Over and Back: "The Breaks of the Game"

Our latest episode discusses David Halberstam’s seminal book “The Breaks of The Game” documenting the world of the NBA and specifically Bill Walton, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Maurice Lucas and the rest of the 1970s Portland Trail Blazers.

Taking a break from their Top 50 project, Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch are joined by basketball historian Curtis Harris (@ProHoopsHistory) and James (@NBAInjuryR3port) of the NBA Injury Report podcast. They talk about the changing power dynamics between players and management, how NBA quickly shifted from majority white to majority black league, the changing economics of the league and the struggles at the time, and how the changes within the league reflected a changing American society.

They discuss the key personalities in the book, including Walton’s rise to stardom and downfall because of injuries, the intensity and stubbornness of Ramsay, the boundary-pushing and legendary toughness of Maurice Lucas, Kermit Washington’s incredible work ethic and how he was unfairly tarnished by “The Punch” on Rudy Tomjanovich, and Billy Ray Bates out-of-nowhere rise to become a brief NBA sensation, LaRue Martin, Mychal Thompson, Moses Malone, Marvin Barnes, and many more players.

Also discussed are Halberstam’s writing and reporting style, his sometimes unfortunate portrayals of race, his deep nostalgia for NBA before bigger money came into play, his views on expansion, plus the history of the players union and the NBA on television. There’s a lot of great discussion packed in here, so be sure to check it out.

Participate in Hardwood Paroxysm's Big Summer Read on "The Breaks of the Game": http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2015/08/03/the-hp-big-summer-read-week-1/