{"product_id":"the-cockroach-basketball-league-isbn-9781888363784","title":"The Cockroach Basketball League","description":"The Cockroach Basketball League follows the tribulations of hard-driving coach Bob Lassner of the Savannah Stars, a team in the Commercial Basketball League—a fiction drawn from Rosen's own nine years experience coaching in the minor-league Continental Basketball Association. Lassner is an aging hippie and divorcé who hails from a Bronx tenement. His obsession with the game of basketball animates this kinetic, gritty ramble through the sport's minor leagues. \u003cbr\u003eLassner is either red with rage or soft with compassion as he struggles to deal with his wayward players. His top scorer is selfish and arrogant; another player faces a grand jury for a point-shaving scheme; still others are drinking and taking drugs. Lassner also faces a meddlesome team owner, racial tension, and the threat of losing his job if he doesn1t produce victories. \u003cbr\u003eWith The Cockroach Basketball League, Rosen provides a poignant portrait of men—both players and coaches—who may not ever make it to the NBA. Through this look at life in the minors, Rosen offers a unique perspective on college and pro basketball, media hype, and the psychology of dreams deferred.“This affectionate look at life in the basketball minor leagues is enlivened by real-life details from a coach who's been there. Mr. Rosen skillfully induces the reader to join 'the Brotherhood of the Sacred Hoop.” –\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Action-packed . . . poignant . . . peppered with trenchant observations on college and pro basketball, media hype and life in the minors.” –\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eA native of the Bronx and longtime pal of basketball guru Phil Jackson, \u003cb\u003eCHARLEY ROSEN\u003c\/b\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eThe House of Moses All-Stars\u003c\/i\u003e, a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Notable Book, and \u003ci\u003eSammy Wong: All-American\u003c\/i\u003e. His non-fiction works include \u003ci\u003eThe Scandals of ’51: How the Gamblers Almost Killed College Basketball\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMore than a Game\u003c\/i\u003e, with Phil Jackson. Rosen is an analyst for hoopshype.com and a devotee of the Triangle Offense. He lives in Accord, NY.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePHIL JACKSON\u003c\/b\u003e is a seven-time world champion NBA coach (six times with Chicago, once with Los Angeles). He currently serves as the President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks.","brand":"Seven Stories Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301449421029,"sku":"NP9781888363784","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781888363784.jpg?v=1767738721","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-cockroach-basketball-league-isbn-9781888363784","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}