- Hardcover: 24 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (General list, Trade Division) (1 April 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671673904
- ISBN-13: 978-0671673901
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 16.3 x 3.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,186,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Loose Balls
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Amazon.com:
27 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A phenomenal book, a sports classic
9 Dec 2004
Format:Hardcover
This is one of the best books ever written about sports. An oral history of the American Basketball Association, it is spare in style, which is a good thing because Pluto - a talented writer as he's proven in other sports books - lets his sources tell most of the story. His genius is in the reporting, finding all these people and getting them to tell him (and us) their stories. The ABA was a product of its times and those times will never come again. Even now, that period is becoming just a distant memory. But this is an important part of basketball history and, even better, a great, great group of stories and personalities.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A great book if you loved the ABA!
18 Jun 1999
Format:Hardcover
I very much enjoyed this book, as it brought back a multitude of memories. I lived in Colorado and during my middle school and high school years, I followed the Denver Rockets/Nuggets. They were my team, and this book caused me to wax nostalgia. The book is filled mostly with quotes from those most closely involved with the ABA. The black-and-white photos were also great reminders. Terry Pluto's writing and summations are a quick read. The book gave me the feeling the ABA is still highly regarded and fondly remembered, red, white and blue ball, etc., etc.,. Fun and nostalgic as far as I was concerned.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
In Their Own Words
9 Dec 2007
Format:Paperback
This book is a sports gem. The wild ride of the American Basketball Association from inception to its eventual collapse and NBA absorption of the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets.
The book is divide into 3 parts.Opening Gambits, Middle Game and Endgame.
The first part deals with the origins of the league from the hiring of its first Commisioner, George Mikan and the idea behind the red, white and blue basketball and the struggles of early ABA teams to stock their rosters to a great section on The Indiana Pacers, one of the leagues best organizations. Everything is told in a series of stories told by the people involved. It is a credit to author Terry Pluto's reporting skills and ability to edit that makes this so enjoyable.
Part 2 deals includes a lengthy section about the greatest player to come out of the ABA, Julius Erving. The Doctor must have been a wonder to behold in his early years as he is spoke of in awe by teammates, opponents, and coaches. Also the many stories of the often bizarre characters that inhabited the ABA are priceless in and of themselves.Of which the reader will often find themself laughing out loud. The section on The San Antonio Spurs is enjoyable in that you learn the humble origins of the current NBA dynasty.
Part 3 covers such franchises as the Kentucky Colonels who were considered underachievers until they finally won an ABA championship in 1975. Probably the most entertaining section of the book chronicles the story of the Spirits Of St. Louis. The tales told of this franchise often boggle the mind if one has any isea how professional athletes are expected to act. The antics of Spirits star Marvin "bad news" Barnes are some of the most outrageous I've ever heard of in my life and I've been a sports fan for decades. Great stories of All time great coach Larry Brown and so many others they are too numerous to name.
In the end the massive contracts the ABA gave out became their undoing and eventually forced capitulation to the rival NBA. It is a fun read and you learn so much about so many unheralded ABA players and coaches.
The book is divide into 3 parts.Opening Gambits, Middle Game and Endgame.
The first part deals with the origins of the league from the hiring of its first Commisioner, George Mikan and the idea behind the red, white and blue basketball and the struggles of early ABA teams to stock their rosters to a great section on The Indiana Pacers, one of the leagues best organizations. Everything is told in a series of stories told by the people involved. It is a credit to author Terry Pluto's reporting skills and ability to edit that makes this so enjoyable.
Part 2 deals includes a lengthy section about the greatest player to come out of the ABA, Julius Erving. The Doctor must have been a wonder to behold in his early years as he is spoke of in awe by teammates, opponents, and coaches. Also the many stories of the often bizarre characters that inhabited the ABA are priceless in and of themselves.Of which the reader will often find themself laughing out loud. The section on The San Antonio Spurs is enjoyable in that you learn the humble origins of the current NBA dynasty.
Part 3 covers such franchises as the Kentucky Colonels who were considered underachievers until they finally won an ABA championship in 1975. Probably the most entertaining section of the book chronicles the story of the Spirits Of St. Louis. The tales told of this franchise often boggle the mind if one has any isea how professional athletes are expected to act. The antics of Spirits star Marvin "bad news" Barnes are some of the most outrageous I've ever heard of in my life and I've been a sports fan for decades. Great stories of All time great coach Larry Brown and so many others they are too numerous to name.
In the end the massive contracts the ABA gave out became their undoing and eventually forced capitulation to the rival NBA. It is a fun read and you learn so much about so many unheralded ABA players and coaches.
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