PLAYING FOR KEEPS

David Halberstam looks at one of the few truly great athletic forces ever to rise to prominence. To sports fans, Michael Jordan epitomizes all that a superstar should be--a fierce competitor with the heart of a lion and the smile of a child. In Edward Herrmann's superbly professorial voice, Halberstam examines the many public and private facets of Jordan's character. Through it, the listener is drawn into a web of characters--other players, coaches and NBA marketers--on whom Jordan depended and who, likewise, relied on the superstar to make the Chicago Bulls one of the greatest sports dynasties in history. Never shying away from the pathological competitiveness that led Jordan into gambling troubles and drove many a teammate to be traded, Halberstam shows that being one of the greatest basketball players of all time might have been the easiest part of Jordan's life. An excellent choice for any sports fan. J.B.B. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]