{"product_id":"lessons-from-lenny-the-journey-beyond-a-shooting-star-9780999532003","title":"Lessons from Lenny: The Journey Beyond a Shooting Star","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune 17, 1986: \u003c\/strong\u003e Len Bias, the best college basketball player in the country, achieves his dream and is drafted by the NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Less than forty-eight hours later, he dies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt's the end of innocence at the University of Maryland, and it's The Beginning. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe shocking death of a superstar is national news and unleashes a tidal wave of coverage, condemnation and legislation so punitive that some have called it a great stain on the American justice system. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLegendary coach \"Lefty\" Driesell leaves, his replacement, Bob Wade is forced out under a cloud, and alumnus Gary Williams is hired to resurrect Maryland Basketball. The student-athletes who stay must deal with the crippling grief of losing an icon and a friend while struggling with public contempt, criminal investigations, NCAA sanctions--a seemingly endless nightmare for these young men who fight to keep playing, trying to return Maryland to greatness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLESSONS FROM LENNY, an inspiring story of survival, rebirth and the constant search for a better self is told by two of these young men.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1986, Tony Massenburg is a freshman teammate of Bias. He came from Stony Creek, Virginia to learn to play \"like Len\" and the death of his idol shook him to his core. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Temple Hills, Maryland, sixteen-year-old Walt Williams can't stop crying, his dream of following Len's footsteps to Maryland torn away in an instant. Losing the hometown hero crushed the hope from his teenage world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo ball players, Len Bias was \"The Man,\" a shining symbol of achievement, a teacher of the game at the highest level and the model of the life they wanted to live.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe nation saw Len Bias' death as a moral failure and all of Maryland as guilty by association. But Tony and Walt focused on the gifts in the lessons from Len's life, and that hard-won education molded them into pillars of support in Maryland's revival, courageous and unrelenting professionals in the NBA, and outstanding examples of triumph over tragedy. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMassenburg, Tony:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Tony Massenburg, a University of Maryland graduate and the only Terrapin to play for legendary coaches Charles \"Lefty\" Driesell, Bob Wade and Gary Williams, is a record-setting NBA Champion who played thirteen seasons in \"The League.\" He is a Maryland Business owner and aTelevision Studio Analyst for NBC Sports Washington.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWilliams, Walt:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Walt \"The Wizard\" Williams, a University of Maryland graduate and Athletics Hall of Fame member, was the seventh pick of the 1992 NBA draft and played 11 seasons in \"The League.\" He is a Financial Advisor, a Sideline Reporter for Maryland Terrapin Sports Marketing\/CBS Sports, and a Television Analyst and program co-host for NBC Sports Washington.","brand":"Whyde Range Productions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50662363889938,"sku":"9780999532003","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_4ddbfadb-1d9e-4e4d-b54b-91ce40f7bc0e.jpg?v=1733521502","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/lessons-from-lenny-the-journey-beyond-a-shooting-star-9780999532003","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}