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Also, Leahy provides quite a convincing critique not only on Jordan the player but on Jordan the playing executive as well. My only problem with this book is that it tends to get repetitive at times - Pollin's firing of Jordan and the Karla Knafel story is retold more than once. However, it stands on its own in chronicling Jordan's days as a Wizard which luckily for Jordan will always remain a footnote to an otherwise marvelous career. Most of us would have considered that jump shot at Salt Lake City the highlight of our lives, but then again Mike still has more than half of his life to live.
When Nothing Else Matters has ratings and 24 reviews. Ben said: ery interesting, narrative-driven account of MJ's final comeback with the Wizards. When Nothing Else Matters by Michael Leahy - As one of the greatest, most celebrated athletes in history, Michael Jordan Michael Jordan's Last Comeback.
Leahy's a good reporter; just not nearly as good as he thinks he is. He took advantage of the access being from The Washington Post gave him, but the book is at least pages too long. To be fair, lots of books are pages too long. If you are going to write about sports in any context, you better come to the table with a respect for the craft because it isn't as easy as a lot of news reporters think.
Leahy lacked that from start to finish. This could have been a very good book; instead it was barely okay. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase.
It was great book it was great read. I love the way they do people with wizards front office it was great. A well-written book that seems mostly critical of Jordan's decision to return for two final years with the Washington Wizards. Fascinating look into the daily life of the world's greatest basketball player trying to wring what was left of his fading skills.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Lists with This Book. Leahy's tendency to insert himself into the story. Most of us would have considered that jump shot at Salt Lake City the highlight of our lives, but then again Mike still has more than half of his life to live. Jordan's career as a basketball player still out-beautifies any rotten, entitlement-type behavior he could subject the people aro So you read this book and you gather the very documented impressions that Michael Jordan is a mean dick, Doug Collins, recently hired as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers is a spineless, emotional mess and that the author, Michael Leahy, is, or at least put himself in the position of, a creepy, sniping voyeur of sorts. However, it stands on its own in chronicling Jordan's days as a Wizard which luckily for Jordan will always remain a footnote to an otherwise marvelous career. He had won six titles and have decided to return and try to help with a under aged team work at getting a title.
If I have a criticism - the book seems to bash Jordan for tainting his legacy. In my opinion, it's Jordan's legacy to taint. Great insight to Jordan. It changes your opinion of him as a person. See all 44 reviews. Pages with related products. See and discover other items: There's a problem loading this menu right now. Learn more about Amazon Prime. Get fast, free shipping with Amazon Prime. Get to Know Us. English Choose a language for shopping. Explore the Home Gift Guide. Amazon Music Stream millions of songs.
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Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. When Nothing Else Matters: As one of the greatest, most celebrated athletes in history, Michael Jordan conquered professional basketball as no one had before. Powered by a potent mix of charisma, nearly superhuman abilities, and a ferocious need to dominate the game, he As one of the greatest, most celebrated athletes in history, Michael Jordan conquered professional basketball as no one had before.
Powered by a potent mix of charisma, nearly superhuman abilities, and a ferocious need to dominate the game, he won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and captured every basketball award and accolade conceivable before retiring and taking a top executive post with the Washington Wizards. But retirement didn't suit the man who was once king, and at the advanced age of thirty-eight Michael Jordan set out to reclaim the court that had been his dominion.
When Nothing Else Matters is the definitive account of Jordan's equally spectacular and disastrous return to basketball. Washington Post writer Michael Leahy reveals the striking contrast between the public Jordan and the man whose personal style alienated teammates and the Washington owner who ousted him.
Paperback , pages. Published November 1st by Simon Schuster first published To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about When Nothing Else Matters , please sign up. Doofy the doof master sadljd ksajdoajs;ldfjsaljdjasj riajdihsai edhawioh3q. See all 3 questions about When Nothing Else Matters…. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. May 30, Ben McKeown rated it liked it. I grew somewhat weary, however, of Leahy's apparent disdain for Jordan, especially in his dealings with the media. Much of the tone of the book is very negative and condemning.
As a member of the sports media, I can understand the sort of tension that builds between athletes and the press, however there is a mental barrier that must be surpassed in order to truly appreciate the unique nature of covering sports. Le ery interesting, narrative-driven account of MJ's final comeback with the Wizards. Leahy seems to hold a grudge against Jordan, which informs much of his commentary about the comeback and sometimes makes for paragraphs of rants about the nature of sports media in general. A journalist cannot paint an entirely accurate portrait of a person or a situation when such a grudge is held.
All in all, I enjoyed the stories in the book. Even as a life-long admirer of Michael Jordan, I enjoyed the lesser-known and somewhat unflattering anecdotes about the man. I do believe though that the portrait could have been better depicted if Leahy had removed himself from the situation a bit more. Oct 14, Dave rated it liked it Recommends it for: Jordan haters, injured athletes.
This book nearly made me cry. I didn't go into the book looking to have Jordan knocked off his perch, but I left that way. Leahy is involved heavily in this story, sometimes in a self-satisfied way, and sometimes as a cultural observer. It felt uneven, at times like a biography of Leahy covering Jordan and at times like a very long newspaper article.
Those weren't the crying parts. I nearly cried as Jordan tried to will his way back from injury and through the challenges of being in a leag This book nearly made me cry. I nearly cried as Jordan tried to will his way back from injury and through the challenges of being in a league filled with men 10 and 15 years his junior. He rushed it and made poor decisions, but the hardest part about this book is the failure of Jordan to come to terms with the end of his playing career.
I was never a great Jordan admirer, but I came to have a grudging respect for his ability. This book examines heavily the flip-side of his unbelievable will to win and the damage it did to the only hometown NBA basketball team I've ever had, the Wizards. Jan 25, Kevin rated it did not like it. The real subject of the book is Michael Leahy and his impressive ability to see through it all. Aug 16, RB Love rated it liked it Shelves: So you read this book and you gather the very documented impressions that Michael Jordan is a mean dick, Doug Collins, recently hired as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers is a spineless, emotional mess and that the author, Michael Leahy, is, or at least put himself in the position of, a creepy, sniping voyeur of sorts.
And ultimately, so what? Jordan's career as a basketball player still out-beautifies any rotten, entitlement-type behavior he could subject the people aro So you read this book and you gather the very documented impressions that Michael Jordan is a mean dick, Doug Collins, recently hired as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers is a spineless, emotional mess and that the author, Michael Leahy, is, or at least put himself in the position of, a creepy, sniping voyeur of sorts.
Jordan's career as a basketball player still out-beautifies any rotten, entitlement-type behavior he could subject the people around him to or executive shortcomings he may have. Interesting history and notes on Washington Wizards owner, recently deceased Abe Pollin. Interesting to go back in time in the NBA, even if it was just seven years ago, and read about how things were for a season or two and compare how things have changed. Also, Leahy makes many interesting observations about sport and media and culture throughout.
We have churned out so many of these stories, competently, even artfully, that at some point long ago we succeeded in making the ridiculous relevant. Sep 21, Tedi31 rated it really liked it Shelves: Apr 09, E rated it it was ok Recommends it for: Michael Jordan fans; Wizards fans; basketball fans. Leahy inserts himself way too often in this book and tries to distinguish himself from being part of the media that gave Mr.
Jordan a free pass in not harassing him too much with their coverage. He does offers a compelling argument that MJ set the Wizards back with his management moves and his rushed comeback ignoring the advice of his trainers.
I agree with another reader's review that compared this book to Sam Smith's Jordan Rules. MJ was a great b-ball player and was also a flawed man and as Leahy inserts himself way too often in this book and tries to distinguish himself from being part of the media that gave Mr. MJ was a great b-ball player and was also a flawed man and as a fan, that makes me appreciate him even more.
Definitely don't read this book if you want to keep the perfect idolized version of MJ in your mind. Jan 27, Reilly Van rated it it was ok. Aug 06, GWC rated it liked it Shelves: A decent narrative of Jordan's seasons with the Wizards, but cluttered with the standard sports myth-busting about "how we prefer our heroes" that gets in the way of the story.
Nov 30, John rated it really liked it. To most, Michael Jordan is the pinnacle of athletic success: That includes me, a die-hard Chicago Bulls fan. I can be extremely biased, answering the question of who the greatest of all time was without even thinking. When Nothing Else Matters is the first book to get me genuinely depressed while reading. I wanted Jordan to flourish even if he was at the age of 40, practically 80 years of age in basketball time, playing against the likes of Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady.
I would recommend any basketball fan to read this book, especially Jordan lovers. This book allows readers get a transparent glimpse into the life of an aging Jordan without the shield of reporters and accolades covering him. Sep 23, Rachel Smith added it. Michael Leahy's purpose for writing "When Nothing Else Matters was to show everyone what the NBA was really like, and what the athletes really had to say. Not a lot of sports writers would have been willing to write a book like this. Most would be afraid to anger the person they interview, by putting words in their mouth or exposing them in some way.
I feel like the point of view was really coming from the inside of the league. His style, to me, was very informing, but witty at the same time. The audience would be basketball or NBA fans. The theme of the book would be truth. With all the media and press coverage about everything that happens in the NBA, nobody can really ever know the truth about what is going on.
The author was trying to say or show all of what really went on during the "Jordan Era". He wanted to show everyone the real personalities of these people.