Miracle On 33rd Street

The newest addition to the Contemporary Sports Classics series, 'Miracle on 33rd Street' is an account of the Knicks' first and only NBA title from the pre-season through the playoffs. It has gained a following because Berger covers not just the baseline jumpers and backdoor passes - he took readers out of bounds and captured the whole story: legendary coach Red Holzman shouting at the team in practice; beer-swilling Knick fans shouting at the participants and spitting on the court; life on the road in and out of hotels, where players are left to their own devices between games. This particular Knick team featured some of basketball's all-time greats such as Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley. More than anything else, this team is remembered for stumbling toward the championship despite key injuries, internal dissension, and a number of outside pressures - and they did it without a true superstar player.