Rating: 
Summary: The Punch packs a wallop!
Review: I am not a big basketball fan and knew nothing about the subject of this book before picking it up. However, I was quickly drawn into the book by Feinstein's crisp, clear, exciting account of e moment in sports history that changed the way a sport is played. The effect of the "punch" on the lives of the players involved was fascinating and very sad. Well-written and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: 2 Lives Forever Linked
Review: I don't want to re-hash what the other reviewers have written, but rather explain what I found to be a fascinating aspect of this tragic story. The book goes into the details of both Washington and Tomjanovich's childhoods and college careers and it is absolutely uncanny how similar they were. Each man had it very rough early in life. Tomjonavich's family would somtimes go on welfare and his father was an alcoholic. Washington's mother was mentally ill and unable to care for him and his brother. As a result, they were raised by relatives and a cold stepmother. These early struggles would haunt both men and provide them with a strong motivation to succeed in life. Basketball and education became the vehicle for that success. There were other similarities, but I don't want to spoil anything for potential readers. What helps to make Feinstein's writing so effective is that he doesn't belabor the point, but rather lets the reader come to this realization. A great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Feinstein Doesn't Make His Case
Review: I first heard about the punch incident between L.A. Laker power forward Kermit Washington and Houston Rocket All-Star Rudy Tomjanovich on a 25th anniversary television clip. I was intrigued by the story. This book was mentioned in the program so I sought it out. The title of the book piqued my interest even more: "...The Fight That Changed Basketball Forever." I had never heard of the punch until that 25th anniversary story. I was 3 years old in 1977 when the event occurred and had not been very interested in basketball until the last three years. I was definitely opening this book ignorant on the subject. Feinstein's words and the current state of the NBA as I see it are the only pieces of evidence I have as to whether this event "changed basketball forever." First, the good points: Feinstein offers some description on the game in 1977 (background I needed). I had no idea that there was enough fighting to put the NBA in almost the same league as the NHL. I learned that only two referees oversaw the game until the following year, and it was difficult for only two to control the game. A thorough account of the event and the aftermath is given, including some insight into the struggles of Tomjanovich's life that, I assume, have not been written in such detail before this book. Feinstein also gives a thorough background on the lives of Washington and Tomjanovich. In the case of Washington: what's a good way for a PR guy to catapult the career of an otherwise unknown player? Make up a reachable milestone like an average of 20 rebounds and 20 points per game for the season. Washington's rise to fame was very interesting. The book also shows that most of the animosity is between Washington and Kevin Kunnert (the player Washington blames for starting the fight that led to the punch). Problems I find: Like many other reviewers noted, Feinstein repeats a lot of information. The first several chapters are a reiteration of the event and immediate aftermath. Similar quotes are used throughout the book (I lost count of how many times Tomjanovich is quoted as saying he doesn't want to be remembered as the guy who "got nailed"). The repetitive nature of the book doesn't bother me as much as the overall style, which doesn't seem very professional to me, especially from an author of so many sports books and receiver of so much praise. Some of the quotes he chose to use seem almost silly. My favorite example is on page 149: "For some reason we always had trouble in the Palestra," Washington said. "I think it may have something to do with the fact that those teams were always good." How does he get quotes like that! In sum, I bet this story has been written as an article in sports magazines with glossy color photos many times. I think I'd enjoy it in article form more and probably not miss much information. The story seemed to be stretched to fill the pages of a book. What's more, I don't think Feinstein made his case that the event changed basketball. The league already decided to lower the boom on violent acts before the 1977 regular season and violent behavior is still seen a lot in the NBA today with the usual fines and suspensions. Repeat offenders like Ron Artest are praised for their intensity and "playing the game the way it should be played." Is there another punch waiting to happen somewhere? I hope not, but I don't think 1977 has changed much beyond the lives of those who were involved.
Rating: 
Summary: Promises the world, delivers squat
Review: I hadn't read a sports book since junior high school, and if John Feinstein truly is one of the best authors in the genre, this stinker may well be my last. I expected so much more, and Feinstein promised a gripping tale: One split-second mistake overshadowing a lifetime of good works, forever altering two lives and changing how basketball operates. That's a great premise, but Feinstein never comes anywhere close to proving his point. He's not even in the same zip code. What he does prove is this: Kermit Washington (the puncher) grew up poor, had a so-so basketball career, almost killed a guy, got numerous second chances, but continues to blame everyone else -- racism, other players -- for something that most have forgotten. The punchee, Rudy Tomjanovich, got his face mangled by Washington, missed a year, then had a nifty comeback and became a rich and successful NBA head coach who for some crazy reason doesn't like talking about a dark period of his life. As for the league: It added another referee. Whoop de doo. Feinstein relies heavily on cliches and writes like a freelancer for "Basketball Digest." Chapters drone on and on recapping NBA seasons from the late '70s that could be summarized in a paragraph or two. "The Punch" could have been a fairly interesting 4-page magazine article. Too bad it stretches for more than 300 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Quick but Disappointing Read
Review: I have read several of John Feinstein's previous books and enjoyed them a lot. I read The Punch in three quick days, and both the author's clean writing style and the accessibility of the material moved the story along well. However, I have to admit that I did not feel "satisfied" when I finished the book. The story of Rudy T. and Kermit Washington is told well, and both men's personalities are explored succinctly. But think there is more to the story, and perhaps the intrigue lies in the fact that Feinstein could not quite find it. Washington is clearly holding on to a version of the events of the Punch that does not correspond with other's versions, and he remains bitter and confused about why, at least at the present time, he cannot find work in the NBA. I think it might have been useful for Feinstein to spend a little time exploring the latter with his NBA contacts, includint current General Managers and coaches, even if they wanted to remain anonymous. Or perhaps a meeting between the two men could have been arranged and been more illustrative of their different lives at this time. My final thought is that perhaps, in the end, there really wasn't enough "there there" to make this story book-worthy. If you are interested in finding out for yourself, I recommend checking this book out of the library rather than spending [money] or more to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: This is a Book ?
Review: I only wanted to read this to see how this old incident could possibly be made into a book. The story itself is relatively insignificant, dated, and circular. Basically he winds around and tells the same story over and over again. On p 210 for example, Feinstein tells us for the umpteenth time that Kareem "never liked it physical." By page 210 we know this many times.I was actually completely finished with this book by page 120. It could ahve been a medical drama, but Rudy seems to recover okay and all the drama is removed. Kermit Washington walks around saying he doesnt smoke or drink so he's a role model. And oh yeah, he had a little punching problem. The only thing remotely interesting about this book is that it was published. Feinstein claims to have had a Paul of Tarsus like vision in his car radio and wasn't happy with another ... project he was committed to. So he decided to do this. Nobody had the nerve to tell him it was a bad idea, take a rest. He did the best he could, there's just no story here worth rehashing 25 years later. Its not interesting. I guess after writing a book about the Patriot League, Feinstein interest has only escalated in other inconsequential sports stories he can tell. What's next ? The inside story of a football team's breakfast. Who makes the seams on a baseball? The rivalry between McNeese State and Southern U.
Rating: 
Summary: Not only for sports fans
Review: I picked up this book in an airport bookstore intending to give it to my brother. I found myself in dissolving into tears as I read the first chapter; I kept going for six solid hours as I traveled around the country. I find the repetition appropriate: the moment of supreme disaster replays itself again and again, in the book as in the lives of the participants. In an era when people like to affect a cavalier attitude toward violence, I especially appreciated Feinstein's determination to show how truly terrible and devastating even a single punch can be. It is obvious that many of the people who witnessed it were traumatized by the experience.
Rating:
Summary: What about the punch itself?
Review: I read the book today and found it to be a pretty good story of the events surrounding the punch. But I was surprised and disappointed not to see more information on the medical aspects of the punch. I think the book would have been much more interesting if some facial x-rays or photos of Rudy T's face or even more medical description of the actual damage was included. I think the book would have been more meaningful if the doctors involved had been interviewed about their recollections of the actual medical treatment. And a psychologist or two could have been used to describe the psychology of the throwing of that punch, such as description of the "fight or flight" syndrome of human evolution. I believe that Kermit Washington's reaction was a instantary and involuntary response to a perceived threat that appeared instantly in his field of view. I grew up in Houston and always loved Rudy T., and especially loved watching him bank shots off the backboard from the wing. He was a wonderful basketball player and I did love the way the book described his reactions to the doctors, his wife, his daughters, etc. I believe that Kermit Washington was a victim in a very real way of this tragedy, but and his victimhood may very well have been ultimately more profound than that of Rudy Tomjanovich. I am glad the situation is nearing resolution, and it would be great if Kermit could finally get a job within the league and make a decent living after his livelihood was virtually destroyed by what happened in 1977. Stan Moore San Geronimo, CA
Rating:
Summary: Count the victims: 1.
Review: I read this book concurrently with "You Cannot Be Serious" by John McEnroe. One of these books is about a star who admits his foibles and, without attempting to justify them, explains why he acted the way he did, and the consequences of same. Put more simply
1. He did it
2. He accepts reponsibility for it. The other is a hagiographic account of how one young basketball player almost killed another player with a single blow. The victim eventually recovered and went on to moderately great heights in the NBA. The other carped and whined his way through life, and despite all the spin this well-regarded sports journalist put on the story, two inescapable facts come out in the book.
1. He did it.
2. He doesn't accept responsibility for it. It's certainly disappointing what happened, not least for Rudy Tomjanovich, the victim. But get a life already. There was only one victim that night, but Kermit Washington has spent the rest of his life attempting to pursuade anyone who will listen that there were two.
Rating:
Summary: The Punch- My Review
Review: I read this book not really knowing what to expect. As a huge pro basketball fan, I was aware of the rules involving fights in the NBA, but I had no idea there was a history behind it. Reading this book opened my eyes to how dangerous it really is to have incredibly strong men taking punches at one another. The stories of Rudy T. and Kermit W. were very touching. How this one accident changed the lives of these two men was truly amazing. My heart goes out to each of them, and I wish them all the best of luck in the future. Also, a get well soon wish to Coach Rudy T: He's been through alot; he deserves to get better fast.
| 
