Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete [Paperback]

Wayne Federman (Author), Marshall Terrill (Author), Jackie Maravich (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

The youngest person to be voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, “Pistol” Pete Maravich is recognized by the NBA as one of the all-time top 50 basketball players. More than 30 years after he left Louisiana State University, his NCAA scoring record still stands. He enjoyed fame, wealth, and short of winning an NBA championship, achieved every possible success. But there was a price. Pete brought a childlike exuberance to the court that often masked a tortured and confused adult. Things changed dramatically and permanently, however, when Pete found Christ. At last he experienced peace and a purpose that extended beyond the basketball court. He became an avid student of the Bible and a tireless evangelist. Tragically, at age 40, Pete Maravich died. This is the first authorized biography.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The late Pete Maravich is a basketball legend. He averaged more than 44 points a game in his career at Louisiana State University—before the advent of the three-point shot—and 24 during his NBA career. But more than his scoring was his passing. He was inarguably the most spectacular, creative passer in the history of the game. Pete was the son of a successful coach, Press Maravich, and neighbors recall young Pete hanging out of a car window, dribbling, while his dad drove slowly around the side streets, gradually picking up speed. Federman and Terrill recount Maravich’s playing career in entertaining fashion, though the sheer number of game accounts is numbing. As for the personal Pete, they come to many of the same conclusions as Mark Kriegel did in his masterful 2006 biography, Pistol—that success on the basketball court did not translate to happiness. It was only after his career was over that he found contentment in Evangelical Christianity and working with kids. This isn’t quite the polished piece of work that Kriegel’s book is, but it offers an evenhanded treatment of all aspects of Maravich’s life. --Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Paperback: 459 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; 1st edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589975359
• ISBN-13: 978-1589975354
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Biography of Pistol Pete Maravich, September 9, 2008

By 

Mr. Basketball "Morris Johnson" (New York, NY USA 10019) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete (Paperback)

OK, I read the hard-cover version of this book (Maravich) a couple years back and found it - far and away - the most comprehensive and informative book ever written on the Pistol (and I've read them all).

This is basically the paperback version of that book but with an added forward by James Dobson. Yes, THAT James Dobson. He was with Pete the day he died. (Focus on the Family published this version - which doesn't bother me but I won't be lending it to my sister.)

What sets Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete apart is the astonishing detail of every aspect of Pete's life (Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, LSU, the NBA, Christianity, and his legacy). For example - there's an entire chapter on Pete's year at prep-school (Southwood College) and another on his failed attempt to make the 1968 Olympic basketball team.

It was written with the full co-operation of the Maravich family and it shows. The private letters from Pete to his wife and boys are beautiful and heart-breaking.

My only complaint is that Ronnie Maravich is referred to as Pete's "step" brother when, in fact, he was Pete's "half" brother.

This is the book (along with the CBS documentary) that future historians will resource when chronicling his life. ESPN called it "The definitive biography of Pistol Pete Maravich." The NY Times called it the "essential biography of Pete Maravich."

It's that and so much more.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Maravich - The Best In-Depth Story Yet!, October 2, 2008

By 

J. Rutter "Avid Fan" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete (Paperback)

After reading this book I was surprised to learn about many details I did not previously know about Pistol in both the early years as well as the later years. I did not know the depth of his convictions once he found the meaning in his life and his true calling. I really felt like I was able to truly understand Pistols struggles and ultimate triumphs. A very truthful yet uplifting and hopeful account of a great athlete and a great man.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pistol Pete: Talented but tortured, May 30, 2011

By 

Barry Sparks "freelance writer" (York, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete (Paperback)

Pete Maravich was undoubtedly one of the most talented basketball players ever. But he also was one of the unhappiest, most tortured and least appreciated players ever.

Authors Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill do an admirable job of chronicling Maravich's life in this authorized biography. If you have read Pistol by Mark Kriegel, you can still learn a lot from reading this biography. Federman and Terrill include more details about his career, taking the reader year-by-year. I think you can appreciate Maravich's talents even more in this book.

Although Maravich's main goal was to play on a NBA championship team, it was one he never sadly never fulfilled. He began his pro career with the Atlanta Hawks as the NBA's Great White Hope after a storied college career at LSU. He was resented and ridiculed for his showmanship. After four frustrating years in Atlanta, he was traded to the New Orleans Jazz, an expansion team, where he was expected to be the savior. He finally ended his career with the Boston Celtics, where he didn't receive as much playing time as he expected.

Perhaps Spencer Haywood, who played with Maravich, summed up Pete's career best:

"Pete is my pick as the most talented guard and the most misunderstood soul ever to play the game. The rap on Pete is that he was selfish, wasn't a team player. Completely untrue. He had unbelievable skills, he could score on anyone. But he loved to pass the ball, too, to involve his teammates in the offense. He never played on a great team, however, so the scoring burden always fell on him--along with the reputation of being a gunner."

Former teammate Lou Hudson reflected another opinion of Pete: "Raw-talent wise, he's the greatest who ever played the game. But always, no matter what he does, he will be a loser. That's his legacy."

So much of Pete's pain came from his total investment in the game. "The only thing that ever mattered to me was basketball; I sold my soul to the game."

When Maravich retired from the NBA after 10 seasons, there were no farewell tours or fan fare. He had become disenchanted with the game. He left quietly as the next generation of players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas and Dominque Wilkins were being embraced for their showmanship and flair, much of it learned from Pete.

Pete's life turned around in November 1982, when he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. For the first time, he was at peace. He gave away most of his trophies and awards, saying he would rather be known as a Christian than as a basketball player.

He became the second youngest player inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987 as age 39. He died in 1988 at the age of 40 after suffering a massive heart attack while playing basketball in a gym at a church. In 1996, he was named to the NBA's Top 50 All-Time Team.

When he died, Nick Charles of CNN described Pete as "so talented he made you gasp, so tortured he made you wince."