Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pistol Pete Maravich

I really enjoyed this book about such a legendary player...a man who was truly ahead of his time. The story of his life and his relationship with his father adds such richness to our understanding of such a unique and innovative basketball phenomenon. His story (and his Dad's) takes us through the history of basketball up to the Jordan era. And while today's game may be bringing in more money and creating more millionaires I feel fortunate to be one of those who misses and cherishes the previous era. Pete Maravich was and still is the most fascinating ballhandler of all-time. He had to create all this without any role models which is mindboggling in itself. I hope that more people get a chance to read and enjoy this book. The author did a fabulous job of writing and the title is so appropriate.....Pete Maravich will be forever showtime.

Phil Berger is an extraordinary writer,and I really admire him. His enthusiasm for his subject is apparent and infectious.

I just read "forever showtime" and think it is a great read. I have always admired the basketball ability of Pete Maravich, and feel he has been much maligned by the current media. It irritates me when they call Jason Williams the "new" Pete Maravich. After most media types did nothing but criticize Pete when he played. I disagree with the reader from Atlanta. Your home is what shapes you in life, Pete did not have a "Perfect Life". I would like to meet the person that has had one. This is a guide, for anyone that has admired someone like Pete. This lets them know that its O.K., to have problems in your life and deal with them. Discoveries and awakenings come in all forms, religious or otherwise. It is obvious from the authors acknowledgements and contents that Phil Berger did a lot more than rehash old news clips. I counted more than sixty sources that Berger talked to, ranging from relatives and neighbors of Press Maravich to high school, college and NBA team mates and coaches of "The Pistol, including Elgin Baylor, Bill van Bredakoff, Ritchie Guerin, Herb White, Rich Kelly, Jim Washington, Walt Bellamy, Neil Walk, and Paul Griffen. Did this reader miss the fact that the author interviewed Press Maravich? We would all like to think that someone as "The Pistol", led a charmed life but that would be ficticious. I am very happy that the genius of Press Maravich was exposed,because a "Pistol Pete" just cannot happen. If the reader from Atlanta wants a fairytale version rather than real life account of how things were, i suggest "MOTHER GOOSE".

This book is a wonderful story of a father's only gift to his son. The Maraviches weren't wealthy, by any means, but the father continually gave to his son. He gave him his knowledge of basketball, the sport that took him away from the steel mill. In the process he created exactly what he wanted. Pete Maravich was the first Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Today, their parents are lauded for what they did with their children. If the Maraviches weren't ahead of their time and were alive today, Press would be writing all types of books, from basketball to sports psychology. Berger's book, puts a perspective not only on history, but the complicatied father/son relationship that Pete and Press had. Pete Maravich did more with a basketball than most people thought was possible. When you saw Maravich play, you couldn't take your eyes off of him. Today, modern basketball plays Pete's game, but professional basketball lacks the intensity and skill level of Pete Maravich. This is a great Christmas gift! I'm glad this book is part of my library.