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Our Last Season: A Writer, A Fan, A Friendship
The moving story of a bond between sportswriter and fan that was forged in a shared love of basketball and grew over several decades into an extraordinary friendship
"This is a story about friendship, sports, aging, and ultimately time itself--the things it strips away and the things it cannot touch. I loved it."-- Wright Thompson, author of Pappyland
Harvey Araton is one of New York's--and the nation's--best-known sports journalists, having covered thousands of Knicks games over the course of a long and distinguished career. But the person at the heart of Our Last Season , Michelle Musler, is largely anonymous--except, that is, to the players, coaches, and writers who have passed through Madison Square Garden, where she held season tickets behind the Knicks bench for 45 years. In that time, as she juggled a successful career as a corporate executive and single parenthood of five children, she missed only a handful of home games. The Garden was her second home--and the place where an extraordinary friendship between fan and sportswriter was forged.
That relationship soon grew into something much bigger than basketball, with Michelle serving as a cherished mentor and friend to Harvey as he weathered life's inevitable illness, aging, and professional challenges and transitions. During the 2017-18 NBA season, as Michelle faces serious illness that prevents her from attending more than a few Knicks games, Harvey finally has the chance to give back to Michelle everything she has given reminders of all she's accomplished, the blessings she's enjoyed, and the devoted friend she has been to him.
Chock-full of anecdotes from behind the scenes and cameos from Knicks legends--from Frazier, King, and Ewing to Riley, Van Gundy, and many more--the story of Harvey and Michelle's nearly four decades of friendship is a delight for basketball fans. But at its core, Our Last Season is a book for all of us, offering a poignant and inspiring message about how to live with passion, commitment, and optimism.
"This is a story about friendship, sports, aging, and ultimately time itself--the things it strips away and the things it cannot touch. I loved it."-- Wright Thompson, author of Pappyland
Harvey Araton is one of New York's--and the nation's--best-known sports journalists, having covered thousands of Knicks games over the course of a long and distinguished career. But the person at the heart of Our Last Season , Michelle Musler, is largely anonymous--except, that is, to the players, coaches, and writers who have passed through Madison Square Garden, where she held season tickets behind the Knicks bench for 45 years. In that time, as she juggled a successful career as a corporate executive and single parenthood of five children, she missed only a handful of home games. The Garden was her second home--and the place where an extraordinary friendship between fan and sportswriter was forged.
That relationship soon grew into something much bigger than basketball, with Michelle serving as a cherished mentor and friend to Harvey as he weathered life's inevitable illness, aging, and professional challenges and transitions. During the 2017-18 NBA season, as Michelle faces serious illness that prevents her from attending more than a few Knicks games, Harvey finally has the chance to give back to Michelle everything she has given reminders of all she's accomplished, the blessings she's enjoyed, and the devoted friend she has been to him.
Chock-full of anecdotes from behind the scenes and cameos from Knicks legends--from Frazier, King, and Ewing to Riley, Van Gundy, and many more--the story of Harvey and Michelle's nearly four decades of friendship is a delight for basketball fans. But at its core, Our Last Season is a book for all of us, offering a poignant and inspiring message about how to live with passion, commitment, and optimism.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 27, 2020
About the author
Harvey Araton
13 books7 followersHarvey Araton joined the New York Times as a sports reporter and national basketball columnist in 1991 and became a "Sports of the Times" columnist in 1994. He is the author of numerous books, including most recently, When the Garden Was Eden: Clyde, the Captain, Dollar Bill, and the Glory Days of the Old Knicks. His work has also appeared in the New York Times Magazine, GQ, ESPN The Magazine, Sport, Tennis, and Basketball Weekly. Born in New York City in 1952, he is a 1975 graduate of the City University of New York. Araton lives in Montclair, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 14, 2020
My (rave) review is in the Christian Science Monitor.
July 17, 2020
Harvey Araton had a long, distinguished career in journalism, covering primarily the New York Knicks for the New York Post and New York Times. Most of his career took place during the time reporters had courtside access to NBA games. Nearby, a successful business woman was seated just behind the Knicks bench for nearly 45 years, a prime seat location for any fan. Araton and the woman, Michelle Musler, struck up a friendship that lasted until Musler died. This book is a loving tribute by Araton to his friend.
Musler was no ordinary fan. As a single mother, she often had to make choice on what to do for her children when the Knicks were playing. Once she arrived at Madison Square Garden, she was a well-known and well-loved person by employees of the Garden and even other personnel such as broadcasters (Knicks broadcasters Mike Breen and Walt Frazier often spoke with her), coaches and players. Araton writes about Musler's fandom that does justice, highlighting her ups and downs that she went through with the team. He writes about her professional life with just as much zeal and how it helped shape her to become the type of analytical fan she became.
However, to Araton, Musler was more than just a friend who enjoyed basketball. She was a confidant and he would turn to her for advice regularly when he was having career issues, such as when he switched newspapers for employment or was reassigned from sports writing to features. Musler became much more than just a friend – she was considered part of the Araton family. One only needs to read about when Araton's wife Beth told her parents in no uncertain terms that Musler was part of the family to learn what she meant to them. Something else to note is that while this review refers to her as Musler, Araton never calls her that, always "Michelle."
Araton has been inducted into the writer's section of the Basketball Hall of Fame and it shows in his writing about the game and the Knicks, especially when talking about Musler's knowledge of the game. It was fun to read about the team through the eyes of these two people, whether it was during the time when the Knicks were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference but always fell to the Chicago Bulls, to the days of Pat Riley as the head coach to the current struggles. Just like most followers of the game, Musler places that blame on owner James Dolan, although she has a unique take on him because her business success came through consulting executives on making their businesses even more successful.
The book starts with Araton's anxiety at speaking during his Hall of Fame induction and the guidance given to him by the octogenarian Musler. From there the reader will be fully engrossed in what could truly be called a love story – not romantic love but the deep connection these two seemingly different people had through a professional basketball team. It is an outstanding book that any basketball fan will enjoy.
I wish to thank Penguin Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Musler was no ordinary fan. As a single mother, she often had to make choice on what to do for her children when the Knicks were playing. Once she arrived at Madison Square Garden, she was a well-known and well-loved person by employees of the Garden and even other personnel such as broadcasters (Knicks broadcasters Mike Breen and Walt Frazier often spoke with her), coaches and players. Araton writes about Musler's fandom that does justice, highlighting her ups and downs that she went through with the team. He writes about her professional life with just as much zeal and how it helped shape her to become the type of analytical fan she became.
However, to Araton, Musler was more than just a friend who enjoyed basketball. She was a confidant and he would turn to her for advice regularly when he was having career issues, such as when he switched newspapers for employment or was reassigned from sports writing to features. Musler became much more than just a friend – she was considered part of the Araton family. One only needs to read about when Araton's wife Beth told her parents in no uncertain terms that Musler was part of the family to learn what she meant to them. Something else to note is that while this review refers to her as Musler, Araton never calls her that, always "Michelle."
Araton has been inducted into the writer's section of the Basketball Hall of Fame and it shows in his writing about the game and the Knicks, especially when talking about Musler's knowledge of the game. It was fun to read about the team through the eyes of these two people, whether it was during the time when the Knicks were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference but always fell to the Chicago Bulls, to the days of Pat Riley as the head coach to the current struggles. Just like most followers of the game, Musler places that blame on owner James Dolan, although she has a unique take on him because her business success came through consulting executives on making their businesses even more successful.
The book starts with Araton's anxiety at speaking during his Hall of Fame induction and the guidance given to him by the octogenarian Musler. From there the reader will be fully engrossed in what could truly be called a love story – not romantic love but the deep connection these two seemingly different people had through a professional basketball team. It is an outstanding book that any basketball fan will enjoy.
I wish to thank Penguin Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
February 3, 2021
Although I am a life long Celtics fan and despise the Knicks it was a book I couldn’t put down. Michelle was a truly remarkable woman. I think everyone will enjoy this book.
October 6, 2020
This is focused on two individuals who both our life long basketball fans and New York Knicks junkies.
One is the author of this book Harvey Araton who has worked for four different daily newspapers the Staten Island advance, New York Post, Daily News and the New York Times he also so is a published author who has received numerous awards for his writing.
The other individual is a 40 year Knicks fan who at the age of 82 has been through all the highs and many lows and almost with the Knick and being that their last championships in the 70's it has been a lot of almost and disappointment. Michelle Musler is a no-nonsense feisty woman who has the attitude that it has happened to me and I survived you will to type of person. She is a divorced mother of five do to financial needs worked her way up the corporate ladder and eventually opened a very successful consulting business. Her one get away from the grind of work and family is her beloved Knicks and overtime her seats are upgrade to where she is sitting behind the Knicks bench and she does not miss much. She is the type of person that ends up at many of the Knicks functions and befriends many of the players and staff. She also befriends the Knicks beat writers and is a source of information for many sports news articles. She seems to beloved by many and this were her relationship develops with the author and his sounding board and the confidant that he turns during different life and work crisis's when he needs a kick in the butt. It is not often when you have a sports themed book that can bring you to tears but when you get towards the end of this book if you have heart you might just shed a few tears. This book is an outstanding read about a one of kind Lady and fan. Thank you to Penguin Publishing and Edelweiss for an ARC for a fair and honest review.
One is the author of this book Harvey Araton who has worked for four different daily newspapers the Staten Island advance, New York Post, Daily News and the New York Times he also so is a published author who has received numerous awards for his writing.
The other individual is a 40 year Knicks fan who at the age of 82 has been through all the highs and many lows and almost with the Knick and being that their last championships in the 70's it has been a lot of almost and disappointment. Michelle Musler is a no-nonsense feisty woman who has the attitude that it has happened to me and I survived you will to type of person. She is a divorced mother of five do to financial needs worked her way up the corporate ladder and eventually opened a very successful consulting business. Her one get away from the grind of work and family is her beloved Knicks and overtime her seats are upgrade to where she is sitting behind the Knicks bench and she does not miss much. She is the type of person that ends up at many of the Knicks functions and befriends many of the players and staff. She also befriends the Knicks beat writers and is a source of information for many sports news articles. She seems to beloved by many and this were her relationship develops with the author and his sounding board and the confidant that he turns during different life and work crisis's when he needs a kick in the butt. It is not often when you have a sports themed book that can bring you to tears but when you get towards the end of this book if you have heart you might just shed a few tears. This book is an outstanding read about a one of kind Lady and fan. Thank you to Penguin Publishing and Edelweiss for an ARC for a fair and honest review.
May 9, 2023
Harvey Araton had a long, distinguished career in journalism, covering primarily the New York Knicks for the New York Post and New York Times. Most of his career took place during the time reporters had courtside access to NBA games. Nearby, a successful businesswoman, Michelle Musler was seated just behind the Knicks bench for nearly 45 years, a prime seat location for any fan. Harvey and Michelle struck up a friendship that lasted until Michelle died. This book is a loving tribute by Harvey to his friend.
Michelle’s prime seats allowed her an up-close view of the action and, largely because of her personable nature, relationships with many important figures attached to the team. This meant that Michelle was privy to valuable insider knowledge, and her near-constant presence at Madison Square Garden guaranteed that she would cross paths with Harvey. The two became acquainted in the early 1980s, when Harvey was an up-and-coming sports writer covering games for various New York publications.
This is a quick read. Harvey's heart is in the right place. I think it’s a nice concept to pay tribute to a sports fan who has shown loyalty for decades. It’s rarely ever written about. I still felt I only knew Michelle from the surface. Harvey’s description - A divorced, mother of 5 kids, who made it successful in the corporate world, who has the privilege of having up close season tickets to see the Knicks at Madison Square Garden over forty nights a year.
I think they had a real genuine friendship. To me it’s very similar to a work relationship. Harvey has a wife and family of his own, and Michelle has 5 kids, so they talked at Harvey’s place of work, MSG. It’s easy to see how a friendship can develop, and how Harvey recognized Michelle as a mentor that he was grateful for. It seemed like kind of a unique friendship where two privileged people spent decades of their time. Plus, they have an immediate common interest – The Knicks!
I have been watching basketball for over 45 years and I remember how close the Knicks came in the 90s to winning a championship, particularly the Pat Riley years. I never got an understanding how deep of a fan Michelle was. Did she watch all their road games on TV? Did she have opinions on the rough style the Knicks played? Was she awed by Jordan? He had a lot of great games at MSG, with his Nike buddy, Spike Lee always in attendance. Some of the famous games, Harvey writes about, I remember, and he does not provide any substantive insights as an insider.
So yes, I would have liked to known Michelle more as a person. Were her season tickets for 1 person? Did she ever go to games with her kids? Who was watching her kids when she was at games? How did she cope with tough losses? Did she drink at the games? Was she more into the status of being associated with the Garden and the Knicks more than the Knicks winning or losing? Did going to all the games help her succeed in the corporate world? The networking must have been great.
This book makes me appreciate some past work relationships. It’s nice to connect with an older person, who can be a trusted confidant, a mentor, a cheerleader, and even a kind of mother figure. I can see why Harvey wanted to write a book. I just felt I did not know Michelle at all, and just saw her as a privileged person who loved going to Knick games at MSG with prime seats. Who wouldn’t?
Michelle’s prime seats allowed her an up-close view of the action and, largely because of her personable nature, relationships with many important figures attached to the team. This meant that Michelle was privy to valuable insider knowledge, and her near-constant presence at Madison Square Garden guaranteed that she would cross paths with Harvey. The two became acquainted in the early 1980s, when Harvey was an up-and-coming sports writer covering games for various New York publications.
This is a quick read. Harvey's heart is in the right place. I think it’s a nice concept to pay tribute to a sports fan who has shown loyalty for decades. It’s rarely ever written about. I still felt I only knew Michelle from the surface. Harvey’s description - A divorced, mother of 5 kids, who made it successful in the corporate world, who has the privilege of having up close season tickets to see the Knicks at Madison Square Garden over forty nights a year.
I think they had a real genuine friendship. To me it’s very similar to a work relationship. Harvey has a wife and family of his own, and Michelle has 5 kids, so they talked at Harvey’s place of work, MSG. It’s easy to see how a friendship can develop, and how Harvey recognized Michelle as a mentor that he was grateful for. It seemed like kind of a unique friendship where two privileged people spent decades of their time. Plus, they have an immediate common interest – The Knicks!
I have been watching basketball for over 45 years and I remember how close the Knicks came in the 90s to winning a championship, particularly the Pat Riley years. I never got an understanding how deep of a fan Michelle was. Did she watch all their road games on TV? Did she have opinions on the rough style the Knicks played? Was she awed by Jordan? He had a lot of great games at MSG, with his Nike buddy, Spike Lee always in attendance. Some of the famous games, Harvey writes about, I remember, and he does not provide any substantive insights as an insider.
So yes, I would have liked to known Michelle more as a person. Were her season tickets for 1 person? Did she ever go to games with her kids? Who was watching her kids when she was at games? How did she cope with tough losses? Did she drink at the games? Was she more into the status of being associated with the Garden and the Knicks more than the Knicks winning or losing? Did going to all the games help her succeed in the corporate world? The networking must have been great.
This book makes me appreciate some past work relationships. It’s nice to connect with an older person, who can be a trusted confidant, a mentor, a cheerleader, and even a kind of mother figure. I can see why Harvey wanted to write a book. I just felt I did not know Michelle at all, and just saw her as a privileged person who loved going to Knick games at MSG with prime seats. Who wouldn’t?
February 12, 2021
I know I was taking a risk picking up a sports memoir, as I'm not interested in sports and I generally don't like memoirs, and I have to say I'm not sure this book sold me on the genre. I thought there would be be a bit more about Michelle herself, but to be perfectly honest so much of who Michelle was was centered around the author. And look, I get it, but I just found it tiring at a certain point.
I did find some parts quite touching, with the last chapter being especially sweet.
Another small criticism I have is that I found the format of this book quite confusing. There were sections I could tell if they were organized by person or chronologically. I'm not sure if it's because I was listening to the audiobook or because I'm just not familiar with no many of the people mentioned in this book.
But overall it was a decent read. You can really feel how much the author cared about Michelle and I think that's really the point!
I did find some parts quite touching, with the last chapter being especially sweet.
Another small criticism I have is that I found the format of this book quite confusing. There were sections I could tell if they were organized by person or chronologically. I'm not sure if it's because I was listening to the audiobook or because I'm just not familiar with no many of the people mentioned in this book.
But overall it was a decent read. You can really feel how much the author cared about Michelle and I think that's really the point!
December 30, 2020
I enjoyed this book immensely. Great read with wonderful subjects, both the author Harvey Araton and the fan, Michelle Musler. The context is I was incredibly fortunate to have say in the seat right next to Michelle many times. My parents had a share of four seats behind the Knicks bench (this meant about 10-20 games per season) from the late 70s thru the early 90s directly next to Michelle and my parents (like many others in that section) befriended Michelle. In those days, as alluded to in the book, the media sat courtside and before virtually every game I attended Harvey Araton would be talking to Michelle. She was a nice, clearly intelligent person and clearly Michelle knew everyone and everyone knew Michelle. She has an incredibly interesting backstory depicted in this wonderful book. If you have any connection to the Knicks, basketball and most importantly seeing a path one figures out with major odds stacked against them, you will enjoy this book!
February 9, 2021
Michelle Musler was the ultimate Knicks fan- a season ticket holder for more than forty years, with no championships. Harvey Araton's book details his extraordinary relationship with Musler. They met through the Knicks, as Araton covered the team for several New York newspapers. Later, Musler became a friend and mentor to Araton. This book tells us much about the Knicks, and about contemporary journalism. Most of all, it's a beautiful story about a special friendship.
May 30, 2021
THE MOST DEPRESSING BOOK I have ever read. I would have much preferred a more in-depth profile of Michelle and the story of her rise from young, divorced mother of five, who nearly went on welfare, to her success in the corporate world. Would have also loved more about the Knicks. Instead we get page after page about Michelle's physical and mental decline. And for good measure, the author throws in a few pages of his own ailments.
June 30, 2024
I did not know what to expect from this when I started reading. What I received was a warm, poignant memoir of an unlikely friendship. I find many of my favorite sports books are not actually about sports. Rather sports plays a supporting role in a larger narrative about an event or person. This is one of those. Sure, the memoir is about the Knicks, but in the end we cheer for Michelle and those whose lives we impacted.
February 24, 2021
This book is a fantastic look at friendship between a reporter and fan. It’s a fun book to look back at the good times of Knicks history but it’s also a very moving look at a friendship of two people who share a mutual enjoyment of basketball even if the Knicks have struggled often since the 1990s.
January 2, 2021
4 1/2 * - Harvey Araton, Knicks writer, Michelle Musler - fan, friendship over 4 decades
January 31, 2021
Longtime sports journalist recounts his friendship with a New York Knicks superfan, who always sat in the front row behind the team bench, with humor and empathy.
February 6, 2021
3.5*
Would probably be a higher rating for people who like sports, especially basketball, especially the Knicks
Would probably be a higher rating for people who like sports, especially basketball, especially the Knicks
August 7, 2021
I’ve known Harvey most of my life; this book was so heartfelt with his voice loud and clear. Michelle was an incredible person. It was an inspiring read
July 4, 2023
Harvey Araton is a good writer and there are some beautiful moments in this book but by-and-large, the central relationship isn't that interesting. For Knicks completists.
December 26, 2023
4.5 stars.
June 12, 2020
*Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Books for this advance copy*
While covering the New York Knicks Sports Journalist Harvey Araton strikes a friendship with New York Knicks season ticket holder, Michelle Musler, a successful business woman and single mom of five from Connecticut. Michelle and Araton attend games together (she has courtside seats) and chat every Sunday morning on the phone about the Knicks, but Michelle also provides Araton with personal and professional guidance throughout their decades long friendship.
The New York Knicks are the backdrop for their friendship. Araton covers the New York Knicks through some of their best seasons (Patrick Ewing era) to their most frustrating seasons under terrible leadership (losing out on Durant and Irving). Araton's access to players and Knicks personnel combined with Michelle's insight and opinions provides the reader with greater context for their friendship and doesn't take away from the story.
This memoir of Araton's career, and he gives credit to Michelle for encouraging him to take risks and take advantage of opportunities laid before him. Michelle's advise largely comes from her own personal success climbing up the corporate ladder and eventually branching out to start her own highly successful consulting business.
Their friendship is truly special and I loved this story. Michelle is inspiring. She didn't care what anyone thought about her Knicks fandom and her social circle largely revolved around Knicks fans and other season ticket holders. Her children were confused and, sometimes, frustrated by her fandom, but it didn't stop Michelle from making every effort to attend every single Knicks home game.
This is a lovely tribute to a wonderful friend and fanatic.
While covering the New York Knicks Sports Journalist Harvey Araton strikes a friendship with New York Knicks season ticket holder, Michelle Musler, a successful business woman and single mom of five from Connecticut. Michelle and Araton attend games together (she has courtside seats) and chat every Sunday morning on the phone about the Knicks, but Michelle also provides Araton with personal and professional guidance throughout their decades long friendship.
The New York Knicks are the backdrop for their friendship. Araton covers the New York Knicks through some of their best seasons (Patrick Ewing era) to their most frustrating seasons under terrible leadership (losing out on Durant and Irving). Araton's access to players and Knicks personnel combined with Michelle's insight and opinions provides the reader with greater context for their friendship and doesn't take away from the story.
This memoir of Araton's career, and he gives credit to Michelle for encouraging him to take risks and take advantage of opportunities laid before him. Michelle's advise largely comes from her own personal success climbing up the corporate ladder and eventually branching out to start her own highly successful consulting business.
Their friendship is truly special and I loved this story. Michelle is inspiring. She didn't care what anyone thought about her Knicks fandom and her social circle largely revolved around Knicks fans and other season ticket holders. Her children were confused and, sometimes, frustrated by her fandom, but it didn't stop Michelle from making every effort to attend every single Knicks home game.
This is a lovely tribute to a wonderful friend and fanatic.
January 11, 2021
Wonderful tribute to Michelle Musler, who exuded determination and grit and embodied perseverance in raising five young children on her own. While she had her flaws as a parent (her maternal misgivings pained her as she reflected on her life) the importance of building a social circle proved pivotal in growing a career that would enable her to provide financial support for her kids.
Thoughts and comments I'll forever link to this book:
- "You can't spend your life preparing for future losses...It disrespects the blessings of the here and now." You are not guaranteed anything more than the present moment.
- "You've got time to try new things - and you don't want to be in the position to not have more time." This was Michelle's counsel to the author, to not allow fear to prevent him from seeking or accepting new opportunities.
Thoughts and comments I'll forever link to this book:
- "You can't spend your life preparing for future losses...It disrespects the blessings of the here and now." You are not guaranteed anything more than the present moment.
- "You've got time to try new things - and you don't want to be in the position to not have more time." This was Michelle's counsel to the author, to not allow fear to prevent him from seeking or accepting new opportunities.
January 15, 2021
Proving that you can write a book about basketball that is nothing but sweet.
December 11, 2024
Fabulous. Absolutely fantastic. This is a story about life - a true story. Like nothing I have read in a long long time. Basketball is the backdrop but this is about a perhaps unlikely friendship - but maybe not so unlikely - an accomplished writer and a self-made business executive - with passages through the inevitable stages of life. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. You DON'T need to be a basketball fan to love this book. Trust me, I think you will even if you've never seen a game.
November 17, 2020
A deeply personal and honest reflection on friendship, growing older and the particular purgatory of being a Knicks fan the last 25 years.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews