Worthwhile Will Leitch essay on Bill Simmons

Some stuff bothers me, more than others.

For Nick Pileggi to spell it

Caesar's Palace

a zillion times in Wiseguy is a cardinal sin, beyond measure.

Maybe that's just me.

I'll live with it.

 

Yes, it's called memoir.

 

I think you can argue--and I guess I am--that if you have to rush through 250 pages of a 700 page book, then someone (publisher or author or both) is being overly optimistic and ambitious about the ultimate quality of a book that seeks to be definitive.

That's not one chapter, it's an entire third of the book.

I only looked briefly at Simmons' accounting of the errors, but that's a whole lot of errors, regardless of the length or word count.

A tough break for any author or editor who has to rush a book this way, but it's a business, and that book had to hit the stores when it did. Clearly the sales haven't been affected, but the integrity of a book has to be compromised when the author admits to using sources that were inaccurate. No crime in using other sources, obviously, but those are the ones you have to check and check and check.

I hope there's a reprint at some point, so Simmons has the opportunity to make the corrections.

 

Wow, a publisher gushes over its book. Can't believe it.

Reminds me of this:



Says right on there that the concert held only a few months ago is historic. Well, then, it must be.

 

it is a great book thru 126 pages. his riffs on moses malone the communicator are high comedy.

also, he layers segments then goes off on tangents but brings it back before you get completely sidetracked.

also, as for the '70s stuff like the aba getting the majority of the incoming talent like dr. j and gervin and malone, the aba/nba merger and its impact, the nba's fuct attempt at negotiating a tv contract with cbs (prompting roone's revenge), he's using hard facts. it's all fascinating.


if you're a hoops fan, it's a great 30-dollar investment. this book will become a college course one day.

 

$12.00 on Amazon.

 

even better.

 

A Million Little Pieces

 

D'oh! And glad you're liking it, du.

 

immensely.

 

This is great advice, something I've heard from a good editor I once had. Especially on long-form stuff.

 

Songbird, if you like Simmons' book, make sure you get your hands on "Loose Balls" (no pun intended) by Terry Pluto as well, if you haven't read it already. That really focuses entirely on the ABA, and it is one of my favorite sports books.