{"product_id":"the-breaks-of-the-game-9781401309725","title":"The Breaks of the Game","description":"\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestseller, David Halberstam's \u003ci\u003eThe Breaks of the Game\u003c\/i\u003e focuses on one grim season (1979-80) in the life of the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers, a team that only three years before had been NBA champions.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Breaks of the Game\u003c\/i\u003e offers an unparalleled glimpse into the gritty, high-stakes world of professional basketball during the late 1970s, including fascinating profiles of legendary superstars Bill Walton and Kermit Washington. Through the lens of the Portland Trail Blazers' 1979-1980 season, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Halberstam explores the intense pressures faced by players, coaches, and team owners as they navigate the emerging complexities of the NBA. Readers gain a deep understanding of the psychological, emotional, and physical challenges that define the lives of professional athletes. Halberstam also delves into broader societal issues such as race, class, and the evolution of basketball from a sport to a commercial spectacle, backed by rigorous research and insightful analysis. For those fascinated by the inner workings of sports, the triumphs and tribulations of athletes, and the business behind the game, \u003ci\u003eThe Breaks of the Game\u003c\/i\u003e is an essential read. Experience the raw, unfiltered truth of the NBA's most transformative era and understand the game beyond the court.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Halberstam\u003c\/b\u003e (1934-2007) was the author of twenty-two books, including fifteen bestsellers. Born in New York City, Halberstam spent much of the 1960s as a reporter for the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, covering the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement. His Vietnam reporting earned him both a George C. Polk Award and a 1964 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. \u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e dubbed Halberstam \"the Moses of American journalism,\" and the subjects of his books reflect his passion and range: war, foreign policy, history, and sports. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Best and the Brightest\u003c\/i\u003e (1962), his sixth book, a critique of the Kennedy administration's Vietnam policy, became a #1 bestseller. His next book, \u003ci\u003eThe Powers that Be\u003c\/i\u003e, a study of four American media companies, was hailed by the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e as a \"prodigy of research.\" Many of Halberstam's books explored themes in professional sports, including bestsellers \u003ci\u003eThe Teammates\u003c\/i\u003e, a portrait of the friendship between baseball players Ted Williams, Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr, and \u003ci\u003eThe Education of a Coach\u003c\/i\u003e, a profile of New England Patriots' Coach Bill Belichick.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Hachette Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50605790888210,"sku":"9781401309725","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_b6f7e853-03ca-4f46-a753-50fa9052fea8.jpg?v=1732283027","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-breaks-of-the-game-9781401309725","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}