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Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich Audiobook
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(4.00) - 1,501 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Pistol is more than the biography of a ballplayer. It's the stuff of classic novels: the story of a boy transformed by his father's dream—and the cost of that dream. Even as Pete Maravich became Pistol Pete—a basketball icon for baby boomers—all the Maraviches paid a price. Now acclaimed author Mark Kriegel has brilliantly captured the saga of an American family: its rise, its apparent ruin, and, finally, its redemption.
Almost four decades have passed since Maravich entered the national consciousness as basketball's boy wizard. No one had ever played the game like the kid with the floppy socks and shaggy hair. And all these years later, no one else ever has. The idea of Pistol Pete continues to resonate with young people today just as powerfully as it did with their fathers.
In averaging 44.2 points a game at Louisiana State University, he established records that will never be broken. But even more enduring than the numbers was the sense of ecstasy and artistry with which he played. With the ball in his hands, Maravich had a singular power to inspire awe, inflict embarrassment, or even tell a joke.
But he wasn't merely a mesmerizing showman. He was basketball's answer to Elvis, a white Southerner who sold Middle America on a black man's game. Like Elvis, he paid a terrible price, becoming a prisoner of his own fame.
Set largely in the South, Kriegel's Pistol—a tale of obsession and basketball, fathers and sons—merges several archetypal characters. Maravich was a child prodigy, a prodigal son, his father's ransom in a Faustian bargain, and a Great White Hope. But he was also a creature of contradictions: always the outsider but a virtuoso in a team sport, an exuberant showman who wouldn't look you in the eye, a vegetarian boozer, an athlete who lived like a rock star, a suicidal genius saved by Jesus Christ.
A renowned biographer—People magazine called him "a master"—Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric.
The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete's father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press's obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father's vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete's own sons. Now in their twenties—and fatherless for most of their lives—they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts.
Pistol is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family's history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.
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"I it was great story about a great basketball legend and one of my favorites pete maravich it talks about his whole famillyand about his NBA career but one thing i think you didn't have to add was the whole part about how basketball came to be and how it started.Ilo ve basketball and if you dont love basketball I don't think you should be reading this book beause all people who play basketball should know how the game started. but besides that it was perfect."
— 707Jackson (4 out of 5 stars)
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A delightfully written biography…. Highly recommended
— Library Journal -
“In the end, Kriegel’s portrait is a sad celebration of a gifted player whose collegiate legend never quite blossomed into professional greatness as he battled alcoholism, sought solace in religion and left a troubled legacy that’s still felt by his children and those who knew him.”
— Publishers Weekly
Pistol Listener Reviews
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" He was always one of my favorites. I knew he led an unhappy life, but never understood just how bad it was. Very sad book about a very sad life. "
— Harvey, 2/18/2014 -
" I have read this book multiple times, it is my favorite book. It's about more than Basketball, it's also about fathers and sons, and about high expectations. "
— Steve, 2/15/2014 -
" Very good read. The way Mark Kriegel wrote the book, made it an interesting book even though it was centered (naturally) on basketball. I wished that I could have seen some of Pistol Pete games. "
— JayJayJay, 2/12/2014 -
" Pete Maravich was a basketball innovator, providing the young skill sets that we see in today's world game of basketball. This is a great history of a unique player in the game. I especially liked the portion of the book that explored Pete's Father and the impact he had on his career. While I gave it only three stars I believe it's well worth your time to read, especially if you like the basketball sport. "
— Charles, 2/2/2014 -
" This is the best sports biography book I have read since the one about Vince Lombardi (When Pride Still Mattered) several years ago. "
— Ed, 1/23/2014 -
" Well written biography of NBA player Maravich, especially the beginning of the book about his father and his childhood. "
— Michelle, 1/22/2014 -
" Very captivating book about one of the oddest, quirkiest and craziest sports legends ever. A lot of the book is about his father, Press Maravich, who was essentially responsible for making Pistol a complete wack-job. Great book about basketball, fathers & sons, and going crazy. "
— Brian, 1/19/2014 -
" I read this because my 6-year-old son checked it out at the libary and I didn't have anything else to read. Interesting...probably more so if you're a basketball fan. "
— Zoe, 1/18/2014 -
" A super book on the life and times of "Pistol Pete." It made you laugh and cry at the same time. Great book! "
— Keith, 12/26/2013 -
" Wow! No wonder he was so accomplished at basketball. His father molded him into excellence. "
— Paul, 12/7/2013 -
" It is the story of one of the greatest ball handlers and the greatest scorer in college basketball. "
— Art, 11/6/2013 -
" Excellent and well written. a great read if you like sports biographies. i liked how it didn't portrait the character as a saint, but as he really was, flaws and all. "
— Katie, 10/6/2013 -
" Very interesting story! Growing up Pistol Pete was always talked about when I played basketball. This book did a very good job of combining the ups and downs of being revolutionary to your field. Unfortunately his life was cut short but God really does have a plan for everyone! "
— Andrew, 9/8/2013 -
" I really enjoyed reading this book. I also liked waching him play basketball shame when he got it going good he past away. "
— P.e.lolo, 8/12/2013 -
" Excellent book on the problematic life of Pistol Pete Maravich. "
— Douglas, 4/17/2013 -
" Sad. Haunting. Redemptive. The Pistol was a genius and remains one of my heroes. "
— Dan, 4/15/2013 -
" Awesome biography about how Pete Maravich's Icarian life was destroyed by the thing he loved, or perhaps what he was bred to love. "
— Eric, 2/4/2013 -
" Although this wasn't a terrible read, at the same time, it didn't live up to my expectations for it. "
— Matthew, 1/15/2013 -
" I had heard of Pistol Pete but didn't know much about him. This book was a well written account of his life. He was a basketball player way ahead of his time whose life seemed to be one of great tragedy. "
— Tara, 5/1/2012 -
" A little tedious in places, but a fine overview of the brief life of Pete Maravich -- the first basketball "star" I followed, since I was an Atlanta child and he wowed fans as a point guard for the Hawks. "
— Nancy, 3/25/2012 -
" Good biography of a player I liked to watch and my son grew up emulating (we watched Pistol Pete instructional videos like other kids watch Finding Nemo etc. I'd recommend to a fan, but probably not just for general reading "
— Soren, 1/21/2012 -
" Very indepth and interesting look at a basketball icon and one of the most influential figures in the development of the modern game of basketball. I'm only a casual bb fan but I loved this look at Pistol Pete Maravich. "
— Jacqueline, 9/7/2011 -
" Just wanted to say I'd read a book. But even if you're not a sports fan you'll love this book. honestly "
— Patrick, 6/8/2011 -
" One of the best basketball books I've read. "
— Wlarue, 4/11/2011 -
" Before you read this book you must understand that the way Pete was has a lot to do of how his father was. I found it quite slow to get into at first since I wanted to get into the meat of his life but overall a good read for any basketball fanatic! "
— miQ, 4/11/2011 -
" Just wanted to say I'd read a book. But even if you're not a sports fan you'll love this book. honestly "
— Patrick, 1/13/2011 -
" A little tedious in places, but a fine overview of the brief life of Pete Maravich -- the first basketball "star" I followed, since I was an Atlanta child and he wowed fans as a point guard for the Hawks. "
— Nancy, 1/1/2011 -
" Interesting look at a man who inspired todays NBA stars "
— Highland, 12/2/2010 -
" Very indepth and interesting look at a basketball icon and one of the most influential figures in the development of the modern game of basketball. I'm only a casual bb fan but I loved this look at Pistol Pete Maravich. "
— Jacqueline, 10/14/2010 -
" A super book on the life and times of "Pistol Pete." It made you laugh and cry at the same time. Great book! "
— Keith, 10/6/2010 -
" Very interesting. I am from New Orleans and remember going to the Superdome to watch Pete play for the Jazz. I learned alot about his dad, and the inner struggles Pete faced througohut his life. Kind of a sad, but interesting story. "
— Mark, 5/8/2010 -
" Very interesting story! Growing up Pistol Pete was always talked about when I played basketball. This book did a very good job of combining the ups and downs of being revolutionary to your field. Unfortunately his life was cut short but God really does have a plan for everyone! "
— Andrew, 2/6/2010 -
" Although this wasn't a terrible read, at the same time, it didn't live up to my expectations for it. "
— Matthew, 12/30/2009 -
" The sad story of a super star basketball player who never gained the team championship he sought inspite of his immense talent and individual records and accomplishments. The book chronicles his amazing life, the highs and lows and the demons with which he was constantly challenged. "
— Csferguson222, 11/2/2009 -
" Terrific research by Kriegel. Very well-done biography "
— Jerry, 10/14/2009 -
" compelling story of a tragic life "
— Goatville9, 9/29/2009 -
" I was a huge Pete Maravich fan so I found the story of his life to be very interesting. So talented, yet so tortured. "
— Julie, 9/25/2009
About Mark Kriegel
Mark Kriegel, a former sports columnist for the New York Daily News, is the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller Namath: A Biography. He lives in Santa Monica, California, with his daughter, Holiday.
About Lloyd James
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.