Blood on the Horns: The Long Strange Ride of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls

by Roland Lazenby

Book Overview

Unless you slept through the 1990s, you probably know that Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls ran roughshod over the NBA for the better part of a decade. Like the Lakers before them and the Celtics... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 188611059X
• ISBN13: 9781886110595
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Blood on the Horns scores, and scores big!

Ever wonder how and why the internal conflict of the multi-World Champion Chicago Bulls began? Well, this book explains that, and much more. From the origin of Jerry Krause's nickname, 'Crumbs', to Dennis Rodman's shaky start in life to blossoming into one of the NBA's best rebounders, Lazenby covers every detail painstakingly. I live in Chicago, so I found this very informative, because Lazenby allows each side to speak their mind, for the Chicago press always made Jerry Krause look like the bad guy. If you think Krause WAS the bad guy, your opinion may or may not change after reading this book. Personally, it just solidified my opinion that Krause caused the breakup of the greatest dynasty in sports. My final opinion: If you were ever curious about the Bulls conflict and followed it throughout the 90s, or even if you're a casual Bulls fan, you will not be able to put this book down. Pick it up, and enjoy "The Long Strange Ride of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls."

A MUST BUY!

I loved this book. It is all about the break up of the Bulls. It gives an in-depth look at the 1998 season and provides interesting interviews with all the parties involved. My thought, both the owner and the GM of the Bulls caused the break up of one of the best sports franchises in history. If you like basketball or the Bulls, BUY THIS BOOK!

Chicago Bulls and the Long Strange Ride about to End

I couldn't put this book down until I finished reading it in one day. Although some of chapters rehash interviews from early books such as "Jordan Rules" and "Sacred Hoops", like characters in a Shakespearian play, we learn more about MJ, Scottie, Krause, Jackson and a forever young 77 year old coach named Tex. The author labels Coach Winter as the "Guardian of the Bulls" and one of the prime architects who helped build the Championship Team of the 90s. The best section was Chapter 11, "Keeping the Faith". It is almost completely dedicated to Tex and was both humerous and sad realizing that a great team was about to split and change forever.I was particulary impressed by Lazenby's attempt to find the truth about MJ and his last ditch effort to find a way to heal the wounds caused by inflated egos and misplaced loyalties. Unfortunately the message from the movie the Devils' Advocate was delivered to late - "It was a nice run" while it lasted.

An excellent read, full of inside details.

This is one of the best books on basketball I've read. Lazenby obviously spent a lot of time working to persuade folks within the Bulls organization to talk frankly and on the record -- from the trainer on up to Michael and the management types. I think Lazenby does a good job of being fair to everyone, including Michael and the folks in the executive suites. It avoids mythologizing the subject but still gives the reader a real sense of the heart and soul -- idiosyncracies, flaws and all -- of this great team. I only wish someone had done the same for the Celtics of the 1960s!

Behind the Scenes with the Bulls

The anecdote on the back cover - about how the Bulls logo came to have blood on it - is just the start of an exciting - and depressing read. Exciting because author Roland Lazenby has clearly spent an awful lot of time speaking with virtually everyone on the Bulls, including trainer (now ex-trainer) Chip Schaefer, assistant coaches (current & former), the team's general manager, and team owner Jerry Reinsdorf as well as the players of course. This is as close to the Bulls as you can get without being related to someone on the team. The book is depressing because it reveals the human flaws of some of the people involved, particularly general manager Jerry Krause. Although Lazenby probably goes slightly overboard trying to let everyone have his say, Krause, in his own words and actions, comes across as petty and mean-spirited. If Michael Jordan retires, he is to blame and fans should be vocal in their protests about it. The most surprising thing - due to Jordan's competitive spark and Phil Jackson's coaching and people management - is how the Bulls kept winning with all the off-court distractions. This is a book that is both about the triumph and degradation of the human spirit as found in some of the best professional athletes in the world. A compelling book!