- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday Books (17 Jun 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385520999
- ISBN-13: 978-0385520997
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 1.8 x 21.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,741,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The real basketball deal–the inside story of Harlem’s legendary tournament and the pros and playground legends who have made it world famous.
Earl “The Goat” Manigault. Herman “Helicopter” Knowings. Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond. Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland. These and dozens of other colorfully nicknamed men are the “Asphalt Gods,” whose astounding exploits in the Rucker Tournament, often against multimillionaire NBA superstars, have made them playground divinity. First established in the 1950s by Holcombe Rucker, a New York City Parks Department employee, the tournament has grown to become a Harlem institution, an annual summer event of major proportions. On that fabled patch of concrete, unknown players have been lighting it up for decades as they express basketball as a freestyle art among their peers and against such pro immortals as Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain. X’s and O’s are exchanged for oohs and aahs in one of the great examples of street theater to be found in urban America.
Asphalt Gods is a streetwise, supremely entertaining oral history of a tournament that has influenced everything from NBA playing style to hip-hop culture. Now, legends transmitted by word of mouth find a home and the achievements of basketball’s greatest unknowns a permanent place in the game’s record.
From the Hardcover edition.
Earl “The Goat” Manigault. Herman “Helicopter” Knowings. Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond. Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland. These and dozens of other colorfully nicknamed men are the “Asphalt Gods,” whose astounding exploits in the Rucker Tournament, often against multimillionaire NBA superstars, have made them playground divinity. First established in the 1950s by Holcombe Rucker, a New York City Parks Department employee, the tournament has grown to become a Harlem institution, an annual summer event of major proportions. On that fabled patch of concrete, unknown players have been lighting it up for decades as they express basketball as a freestyle art among their peers and against such pro immortals as Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain. X’s and O’s are exchanged for oohs and aahs in one of the great examples of street theater to be found in urban America.
Asphalt Gods is a streetwise, supremely entertaining oral history of a tournament that has influenced everything from NBA playing style to hip-hop culture. Now, legends transmitted by word of mouth find a home and the achievements of basketball’s greatest unknowns a permanent place in the game’s record.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
Anyone who plays streetball and has the slightest interest in the history and origins of the game should consider this book essential reading. The author shows his passion for streetball in every page. He describes the legendary players of the game, the rivalries and the folklore passed from generation to generation.How reputations are made and broken in a single play, and the lives, often tragic, of the players that never went pro.
This book is a celebration of the street game.It recognises the importance of it's oral history, and elevates streetball to the status it rightly deserves. Respect must go out to the pros like Chamberlain and Dr J who put themselves and their professional reputaions on the line to go head to head with the heroes of the playground. Lightyears away from the multi-million dollar contracts and sanitised game that the NBA represents today. This is a magnificent book i can read again and again.
This book is a celebration of the street game.It recognises the importance of it's oral history, and elevates streetball to the status it rightly deserves. Respect must go out to the pros like Chamberlain and Dr J who put themselves and their professional reputaions on the line to go head to head with the heroes of the playground. Lightyears away from the multi-million dollar contracts and sanitised game that the NBA represents today. This is a magnificent book i can read again and again.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
THE BEST
1 Jan 2004
Format:Hardcover
I've read Heaven is a Playground, City Game, and seen On Hallowed Ground, for anyone that is a "real" basketball fan this is by far the "BEST" story of the best streetball.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
BALLERS
3 Jun 2005
Format:Hardcover
Asphalt Gods is the best book on the planet.If you love basketball you should read this book.It is a true story which took place at Rucker Park.Rucker Park is named after the brother named Holcombe Rucker.Who was born in Harlem on March 2,1926.He was raised by his grandmother.It is interesting because Mr.Rucker brought some of the best players ever to play there.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Hey, I know that guy.....
21 Dec 2003
Format:Hardcover
Great subject, great storytelling. By the way, I played with Rucker legend Billy Rieser (aka White Jesus) and he was hands down the most incredible basketball talent and the most compelling personality I have ever been around. His story is worthy of a volume in itself.
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