Post 3

NAME: Matt Hansen

DATE: 2/12/10
TITLE: Heaven Is A Playground

TIME in HOURS: 2 hours
AUTHOR: Rick Telander

PAGES: 110 - 206
TOTAL PAGES THIS WEEK: 97 pages



QUESTION 1: What advice would you give to a particular character? Why?


RESPONSE 1: There are many different characters in the book that are in need of advice. Particularly three people. Fly Williams, Music smith, and Lloyd Hill. Fly williams is kind of a hero for people living in the ghetto, so a bunch of people look up to him, whether they are small children, teen agers, or adults. He has to become a better role model. He has terrible sportsmanship, and throws constant temper tantrums. Plus he didn't want to join the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. Next is Music Smith, who is six foot four, can jump through the roof, can shoot well, but only wieghs one hundred and thirty pounds. One day Rodney asks him if he wants to go to college and he tolled him that he didn't. Which in my mind is a mistake. This is because when your basketball season is over, (considering you even make it to the NBA) which is usually only about ten years what are you going to do. Retire, at the age of thirty and do nothing for the remainder of your life. So college is very important, even for basketball, because it makes you become more mature and sensible on the court. Last is Lloyd Hill, who had the same problem as Music Smith.




QUESTION 2:What has surprised you in the book? Why?



RESPONSE 2: Well, this book has surprised me in two different ways. One, that I know so many of the characters in it,(NBA players). Secondly, is the descisions, choices and what goes on between the players. As you know I love basketball, infact I know almost every player who played from 1970-2010. While reading this book I found many players who I knew such as: Moses Malone, eddie Johnson, Bernard King, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Lenny Wilkens, Jim McMillian, and much more. It was cool hearing about Moses Malone and Eddie Johnson as teenagers, playing some of the main characters of the book. Another thing that surprised me was how many of the player had no plans for going to college or the NBA. Even though they were good enough. Even though back then players weren't payed as much, and the NBA wasn't as popular at least it's better than the gheto. Something else that surprised me was how good these players actually were. I mean, they beat a team that consisted of Lenny Wilkens and Moses Malone (Two hall of famers), and then a team of soon to be rookies in the ABA, and beat them too. These guys were for real.

-Matt H