Maravich: The Short Life and Thriving Legacy of Pistol Pete
by Wayne Federman, Marshall Terrill
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Book Summary Information
Author: Marshall Terrill, Wayne FedermanCollaborator: Jackie Maravich
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-10-25
ISBN: 1894963520
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Sport Media Publishing
Book Reviews of Maravich: The Short Life and Thriving Legacy of Pistol Pete
Book Review: Pistol Pete Maravich - The Ultimate WINNER
Summary: 5 Stars
Knowing that people often read just the first few lines of a review, know this: Pete Maravich's high school teams WON. Before he and Press arrived at LSU, the team was pitiful (the days of Bob Petit were long since gone). Pete's LSU Freshman team, in a tough SEC conference, went 17-1, losing the final game of the season by a whisker. WINNERS AGAIN. That same season, his father's LSU varsity squad went 3-23. Pete NEVER had a losing season at LSU, going 22-10 his senior campaign, a challenging year that saw the team log more road miles than the Harlem Globetrotters. They made the NIT final four, when the NIT actually meant something. That's a far, far cry from 3-23.
His Atlanta Hawk teams made the playoffs three out of the four years he was there, losing in the second round each time. Though the Hawks had a losing record 3 of those four years, they were playing in the same conference with eventual NBA Champions like the Knicks, Celtics, and Bullets. Not bad at all.
And New Orleans? The lowly Jazz? Remember now, Pete was the only guy on that team - save for two short years with Truck Robinson - who could really play. There were no other All-Stars to share the load. Try this statistic on for size: in the games Pete played for the Jazz (excluding the games he missed), their record was ** 93-92 **. Last time I checked, that's a WINNING record. To think that an expansion team in 1974-75 - one that mortgaged their future just to get the Pistol - came within FOUR games in 1977-78 of making the playoffs, and would have had Pete not blown out his knee on one of his trademark 3/4 court behind the back and legs passes (that resulted in another Jazz two), is just incredible.
The Jazz were one of the most successful expansion teams in NBA history. Do your homework, you'll be surprised.
Yes, folks, Pete was a WINNER. Don't believe what you hear from the so-called 'purists', like the biggest cry-baby of them all, Oscar "I'm still mad that Pete broke my scoring record in college" Robertson. Let's see, AFTER the Little 'O' leaves Cincinnati, the Bearcats win the Nat'l Champsionship. Hmmmm. He doesn't get close to winning a title in the NBA - while putting up huge individual numbers (sound like someone else we know?) - until he demands a trade and ends up being Jabbar's caddy. If Pete had played with Wilt, Kareem, or Walton, God knows what might have happened. Want proof? OK, here's two examples for all of you doubting Thomas's who say Pete was a selfish player and didn't care about winning. East-West All-Star game, college, 1968. Pete scores well under 20 points but hands out 16 assists to other highly talented players. Wins MVP of the game over home-town hero Rick Mount. Want more? Pete gets to play with Dr. J., while with the Hawks, for three exhibition games prior to the 1972-73 season. Pete racks up something like 12-18 assists each game, scores well-below his average, the Dr. shines, Hawks win. Give me a break. The man loved to WIN. He just wanted to play with other great players. This is all contained in this fabulous book.
Now, it's true that Mr. Terrill and I co-wrote "Skywalker - The David Thompson Story" - together. So you might think that I'm writing this review just for his sake, right? Maybe skew the number of ranked stars on the old review for my old buddy. Not exactly. And forget the fact that I'm mentioned on pages 348-349 of this book.
Pete was my guiding light growing up in the 1970's. My dad was pretty much non-existent, and one day I picked up "Pete Maravich - Basketball Magician", from the RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) BookMobile. That was 1971. I was 10 years old. I read that book 26 times the first month. No joke. The 3 D's - Discipline, Dedication, and Determination - became my mantra. I pounded a basketball for the next eight years, spent 6 hours a day at the backyard hoop. I cut out jerseys from old t-shirts, colored them in Hawks and Jazz colors. Did OK on the teams I played on, too, not to mention the neighborhood pickup games where I dominated. All because of Pete.
I had enough scrapbooks to fill a closet. No other player in the history of the game - not Russell, West, Wilt, Little 'O', Barry, Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Michael, and the rest - has ever come close to Pete's impact on the imagination of the general cager youth at large. NOBODY.
Don't believe me? I have proof. Check out eBay. Who's stuff goes for the most, draws the most interest, has the most items for sale? When I went to see Pete inducted into the HOF, was it Barry or Frazier who got the most attention? Shoot, after the press conference, every single member of the press flocked to Pete. Rick and Clyde just smiled at each other at left. I was there, saw it. The Pied Piper of basketball, Pete was. You just couldn't take your eyes off him.
Let's see, detractors will say that his father let him shoot whenever he wanted. Ever try getting off 40 shots a game when every defense in the country is rigged against you? Focused on only stopping YOU? Think you can still shoot over 40% under those circumstances? Here's the line, people: 3,667 points per game, over 44 PER GAME. IN JUST THREE YEARS, NOT FOUR. AND WITH NO THREE-POINT LINE. The experts have determined he would have averaged around 51 a game had he had the three point line. OMG.
Again, no stone was left unturned in this stunning book.
Kobe's 81? When Pete had 68 against the Knicks in 77', he would have been over 80 easily with the three-point line. And not against the Raptors, aka Sisters of the Holy Rosary of Canada. No, Pete's 80 would have been against the greatest defensive guard of the day, Walt Frazier. Then try Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Bob McAdoo, Phil Jackson. All HOF'ers. Pleeeease.
"Maravich" is the ONLY book ever written on Pete that does him complete justice. Marshall and Wayne take you INSIDE Pete's life. Sure, they quote some pieces that have been written before, but they're needed to help tell the story. This is the most researched, well-told, passionate description of Pete's impact that has ever been achieved - and I've read them all. Some twice. Some 26 times.
This definitive tale of Pete Maravich possesses insight that only Jackie, Jaeson, and Josh Maravich could provide, not to mentioned the hundreds of others that the authors interviewed. You will reach down into the complex layers of Pete's existence - his motivations, thoughts, and insecurities - that have never been available before. I read, on average, three sports biographies a month. Not many move me. Yes, Pete was my everything. Still, even with my being one of the top experts in the country on Pete, Marshall and Wayne's words moved me deeply. My emotions ran the full spectrum - elation, awe, tears, pity, excitement, joy, heartbreak.
Pete Maravich proved that hard work, dedication to goals, and having a laser-like focus can fulfill dreams. He also learned that people change, that some of us may need more than we think once the cheering ceases. I met him after he had given his life to Jesus Christ - and I'm grateful that's when I did. He was peaceful, at ease, wonderful to speak with. I've never regretted meeting my hero. One guy shouldn't be so lucky.
"Maravich" is a love story in many ways, and as is often the tradeoff with love stories, there is tragedy. Pete and Press sacrificing everything for the game they loved. Helen Maravich's suicide, and brother Ronnie's search for meaning through alcohol. Pete's own addiction to booze. Pete's deep love for Press, and Press's unmatched love and dedication to his son. Jackie's love for Pete, frustration with him, and eventual heartbreak when he died so young and suddenly.
And be sure to make it to the end of the book. I considered this a bonus: How tough Pete's passing has been on his two wonderful boys, Jaeson and Joshua. Jaeson, an incredible player in his own right, still misses his dad tremendously to this day. Has trouble sleeping, in fact. Joshua walking on at LSU, having the courage to play in a building named after his father, taking all that grief from coach Brady. I feel for these two boys - both of whom I met in 1987 when Pete went into the HOF. They were just toddlers then. I pray that this book helps ease their pain, and helps them to understand that he meant so much to thousands of other kids, too, and that we ALL miss him, we ALL share their sorrow.
Everything I have in life, all the success, is due to Pete. I tell everyone that. There is so much to be learned from the man, and this book portrays those learnings better than any other ever written.
Thank you, Wayne and Marshall, for reminding me why I fell for this man, this genius, so hard and completely. His charm, charisma, and drawing power shines through in these incredible pages. Pete transcended the game, the time, the American consience.
A truly remarkable achievement. "Maravich" is one for the ages. A WINNER...
Summary of Maravich: The Short Life and Thriving Legacy of Pistol Pete
Gaining access to personal letters, albums and scrapbooks, plus spending hours with family members among some 300 interviews, has allowed the authors to craft the definitive biography of one of the most remarkable basketball stories in history. They reveal new facts and provide startling insight into Pistol Pete Maravich, who lived a life of triumph and tragedy before finding happiness in religion in the years before his death at age 40.Basketball Books
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