Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“A welcome addition to sports literature. . . . Rosen—a former college hoopster, pro coach, and prolific author, packs a ton of information in his compact narrative. . . . Readers familiar with Rosen's previous tomes will no doubt enjoy his witty commentary, elegant prose, and self-deprecating humor.”—Joseph Dorinson,
Arete "Readers (from teens to adults) who are interested in Jewish participation in sports will find this book worthwhile."—Fred Isaac,
Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews“Before basketball was the ‘city game,’ it was a ‘Jewish game.’ No one is better equipped than roundball aficionado and NBA-insider Charley Rosen to skillfully chronicle Jewish presence in the world of hoops, on and off the court.”—Jeffrey S. Gurock, author of
Judaism’s Encounter with American Sports"Packed with a lot of information in less than 200 pages of text, this book makes a good addition to the library of readers who are basketball historians or those who wish to learn more about the role of Jews in the "American" game."—Lance Smith,
Guy Who Reviews Sports BooksTable of ContentsPreface: Promise in the Promised Land
1. In the Beginning
2. Busy Izzies Take Over
3. Beyond the Izzies
4. Enter Sir Nat
5. Gotty and the SPAHS
6. Taking over the Game
7. The Barnum of Basketball
8. About All-Americans, Blackbirds, the Olympic Games, and the Rosenblums
9. The SPAHS, the Crown Jewels, and the ABL
10. The War Years
11. The Penguin and the Birth of the BAA
12. Too Many Jews on the Knicks
13. The Iron Man, Moe, and the Apprenticeship of Red Auerbach
14. Gotty Wins Again and a Crooked Ref
15. The Fix and Close Shaves
16. The Scandals of ’51
17. Murray’s in the Mountains
18. If It’s Broken, Keep Fixing It
19. David Beats Goliath Again
20. Molinas Redux
21. The Jewish Olympics
22. Some More Blue-Chip Jewish Hoopers
23. The Coaches
24. NBA Owners and Bigwigs
25. Recent Notable Players
26. The Jewish Jordan
Appendix: Jews in the Naismith Hall of Fame
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