Title: The city game : from the Garden to the playgrounds /
Authors: Axthelm, Pete.
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press,
Year: 1999
Subjects: New York Knickerbockers (Basketball team); Basketball New York (State) New York.
Abstract: "Pete Axthelm follows the 1969-70 season of the New York Knicks and provides a parallel focus on basketball as it was then played in the black neighborhoods of New York City. Throughout, he writes clearly, intelligently, and passionately about the game, bringing alive the players' efforts, accomplishments, and failures."--BOOK JACKET.
Contents: Book I: The Knick phenomenon. Two games : the challenge of basketball ; "It makes it fun" : the game as it should be played ; The tradition : at last, a winner for New York ; Winning streak -- Book II: The cast of characters. A matter of respect : Willis Reed ; The backcourts of New York : Walt Frazier, Dick Barnett, and lesser-known stars ; In the glare of the media : Cazzie Russell and Bill Bradley ; The bit players : Mike Riordan, Dave Stallworth, Nate Bowman ; The men who made it jell : Dave DeBusschere, the catalyst, Red Holzman, the coach -- Book III: Playground profiles. "People wonder why" : the stars who never made it ; The fallen idol : the Harlem tragedy of Earl Manigault ; "You grow up quick" : the comeback of Duane Smith ; "Searching for myself" : an athlete called funny -- Book IV: The giant killers. Approaching the playoffs ; The Baltimore scare ; The Bucks : holding off the future ; Champions.