By the Book: Showtime

I graduated from high school more than 20 years ago. Still, as sports fans, we can all enrich our fanhoods with a good book about one of our favorite sports subjects. There are few topics in sports history more fascinating or important to the development of a major North American sports than the Showtime era Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s. Author Jeff Pearlman (once again) captivates the interest of sports fans with his tell-all book, "Showtime".

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WHAT YOU ALREADY KNEW

Magic Johnson was the centerpiece of the Showtime era in Lakers basketball. From how the Lakers acquired the pick to draft him to how he was convinced to leave Michigan State University a year early to enter the NBA to the backdrop of Magic's rivalry with Larry Bird in college and the pros, Peralman explores all things Magic.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest players in NBA history, a vocal minority would argue the greatest. Kareem was also private and somewhat aloof. Many reports, after his carer was over, from those who covered him describe him as not necessarily the most likable person (or coworker) in the sporting lexicon. Pearlman goes into extensive detail on the background and behind-the-scenes persona of the enigmatic yet transcendent talent.

Former Lakers Coach Pat Riley was the captain of the Showtime ship. The GQ posterboy guided the Showtime dynasty to four NBA titles ad launched what is certain to be a Hall of Fame coaching career. "Showtime" discusses Riley's metamorphosis throughout the 1980's from a former player turned-announcer turned-assistant turned-head coach. Riley's rise and fall with the Lakers organization is a classic story of man's determination and shortcomings.

Dr. Jerry Buss is the Father of the Los Angeles Lakers as we know them today. What became showtime was Buss' vision. Pearlman extensively reveals how Buss made his unlikely Showtime dream into a reality.

This should surprise no one. 2

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW

What even the most ardent Showtime Lakers fans don't know about this team could fill a book. That is what Jeff Pearlman did. His text is filled to the brim with stories, scandals, anecdotes, and secrets that only an author like Pearlman can deliver to the masses. The Showtime Lakers were like rock stars. The phrase "sex, drugs, and rock & roll" is a cliche for a reason. "Showtime" reveals why the 1980's Lakers were no exceptions.

There is a new, original, and often unbelievable tale of frat house mischief in every chapter. Cocaine is a "helluva" drug and the Lakers were not immune to its wonders - good, bad, and otherwise. There is sex, nightlife, sex, glamour, sex, fame, sex, and in case I forgot to mention it, more sex. Sex always sells, but it is also critical to the complete story of the Showtime Lakers. That roughly a quarter-century has passed since the end of the Showtime dynasty did little to silence the first-hand witnesses to the excitement and debauchery that was the backdrop of the Lakers' story.

There's more where this came from. 3

NO STONE UNTURNED

This book isn't just about the stars and the sensational. In addition to Magic, Kareem, and Riley, Pearlman writes about Buss, Jerry West, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, Bob McAdoo, Norm Nixon, trainers, P.R. people, draft busts, the former owner - Jack Kent Cooke, the X's and O's architect of Showtime (no, not Pat Riley) and many others with fascinating stories about all of them. Simply put: if you are familiar with Pearlman's work, you know what to expect and your expectations should be high. If you have never read any of his gems like the biography of the late Walter Payton and the story of the 1986 World Series champion New York Mets, you will not be disappointed with "Showtime".
  

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1) Image from www.jeffpearlman.com
2) Image from www.complex.com
3) Image from www.tauntr.com
4) Image from http://losangeles.cbslocal.com

You’re Fii-ehd!

Good thing, for Spoelstra, The Donald isn't running the Heat. 1

That was the best Donald Trump impersonation I could put in writing. Many have speculated, repeatedly, that should Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra fail to win the Eastern Conference Final, Pat Riley could be playing the role of The Donald and show The Apprentice the door. Should that be the case, Coach Spoelstra is literally coaching for his job tonight.

WIN OR DIE

I am not of the opinion that “championship round or bust” is the case, though. I think we as sports fans are getting into “overreaction mode”. What Spoelstra has done with Heat President Pat Riley’s “grand experiment” and the inevitably stout egos of their “Big Three” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in just two seasons is impressive.

Consider the Heat’s shortage of quality depth after the sixth man, all of the attention, scrutiny, and media pressure, and the inability of the Heat to pursue free agent role players because of the strain that the Big Three place on the salary cap. The man has a conference title under his belt. Did I mention he coaches LeBron James? One could make a well reasoned argument that Spoelstra has the toughest head coaching job in the NBA.


WHO WANTS THAT BUM?

First, I doubt that Riley is firing Spoelstra, no matter how this season ends in Miami. Second, if Spoelstra were available, he would not be unemployed long. I think a lot of teams, including (potentially) division rivals like the Orlando Magic, are lying in wait and have not filled their vacancy because of the possibility of Spoelstra's availability. Other hot coaching prospects, like Brian Shaw, have much less to list on their resumes. Spoelstra's fan-imposed standard has been "title or bust”, ludicrous for two years on the job with a conference title and being two wins away from another.

What GMs are going to say, "Don't call us. We'll call you," if they are in need of a coach? I doubt Michael Jordan would show Spoelstra the door if he expressed an interest in coaching Jordan’s coaching-starved team in Charlotte. Does anyone think the Magic, after weathering a coaching crisis this season, would not give Spoelstra serious consideration?

The only opinion that matters. 2

NO GUARANTEES

The media speculation about the brevity of Spoelstra’s tenure in Miami has been rampant since the Heat got off to a pedestrian start in the 2010-2011 season. However, there hasn't been the least hint from the one man in the public eye that matters: Pat Riley. The only times he has spoken on Spoelstra’s future, he has given votes of confidence. And while we, the public, can hyper-criticize every decision he makes because of the team he coaches, in the grand scheme, Spoelstra’s worst case scenario is that his season result is the same as that of the (future Hall of Famer) reigning NBA Coach of the Year, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose last conference title would have come four years before Spoelstra's last.

In other words, there are no guarantees. Former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Jimmy Johnson was fired after winning a second consecutive Super Bowl so no coach is safe. But Spoelstra is a bright young coach who has a very difficult NBA coaching job with an insane amount of scrutiny and pressure. He has done a pretty good job. And if he gets fired, he's going to be on a ton of short lists until he gets another head coaching job.

Don't hold your breath. 3

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1) Image from www.reallybadboss.com and www.ambasketball.com
2) Image from www.zimbio.com
3) Image from www.weallscheme.com