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Rating: 
Summary: a Strong Read
Review: David Thompson was Awesome Back in the day.Imagine DR.J,Jordan,Kobe&Vince Carter&with Madd Hoops that was David Thompson. if the NBA of Today was Allowed Back in the day then David Thompson would Be talked about the same way Lebron James&Kobe are today.same goes with DR J. this Book tackles His Whole Career from college,ABA&NBA&also Off the court.David Thompson is One of the Most Gifted Atheletes that I Ever saw as well.Props to Him always.
Rating:
Summary: David Thompson: Skywalker
Review: Enjoyed this look into the life of David Thompson, both the good, the bad the really bad and the good again. The chapter recalling the 1974 NC State/UCLA semi-final game was so detailed, it was like watching it all over again. Additionally, the book did not shy away from the dark side of David Thompson's life and although he may have not fulfilled his full professional basketball potential, it is gratifying to see his life is now at peace. Not just for hoops fans, but hoops fans will throughly enjoy !
Rating: 
Summary: Didn' Duck the Issues
Review: Just like his basketball game, David Thompson didn't duck the issues and took it right to the hoop. From a large, poor, loving family, David rose to basketball fame @ NC State. Everyone remembers the great team that beat Ucla, but most aren't aware of the NC State history in the previous year. It was quite impressive also and it's unfortunate they weren't able to compete on a national level then. After this great college career and significant credit given to family, coaches and teammates, Thompson chooses the ABA over the NBA and is one of the trendsetters that highlighted this league for exciting basketball. But while correctly relaying his significance to the league, Thompson is required to discuss his fall into drugs and alcohol. And quite a fall it is. Thompson doesn't leave anything out although I suspect his version of the scuffle @ Studio 54 may be a little one-sided probably to protect his wife to whom he is still married. We all read of Thompson's drug problems but this book describes the depths of the fall and it's not sugarcoated. Frankly, it's amazing that he is still married to the same lady and I applaud her for her persistence that was more than he deserved. For a truly great hero, it's nice to see his complete rehabilitation to gainful employment again. I applaud David Thompson for having the courage to tell this story when most people would have swept in under the rug to reduce any embarrassment. Life is what you make it and David seems to now understand this better than most.
Rating:
Summary: Didn' Duck the Issues
Review: Just like his basketball game, David Thompson didn't duck the issues and took it right to the hoop. From a large, poor, loving family, David rose to basketball fame @ NC State. Everyone remembers the great team that beat Ucla, but most aren't aware of the NC State history in the previous year. It was quite impressive also and it's unfortunate they weren't able to compete on a national level then. After this great college career and significant credit given to family, coaches and teammates, Thompson chooses the ABA over the NBA and is one of the trendsetters that highlighted this league for exciting basketball. But while correctly relaying his significance to the league, Thompson is required to discuss his fall into drugs and alcohol. And quite a fall it is. Thompson doesn't leave anything out although I suspect his version of the scuffle @ Studio 54 may be a little one-sided probably to protect his wife to whom he is still married. We all read of Thompson's drug problems but this book describes the depths of the fall and it's not sugarcoated. Frankly, it's amazing that he is still married to the same lady and I applaud her for her persistence that was more than he deserved. For a truly great hero, it's nice to see his complete rehabilitation to gainful employment again. I applaud David Thompson for having the courage to tell this story when most people would have swept in under the rug to reduce any embarrassment. Life is what you make it and David seems to now understand this better than most.
Rating:
Summary: Skywalker comes down-to-earth...
Review: The essence of David Thompson's impact on the NBA and it's fans is captured in the following memory...a playoff game in 1980 with Thompson's Denver Nuggets playing the Seattle Supersonics in the Seattle Kingdome...the game was in it's closing minutes and the outcome was no longer in doubt (Seattle had the game well in hand). Most TV viewers (especially those of us on the East Coast) had already undoubtedly turned off the TV, but I noticed that DT was still in the game. Telling myself to keep watching as Thompson may do something memorable, I kept my attention focused until with about 30 seconds remaining, DT had the ball at the top of the key. Faking left and driving right, he took off from just inside the dotted circle...cuffing the ball in his right hand (at 6' 4" his hands were too small to palm the ball), he sailed in and threw down a one-handed windmill tomahawk slam over two amazed Sonics that brought me and the remaining crowd in the Kingdome to it's feet. My mission then complete, I felt it was safe to then turn off the TV and go to bed.
It was with these type of memories that I obtained a copy of Skywalker...I needed to know how this mega-talented legend fell so far. What I got and what other readers of this work will get is a completely honest mea-culpa...straight forward and with no excuses Thompson explains his rise from a shy teenager just discovering that an amazing leaping ability could lead to superstardom to his equally amazing fall from that lofty position. He explains his addictions and insecurities and how these affected him and those he cared about...all culminating with a remarkable recovery topped-off with his induction into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1996. Along the way we also get a first hand account of the building of the legend and an inside look at the 1970's and 80's NBA...the legendary players and unfortunately the legendary drug use.
DT became a nationally known superstar in the early 70's of course as a member of the National Champion North Carolina State Wolfpack...the team that essentially unseated the mighty UCLA Bruins of John Wooden and Bill Walton (who pens an excellent forward to this book). He shuns the NBA and instead becomes the star of the ABA's Denver Nuggets...further driving a wedge between the leagues that ultimately leads to the 1976 merger. Year after year Thompson sets the bar for "high-wire", above the rim ball (along with Julius Erving) that preceded Michael Jordan by over 10 years (Jordan admits that Thompson was his main boyhood idol). His career is full of legendary highlights such as the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk contest and culminates in 1979 with his end-of-season battle with George Gervin for the NBA scoring title. Scoring 73 points in the season ending game against the hapless Detroit Pistons, DT takes the lead in the race. Gervin plays that evening and knows exactly how many points he needs to score and breaks through with 63 points of his own against the equally hapless New Orleans Jazz winning the title and adding to his own legend as well.
As important as the basketball side, the personal side of Thompson's story is the strongest part of this work. Thompson's writing style certainly isn't Pulitzer worthy, but it's the force of his story and his uncompromising explanations of his personal problems that capture his audience and is what ultimately sells this book. Cocaine and alchohol drag him down and forces him out the league at a relatively young age...injuries also had much to do with it and he argues that the long term abuse may have led to them. A jail term (where he watches Erving's retirement from the NBA) and many re-hab visits force Thompson to consider building a better life and he becomes a born-again Christian. This is the avenue that ultimately leads to his recovery and Hall of Fame induction in 1996.
A strong read and an important one especially for young fans of the NBA, David Thompson has a strong message for all. Having been at the heights of fame and at the lowest of lows, DT's life takes on an important meaning...all fans and players should read this to see the fragile hold fame has on it's participants. I highly recommend this.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book for any ACC hoops fan
Review: This book tells the amazing story of the basketball protegy that goes to NC State, wins the NCAA championship, goes to the ABA and becomes the best player immediatly, then goes on to success in the NBA. Unfortunatly, drug use and a bad fall in a nightclub rob him of a MJ-like career. Now he has found God and cleaned himself up. A very inpsiring book. By the way, he tells a story of how NC State was put on probation for his recruitment, and how UNC is to blame! Very juicy stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Skywalker Walks Tall
Review: Three cheers for the new David Thompson book. As an afficianado of NBA history myself, it is great to see some of the top players of the past getting their due. David's story is one to learn from...about how a person can raise himself up from almost nothing to a premier position in life, only to see it all evaporate. Yet he has risen up once again to find a new beginning and a willingness to share his experiences. It goes a long way to taking away the self-created tarnish from his star. Besides the personal narrative of David's, I enjoyed the prologue by Bill Walton (can almost seeing him deliver it on air) and the excellent photos. I can recommend this book to basketball fans everywhere. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Skywalker Walks Tall
Review: Three cheers for the new David Thompson book. As an afficianado of NBA history myself, it is great to see some of the top players of the past getting their due. David's story is one to learn from...about how a person can raise himself up from almost nothing to a premier position in life, only to see it all evaporate. Yet he has risen up once again to find a new beginning and a willingness to share his experiences. It goes a long way to taking away the self-created tarnish from his star. Besides the personal narrative of David's, I enjoyed the prologue by Bill Walton (can almost seeing him deliver it on air) and the excellent photos. I can recommend this book to basketball fans everywhere. Enjoy.
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