In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them [Paperback]

Andrew Gottlieb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2003

Photographs of the wildest, weirdest and most interesting tattoos of the NBA, accompanied by firsthand accounts of what the tattoos mean and why they're there en years ago, Dennis Rodman was the only NBA player with tattoos worth mentioning and back then he was considered a freak. Now around 70% of the league is 'tatted out.' The game is played so fast that it's hard to tell what even the most obvious tattoos actually are. And some of the most interesting ones are hidden behind jerseys or under socks. Allen Iverson has more than two dozen tattoos-some you can see, some you can't. Some are obvious, like his nickname, 'the answer,' and some are cryptic like 'Jewelz,' or 'NBN.' What's on Stephon Marbury's forearm? What's covering Cherokee Parks' entire body? In the Paint takes you in the locker room and as close as you can get to the tattoos and the stories of the NBA.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For many, the name Dennis Rodman conjures up much more than a picture of a basketball player; it evokes an image of shocking hair, outrageous tattoos and that amazing solo wedding. And while Rodman is unfortunately not featured in this collection of the NBA's most popular and wondered-about tattoos, stars like Shaq and Hardaway share the meaning (or the lack thereof) behind the tattoos they proudly display. Shaquille O'Neal's surprising response to what informed his decision to get tattooed with the Superman logo, his kids' names, Against the Law, etc., is "First of all, I got my tattoos because I was allowed to get them. You better believe I asked my mother first." The "Part 2 Heaven Cent" tattoo etched on Penny Hardaway's left arm represents his spiritual side ("I wanted something to do with Christ") and the "Cent" plays on the name Penny. Jason Williams, on the other hand, admits: "Ah, hell, man. I don't have no meaning behind my tattoos," echoing the sentiment of several other players who have tattoos just because they like them. Closeup shots and honest explanations straight from the tattoo bearers may please and enlighten curious NBA fans. 25 b&w and 75 full-color photos.
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About the Author

Andrew Gottlieb is a sitcom writer. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three daughters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (November 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786888687
• ISBN-13: 978-0786888689
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #852,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Inside Look In the Paint, November 20, 2003

By 

Brad Hall/ Judy (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them (Paperback)

This book is more than just a bunch of pictures of NBA guys with tatoos -- though it has some great pictures. It is wittily written (the jacket says the author is comedy writer) without being condescending to the athletes. It's informative and fun and thorough. The players come off as everything from funny and strange to thoughtful and deep. My only complaint is that the colors in the photography could be a little more vivid. I'd reccommend this book to any NBA, skin art, or self expression.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tattoos and Sports, December 10, 2003

By 

beth starr (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them (Paperback)

I was'nt that impressed with this book.I thought it was going to go into alot more detail and show better array of pictures.Most of the pictures you can see on the internet already.The pictures that new were very few and far in between.It is a nice book to add to a collection,if you like tattoos or sports.Not a hreat book to learn about the players tattoos and meanings or even to see pctures of them.Some pictures shown didnt even get explained in the book.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hmm..., January 8, 2004

By 

Andrew "aapca" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them (Paperback)

This may look odd but I was trying to post someone else's review of my book that they e-mailed to me. I mean, why would I review my own book? I didn't even read it.