Overview

At basketball-crazy Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, junior guard Chris Herren carried his family's and the city's dreams on his skinny frame. His grandfather, father, and older brother had created their own sports legends in a declining city; he was the last, best hope for a career beyond the shuttered mills and factories. Herren was heavily recruited by major universities, chosen as a McDonald's All-American, featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story, and at just seventeen years old became the central figure in Fall River Dreams, an acclaimed book about the 1994 Durfee team's quest for the state championship. Leaving Fall River for college, Herren starred on Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State Bulldogs team of talented misfits, which included future NBA players as well as future convicted felons. His gritty, tattooed, hip-hop persona drew the ire of rival fans and more national attention: Rolling Stone profiled him, 60 Minutes interviewed him, and the Denver Nuggets drafted him. When the Boston Celtics acquired his contract, he lived the dream of every Massachusetts kid--but off the court Herren was secretly crumbling, as his alcohol and drug use escalated and his life spiraled out of control. Twenty years later, Chris Herren was married to his high-school sweetheart, the father of three young children, and a heroin junkie. His basketball career was over, consumed by addictions; he had no job, no skills, and was a sadly familiar figure to those in Fall River who remembered him as a boy, now prowling the streets he once ruled, looking for a fix. One day, for a time he cannot remember, he would die. In his own words, Chris Herren tells how he nearly lost everything and everyone he loved, and how he found a way back to life. Powerful, honest, and dramatic, Basketball Junkie is a remarkable memoir, harrowing in its descent, and heartening in its return.

Full Product Details

9798200083152

Table of Contents

Reviews

"A sobering, cautionary tale for star-athletes-to-be.-- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""A sobering, cautionary tale for star-athletes-to-be."" -- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Narrator Peter Berkrot delivers a fine performance, conveying Herren's self-deprecation, shame, and eventual pride."" -- ""Library Journal"" ""Told with such bluntness and heart that you can't help but root for Herren to stay clean."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" [Berkrot's] strength is in conveying the frustrated tones of those around the standout player. Herren's physical journeys take him around the world, though not nearly as far as the emotional ones he travels. You don't have to be a hoops fan to enjoy this one."" -- ""AudioFile"""

Author Information

Chris Herren is a former NBA basketball player for the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. His company, Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren, Inc., provides basketball training for young players as well as educational talks. Chris lives in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Bill Reynolds is a sports columnist for the Providence Journal and the author of several previous books, including Fall River Dreams and (with Rick Pitino) the number one New York Times bestseller Success Is a Choice. Bill lives in Providence, Rhode Island. A veteran of stage and screen, Peter Berkrot's career spans four decades. Highlights include feature roles in Caddyshack and Showtime's Brotherhood, and appearances on America's Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries. His voice can be heard on television, radio, video games, documentaries, and industrials. He is a prominent acting coach and a regular contributor to the award-winning news program Frontline produced by WGBH in Boston. Peter served as director of narration for the Emmy-nominated The Truth About Cancer. Peter has recorded over 170 audiobooks, over 100 for children. He has been nominated for an Audie Award and has received a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards and starred reviews. His favorite titles include Toby and the Secrets of the Tree by Timotee de Fombelle, Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith, The Accident by Linwood Barclay, and the Last Policeman trilogy by Ben H. Winters.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available