Customer Reviews

Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

While Out of Bounds is a well-researched book, the author (Jeff Benedict) succumbs to the flaw in logic known as the overextended generalization. The book's overall premise -- that NBA players as a whole are a bad brood -- is not supported by the information presented. There are some -- and I repeat, some -- compelling stories of crime and decadence in the book. (Examples: the Ruben Patterson and Atlanta Gold Club stories.) But this does not add up to a basis for castigating the NBA as a whole.

Some of the incidents that Benedict describes are not worth the effort spent to discuss them. Example: the incident in Portland where Scottie Pippen threw water in an obnoxious fan's face. So what? This incident does not prove Benedict's premise, yet it was one of the first incidents discussed in the book.

The author also takes aim at lawyers (and agents) who represented players in the incidents discussed in the book. But Benedict himself is a lawyer, and he knows full well that lawyers are responsible under the law to zealously represent their clients. Benedict seems disturbed that NBA players can buy high quality legal advice. Well, again, so what? High profile businesspeople do the same. Martha Stewart, Dennis Kozlowski, and Frank Quattrone all come to mind. Why aren't NBA stars entitled to obtain the same high quality legal advice?

Overall, Out of Bounds weaves together some interesting and disturbing stories. But those stories do not add up to the support needed to prove Benedict's larger premise.

Author Jeff Benedict has written three other books about the bad behavior of athletes, giving him a unique perspective. With the criminal trial for sexual assault against Kobe Bryant expected to proceed later this summer (2004), Out of Bounds is timely. Unfortunately, Benedict's effort to be timely (write and research the book in less than six months wherein "missing a deadline was not an option") was not without cost. The book is sloppily proofread - "Stockhouse" on page 17, "an (sic) famous athlete's bed" on page 58 are a couple examples.

Benedict asserts that 40% of the 177 players researched from the 2001-2002 NBA roster "had been arrested or otherwise recommended by police to prosecuting attorneys for indictment for serious crime." Truly a startling statistic! Unfortunately, about half of the book is devoted to just three players - Ruben Patterson, Sam Mack and Glen Robinson. (Shaquille O'Neal is given about a half dozen pages in the introduction.) Although nearly 70 players would have been identified as "out of bounds" during Benedict's research, a quick count turns up about 20 names of NBA players in the book. Undoubtedly, other players are named, but it would take a very careful line by line review of the book to determine who they are as Benedict does not include an index of the players he mentions.

Out of Bounds attempts to detail a truly disturbing trend in the NBA. As lightly written as it is, the collection of bad incidents should be required reading for every NBA owner, league official and employee.

Is the bad behavior more prevalent now or is it less ignored? That question remains unanswered.

Sadly, little ink is devoted to solutions and policy suggestions - certainly if Benedict did not have the time to develop his own suggestions he could have found a myriad of NBA officials, owners, coaches, current and former players or even fans to interview.

Out of Bounds is disappointing in that it could have been so much better. It reads more a like commercial deadline driven book than one where the author is concerned with the depth and quality of his work. It is unfortunate. Benedict has the credentials to have done so much better.

Just my opinion . . . .

I find myself reading this book with mixed feelings. I give it a high rating for research and for writing. But then I find myself saying, who cares.

There was an incident where an underage girl (and in her pictures she didn't look underaged at all, more like a hooker) at a local mall approached a pro basketabll player and soon went up to his hotel room. Later on she cried rape. As Mr. Benedict says, there's a thin line between consensual sex and rape.

You take someone who comes from the wrong side of the tracks, you give him fame and a few million dollars, do you really expect someone you'd want to take home to mother and dad. These athletes aren't being selected for their social graces, they're being selected for basketball proficiency. I think that the book really explains what you'd expect to find.

Finally, why select the NBA? I remember when it seemed that Dallas wouldn't be able to field a Cowboys team because so many team members were in jail. And so far as I know, the NBA players haven't bitten off any ears. And as for rock stars....

Benedict chooses a premise that is easy to prove: Professional athletes, particularly NBA players, statistically are more likely than the general population to commit crimes, specifically crimes of sex and violence. His research is very compelling as he provides statistics on the number of players in his sample who have been accused of crime.

But I do have mixed emotion about this book. The biggest flaw is after stating his thesis, he then gives examples. These are graphic and what grab the reader. But, in my opinion, he spends an exorbitant amount of time on a few examples. So, instead of focusing on a well-researched subject, he relies on a few examples. Now these examples are horrible. Specifically Rueben Patterson. You become more and more amazed at the stupidity and sense of entitlement of some of these athletes. It is appalling!

My second gripe with this book is the story of the Iowa State freshman basketball player who commits armed robbery but is found not guilty, per the book, primarily due to the testimony of his coach, Johnny Orr. This is another detailed history which makes for interesting reading. But virtually all of it concerns an athlete with problems in college. This player's stay in the NBA was very short and not crime related. Benedict has plenty to prove his point. But I was very unimpressed with the stories he chose. Was it because these stories are the most entertaining to tell even if they only narrowly touch NBA players?

Overall, I am glad I read this book. It contains great information and interesting, though disturbing stories. But I find it a little distressing on the thesis/proof connection. And it's also damning to the many good players/citizens who are painted with this broad brush. But if you are a female and want to be around NBA players, you need to understand what you may be dealing with.

Having read and enjoyed Benedict's earlier effort, "Pro's and Cons", I was anxiously awaiting this book and was subsequently thoroughly let down. There's much to do about the painstakingly intense research and hard work in putting this material together, but in the end it just was not a good read. Subpar research, 1-sided storytelling, bad writing -- all attributing.

i read this book in 3 days. Very interesting to know what NBA Stars have committed crimes, etc. I don't have a grudge against any of them, but it is pretty interesting to know.

I came upon Jeff Benedict in a book call "No Bone Unturned", which has become a favorite of mine. However, in the instant case, "Out of Bounds" is an easy to read piece on the criminal rap sheets of those who make millions playing in the NBA, and their permissive owners who turn their heads to such because of the money involved. Benedict discerns through research that 40% of the players have criminal records. He explores some of the more egregious stories including one where Reuben Patterson rapes his baby sitter, and another where Bonzi Wells displays his NWA routine in a public place. And, who can forget the "Jail-Blazers" moniker as a substitute for the Portland Trail Blazers team name?

When you read the subtitle "Inside the NBA's culture of rape, violence & crime", remember that Kobe Bryants troubles with the law are just what you see on the surface. This is a sordid tale of money, greed and a total lack of restraint on the part of the players (and the owners don't look much better.) It makes me think of a line in "Constant Battles" by LeBlanq which is "restraint is that which separates us from the apes."

One of the consistent trends in modern American history is the progressive shrinking of the number of occupations in which those employed are exempt from public scrutiny. Used to be the President was above the fray, but Nixon and Watergate changed all that. Likewise, the fatherhood got tainted by the sex-abuse scandals starting in the 1980's. The occupation of NBA player has now succumbed to this trend, as books like these examine the seedy side of NBA life and its players.

Written by a veteran observer of the American professional sports scene, this book goes into gory detail to show how a very large number of current NBA athletes are out and out felons; rapists, shoplifters, wife-beaters, etc, etc... Names are named, along with details of various crimes committed by players at all positions on numerous NBA teams. As such, the book is quite-opening to the casual sports fan and to the American public at large. However, the book is lacking some ingredients. First, the style and substance of the book seems to indicate that this lawlessness has grown over time. Maybe it has, but a more likely explanation is that the press has gotten more agressive over time. Second, the book should have included something on treatment plans the NBA offers its players for various problems such as marriage counseling, substance abuse rehab, etc, etc... Third, it would have been nice for the book to not focus on such a small number of players: i.e. Ruben Patterson and Sam Mack. A lot of players have done illegal things, or even legal things that are not so nice; Wilt Chamberlain's 20,000 bedscores is not something a gentleman or civil society in general should be proud of. But overall, this is a good book. I recommend every parent to give this book to their son when he asks for the latest $100+ NBA jersey or b-ball shoes!

Boo to Jeff Benedict! After I initially read this book, I drafted a letter to Benedict asking him to fill in the holes. Why such a biased collection? Did he mean to come off as ignorant? Racist? I was offended on many levels while reading this book and the least offensive was the reported athlete transgressions!

I decided to read "Public Heroes, Private Felons" to see if maybe I was overreacting but it just emphasized my feelings. I came away with the overwhelming sense that Benedict had always wanted to be an athlete or had been picked on in high school by jocks, or something to that effect. He always wanted to be in the game but the closest he came was as a lawyer summarizing other people's cases... sad.

I personally am a female sports fanatic. So while I love sports, do I think specific trangressions against women are acceptable? Absolutly not. Is it fair that a guy gets into a fight and is suspended for 15 games while his peer is accused of rape and plays on, scheduling court dates around games? NO! I am not condoning the allegations of the book, and I do not support the idea of special treatment for "celebrities". However this book did NOTHING to bring justice or to shed light on anything. Benedict came off sounding like a prat who's only retaliation against the athletes who used to mock him was to publish a one-sided book to hide behind.

This was a fantastic book! It really makes you think. I am a female who loves basketball and this book made reality set in! It makes you realize that you have to separate what a player does on the court from who he is. He may be a great player, but that doesn't mean he is that great off the court as well! Benedict makes some great points about the lifestyle of an NBA player!