What do you think?
Rate this book
Long Shot
From Michael Jordan to George Bush Sr. Craig Hodges has never been shy about speaking truth to power. In this well-told, passionate, and historically literate memoir Hodges, a two-time NBA champion and world famous three-point shooter, shares the triumphs and struggles of a life long quest to improve the condition of the Black community.
Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1996
18 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 28, 2017
Craig Hodges was one of the NBA's greatest three-point shooters of his or any generation. Twice he led the league in three-point shooting percentage. He had incredible performances in the NBA All Star Weekend's 3-Point Contest, winning the competition three years in a row (an accomplishment so rare it is a distinction held only by Hodges and Larry Bird). And to top it all off, Hodges won two world championships with the Chicago Bulls. His was a memorable, exciting career, but a career cut short.
For each of his many accomplishments as a player, Hodges is perhaps best known today for the way his career abruptly ended. Hodges was a vocal proponent of social justice and economic equality. He spoke out in the wake of the Rodney King beating. He openly invited teammates to see Minister Louis Farrakhan speak. He led efforts to boycott Nike. Most famously, during the Bulls 1992 visit to the White House, Hodges who wore a dashiki to the event handed President George H.W. Bush a handwritten letter urging him to do more to address racism and systemic challenges faced by African Americans. And for each of these reasons, Hodges' playing days were prematurely numbered.
In his autobiography, Long Shot: The Struggles and Triumphs of an NBA Freedom Fighter, Craig Hodges reflects upon the public and personal details of his life. From his upbringing in an activist household in Chicago Heights—he writes, "I learned early that change was something that happened only if we made it happen"—through the high school, college, and professional basketball eras of his playing career, Hodges shares the events that shaped him, the driving forces in his life, and fascinating insider stories of life in the NBA.
Along the way, Hodges balances the deeply personal—how his marriage fell apart, for instance—with unforgettable anecdotes—including Michael Jordan cursing about the President of the United States while in the locker room during the NBA Finals. Hodges' stories are compelling, inspiring, at times funny and at times infuriating, and collectively paint a vivid picture of the man he is and strives to be.
But the theme which perhaps leaves the most lasting impression is how much major league sports are first and foremost a business. Hodges shares tales of the outrageous business practices of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, describes the perceived politics of various front offices, and, ultimately, the reasons that contributed to the end of his own career. Hodges' legacy, more than his three-point shooting accolades, is that he was blackballed from the NBA for his activism. While there are some who deny this, Hodges provides gripping evidence that the NBA wanted its players to only be players, to leave their politics at the door, and that anything players would do which might bother some fans/customers was unwelcome. And, in the case of Hodges, past the point of acceptable.
Long Shot is a beautifully written, brutally honest book. If you loved the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, if you love black history, or if you are fascinated by the politics of sports, I highly recommend this book. Simply put: Craig Hodges' life is incredible and Long Shot is invaluable. As political sportswriter Dave Zirin writes in the book's foreword: "It is time to remove Craig Hodges from exile status and place him where he has always belonged: on the short list of the activist athletes who stood tall, paid the price, and now live their lives perhaps scarred but without regrets."
(Review originally published by the Sport Literature Association.)
For each of his many accomplishments as a player, Hodges is perhaps best known today for the way his career abruptly ended. Hodges was a vocal proponent of social justice and economic equality. He spoke out in the wake of the Rodney King beating. He openly invited teammates to see Minister Louis Farrakhan speak. He led efforts to boycott Nike. Most famously, during the Bulls 1992 visit to the White House, Hodges who wore a dashiki to the event handed President George H.W. Bush a handwritten letter urging him to do more to address racism and systemic challenges faced by African Americans. And for each of these reasons, Hodges' playing days were prematurely numbered.
In his autobiography, Long Shot: The Struggles and Triumphs of an NBA Freedom Fighter, Craig Hodges reflects upon the public and personal details of his life. From his upbringing in an activist household in Chicago Heights—he writes, "I learned early that change was something that happened only if we made it happen"—through the high school, college, and professional basketball eras of his playing career, Hodges shares the events that shaped him, the driving forces in his life, and fascinating insider stories of life in the NBA.
Along the way, Hodges balances the deeply personal—how his marriage fell apart, for instance—with unforgettable anecdotes—including Michael Jordan cursing about the President of the United States while in the locker room during the NBA Finals. Hodges' stories are compelling, inspiring, at times funny and at times infuriating, and collectively paint a vivid picture of the man he is and strives to be.
But the theme which perhaps leaves the most lasting impression is how much major league sports are first and foremost a business. Hodges shares tales of the outrageous business practices of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, describes the perceived politics of various front offices, and, ultimately, the reasons that contributed to the end of his own career. Hodges' legacy, more than his three-point shooting accolades, is that he was blackballed from the NBA for his activism. While there are some who deny this, Hodges provides gripping evidence that the NBA wanted its players to only be players, to leave their politics at the door, and that anything players would do which might bother some fans/customers was unwelcome. And, in the case of Hodges, past the point of acceptable.
Long Shot is a beautifully written, brutally honest book. If you loved the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, if you love black history, or if you are fascinated by the politics of sports, I highly recommend this book. Simply put: Craig Hodges' life is incredible and Long Shot is invaluable. As political sportswriter Dave Zirin writes in the book's foreword: "It is time to remove Craig Hodges from exile status and place him where he has always belonged: on the short list of the activist athletes who stood tall, paid the price, and now live their lives perhaps scarred but without regrets."
(Review originally published by the Sport Literature Association.)
October 11, 2021
Tengo que empezar aclarando que soy un gran aficionado al baloncesto y que sé quién es Craig Hodges. Recuerdo haberle visto jugar con los gloriosos Chicago Bulls de los 90 y haberle visto ganar varios concursos de triples de la NBA. Era un excelente tirador pero no una gran superestrella de la liga americana. ¿Por qué entonces me suscitó interés leer sus memorias?
Hace unos meses vi la magnífica miniserie documental "The Last Dance" (El último baile) sobre aquel extraordinario equipo de los Bulls de Michael Jordan. Nada más acabar de verla leí en algún sitio un dato en el que no había reparado: el autor de este libro, Craig Hodges, fue el único integrante de cierta relevancia de aquellos Bulls (Hodges fue un jugador importante de la plantilla en los dos primeros campeonatos del equipo) que no participó en el documental. No solo eso, es que ni siquiera fue mencionado. Es como si no hubiera estado en el equipo.
Me llamó la atención ese curioso detalle del documental y leí un artículo en el que se explicaba que Craig Hodges fue marginado y excluido de la NBA a causa de su activismo político en contra del racismo. Este libro ahonda en esa explicación y me ha parecido realmente muy interesante.
Obviamente, estamos ante la autobiografía de un ex-jugador de baloncesto profesional. En el libro se habla mucho de baloncesto, aunque también de activismo político y de otros detalles de la vida de su autor; pero buena parte del libro está dedicada a hablar de los entresijos del funcionamiento del baloncesto de instituto, universitario y profesional en Estados Unidos. Es decir, a quien no le interese absolutamente nada el baloncesto probablemente no le apasionará este libro, pero aún así es posible que le merezca la pena leerlo. Es corto y su lectura es fácil y amena.
Hace unos meses vi la magnífica miniserie documental "The Last Dance" (El último baile) sobre aquel extraordinario equipo de los Bulls de Michael Jordan. Nada más acabar de verla leí en algún sitio un dato en el que no había reparado: el autor de este libro, Craig Hodges, fue el único integrante de cierta relevancia de aquellos Bulls (Hodges fue un jugador importante de la plantilla en los dos primeros campeonatos del equipo) que no participó en el documental. No solo eso, es que ni siquiera fue mencionado. Es como si no hubiera estado en el equipo.
Me llamó la atención ese curioso detalle del documental y leí un artículo en el que se explicaba que Craig Hodges fue marginado y excluido de la NBA a causa de su activismo político en contra del racismo. Este libro ahonda en esa explicación y me ha parecido realmente muy interesante.
Obviamente, estamos ante la autobiografía de un ex-jugador de baloncesto profesional. En el libro se habla mucho de baloncesto, aunque también de activismo político y de otros detalles de la vida de su autor; pero buena parte del libro está dedicada a hablar de los entresijos del funcionamiento del baloncesto de instituto, universitario y profesional en Estados Unidos. Es decir, a quien no le interese absolutamente nada el baloncesto probablemente no le apasionará este libro, pero aún así es posible que le merezca la pena leerlo. Es corto y su lectura es fácil y amena.
August 31, 2020
Don’t know too much about basketball, but so honored to have read the story of Craig Hodges. An athlete truly ahead of his time and a man who was so deeply committed to issues of Black liberation, even at the pinnacle of his NBA career when he had the most to lose. Craig Hodges was blackballed by the NBA precisely for trying time leverage the power of the players to demand a world where police brutality shouldn’t exist. It’s not lost on me that similar consequences happen to athletes today (Kaepernick) who dare speak out against the plight of Black folks in Amerikkka 😞. Hodges was connecting capitalism with racism and imperialism, speaking out against how Nike uses exploitative child labor in Southeast Asia but markets itself in a way that hides all that shit.
It’s sad and maddening all the same, and my heart swells for the people who challenge the blatant inequalities that exist in this mf hell country and end up suffering as a result. Paying homage to the folks who pave the way for us to be more critically conscious and challenge us to actually do something about it. Important and timely read 😔💗
It’s sad and maddening all the same, and my heart swells for the people who challenge the blatant inequalities that exist in this mf hell country and end up suffering as a result. Paying homage to the folks who pave the way for us to be more critically conscious and challenge us to actually do something about it. Important and timely read 😔💗
November 7, 2017
I'm not a sports fan. I had never heard of Craig Hodges until I came across mention of the good work he has done in the neighborhood in which he grew up. I discovered that he had been a member of the Chicago Bulls NBA team in the Michael Jordan years and was dumped due to his expression of his political views. When I saw he had written an autobiography, I bought it to find out exactly what happened to silence a successful man in a country that is supposed to support freedom of speech.
Basketball being Greek to me, the accounts of games and the techniques Hodges learned to use in them meant nothing to me, but the account of his personal life with his family, his coaches and teammates made good reading. It was his character I wanted to know about and this book delivers.
When most people hit the big money, all else pales in significance in the pursuit of more. One would think that the background of many NBA players, brought up in poverty where there is no chance in life other than in sports, would result in many speaking out to change the situation of the people left behind in the neighborhoods. Hodges explains very well why this is not so. There is deep insecurity for most that is never escaped. If you know what poverty is like, you fear its return. The first priority is financial security to the point that any amount of money is not enough.
Hodges gives credit to his upbringing with a grandfather, mother and sister that provided the faith, support and trust necessary to make a confident man of character. From his early years, Hodges questioned things and longed to see changes that he hoped he could help to bring about. The example of Mohammed Ali inspired him. He was encouraged to study hard and was motivated to do so, never being far from a book no matter what demands basketball made on him.
He was continually disappointed, however, not only in the lack of interest shown by other black teammates in working with him for justice, but in their lack of knowledge of the history of their people. Other players would hear him out, agree with him that things had to change, but would never follow through. This did not decrease his motivation to do what he could on his own.
Hodges is not shy about his talent and he gives what appears to me to be fair evaluations of others both as players and people. He praises those who saw his potential and urged him on as his career developed. A coach, Tex Winter, comes off as particularly honorable, helping Hodges not only as a man with deep understanding of the game, but also a man of his word.
Though challenged on the court, Hodges found a greater challenge in his married life which had to end due to the increasingly erratic behavior of his wife who at one point threw gasoline on him intending to light it. He shows the expected deep love for his sons, but also has a broad concern for the welfare of other people.
The book builds to a climax in his years with the Bulls. He has great respect for Phil Jackson and fully shares in the acclaim for Michael Jordan while also letting us see that Jordan's concern is limited to the success of the team and his own accomplishments. Sports fans will enjoy Hodges' account of other players on the Bulls and many on opposing teams as well. There's plenty about key moments in big games.
Suddenly, his life at the top ends due to the discomfort of the NBA with his political views. His contract is not renewed and he gets no calls from other teams, though he is at the top of his game. For all the things the players have gained over the years, no small part of it due to Hodges's work as a player representative, the owners are still in control. Without his teammates standing up for him as an individual who should be free to speak his mind, he is helpless to do anything about being shut out.
Long Shot would be far more interesting to a basketball fan who knows the technicalities of the game, but I was quite satisfied with this portrait of a good man who continues, long after his glory days and unjustified punishment, doing good work. I am trying to get in touch with Craig Hodges to either meet him for coffee in his neighborhood or at least send him my book for his autograph. Since he likely gets many such requests I'm not expecting to hear back from him, still I'd like him to know that a person who out of ignorance cannot praise him for his profession wants to praise him for his character.
Basketball being Greek to me, the accounts of games and the techniques Hodges learned to use in them meant nothing to me, but the account of his personal life with his family, his coaches and teammates made good reading. It was his character I wanted to know about and this book delivers.
When most people hit the big money, all else pales in significance in the pursuit of more. One would think that the background of many NBA players, brought up in poverty where there is no chance in life other than in sports, would result in many speaking out to change the situation of the people left behind in the neighborhoods. Hodges explains very well why this is not so. There is deep insecurity for most that is never escaped. If you know what poverty is like, you fear its return. The first priority is financial security to the point that any amount of money is not enough.
Hodges gives credit to his upbringing with a grandfather, mother and sister that provided the faith, support and trust necessary to make a confident man of character. From his early years, Hodges questioned things and longed to see changes that he hoped he could help to bring about. The example of Mohammed Ali inspired him. He was encouraged to study hard and was motivated to do so, never being far from a book no matter what demands basketball made on him.
He was continually disappointed, however, not only in the lack of interest shown by other black teammates in working with him for justice, but in their lack of knowledge of the history of their people. Other players would hear him out, agree with him that things had to change, but would never follow through. This did not decrease his motivation to do what he could on his own.
Hodges is not shy about his talent and he gives what appears to me to be fair evaluations of others both as players and people. He praises those who saw his potential and urged him on as his career developed. A coach, Tex Winter, comes off as particularly honorable, helping Hodges not only as a man with deep understanding of the game, but also a man of his word.
Though challenged on the court, Hodges found a greater challenge in his married life which had to end due to the increasingly erratic behavior of his wife who at one point threw gasoline on him intending to light it. He shows the expected deep love for his sons, but also has a broad concern for the welfare of other people.
The book builds to a climax in his years with the Bulls. He has great respect for Phil Jackson and fully shares in the acclaim for Michael Jordan while also letting us see that Jordan's concern is limited to the success of the team and his own accomplishments. Sports fans will enjoy Hodges' account of other players on the Bulls and many on opposing teams as well. There's plenty about key moments in big games.
Suddenly, his life at the top ends due to the discomfort of the NBA with his political views. His contract is not renewed and he gets no calls from other teams, though he is at the top of his game. For all the things the players have gained over the years, no small part of it due to Hodges's work as a player representative, the owners are still in control. Without his teammates standing up for him as an individual who should be free to speak his mind, he is helpless to do anything about being shut out.
Long Shot would be far more interesting to a basketball fan who knows the technicalities of the game, but I was quite satisfied with this portrait of a good man who continues, long after his glory days and unjustified punishment, doing good work. I am trying to get in touch with Craig Hodges to either meet him for coffee in his neighborhood or at least send him my book for his autograph. Since he likely gets many such requests I'm not expecting to hear back from him, still I'd like him to know that a person who out of ignorance cannot praise him for his profession wants to praise him for his character.
November 2, 2018
Very interesting to read this book in 2018, given what Hodges was ultimately blackballed from the NBA over is something that he'd (most likely) profit from in the same league today. Of course, the blackballing of Colin Kaepernick in the NFL tinted my reading of the book overall, but given the way Hodges talks about struggle and sacrifice within, perhaps that was apt.
A relatively quick read, although it starts and ends better than it is able to sustain itself in the middle of its narrative. Growing up, I was always told by my parents (I was born as the Bulls were beating Barkley's Suns in the 93 Finals, on their way to securing 3-peat #1) that Michael Jordan was a sellout who cost Craig Hodges his career. Either they ghost-wrote this book, Craig Hodges has the best PR people in the world (it's not this.), or Michael Jordan really is a sellout who cost Craig Hodges his career. That Michael Jordan last summer donated a million dollars to the NAACP as a way of "no longer staying silent" about Black folks being brutalized by the police—something Hodges tried to get him to pay attention literally thirty years before this—before releasing a pair of special BHM Jordans makes it painfully clear who has always been telling the truth.
As I've read more of the history of Black American folks (have only read books by and about us, with one lone exception) something that becomes clearer is that the distance between Black folks with money doing radical things and not is really much smaller than we're led to believe. Whether it's Black millionaires funding slavery abolitionist insurrections, or shooting guards throwing away their livelihoods playing professional basketball, sometimes the privilege that wealth affords is the ability to throw all that shit away and do what's right.
What's most bittersweet, I guess, is that it is also painfully evident that you can amass all this wealth and die with it, or use it to make the world better. Not both though.
A relatively quick read, although it starts and ends better than it is able to sustain itself in the middle of its narrative. Growing up, I was always told by my parents (I was born as the Bulls were beating Barkley's Suns in the 93 Finals, on their way to securing 3-peat #1) that Michael Jordan was a sellout who cost Craig Hodges his career. Either they ghost-wrote this book, Craig Hodges has the best PR people in the world (it's not this.), or Michael Jordan really is a sellout who cost Craig Hodges his career. That Michael Jordan last summer donated a million dollars to the NAACP as a way of "no longer staying silent" about Black folks being brutalized by the police—something Hodges tried to get him to pay attention literally thirty years before this—before releasing a pair of special BHM Jordans makes it painfully clear who has always been telling the truth.
As I've read more of the history of Black American folks (have only read books by and about us, with one lone exception) something that becomes clearer is that the distance between Black folks with money doing radical things and not is really much smaller than we're led to believe. Whether it's Black millionaires funding slavery abolitionist insurrections, or shooting guards throwing away their livelihoods playing professional basketball, sometimes the privilege that wealth affords is the ability to throw all that shit away and do what's right.
What's most bittersweet, I guess, is that it is also painfully evident that you can amass all this wealth and die with it, or use it to make the world better. Not both though.
September 24, 2020
This is the best book I've read so far this year, Craig really goes into what life was like growing up in Illinois in the 1970s. He paints a very vivid picture of the Chicago Bulls franchise that he was a part of that won 6 championships, of course he was cut after the first 2 because of his activism.
I really is quite disheartening to see how Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time, ensured that his image didn't suffer - even if it came at the cost of Hodges' career in basketball.
I really is quite disheartening to see how Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time, ensured that his image didn't suffer - even if it came at the cost of Hodges' career in basketball.
March 10, 2017
Excellent on all fronts - sports history, Black history, Chicago history. It's not a very long book so none of these are treated in depth, but instead from one incredibly unique perspective. Would recommend to almost anyone.
August 6, 2017
Quick read that explains Craig Hodges' fall from the NBA, after being an integral part of two championships with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and winning the 3 point shooting contest three times in a row. The NBA, while being the most progressive of the major sports leagues still came up wanting in the way they banished Craig Hodges. His trouble started with the league when he showed up to the White House wearing a dashiki and toting a letter for then President Bush. This no doubt put him on the radar, and his frequent exhortations to his teammates about doing something for their communities and inviting them to hear Minister Farrakhan speak certainly sealed his fate. In fact he was unceremoniously traded from Milwaukee Bucks because, as he learned later, the team was uncomfortable with his association and admiration for Farrakhan. What Craig Hodges makes clear is that there is always machinations going on behind these sports leagues and things can often get spun in such a way that fans are generally left in dark, often speculating wildly and wrongly.
The writing was breezy and quick, and the job of informing the reader about Craig Hodges was adequate. The takeaway, is no matter how much money you're being paid, at the end of the day you are still an employee and Mr. Hodges found that out the hard way and it clearly cost him his career.Good job covering the career of Craig Hodges and his upbringing which filled him with a consciousness of uplifting his people.
The writing was breezy and quick, and the job of informing the reader about Craig Hodges was adequate. The takeaway, is no matter how much money you're being paid, at the end of the day you are still an employee and Mr. Hodges found that out the hard way and it clearly cost him his career.Good job covering the career of Craig Hodges and his upbringing which filled him with a consciousness of uplifting his people.
March 20, 2017
I was really geeked about this book because the Haymarket people recommended it to me at an event I attended in D.C. I'd been (and still am) on a quest for more books that explicitly fold in Black Lives Matter for our middle schoolers--they crave this!--and the reps enthusiastically recommended "the Hodges." I'll be putting this in our collection and will recommend it to those who are looking for the intersection of sports & activism.
But I'm not super enthusiastic about this book because it's not without faults--serious ones, perhaps. Hodges has every right to tell his story like he wants and I get that he's his own biggest fan. While he does highlight some vices and faults, his "blacklisting" from the NBA and the demise of his marriage didn't completely compute for me. I love memoirs and find a lot of value in writers owning up to their shortcomings, but I felt Hodges did some unnecessary glossing in order to paint a not entirely convincing picture of himself as a freedom fighter. No doubt his activism and heart are well intended and the tragedy of his career not ending the way he wanted is immense and well-portrayed... but this book left me with a lot of uncertainty about his character and a lot of questions I still don't have the answers to.
But I'm not super enthusiastic about this book because it's not without faults--serious ones, perhaps. Hodges has every right to tell his story like he wants and I get that he's his own biggest fan. While he does highlight some vices and faults, his "blacklisting" from the NBA and the demise of his marriage didn't completely compute for me. I love memoirs and find a lot of value in writers owning up to their shortcomings, but I felt Hodges did some unnecessary glossing in order to paint a not entirely convincing picture of himself as a freedom fighter. No doubt his activism and heart are well intended and the tragedy of his career not ending the way he wanted is immense and well-portrayed... but this book left me with a lot of uncertainty about his character and a lot of questions I still don't have the answers to.
September 20, 2021
“Todo el mundo te dice lo que te conviene. No quieren que encuentres tus propias respuestas. Quieren que creas las suyas”.
A todos los amantes del baloncesto les será familiar la imagen de los deportistas de la NBA, en estos pasados playoffs, arrodillándose frente al himno de Estados Unidos. Esta protesta, causada por el homicidio racista a manos de la policía de George Floyd, no ha sido la tónica general en la NBA a lo largo de su historia.
Esta es una de las muchas lecciones que extraemos de la biografía de Craig Hodges, que la militancia y la conciencia en el deporte de élite se paga. Y más si eres negro y concienciado en la era Jordan, en la era del marketing y la publicidad de refrescos, zapatillas y todo a lo que se le pueda poner precio.
La historia del escolta comienza en el barrio periférico de Chicago Heights, donde en el seno de una familia humilde comenzó a comprender las dificultades a las que se enfrentaba por el hecho de ser negro y pobre.
Con leer los primeros capítulos, ya sabemos que no estamos ante una biografía al uso de un deportista de elite, sino que hay mucho más, historias de barrio que no se olvidan, racismo institucionalizado o como se manejan los representantes entre los chicos de barrio cuando ven talento.
En la NBA, las cosas no fueron fáciles, para llegar a uno de los mejores equipos de la historia (los Bulls de Jordan) antes tuvo que aventurarse en otros equipos como Milwaukee Bucks o los Phoenix Suns, donde ya destacaba como tirador nato.
Historias con Jordan, Pippen, Barkley o Bush en la Casablanca, todo lo que era políticamente incorrecto para aparecer en el documental The Last Dance es lo que podremos disfrutar en la biografía del tricampeón del concurso de triples del All-Star Craig Hodges.
Instagram @loslectoresalvajes
A todos los amantes del baloncesto les será familiar la imagen de los deportistas de la NBA, en estos pasados playoffs, arrodillándose frente al himno de Estados Unidos. Esta protesta, causada por el homicidio racista a manos de la policía de George Floyd, no ha sido la tónica general en la NBA a lo largo de su historia.
Esta es una de las muchas lecciones que extraemos de la biografía de Craig Hodges, que la militancia y la conciencia en el deporte de élite se paga. Y más si eres negro y concienciado en la era Jordan, en la era del marketing y la publicidad de refrescos, zapatillas y todo a lo que se le pueda poner precio.
La historia del escolta comienza en el barrio periférico de Chicago Heights, donde en el seno de una familia humilde comenzó a comprender las dificultades a las que se enfrentaba por el hecho de ser negro y pobre.
Con leer los primeros capítulos, ya sabemos que no estamos ante una biografía al uso de un deportista de elite, sino que hay mucho más, historias de barrio que no se olvidan, racismo institucionalizado o como se manejan los representantes entre los chicos de barrio cuando ven talento.
En la NBA, las cosas no fueron fáciles, para llegar a uno de los mejores equipos de la historia (los Bulls de Jordan) antes tuvo que aventurarse en otros equipos como Milwaukee Bucks o los Phoenix Suns, donde ya destacaba como tirador nato.
Historias con Jordan, Pippen, Barkley o Bush en la Casablanca, todo lo que era políticamente incorrecto para aparecer en el documental The Last Dance es lo que podremos disfrutar en la biografía del tricampeón del concurso de triples del All-Star Craig Hodges.
Instagram @loslectoresalvajes
May 7, 2021
Part of my book club, I gave it a shot (badum-tss), but it wasn't for me.
This is really more of a sports career memoir with politics than the other way around. I enjoyed the early chapters, which had some standout insights, and wanted to hear more about Craig Hodges' experiences with speaking out and thoughts on political change. But as things progressed, I found myself skimming past games and names that I no longer wanted to try to keep straight and only tuning back in when things got political. Even then, as I went on, it read more like a list of triumphs and tribulations than a deeper examination of a life and topic. I think there was a missed opportunity to really refine a theme that's lying in wait here.
I don't think this style of memoir is to my taste, and by the end I felt more like I was looking at Hodges in his best light and at arm's length, presented and summarized at a lectern before he starts speaking for real.
If you don't yet realize how at odds the pressure to make money versus pursuing justice can be, you would benefit from this book. Hodges is exhibit A of someone who lost out while following his sense of what's right. But it's probably better if you're here for the basketball, too.
This is really more of a sports career memoir with politics than the other way around. I enjoyed the early chapters, which had some standout insights, and wanted to hear more about Craig Hodges' experiences with speaking out and thoughts on political change. But as things progressed, I found myself skimming past games and names that I no longer wanted to try to keep straight and only tuning back in when things got political. Even then, as I went on, it read more like a list of triumphs and tribulations than a deeper examination of a life and topic. I think there was a missed opportunity to really refine a theme that's lying in wait here.
I don't think this style of memoir is to my taste, and by the end I felt more like I was looking at Hodges in his best light and at arm's length, presented and summarized at a lectern before he starts speaking for real.
If you don't yet realize how at odds the pressure to make money versus pursuing justice can be, you would benefit from this book. Hodges is exhibit A of someone who lost out while following his sense of what's right. But it's probably better if you're here for the basketball, too.
October 26, 2018
On one hand, Craig Hodges' story is interesting important--particularly when you draw parallels between what happened to him and what has happened more recently to Colin Kaepernick. (In other words, our country hasn't improved much when it comes to racial equality.) The fact that speaking out against injustices in the Black community caused Hodges his career and livelihood is disappointing and disgusting.
On the other hand...I just don't like the NBA. I enjoy college basketball when my team is playing--or March Madness--but I don't follow the NBA. Unfortunately, that meant I was bored throughout those parts of the book. I think fans of the NBA (particularly the Bulls) will enjoy this basketball-meets-social-justice memoir, but for me the social justice was really the only enjoyable part (and also the sections with Robert and who he turned out to be).
On the other hand...I just don't like the NBA. I enjoy college basketball when my team is playing--or March Madness--but I don't follow the NBA. Unfortunately, that meant I was bored throughout those parts of the book. I think fans of the NBA (particularly the Bulls) will enjoy this basketball-meets-social-justice memoir, but for me the social justice was really the only enjoyable part (and also the sections with Robert and who he turned out to be).
March 7, 2021
Craig Hodges' story is very remarkable on all ends and the importance of education, as told and explained in this book, is not only vital within our daily lives but for society as a whole. Education is important to keep up with what's happening in the world and to realzie the roots and origins of the situations that have been vital within the course of time (that affects our daily livelihoods), such as racism, financial inequality, wealth, free speech, political freedom, and so forth.
Not only Craig has covered a good amount of his time during the Bulls era (that would've not been shown on The Last Dance), but he managed to speak on vital important parts of his personal life, such as his White House visit, working with the infamous R. Kelly, his marital problems with his wife, his prior education at Long Beach, and much more. Definitely recommend this!
Not only Craig has covered a good amount of his time during the Bulls era (that would've not been shown on The Last Dance), but he managed to speak on vital important parts of his personal life, such as his White House visit, working with the infamous R. Kelly, his marital problems with his wife, his prior education at Long Beach, and much more. Definitely recommend this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2017
This was a good read from a guy whom few seem to remember. Craig does a good job of laying the foundation of who he is and the values that he showed throughout his nba career and beyond. However, it does fall short after we get to the end of his nba tenure. There is a lot of build up but it really just stops really short when it comes to describing how he felt and really digging into the struggles he faced after he was 'forced' out of the league. I would have liked a bit more thorough of an examination of that aspect of his life and more about how he feels the current generation of nba players show their activism and community engagement. But for a memoir from an unheralded yet important person it was a good read and it went by quickly.
June 16, 2017
A fast read, and totally worthwhile for anyone who wants to know about sport, celebrity, and protest. This book tells the story of Hodges' road to the NBA and his rapid exit from the league - the result of what he thinks was retribution for being so outspoken. Learned facts: he met Bush I at the White House rocking full traditional African garb, Hodges tried getting a boycott of the NBA finals to prove a point, and Hodges bankrolled the upstart career of R. Kelley (who proceeded to seduce his wife, scumbag).
I wish the book covered Hodges' post-NBA life better. He went on to a career in coaching, it would have been great to see how his philosophies of the game and life played out there.
I wish the book covered Hodges' post-NBA life better. He went on to a career in coaching, it would have been great to see how his philosophies of the game and life played out there.
May 20, 2017
Really enjoyed the book, particularly as a Chicago Bulls fan during the Craig Hodges era. It was clear to all that Hodges was blackballed by the NBA, since no team would give him a tryout after winning the 3 point shooting contest three years in a row, and as a two time champ with the Bulls. His story about being raised in the Chicago suburbs and his college and NBA playing days was interesting. Learned a lot more about the inside story of Hodges and why no NBA team gave him another shot. A fast easy read, that I really enjoyed.
September 1, 2020
A book for 2020, as we struggle to recognize racism in America.
Before Colin Kaepernick was Craig Hodges. Blackballed by professional sports owners, who were silently supported by systemic racism, this well-written, engaging memoir tells a compelling story.
Hodges was kicked out of the NBA because he spoke his mind about racism. And just this month (Aug 2020), NBA players led a boycott of playoff games, which is exactly what he got "fired" for suggesting in the 1990s.
1/3 basketball, 1/3 personal and 1/3 observations on our society.
Before Colin Kaepernick was Craig Hodges. Blackballed by professional sports owners, who were silently supported by systemic racism, this well-written, engaging memoir tells a compelling story.
Hodges was kicked out of the NBA because he spoke his mind about racism. And just this month (Aug 2020), NBA players led a boycott of playoff games, which is exactly what he got "fired" for suggesting in the 1990s.
1/3 basketball, 1/3 personal and 1/3 observations on our society.
Read
April 13, 2025I <3 Craig Hodges, and reading this made me wish everyone had the same plain opportunity to write their stories, highs and lows. It also hit me how much, to the person actively being blacklisted, that experience is a lot murkier than it sounds when we say, decades later, that so and so was blacklisted, as if it were clearly posted on a bulletin somewhere. Or as if it were as cut and dried as being cancelled online now. That hardly describes the lack of clarity surrounding it, for the person going through it.
March 18, 2017
Craig Hodges' love of the game of basketball comes through in this book.
NBA owners and star players blacklisted Hodges because he was politically outspoken. Once he was a pariah, they brought his career as a champion to an abrupt end and ripped away something that helped make him spiritually whole.
His story is a story about the cost to those players who engage in freedom of expression and are not good corporate players. It is also a story of race and why black men remain silent and restrained in activism so they do not meet Hodges' fate.
We see former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick going through what Hodges went through. He is now a free agent, who NFL teams don't want to have "disrupting" their locker room. Hodges' book contains the insights and wisdom for understanding Kaepernick's predicament, as well as activism and sports - and sometimes the lack thereof - among players today.
NBA owners and star players blacklisted Hodges because he was politically outspoken. Once he was a pariah, they brought his career as a champion to an abrupt end and ripped away something that helped make him spiritually whole.
His story is a story about the cost to those players who engage in freedom of expression and are not good corporate players. It is also a story of race and why black men remain silent and restrained in activism so they do not meet Hodges' fate.
We see former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick going through what Hodges went through. He is now a free agent, who NFL teams don't want to have "disrupting" their locker room. Hodges' book contains the insights and wisdom for understanding Kaepernick's predicament, as well as activism and sports - and sometimes the lack thereof - among players today.
May 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and my only real complaint is that it's only 189 pages. Hodges covers a lot of ground, talking about his basketball career, dealing with racism, a surprising chapter about R. Kelly and how his social activism might have derailed his NBA career. There's stories about Michael Jordan and the 91 and 92 championship Bulls and cameos from Kobe Bryant, Dennis Rodman and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This should have been 300 pages.
June 19, 2019
A personal & heartfelt story about one black player's experience with balancing his professional life with his personal, in order to stay true to himself & the consequences that come with it. I love & applaud Craig's devotion to his people & I'm sad that more players didn't stand up with & for him & aren't like him. His story is very relatable, especially if you're on people like to label as a "radical". Definite recommend.
November 15, 2024
More of a 3.5 tbh. Not bad! I just don’t care much for basketball and this runs into the issue I have with autobiographies and memoirs where idk if I’ll fully trust some of the stuff you say! And not in a “I think you’re lying about key events or how you felt things play out” but mostly with quotes maybe? And especially cus my own memory of my life is foggy but still. Overall, SUPER interesting, just not really for me!
January 24, 2019
Quick read for sports fans. Gave some insight on the racism and placism in the NBA. I wasn’t surprised, just disappointed. A often wondered why Michael Jordan, OJ Simpson and other BIG athletes didn’t speak out on racial injustice...it can destroy a career. Ask Colin Kaepernick, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, or Craig Hodges...
April 23, 2020
I'm only 75% done with this book, but unless it jumps the shark the rating will be a 4 or 5. I started watching basketball in '93 and I've been a Bulls fan from that point. I dont recall Hodges playing in the league though.
Bulls fans will love the history of the game and the team history throughout the book. Urban readers will probably know who his musical houseguest was right away.
I admire Mr. Hodges for standing up for his beliefs. I'd heard stories of how Michael Jordan was spineless when asked to speak up regarding social issues. Well, if this book is to be believed, it confirms those stories times 10 and also puts Pippen and Horace Grant in the same boat. "I'm not black, I'm MJ."...OKAY. (that's not a quote from the book in case anyone was wondering. it's a spin from the 444 album)
Great read, and very relevant with the Kapernick situation.
I'm currently taking a Labor History grad class and I loved Hodges story on how Bill Russell and the guys of that era forced management's hand. Such a great read.
UPDATE - I finished the book and bumped the rating up to a 5. The only misstep that I saw from Hodges was the he ratted his teammates out (Jordan included) while they were on the same team. I agree with everything he said, and it doesn't appear that he stretched the truth at all. Yet, I can understand why calling them out publicly by name didn't go over so well. That being said, he didn't deserve 2 generations worth of blacklisting over that. I believe that the owners kept his son out of the league as well.
On a separate note, I have to give a posthumous shout to Tex Winter. His honorable behavior towards Craig throughout his entire adult life almost brought a tear to my eye. It's so amazing, ironic and sad that Mr. Hodges spent his life and lost his career advocating for black people, but it was a white man who reached back and pulled Craig back up. I can tell you that my kids will never wear a pair of Jordan sneakers if I have to purchase them.
Bulls fans will love the history of the game and the team history throughout the book. Urban readers will probably know who his musical houseguest was right away.
I admire Mr. Hodges for standing up for his beliefs. I'd heard stories of how Michael Jordan was spineless when asked to speak up regarding social issues. Well, if this book is to be believed, it confirms those stories times 10 and also puts Pippen and Horace Grant in the same boat. "I'm not black, I'm MJ."...OKAY. (that's not a quote from the book in case anyone was wondering. it's a spin from the 444 album)
Great read, and very relevant with the Kapernick situation.
I'm currently taking a Labor History grad class and I loved Hodges story on how Bill Russell and the guys of that era forced management's hand. Such a great read.
UPDATE - I finished the book and bumped the rating up to a 5. The only misstep that I saw from Hodges was the he ratted his teammates out (Jordan included) while they were on the same team. I agree with everything he said, and it doesn't appear that he stretched the truth at all. Yet, I can understand why calling them out publicly by name didn't go over so well. That being said, he didn't deserve 2 generations worth of blacklisting over that. I believe that the owners kept his son out of the league as well.
On a separate note, I have to give a posthumous shout to Tex Winter. His honorable behavior towards Craig throughout his entire adult life almost brought a tear to my eye. It's so amazing, ironic and sad that Mr. Hodges spent his life and lost his career advocating for black people, but it was a white man who reached back and pulled Craig back up. I can tell you that my kids will never wear a pair of Jordan sneakers if I have to purchase them.
June 11, 2021
Si hay algo a lo que una persona debe ser fiel, es a sus principios. Craig Hodges narra su periplo vital como activista por los derechos y contra el racismo de los afroamericanos así como atleta profesional en unas memorias escritas de manera certera, y que no dejan títere con cabeza (que tiene que perder aquel que no tiene nada). Muy recomendable.
December 30, 2021
I had no Idea
As a Bulls fan and virtually the same age as Craig, I had No idea that he was blackballed from the NBA? Very interesting read of his career in basketball and growing up 60 miles from where I live. My respect for Tex Winter legacy has grown immensely! Any basketball fan should read?
As a Bulls fan and virtually the same age as Craig, I had No idea that he was blackballed from the NBA? Very interesting read of his career in basketball and growing up 60 miles from where I live. My respect for Tex Winter legacy has grown immensely! Any basketball fan should read?
June 1, 2025
There was Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, whose counter-actions against the profit-driven league cost him his career; Craig Hodges went through the same thing in the 90s with a little less publicity (though I'm curious why Hodges didn't bring up Abdul-Rauf in his book). A short and worthwhile read for any hoops fan interested in players who do a lot for the community on and off the court.
June 5, 2019
Great Story
Should be required reading for every NBA player. Standing up for what’s right cost him his career. If all the players stood up with him, who knows what would have happened?
Should be required reading for every NBA player. Standing up for what’s right cost him his career. If all the players stood up with him, who knows what would have happened?
August 14, 2020
As far as Hodges represents the confluence of Black revolutionary politics, labor tension with bosses, and the trade-offs with NBA stardom, this was really interesting, jam packed with trivia, game recall (which I could not follow a whit), and surprising cameos.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews