{"product_id":"madmens-ball-the-continuing-saga-of-kobe-phil-and-the-los-angeles-lakers-hardcover","title":"Madmen's Ball: The Continuing Saga of Kobe, Phil, and the Los Angeles Lakers - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMark Heisler\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eJerry West\u003c\/b\u003e (Foreword by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this revised and expanded edition, \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e writer Mark Heisler investigates the 45-year history of the Los Angeles Lakers and unveils a pattern of pampered and\/or misguided players, megalomaniacal executives, and owners whose obsessive drives for championships and attention combined to create an atmosphere of conflict for decades Throughout the entire 2003-04 season, fans and the media called the L.A. Lakers the biggest reality show in the country. But the laundry list of conflicts--the ongoing Kobe-Shaq bickering, Kobe's sexual assault trial, Phil Jackson's final season, Gary Payton's refusal to admit his physical decline, and the loss to Detroit in the championship--was just another year in the history of the Lakers. \u003ci\u003eMadmen's Ball\u003c\/i\u003e goes back to the Lakers' unceremonious arrival in Los Angeles in 1960 to show that the franchise has been embroiled in controversy, in-house battles and personality clashes for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMark Heisler\u003c\/b\u003e covers the NBA for the \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e Times\u003c\/i\u003e. He has been on the professional basketball beat for 25 years, starting at the \u003ci\u003ePhiladelphia Inquirer\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eBulletin\u003c\/i\u003e, and was the winner of the Naismith Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Award in 2006. He lives in Los Angeles. \u003cb\u003eJerry West\u003c\/b\u003e played for 14 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to nine NBA Finals and the 1972 championship. After retiring as the third-highest scorer in NBA history, West coached the Lakers to a 145-101 record over three seasons. He became the team's general manager in 1982, helping to build the dynasty of the 1980s, and currently serves as the president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 307\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.25 x 9.12 x 6.32 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 01, 2008\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51770877149472,"sku":"9781600781988","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/19a844729324578af92feb4117e279da.webp?v=1780380037","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/madmens-ball-the-continuing-saga-of-kobe-phil-and-the-los-angeles-lakers-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}