Jimellow

Phil Jackson (the ex-Lakers coach) is about to release a book about managing the Lakers the last year or so, and the troubles he encountered, namely with managing the superstars and their personalities and egos. The book is titled The Last Season: A Team In Search of Its Soul, and is being released later this month.

Sports Illustrated has an exerpt from the book which can be read HERE.

I've already ordered it and am really looking forward to reading it. I don't like the Lakers, nor do I care for Shaq or Kobe, but if the exerpt is any indication of what the entire book will be liike, I think I will enjoy reading it a lot.

Is anyone else looking forward to picking this one up, and reading it?

Beatlefan58

I know I won't buy it; I may check it out of the library. Remember to give us a review when you get through it?

Nimbletoe

I won't read it simply because it's my opinion that the only reason he wrote this book is because he wants to cash in on the popularity of the lakers, and the drama of him leaving the team.

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Go Pistons!

Beatlefan58

If Jackson plans on coaching again, surely he had some reservations about what he wrote. If he did, the book won't be honest; if he didn't, he may find getting players to listen to him and confide in him was compromised.

yoyoyobro

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Cross-Over

I respect your opinion, but since the preseason is not really worth debating over, I disagree with you on this topic.

I am not a Lakers fan, and I am not defending Jackson for that reason. However, I find it hard to believe that he would write a book soley for profit (I have heard the same theory from somebody at ESPN). Writing a book in an involved process. Does he need the money? No. Does Jackson's departure from the NBA after his 6th title with the Bulls and current departure possibly indicate that maximizing his earning potential might not be a main objective? I think so.

He's a former player, he is a basketball guy, I don't find it too difficult to fathom that he might write a book about the sport.

I might read the book, maybe once the semester is over.

Beatlefan58

I read the excerpt today in SI, and don't think I'll bother with the rest. It's written in diary form, and that's a drag to read if not amusing. BALL FOUR was an easy read in its day, but not everyone can pull that off. I don't have it with me now, but it was something like "Today, I met with Kobe. We talked about the team and what needed to be done. He seemed distant."

Keeping the diary would let him (and his ghostwriter) to draw on those thoughts; publishing it as such makes it look like what it was--Phil structured the sentences to make the story flow the way he wanted it to for the book.