Customer Reviews

Cavs from Fitch to Fratello: The Sometimes Miraculous, Often Hilarious Wild Ride of the Cleveland Cavaliers

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If you are a long-suffering Cavaliers fan, you won't want to miss this book. From Fitch to Fratello chronicles the Cavs erratic history, from a doormat of a franchise team to the Miracle of Richfield year, from the Ted Stepien-owned standing joke, to the 57-game winning teams of Lenny Wilkens. The book is not especially well-written, and I would have liked to have learned a little more about initial owner Nick Miletti, and about how the Cavs fit into the context of Cleveland sports. But still, it was fun to remember the magic of Bingo Smith's 25-footer against the Bullets in 1976, and easier to look back and laugh at the idiocy of Ted Stepien and coach Bill Mussleman than it was to live through it. The authors, too, are fair, offering praise AND criticism of Lenny Wilkens, Mark Price, Bill Fitch, and Wayne Embry, as well as other important Cavs personnel. Unfortunately, if you don't follow basketball, or if you are too young to remember the pre-Jordan era, this book is not for you. But for the true Cavs fan, i.e., masochist, it is a very enjoyable read.

I, too, am one of the authors of this book. And I must say that I disagree with co-author Burt Graeff's assessment (of the book, that is -- not the fact that he, um, had imbibed a bit before writing his tongue-in-cheek author's review). He's old as dirt and obviously is losing some of his memory in his old age. But this is fact: he has covered more Cavs' games than any other writer in the world, and what he or I haven't seen in person we were told about from those who lived the wildest, craziest days in team history. This is a book bursting at the seams with funny stories that any NBA fan past or present would enjoy. Read and enjoy it (and don't worry about Burt ... I'll take care of him)!

In order to appreciate the history of the Cavs, this book is a must read. Having grown up following the Cavs since the 70's, this book is crammed full of interesting behind the scenes crazy happenings and highlights from the Miracle of Richfield and the old Cleveland Arena. Especially astonishing is the section of the fiasco ownership of Ted Stepian. Terrific book.