Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pistol Pete Maravich [Hardcover]

Phil Berger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Forever Showtime chronicles the life of Pistol Pete Maravich, a legendary college basketball player for LSU and NBA star for the Hawks, Jazz, and Celtics. Based on years of research and extensive interviews with those close to him, this book examines in equal measures Pete Maravich's rousing success on the hardwood and turbulent life of it.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Forever Showtime is the biography of Pete Maravich, one of the National Basketball Association's 50 greatest players. His playing prowess and shooting skills were legendary: few pros were blessed with the ball handling abilities he possessed. In his account, Berger, an award-winning journalist, chronicles both Pistol Pete's on-court heroics as well as his often-turbulent life away from the game. A good read for basketball enthusiasts; recommended for all public libraries.
-Larry Little, Penticton P.L., BC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

An informative biography of the legendary basketball player who died suddenly in 1988 at the age of 40 because of a congenital heart defect. Maravich, named to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players List in 1997, will probably be remembered best for his showmanship and his pioneer role as superstar. Journalist and author Berger (Big Time, 1990, etc.) chronicles the ballplayer's life from pre- college through his Louisiana State University years to his pro career with the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics. He was dubbed ``Pistol Pete'' as a ninth-grader by a sportswriter who was impressed by the boy's off-the-hip, one-hand push shot, a style blending confidence and cockiness. Maravich, a product of his father's intense mentoring and coaching, became a prolific scorerbreaking the career college scoring record in 1970and a master of dazzling plays, including dribbling between his legs. Even before his rookie year, he was clearly a superstar, netting an exorbitant salary and landing endorsement deals at a time when ballplayers weren't seen as commercial spokespeople. But as Berger's research reveals, Maravich's life was laced with sorrow. His mother sank into the alcoholism and depression that led to her suicide. Maravich himself was troubled by success, becoming an alcoholic, suffering bouts of paranoia, and enduring injuries and illnesses throughout his professional career, which ended in 1980. Berger uses citations from teammates, friends, contemporaries, press clippings, and Maravich's own words to show the complexity of his turbulent life as he bore the scrutiny and expectations of a superstar, becoming after retirement a born-again Christian. Old-time basketball fans will enjoy remembering Pistol Pete, and young fans will be introduced to the player who left such a mark on the sport at a time when showmanship on the hardwood was not the norm. (16 pages b&w photos) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878332375
• ISBN-13: 978-0878332373
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read, December 26, 1999

By 

"saintambrose" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pistol Pete Maravich (Hardcover)

As a basketball junkie growing up in Indiana, Pete was my hero. I think I have read every article , and book on Pete that has been written. So naturally I ordered this book as soon as it came out. It is the best written story of Pete and his dad, Press that has been written to date. Many of the stories are familiar, but Berger takes the reader behind the scenes with interviews of teammates, coaches, opponents, sportswriters and other people who were there, press clippings and articles that have been long forgotten, and gives a fresh look at the legend of Pistol Pete. It was bittersweet to read the descriptions of the games. The memories of the games and seeing or listening to Pete play were great. However, reading in more detail how troubled Pete was in his life was very sad. While he was providing me and so many others with countless thrills on the basketball court, he was a tortured soul. How could someone who brought so much happiness to others be so miserable himself? I loved the accounts in the book of some of Pete's biggest games that haven't been publicized too much until now. Games like the time the Jazz suited up only 7 players at Phoenix and Pete went for 51 points and the Jazz won. I remember reading a brief summary of the game when it happenned 23 years ago. Bringing it back and going in to detail was great. Pete's life does have a happy ending. After he retired he found peace in Christianity and worked tirelessly for souls, just like he worked tirelessly for basketball. His sudden death... no warning... he just dropped dead of a heart attack.. is a reminder to us all that life is precious and that God can call us to judgment at any time. Fortunately for Pete... he was ready. Anyway, a great book!. Since I got this book from Amazon, NBA.com has shown 2 complete pro games of Pete, his 67 point game against the Knicks in 1977 and a Christmas game in 1970, his rookie year, against Phoenix. What a great Christmas present!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars forever showtime, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pistol Pete Maravich (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful story of a father's only gift to his son. The Maraviches weren't wealthy, by any means, but the father continually gave to his son. He gave him his knowledge of basketball, the sport that took him away from the steel mill. In the process he created exactly what he wanted. Pete Maravich was the first Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Today, their parents are lauded for what they did with their children. If the Maraviches weren't ahead of their time and were alive today, Press would be writing all types of books, from basketball to sports psychology. Berger's book, puts a perspective not only on history, but the complicatied father/son relationship that Pete and Press had. Pete Maravich did more with a basketball than most people thought was possible. When you saw Maravich play, you couldn't take your eyes off of him. Today, modern basketball plays Pete's game, but professional basketball lacks the intensity and skill level of Pete Maravich. This is a great Christmas gift! I'm glad this book is part of my library.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pete maravich original superstar, December 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pistol Pete Maravich (Hardcover)

I just read "forever showtime" and think it is a great read. I have always admired the basketball ability of Pete Maravich, and feel he has been much maligned by the current media. It irritates me when they call Jason Williams the "new" Pete Maravich. After most media types did nothing but criticize Pete when he played. I disagree with the reader from Atlanta. Your home is what shapes you in life, Pete did not have a "Perfect Life". I would like to meet the person that has had one. This is a guide, for anyone that has admired someone like Pete. This lets them know that its O.K., to have problems in your life and deal with them. Discoveries and awakenings come in all forms, religious or otherwise. It is obvious from the authors acknowledgements and contents that Phil Berger did a lot more than rehash old news clips. I counted more than sixty sources that Berger talked to, ranging from relatives and neighbors of Press Maravich to high school, college and NBA team mates and coaches of "The Pistol, including Elgin Baylor, Bill van Bredakoff, Ritchie Guerin, Herb White, Rich Kelly, Jim Washington, Walt Bellamy, Neil Walk, and Paul Griffen. Did this reader miss the fact that the author interviewed Press Maravich? We would all like to think that someone as "The Pistol", led a charmed life but that would be ficticious. I am very happy that the genius of Press Maravich was exposed,because a "Pistol Pete" just cannot happen. If the reader from Atlanta wants a fairytale version rather than real life account of how things were, i suggest "MOTHER GOOSE".