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Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich
"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, anexuberant 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.
A renowned biographer -- "People" magazine called him "a master" -- Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric.
The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete's father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press's obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father's vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete's own sons. Now in their twenties -- and fatherless for most of their lives -- they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts.
"Pistol" is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family's history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.
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, anexuberant 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.
A renowned biographer -- "People" magazine called him "a master" -- Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric.
The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete's father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press's obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father's vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete's own sons. Now in their twenties -- and fatherless for most of their lives -- they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts.
"Pistol" is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family's history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
July 21, 2025
This was a well-written and good biography about the legend himself. The author starts out with a detailed account following from the Maraviches from Yugoslavia, to the early life of Press Maravich, and finally getting to his son, 'Pistol' Pete Maravich. The Pistol's early childhood and young adolescence was filled with countless practice, his drill-instructor of a father Press, and a limitless talent. As an eighth-grader his sheer talent got him on the varsity team at the high school level.
Pistol Pete. The sportswriter came up with other names for him, including Little Mr. Big, Mighty Mite, and Poppin' Pete. But none of them fit as well. Pistol Pete worked just as a nickname should...the ball came off his hip, like a gunslinger, and he was never, ever shy to shoot. He had a long, thin neck, didn't look athletic at all. You would not suspect he could do the things he did—until he did them. He was doing stuff you had never seen before, things that mesmerized you. pg 77Pistol Pete eventually succumbed to the tension and pressure that came from his ball skills that dwarfed the NBA of that era. Under pressure and trying to the fill the void, he took to alcohol and became overcome with depression. He became reclusive from friends and family and began exploring Hinduism, veganism, survivalism, and extraterrestrialism.
"So many times", Pete would recall, "suicide came into my thoughts. All I had to do was turn the wheel just 10 degrees, and it would be history. Everybody would say 'What an accident. Isn't it terrible what happened to Pistol Pete?'", pg. 275
Laying in bed one early morning he asked God "Please, save me, please.He devoted his life to God and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the youth through his basketball camps. His ministry became his life and at that point, Pete finally found inner peace and joy. Then while playing a pick up game with a friend at the camp, he collapsed of a heart attack on the court. He was only 40 years old, pg. 291
Take me."
He began to weep.
"Deliver me."
Finally, he heard an audible voice: Be strong and lift thine own heart. It was the voice of God. pg. 275
This is a decent story of the legendary Pistol Pete. This biography is good and I read the Wayne Federman story because it is just as good, maybe even better. I would recommend it to any basketball or sports fan. Thanks!
July 15, 2018
When a fascinating, enigmatic cast of characters encounters a gifted biographer something special happens. This is just such an instance. I’m a committed basketball fan, but I knew few details of Pete’s life and almost none of his father’s. Their combined, symbiotic and parasitic relationship is heartbreaking and fascinating. To read a non-Christian author describe Pete’s transformation when he met Christ is equally fascinating - almost like reading about him meeting a unicorn. He finds it magnetic, but not totally believable.
August 16, 2023
A beautiful telling of a life that almost reads like a Greek myth, filled with greatness and tragedy. The main difference is the redemption Pete found late in life. It’s the type of story that makes you want to be better father. Highly recommended for any basketball fan.
January 14, 2012
There’s a line in Mark Kriegel’s book “Pistol” that does a good job of summarizing Pete Maravich’s life, and the book, quite nicely - “I don’t want to play 10 years in the NBA and die of a heart attack at 40.”
Instead, he died of a heart defect at 40, after playing in the NBA for almost 10 years.
“Pistol” is not so much a biography as it is a study on passion and obsession and how the two can be confused. At it’s core it’s about how much a father, in this case Press Maravich, can drive his son into greatness and tragedy. Into a legend, although one marred by tragedy.
To me, the way Pete Maravich was described reminded me of Pete Rose. Rose took a one-time criticism from his father on not running out a groundball into a career known as Charlie Hustle, much in the same way that Press’ love for basketball led to the devotion that Pete poured into it, devoting his life to the game. However, Rose got off lightly compared to Maravich, who almost all of his life playing the game, almost never getting the respect he deserved, at least not until his career had finished.
“Pistol” covers not just the life of Pete, but also that of Press. The book opens with a young Press, stuck with no future in a Pennsylvania steel town (where the sky was colored a flaming orange by the factories, notes Kriegel) discovers a way out - basketball, a game which he takes to almost immediately. The book was surely not off the mark when it says that Press mistook the game for salvation - it would dominate the rest of his life.
From there the book covers Press’ exploits in the early days of professional basketball and the first few years of what to become his pastime, coaching. By the time that Pete was a small child, Press was coaching his just as much (and perhaps more) then he was with his team, the NC State Wolfpack.
Here, the book goes into great detail, from newspaper clippings to interviews with people who were around, into this period of Pete’s life, when he was almost forced into basketball, practicing for hours a day, right up to during his teenage years. It was here, on the basketball court, that Pete found what he was craving all along - affection, from the fans who loved seeing his flashy moves and passes.
The book does a great job of covering both the highs (His 68 point game against the Knicks, his record setting performances at LSU) and the lows (his knee injury, LSU’s collapse in the 1970 NIT) of his career, as well as the interesting dynamic of Press and Pete’s relationship, and how it changed over the years.
It goes on, later, describing the aftermath of his NBA career - his depression, his spiritual rebirth as a born-again Christian, and eventually, his early death (on a basketball court, fittingly).
Overall, “Pistol” is an interesting book - it paints a picture of Pete as a tragic and often depressed superstar, and does a very good job of it. It’s meticulously researched (there’s even a large list of footnotes and references included) and very well written, although it does compare Pete to another flawed legend, Joe Namath (who, by the way, was the subject of another book written by Mark Kriegel) on a regular basis.
It’s definitely worth a read.
Instead, he died of a heart defect at 40, after playing in the NBA for almost 10 years.
“Pistol” is not so much a biography as it is a study on passion and obsession and how the two can be confused. At it’s core it’s about how much a father, in this case Press Maravich, can drive his son into greatness and tragedy. Into a legend, although one marred by tragedy.
To me, the way Pete Maravich was described reminded me of Pete Rose. Rose took a one-time criticism from his father on not running out a groundball into a career known as Charlie Hustle, much in the same way that Press’ love for basketball led to the devotion that Pete poured into it, devoting his life to the game. However, Rose got off lightly compared to Maravich, who almost all of his life playing the game, almost never getting the respect he deserved, at least not until his career had finished.
“Pistol” covers not just the life of Pete, but also that of Press. The book opens with a young Press, stuck with no future in a Pennsylvania steel town (where the sky was colored a flaming orange by the factories, notes Kriegel) discovers a way out - basketball, a game which he takes to almost immediately. The book was surely not off the mark when it says that Press mistook the game for salvation - it would dominate the rest of his life.
From there the book covers Press’ exploits in the early days of professional basketball and the first few years of what to become his pastime, coaching. By the time that Pete was a small child, Press was coaching his just as much (and perhaps more) then he was with his team, the NC State Wolfpack.
Here, the book goes into great detail, from newspaper clippings to interviews with people who were around, into this period of Pete’s life, when he was almost forced into basketball, practicing for hours a day, right up to during his teenage years. It was here, on the basketball court, that Pete found what he was craving all along - affection, from the fans who loved seeing his flashy moves and passes.
The book does a great job of covering both the highs (His 68 point game against the Knicks, his record setting performances at LSU) and the lows (his knee injury, LSU’s collapse in the 1970 NIT) of his career, as well as the interesting dynamic of Press and Pete’s relationship, and how it changed over the years.
It goes on, later, describing the aftermath of his NBA career - his depression, his spiritual rebirth as a born-again Christian, and eventually, his early death (on a basketball court, fittingly).
Overall, “Pistol” is an interesting book - it paints a picture of Pete as a tragic and often depressed superstar, and does a very good job of it. It’s meticulously researched (there’s even a large list of footnotes and references included) and very well written, although it does compare Pete to another flawed legend, Joe Namath (who, by the way, was the subject of another book written by Mark Kriegel) on a regular basis.
It’s definitely worth a read.
December 16, 2014
The book Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich was not nearly as good as hoped it would be. Maybe it’s just that Pete’s life wasn’t as interesting as I thought or the author didn’t do a great job telling the story, but I was’t a big fan of this book. It starts out very slow talking about the story of Pete’s dad, Press. Press was a great basketball player too as a child. He loved the game more than anyone on any of his teams and he was willing to do anything just to play a few games of basketball. He even went to church so he could use the gym offered by the youth pastor. When Pete finally comes into the story, Press wants the absolute best for Pete. From day one Press pushed Pete very hard to be the best basketball player he could possibly be. My favorite parts were the stories of Pete’s commitment to practicing as a young child. Pete seriously practiced eight to ten hours a day no matter what the weather was or where he had to do it. During the school year, Pete didn’t take breaks from practicing either. Pete and his father had a goal from very early on in Pete’s life and that was for Pete to become the first athlete to be paid one million dollars. Finally when Pete got to the NBA he achieved his goal. If you love basketball and would like to know more about Pete Maravich’s life I would recommend this book, but other than that it is pretty dry.
February 12, 2023
Mark Kriegel’s “Pistol” is a top notch biography of a name almost every basketball fan knows, but a story few remember.
Kriegel is an excellent story teller and he crafts Pistol Pete Marovich’s story with panache. My favorite part was the beginning and the end. Kriegel spends a long time on Pete’s father, Press. The two stories are really one. Press was a young immigrant who became obsessed with a new sport, basketball. He would pass that obsession down to his youngest son, Pete. Pete’s own story begins like a comet, the young phenom, giving himself to the game, but then never reaching his own potential because of his self-destructive tendencies, especially with alcohol.
Pete’s story concludes with a brief, also comet-like post career transformation as he became a Christian. Unfortunately, Kriegel is not a very generous interpreter of this part of the story. At times he almost seems a little disappointed it was evangelical Christianity that changed Pete into a caring and generous man.
Strangely enough, the part of the story that lagged a bit for me was Pete’s NBA career (and even his college career, a bit). I guess that’s not surprising as Pete’s teams never accomplished much, in part because of his lack of leadership (self and team).
This is a well written book about a fascinating family and an important figure in the transformation of the league from a by-the-book white man’s game to a much more creative game led by black men.
Any basketball fan is sure to enjoy “Pistol.”
For more reviews see thebeehive.live
Kriegel is an excellent story teller and he crafts Pistol Pete Marovich’s story with panache. My favorite part was the beginning and the end. Kriegel spends a long time on Pete’s father, Press. The two stories are really one. Press was a young immigrant who became obsessed with a new sport, basketball. He would pass that obsession down to his youngest son, Pete. Pete’s own story begins like a comet, the young phenom, giving himself to the game, but then never reaching his own potential because of his self-destructive tendencies, especially with alcohol.
Pete’s story concludes with a brief, also comet-like post career transformation as he became a Christian. Unfortunately, Kriegel is not a very generous interpreter of this part of the story. At times he almost seems a little disappointed it was evangelical Christianity that changed Pete into a caring and generous man.
Strangely enough, the part of the story that lagged a bit for me was Pete’s NBA career (and even his college career, a bit). I guess that’s not surprising as Pete’s teams never accomplished much, in part because of his lack of leadership (self and team).
This is a well written book about a fascinating family and an important figure in the transformation of the league from a by-the-book white man’s game to a much more creative game led by black men.
Any basketball fan is sure to enjoy “Pistol.”
For more reviews see thebeehive.live
February 23, 2009
Older basketball fans will know that Pistol Pete was the Elvis of basketball, a white guy who could play "black" before the black guys did. He was an amazing ball handler and prolific scorer. If there had been a three point line in the late sixties when the Pistol was in college his average would have been 58 a game for his career! As it stands, his scoring record will never be broken. His is a sad story. Kriegel tells it pretty well. Pete dropped dead at age 40 playing in a pick up came with Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Pete had become a born again Christian and happy for the first time in his short life. Most curiously the autopsy discovered he suffered from a congenital heart problem which should have killed him at age twenty. Instead, he ran the court full speed for many, many years. I never got to see him in person but lived in Florida during his last year at LSU. He was on TV a lot and a marvel to watch. There are many YouTubes of the Pistol including clips from his classic video Homework Basketball where he demonstrates the fantastic drills invented by Pete and his b'ball coach father Press Maravich. Worth a read by hard core fans.
April 29, 2019
This book was described by Colin Cowherd as being an excellent book. He was naming other book titles which he considered very good on his show and I wrote them all down and intend to read them. This one tells the life story of Pete Maravich, a star basketball player who played to national fame from the late sixties until about 1980. The tale is an interesting one. Pete's father was a driving force and the main force in Pete's basketball career. Pete was a complicated person who had his talents and his faults. I enjoyed the writing. It was easy to read, and flowed better and better as the pages passed by. I could not put the book down for then last 50 pages and they were the ones not describing his playing. It included his life after his playing days were over, his death, and his sons and their trials and tribulations trying to begin their late teen and adult lives as persons and as ballplayers. I was not really a fan of Pete's. I just never started following him, and I am in Phoenix so I am a Phoenix fan. But this book makes me a fan. A great sports book. If you are a fan of Maravich, and have not read this, I think you will enjoy it.
July 26, 2021
I was raised with Pistol Pete’s Basketball Homework drills. Pete Maravich directly impacted the trajectory of my life, even after his death. His drill led me to doing collegiate half time shows as a child, and eventually allowed for the opportunity to play division 1 college basketball.
But there was so much I didn’t know about him and his life story. This book tells his family’s story in such a beautifully tragic way. From the dark, the ugly, the demons he fought, to the joy and peace he found in Christ and the game in his final years, this biography tells a story of the greatest impact anyone has ever had on the game of basketball, as well as a testimony of a man who God had a plan for, even in the darkest of times.
But there was so much I didn’t know about him and his life story. This book tells his family’s story in such a beautifully tragic way. From the dark, the ugly, the demons he fought, to the joy and peace he found in Christ and the game in his final years, this biography tells a story of the greatest impact anyone has ever had on the game of basketball, as well as a testimony of a man who God had a plan for, even in the darkest of times.
July 3, 2025
Great biography about one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NBA history. Pistol Pete was absurdly talented, and could’ve been the greatest of all time. The book explores his relationship with his father who lived vicariously through him, the never ending injuries and tragedies that plagued him, and his eventual peace brought on by faith.
Dude was way ahead of his time.
Dude was way ahead of his time.
June 8, 2025
A gut-wrenching look at the psyche of one of basketball’s most tantalizing figures. Full of brutal reflections on the pressures of fame and the expectations of society, family, and most crushingly, oneself. Highly recommend
September 17, 2017
A very good biography of an obsessed father who makes his son into one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Press Maravich had his son impressing people like John Wooden with his skills from grade school on. He was determined that his son would be the first million dollar player. Pete loved his dad but never found happiness until his career ended too soon and he found Jesus. He died young of a heart condition that should have killed him 20 years earlier and prevented sports. Decades after his death, the NBA finally plays like he did in the sixties. This tragic and inspirational biography can even be enjoyed by non sports fans.
April 29, 2021
Absolutel page turner. Awesome insight into the sensational and tragic figure that was Pistol Pete Maravich
August 2, 2023
Pete Maravich was the most spectacularly talented basketball player to ever live. Unfortunately he played during a time when his skill set was not appreciated and almost rejected. He belonged in the 90s not the 70s. His playing career and his life were both much too short.
June 27, 2025
Amazingly well written.
July 23, 2025
A bit long winded at times. Overall, good read. As a basketball fan it was interesting to read.
February 18, 2021
A fascinating read about one of the most-talented basketball players ever to play. Very little on-court action makes it a true biography about the up and down life of Pistol Pete Maravich. It includes the surprising history of his father and continues with something like an epilogue about his sons.
Overall, very good, it is just a hard-to-follow writing style in some spots, including not knowing the author was describing Pete’s father’s childhood in the beginning of the book.
Overall, very good, it is just a hard-to-follow writing style in some spots, including not knowing the author was describing Pete’s father’s childhood in the beginning of the book.
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December 27, 2023Glad I read this. Pete was amazing, brought back some great basketball memories.
January 31, 2015
Pete Maravich was one of the most flamboyant and exciting athletes of the 1970s. This excellent book is actually less about Pistol Pete and much more about his father Press Maravich. Press lost his own father at a young age in a mining fatality in Western PA. His mom remarried and Press became the forgotten stepson in the new family. Press as a youngster was going nowhere fast in a dead-end mining town until he went to a local religious youth group meeting where, perchance, they organized basketball games for the children. Press became obsessed with basketball and nothing else and soon became the star of the high school team. After graduation, as a star athlete and apparently very good-looking, Press could have been popular on the dating scene. Yet, likely affected by his own life, Press quickly married a young widow and mother of an infant whose husband died in the war. Yet, in the cyclical nature of life, Press apparently soon ignored his stepson completely when Pete was born. Press remained obsessed with basketball and basketball strategy and soon became a top high school and collegiate coach in the early days of basketball. He also became more than completely obsessed in making his son the greatest basketball player of all time. Press forced or cajoled or encouraged Pete to practice basketball practically 18 hours a day, mostly working on dribbling and passing. Anyway, the book reads more like a Greek tragedy than a sports biography when Press starts abandoning all his old school defense-first team-oriented coaching skills once his son plays on his LSU team, his stepson withdraws from society and falls into abuse and addiction, his wife becomes a total alcoholic who dies much too early and finally Pete becomes a national celebrity and multi-millionaire. The book is completely riveting even for those who do not recall the glory days of Pistol Pete's playing days or indeed have never watched a basketball game.
November 21, 2016
In the last few years I've often had the belief that Pete Maravich the legend was better than Pete Maravich the player because he was a white guy who was very good at basketball. This book disproves that belief. He was very good -- absolutely ahead of his time -- but he also struggled with some demons many of us don't have to deal with.
October 8, 2016
Real inspiration. ❤️
February 16, 2017
Pistol Pete is the man. It cannot be argued that he changed basketball. If only more kids knew how much he practiced and followed his lead.
February 24, 2021
I recently started reading Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich. This was written by Mark Kriegel and was published in 2007. Although I am only halfway through the book, it has a very nice flow to it and gradually builds up to Pete’s career. It starts with Press Maravich, Pete’s dad, as a child. Mark Kriegel begins the book by reflecting on Press Maravich’s childhood. His home life, through school, college, and his professional career as a player and coach. He has several accomplishments under his belt from his playing days and his numerous coaching days once he retired. Press was once one of the best players in the world at his time but was set back due to military deployment and injuries. The book moves on from Press’s life to Pete as a child. Kriegel recalls from Pete’s childhood that he ate, slept, and breathed basketball. Press raised him to be a basketball player because that’s all he wanted for his son. He wanted him to be better than he ever was or could be. This did cause problems in school, where Pete rarely put any effort into and constantly got in trouble. This was overlooked by his parents and especially Press due to his dream for his son that had nothing to do with school. While Pete was in school, his father continued coaching throughout his childhood. Press coached, High school, College, and eventually professional. This provided countless opportunities for Pete to play with players that would challenge him and make him better. He was far more skilled than anyone else his age, so he started playing with the older guys. A 5th grader playing, and beating, high school and college varsity players. Everyone was impressed with Pete’s skill, IQ of the game, and style. He wowed everybody who saw him play with his flashy passes, shooting ability, and ball handling which exceeded any expectation of not only kids his age, but any player in basketball. The side that no one saw was the pressure that was put on Pete. Whether it was intentional or not, Press was very strict and put lots of pressure on Pete when it came to basketball because he wanted him to be great. He constantly boasted of his son’s skill, and this left Pete with the responsibility to live up to the hype that his father had created. As Pete grows up and develops into his high school and college days, he falls into not only the pressure from his father but also from his friends and other kids. He began drinking in high school as an escape from all of the fame that he received(even in high school) and from his father. After high school, Pete decides to attend Louisiana State University. Not known as a basketball school, Pete successfully raises the program to become, what is now today, one of the best basketball programs in the country. Pete’s college career was extremely successful as he set countless records that may never be broken. His greatest, by far, was finishing his college career with an average of 44 points a game. Unreal. After college, he declares for the NBA draft and ends up signing the largest contract in NBA history at that time for $1.5 million.
I thought this was a very interesting book. Although I didn’t get to finish it, I learned a lot about Pete and his life. I was most excited to hear about the faith aspect in his life, but I wasn’t able to reach that part. This book taught me some of the effects of fame and how it can get to your head. Pete was amazing at handling pressure when it came to the basketball court. But outside of the court, where he wasn’t the one in control, he cracked and fell into harmful things to try and escape reality. I thought this book taught very good lessons when it came to basketball, and also in life. This book related to me because of my love for basketball. It was very beneficial because it kept me interested and entertained with Pete’s life story and growth as a player. I would recommend reading this book if you enjoy basketball and learning about the grind and growth as a player and person to become a professional athlete.
I thought this was a very interesting book. Although I didn’t get to finish it, I learned a lot about Pete and his life. I was most excited to hear about the faith aspect in his life, but I wasn’t able to reach that part. This book taught me some of the effects of fame and how it can get to your head. Pete was amazing at handling pressure when it came to the basketball court. But outside of the court, where he wasn’t the one in control, he cracked and fell into harmful things to try and escape reality. I thought this book taught very good lessons when it came to basketball, and also in life. This book related to me because of my love for basketball. It was very beneficial because it kept me interested and entertained with Pete’s life story and growth as a player. I would recommend reading this book if you enjoy basketball and learning about the grind and growth as a player and person to become a professional athlete.
April 28, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: A RAGGED LOOK AT PISTOL PETE MARAVICH.
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After I read some other reviews, it seems to me, that most of these reviews, are written by individuals, that either, barely knew, who “Pistol” Pete Maravich was. Or, the ones, who knew who he was, acted like, this was the first thing, they’d ever read about “Pistol” Pete. My review is being written, to reach a different audience! I not only knew about the “Pistol”, I also read (In addition to countless articles.) a prior biography on Pete, from 1999 “Forever Showtime”. I also played against Pete once, when I was on an Air Force basketball team. (Last, but definitely least, we share the same birthday.) My focus from here on out, will not be on, how great a player Pete was. He’s still the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division One basketball history. He was named to the NBA’s fifty greatest players’ team. To this day, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and many other former and current NBA stars, still bubble with enthusiasm, like school boys, when they talk about the inspiration, Pete’s magical ball handling, was to them, as they were growing up. This book, obviously, covers the full gamut of Pete’s life. But an area, that in my opinion, was detailed more than prior writings, was the constant drills and workouts, that Pete went through as a young boy. If you tried to use the word grueling, you would need to add a power of ten to it, because of the age he was, during those early drills. I ate, slept, and drank basketball, for over 35 years of my life, and played day and night, and I didn’t think anything, of practicing by myself, when the temperature was 105 degrees, and the City of Los Angeles, announced smog alerts, and told you to stop any physical activities. I still pushed myself, and practiced. But, after reading this book, which provided more in depth detail, than previously available, regarding Pete’s regimen, you can see why he turned out, as he did! Great, as a basketball player, and damaged as an adult. In addition, when Pete’s Father had guests over the house, even at a very young age, he would make Pete come into the room, and perform, like he was a sideshow at a carnival. One area of this book, which I feel, should have been less detailed, is his Father’s life. Don’t get me wrong, his Father was an integral, bigger than life, figure. But unless the name of the book, was changed from “Pistol” to the “Maravich’s”, the reader doesn’t need to know, about every high school game his Father played in, every team he coached, every team in every league, etc., ad nauseam. As a lifelong fan of the “Pistol”, and once a competitor, this book, instead of leaving me, marveling at his “show-stopping”, magical, control of the
ball, leaves me aching in sadness, about his life! Pete’s personal life, away from the court, included his mother’s alcoholism and suicide, his own alcohol and drug problems, and a rift, with his Father. The one saving grace in Pete’s private life, is the reuniting, and shared love, with his Father, before both their deaths. If you’re looking for more, than what appeared in “Pistol” Pete’s box scores, and can handle more than you bargained for, regarding
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After I read some other reviews, it seems to me, that most of these reviews, are written by individuals, that either, barely knew, who “Pistol” Pete Maravich was. Or, the ones, who knew who he was, acted like, this was the first thing, they’d ever read about “Pistol” Pete. My review is being written, to reach a different audience! I not only knew about the “Pistol”, I also read (In addition to countless articles.) a prior biography on Pete, from 1999 “Forever Showtime”. I also played against Pete once, when I was on an Air Force basketball team. (Last, but definitely least, we share the same birthday.) My focus from here on out, will not be on, how great a player Pete was. He’s still the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division One basketball history. He was named to the NBA’s fifty greatest players’ team. To this day, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and many other former and current NBA stars, still bubble with enthusiasm, like school boys, when they talk about the inspiration, Pete’s magical ball handling, was to them, as they were growing up. This book, obviously, covers the full gamut of Pete’s life. But an area, that in my opinion, was detailed more than prior writings, was the constant drills and workouts, that Pete went through as a young boy. If you tried to use the word grueling, you would need to add a power of ten to it, because of the age he was, during those early drills. I ate, slept, and drank basketball, for over 35 years of my life, and played day and night, and I didn’t think anything, of practicing by myself, when the temperature was 105 degrees, and the City of Los Angeles, announced smog alerts, and told you to stop any physical activities. I still pushed myself, and practiced. But, after reading this book, which provided more in depth detail, than previously available, regarding Pete’s regimen, you can see why he turned out, as he did! Great, as a basketball player, and damaged as an adult. In addition, when Pete’s Father had guests over the house, even at a very young age, he would make Pete come into the room, and perform, like he was a sideshow at a carnival. One area of this book, which I feel, should have been less detailed, is his Father’s life. Don’t get me wrong, his Father was an integral, bigger than life, figure. But unless the name of the book, was changed from “Pistol” to the “Maravich’s”, the reader doesn’t need to know, about every high school game his Father played in, every team he coached, every team in every league, etc., ad nauseam. As a lifelong fan of the “Pistol”, and once a competitor, this book, instead of leaving me, marveling at his “show-stopping”, magical, control of the
ball, leaves me aching in sadness, about his life! Pete’s personal life, away from the court, included his mother’s alcoholism and suicide, his own alcohol and drug problems, and a rift, with his Father. The one saving grace in Pete’s private life, is the reuniting, and shared love, with his Father, before both their deaths. If you’re looking for more, than what appeared in “Pistol” Pete’s box scores, and can handle more than you bargained for, regarding
October 21, 2024
A surprisingly sad but very well-written account of Maravich, one of the game's most elusive stars. It has a lot on his relationship with his father, Press, a Serbian-American WWII vet who rose from the steel mills of Pittsburgh to become a prominent college basketball coach. Pete grew up on the court and became one of the game's true prodigies. But his personal development was stunted by never really getting out from under his dad's influence, even though I don't think Press was a bad guy or anything. Press lined up a job at LSU by promising to bring Pete along, and he became the most voluminous scorer in college history (until Caitlin Clark). Still, I found a lot of Pete's achievements to be hollow. He scored a lot and was a great passer and playmakers, but this was in large part because his dad built the entire team around racking up points for Pete, abandoning his earlier emphasis on teaching the game. Pete reminds me a bit of Allen Iverson: incredibly dynamic and fun to watch, but kind of hollow and inefficient in terms of stats.
Maravich had a good but short pro career that was marred by injuries and mental health problems. His body was beaten down by overuse, alcoholism, and injuries that never really healed, and he retired at 32 having scored a lot but never won much. He had the bad luck of playing on crappy teams like the Hawks and Jazz in places that didn't have much of a basketball culture. He also became an exceedingly odd guy that I found it hard to sympathize with: after a phase of reckless alcohol abuse and nearly suicidal behavior, he became a rigid born-again Christian until his death by heart failure at just 40. But he remained a conspiratorial kook, embracing creationism, belief in UFOs (he wrote "Take Me" in giant letters on the roof of his home in New Orleans), and preparing for the apocalypse. In short, I think he never developed his mind or his personality beyond basketball, which left him unprepared for life as a whole.
It's tough to assess Maravich's legacy for the game. He's faded a bit from memory when we talk about the all time greats today. ESPN 75 put him at 53rd all time, which seems about right. His biggest legacy is probably the mainstreaming of the "black" style of play that white coaches in the 60s and 70s always hated, although there's little evidence that Maravich learned this more free-wheeling, dynamic style from black players. He definitely influenced a lot of players who sought to develop better individual moves and a faster pace of play, kind of like Iverson did for my generation. But I can't help feeling like he's kind of an overrated, if oddly fascinating, figure in the game's history.
Maravich had a good but short pro career that was marred by injuries and mental health problems. His body was beaten down by overuse, alcoholism, and injuries that never really healed, and he retired at 32 having scored a lot but never won much. He had the bad luck of playing on crappy teams like the Hawks and Jazz in places that didn't have much of a basketball culture. He also became an exceedingly odd guy that I found it hard to sympathize with: after a phase of reckless alcohol abuse and nearly suicidal behavior, he became a rigid born-again Christian until his death by heart failure at just 40. But he remained a conspiratorial kook, embracing creationism, belief in UFOs (he wrote "Take Me" in giant letters on the roof of his home in New Orleans), and preparing for the apocalypse. In short, I think he never developed his mind or his personality beyond basketball, which left him unprepared for life as a whole.
It's tough to assess Maravich's legacy for the game. He's faded a bit from memory when we talk about the all time greats today. ESPN 75 put him at 53rd all time, which seems about right. His biggest legacy is probably the mainstreaming of the "black" style of play that white coaches in the 60s and 70s always hated, although there's little evidence that Maravich learned this more free-wheeling, dynamic style from black players. He definitely influenced a lot of players who sought to develop better individual moves and a faster pace of play, kind of like Iverson did for my generation. But I can't help feeling like he's kind of an overrated, if oddly fascinating, figure in the game's history.
June 17, 2023
“Pistol Pete, they called him.”
“The man has been quicker and faster than Jerry West or Oscar Robertson. He gets the ball up the floor better. He shoots as well. Raw-talent-wise, he’s the greatest who ever played. The difference comes down to style. He will be a loser, always, no matter what he does. That’s his legacy. It never looked easy being Pete Maravich.”
“Basketball at one time was his greatest love…But his greatest passion was the love of the Lord he served.”
This was a fascinating book. Ever since I watched a documentary about Pete Maravich years ago, I wanted to know more. The things that Maravich could do with a basketball continue to amaze today; the dribbling, the passing, the shooting were an artistic thing of beauty. He still remains the college scoring leader of all time despite only being allowed 3 years of varsity college basketball and not having a 3-point shot. But the man in his NBA years looked haunted and this book does a fantastic job of showing why.
One of the cool things about this book is also the drawback. To know Pete Maravich, one had to know his father (and college coach) Press Maravich. He was a mastermind coach well ahead of his time (much like his son’s game was well ahead of his time) and he helped create the greatest offensive basketball player the world has ever seen. The drawback is that I felt like the book focuses way too much on the father in those early chapters; they definitely could have been edited down without losing its effectiveness of how the two men were intertwined.
My favorite part of the story, though, was the redemption story of Pete Maravich. Basketball could not fulfill him. The NBA could not fulfill him. Hinduism and meditation could not fulfill him. Retirement could not fulfill him. The ONLY thing that could fulfill him and change him from a haunted man to a joyful man was accepting and serving Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. While he died way too young, God used him for bigger things than basketball. And although you get to read about the ups and downs of his pro career that kept him from being the greatest or one of the greatest players of all time, the book showed me the greatest achievement of his life was the effect he had on strangers and his own family.
“The man has been quicker and faster than Jerry West or Oscar Robertson. He gets the ball up the floor better. He shoots as well. Raw-talent-wise, he’s the greatest who ever played. The difference comes down to style. He will be a loser, always, no matter what he does. That’s his legacy. It never looked easy being Pete Maravich.”
“Basketball at one time was his greatest love…But his greatest passion was the love of the Lord he served.”
This was a fascinating book. Ever since I watched a documentary about Pete Maravich years ago, I wanted to know more. The things that Maravich could do with a basketball continue to amaze today; the dribbling, the passing, the shooting were an artistic thing of beauty. He still remains the college scoring leader of all time despite only being allowed 3 years of varsity college basketball and not having a 3-point shot. But the man in his NBA years looked haunted and this book does a fantastic job of showing why.
One of the cool things about this book is also the drawback. To know Pete Maravich, one had to know his father (and college coach) Press Maravich. He was a mastermind coach well ahead of his time (much like his son’s game was well ahead of his time) and he helped create the greatest offensive basketball player the world has ever seen. The drawback is that I felt like the book focuses way too much on the father in those early chapters; they definitely could have been edited down without losing its effectiveness of how the two men were intertwined.
My favorite part of the story, though, was the redemption story of Pete Maravich. Basketball could not fulfill him. The NBA could not fulfill him. Hinduism and meditation could not fulfill him. Retirement could not fulfill him. The ONLY thing that could fulfill him and change him from a haunted man to a joyful man was accepting and serving Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. While he died way too young, God used him for bigger things than basketball. And although you get to read about the ups and downs of his pro career that kept him from being the greatest or one of the greatest players of all time, the book showed me the greatest achievement of his life was the effect he had on strangers and his own family.
April 9, 2019
Not just an in-depth look into the life and career of basketball legend “Pistol” Pete Maravich, but also the lives of his father, Press, and his sons, Jason and Joshua. Basketball was truly a calling for this whole family, a rollercoaster of ups and downs that have defined and shaped their lives for decades.
I’m also impressed with how much detailed basketball history was contained in this book. From it’s early inception to its transformation over the years into the entertainment sport it is today, we are taken through every moment, and shown how Press and Pete fit within that history. From the early leagues to the creation of the college conferences, it’s really fascinating to see how teams and programs grew into what they are today.
I’m not a huge basketball fan these days, but I enjoyed playing as a kid, and I had a particular fascination with Pistol Pete, mostly because of the movie then mention towards the end, “Pistol: Birth of a Legend.” We taped that movie off the TV and I would watch it over and over. I never practiced enough to actually get the hang off all those dribbling drills, but I loved watching them and tried my best! I actually don’t remember the religious aspects of the movie mentioned, but that’s possibly because I grew up in the church, and so much of we watched was tinged with religious imagery and descriptions that it just seemed normal.
What makes me sad is that Joshua was never given a chance to truly play at LSU. I honestly don’t get his reasoning for staying, knowing he was going to sit on the bench, but it’s less important that I understand than he does, and he had his reasons. I’m mostly mad at that coach. What’s the point of having someone on your team if you never let them play and don’t even notice if they are at practice? It’s the same frustration I felt every time Pete was held back and ignored by coaches and teammates who just didn’t like him. Extreme annoyance and disappointment. Now that Pete’s gone, I hope those people look back and feel regret over their actions. I wonder what could have been if people had just let Pete play. But we’ll never know.
I’m also impressed with how much detailed basketball history was contained in this book. From it’s early inception to its transformation over the years into the entertainment sport it is today, we are taken through every moment, and shown how Press and Pete fit within that history. From the early leagues to the creation of the college conferences, it’s really fascinating to see how teams and programs grew into what they are today.
I’m not a huge basketball fan these days, but I enjoyed playing as a kid, and I had a particular fascination with Pistol Pete, mostly because of the movie then mention towards the end, “Pistol: Birth of a Legend.” We taped that movie off the TV and I would watch it over and over. I never practiced enough to actually get the hang off all those dribbling drills, but I loved watching them and tried my best! I actually don’t remember the religious aspects of the movie mentioned, but that’s possibly because I grew up in the church, and so much of we watched was tinged with religious imagery and descriptions that it just seemed normal.
What makes me sad is that Joshua was never given a chance to truly play at LSU. I honestly don’t get his reasoning for staying, knowing he was going to sit on the bench, but it’s less important that I understand than he does, and he had his reasons. I’m mostly mad at that coach. What’s the point of having someone on your team if you never let them play and don’t even notice if they are at practice? It’s the same frustration I felt every time Pete was held back and ignored by coaches and teammates who just didn’t like him. Extreme annoyance and disappointment. Now that Pete’s gone, I hope those people look back and feel regret over their actions. I wonder what could have been if people had just let Pete play. But we’ll never know.
July 2, 2017
Years ago while in high school, I read another biography about Pistol Pete ("Pistol Pete Maravich" by Bill Gutman) and liked it enough that I (confession time here) swiped it from the library. What I remember most were Pete's mom committed suicide and Pete spun the ball so much on his fingers, the fingernail wore down. Oh, and that he dribbled the ball out the car window while his dad drove down the street.
I couldn't really say how much detail was in the other biography, but Mark Kriegel's book was wonderfully detailed from before Pete was born until after his death. I really liked all the information on Press (he was much more a caricature of a sports father in the other book). Kriegel paints a nuanced portrait of a man with faults and positive characteristics. I was most impressed with his "color blindness" at a time when prejudice was the norm and also with the way he raised his daughter/granddaughter Diana. However, the pressure he put on Pete from the moment of birth was regrettable. And though I don't doubt he loved his wife, she remained a secondary priority to him throughout her troubled life. While Kriegel takes a decent look at the troubles plaguing Helen which led to her suicide, at the point of her death it feels as if the suicide is glossed over. Purposeful, perhaps? A metaphor for how Helen was kind of neglected in life by both Press and Pete.
I loved all the history of the game which is interspersed throughout the story. And I like how Kriegel gives a glimpse of Pete's sons and their journey into adulthood. A very thorough and interesting biography. It even prompted me to go on youtube and watch some videos of Pete in action. I'm glad to know he finally found peace at the end of his life since the journey was so fraught with stress, pressure and frustration.
I couldn't really say how much detail was in the other biography, but Mark Kriegel's book was wonderfully detailed from before Pete was born until after his death. I really liked all the information on Press (he was much more a caricature of a sports father in the other book). Kriegel paints a nuanced portrait of a man with faults and positive characteristics. I was most impressed with his "color blindness" at a time when prejudice was the norm and also with the way he raised his daughter/granddaughter Diana. However, the pressure he put on Pete from the moment of birth was regrettable. And though I don't doubt he loved his wife, she remained a secondary priority to him throughout her troubled life. While Kriegel takes a decent look at the troubles plaguing Helen which led to her suicide, at the point of her death it feels as if the suicide is glossed over. Purposeful, perhaps? A metaphor for how Helen was kind of neglected in life by both Press and Pete.
I loved all the history of the game which is interspersed throughout the story. And I like how Kriegel gives a glimpse of Pete's sons and their journey into adulthood. A very thorough and interesting biography. It even prompted me to go on youtube and watch some videos of Pete in action. I'm glad to know he finally found peace at the end of his life since the journey was so fraught with stress, pressure and frustration.
April 15, 2019
SPOILERS
Isiah Maddox
Mr. Herman
Nonfiction
4-15-19
The Biography of Pistol Pete was a really good book. Pistol Pete had a very good life and basketball career, winning various awards for basketball. His father really only cared about his success in basketball and not so much his son. I feel like anyone who likes the history of basketball should read this book.
This book talks about how Pete grew up, he lived in a group home when he was younger. His mom remarried which meant he was the forgotten stepson. This book talks about his father Press, more than Pete. Pete joined a religious youth group that organized basketball games for the children and soon after he started playing he became a star for his high school team.
After High School Pete went to play college basketball and he did very well. He went and set multiple records for the NCAA that might never be broken. If there was a three-point line in the sixties Pete would’ve had 58 points per game and that would have been another NCAA basketball record. He broke 12 NCAA basketball records.
When Pete went to the NBA there was no doubt he would be good but he was an all time great. Pete had the best dribble moves anyone had ever seen at that time. He also had one of the best shots of all time and if there had been a three-point line Pete would be up there with other shooting greats like Stephen Curry. One of Pete’s lifetime goals was to be paid a million dollars and it happened. Pete would soon become an all time great and all he can do is thank his father for motivating him every single day. Unfortunately Pete died at age 40 while playing a pick up game.
Isiah Maddox
Mr. Herman
Nonfiction
4-15-19
The Biography of Pistol Pete was a really good book. Pistol Pete had a very good life and basketball career, winning various awards for basketball. His father really only cared about his success in basketball and not so much his son. I feel like anyone who likes the history of basketball should read this book.
This book talks about how Pete grew up, he lived in a group home when he was younger. His mom remarried which meant he was the forgotten stepson. This book talks about his father Press, more than Pete. Pete joined a religious youth group that organized basketball games for the children and soon after he started playing he became a star for his high school team.
After High School Pete went to play college basketball and he did very well. He went and set multiple records for the NCAA that might never be broken. If there was a three-point line in the sixties Pete would’ve had 58 points per game and that would have been another NCAA basketball record. He broke 12 NCAA basketball records.
When Pete went to the NBA there was no doubt he would be good but he was an all time great. Pete had the best dribble moves anyone had ever seen at that time. He also had one of the best shots of all time and if there had been a three-point line Pete would be up there with other shooting greats like Stephen Curry. One of Pete’s lifetime goals was to be paid a million dollars and it happened. Pete would soon become an all time great and all he can do is thank his father for motivating him every single day. Unfortunately Pete died at age 40 while playing a pick up game.
April 22, 2020
Having gone to many Utah Jazz games over the years, and repeatedly gazed at Pete Maravich's retired jersey hanging from the rafters, I have always been curious about this mythic player, who died too young, of a heart abnormality at age 40, while playing a pickup basketball game at a church.
This fascinating biography fills in many of the details of the "Pistol's" brief life, from his upbringing in a Serbian-American family in Pennsylvania, to his stellar college career at LSU, to his brief but star-crossed journey in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans/Utah Jazz, and Boston Celtics. Maravich certainly had an abundance of talent, and could wow the most jaded of fans with his other-worldly ball handling skills and crack shot from nearly anywhere on the court.
Yet his life was undeniably tragic, and while he seemed to find peace after retiring from basketball as a born-again Christian, he always seemed to live under the shadow of other peoples' expectations, especially his hard-driving father's, and basketball seemed like more of a burden than a privilege.
This is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pushing kids too hard, the temptations that come with money and fame, and the struggles of living in the public eye. Pete Maravich was a tremendous talent who seemed to bring a lot of joy to people who watched him play, and to his immediate family, but who never could find peace with the game.
He did, however, play way ahead of his time, and it is interesting to think about how his career might have turned out differently if he was born a generation later.
This fascinating biography fills in many of the details of the "Pistol's" brief life, from his upbringing in a Serbian-American family in Pennsylvania, to his stellar college career at LSU, to his brief but star-crossed journey in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans/Utah Jazz, and Boston Celtics. Maravich certainly had an abundance of talent, and could wow the most jaded of fans with his other-worldly ball handling skills and crack shot from nearly anywhere on the court.
Yet his life was undeniably tragic, and while he seemed to find peace after retiring from basketball as a born-again Christian, he always seemed to live under the shadow of other peoples' expectations, especially his hard-driving father's, and basketball seemed like more of a burden than a privilege.
This is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pushing kids too hard, the temptations that come with money and fame, and the struggles of living in the public eye. Pete Maravich was a tremendous talent who seemed to bring a lot of joy to people who watched him play, and to his immediate family, but who never could find peace with the game.
He did, however, play way ahead of his time, and it is interesting to think about how his career might have turned out differently if he was born a generation later.
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