If you want to read a great basketball book during the holidays this is one you won’t go wrong with.
I heard the author Gary Pomerantz promoting his book on the radio and bought a copy. I’m glad I did. It’s one of the very best basketball books I’ve ever read and in these times of societal racial turbulence the book will question all of us as to how we’ve dealt with racial issues in our own lives.
The book focuses on the relationship between Bob Cousy and Bill Russell during the Celtic glory days when under the guiding rule of Red Auerbach the Celts won eleven NBA championships in thirteen seasons. Never in professional sports since has there been a dynasty such as those Celtics.
It’s not only a story of basketball, but more of a story of how Bill Russell was permanently affected by the racial implications of being a black star living in Boston during his playing career and for two additional seasons as player/head coach. The book delves into the relationship between Bob Cousy and Bill Russell and why they were never able to fully connect on a friendship basis during their time together with the Celtics.
Pomerantz basically tells the story through the narrative voice of Cousy who made himself available for fifty-three interviews as the book was being written.
As Cousy has gotten older (now 90) he’s come to the realization he never reached out enough to Bill Russell during those turbulent days of overt racism in Boston in the 60’s. From Cousy’s perspective he blames himself for never reaching out to Russell on a more personal note. You can tell it haunts him to a certain degree and in a sense the book is a mea culpa from Cousy to Russell explaining why he didn’t do more. How his own personality prevented him from reaching out more to the troubled Russell.
The Last Pass is Cousy’s one and half page letter written at the age of ninety sent to Bill Russell (age 84) making a last ditch effort to explain his actions and to a sense come to terms with himself as he nears the end of his life.
You won’t go wrong reading this book.
Interestingly, Cousy in the book lists his five greatest point guards the NBA has seen and one Russell Westbrook makes the list. Russell Westbrook also made Cousy’s list of the twenty greatest NBA players of all-time. Suffice it to say as a hall of fame point guard himself, Cousy is very much intrigued by Russell Westbrook.