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patvulaj's review against another edition
4.75
I haven’t been so consumed by a book in a long time. The circumstances (pandemic lockdown, upcoming Jordan documentary) are part of that but Sam Smith writes from an angle that is no longer available. This was a time when journalists could really exist inside of an athletes daily life, something that they cannot really do now. Reading these stories now in hind site was a lot of fun.
milestheworm's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book is so detailed and honest, it’s incredible it ever got written. It’s almost more compelling 30 years later: coming from that micro-moment between when MJ was best in the world, but not yet best of all time. You can see the pillars of basketball history taking shape, page by page.
nao921's review against another edition
3.0
Some interesting behind the door insights about how the old nba was like. Easy quick reads. It's embarrassing for a new York time bestseller to have so many obvious typos.
mattleesharp's review against another edition
3.0
I am sure reading this book in 2014 has a great effect on my rating. What's most interesting about this book is reading about the reactions to it. This book came out at the perfect time, coinciding with the first real frenzied peak of Jordan hysteria and at a time when new technologies and the rise of cable television were making a 24 hours sports media empire possible. It's wild the degree to which players so few years ago were able to keep things about themselves private in the same way it's wild to think about presidents having time to themselves without a media circus around them. Jordan became such an icon because of shrewd image management and you get some of that in the book. The only real leverage people can get over Jordan is to threaten his public image. As for the bulk of the book (the part about the actual team and the management and the conflicts and ups/downs of the season) I thought it was interesting just how much players hated being on the team during the season. So much resentment and so little chemistry on such a talented team.
Smith is obviously a sports section writer. There is some drama. There are some interesting passages. But the book is basically organized around the Bulls' schedule and large sections of the writing are just game recaps. Jordan hit a 16-footer, Paxson clanged an open three, but Grant grabbed his eight offensive board of the night and put the Bulls up 86-83 with 2:47 remaining in the third. It was kind of fun to relive the play-by-play of some of the games, but I'm not sure it was worth reading it 80 times in such a short book.
This book would get a much higher recommendation if I were reading it in 92, but as it stands, it's only worth it for major fans of Jordan, the Bulls, or professional basketball.
Smith is obviously a sports section writer. There is some drama. There are some interesting passages. But the book is basically organized around the Bulls' schedule and large sections of the writing are just game recaps. Jordan hit a 16-footer, Paxson clanged an open three, but Grant grabbed his eight offensive board of the night and put the Bulls up 86-83 with 2:47 remaining in the third. It was kind of fun to relive the play-by-play of some of the games, but I'm not sure it was worth reading it 80 times in such a short book.
This book would get a much higher recommendation if I were reading it in 92, but as it stands, it's only worth it for major fans of Jordan, the Bulls, or professional basketball.
timdams007's review against another edition
4.0
The perfect addition if you liked the Netflix docu 'the last dance'. This books adds a bit more salt to the whole 'Jorden is awesome' documentary by showing the less popular side of having Jordan in your team.
emanning64's review against another edition
5.0
Great book. Couldn't put it down. Love seeing inside stories to seasons like this. Seeing the behind-the-scenes stuff. It definitely paints a new picture of Michael Jordan that growing up I didn't really see. It was also interesting seeing all the turmoil that was going on with everyone else on the team, the bickering and complaining that overpaid superstar athletes can have.
lukeestrada10's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely brutal you can’t do half stars on this thing. I never grew up with the idea that Michael Jordan was a super nice guy who could do no wrong so “controversies” relayed in this book are in no way shocking. The dude was a competitor, not someone I’d want to play with, but a dude I’d love on my team
whizalen's review against another edition
I've read this before, it's a first-hand account from a journo of the Bulls 91 championship team. This is the team that made me a fan of basketball and the story is told really well. This is the kind of book where I read a chapter here and there, I'm in no rush to finish.
If Michael Jordan hater talk is a trigger for you, don't read this book.
If Michael Jordan hater talk is a trigger for you, don't read this book.