Phil Jackson's "The Last Season"
Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:43 pm
I bought this book just before Christmas, finished it a couple of days ago. All in all, I have to say it was a very interesting read, especially having read Sam Smith's "The Jordan Rules". While it would be wrong of me to suggest that Smith's book was fiction while Jax's book is the complete truth, Last Season seems to have less of a tabloid feel to it.
The fact that I'm a fan of Michael Jordan may well have plenty to do with that. We hold our favourite athletes and celebrities in very high esteem. We form a strange, unrequited bond with them: even though they have no idea who were are, we feel the need to defend them when they are criticised; some of us more aggressively than others.
But if Sam Smith's words are to be believed, if there is truth in the Jordan Rules - and it would be foolish of me to think that there isn't - then Phil's words, as someone who was around the Lakers much more than any journalist, involved in discussions that everyone else hears about as gossip, surely must contain truth too.
Jax does reveal some facts and recalls conversations that don't present Kobe in a positive light, but Jax also reflects upon what he perceives to be his own shortcomings at dealing with Kobe personally and professionally, and accepts responsibility for the decline in their relationship. This is not a book meant to ruin Kobe's reputation or expose truth, tabloid style. It is a frank account of what is was like to be the head coach of the 2003/2004 Los Angeles Lakers. Like the Jordan Rules, not all of the stories are good but the source is pretty reliable.
I would definitely recommend this book to any NBA fan that enjoys sports biographies. I don't think Kobe Bryant fans would dislike it; if my experiences reading various books about Michael Jordan including Smith's Jordan Rules are anything to go by, this is not going to completely extinguish your respect for Kobe or ruin your enjoyment of watching him play. But it will make you think about the behaviour of professional athletes and offers a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes in the NBA. It explores the humanity of NBA players, something that can only be done indepth in books such as these.
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At this point, I'd really like to discuss some of the issues and situations featured in the book, but a) I don't want to completely ruin it for people who haven't read it and b) Posting large quotations violates copyright laws. So, if anyone who would like to discuss the Last Season has any ideas to get around those two problems, I'm up for the discussion.
The fact that I'm a fan of Michael Jordan may well have plenty to do with that. We hold our favourite athletes and celebrities in very high esteem. We form a strange, unrequited bond with them: even though they have no idea who were are, we feel the need to defend them when they are criticised; some of us more aggressively than others.
But if Sam Smith's words are to be believed, if there is truth in the Jordan Rules - and it would be foolish of me to think that there isn't - then Phil's words, as someone who was around the Lakers much more than any journalist, involved in discussions that everyone else hears about as gossip, surely must contain truth too.
Jax does reveal some facts and recalls conversations that don't present Kobe in a positive light, but Jax also reflects upon what he perceives to be his own shortcomings at dealing with Kobe personally and professionally, and accepts responsibility for the decline in their relationship. This is not a book meant to ruin Kobe's reputation or expose truth, tabloid style. It is a frank account of what is was like to be the head coach of the 2003/2004 Los Angeles Lakers. Like the Jordan Rules, not all of the stories are good but the source is pretty reliable.
I would definitely recommend this book to any NBA fan that enjoys sports biographies. I don't think Kobe Bryant fans would dislike it; if my experiences reading various books about Michael Jordan including Smith's Jordan Rules are anything to go by, this is not going to completely extinguish your respect for Kobe or ruin your enjoyment of watching him play. But it will make you think about the behaviour of professional athletes and offers a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes in the NBA. It explores the humanity of NBA players, something that can only be done indepth in books such as these.
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At this point, I'd really like to discuss some of the issues and situations featured in the book, but a) I don't want to completely ruin it for people who haven't read it and b) Posting large quotations violates copyright laws. So, if anyone who would like to discuss the Last Season has any ideas to get around those two problems, I'm up for the discussion.
Tue Dec 28, 2004 8:38 pm
theirs some reports saying he might consider the Knicks if hes given the right situation or something like that.
Maybe that ment getting someone like VC
...or I dunno maybe he wants to see a "Kobe" like player he could coach....Im sure he misses coaching Kobe. 
Maybe that ment getting someone like VC
...or I dunno maybe he wants to see a "Kobe" like player he could coach....Im sure he misses coaching Kobe.
Tue Dec 28, 2004 9:48 pm
Drew wrote:We hold our favourite athletes and celebrities in very high esteem. We form a strange, unrequited bond with them: even though they have no idea who were are, we feel the need to defend them when they are criticised; some of us more aggressively than others.
True
Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:56 am
I got it for Christmas and I'm still reading it. GIVE ME SOME TIME, damn... 
Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:53 pm
Najira wrote:theirs some reports saying he might consider the Knicks if hes given the right situation or something like that.
Maybe that ment getting someone like VC
If the final chapter in the book is anything to go by, he probably won't get back into coaching unless he really starts to miss the NBA. He seems to be burned out on the NBA life right now...but that Knicks rumour probably won't go away anytime soon.