??? ???????; born on June 22, 1947 ? January 5, 1988), nicknamed "Pistol Pete", was an American basketball player. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and for three NBA teams. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game. Maravich died suddenly at age 40 as a consequence of a previously undetected congenital heart defect. ... Read more

Product Description
"I Remember Pete Maravich" is a beautiful hardcover bookthat details the professional career and personal example of "PistolPete" Maravich. His amazing record and ball-handling tricks are justsome of the stories recounted here by some of Maravich's closestacquaintances, including his friends, fellow basketball players,coaches, and relatives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful reading!
Pistol Pete was my childhood hero and this book tells me an awful lot about him from people who knew him during different parts of his life. It's people talking about Pete in their own words and the stories and memories are rich and interesting. I especially like the Christian angle to the book, telling of Pete's conversion to Christianity and his evangelical work. Most of the stuff I've read on Maravich downplay that stuff, but I think it as important as anything else he ever accomplished. Nice bookfor sure.

oral history
This biik is an oral history of Pete Maravich, the player and the person.It recounts the memories of various people who knew Pete as the Pistol and as just plain Pete.It gives a balanced view of his past and is especially interesting in recounting Pete's later days and his conversion to Christianity.A good read for people who may have read Pete's biography but want to see him through others eyes. ... Read more

Product Description
Pistol is more than the biography of a ballplayer. It's the stuff of classic novels: the story of a boy transformed by his father's dream -- and the cost of that dream. Even as Pete Maravich became Pistol Pete -- a basketball icon for baby boomers -- all the Maraviches paid a price. Now acclaimed author Mark Kriegel has brilliantly captured the saga of an American family: its rise, its apparent ruin, and, finally, its redemption.

Almost four decades have passed since Maravich entered the national consciousness as basketball's boy wizard. No one had ever played the game like the kid with the floppy socks and shaggy hair. And all these years later, no one else ever has. The idea of Pistol Pete continues to resonate with young people today just as powerfully as it did with their fathers.

In averaging 44.2 points a game at Louisiana State University, he established records that will never be broken. But even more enduring than the numbers was the sense of ecstasy and artistry with which he played. With the ball in his hands, Maravich had a singular power to inspire awe, inflict embarrassment, or even tell a joke.

But he wasn't merely a mesmerizing showman. He was basketball's answer to Elvis, a white Southerner who sold Middle America on a black man's game. Like Elvis, he paid a terrible price, becoming a prisoner of his own fame.

Set largely in the South, Kriegel's Pistol, a tale of obsession and basketball, fathers and sons, merges several archetypal characters. Maravich was a child prodigy, a prodigal son, his father's ransom in a Faustian bargain, and a Great White Hope. But he was also a creature of contradictions: always the outsider but a virtuoso in a team sport, an exuberant showman who wouldn't look you in the eye, a vegetarian boozer, an athlete who lived like a rock star, a suicidal genius saved by Jesus Christ.

A renowned biographer -- People magazine called him "a master" -- Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric.

The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete's father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press's obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father's vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete's own sons. Now in their twenties -- and fatherless for most of their lives -- they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts.

Pistol is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family's history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.Amazon.com Review
Book Description
Pistol is more than the biography of a ballplayer. It's the stuff of classic novels: the story of a boy transformed by his father's dream--and the cost of that dream. Even as Pete Maravich became Pistol Pete--a basketball icon for baby boomers--all the Maraviches paid a price. Now acclaimed author Mark Kriegel has brilliantly captured the saga of an American family: its rise, its apparent ruin, and, finally, its redemption.

Almost four decades have passed since Maravich entered the national consciousness as basketball's boy wizard. No one had ever played the game like the kid with the floppy socks and shaggy hair. And all these years later, no one else ever has. The idea of Pistol Pete continues to resonate with young people today just as powerfully as it did with their fathers.

In averaging 44.2 points a game at Louisiana State University, he established records that will never be broken. But even more enduring than the numbers was the sense of ecstasy and artistry with which he played. With the ball in his hands, Maravich had a singular power to inspire awe, inflict embarrassment, or even tell a joke.

But he wasn't merely a mesmerizing showman. He was basketball's answer to Elvis, a white Southerner who sold Middle America on a black man's game. Like Elvis, he paid a terrible price, becoming a prisoner of his own fame.

Set largely in the South, Kriegel's Pistol, a tale of obsession and basketball, fathers and sons, merges several archetypal characters. Maravich was a child prodigy, a prodigal son, his father's ransom in a Faustian bargain, and a Great White Hope. But he was also a creature of contradictions: always the outsider but a virtuoso in a team sport, an exuberant showman who wouldn't look you in the eye, a vegetarian boozer, an athlete who lived like a rock star, a suicidal genius saved by Jesus Christ.

A renowned biographer--People magazine called him "a master"--Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric.

The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete's father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press's obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father's vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete's own sons. Now in their twenties--and fatherless for most of their lives--they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts.

Pistol is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family's history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.

"Why Pistol?"
An Exclusive Essay by Mark Kriegel
"Why Pistol?" I'm asked that all the time.Pete Maravich became famous in the late 1960s, while setting scoring records at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. I'm not a son of the South. Nor, at 44, do I have any meaningful recollection of basketball's boy wizard in his floppy-socked prime.I grew up in the Seventies, on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, a few blocks from Madison Square Garden. I was a fan of the Knicks and their star guard, Walt "Clyde" Frazier. In terms of basketball style, Clyde and Pistol were antithetical. Frazier's flamboyance--I recall committing his "wardrobe stats" to memory--was not apparent on the court. Rather, he was celebrated as a dogged defender. His game was wise, economical, his gaze expressionless. Maravich, by contrast, was considered a head-case. His eyes were sad--even a kid could see that. Still, there was a distinct exuberance in the way he moved. No one moved like that, before or since.

Continue reading "Why Pistol?"

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... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Genius
The word "Icon"is becoming overused in much the same way as the words "Superstar" and "legend.But in the case of Pete Maravich, it is no exaggeration.He was a household name, and very possibly the greatest college basketball player who ever played.

His life was a sad, tragic, twisted affair punctuated by his mother's suicide, alcohol dependence, loneliness and a relationship with his father that never really brought any joy.

Pistol Pete brought excitement and joy to huge numbers of fans at LSU and later, Atlanta, New Orleans and Utah.Although a decent man, his leadership was always questioned, and his presence, and his pocketbook brought jealousy to his teams and teammates.

He was a true artist on the court, and played the game at a higher level than his contemporaries.Much like many other misunderstood geniuses in other fields, questions still abound.

What if?

He had a coach in the pros who really understood how to harness his talent?
A GM understood the type of team to build around him?
He had a great big man, like Jabbar, Lanier or Chamberlain to pass to?
He had signed with the ABA out of College?

His standards were impossibly high, and his achievements, as great as they were, never measured up to his own perception of greatness.

This book is cordoned off into three sections.The first is about Press Maravich, his father, and a fascinating case study in his own right.The lion's share is about Pete, and the final section is about his two sons who were both children at the time of his shocking, untimely death at the age of forty.

This book is full of mysticism and spectres.Maravich was a man of his times, New Age, but he was also searching for peace in his life.

I found this book to be a riveting read, about a fascinating subject.

ONE OF THE BEST SPORTS BOOKS EVER!!
"PISTOL" IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL. HE WAS TRULY ONE OF THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER IN HISTORY RIVALING MICHAEL JORDAN AND LARRY BIRD. HIS BOOK REMINDS MANY OF US WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN HIM HOW TRULY REMARKABLE HE WAS.

A pleasant surprise and an excellent biography.
I saw this book for over a year and had no interest in it because I had read Maravich's autobiography "Heir to a Dream." How would a stranger know more about Pete Maravich than Pete Maravich? But, I ended up buying it off the cheap shelf and I'm glad I did.
The story of Maravich is unique because you can't tell it without telling the story of his father, Press Maravich, because they were joined at the hip. Press was an old school coach rooted in the fundamentals and devised a lot of unique drills for his growing son. He was a pioneer for people like Marv Maranovich. He created a ubber-basketball player. However, instead of creating the most dominant player ever, he created the most flashy player. His goal was to make Pete the first million-dollar basketball player, so he trained Pete to throw outrageous passes, as opposed to say, learning defense. When he coached Pete in college, he threw out everything he believed (team play and strong defense) and instead used blatant double-standards, all to make sure his son received individual glory and scoring titles.
Meanwhile, Pistol Pete felt the burden of living up to the legend he was becoming. He was not socially adept, yet suddenly, he is idolized by millions. He faced resentment from teammates and resentment from old school opponents. He drank heavily and became depressed as he felt he could never live up to what others wanted, before finding redemption through Jesus Christ.
Why is this book worth reading? Combined with Maravich's autobiography, it provides a three-dimensional look at the man. Maravich's autobiography is more sanitized. You can't expect him to harshly criticize the man he idolizes, even when it seems obvious. Mark Kriegel researched Pistol Pete and Press' lives in detail, interviewing countless others and telling the story from an outsider's view. Kriegel's a very good writer, and he wrote one of the better sports biographies.

Perfect
Fantastic job by Kriegel.Amazing insight into who Pete was and the role Press (his dad) played in his life.Would have made a great fiction book, hard to believe the whole thing is actually true.

Well worth the 99 cents plus shipping.

Good Read
Like a lot of other reviews I thought this was a nice breezy read. Didnt think I would find it so readable. Pleasant surprise. Pistol Pete really was a big deal. Remember him well from my school days. Today he is rarely mentioned. Too bad. Commend the author on bringing him back to the fore. The reason for the 4 stars was the over-attention paid to Pete's father Press. I understand that in order to get a complete picture of Pete, you have to get to know Press. Still, the details on him were actually, to me, better detailed and more relevant than those about Pete. Pistol is revealed to be into UFO's with contrasting ideas of holistic diet and alcohol consumption along with other ideas that are considered fringe. Somehow these details just dont seem to tell the complete picture of Pete. I felt that there wasnt a well rounded portrayal of him. The mother seems ancillary and his pro career is overly detailed in some areas and not enough in others. Before i knew it, his career was over. I think much of the issues were with the relatively few sources in the book. In many cases they were not involved with Pete and contribute only minimal insight. Still, the book was really good and dont want to harp on the bad. Just good to see Pete back where he belongs. ... Read more

Product Description
The youngest person to be voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, "Pistol" Pete Maravich is recognized by the NBA as one of the all-time top 50 basketball players. More than 30 years after he left Louisiana State University, his NCAA scoring record still stands. He enjoyed fame, wealth, and short of winning an NBA championship, achieved every possible success. But there was a price. Pete brought a childlike exuberance to the court that often masked a tortured and confused adult. Things changed dramatically and permanently, however, when Pete found Christ. At last he experienced peace and a purpose that extended beyond the basketball court. He became an avid student of the Bible and a tireless evangelist. Tragically, at age 40, Pete Maravich died. This is the first authorized biography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great story
I did not read this book.It was a gift for my grandson.He said it is a really good book.Very interesting.

Maravich - The Best In-Depth Story Yet!
After reading this book I was surprised to learn about many details I did not previously know about Pistol in both the early years as well as the later years.I did not know the depth of his convictions once he found the meaning in his life and his true calling.I really felt like I was able to truly understand Pistols struggles and ultimate triumphs.A very truthful yet uplifting and hopeful account of a great athlete and a great man.

"maravich", clangs off the rim.
Having known the Maravich family all of my life;from my perspective so much is missing.Glossing over Press and Helen, doesn't make sense.Helen was a wonderful and kind person. Both she and Press were raised through difficult circumstances. I guess that wasn't important to Pete's biography.I've read the other books, and I didn't care for this one at all.I wish the authors could have understood Basketball, then maybe they could have got to understanding Pete. When Jackie was interviewed on ESPN, she said she was always asked, "What's it like to be married to Pistol Pete?" And she said, " I don't know I married Pete Maravich.I wish that could have come through in this book. Pete was mortal and Jackie knew it too well.

The Best Biography of Pistol Pete Maravich
OK, I read the hard-cover version of this book (Maravich) a couple years back and found it - far and away - the most comprehensive and informative book ever written on the Pistol (and I've read them all).

This is basically the paperback version of that book but with an added forward by James Dobson. Yes, THAT James Dobson. He was with Pete the day he died. (Focus on the Family published this version - which doesn't bother me but I won't be lending it to my sister.)

What sets Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete apart is the astonishing detail of every aspect of Pete's life (Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, LSU, the NBA, Christianity, and his legacy). For example - there's an entire chapter on Pete's year at prep-school (Southwood College) and another on his failed attempt to make the 1968 Olympic basketball team.

It was written with the full co-operation of the Maravich family and it shows. The private letters from Pete to his wife and boys are beautiful and heart-breaking.

My only complaint is that Ronnie Maravich is referred to as Pete's "step" brother when, in fact, he was Pete's "half" brother.

This is the book (along with the CBS documentary) that future historians will resource when chronicling his life. ESPN called it "The definitive biography of Pistol Pete Maravich." The NY Times called it the "essential biography of Pete Maravich."

It's that and so much more. ... Read more

Product Description
Pete Maravich might not have been the greatest basketball player of his generation, but he was unquestionably the most exciting and entertaining. A magician at handling or shooting the ball and the most prolific scorer in college basketball history, "Pistol Pete" was as recognizable as he was flashy. If the mop of brown hair and floppy gray socks didn’t give him away, the behind-the-back dribbling and between-the-legs passes did.

Maravich first captured the nation’s attention while playing basketball for his father at Louisiana State University, averaging an incredible 44.2 points per game over three years and earning college player-of-the-year honors in 1970. He went on to play for ten years in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics, garnering NBA First Team honors twice and Second Team honors two other times. In 1976–77 he led the league in scoring with an average of 31.1 points, including a 68-point outburst in a game against the New York Knicks.

"Pistol Pete" was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Less than a year later, at the age of 40, he collapsed while playing basketball with friends and died an hour later.

While he has been gone for more than fifteen years, his on-court showmanship and off-court charisma endure for millions of basketball fans who fondly remember him. In Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood, players, coaches, friends, fans, and relatives recall the soft-spoken man who turned away from heavy drinking and turned toward God. Maravich’s life is an inspiration for all who love the game of basketball and appreciate the contributions made by one of the best ever to play it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

PISTOL WAS A MACHINE GUN
THIS BOOK BROUGHT BACK ALOT OF MEMORIES ABOUT THE PISTOL. I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN PETE WAS MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF AT LSU. IT WAS SOMETHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT TO SEE THIS TALENTED AND FLAMBOYANT PLAYER DOING THINGS WITH A BASKETBALL THAT WERE YEARS AHEAD OF HIS TIME. BACK THEN COLLEGE GAMES WERE ON TV ONLY ON WEEKENDS AND LSU WAS NOT A POWERHOUSE AND WERE TELEVISED VERY RARELY. THIS BOOK IS WELL WRITTEN AND HAS MANY FIRST HAND STORIES AND INFO ABOUT PETE THAT MOST PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW. PETE WAS NOT CLOSE WITH MANY PEOPLE AND PROBABLY ENJOYED SOLITUDE. MANY OF HIS TEAMATES RESENTED HIM FOR HIS ABILITY, POPULARITY AND HIS SALARY. PETE NEVER DID PLAY FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM BUT HIS TALENT AND SHOWMANSHIP ARE AMONG THE BEST EVER. PETE ALSO HAD HIS SHARE OF TRADGEDY. FATHER PRESS DIED OF CANCER, MOTHER WAS ALCOHOLIC AND TOOK HER OWN LIFE. PETE ALSO BECAME AN ALCOHOLIC BUT WAS SAVED AND REBORN AS A CHRISTIAN. PETE ALSO HELPED CARE FOR HIS DAD IN HIS DYING DAYS AND PETE HIMSELF DIED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER HIS DAD. HE HAD A HEART CONDITION ALL HIS LIFE THAT WENT UNDETECTED. TOO BAD MORE COVERAGE WASN'T PUT INTO COVERING HIS PRO CAREER BUT THAT IS THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE ABOUT THIS WELL WORTH READING BOOK. ... Read more

Product Description

Every basketball team has its star player.From 1967 to 1970, Louisiana State University saw the rise of a legend: "Pistol Pete" Maravich, one of the greatest basketball players in LSU history and arguably the greatest to ever play college basketball.Known for his dazzling ball handling, creative passing, and extraordinary shooting, he averaged 44.2 points per game at LSU--without the benefit of a three-point line--and remains the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.

Danny Brown, a journalism student at LSU during most of Pete's college years, took hundreds of photographs at LSU basketball games as part of his course work.In Shooting The Pistol, Brown offers more than eighty photographs--most never before published--of Pete in action, along with game statistics and personal recollections, to form the single most complete portrait ever made of Maravich at LSU.

Danny first met Pete not on the basketball court, but during Air Force ROTC training, where Danny was Pete's squadron sergeant.Upon learning that the tall, scrawny guy with the shaved head and the purple-and-gold beanie cap was scoring 40 points a game on the freshman team, Danny replied, "That kid can play basketball?"Danny eventually became friends with Pete and his father, Coach "Press" Maravich, and his images pay tribute to an amazing athlete and a magical time in LSU sports history.

Brown's photographs provide intimate courtside views of Pete's gravity-defying, play-making skills.Many capture Pete in midair, where he seemingly floats, his off-balance body positions resembling moves in an athletic ballet.Famous for his ability to stop on a dime, Pete--as Brown's pictures demonstrate--often caught opponents flat-footed as he quickly maneuvered for an opening to the basket or sent a sudden "no-look" pass to a teammate.The volume culminates in Brown's near-perfect photographs of Pete's shot that broke the NCAA scoring record during the 1970 Ole Miss game and of the ensuing game-stopping victory celebration.

While the majority of the images here show number 23 in motion, several reveal the personal side of the shy star, including a rare game attendance by his mother and quieter off-court moments with his father.Throughout, Brown weaves a rich conversational commentary--anecdotes about Pete, circumstances surrounding the more notable photographs, and descriptions of the games and Pete's performance.

Seeing LSU's basketball phenomenon Pete Maravich through Danny Brown's lens will transport fans back in time, under the goal, to witness firsthand the making of college sports history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Clever title, clever marketing
Students today at LSU call the Pete Maravich Assembly Center the P-MAC. I can't stand to hear that. If they read this book, they might give the building the devotion it deserves. "Shooting the Pistol" is a clever name and the cover of this book and its design are also clever. I was expecting only pictures, but was amazed at the amount of copy that went along with the games corresponding to the photos. Pete is shown in all kinds of situations and the descriptions are amazing. This will make a great Father's Day gift.

Excellent Photographic Journal
This is an excellent recounting of Pete Maravich's playing days at LSU from the perspective of a court side photographer/journalist.Well written with wonderful pictures.A must have for basketball and sports history fans! ... Read more

Description
Forever Showtime chronicles the life of Pistol Pete Maravich, the legendarycollege basketball player for Louisiana State University and NBA star for the Atlanta Hawks, theformer New Orleans Jazz and the Boston Celtics. A prolific scorer at every level, he was knownfor his dazzling ball-handling skills and exciting passes, making him a man ahead of his time, andone who earned a spot on the NBA's 50 Greatest Players List.

Pete's father, Press Maravich, a former professional basketball player, was consumed by hisdesire to make his son one of the best to ever play the game. As his coach at LSU, Pressdemanded that Pete remain singularly focused on basketball.Success on the court followed, butthe powerful drive to succeed took its toll on the family, pushing Pete's mother to suicide andPete himself to alcohol abuse before he found serenity as a born-again Christian. He died at age40 of a congenital heart defect while playing a game of pickup basketball.

Based on years of research and extensive interviews with those close to him, Forever Showtimeexamines in equal measure Pete Maravich's rousing success on the hardwood and his turbulentlife off it.Phil Berger casts into sharp profile one of basketball's early legends, a man whosecareer presaged the age of the basketball superstar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The Pistol
A good story of the basketball player's career.
I learned a lot about a player who I only knew
from the movie "The Pistol".

A Great Read For True Basketball Fans!
I really enjoyed this book about such a legendary player...a man who was truly ahead of his time.The story of his life and his relationship with his father adds such richness to our understanding of such a unique and innovative basketball phenomenon.His story (and his Dad's) takes us through the history of basketball up to the Jordan era.And while today's game may be bringing in more money and creating more millionaires I feel fortunate to be one of those who misses and cherishes the previous era.Pete Maravich was and still is the most fascinating ballhandler of all-time.He had to create all this without any role models which is mindboggling in itself.I hope that more people get a chance to read and enjoy this book.The author did a fabulous job of writing and the title is so appropriate.....Pete Maravich will be forever showtime.

Greatest Showman Ever?
Is Pistol Pete Maravich the greatest showman ever?Some may disagree, saying that Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson were better.But then again, they both were on some of the best teams in the NBA history, surrounded by players like Bill Russel and Kareem Abdual-Jabar, and Pete?On the Atlanta Hawks with virtually no supporting cast!But that's besides the point.In this book, you see the life of a man who truely loved the game of basketball.Being in the 10th grade and practicing 6-10 hours a day.Finally making it to the NBA, after breaking all college scoring records, and then signed the first million dollar contract.And wasn't happy!What?It wasn't until he retired that he found the true satisfaction, the Lord Jesus Christ.The Pistol's life was changed, and changed those around him.But after dying of a sudden heart attack left this world with nothing but memories.Pete lives on today!The book is great!If you are remotely interested in basketball, read this book and you'll love the sport.READ IT!

A Winner
Phil Berger does a solid job here on Pistol Pete.Pistol was something else.He did things on the court that still haven't been done since.He was a Bit ahead of His time.if He were out now He would be in another world all together.a solid read here.

A review or a Fantastic book on "The Pistol" by Rick Penrod
This is a fantastic recollection of the greatest scorer and ball-handler in the history of the game. Phil Berger captivates his readers with new insights and stories about Pete and his father, Press, since Pete's ill-fated death in 1988. I have every book written on Pete Maravich that to my knowledge has been published. Great book Mr. Berger! .... ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Jim Thorpe, Pete Maravich, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Gerry Mcnamara, Rasheed Wallace, Skip Prosser, Hakim Warrick, Swin Cash, Dejuan Blair, Matt Carroll, Donyell Marshall, Dick Groat, Dawn Staley, Sean Singletary, Richard Hamilton, Edna Campbell, Jameer Nelson, Sean Miller, Ronald Murray, Aaron Mckie, Lisa Salters, Earl Monroe, Malik Rose, Eddie Griffin, Walt Hazzard, Ashley Battle, Dionte Christmas, John Salmons, Hank Gathers, John Lucas Iii, Joe Bryant, Paul Arizin, Jon Robert Holden, Armen Gilliam, Mustafa Shakur, Aaron Gray, Bob Davies, Rasual Butler, Lynn Greer, Rodney White, Danny Fortson, Bo Kimble, Kyle Lowry, Mardy Collins, Sam Clancy, Jr., Jeff Bower, Bob Weiss, Geoff Petrie, Gene Guarilia, Matt Walsh, Lionel Simmons, Marc Jackson, Joe Colone, Alvin Williams, Paul Grant, Bob Sura, Wayne Hightower, Mark Davis, Jack Mccloskey, Doug West, Jerome Allen, Michael-Hakim Jordan, Gilbert Brown, Gene Banks, Steven Smith, Mike Iuzzolino, John Allen, Ken Durrett, Larry Stewart, Pat Cummings, Andrew Panko, Sean Colson, Wali Jones, Ray Scott, Hank Siemiontkowski, Askia Jones, Pooh Richardson, Del Beshore, Aaron Owens, Doug Overton, John Abramovic, Tiffany Stansbury, Chubby Cox, Art Spector, Brant Weidner, Harry Zeller, Monte Ross, Lari Ketner, Tom Piotrowski, Dave Feitl, Ron Carter, Johnny Baum, Jim Baechtold, Michael Green (Basketball, Born 1985), Shawn Harvey, Dave Popson, Bill Mlkvy, Jimmie Baker, Emanual Davis, Randy Woods, Ernie Beck, Nate Blackwell, Myron Brown, Eric Hill. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 411. 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: Harlem Globetrotters (19581959)Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (19591965)Philadelphia 76ers (19651968)Los Angeles Lakers (19681973) Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21, 1936 October 12, 1999) was an American profes...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=255645 ... Read more

Product Description
Heir to a Dream follows the life of Pete Maravich after his retirement from the NBA in 1980 when he was still a top scorer. His faith experience several years later--which literally turned his life around--is chronicled. 8-page photograph insert. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Heir To A Dream
This book showed a true life changing story about a great athlete and a man of Christ at the same time but was more for the more mature type reader i thought. But overall gave good amounts of information concerning the topics.

Best story I've read about a Macedonain American Superstar
Reading this book was entertaining but I wish it was more comprehensive.There was not enough time spent on his Bulgarian Macedonian heritage andhow that affected his style and work ethic which drove him to push himselfso hard.More time on his early years would have given us a rounder,fuller and more accurate picture.Still a pretty good read though

Excellent, outlining his father's life added a lot to the bo
While this book did speak about Pete's career a lot.The whole point of that was to show how empty it had left him and that only a personalrelationship with jesus christ could fill the void in his life. Possessions will not make you happy. Only God can do that. This amazingstory of a man's battle to find truth and happiness gets 5 stars from me.

This book wasn't very good.
I don't think that the author empasized the Pistol's life as well as he could have.I have known several things about his life that wasn't even mentioned in the book.

It was awesome.
Wow! It was amazing ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Larry Bird, Jim Thorpe, John Paxson, Pete Maravich, Jerry West, Tyler Hansbrough, Bill Bradley, Jason Kidd, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Brown, Rick Barry, Bill Walton, Kevin Love, Jason Williams, Joe Alexander, Steve Alford, Shane Battier, Keith Van Horn, Brent Barry, Christian Laettner, Drew Gooden, Al Mcguire, Scott Skiles, Wally Szczerbiak, John Stockton, Joakim Noah, Chris Kaman, Shavlik Randolph, Mike D'antoni, Steve Kerr, Matt Harpring, Kyle Korver, Chris Mullin, Kris Humphries, Troy Murphy, John Kuester, Jason Kapono, Joel Przybilla, Ryan Bowen, David Lee, Chris Andersen, Rex Chapman, Luke Walton, Chris Mihm, Dave Debusschere, Nick Collison, Vinny Del Negro, Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Fred Roberts, Chris Quinn, Brian Scalabrine, Jeff Foster, Michael Doleac, Brad Lohaus, Goran Suton, Luke Ridnour, Kent Benson, Ryan Anderson, Josh Davis, Cole Aldrich, Dick Mcguire, Aaron Williams, Jon Barry, Jason Smith, Tom Tolbert, Craig Ehlo, Jeff Sheppard, Travis Knight, Mark Acres, John Abramovic, Drew Barry, Mark Alarie, Steve Henson, Brian Evans, Scooter Barry, Tom Abernethy. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 448. 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: Selected by Los Angeles Lakers Jerry Alan West (born May 28, 1938) is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames include "Mr. Clutch" for his ability to make a big play in a clutch situation; "The Logo" in reference to his silhouette being incorporated into the NBA logo; and "Zeke from Cabin Creek" after the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia. Playing the small forward position early in his career, West was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University, leading the WVU Mountaineers to the 19...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=331363 ... Read more