WIZARD OF ODDS, THE : How Jack Molinas Nearly Destroyed the Game of Basketball - Hardcover

Charley Rosen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1583222685 ISBN 13: 9781583222683

Publisher: SEVEN STORIES PRESS, 2002

Synopsis

Renowned and bestselling basketball writer Charley Rosen brings us the long-awaited life of Molinas, one of the greatest basketball players of his era, and one of its most notorious cheaters. Drawing on trial transcripts as well as numerous, previously unavailable first-person accounts, including Molinas's own journal, Rosen presents the saga of a man whose manipulation of organized basketball and involvement with the Mafia culminated in his greusome murder. A dark testament to the terrible human power of self-destructiveness. '...a wonderful bit of good writing' - Booklist

About this title

Synopsis:

A Dark Testament to the Terrible Human Power of Self-Destructiveness; Jack Molinas had it all - good looks, charm, an Ivy League education, a genius-level I.Q. of 175, and a huge talent for the game of basketball. He was also a gambling addict with a flair for larceny. Drawing on numerous, previously unavailable first-person accounts, including Molinas's own journal and trial transcripts, The Wizard of Odds chronicles the rise and fall of this outstanding NBA All-Star who fixed games, cavorted with the Mafia, produced pornographic films, and was eventually murdered. Acclaimed author Charley Rosen chillingly probes the life of a man who understood better than anyone around him the weaknesses of the system in which he lived - so much so that he convinced himself he could manipulate that system to his own ends with impunity. By the time he was arrested on January 9, 1954, for conspiring to fix NBA games, he was already deeply involved with the Mafia. After his release from prison, he would descend ever deeper into crime, a preoccupation that would end with a bullet in the head.

About the Author:

A native of the Bronx and longtime pal of basketball guru Phil Jackson, CHARLEY ROSEN led the league in technical fouls during each of his six years as a coach in the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association. Since then he has become the world's foremost writer of fiction and nonfiction on the subject of basketball, chronicling the drama that takes place both on and off the court. His many novels include The House of Moses All-Stars, a New York Times Notable Book, and Sammy Wong: All-American. His non-fiction works include The Scandals of '51: How the Gamblers Almost Killed College Basketball and More than a Game, with Phil Jackson. Rosen is an analyst for hoopshype.com and a devotee of the Triangle Offense. He lives in Accord, NY.

About this edition

• Publisher: SEVEN STORIES PRESS
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1583222685
• ISBN 13: 9781583222683
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 426