Taking Shots: Tall Tales, Bizarre Battles, and the Incredible Truth About the NBA

By Keith Glass

Book Overview

Bring a family of four to an NBA game today, and it costs around $500 to watch a bunch of seven-footers take bad shots. Perhaps the quote often attributed to P.T. Barnum is true--there really is a sucker born every minute.

The NBA is in trouble. And as NBA agent Keith Glass describes it--he's part of the problem If team owners are willing to throw millions of dollars his way for marginal players, why should he be the only one with the self-restraint to say "no"?

In his insightful, funny, and often mind-numbingly bizarre tales of life in the NBA over the last twenty- five years, Keith Glass lets it fly from half-court. He'll tell you how we got to the present state--where an agent who makes millions off the game can't sit through one; why our NBA stars couldn't capture Olympic gold; and why the game he loves is in dire need of help.

Glass has seen it all as the representative of players like Mark Eaton, the seven-foot-five center found working as a mechanic because he hated basketball; Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who converted to Islam and brought the wrath of the league upon him when he refused to stand for the National Anthem; and first-round draft pick Quincy Douby, who was forced to enter the draft before graduating from Rutgers because of the harsh NCAA rules regarding college eligibility.

With informative chapters such as "How to Feed Your Family on Only $14 Million a Year," "Eighty-one Feet of White Centers," and "From 6'11" to the 7- Eleven," Glass shatters the myth of NBA marketing: that everything about the game is great, and that as long as the fans in the luxury boxes are happy and weighed down with expensive merchandise, all is well. But have no fear Keith Glass doesn't preach about the evils of highlight film slam-dunks--he'll just have you falling down laughing as he flagrantly fouls the league that was once the envy of the pro sports world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061231851
• ISBN13: 9780061231858
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: It Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

If you love BASKETBALL you'll love this book

This book isn't about glorification of NBA players in any way shape or form, it is however a true indication through the eyes and words of Keith Glass, on the journeys that some players take to reach the L. It's a very interesting book which touches on stories regarding some big names in the NBA, both past and present, but also touches on some great insights to guys who coulda, shoulda but didn't. If you love the game of basketball and loved the NBA - especially during the early 90's then you will find this book a blast. Well worth the read.

Finally someone tells the truth!

Keith Glass lays it all out. I hope he writes the unedited version upon his retirement someday. I think he got over the line in some of his disclosure and likely pissed a few NBA-ers off, I really hope there is more he can one day share. Good for him to tell it like it is. Shame on the NBA for allowing the game to reach its current state and shame on us for continuing to pay more and more to go see it. At least now I do so knowing I'm getting ripped off most of the time, instead of just feeling good about the trip.

a breath of fresh air

When I was not laughing so hard I could barely breath, I was riveted by the stories Mr. Glass discusses. A truly unique look behind the scenes. A MUST read for all sports fans and business lovers. cannot wait for his sequel!!

So Good !

As a lifelong basketball fan, I was really pleased to read Keith Glass's view of today's NBA. This is a thoughtful, informative and personal look at the treatment and mistreatment of young athletes and their relationships with the public and their agents. I particularly enjoyed reading Mr. Glass's first hand experiences with professional basketball players and his telling of stories with humor and insight. Glass is direct, courageous and clearly unafraid to critique the organization that he has worked with for years. I found the chapter on his "Greek" player revealing and interesting; it showed how the draft operated, especially in connection with young, talented European players and how commitments were given and then ignored. Mr. Glass's chapter about Mahmoud Abdul Rauf was extremely informative and portrayed a different point of view from what I had read in the media. I appreciated Mr. Glass's insight (although his disagreement) with Rauf's position on the National anthem, and the problem of his relationship with Rauf because Glass was Jewish and Rauf a Muslim. I was touched by the airline tickets/ auction story, which presented a different image of Rauf and suggested that he could step up for the seemingly small and personal things that mattered. If you grew up with basketball as part of your life or are interested in today's world of the professional athlete, I recommend this book. You couldn't find a better read.

Best Sports Book

I have just completed reading "Taking Shots" by Keith Glass. I tried to count the times I actually laughed out loud but lost track. This book is not only a side splitting ride but has some very poignant parts as well. I was taken into situations in a first hand way that people never get a real chance to experience in the sports world. Anyone who doesn't laugh and learn from these stories either is missing a funny bone or really hasn't read the book.