Reviews
"Packed with a lot of information in less than 200 pages of text, this book makes a good addition to the library of readers who are basketball historians or those who wish to learn more about the role of Jews in the "American" game."--Lance Smith, Guy Who Reviews Sports Books, "Before basketball was the 'city game,' it was a 'Jewish game.' No one is better equipped than roundball aficionado and NBA-insider Charley Rosen to skillfully chronicle Jewish presence in the world of hoops, on and off the court."--Jeffrey S. Gurock, author of Judaism's Encounter with American Sports, "A welcome addition to sports literature. . . . Rosen--a former college hoopster, pro coach, and prolific author, packs a ton of information in his compact narrative . . . . Readers familiar with Rosen's previous tomes will no doubt enjoy his witty commentary, elegant prose, and self-deprecating humor."--Joseph Dorinson, ARETE, "Readers (from teens to adults) who are interested in Jewish participation in sports will find this book worthwhile."--Fred Isaac, Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews, "Richardson is one of the least-remembered NBA stars of the eighties. He was a four-time all star, three-time steals leader, and two-time All-Defensive selection. Suspended four times for drug use--and ultimately banned from the game--he was also the poster child for the abuse scandal that nearly did the league in during that period. . . . Much of the book tracks Richardson's career, with commentary from Richardson himself, who takes full responsibility for his fractured life. . . . [ The Chosen Game ] should provide fans of today's worldwide, multibillion dollar NBA with an understanding of the league's history."--Wes Lukowsky, Booklist starred review, "Charley Rosen . . . engages his readers in a hybrid genre text of athletics and history--an analytical intersection of religion, basketball, and Jewish-American culture. Rosen's text spans from the late 19th century, the foundation and formation of basketball, to the early 21st-century--the NBA as we now know it. Rosen's hybridized historical text can serve as an opening avenue for heightened interest from scholars of religion seeking varied accounts of Jewish-American culture."-- Reading Religion, "A welcome addition to sports literature. . . . Rosen--a former college hoopster, pro coach, and prolific author, packs a ton of information in his compact narrative. . . . Readers familiar with Rosen's previous tomes will no doubt enjoy his witty commentary, elegant prose, and self-deprecating humor."--Joseph Dorinson, Arete, Before basketball was the 'city game,' it was a 'Jewish game.' No one is better equipped than roundball aficionado and NBA-insider Charley Rosen to skillfully chronicle Jewish presence in the world of hoops, on and off the court."" - Jeffrey S. Gurock, author of Judaism's Encounter with American Sports
Table of Content
Preface: Promise in the Promised Land 1. In the Beginning 2. Busy Izzies Take Over 3. Beyond the Izzies 4. Enter Sir Nat 5. Gotty and the SPAHS 6. Taking over the Game 7. The Barnum of Basketball 8. About All-Americans, Blackbirds, the Olympic Games, and the Rosenblums 9. The SPAHS, the Crown Jewels, and the ABL 10. The War Years 11. The Penguin and the Birth of the BAA 12. Too Many Jews on the Knicks 13. The Iron Man, Moe, and the Apprenticeship of Red Auerbach 14. Gotty Wins Again and a Crooked Ref 15. The Fix and Close Shaves 16. The Scandals of '51 17. Murray's in the Mountains 18. If It's Broken, Keep Fixing It 19. David Beats Goliath Again 20. Molinas Redux 21. The Jewish Olympics 22. Some More Blue-Chip Jewish Hoopers 23. The Coaches 24. NBA Owners and Bigwigs 25. Recent Notable Players 26. The Jewish Jordan Appendix: Jews in the Naismith Hall of Fame Sources