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Asphalt Gods : An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament

Asphalt Gods : An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament

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(Hardcover)-The real basketball dealathe inside story of Harlemas legendary tournament and the pros and playground legends who have made it world famous. Earl aThe Goata Manigault. Herman aHelicoptera Knowings. Joe aThe Destroyera Hammond. Richard aPee Weea Kirkland. These and dozens of other colorfully nicknamed men are the aAsphalt Gods,a 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. Xas and Oas 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 basketballas greatest unknowns a permanent place in the gameas record.
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User Reviews for Asphalt Gods : An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament

Overall Rating: Star FullStar FullStar FullStar FullStar Half ( 5 reviews )
  1. Star FullStar FullStar FullStar FullStar Full ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jun 3 2005

    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. Star FullStar FullStar FullStar FullStar Full Posted: May 10 2005

    Many players played for the Pied Piper(Holcombe Rucker).No one was has great as him though.He was a great man and founder of the Rucker Tournament.Most people who ended up playing in the Rucker Tournamet was better then most players in the NBA.They first started playing just in Harlem,New York then went to playing more teams in New York then more and more teams.They played as far as Mississippi. this book talks about problems the players and coaches had with racism.Most players got started in the Rucker Park Tournament.After the park tournament they went on to college ball even some went to the NBA! Asphalt Gods by Vincet M. Mallozziwas a great book about players before professional ball games.This book is a excellent book to pick up and read.

  3. Star FullStar FullStar FullStar FullStar Full Posted: Feb 10 2004

    An excellent book. Well worth the read. Great read on the history of the fabled blacktop and the man who dedicated himself to making a difference in people lives. Great read on some of the characters to grace the early days of the tournament. you won't be dissapointed getting this book

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Product Specs for Asphalt Gods : An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament

Author: Vincent M. Mallozzi
Number Of Pages: 272
Category: Hardcover
Brand: Doubleday
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.3236
Label: Doubleday
Manufacturer: Doubleday
Product Group: Book
Publication Date: 2003-06-17
Release Date: 2003-06-17
Edition: 1
See item at: Amazon: $23.75

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