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Summary: A Funny Look at the ABA
Review: Terry Pluto's book is a very funny look at the American Basketball Association. He interviewed several people who were involved with the league and told the story of the league through their stories.
The ABA had some great players and introduced the three-point shot and slam dunk contest, which later became popular in the NBA, but the league was not run well and didn't have enough money invested in it to be a real success. They did manage to hold on long enough to force a merger with the NBA.
This was a league where a game was postponed once when two different airlines lost the luggage of the two teams that were supposed to play, leaving neither team with uniforms for the game. One team gave away something like 500 free tickets to a playoff game and had a crowd of about 520.
The league had its share of characters, and this is a great place to read all about them. It's also the place where Dr. J, George Gervin and some other great players got their start, and you can read about that here too.
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Summary: This is a necessary book!!
Review: Thank you Terry Pluto! Loose Balls is THE bible for those who want to know about the ABA. Anyone who finishes this book will look at the NBA with a bit of anger, knowing that the ABA was screwed by the NBA, then the NBA eventually copied everything that the ABA did (except for the red white and blue ball). I laughed, I cried, I love it.
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Summary: entertaining look at the wacky ABA
Review: The ABA was a haven for malcontents, oddballs and those who had yet to establish themselves (i.e. broadcaster Bob Costas) and this book chronicles some of the most entertaining stories surrounding a cast of characters worthy of an emmy winning sitcom. Read it for a laugh and a good look at basketball in "the good old days".
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Summary: great book
Review: the aba was ahead of it's time.everything the nba is doing now was taboo back in the 70's.i'm a firm believer that another league can challenge the majors.this league paved the way for others in different sports.if the aba had the media that the nba has today it might not have been the same.cuz what you see nightly was done a 100% times better 25 years back.this book was great.and a book i couldn't put down.
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Summary: Fall-on-your-afro funny!
Review: The ABA was filled with great players and great personalities, and Pluto's book gives you the whole shebang. Detailed accounts of the league's founding, teams comings, goings, and movings, and side-splitting memories from coaches, players, announcers (Bob Costas's blooper is legendary) and even Pat Boone, who owned a team briefly. Plus find out why the owners of the Spirits of St. Louis were the luckiest saps who ever walked the earth when the league finally merged with the NBA. Highly recommended for sports fans of all sorts.
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Summary: Both Accurate and Alive!
Review: The author takes himself out of the equation, leaving the reporting to those who were there. This is an entertaining--and enlightening--look into the wild and wooly ABA. A must read for any true basketball fan.
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Summary: a tremendous account of a very entertaining league
Review: The book was great! I can just imagine some of the epic battles with the talent that was assembled in the league! It truly was the league of excitment. The NBA might have had the T.V. contract, but the ABA had the players. This book points this out. Also, the various stories about the characters that were in the ABA was very entertaining!I only wish I was in San Antonio at the time to see some of the epic battles myself. One of my friends (D.R.) described to me the gangfight between the Spurs and the Pacers. I also like the info. about John Brisker, the hoodlum in the league.
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Summary: The Essential ABA Book
Review: This book is a pure gem capturing the years of the ABA and its cast of characters. One of the best basketball books i have read - full of history, laughs and bits of trivia that will get your attention from start to finish. I give this a 5 Afro rating
Rating:
Summary: The Essential ABA Book
Review: This book is a pure gem capturing the years of the ABA and its cast of characters. One of the best basketball books i have read - full of history, laughs and bits of trivia that will get your attention from start to finish. I give this a 5 Afro rating
Rating:
Summary: Loose Balls is a slam dunk
Review: This book provides a very informative and interesting look into the brief yet influential life of the ABA. In addition to the players, Mr. Pluto also discusses the owners, administrators and other personalities associated with the league. I especially enjoyed the concise recaps of each individual season. After reading this book, you will not only gain an undstanding of ABA, you will also see how much it has influenced the modern game in the NBA. I would like to see Mr. Pluto write about the AFL as well.
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