Something continually held him back. Otis Key could never quite put his finger on the source. Tony Key would lose focus and hope. Both wondered if Tony Key wanted this for himself, if he loved the game or appreciated his gifts. It was hard finding the time to train, Tony Key said. He had a lot on his plate right now, “but it seems like if I could do that, life would be a whole lot easier now, but I don’t know. I got a passion for it, but as far as eating, sleeping, and breathing basketball, I don’t love it like that no more.”
Real life beckoned. He returned to his shift. The dinner rush would start in force soon.
Maybe keeping the flickers of a dream alive was better than facing the reality of life without them at all.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book only happened through the support, contributions, and guidance of many, many people.
The Los Angeles Times believed in me when it probably shouldn’t have—when I was just 23 years old and it entrusted me with the beat of covering the Los Angeles Clippers. That was a dream job for a kid who grew up in the shadows of Los Angeles. It introduced me to the world of the NBA and got me on a track of wondering how these guys—some still teenagers—could possibly handle the pressures of living their lives on camera and being their families’ patriarchs at such a young age. Thanks to Bill Dwyre, Randy Harvey, Efrain Hernandez Jr., Mike Hiserman, Barry Stavro, and Phil Willon.
Working at the New York Times helped me grow as a reporter and journalist and appreciate the deep talents it takes to crank out a newspaper of that quality on a daily basis. Thanks to Howard Beck, Greg Bishop, John Eligon, Terri Ann Glynn, Tom Jolly, Sandy Keenan, Patty La Duca, Bill Rhoden, Pete Thamel, Jay Schreiber, Jason Stallman, and Fern Turkowitz.
Bill Simmons has been nothing short of spectacular as a mentor and friend. Really, learning from him is like a basketball player being tutored by Michael Jordan. There is nobody I’ve met who works harder. More than anything, he taught me to make every article I turn in my best and hopefully this book meets that standard. The Grantland family he cobbled together has been amazing and many thanks go out to them and, in particular, Katie Baker, Bill Barnwell, Rafe Bartholomew, Jason Concepcion, Dan Fierman, Sean Fennessey, Kirk Goldsberry, Andy Greenwald, David Jacoby, Jonah Keri, Juliet Litman, Zach Lowe, Robert Mays, Chris Ryan, Monica Schroeder, Shea Serrano, Andrew Sharpe, and Robert King at ESPN.
The writers who cover the NBA are a special and talented group, and many of them were available for me to pick their brains for this project. Thanks to all, including Henry Abbott, David Aldridge, Sam Amick, Harvey Araton, J. A. Adande, Michael Becker, Chris Broussard, Jessica Camerato, Chris Hine, Benjamin Hochman, Justice B. Hill, Baxter Holmes, Lee Jenkins, Michael Lee, Holly MacKenzie, Jack McCallum, Dave McMenamin, Jason Reid, Ramona Shelburne, Marc Spears, Tzvi Twersky, Gary Washburn, and Adrian Wojnarowski. Jason Reid no longer covers the NBA, but is a wonderful journalist and the best mentor I could have asked for.
It took years to gather enough interviews to complete this book. I want to thank everyone interviewed who lent their unique experiences, thoughts, and knowledge. It would take a few pages to list everyone, but, in particular, I want to offer a special thanks to Mike Bass, John Black, Lenny Cooke, Tim Frank, Tracy McGrady, John Nash, Jermaine O’Neal, Joanna Shapiro, David Stern, Amanda Thorn George, and Sonny Vaccaro. All those interviews required a lot of transcription and Alex Shultz and Danny Chau helped out in a giant way with that job.
My agent, Daniel Greenberg, reached out to me before I even had a book idea in place. His faith went a long way toward making this happen. Thanks to him and Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. Nathan Roberson crisped up the book’s pages as its editor. Thanks to him and Crown Publishing Group. And thanks to Adam Brinklow for fact-checking the manuscript.
My family supported me through this project and offered backing as only a family could. Thanks, Mom, Michelle, Danielle, Matthew, Whitney, Dan, Dannen, Nicole, Jamaal, and George and Angela Caldwell.
Finally, I am in awe of my wife, Tanya. She deftly handled giving birth to our first child, moving across the country, and having her husband traveling and working odd hours throughout the course of writing this book. She is the strongest person I know and, as a talented journalist in her own right, she was often my first line of defense in reading its pages. To our son, Jayden, this was all for you and just know: you are going to college—all four years.
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Boys Among Men Page 35