Description:
The goal of The Playmasters is two-fold: to explore the evolution of the NBA from the dusty gyms of the pre-TV George Mikan era to the razzle-dazzle, MTV-paced, in-your-face, overmarketed thrill show that spun around Michael Jordan, and then to examine how the league has come to find itself balanced precariously on a ledge created by its own success and hubris. The NBA might cry foul at the charge, but sports lawyer Eldon L. Ham keeps muscling in with an argument that names names and scores points. The NBA has evolved from humble beginnings into an 800-pound gorilla, Ham writes, "a sports macrocosm of money, marketing, collusion, show business, and--above all--a swarm of id-driven egos racing out of control in what appears to be a reckless quest for self-identity." And he's not just talking about the players. He's talking about what he calls the playmasters--Commissioner David Stern, owners like Jerry Reinsdorf and Ted Turner, agent David Falk, the Nike juggernaut, even television. Through fine reporting, analysis, and anecdotal detail, Ham suggests all have succumbed to their own arrogance and plotting, conspiring to create an economic and ethical nightmare of outrageous fortunes, equally outrageous behaviors, and a fan base applying for second mortgages just to afford their seats. This is strong stuff, but basketball may need a few solid elbows to bring it back to reality--and sporting health--in the post-Michael, post-lockout era. --Jeff Silverman
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