Customer Reviews

Miracle On 33rd Street : The New York Knickerbockers' Championship Season, 1969-1970

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THIS BOOK IS ONE BIG WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. IT COVERS BEHIND THE SCENES CONCERNING THE KNICKS 1969-70 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON. WELL IT DOES WITH A BUNCH OF TRIVIAL BORING FACTS. WHO CARES WHAT COLOR T- SHIRT BILL BRADLEY WEARS TO PRACTICE OR IF BILL HOSKET WEARS PAJAMAS TO BED. HARDLY ANYTIME WAS SPENT ON GAME TO GAME ACTION CONCERNING WHY THEY WON OR LOST. IT JUST RUNS THROUGH THE WHOLE SEASON AND PLAYOFFS MENTIONING HARDLY ANY GAME ACTION OR STATS. I FOUND THIS BOOK VERY DISAPPOINTING, I SKIPPED OVER MANY PAGES OF FACTS THAT ARE TOTALLY REDUNDENT AND HAD NO IMPACT ON ANYONE EXCEPT THE AUTHOR. NOT WORTH READING UNLESS YOU SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA.

Phil Berger's Miracle on 33rd St. was first published right after the New York Knicks won their first NBA title in 1970. The team is one of most beloved of all time in New York sports and was made up of several NBA legends. Mr. Berger was a beat writer and his inside story on this magical team is an immensely enjoyable read. The players on the team seem almost like characters created for a novel. The smooth and stylish Walt "Clyde" Frazier, the leader Willis Reed, the studious Bill Bradley (who would go one to be a US Senator and run for President), the scrappy, iron tough Dave DeBusschere, the understated but invaluable Dave Barnett and the supporting players all have interesting personalities on and off the court. The late, great Red Holzman coached this team to greatness. The book is even more interesting to read now, some thirty years later, as it serves as a history lesson in what the NBA used to be like. Marv Albert provides a humorous introduction. A great sports book and a great read.

This is the book that launched Phil Berger's career. Controversial upon its publication 30 years ago, it freezes in time that great Knicks team. Willis Reed in his glory, Holzman at his best, Bradley struggling with his own popularity. The nerdy young Phil Jackson envious of that popularity. There's enough wry humor, revelation and wisdom to qualify "Miracle" as a treasure. God bless Phil Berger.

Roland Lazenby
author of Mindgames, Phil Jackson's Long Strange Journey