Description
Book SynopsisAn investigation into the controversial 1972 Olympic gold-medal basketball game between the United States and the USSR.
Trade Review“[A] clear-eyed account of the scandalous end to the 1972 Olympic men's basketball final. . . . Sweet’s excellent reporting sheds light on a controversial, nearly forgotten Olympic decision.”—
Publishers Weekly“Sweet does a stellar job of pulling emotional strings and revealing how ‘encountering the evil of terrorism and suffering an excruciating, unjust’ loss in only a four-day span continues to affect the players.”—Lauren O’Brien,
Shelf Awareness"To a reader of
Three Seconds in Munich, it is the rigorous research that Sweet conducted on these young players—most now grandfathers—that is most moving."—Judy Carmack Bross,
Classic Chicago Magazine"This book is a fine read."—Nicholas Evan Sarantakes,
Sport in American History“David Sweet takes readers on the twisted story of the 1972 Olympic basketball final against the Soviet Union. His book captures the spirit of the most controversial game in Olympic history—decided not on the court but by Cold War and international basketball politics.”—Tom McMillen, U.S. player on the 1972 team and former U.S. congressman
“The 1972 Olympics will never be forgotten for many reasons. David Sweet’s thorough presentation has brought the U.S.–Soviet Union game back to life. It’s still painful to read but remains an important part of Olympic history.”—Pat Williams, Orlando Magic founder and senior vice president and author of
Character Carved in Stone“Meticulously researched and engagingly written, David Sweet’s book brings new and enlightening perspective to the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics. For USA basketball, the loss to the Soviet Union remains the single most painful game in Olympic history.
Three Seconds in Munich captures all the madness and frustration and brings a turbulent period thrillingly back to life.”—E. M. Swift, former writer for
Sports Illustrated and author with Katarina Witt of
Only with PassionTable of ContentsList of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Cast of Characters
Chapter 1. The Guns of September
Chapter 2. A Noble History
Chapter 3. “The Games Must Go On”
Chapter 4. Team Building
Chapter 5. Going for Gold
Chapter 6. Hornswoggled
Chapter 7. “And This Time It Is Over”
Chapter 8. Was the Fix In?
Chapter 9. Taking a Stand
Chapter 10. Picking Up the Pieces
Chapter 11. Joyous Reunion
Chapter 12. Searching for a Silver Lining
Notes
Bibliography
Index
