Court Vision: Unexpected Views on the Lure of Basketball

From Publishers Weekly True basketball lovers will use any opportunity to expound on the meaning of the game. In this light-hearted collection of interviews with popular personalities, Berkow, New York Times sports columnist and author of To the Hoop: The Seasons of a Basketball Life, revels in the chance to make as many connections as possible between the life of the game and the game of life. He talks to an amazing array of cultural forces, from some obvious fans of the game, like Woody Allen and Mario Cuomo, to some surprising sources of hoops wisdom, such as writer William Goldman and conductor Seiji Ozawa. At their most philosophical, the conversations reveal how basketball models creativity and can mirror society and life. The banter hits the zone when the talk turns to players, coaches and opportunities taken and lost. Berkow misses a few opportunities of his own here. In particular, his conversations with women (only three of 27 subjects) feel perfunctory; his focus on the NBA cuts out the ripe women's game; and the seemingly verbatim and repetitious q&a format gets tiresome and doesn't allow for thematic synthesis. He turns to the same topics too often, especially when he repeatedly brings up Sprewell's nasty temper, Rodman's general badness and Jordan's perfection. Still, this is an entertaining gathering of strong, interesting opinions--and real fans of the game will love the give and go. (May) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal A sports columnist for the New York Times and a noted author (e.g., Red: A Biography of Red Smith), Berkow has interviewed people notable in various fields who share an abiding love for basketball. Those interviewed run the gamut from movie stars to astronauts, from government officials to novelists, and each of the contributors gives a different, nuanced, and intriguing look at the game. Readers do not have to be rabid fans to enjoy this work, as many of the interviewees see the game as more than just wins and losses. This reviewer found Woody Allen's comments the most interesting. Long known as a New York Knicks fan, Allen recalls the teams of the 1960s and 1970s, featuring Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, and, in particular, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. He is less complimentary of today's Knicks but still appreciative of their skills. A great many of the other interviews are equally perceptive. Of interest to all basketball fans, this book is highly recommended.DWilliam O. Scheeren, Hempfield Area High Sch., Greensburg, PA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.