Taking Shots: Tall Tales, Bizarre Battles, and the Incredible Truth About the NBA

by Keith Glass

Bring a family of four to an NBA game today, and it costs around $500 to watch a bunch of seven-footers take bad shots. Perhaps the quote often attributed to P.T. Barnum is true—there really is a sucker born every minute. The NBA is in trouble. And as NBA agent Keith Glass describes it—he's part of the problem! If team owners are willing to throw millions of dollars his way for marginal players, why should he be the only one with the self-restraint to say "no"? In his insightful, funny, and often mind-numbingly bizarre tales of life in the NBA over the last twenty- five years, Keith Glass lets it fly from half-court. He'll tell you how we got to the present state—where an agent who makes millions off the game can't sit through one; why our NBA stars couldn't capture Olympic gold; and why the game he loves is in dire need of help. Glass has seen it all as the representative of players like Mark Eaton, the seven-foot-five center found working as a mechanic because he hated basketball; Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who converted to Islam and brought the wrath of the league upon him when he refused to stand for the National Anthem; and first-round draft pick Quincy Douby, who was forced to enter the draft before graduating from Rutgers because of the harsh NCAA rules regarding college eligibility. With informative chapters such as "How to Feed Your Family on Only $14 Million a Year," "Eighty-one Feet of White Centers," and "From 6'11" to the 7- Eleven," Glass shatters the myth of NBA that everything about the game is great, and that as long as the fans in the luxury boxes are happy and weighed down with expensive merchandise, all is well. But have no fear! Keith Glass doesn't preach about the evils of highlight film slam-dunks—he'll just have you falling down laughing as he flagrantly fouls the league that was once the envy of the pro sports world.

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2007

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific

A bold and well written piece. The author takes on some of the most difficult problems in the game of basketball.

Although it’s dated, the problems exist today.

A good on for basketball fans.

[Nick Honor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking shots by Keith Glass was a very enjoyable book. As a basketball player who wouldn't love a book about the NBA and its players? This book explained battles between players, and the truth about the NBA and not what people make it seem like. I kept turning each page wanting to read more and more hoping I could learn some new information.

"I set my goal for that week to not only try to make any contribution I could help us to win, but also to suck up the entire experience of being in the final four." (Glass 47). This explains how Glass was taking advantage of his opportunities and putting his mind and effort into his goal.

Happiness is accomplishing your goals and doing what you want to do. Glass is doing just that, he explains his success with the NBA and players he's dealt with to make the NBA. Happiness is something you create, it's sort of just there. You can't necessarily force happiness because that would be faking but it's in front of everyone you just have to see it for yourself and look at all of your opinions

I recommend this book to anyone who loves the NBA and what's to know the way it works. Many boys grow up wanting to play in the NBA and this book may prepare you for that type of business and high level. This also may increase interest and motivate them to become the best they can be.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining reading for basketball junkies. The author has been an agent for many years and has tales to tell and suggestions on how to improve the pro game.

[Larry M. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. He brings you his varied careers in coaching and being a sports agent. Lots of very interesting stories that keeps you wanting to see what's next.

[Koen Verbeken · Rating 3 out of 5]

In't kort: Keith Glass is een door de wol geverfd basketcoach en spelersmakelaar, en maakt na een rijkgevulde carrière de balans op. Daarenboven geeft hij ook zijn visie op hoe de NBA er op dit moment voor staat. En dat het vroeger allemaal beter was, dat mag duidelijk zijn. Maar misschien heeft hij geen ongelijk.

Mijn oordeel: Glass heeft door de jaren heen heel wat credibiliteit (en ook een aardige zakcent) bij elkaar gespaard in het kleine wereldje van de NBA, maar je kan je de vraag stellen waarom hij nooit een echt grote superster heeft gerepresenteerd. Misschien omdat hij a pain in the ass is ? En altijd op hetzelfde terug blijft komen ?

Zo is er bijvoorbeed het geval-Larry Brown. Brown is een uitstekend basketcoach, die heel wat titels op zijn naam heeft, en is toevallig ook een vriend des huizes. Dat wil in de Glass-logica zeggen dat hij door dik en dun gesteund en verdedigd moet worden. Brown was ook de coach van het Amerikaanse team dat tijdens de Olympics van Athene zwaar de mist in ging. Maar dat was enkel de fout van de spelers, daar zat vriend Larry zogezegd voor niks tussen, volgens Glass. Lijkt me moeilijk te geloven.

Ook de redactie van het boek kon beter. Storende spel- en grammaticafouten verpesten het ritme van het verhaal.

Desondanks zijn de verhalen af en toe wel grappig, en meestal best onderhoudend. Het verhaal over zijn Griekse speler Rentzias en de draft is uitstekend, dat rond moslim Abdul-Rauf en het Amerikaanse volklied is eye-opening. Een mooie inkijk in het vreemde wereldje van het spelersmakelaarschap. Maar enkel voor de fans, vrees ik.

Eindoordeel: ***1/2

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've frequently wondered to which professional sport the American black has done the most harm. If you exclude the serial fornicator and world class asshole, Tiger Woods's disgusting behavior on the PGA tour, then the choices are either the NBA or NFL. While many would argue that the lazy, grossly overpaid behemoths who kneel during the playing of OUR national anthem have irreparably damaged professional football, "Taking Shots" makes a strong case it was the behavior of blacks in basketball that got the anti-American snowball rolling downhill. From Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to Lebron James, Keith Glass chronicles basketball's decline from a team sport to what is currently presented today, "thug ball." Is anyone still watching?

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sorta insider's skewed view of the NBA salary scheme.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool book about basketball

[Connor Winn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent book. Interesting perspective, though unspectacular writing.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

good info about nba, but i didn't really like his "folksy" writing style.

[Jeramey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too many typos in the hardcover version, misspellings, awkward sentences, and the like. The stories are interesting for the most part, but don't feel completely honest.

[Murray Bowron]

An interesting read

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great behind the scenes stories! I love how he was known to be the agent that keeps the big white centers employed and on a teams roster. Great read!