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The Biographical History of Basketball

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Here's a tome that's a must for serious students of the game's history for generations to come. the author answers every question about basketball except how they get "Sha-shef-ski" out of Krzyewski. The book offers up a smorgasbord of biographical and historical roundball facts about the game. Included are the famous, like Dr. James Naismith and John Wooden, and the all-but-forgotten - but equally important - like Danny Biasone, the father of the shot clock. Bjarkman traces the game from the lackluster days of jmp balls after each basket and stationery, two-handed set shots all the way through to today's above-the-rim action. The amply-illustrated book is divided into seven sections. Along the way, the author plumbs basketball's murky origins, and surfaces with some surprising finds. For example, one of the coaches in the first 5-on-5 collegiate hoops contest was Amos Alonzo Stagg, better known as a gridiron coaching legend. The biographical material is divided into three eras: 1891-1954; 1955-1980 and 1981-present. Bjarkman maintains that basketball (which he calls an "appropriate mirror image of a frantically paced, highly impersonalized" modern society) has replaced baseball as the National Pastime. This definitive work makes a very strong case for Bjarkman's thesis.

Doctor James Naismith is credited with the invention of a game mainly to be used as a form of relaxation for businessmen. Since the inception of the game changes have occurred at almost every level and Peter Bjarkman has put together once of the most complete books on those changes.

In the over 575 pages covering one of America's most loved games, you'll be treated to more than 500 portraits of those that played this game and transformed it from the peach basket to the break away basket. Bjarkman's remarkable look should have this book in the hall of fame in Springfield, MA.

While the book is broken down to cover the major periods of the game, the reading is often not fluid. I found that book can be read from any chapter without having to read the previous ones. The book covers just about everyone who ever played and this was a certain treat.

From the Big O, Wilt, Dr. J., Bird, Magic, Isaiah Thomas, and of course the best of all Jordan, you'll have a never ending treat of players right at your finger tips and best of all the book cost less than the price of tickets to see these men play. Overall a very good job.

Basketball, unlike its counterparts in baseball and even football, hockey and tennis to a lesser extent, does not respect and revere its rich history. Too many "fans" today think the game started with Larry, Michael, Magic and Shaq. But the truth is, without mostly forgotten basketball men like Mikan, Luisetti, Holman, Lambert, Meanwell and many others, there would be no game as we know it today. Peter Bjarkman's "Biographical History of Basketball" sets out to rectify this oversight with over 500 incisive portraits of basketball's well-known and more importantly, lesser-known significant contributors to the game's history. Included is also an insightful look into why the game has become the national pastime, at least for the under-35 set, by examining basketball's one on one aspects. Its ability to have a single player affect the action more than in other team sports, as well as our society's increasing need to make heroes out of individuals in these often confusing, leader-less times, has made the game even more appealing. Most of the book's importance lies in its homage to the forgotten, underappreciated past of hoops as it recounts A-to-Z the overlooked men (and women) of the game from Bevo Francis to Dave Zinkoff. But it also traces the game's roots from the early barnstorming era to college basketball's heyday and the evolution of the game from "hardwood to hangtime." "The Biographical History of Basketball" is a lively, fun and informative look into how the game has moved from a loosely organized, dimly-lit past to status as perhaps the world's most popular sport by one of the nation's most prolific and knowledgable sports writers, Peter Bjarkman.

There is simply no other basketball book out there that provides the same historical richness. Engaging portraits of hundreds of the sport's historical figures are supplemented by concise histories of both college and pro ball and a most useful historical timeline. And the Epilogue arguing for a reassessment of the "greatest player of all time" is a must read.

The author provides an impressive recollection of all the key figures in basketball history from the inaugural 1947 season to the 1998 season.

Yet, I believe he doesn't provide a keen insight to some of the more complex intricacies of the game when giving a thorough analysis of the true impact of a player. Basketball is not like baseball in which you can compare the overall volume and averages of statistics with players in different eras in order to assess who was a more effective player. Basketball is a game of flow, in which controlling and maximizing possessions on both sides of the floor can not be boiled down simply in how many points, rebounds, and assists a player gets over four quarters (or else a player like Antoine Walker would be a Hall of Famer).

What the author didn't mention in his book are : (1) Oscar Robertson's pension for destroying the confidence of his teammates, dominating the ball way too much which detracted the effectiveness of his teammates, and lacking the fire and grit in which players like Jerry West and Michael Jordan had aplenty (2) Wilt Chamberlain's squads blowing three straight Game 7s ('68,'69, and '70) against inferior teams (Let's face it, he should've sent Russell into retirement in '68) and his inability to make in-game adjustments within his playing style, (3)Michael Jordan (with a HOF sidekick tailor-made for his talents in Scottie Pippen) able to lead his team to six titles from the shooting guard position (a definite basketball anomaly) (4) Karl Malone's inability to maintain a low post presence in the fourth quarter in an important game (see '97 and '98 finals), (5) David Robinson's inability to stay out of foul trouble when guarding the likes of Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon in the playoffs (cost him two straight playoff exits in '95 and '96) (6) Larry Bird and Magic Johnson possessing huge deficiencies in 1 on 1 defense (7) Elvin Hayes possessing zero off the ball skills (1 on 1 defense, passing, moving without the basketball) outside of rebounding and shot-blocking (8)Elgin Baylor's disinterest in defense and inability to win a Game 7.

This book is a good read if you want to familiarize yourself with the history of the league. Yet, if you want the cold-hard details and realities of why a player is great, then you'll just have to do your research. Recommended writers to read are Bob Ryan, Sam Smith, Charley Rosen, Bill Simmons (very entertaining), the late Ralph Wiley and Jack McCallum if you want more insight. Some of these individuals might have a personal agenda against some of the players (such as Rosen with Isiah Thomas) yet they all bring you closer to the truth. Ken Shouler, Elliot Kalb, and the late Leonard Koppett are good reads if you like this book.