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The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever
With unerring insight into the deeper truths of professional sports, John Feinstein explores in riveting detail what happened one night in December 1977 when, as a fistfight broke out on the court between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kermit Washington delivered a punch that nearly killed All-Star Rudy Tomjanovich. The punch-now legendary in the annals of American sports-radically changed the trajectory of both men's lives and reverberates throughout the National Basketball Association to this day. Feinstein's compelling investigation of this single cataclysmic incident and its aftermath casts a light on the NBA's darkest secrets, revealing the true price men pay when they choose a career in sports.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2002
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About the author
John Feinstein
75 books591 followersJohn Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
May 17, 2020
"I began to think my actual name was 'Kermit Washington, who in December of 1977 threw the punch that almost killed Rudy Tomjanovich . . . '" -- Washington, to author Feinstein, on page 269
Outstanding triple-threat of a book - skillfully combining late 20th century U.S. sports history with sociological and biographical elements - detailing the 'stone thrown into still water' effect in regards to the evening of December 9, 1977. During a regular season NBA game between the Houston Rockets at the Los Angeles Lakers, Rockets' forward Rudy Tomjanovich was on the receiving end of one punch to the face by Lakers' forward Kermit Washington during a minor flare-up between other teammates. (Both of these athletes had reputations as good, if not great, performers who were never particularly problematic with fights on the court.) Tomjanovich sustained fairly severe injuries - a physician noted that brain fluid was leaking down into his mouth (!) - requiring several surgeries.
Author Feinstein goes in several directions here but makes it look easy. Starting with the night of said infamous incident, he details the NBA's response to the violence as well as then providing background on the two men 25 years before and after that night. Instead of the routine or expected study of contrasts, Washington and Tomjanovich - though sort of different personality-wise - both actually came from similar circumstances in terms of hometowns, parental issues, late-blooming basketball talent, and studious nature. However, even in that pre-YouTube and social media era, 'the punch' continued to follow (haunt?) both men throughout their varied careers. Since I don't really follow professional basketball this was all new to me, and Feinstein did a great job of fleshing out this story via copious interviews (wives, teammates, coaches, reporters) and keeping it coherent.
Outstanding triple-threat of a book - skillfully combining late 20th century U.S. sports history with sociological and biographical elements - detailing the 'stone thrown into still water' effect in regards to the evening of December 9, 1977. During a regular season NBA game between the Houston Rockets at the Los Angeles Lakers, Rockets' forward Rudy Tomjanovich was on the receiving end of one punch to the face by Lakers' forward Kermit Washington during a minor flare-up between other teammates. (Both of these athletes had reputations as good, if not great, performers who were never particularly problematic with fights on the court.) Tomjanovich sustained fairly severe injuries - a physician noted that brain fluid was leaking down into his mouth (!) - requiring several surgeries.
Author Feinstein goes in several directions here but makes it look easy. Starting with the night of said infamous incident, he details the NBA's response to the violence as well as then providing background on the two men 25 years before and after that night. Instead of the routine or expected study of contrasts, Washington and Tomjanovich - though sort of different personality-wise - both actually came from similar circumstances in terms of hometowns, parental issues, late-blooming basketball talent, and studious nature. However, even in that pre-YouTube and social media era, 'the punch' continued to follow (haunt?) both men throughout their varied careers. Since I don't really follow professional basketball this was all new to me, and Feinstein did a great job of fleshing out this story via copious interviews (wives, teammates, coaches, reporters) and keeping it coherent.
April 2, 2025
One act of senseless violence changes everything...for the two men involved and professional sports. Rarely does a single act have such wide repercussions. The sad part about this story is it should not be what defined the two men involved; but so often it is just when we are acting at our worse when most eyes are on us. Ask Will Smith if you don't believe me.
September 17, 2012
outstanding little known piece of basketball history
January 29, 2008
the best and only sports-oriented book i've ever read. so, with that in mind, i would highly recommend this engrossing book. good read for a sociologist, historian, social justice oriented mind. the timing of this historical event is very relevant to the story, but it's also about two very good basketball players and one moment that changed both their lives for good.
December 24, 2019
Very compelling retelling of one of the most pivotal sports happenings of the 20th century. I learned from it and came to sympathize with all of the principles.
December 21, 2021
December 9, 1977; Los Angeles Forum. Straight into a game between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets, a fight breaks out. Rudy Tomjanovich (Rockets) runs in to try and calm things down, separate the guys involved. He will be brutally stopped by Kermit Washington (Lakers) who, seeing him coming from the back and assuming he would assault him, threw him a punch straight into the face. It's an horrible image, well-known by NBA fans: Tomajanovich flinch, then collapse on the court. He curl himself up. Blood is spilling all around him. A eerie silence pervades the arena. It's a shock, and, following these barely 10 seconds of violence, the face of American basketball will never be the same again. The NBA will never be known as it was until then.
Fights, back then, were common. We were still in the dark age of the league. Born in 1946, the big names usually associated with the NBA (Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan...) were not playing yet. Games were physical and aggressive, leading to constant and recurring fights (41 in 1976 alone!). Violence, in fact, was doing more than giving a bad reputation to the sport, it was also such a problem that drastic measures had been implemented to address these players having a reputation for being brawlers on the court (e.g. fees increased from $500 to $10,000, suspensions were extended from 5 days only to undetermined period -Washington will receive 60 days).
However, the episode Tomjanovich-Washington, by its brutality, went beyond, way beyond, a mere fist fight. The powerfulness of the punch remains difficult to grasp: Tomajanovich will be rushed to A&E, with his face so deformed by the impact (his skull was dislocated, spinal fluid dripping into his mouth) that he will necessitate 5 surgical operations to have it back. If, two decades later, he would make history as the coach who will lead the Houston Rockets to win their first NBA championship (in 1994, with Hakeem Olajuwon...) the punch will also mark the end of his career as a player. Kermit Washington, him, would be no less affected. Living under constant threat, as a player he would be considered a burden, shipped from team to team like an unwelcomed parcel no one wants to deal with, until his retirement, when no one would want to employ him as coach or assistant either, the punch he threw that night having turned him into a pariahs for the league.
John Feinstein, sports journalist and writer, does more that retelling the event. He gives us to see its consequences, moving and surprising, for the two men involved. He doesn't spare difficult questions either -for instance, in tackling the racism which will invite itself into the affair (Tomjanovich was White, Washington was Black, and this was a nasty cocktail in the 1970s' USA...). He retells, also, how such punch would radically change the NBA, a league which became since then extremely severe against any form of violence. Thing is, if violence is never acceptable in sports, when it involves athletes of such physical strength it's more than intolerable, it's very dangerous too.
Here's a nice read, then, too detailed maybe, repetitive at times, but, rich in interviews and point of views which will fascinate sports fans, even beyond basketball. There are some other sports, for sure, that could learn a great deal from such harrowing history...
Fights, back then, were common. We were still in the dark age of the league. Born in 1946, the big names usually associated with the NBA (Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan...) were not playing yet. Games were physical and aggressive, leading to constant and recurring fights (41 in 1976 alone!). Violence, in fact, was doing more than giving a bad reputation to the sport, it was also such a problem that drastic measures had been implemented to address these players having a reputation for being brawlers on the court (e.g. fees increased from $500 to $10,000, suspensions were extended from 5 days only to undetermined period -Washington will receive 60 days).
However, the episode Tomjanovich-Washington, by its brutality, went beyond, way beyond, a mere fist fight. The powerfulness of the punch remains difficult to grasp: Tomajanovich will be rushed to A&E, with his face so deformed by the impact (his skull was dislocated, spinal fluid dripping into his mouth) that he will necessitate 5 surgical operations to have it back. If, two decades later, he would make history as the coach who will lead the Houston Rockets to win their first NBA championship (in 1994, with Hakeem Olajuwon...) the punch will also mark the end of his career as a player. Kermit Washington, him, would be no less affected. Living under constant threat, as a player he would be considered a burden, shipped from team to team like an unwelcomed parcel no one wants to deal with, until his retirement, when no one would want to employ him as coach or assistant either, the punch he threw that night having turned him into a pariahs for the league.
John Feinstein, sports journalist and writer, does more that retelling the event. He gives us to see its consequences, moving and surprising, for the two men involved. He doesn't spare difficult questions either -for instance, in tackling the racism which will invite itself into the affair (Tomjanovich was White, Washington was Black, and this was a nasty cocktail in the 1970s' USA...). He retells, also, how such punch would radically change the NBA, a league which became since then extremely severe against any form of violence. Thing is, if violence is never acceptable in sports, when it involves athletes of such physical strength it's more than intolerable, it's very dangerous too.
Here's a nice read, then, too detailed maybe, repetitive at times, but, rich in interviews and point of views which will fascinate sports fans, even beyond basketball. There are some other sports, for sure, that could learn a great deal from such harrowing history...
September 29, 2017
One cold December night in 1977, the sports world would be rocked to its core. It was about two weeks into the 1977-1978 NBA season, and the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers were involved in a close, chippy game. Near the beginning of the second half a small skirmish erupted. Soon, a Laker landed a punch on a member of the Rockets, and All-Star Rudy Tomjanovich ran over to the fight to be a peacekeeper. That would be the last thing he would remember for a long time. As he was running closer, the Laker’s 6-foot-8-inch power forward Kermit Washington landed one of the most historic punches in sports history. Tomjanovich suffered a fractured skull, broken jaw, broken nose, and a leakage of spinal fluid. He was told that it was very likely he would not survive his injuries. Tomjanovich went on to lengthy recovery and many surgeries, and that punch would change sports and how it is viewed forever.
Although The Punch is an incredibly important and resonant story, I feel that the way it is written makes it appeal to only extreme sports fans. The structuring reveals the climax very early in the story, and leaves the last 150 pages to explain how the incident changed sports in general. I feel that by making the story more focused on Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, it would be a more interesting read for a wider audience.
Besides altering the timing, I feel that more information about the present would make the story feel more important. By including how that punch still alters someone’s favorite NBA team today, the story would not only feel more powerful, but also appeal to younger generations. With just a few tweaks, this book’s theme could become much more than just sportsmanship in athletics.
Although The Punch is an incredibly important and resonant story, I feel that the way it is written makes it appeal to only extreme sports fans. The structuring reveals the climax very early in the story, and leaves the last 150 pages to explain how the incident changed sports in general. I feel that by making the story more focused on Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, it would be a more interesting read for a wider audience.
Besides altering the timing, I feel that more information about the present would make the story feel more important. By including how that punch still alters someone’s favorite NBA team today, the story would not only feel more powerful, but also appeal to younger generations. With just a few tweaks, this book’s theme could become much more than just sportsmanship in athletics.
October 26, 2016
A very interesting, eventful, detailed book based on a true story in December of 1977. This book takes place in Los Angeles, California in an NBA game between the LA Lakers and the Houston Rockets. About 1 minute into the third quarter, a fight broke out between the two teams. Rockets power forward Rudy Tomjanovich ran into the fight in an attempt to break it up. Lakers power forward Kermit Washington did not know Tomjanovich was trying to break up the fight and thought he was going to be attacked. In an act of what some believe to be self defense and others believe to be a despicable, unnecessary move, Kermit punched Rudy so hard it nearly killed him . This punch changed both men's lives dramatically and is one of the most infamous moments in sports to this day. Fienstien thoroughly explains how the punch affected everyone in Washington's and Tomjanovich's lives saying "While Tomjanovich was in the hospital dealing with great physical pain, Pat Washington (Kermit's wife) was dealing with pain of a different kind at home"(Fienstien, pg.90). Pat Washington was one of many people that was part of either Kermit or Rudy's life and was negatively affected from his incident.
I had previously heard about this event before, but Fienstien put it into a whole new perspective for me. I was shocked reading about how many people this punch affected and how big of an impact it had on the NBA itself. I was also skeptical when I first started reading this book because I thought it would have a lot of unnecessary information due to how large the book was for it to just be about a punch. However, Fienstien filled every page with new, interesting information. I was never bored or unentertained when reading the book. This book also surprised me by demonstrating how different the NBA was in the 70's than it is today. Basketball in the 70's had different teams, rules, salaries, and consequences compared to today. Overall, this book exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to anybody.
I had previously heard about this event before, but Fienstien put it into a whole new perspective for me. I was shocked reading about how many people this punch affected and how big of an impact it had on the NBA itself. I was also skeptical when I first started reading this book because I thought it would have a lot of unnecessary information due to how large the book was for it to just be about a punch. However, Fienstien filled every page with new, interesting information. I was never bored or unentertained when reading the book. This book also surprised me by demonstrating how different the NBA was in the 70's than it is today. Basketball in the 70's had different teams, rules, salaries, and consequences compared to today. Overall, this book exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to anybody.
July 30, 2009
"Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and hoping the other guy gets sick."
That was basketball legend Rudy Tomjanovich learned on one of the darkest nights in NBA history.
The Houston Rockets were playing the L.A. Lakers. Kermit Washington, an L.A. Laker hired largely as an on-court enforcer/bodyguard for Kareem Abdul Jabar, gets in a fight with the Rocket's center. Tomjanovich, an upstanding though possibly naive superstar, runs to help the player Washington has floored. Washington, the former street kid with the street instincts, has gone into full gang fight mode. He hears somebody running up behind him, loads up those massive arms, and just as Tomjanovich arrives, arms low-face unguarded, Washington swings around and unloads.
Tomjanovich's skull was broken in half--and that is NOT an exaggeration. People stare at Tomjanovich as he gets up. He thinks it is because he has a broken nose. he even wants to get back in the game.
Washington, now acting like a dog in a fight, tries to coax Tomjanovich into another round as he is rushed to the hospital, all the while saying, "No, I have to get back to the game."
Only when his doctor explains that the "funny taste in his mouth" is actually brain fluid does Tomjanovich realize how much damage has been done.
Don't worry, this was not a spoiler. All of this is explained in the opening moments of the book. The rest of the story tells how one really awful split-second decision ruins the career of one man and the life of another.
That was basketball legend Rudy Tomjanovich learned on one of the darkest nights in NBA history.
The Houston Rockets were playing the L.A. Lakers. Kermit Washington, an L.A. Laker hired largely as an on-court enforcer/bodyguard for Kareem Abdul Jabar, gets in a fight with the Rocket's center. Tomjanovich, an upstanding though possibly naive superstar, runs to help the player Washington has floored. Washington, the former street kid with the street instincts, has gone into full gang fight mode. He hears somebody running up behind him, loads up those massive arms, and just as Tomjanovich arrives, arms low-face unguarded, Washington swings around and unloads.
Tomjanovich's skull was broken in half--and that is NOT an exaggeration. People stare at Tomjanovich as he gets up. He thinks it is because he has a broken nose. he even wants to get back in the game.
Washington, now acting like a dog in a fight, tries to coax Tomjanovich into another round as he is rushed to the hospital, all the while saying, "No, I have to get back to the game."
Only when his doctor explains that the "funny taste in his mouth" is actually brain fluid does Tomjanovich realize how much damage has been done.
Don't worry, this was not a spoiler. All of this is explained in the opening moments of the book. The rest of the story tells how one really awful split-second decision ruins the career of one man and the life of another.
May 13, 2010
In 1977, Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington became entwined in a single punch that would change not only their lives, but how professional basketball is played today. Because the punch dislodged Tomjanovich's skull and nearly destroyed both men's careers, the scuffle never settled as a dusty bit of NBA trivia. Instead, it nearly superseded both men's notable achievements. The history of that punch (it could not, by any standards, be considered a fight) and the fate of the two men are the subjects of John Feinstein's The Punch.
In the early days of the NBA, teams had their stars and their "enforcers." Enforcers such as Washington protected star players on the court with their willingness to mix it up. With concise prose, Feinstein reports on this era, following strings of trades, drafts, and personal relationships to their nexus. Those who do not think about basketball on a statistical level may occasionally find themselves lost, but Feinstein, ever conscious of his subject, ties the tangents neatly to the core of the scuffle that led to the infamous punch.
Thorough and thoughtful, Feinstein does not make any excuses, nor does he vilify. He simply traces the web of both men's lives back to their adolescent years when it was not about the NBA, nor the punch, but about the game. Anyone who has ever wondered about these two men, or the history of the NBA, will want to read this book. --Karin Rosman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Feinstein's latest (after The Last Amateurs) tears the scab off one of the deepest wounds in the history of professional sports. In 1977, during a Lakers-Rockets match, L.A. forward Kermit Washington forever altered the course of his career and that of Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich when he threw a punch that nearly killed the Rockets' captain. From that moment on, each man's life became defined by the incident and its aftermath. Seamlessly weaving the event itself into the fabric of pro basketball's rocky pre-Magic/Bird/Jordan history of constantly relocating franchises, dismal television support and chronic violence, Feinstein tells a moving story of two men branded by a moment frozen in time, and how the incident changed the game it could well have destroyed.
The narrative never gets mired in the fawning sycophantism of many sports books or the moral proselytizing of many others. Feinstein's research is sharp, and his time line jumps around effortlessly, like a good Quentin Tarantino film. Most importantly, the author sustains the balance between Washington's burden of guilt and the genuine misfortune that has followed him since. He's a sympathetic character, almost uniformly described as a smart, good-hearted man bearing the never-healing scar of the one great mistake in his life. Yet he is by no means the saint he might have us believe him to be. Feinstein's portrait of each man is compelling; neither is lionized or demonized. Rather, the complexity of the incident and the depth of the personal trauma for both Tomjanovich and Washington fester under the author's microscope in this excellent and engaging book.
In the early days of the NBA, teams had their stars and their "enforcers." Enforcers such as Washington protected star players on the court with their willingness to mix it up. With concise prose, Feinstein reports on this era, following strings of trades, drafts, and personal relationships to their nexus. Those who do not think about basketball on a statistical level may occasionally find themselves lost, but Feinstein, ever conscious of his subject, ties the tangents neatly to the core of the scuffle that led to the infamous punch.
Thorough and thoughtful, Feinstein does not make any excuses, nor does he vilify. He simply traces the web of both men's lives back to their adolescent years when it was not about the NBA, nor the punch, but about the game. Anyone who has ever wondered about these two men, or the history of the NBA, will want to read this book. --Karin Rosman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Feinstein's latest (after The Last Amateurs) tears the scab off one of the deepest wounds in the history of professional sports. In 1977, during a Lakers-Rockets match, L.A. forward Kermit Washington forever altered the course of his career and that of Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich when he threw a punch that nearly killed the Rockets' captain. From that moment on, each man's life became defined by the incident and its aftermath. Seamlessly weaving the event itself into the fabric of pro basketball's rocky pre-Magic/Bird/Jordan history of constantly relocating franchises, dismal television support and chronic violence, Feinstein tells a moving story of two men branded by a moment frozen in time, and how the incident changed the game it could well have destroyed.
The narrative never gets mired in the fawning sycophantism of many sports books or the moral proselytizing of many others. Feinstein's research is sharp, and his time line jumps around effortlessly, like a good Quentin Tarantino film. Most importantly, the author sustains the balance between Washington's burden of guilt and the genuine misfortune that has followed him since. He's a sympathetic character, almost uniformly described as a smart, good-hearted man bearing the never-healing scar of the one great mistake in his life. Yet he is by no means the saint he might have us believe him to be. Feinstein's portrait of each man is compelling; neither is lionized or demonized. Rather, the complexity of the incident and the depth of the personal trauma for both Tomjanovich and Washington fester under the author's microscope in this excellent and engaging book.
December 22, 2014
In the book The Punch, by John Feinstein, a life changing fight breaks out during a Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets basketball game. In the month of December, in 1977, L.A. Lakers power forward Kermit Washington sent a near death blow to Rudy Tomjanovich’s face. The sound of the punch was resonant, and could be heard all the way in the back of the arena. No one had ever seen someone deliver such a catastrophic punch.
This thrilling sports book tells the story of how one single punch had affected no just Rudy Tomjanovich, but Kermit Washington, and the rest of the NBA. Kermit Washington, a moderately good basketball player, and the “enforcer” of the team had never been labeled as such a bad guy. Off the court, he was a nice and simplistic guy, but on the court, he was ruthless by default. His primary job was not only to play basketball, but to protect their best player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At the other end of the tale, Rudy Tomjanovich was a former Michigan student and in the NBA, was an exceptional shooter. He too, was a friendly guy who didn’t want to get into fights, but if he had to, he would intervene to stop one. That night during the game, a small scuffle broke out between Kevin Kunnert and Kermit Washington. Kermit Washington had punched Kunnert and Tomjanovich ran to intercede the fight. Kermit Washington has suddenly turned around and punched Tomjanovich in the face, sending his head immediately to the court. In the months that followed, many people had drastically changed. Tomjanovich had to go through a facial reconstruction and months of rehab. Kermit Washington was suspended from the NBA for about 90 days and had been dropped by the Lakers. He was later signed by the Celtics. The NBA turned into a very superstitious league. They hired more referees per game to prevent another scary incident like the Washington fight.
I thought that this sports book was amazing. It was a real page-turner. My intentions were to learn more about the history of the NBA and this book has definitely exceeded my expectations. Feinstein wrote about each characters lives before and after this event. I was amazed by how the author represented the information. He gathered past information from the people who were there at the time of the event. One thing I would change would be the order in which the information was represented. In the beginning, Feinstein describes the fight, but then, leaves out what happens to Tomjanovich at the hospital soon after the fight. I would recommend this book to any sports fanatic out there, no matter what age, looking to gain more information about the history of the NBA.
This thrilling sports book tells the story of how one single punch had affected no just Rudy Tomjanovich, but Kermit Washington, and the rest of the NBA. Kermit Washington, a moderately good basketball player, and the “enforcer” of the team had never been labeled as such a bad guy. Off the court, he was a nice and simplistic guy, but on the court, he was ruthless by default. His primary job was not only to play basketball, but to protect their best player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At the other end of the tale, Rudy Tomjanovich was a former Michigan student and in the NBA, was an exceptional shooter. He too, was a friendly guy who didn’t want to get into fights, but if he had to, he would intervene to stop one. That night during the game, a small scuffle broke out between Kevin Kunnert and Kermit Washington. Kermit Washington had punched Kunnert and Tomjanovich ran to intercede the fight. Kermit Washington has suddenly turned around and punched Tomjanovich in the face, sending his head immediately to the court. In the months that followed, many people had drastically changed. Tomjanovich had to go through a facial reconstruction and months of rehab. Kermit Washington was suspended from the NBA for about 90 days and had been dropped by the Lakers. He was later signed by the Celtics. The NBA turned into a very superstitious league. They hired more referees per game to prevent another scary incident like the Washington fight.
I thought that this sports book was amazing. It was a real page-turner. My intentions were to learn more about the history of the NBA and this book has definitely exceeded my expectations. Feinstein wrote about each characters lives before and after this event. I was amazed by how the author represented the information. He gathered past information from the people who were there at the time of the event. One thing I would change would be the order in which the information was represented. In the beginning, Feinstein describes the fight, but then, leaves out what happens to Tomjanovich at the hospital soon after the fight. I would recommend this book to any sports fanatic out there, no matter what age, looking to gain more information about the history of the NBA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2013
Book Review By : Ceashia Miller
Book Title: The Punch
Book Author : John Feinstein
Main Idea - The main idea of this book , is to explain what had actually taken place between Tom & Kermit during their NBA career.
Attention Grabber - Did you know that the force of the punch Kermit Washington Threw To Tomjanovich’s face , forced his skull to move out of place.
Body -
December 1977 when a fistfight broke out on the court between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers , Kermit Washington threw a punch that nearly killed all star Rudy Tomjanovich . Causing spinal fluid to leak into his body . It took 5 surgeries to try to undo the damage from one lousy punch. At this point Washington is furious . His Bizarre behavior immediately after the punch , he is remorseless and so ready to go after tomjanovich again , near the locker rooms .
It wasn't until Washington left the arena that he finally understood he had done something very wrong . Even then he understood not because of his common sense and not because of what he had seen on the court .What registered with Washington were the words the parking attendant “ Kermit your in a lot of trouble , Big trouble .
Setting -The Story Took place on (December 9, 1977) in L.A. During a Lakers -Rockets NBA Match.
Plot - The Punch explains how the paths of Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington crossed that night in what was really more an accident .
Character(s) -
Rudy Tomjanovich
Kermit Washington - Author describes as a mindless brute , ready to fight at any provocation.
Theme - A harrowing hay maker thrown by Kermit Washington that nearly killed Ruby Tomjanovich in a 1977 NBA
Conclusion - Author /Style - In the introduction feinstein tells us how compelling he found this subject and he pursued Tom and Washington rather than writing a book on golf. feinstein was frequently redundant in mentioning the details of the incident over more than one chapter. I would have liked feinstein to have done more in depth exploration on the race played into this incident.
Book Title: The Punch
Book Author : John Feinstein
Main Idea - The main idea of this book , is to explain what had actually taken place between Tom & Kermit during their NBA career.
Attention Grabber - Did you know that the force of the punch Kermit Washington Threw To Tomjanovich’s face , forced his skull to move out of place.
Body -
December 1977 when a fistfight broke out on the court between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers , Kermit Washington threw a punch that nearly killed all star Rudy Tomjanovich . Causing spinal fluid to leak into his body . It took 5 surgeries to try to undo the damage from one lousy punch. At this point Washington is furious . His Bizarre behavior immediately after the punch , he is remorseless and so ready to go after tomjanovich again , near the locker rooms .
It wasn't until Washington left the arena that he finally understood he had done something very wrong . Even then he understood not because of his common sense and not because of what he had seen on the court .What registered with Washington were the words the parking attendant “ Kermit your in a lot of trouble , Big trouble .
Setting -The Story Took place on (December 9, 1977) in L.A. During a Lakers -Rockets NBA Match.
Plot - The Punch explains how the paths of Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington crossed that night in what was really more an accident .
Character(s) -
Rudy Tomjanovich
Kermit Washington - Author describes as a mindless brute , ready to fight at any provocation.
Theme - A harrowing hay maker thrown by Kermit Washington that nearly killed Ruby Tomjanovich in a 1977 NBA
Conclusion - Author /Style - In the introduction feinstein tells us how compelling he found this subject and he pursued Tom and Washington rather than writing a book on golf. feinstein was frequently redundant in mentioning the details of the incident over more than one chapter. I would have liked feinstein to have done more in depth exploration on the race played into this incident.
December 19, 2007
Such a good book. I read this a while ago, but basically this book is about the worst fight ever in NBA history, in 1977, in a game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA was rampant with fights and drugs at the time, and this was kind of the culmination of the escalation of this period.
Rudy Tomjanovich, a star forward for the Rockets was entangled with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the star for the Lakers. Kevin Kunnert, an enforcer/forward with the Rockets set out to break it up and Kermit Washington, also an enforcer and forward for the Lakers, came over to help Jabbar. Washington reacted quickly when he saw a punch being thrown and threw a punch of his own and directly landed it into Tomjanovich's face. Washington was 6'9'' and about 240 pounds so it was like a train wreck.
A train wreck pretty simply describes Washington's life thereafter, being somewhat blackballed afterward in the NBA and being shunned by Tomjanovich. Washington's life spiraled out of control, his wife left him, his finances went downhill, and if anyone had tried to find out the true story, like Feinstein did, they would find that all the while Washington was largely the same as he'd ever been: a humble, gentle, good person who was caught in the wrong place and that one split second changed his life forever.
Tomjanovich had to have a lot of facial surgery but his life recovered and he became a successful NBA coach. However, he has since refused to talk or forgive Washington, and basically the story ends unresolved. However, that is not Feinstein's fault. He analyzes the fight and the aftermath from every conceivable angle, and I can see why people would think this book is repetitive. But, to me it was not and it was a terrific read. You do not have to be a basketball fan to find this book engaging and interesting from start to finish as it is about more than simply one basketball game; but rather the aftermath of a truly tumultuous and traumatic occasion.
Rudy Tomjanovich, a star forward for the Rockets was entangled with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the star for the Lakers. Kevin Kunnert, an enforcer/forward with the Rockets set out to break it up and Kermit Washington, also an enforcer and forward for the Lakers, came over to help Jabbar. Washington reacted quickly when he saw a punch being thrown and threw a punch of his own and directly landed it into Tomjanovich's face. Washington was 6'9'' and about 240 pounds so it was like a train wreck.
A train wreck pretty simply describes Washington's life thereafter, being somewhat blackballed afterward in the NBA and being shunned by Tomjanovich. Washington's life spiraled out of control, his wife left him, his finances went downhill, and if anyone had tried to find out the true story, like Feinstein did, they would find that all the while Washington was largely the same as he'd ever been: a humble, gentle, good person who was caught in the wrong place and that one split second changed his life forever.
Tomjanovich had to have a lot of facial surgery but his life recovered and he became a successful NBA coach. However, he has since refused to talk or forgive Washington, and basically the story ends unresolved. However, that is not Feinstein's fault. He analyzes the fight and the aftermath from every conceivable angle, and I can see why people would think this book is repetitive. But, to me it was not and it was a terrific read. You do not have to be a basketball fan to find this book engaging and interesting from start to finish as it is about more than simply one basketball game; but rather the aftermath of a truly tumultuous and traumatic occasion.
June 29, 2012
I'm not a huge basketball fan. But this story sounded interesting enough, and I always like reading about how professional sports were played in earlier times. John Feinstein is such a good storyteller. This book could have been a newspaper or magazine article, but John does what he does best, and digs in to get the full story. In fact, we're told the story of the punch three times. The first time on fast speed, without a lot of background. Then he goes through the story a bit slower, with lots of focus on the fight, and a bit more background. And then finally, he really starts at the beginning, and goes through the players lives leading up to the punch, and following them from the punch to the present day.
The punch itself was not just a turning point in both these players lives, but also the league in general. While you hardly ever see a fight in basketball these days, back in the 70's it was a lot more commonplace. The NBA had been trying to crack down on fighting when this occurred. After the fight, there was no question that the league would try to eliminate fighting completly. While any news story covering them from that point foward would mention the fight, and most people who recognized them on the street, only talked about thr fight, Feinstein reveals two complete human beings, who have done a lot more to be known for. Kermit is a lot more than the goonish thug he was often classified as, many of the people who knew him best were completly shocked by what happened. He's someone who was a good student at a good college, who does considerable charity work. And while everyone recognizes he made a mistake that day, theres a lot more to say about him than he nearly killed someone during a basketball game. Rudy is also someone who has had a remarkable life, both as a player and a coach. And Feinstein proves there are a lot of interesting stories to tell about him besides that one night.
The punch itself was not just a turning point in both these players lives, but also the league in general. While you hardly ever see a fight in basketball these days, back in the 70's it was a lot more commonplace. The NBA had been trying to crack down on fighting when this occurred. After the fight, there was no question that the league would try to eliminate fighting completly. While any news story covering them from that point foward would mention the fight, and most people who recognized them on the street, only talked about thr fight, Feinstein reveals two complete human beings, who have done a lot more to be known for. Kermit is a lot more than the goonish thug he was often classified as, many of the people who knew him best were completly shocked by what happened. He's someone who was a good student at a good college, who does considerable charity work. And while everyone recognizes he made a mistake that day, theres a lot more to say about him than he nearly killed someone during a basketball game. Rudy is also someone who has had a remarkable life, both as a player and a coach. And Feinstein proves there are a lot of interesting stories to tell about him besides that one night.
November 19, 2015
What did I think of "THE PUNCH"? I think this is a okay book. This book taught me a lot of stuff about the NBA. This book was about the event that changed basketball. This book is a explanation for a lot of things. This book is something I could have read again based on the quality of it.Also I think that if the NBA was like this now it would not be as electrifying. This incident was between Kevin Kunnett, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,and Kermit Washington. It started off subtle but it got nasty. I will tell you much more about this book.
I liked many things about this book but there's also things that the author could change. I don't like how the author continued to say the same thing for example he told the punch story with the same words 3 times. I can understand why but I was reading and thought to myself didn't I already read this. I liked how he gave lots of details for the scenario although he said it 3 times he gave perspectives from different people. I also like how he gave background information about the people in the scenario. I liked how he connected this to modern day basketball and why it is how it is. Lastly i think the author could have told lest about outside thing. My thoughts on this book were mostly positive but with a couple changes this could have been perfect. Lastly I like how he told how "THE PUNCH" impacted there lives in basketball and in there families.
I highly recommend this book to basketball lovers. I think this is why I couldn't stop reading it kept teaching me new things.This book will explain to you why the refs act the way they do. John Feinstein you get a thumbs up form me. Overall I really like this book and you would too.
I liked many things about this book but there's also things that the author could change. I don't like how the author continued to say the same thing for example he told the punch story with the same words 3 times. I can understand why but I was reading and thought to myself didn't I already read this. I liked how he gave lots of details for the scenario although he said it 3 times he gave perspectives from different people. I also like how he gave background information about the people in the scenario. I liked how he connected this to modern day basketball and why it is how it is. Lastly i think the author could have told lest about outside thing. My thoughts on this book were mostly positive but with a couple changes this could have been perfect. Lastly I like how he told how "THE PUNCH" impacted there lives in basketball and in there families.
I highly recommend this book to basketball lovers. I think this is why I couldn't stop reading it kept teaching me new things.This book will explain to you why the refs act the way they do. John Feinstein you get a thumbs up form me. Overall I really like this book and you would too.
August 24, 2007
On 12/9/77 in a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, an altercation began Kermit Washington and Kevin Kunnert, as was quite common during that era. While running in the direction of the altercation, Rudy Tomjanovich was struck with a punch by Kermit Washington. This punch was so forceful that Tomjanovich later said that it felt like the scoreboard had fallen on him. Indeed, Tomjanovich was nearly killed. This book is about those few seconds, but it is really about much more. Indeed, this book is a biography of Washington and Tomjanovich and recounts how the event impacted their respective lives.
Kermit Washington is a good, honorable and decent man, of that I have no doubt. Although I completely concur that he did not willfully intend to harm Tomjanovich or willfully indeed for the punch to do so much damage, the simple fact of the matter is that he put these events in motion. Despite all the good things he has done in his life, Kermit Washington has never accepted responsibility for these events. (You get the feeling that he is not fully aware of the principle of causation in torts.) Blaming Kevin Kunnert for the entire event, alleging a conspiracy on behalf of the NBA, Kermit has done all of these in more. Although he is indeed a sympathetic figure, I think Mr. Washington’s fortuntes would improve if he did as Calvin Murphy has suggested and simply said “I’m sorry” and dropped the “but” portion from his apology.
Kermit Washington is a good, honorable and decent man, of that I have no doubt. Although I completely concur that he did not willfully intend to harm Tomjanovich or willfully indeed for the punch to do so much damage, the simple fact of the matter is that he put these events in motion. Despite all the good things he has done in his life, Kermit Washington has never accepted responsibility for these events. (You get the feeling that he is not fully aware of the principle of causation in torts.) Blaming Kevin Kunnert for the entire event, alleging a conspiracy on behalf of the NBA, Kermit has done all of these in more. Although he is indeed a sympathetic figure, I think Mr. Washington’s fortuntes would improve if he did as Calvin Murphy has suggested and simply said “I’m sorry” and dropped the “but” portion from his apology.
November 19, 2015
The Punch by John Feinstein is about one fight changed basketball forever. One night in 1977 a fight broke out on the Court between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kermit Washington punched Rudy Tomjanovich and almost killed him. The punch is now known as soon as you bring up either one of the players names. This punch changed the way the NBA is now. The NBA takes fights very serious so if you do it you will be suspended or fined.
There is a lot of things I like about this book, and there is not a lot of things don't like. One reason I like this book is because it is about sports and action and I like them both. Another reason why I like this book is because I wanted to know what happened to the players that were fighting, did the teams do good without them , and did they get in trouble. The last reason why I like this is that I found out everything I wanted to know. My first and only reason why I don't like this book is because of the way Kermit hit Rudy. I didn't like that because Kermit almost killed Rudy the way he punched him but those are the only reason I have.
I recommend The Punch because you will really enjoy it. I think you will enjoy it because the way the author talks about incident is amazing and it will keep you reading the book, you will probably want to read it again because it is so good. Those are my thoughts on the book and I will think you will enjoy it!
There is a lot of things I like about this book, and there is not a lot of things don't like. One reason I like this book is because it is about sports and action and I like them both. Another reason why I like this book is because I wanted to know what happened to the players that were fighting, did the teams do good without them , and did they get in trouble. The last reason why I like this is that I found out everything I wanted to know. My first and only reason why I don't like this book is because of the way Kermit hit Rudy. I didn't like that because Kermit almost killed Rudy the way he punched him but those are the only reason I have.
I recommend The Punch because you will really enjoy it. I think you will enjoy it because the way the author talks about incident is amazing and it will keep you reading the book, you will probably want to read it again because it is so good. Those are my thoughts on the book and I will think you will enjoy it!
April 18, 2008
A well-written and engrossing look at one moment that changed the lives not only of the two men involved, but as the title suggests, the entire sport of basketball.
Feinstein did a great job of looking at the context of the punch, not just the one moment that gets shown every time there's a particularly violent act in professional sports. He told the life stories of both Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, giving them both more depth than they get as a shorthand reference in today's sports culture. He neither condemns nor absolves Washington - or anyone else, for that matter - and he gives equal voice to every version of the incident, and there are many.
It's a powerful book, because this one adrenaline-driven moment really did shape the rest of both of their lives, and not for the positive. Feinstein chose the right topic, because there was plenty to talk about, pre- and post-punch.
My one complaint is the odd repetition: he worked his way up to the punch, giving a quick bio and profile of all the people involved, and then repeated himself frequently when he delved further into their lives after focusing on the moment itself in the first few chapters. Especially odd because he not only covered the same information and events, he used the same quotes and the same phrasing as he had before. It felt very copy and paste for a stretch.
Feinstein did a great job of looking at the context of the punch, not just the one moment that gets shown every time there's a particularly violent act in professional sports. He told the life stories of both Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, giving them both more depth than they get as a shorthand reference in today's sports culture. He neither condemns nor absolves Washington - or anyone else, for that matter - and he gives equal voice to every version of the incident, and there are many.
It's a powerful book, because this one adrenaline-driven moment really did shape the rest of both of their lives, and not for the positive. Feinstein chose the right topic, because there was plenty to talk about, pre- and post-punch.
My one complaint is the odd repetition: he worked his way up to the punch, giving a quick bio and profile of all the people involved, and then repeated himself frequently when he delved further into their lives after focusing on the moment itself in the first few chapters. Especially odd because he not only covered the same information and events, he used the same quotes and the same phrasing as he had before. It felt very copy and paste for a stretch.
August 25, 2011
Although I love sports in general, basketball is one that really leaves me cold. Freakishly talented and physically imposing as these athletes are, I can't get motivated to follow the game, especially the NBA
However Feinstein is a very good writer and spins out the tale of the infamous punching of Rudy Tomjanovich by Kermit Washington into over 300 pages. He does this with a lightness of touch that keeps the ready engaged in the story, although it is a tad overlong for me.
Of particular interest are the references to the different style of NBA then and how the teams and players differed in their approach, lifestyle and way they played the game. Additionally Feinstein talks about now violence was far more tolerated then than now. This is done in a matter of fact way that doesn't give much of a hint of what he thinks about it. Good writing and would have been interesting to develop further, although this would really be outside the scope of the book.
Hard in a book such as this not to take sides as an author I would imagine, but JF also manages this trick admirably. Certainly there is no condemnation of Washington per se, although he makes the point throughout via subtleties of interview quotes and nuance, that Washington has actually come out of it worse over the long run.
However Feinstein is a very good writer and spins out the tale of the infamous punching of Rudy Tomjanovich by Kermit Washington into over 300 pages. He does this with a lightness of touch that keeps the ready engaged in the story, although it is a tad overlong for me.
Of particular interest are the references to the different style of NBA then and how the teams and players differed in their approach, lifestyle and way they played the game. Additionally Feinstein talks about now violence was far more tolerated then than now. This is done in a matter of fact way that doesn't give much of a hint of what he thinks about it. Good writing and would have been interesting to develop further, although this would really be outside the scope of the book.
Hard in a book such as this not to take sides as an author I would imagine, but JF also manages this trick admirably. Certainly there is no condemnation of Washington per se, although he makes the point throughout via subtleties of interview quotes and nuance, that Washington has actually come out of it worse over the long run.
December 1, 2014
When I first glanced at this book I thought it would be more of a fiction story, but as I started reading the book, I realized its written more like a true story because it did not have much of a story line. The story was about a NBA basketball game on December 9th, 1977. The two teams that played were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. During around the third quarter, Kermit Washington from the Lakers punched Rudy Tomjanovich so hard during a fight that Tomjanovich was almost killed. He was sent to the hospital and came out with major medical problems which ended his career in the NBA. I really did like this book because it had to do with basketball. I also liked how the author told us about the two players lives after the accident and also before. I also thought this book was very interesting because of how it goes into depth about Tomjanovich's medical surgeries and how they went into depth about both of the players families and how it effected them. I also like how the author talked about the players everyday lives before and after the punch. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in sports and documentaries. This was very fun to read and had a lot of interesting facts concerning basketball and injuries people get from basketball.
January 15, 2020
John Feinstein has long been recognized for his ability to portray athletes as human beings, a simple yet crucial representation that is continuously forgotten by those observing professional sports from the outside looking in. Feinstein strives to go past what we see on the television screen. The Punch is his most in-depth analysis of the two men who would change the sport of basketball forever. Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich came from completely different worlds. However, those worlds would collide as Washington's fist would meet Tomjanovich's face with the force of a small-sized sedan, resulting in perhaps the most gruesome injury in sports history. Feinstein follows both men and the impact such an event would have on their lives and professional careers, leaving it to the audience to determine who was in the wrong that night. He tackles racism in sports, redemption and forgiveness, and the evil that is the media machine, all for the purpose of telling you the full story. Feinstein asks us to put aside our judgments and learn about the men behind the headlines, because they've already been through enough. The last they need is for the world to forget their humanity.
November 24, 2008
I'm a sucker for good sports writing, so I feel like The Punch kind of sucker punched me. Obviously my expectations were too high. I guess you can't have The Perfect Mile every time.
During a game in 1977 between the Lakers and the Rockets, Kermit Washington punched Rudy Tomjanovich. The punch nearly killed Rudy T. Both men were affected by the event. That's it. That's the story. I thought Feinstein would build on it, writing about violence in basketball, or that he would expand the scope of the story in some manner.
The Punch ended up being a dual biography of Washington and Tomjanovich. That's fine, but Feinstein devoted too much time tying every event in each man's life to the punch. In fact, Tomjanovich had already written his own memoir, which, even as Feinstein quoted it, seemed more interesting than what he was saying about Rudy T. The Punch ended up being quite repetitive. The topic was too narrowly treated to really be any good. Like so many books, this would have been a five-star feature article in a magazine. Instead it came out subpar in the long form.
During a game in 1977 between the Lakers and the Rockets, Kermit Washington punched Rudy Tomjanovich. The punch nearly killed Rudy T. Both men were affected by the event. That's it. That's the story. I thought Feinstein would build on it, writing about violence in basketball, or that he would expand the scope of the story in some manner.
The Punch ended up being a dual biography of Washington and Tomjanovich. That's fine, but Feinstein devoted too much time tying every event in each man's life to the punch. In fact, Tomjanovich had already written his own memoir, which, even as Feinstein quoted it, seemed more interesting than what he was saying about Rudy T. The Punch ended up being quite repetitive. The topic was too narrowly treated to really be any good. Like so many books, this would have been a five-star feature article in a magazine. Instead it came out subpar in the long form.
April 30, 2013
I read The Punch, by John Feinstein. This true story tells the story of a single play that changed the game of basketball forever. This moment also changed the lives of both participants during the play drastically. The book gives a detailed insight into the lives of these men before, during, and after the punch. It alternates between the 2 men frequently, allowing the reader to keep a timeline in their head of what happened when.
Personally, I enjoyed reading this novel, as I am a big sports fan, including basketball. I would recommend it to anyone else who is fascinated by sports, particularly sports history. However, it also tells a couple incredible rags to riches stories over the span of the novel that I would recommend to anyone. If you like sports or can at least put up with reading about sports, this novel is worth it to see how one quick moment can change your life forever.
Personally, I enjoyed reading this novel, as I am a big sports fan, including basketball. I would recommend it to anyone else who is fascinated by sports, particularly sports history. However, it also tells a couple incredible rags to riches stories over the span of the novel that I would recommend to anyone. If you like sports or can at least put up with reading about sports, this novel is worth it to see how one quick moment can change your life forever.
August 11, 2014
John Feinstein has written not only a great basketball book, but a great sports book. In great detail, he shows a how in a matter of a only a few seconds, changed the landscape of sports forever. He chronicles both the before and after with both of the two involved, Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, and everyone around them. If you ever wondered why referees and umpires always make a point to stop even the slightest taunting, verbal bantering between players, you should read this book. This incident is why every league takes every altercation seriously. John Feinstein also finds a way to show that all involved played a part, and does not make any one out to be a villain. Before you finish reading this, don't be surprised if you feel sorry for Kermit as much as you do Rudy. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up. A great read.
December 14, 2015
As a power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers in the mid- to late '70s, Kermit Washington was the type of player whose value couldn't be measured in numbers. As a 6'8", 240-pound block of muscle, he dutifully cleaned up the boards and threw in the occasional short-range bucket, but he was better known as an "enforcer," someone whose job was to play tough defense, set hard picks, and, most of all, protect the team's key scorer. In Washington's case, the prized and vulnerable star was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the young center who would go on to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. So it would be accurate, if more than a bit charitable, to say that Washington was simply doing his job on Dec. 9, 1977, the night he landed a single blow that irrevocably altered his life, the victim's life, and the future of the league forever.
April 16, 2010
I cried in the first five pages. Then proceeded to cry throughout the next thirty...I am speechless about the severity, the life changing event for Washington and Tomjanovich and then other people in and around this one moment, the ultimate wrong place at the wrong time and bad, bad luck.
It's detailed and well researched. I don't know how many kids can handle this book. It's non-fiction and very detailed so I see many kids giving up because they'll get bored. I wouldn't say it's just for basketball fans, definitely interesting for basketball fans or sports nuts, but of course some people will pass just because of the sports topic. I'm glad I wasn't there for The Punch. It would haunt me like it has some many others.
It's detailed and well researched. I don't know how many kids can handle this book. It's non-fiction and very detailed so I see many kids giving up because they'll get bored. I wouldn't say it's just for basketball fans, definitely interesting for basketball fans or sports nuts, but of course some people will pass just because of the sports topic. I'm glad I wasn't there for The Punch. It would haunt me like it has some many others.
April 12, 2014
cc:
With unerring insight into the deeper truths of professional sports, John Feinstein explores in riveting detail what happened one night in December 1977 when, as a fistfight broke out on the court between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kermit Washington delivered a punch that nearly killed All-Star Rudy Tomjanovich. The punch-now legendary in the annals of American sports-radically changed the trajectory of both men's lives and reverberates throughout the National Basketball Association to this day. Feinstein's compelling investigation of this single cataclysmic incident and its after-math casts a light on the NBA's darkest secrets, revealing the true price men pay when they choose a career in sports.
by John Feinstein
With unerring insight into the deeper truths of professional sports, John Feinstein explores in riveting detail what happened one night in December 1977 when, as a fistfight broke out on the court between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kermit Washington delivered a punch that nearly killed All-Star Rudy Tomjanovich. The punch-now legendary in the annals of American sports-radically changed the trajectory of both men's lives and reverberates throughout the National Basketball Association to this day. Feinstein's compelling investigation of this single cataclysmic incident and its after-math casts a light on the NBA's darkest secrets, revealing the true price men pay when they choose a career in sports.
by John Feinstein
December 31, 2021
It's amazing how one little snapshot, a matter of seconds, can change so many lives. "The Punch" not only changed the lives of Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, but changed the Lakers, Celtics, Rockets, various other players and the NBA itself. Meticulously curated by master sports author John Feinstein, "The Punch" flies by. The only real issue is the date published. It would be curious to hear Feinstein's commentary on how The Punch further influenced the later careers and post-careers of both Tomjanovich and Washington, as both would continue to tread through turmoil. An excellent read in the fashion of what is to be expected by one of the elite sports writers in the world.
January 19, 2018
The Punch was an interesting story. I especially liked how it was from the authors point of view. It was nice learning about how the incident occurred and what it did to Tomjanovich. The story talked about how the fight started and went into depth about how bad Rudy was hurt. It also shared information about Rudy’s life after the punch. Overall I’d give it a 8/10.
July 21, 2020
A great re-telling of bad sportsmanship. Unfortunately, we don't have too much visual footage of the fight, but this book makes up for the slack by interviewing as many people as possible. To say that it changed Basketball is somewhat hyperbolic, but it did have an impact. And proves that the game has always been a show off sport.
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