New Books in Sports Paul Knepper, "The Knicks of the Nineties: Ewing, Oakley, Starks and the Brawlers That Almost Won It All" (McFarland, 2020)
Today we are joined by Paul Knepper, author of the book, The Knicks of the Nineties: Ewing, Oakley, Starks and the Brawlers That Almost Won It All (McFarland, 2020). Knepper, a first-time author who has a background in law and was an unabashed Knicks fan during the 1990s, takes a look at a talented, tough New York Knicks squad that was always in contention to win an NBA title but never reached the pinnacle. Drawing on more than 88 interviews with players, coaches and executive, Knepper traces the rise of a team that reached the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons and made it to the NBA Finals twice. The Knicks thrived under the intense coaching of Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, who in appearance presented different looks but were nearly mirror images of one another in terms of ability, intensity and attention to detail. The Knicks had colorful players and heated rivalries. They were unable to get past the Chicago Bulls, who dominated the 1990s, and also had memorable battles with the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat. Knepper brings the reader into the locker room and the front office, bringing the players to life with personality sketches. The Knicks were led by Patrick Ewing, a dominant force on a team that lacked a consistent second shooter. Knepper takes the reader back to a time when basketball in New York was passionate and exciting.
Bob D’Angelo earned his master’s degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University in May 2018. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida and spent more than three decades as a sportswriter and sports copy editor, including 28 years on the sports copy desk at The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune. He can be reached at bdangelo57@gmail.com. For more information, visit Bob D’Angelo’s Books and Blogs.
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