Playing for Keeps by David Halberstam

The book is subtitled "Michael Jordan and the world he made". It starts off so poorly with a discussion of the owner of the Bulls, Reinsdorf in such a dull chapter on Michael's contract negotiations that it makes you wonder what has made Halberstam as famous as he was in the world of sports writing. But then he begins showing you why from the next chapter onwards. The book has great personality profiles like any decent biographical work should and not just of Michael but also of the supporting cast.

The book is not just about Michael Jordan but everyone who played in his era and also the people/organizations who were principal characters in his universe - Dean Smith who ran the basketball program at UNC, Phil Jackson who managed the Bulls so well#, Scottie Pippen who was perhaps the big reason Michael was as successful at the Bulls*, Rodman - the literally colorful character, the legends - Magic and Bird and their respective teams (Lakers, Celtics) of that era, Malone, Stockton, the Pacers, Michael's agent - Falk, Krause **, the NBA itself, Ewing and the Knicks, ESPN and Nike.

I would recommend it strongly for anyone interested in team sports (especially basketball, of course!) and also for those who watched/began watching basketball in the late 1980s-early 90s like I did. It is as much a documentary of the world of professionalism in sports as it is of Michael Jordan.

The book is an excellent read.

*not many realize that he was at the Bulls from 1981 and completely frustrated with the lack of success till Pippen and few others joined the Bulls

# It was a pleasant surprise for me to learn so much about Phil Jackson and his counter culture background

** who comes out looking like a slimy character