Pistol

The Life of Pete Maravich

By: Mark Kriegel

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

©2007 Mark Kriegel (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A delightfully written biography....Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)
"What Pistol Pete was to the no-look, 50-foot bounce pass, Kriegel may be to the sports biography: transcendent." ( Booklist)

Extremely Good!

I don’t know why exactly but I absolutely love hearing about the story of Pistol Pete. Maybe it’s just because I am fascinated with the whole child prodigy thing but in any event, I just love this story and could listen to stories about Pistol Pete all day.

With that said, I found that this book takes way too long to get into the story. Slow start. But by the second chapter, this gets great and by the end, it's amazing. I really loved how the author sprinkles in the history of basketball throughout the book and especially enjoyed hearing about Pete’s father and his beginnings as a player and coach. And the last hour about Pete's children is also very good.

Two thumbs up and if I had more hands, I'd give it more thumbs!

Surprising Details

I always ratet the book and the reader/production since there are some readers and some productions that can ruin the book as an audiobook. This reader was fine and there was not a lot of unnecessary music etc. in the production. As for the book, very good for a sports biography that pretty much sticks to the details of its subject and does not try to expand the story with too many details about places, historical context, etc. I had no idea what a troubled home life the Maravich family had, or that Press Maravich was such a respected BB coach, one of Wooden's inner circle even. It also does a good job of explaining that Pete's NBA career did have its high points but why his unbelievable skills did not always translate to NBA superstardom. Interesting book.

Captivating

Wonderfully written, beautifully read by Lloyd James. I've been converted to a basketball fan in the 6th decade because of this book. I only wish I could have seen Pistol Pete play.

Fabulous!

I love the glory days of basketball during the ABA. I was raised on Kentucky Colonels basketball so the story of Pistol Pete was one to which I was naturally drawn. However, the book was so much more than that. Explaining how this man became who he was fascinated me. I would strongly recommend this book!

Very negative story of Pistol Pete

Well researched and does tell the story of Pistol Pete. However, the author took a very negative and depressing slant on Pistol Pete’s life. Even at the end, when the author begrudgingly had to admit Pete turned his life around, the story was overly focused on Pete’s fathers cancer, and how the natural remedies Pete recommended did not work. Overall, it was good to see the dark side of Pete, but I wouldn’t recommend this book, as it was overly negative.

What a life

The biggest takeaway is his faith in his savior Jesus Christ who brought him through so much to prepare him for his purpose.

To much about his dad

This book spends WAY to much time on Press Maravich and not Pete. I think the author could have found another point of view to tell the story from that would lead him to be required to include much less about his father. I understand he was a HUGE influence on his life but I cant help bit think the author could have told a more interesting story from another angle l, or series of angles.

Good read.

I enjoyed this audible book. The narrator is excellent. And the story has a lot of unique info that enhances the storyline. I am always attracted to biographical stories and enjoy the background details that make the people. Pistol opened my eyes to the legend of Pete. Press was as big a part of this story as Pete.

The Pistol we never knew

Great book. Much of which i had no idea. Many ups and downs, happy and sad moments in his life.

A fun book for fans of the game

Pistol was an all time great. I did not get to see him play but have heard so many great stories from my father. Worth the credit it costs you.