Miracle On 33rd Street : The New York Knickerbockers' Championship Season, 1969-1970 [Paperback]

Phil Berger (Author)

Book Description

Series: Contemporary Sports Classics | Publication Date: November 1, 2001

The newest addition to the Contemporary Sports Classics series, 'Miracle on 33rd Street' is an account of the Knicks' first and only NBA title from the pre-season through the playoffs. It has gained a following because Berger covers not just the baseline jumpers and backdoor passes - he took readers out of bounds and captured the whole story: legendary coach Red Holzman shouting at the team in practice; beer-swilling Knick fans shouting at the participants and spitting on the court; life on the road in and out of hotels, where players are left to their own devices between games. This particular Knick team featured some of basketball's all-time greats such as Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley. More than anything else, this team is remembered for stumbling toward the championship despite key injuries, internal dissension, and a number of outside pressures - and they did it without a true superstar player.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

" . . . a book that does for basketball what Jim Bouton's Ball Four did for baseball."
--Sport Magazine

When it was first published in 1970, Miracle on 33rd Street pushed the envelope of sports journalism and created a story that had never been told in any previous book about basketball. In this timeless book, veteran sportswriter Phil Berger revealed the world of the remarkable 1969-70 New York Knicks as they lived it, from preseason workouts to the victorious finish of their first championship. The life they shared beyond the lights at Madison Square Garden. The camaraderie. The laughs. The conflicts.

The result was such an intimate and revealing portrait of the team that the Knicks' brass banned Berger from the locker room after the book's publication. But his honest account enthralled fans and sportswriters alike. He took readers out-of-bounds to capture the whole story in all its gritty details--from up-close portrayals of key personalities such as Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, and Dave DeBusschere to the frenzied Garden fans shouting at the players and spitting on the court to life on the road, in and out of hotels. Including an insightful introduction by Marv Albert, Miracle on 33rd Street relives the magical, sometimes turbulent Knicks' season, with Berger and the reader along for the exciting ride.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071382070
• ISBN-13: 978-0071382076
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,194,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knick's First Championship Season, January 22, 2002

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Miracle On 33rd Street : The New York Knickerbockers' Championship Season, 1969-1970 (Paperback)

Phil Berger's Miracle on 33rd St. was first published right after the New York Knicks won their first NBA title in 1970. The team is one of most beloved of all time in New York sports and was made up of several NBA legends. Mr. Berger was a beat writer and his inside story on this magical team is an immensely enjoyable read. The players on the team seem almost like characters created for a novel. The smooth and stylish Walt "Clyde" Frazier, the leader Willis Reed, the studious Bill Bradley (who would go one to be a US Senator and run for President), the scrappy, iron tough Dave DeBusschere, the understated but invaluable Dave Barnett and the supporting players all have interesting personalities on and off the court. The late, great Red Holzman coached this team to greatness. The book is even more interesting to read now, some thirty years later, as it serves as a history lesson in what the NBA used to be like. Marv Albert provides a humorous introduction. A great sports book and a great read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Every Hoops Junkie Will Love, January 20, 2002

By 

Roland Lazenby - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miracle On 33rd Street : The New York Knickerbockers' Championship Season, 1969-1970 (Paperback)

This is the book that launched Phil Berger's career. Controversial upon its publication 30 years ago, it freezes in time that great Knicks team. Willis Reed in his glory, Holzman at his best, Bradley struggling with his own popularity. The nerdy young Phil Jackson envious of that popularity. There's enough wry humor, revelation and wisdom to qualify "Miracle" as a treasure. God bless Phil Berger.

Roland Lazenby
author of Mindgames, Phil Jackson's Long Strange Journey

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars IT'S A MIRACLE IF YOU CAN STAY AWAKE TO READ THIS, May 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Miracle On 33rd Street : The New York Knickerbockers' Championship Season, 1969-1970 (Paperback)

THIS BOOK IS ONE BIG WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. IT COVERS BEHIND THE SCENES CONCERNING THE KNICKS 1969-70 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON. WELL IT DOES WITH A BUNCH OF TRIVIAL BORING FACTS. WHO CARES WHAT COLOR T- SHIRT BILL BRADLEY WEARS TO PRACTICE OR IF BILL HOSKET WEARS PAJAMAS TO BED. HARDLY ANYTIME WAS SPENT ON GAME TO GAME ACTION CONCERNING WHY THEY WON OR LOST. IT JUST RUNS THROUGH THE WHOLE SEASON AND PLAYOFFS MENTIONING HARDLY ANY GAME ACTION OR STATS. I FOUND THIS BOOK VERY DISAPPOINTING, I SKIPPED OVER MANY PAGES OF FACTS THAT ARE TOTALLY REDUNDENT AND HAD NO IMPACT ON ANYONE EXCEPT THE AUTHOR. NOT WORTH READING UNLESS YOU SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA.