New York Knicks Titles

<div><strong>From picking cotton in rural Mississippi to the historic 1968 Olympics to ABA MVP to the battle with the NBA that would go all the way to the Supreme Court and change the league forever, Spencer Haywood#&39;s life has been a microcosm of 20th century sports and culture.</strong><br /><br />One of the most dominant big men of his era, Haywood burst onto the international scene with a revelatory performance at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Yet, while his basketball career was just beginning back in that summer of ’68, it was only one notable moment in the extraordinary and fateful life of the big man from Silver City, Mississippi. Marc Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated and Gary Washburn of <em>The Boston Globe</em> tell the remarkable story of a man who was born into indentured servitude in rural Mississippi, and all of the unbelievable trials, tribulations, successes, failures, and redemptions that followed.<br /><br />Haywood would go on to be the ABA Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, but his triumphs on the court are only part of the legend. His winding journey off the court saw him challenge the NBA’s draft-entry rules and win at the Supreme Court level; run in New York City high-fashion circles in the mid-1970s with his then-wife, supermodel Iman; and bottom out with alcohol and drug addiction during the infancy of the Showtime Lakers dynasty. Spears and Washburn explore how Haywood’s impact was felt throughout the NBA and in society at large—and still is to this day—culminating in Haywood’s inspiring second act as an advocate for current and retired NBA players alike.</div>

Featuring 25 years’ worth of columns from one of New York’s most popular sportswriters, this collection is guaranteed to delight Knickerbockers fans of all ages. These unforgettable opinions, stories, and observations from New York Times columnist Ira Berkow capture the spirit of the Knicks, from memories of Red Holzman and Earl Monroe to reflections on Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin. As the 2013 team celebrates the 40th anniversary of their 1973 NBA championship, this book enlightens fans on the entire colorful history of the franchise.

<DIV>For millions of basketball fans in the 1970s, Walt &#34;Clyde&#34; Frazier defined the word cool. One of the greatest point guards in NBA history, Clyde guided the New York Knicks to their only two championships with a style and flair that was wholly his own. Back in 1974, Clyde and <EM>New York Times</EM> sportswriter Ira Berkow collaborated on a book that has become an iconic and much-sought-after piece of basketball history. Now, three decades later,<EM> Rockin&#39; Steady: A Guide to Basketball &amp; Cool</EM> is back with an all-new introduction, afterword, and everything that made it one of the most unusual sports books of all time.</DIV>

<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Initiating new fans into the world of Knicks lore or reminding die-hard supporters why this New York NBA team is always their number one, this entertaining resource distills 66 years of team history into the top 100 things to know and do—encouraging Knicks fans to live each day like it’s a playoff run. Most Knicks fans have experienced a game in Madison Square Garden, have seen highlights of a young Patrick Ewing, or have heard the story behind the franchise’s last championship in 1973; but the next level of fan commitment means knowing the history and meaning of Knickerbockers, and which other team—along with the Knicks—from the original National Basketball Association is still located in its original city. Such details are offered in this book, the ultimate handbook to knowing and loving the New York Knicks. The compilation breaks down all of the stats, important dates, prominent players, player nicknames, team achievements, and a list of must-do activities, and then ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist that all fans will appreciate.

WFAN's Joe Benigno and coautor Jordan Raanan enumerate the acknowledged rules of being a New York sports fan all for the first time. They have collected all the things that New York fans need to know, a code of conduct to live a civilized sports life. Some of the most vital rules include, among many others, only one team per sport; attend at least one game each season; never do the wave, Macarena, or chicken dance; don't sell tickets to rival fans; and don't blame losses on the officials. Rules for New York Sports Fans is a hilarious look at a singular sports town that's sure to inform and amuse. The result is an entertaining, informative, and amusing guidebook for the diehard—no matter what your combination of Jets, Giants, Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Nets, Islanders, Devils, and Rangers.