May 28, 2015 a richly detailed, thoroughly researched book lazenby expertly sifts through the myths to produce a definitive portrait of michael jordan. His is a very big life, and the book was an immense challenge to write but oh so fascinating, as was the jerry west bio i wrote in 2010 for espn booksrandom house. About the author roland lazenby is the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller jerry west. Michael jordans racist comments quoted by news sites are. His is a very big life, and the book was an immense challenge to write but oh so fascinating, as was the jerry west bio i wrote in 2010 for espn books random house. Some books, quite pointedly, make a push to get to a place other books do not, and right from its early pages its clear that roland lazenby s biography of michael jordan is in fullpress mode.
The life, its the basketball great at the center of it. The depth of reporting, his frequent ascent into poetry, and his intelligent. Roland lazenby has taught journalism at virginia tech and radford university for two decades and is the author of mindgames. The life was named sports book of the year 2015 in the polish sports book awards sportowa ksiazka roku. See all books authored by roland lazenby, including michael jordan. When most people think of michael jordan, they think of the beautiful shots, his body totally in. The life explores both sides of his personality to reveal the fullest, most compelling story of the man who is michael jordan. But what makes this portrayal especially worthwhile is everything else. The life, roland lazenby, the author of books on phil jackson, kobe bryant and jerry west, gives us the life. At first i thought the biography was hagiographic, highlighting the incredible drive, sacrifice and overcoming the odds for michael jordan to achieve six rings and transform the nba into the international franchise it is today. Theres never been a biography that encompassed the dual nature of his character and looked so deeply at jordan on and off the court until now. Biographer roland lazenby looks back on kobe bryants life. The life download free pdf and ebook by roland lazenby. An exhaustiveand exhaustingbiography of the greatest player in nba history.
The depth of reporting, his frequent ascent into poetry, and his intelligent analysis of the life of this complicated. Drawing on personal relationships with jordan s coaches. Lazenby has written more than five dozen nonfiction books, mainly about basketball and american football. The kobe book came on the heels of the huge success of. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Local authors biography of michael jordan digs deeper. Lazenby expertly sifts through the myths to produce a definitive portrait of michael jordan. Lazenby begins with an examination of jordans gene pool, going back to his greatgrandfathers birth in 1891, and readers can be forgiven a sense of ennui if not dread when he doesnt get around to jordans rookie nba season until a third of the way into the book. Professional basketball is not all fun and games, it turns out. Some books, quite pointedly, make a push to get to a place other books do not, and right from its early pages its clear that roland lazenbys biography of michael jordan is in fullpress mode. The life youll be hardpressed to answer anything but yes. Roland lazenby is the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller jerry west. Jan 01, 2014 michael jordan, the life, by roland lazenby. Ive written a new biography, michael jordan, the life, set to be released by little, brown on may 6, 2014.
New book explores what makes michael jordan tick sports. The life, roland lazenby, the author of books on phil jackson, kobe bryant and jerry west, gives us the life and much. Its not every day that im blown away by a book about a sports figure. Blood on the horns by roland lazenby was full of interesting facts about michael jordan and his long strange ride with the chicago bulls. The life, by veteran sportswriter roland lazenby, caused a stir with quotes from the basketball legend about his racist attitudes toward whites as a black teenager growing up in the south. It starts all the way from michael jordan s great grandfather and talks all the way up through michael jordan s life and his basketball career. In his resplendent biography of michael jordan, veteran sportswriter roland lazenby carefully chronicles the hall of famers journey from his humble beginnings in teachey, north carolina, to his startling transformation to his airness. May 02, 2014 so much has been written about michael jordan that sometimes its hard to think theres more we dont know about him. Roland lazenby used to teach at virginia tech and radford.
When most people think of michael jordan, they think of the incredible moments so ingrained in basketball history that they have their own names. The rarest talent is like a comet streaking briefly across the sky, captured only by the trailing flash of its brilliance. He has spent the past three decades interviewing nba players, coaches, staff members, and other figures while writing about the league. Michael levin, new york journal of books lazenby s thoroughly enjoyable biography is an impressive portrait of a man consumed by his competitive ambitions. Jun 01, 2014 in his thoughtful, extraordinarily wellresearched biography michael jordan. You wrote books about both michael jordan and kobe bryant. So much has been written about michael jordan that sometimes its hard to think theres more we dont know about him. May 06, 2014 roland lazenby is the author of the bestselling and definitive biographies michael jordan and jerry west, among other books. The life and legend of a basketball icon, among numerous other books.
Coach nick sat down with roland lazenby to discuss his latest book. Not in a negative sense but the depth of the research done into michael jordan s lineage is far. As explained by roland lazenby, michael jordan books are as common as internet cat videos, but lazenby s book is still different from all. Bob dangelo, tampa tribuneright from its early pages its clear that roland lazenbys biography of michael jordan is in fullpress mode to be the best volume ever written on perhaps basketballs greatest player lazenbys a born researcher and. The life by roland lazenby 2014, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Author roland lazenby, wrote blood on the horns about these very 199798 bulls, plus michael jordan. A lot has been written about arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, michael jordan, but roland lazenbys michael jordan. The boys of summer by roger kahn, friday night lights by buzz bissinger, and joe dimaggio by richard ben cramer. He witnessed jordan s growth from a skinny rookie to the instantly recognizable global ambassador for basketball whose business savvy and success have millions of kids still wanting to be just like mike. May 09, 2014 in his massive and utterly definitive biography, michael jordan. If theres anything wrong with roland lazenbys definitive new book, michael jordan. Basically, i was against all white people, jordan is quoted in several news articles as saying in the book. May 09, 2014 if theres anything wrong with roland lazenby s definitive new book, michael jordan. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
It is also by far the most complete book on michael jordan to date. He has spent the past three decades interviewing nba players, coaches, staff. The long, strange journey of phil jackson, jerry west, and blood on the horns, among other books. Jordans time at the university of north carolina and his relationship with coach dean smith is covered in depth as the reader learns how jordan improved his game. He has also contributed articles to magazines and newspapers. Few writers know more about the life of kobe bryant than roland lazenby. Sign up to the weekly book summary newsletter by clicking here get any free audiobook of your choice by clicking here we have all heard the many stories of michael jordan s competitiveness and his intense pressure that he put on himself as well as his team mates.
Jordan has michael jordan, the life, by roland lazenby. The life by roland lazenby 2015, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. When most people think of michael jordan, they think of the beautiful shots, his body totally in sync with the ball, hitting nothing but net. Countless words have been written about michael jordan since his nba debut in 1984, to which veteran sportswriter lazenby jerry west. The life is a definitive, multidimensional portrait of a man and a legend, and a notable contribution to sports literature. May 28, 2015 a lot has been written about arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, michael jordan, but roland lazenbys michael jordan. Roland lazenbys new biography of michael jordan is as breathtaking as a. Buy michael jordan by roland lazenby from waterstones today. May 16, 2014 comprehensive and wellresearched, lazenbys biography offers an impressive detailed account of jordans storied basketball, olympic and baseball careers, as well as his wideranging business interests. To get inside the jordan era bulls and the documentary the last dance, we went to the guy who wrote the book on jordan.
The life, roland lazenby, the author of books on phil jackson. The definitive biography of a legendary athletethe shrug. Basketball journalist roland lazenby spent almost thirty years covering michael jordan s career in college and the pros. Roland lazenby is the author of the bestselling and definitive biographies michael jordan and jerry west, among other books. Roland lazenby set out to fill in those gaps in his new book, michael jordan. Michael jordan, the life by roland lazenby is scheduled to be released may 6, 2014 by little, brown and co. This book is for people who are looking for motivation or just interested in learning how the best basketball player got to the top. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Bob dangelo, tampa tribune right from its early pages its clear that roland lazenby s biography of michael jordan is in fullpress mode to be the best volume ever written on perhaps basketballs. He takes the reader through his childhood and the family structure and issues. So when i say that i have an interest in jordan, i mean it. A life and he joined us on the pbt podcast this week.
Lazenby who also wrote an insightful biography of jordans former coach, mindgames. Sign up to the weekly book summary newsletter by clicking here get any free audiobook of your choice by clicking here we have all heard the many stories of michael jordans competitiveness and his intense pressure that he put on himself as well as his team mates. The life, by roland lazenby, ranks up there with the very best. Roland lazenby has written a memoir biography of michael jordan. Michael jordan, the life by roland lazenby 9780316194761.
This is the second biography of a major sports figure by roland lazenby ive read this year the first being showboat and its almost as if these were written by different authors. Phil jacksons long strange journey makes the case that the one factor that most shaped jordans character. Michael jordan by roland lazenby little, brown and company. New book explores what makes michael jordan tick sports illustrated.
Coach nick sat down with roland lazenby lazenby to discuss his latest book. The journalist has covered jordan s career for nearly thirty years and his knowledge of the game and of this miraculous player shows in what is one of the best sports. Roland lazenby is an american sportswriter and educator. Jan 29, 2020 few writers know more about the life of kobe bryant than roland lazenby. Roland lazenby is the author of thebestselling and definitivebiographies michael jordan and jerry west, among other books. A lot has been written about arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, michael jordan, but roland lazenby s michael jordan. Roland lazenby audio books, best sellers, author bio.
Lazenby studied at virginia military institute and hollins university, and has been a member of virginia techs department of communication and radford universitys school of communication. Roland lazenby books list of books by author roland lazenby. It explores the relationships among players and coaches. The life, roland lazenby wastes no time establishing his subjects significance. Get the best deals on michael jordan book when you shop the largest online selection at. The life and legend of a basketball icon, 2010, etc. Michael jordan the life by roland lazenby is a incredible book that shows everything michael jordan went through to reach the goals he surpassed. A vmi graduate, his next book will be about late vmi football coach john mckenna.
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