‘Tis the season for unabashed commercialization, and The Hoops Manifesto isn’t above the din. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus or whatever – here is some last minute gift ideas for the hoopshead on your list.
To Be Played
NBA Jam
The announcement that EA Sports was resurrecting the arcade classic NBA Jam was greeted with baited breath and great anticipation. Long-time fans of the game won’t be disappointed, as the new release offers all that was great about the original incarnation of the game. Players still catch on fire. Players can still hit shots from impossible lengths and do mind-boggling dunks. The only difference is it is a new generation of NBA players in the game (with plenty of classic players available via unlockables). Plus, among the unlockables is the “big head” feature, which was always a favourite of mine.
While the game probably will seem primitive to gamers who have grown up on the next generation of basketball games, such as the NBA 2K series, NBA Jam will please “old heads” and gamers looking for a quick, fun acade hoops experience.
Grab a copy of it here:
To Be Read
Play Their Hearts Out
If you are going to buy one basketball book for the holidays, make it George Dohrmann’s excellent Play Their Hearts Out. Rather than go into details as to why, read my review of the book here.
The Big O
Oscar Robertson was one of the greatest players to ever compete on the hardwood, not to mention one of the most misunderstood and controversial. You can get the Big O’s side of his life story in his newly re-released autobiography, The Big O. Robertson takes you from his early days growing up in Indiana, on to his college days at Cincinnati and off to his stellar NBA career and beyond. Besides the action on the basketball court, you get a glimpse into what it was like to grow up a black man in the segregated U.S.
Grab a copy of it here:
Rockin’ Steady
Former New York Knick Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier might be 65-years-old, but he is still cooler than men a third his age. So just consider how cool he was at the peak of his powers in 1974, when he co-authored Rockin’ Steady, which was recently re-released. What is Rockin’ Steady? It’s “a guide to basketball and cool”, that’s what. So, basically, the two things Clyde is truly an expert on. Part autobiography, part self-help guide, part basketball instructional manual, the book also boasts superb photography and illustrations, which really takes you back in time to the era it was written in. Want to know how to choose the best Rolls Royce for you? Clyde tells you. Want some grooming tips? Clyde’s got you covered. Need help on your hoops skills? You know Clyde has got you there. A must-read for basketball fans and cool people alike.
Grab a copy of it here:
To Be Watched
ESPN Films 30 for 30 Gift Set Collection, Volume 1
Much has been made of ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series, and for good reason. 30 for 30 is a compelling, fascinating look in to some of the biggest stories from the sports world in the 30-plus years that ESPN has been in business. But perhaps more so than the big stories, it is the smaller, off-the-map ones that turn out to be the most interesting of the bunch. For fans of the series, or for those of you who haven’t caught any of the documentaries during their first go-around, ESPN has released this gift set which collects the first 15 episodes of the series.
While all of the episodes are “must see”, hoops fans will be the most interested in several specific films from the first 15. Without Bias tells the heart-breaking story of college sensation and Boston Celtic draft pick Len Bias, who had a heart attack after doing cocaine two days after the C’s selected him second overall in the 1986 NBA Draft. Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs The New York Knicks chronicles Miller’s epic battles versus the Knicks (and superfan Spike Lee) from the 1990s. Guru of Go is all about Paul Westhead’s run n’ gun Loyola Marymount teams of the 1980s and 90s. And, finally, No Crossover: The Trail of Allen Iverson tells of Iverson’s 1993 trial for his role in a bowling alley brawl, the racial overtones of the case and its effect on the Iverson we all witnessed in college and the NBA.
Grab a copy of it here:
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