The Punch - by John Feinstein (Paperback)

About the Book

With his unique style and bone-deep knowledge of basketball, the bestselling author of "Hard Courts" tells the story of how one moment of aggression changed two lives, the NBA, and all of professional sports forever.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"A scrupulously fair-minded and thoroughly researched account....Feinstein's diligence and sympathy surely make THE PUNCH the last word on the subject."

About the Author

John Feinstein is the author of many widely acclaimed and bestselling books on sports, including One on One, Moment of Glory, Are You Kidding Me?, Living on the Black, Tales from Q School, Last Dance, Next Man Up, Let Me Tell You a Story (with Red Auerbach), Caddy for Life, Open, The Punch, The Last Amateurs, The Majors, A Good Walk Spoiled, A Civil War, A Season on the Brink, Play Ball, and Hard Courts. He is also the author of five sports mystery novels for young readers. He writes for the Washington Post, Washingtonpost.com, and Golf Digest, and is a regular commentator on The Golf Channel.