Product Description

For more than 20 years, Bill Walton has been one of the National Basketball Association's greatest and most outspoken players and commentators. Now, the NBA Showtime host sounds off on his own turbulent career, other players, and the cutthroat world of the NBA.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #939705 in Books
• Published on: 1995-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Former Portland Trailblazers and Boston Celtics star Walton offers an outspoken look at professional basketball.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In recalling the highs and lows of his career, Walton has plenty to choose from, both on and off the basketball court. The standout center played on two college and two professional championship teams while garnering a slew of awards. On the downside were the nagging foot injuries that hampered his play, his less-than-pleasant parting with the Portland Trailblazers, and his refusal to compete in the 1972 Olympics. On private matters Walton is more restrained, particularly when discussing the revolutionary image he appeared to have adopted in his younger days. Nonetheless, his overall observations on the game reflect the same intensity and enthusiasm he brought to the court. For popular collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/93.
- William H. Hoffman, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., Fla.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Walton is one of the of the great coulda-beens in sports history. If injuries hadn't destroyed his career, he might have been the greatest player of all-time--no, we're not forgetting Michael, Magic, Larry, Russ, or Wilt. In his only two relatively healthy NBA seasons, Walton was on championship teams. In Portland in 1976-77, he was the key player; in Boston (1985-86), he was the top reserve. Walton is now a basketball commentator for NBC television, and, inevitably, he has authored what is, in some ways, a typical jock autobiography. There are lots of game accounts and humorous anecdotes about "that funny thing that happened at practice that time." What separates the book from its competition, though, is the same thing that separated Walton from his opponents on the court: the passion and honesty with which he approaches the game. Walton had a love affair with basketball, and the intensity of that affair translates to every page of this book. The frustration he experienced with his numerous injuries is gut-wrenching, and the crisis he underwent when he realized he could never play again comes across as akin to the death of a loved one. Equally vivid is the description of the relationship Walton has shared over 20 years with his coach at UCLA, the venerable John Wooden. This isn't quite in the same league as such classic hoop autobiographies as Bill Bradley's Life on the Run or Bill Russell's Go Up for Glory, but it's damn close. Wes Lukowsky

Customer Reviews

THE RED HEAD SCORES
I ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I FOUND BILL TO BE HONEST, REFRESHING AND OPINIONATED. I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME BUT HE MAKES MANY GOOD POINTS. HE DOES NOT GET INTO HIS PRIVATE LIFE TOO MUCH BUT THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED PRIVATE. I ENJOYED HIS STORIES AND PHILOSOPHIES OF JOHN WOODEN AND THE OTHER COACHES HE PLAYED FOR. WALTON WAS A REBEL IN HIS YOUNGER DAYS BUT HAS CALMED DOWN. HIS FEET INJURIES TOOK AWAY A GREAT CAREER. HE WAS THE BEST PASSING CENTER I HAVE SEEN. THIS BOOK IS FOR BASKETBALL FANS AND DEADHEADS. (GROUPIES OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD)

Disappointing & disorganized
Having been a freshman at Helix High School in La Mesa, California when Bill Walton was a senior there, I had the privilege of seeing all of his home games in person. His playing was phenomenal, of course, and the team that year (1969-70) was exceptional as well. Although I didn't know him personally, we all admired him tremendously. He wasn't "just a jock"; he was also an A student and politically aware as well.

Having these treasured memories, I was more than a little motivated to find out more about Bill Walton the person when I happened upon this book.

After reading it, however, I was taken somewhat aback. While some interesting anecdotes are revealed, it leaves the reader thirsting for more substantive, human detail in many places.

First of all, this book is not a proper biography, so if that's what you're expecting, disabuse yourself. One gets the impression that his co-author plunked down a tape recorder, had Bill reminisce haphazardly, and then just transcribed the result with minor editing. There is no attempt to deal with Bill's life in a clean, logically connected, chronological way which is satisfying to the reader.

Secondly, the book gushes maniacally about basketball from cover to cover, but leaves one wondering about his non-basketball life as a human being. We learn very little about his childhood, and even very little about his time as a basketball player in Helix High School or as a student at UCLA. The absence of references to his personal life (except as they pertain to basketball) is so cold that it borders on the bizarre. (Perhaps this is what led to the "Nothing but Net" title.)

For example, he talks almost obsessively about his coach at UCLA and his influence on his life. But what did Bill major in at UCLA? What kind of life did he have? Sorry, nothing but net.

Another example: he mentions that he is a "single father with four sons", but nary a mention about who the mother(s) is or are or how he came about to have custody of (or adopt?) them or what his relationship is with them. He gives only passing reference to his love life. He mentions his "fiance, Lori Matsuoka" once -- but how did they meet, etc? Most authors writing about their lives would give greater importance to this side of their humanity.

Perhaps not unrelated to this is the total absence of any mention at all of the twin burning issues in basketball of drugs and sex. How did these issues affect his life personally?

Perhaps Bill was trying to maintain his privacy (a contradiction in an autobiographical work as this), but the overall effect is that of a still immature, shallow athlete narcisstically preoccupied with his place in basketball history. I'm sure that's not what Bill intended, and that's why I was disappointed in this book.

Perhaps someday when Bill has the maturity and the comfort to write more openly about his own humanity, and work with an author who can place the events in his life in a more satisfyingly coherent, chronological order, will we have a decent autobiography of this fine human being who has given us so much and who has suffered so much.

Maybe more like 3.5 stars
Bill Walton has lead an interesting life, an ideal life for autobiographical purposes. He has always been reflective and opinionated. He has always marched to the beat of his own drum. He was also one of the greatest collegiate basketball players. He very well could have become one of the greatest pro players, too, if not for continual foot problems. Still, he managed to win 2 NBA titles.
Walton discusses all of these things in his book. Unfortunately, he also leaves a lot out of this book. Not much is said about his private life. Not enough is said about the Patty Hearst incident. Perhaps most important for a basketball autobiography, not enough basketball stories are told.
Walton discusses his love and admiration for legendary coach John Wooden. He also talks about Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Still, Walton played with so many great players and characters, I expected more interesting stories. Walton is known for doing his own thing, yet at too many points in this book, he comes off as restrained. That is the real shame of this book.
Overall, basketball fans will enjoy the book. To be honest, I ended up being a bigger fan of Walton after reading it. You will probably gain a bit of respect for him along the way as well or at least you will enjoy the journey.