( 6 reviews )
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Posted: Feb 1 2008
After reading 75% of this book (258 of 342 pages), I am putting it down. Why? It's boring and, inasmuch as I'm reading much of the same "information" three or sometimes four times, now a waste of time. The best point about the book is that it is very breezy: an average reader can probably finish it within four hours of reading time and will not have to worry about being taxed intellectually in any way (except perhaps trying to figure out what word the author was actually searching for upon encountering one of the many usage problems herein). Well, the cover looks nice, too. You can read about Auerbach's treatment of players at least four times, this being useful, I guess, in case you've forgotten what was written in the previous chapter. Much of the time, actually, the book does not have much to do with Cousy or with the NBA or "big-time basketball" per se. The author summarizes what (from the list of sources in the aftermatter) seems to be mostly a bunch of other second- or third-hand hackwork (ghostwritten sports accounts, magazine puff pieces, and the like) from roughly the times Cousy was an active player. If you're younger than 40, this stuff will bore you (as there is given no context in which to place the information); if you're older than 40, this stuff will bore you (because you'll know it already, probably better than the author). I cannot think of any reason to recommend this book.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 29 2006
It may be that you've got to be at least 50 years old to appreciate this book fully. Why? Because Cousy reflects on a game that doesn't exist anymore. It was a time when people did not take three steps to the basket, when palming the ball was a turnover, and when good sportsmanship was the standard. It was also a time, and this is what is so hard to believe, when a guy like Cousy, who came along just in time to save the financially failing NBA, worried each and every year about making the team. It was a time when a hard nosed Red Auerbach, who didn't even want Cousy because he thought him a showoff, coupled Cousy's playmaking with Russell's defense to make a team, the only team in fact, that dominated its sport as the Yankees did in baseball. Cousy was Auerbach's first big hitter, and despite his success as a player, coach and university president, Cousy remains humble, reflective, and self effacing. Cousy is a we guy, not an I guy. Refreshing.
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Posted: Jul 24 2006
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
