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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Big Bam
 
A clash of NBA titans. Seven riveting games. One young reporter. Welcome to the 1969 NBA Finals.They don’t set up any better than this. The greatest basketball player of all time - Bill Russell - and his juggernaut Boston Celtics, winners of ten (ten!) of the previous twelve NBA championships, squeak through one more playoff run and land in the Finals again. Russell’s opponent? The fearsome 7’1” next-generation superstar, Wilt Chamberlain, recently traded to the LA Lakers to form the league’s first dream team. Bill Russell and John Havlicek versus Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The 1969 Celtics are at the end of their dominance. The 1969 Lakers are unstoppable.
 
Add to the mix one newly minted reporter. Covering the epic series is a wide-eyed young sports writer named Leigh Montville. Years before becoming an award-winning legend himself at The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, twenty-four-year-old Montville is ordered by his editor at the Globe to get on a plane to L.A. (first time!) to write about his luminous heroes, the biggest of big men.
 
What follows is a raucous, colorful, joyous account of one of the greatest seven-game series in NBA history. Set against a backdrop of the late sixties, Montville’s reporting and recollections transport readers to a singular time – with rampant racial tension on the streets and on the court, with the emergence of a still relatively small league on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry, and to an era when newspaper journalism and the written word served as the crucial lifeline between sports and sports fans. And there was basketball – seven breathtaking, see-saw games, highlight-reel moments from an unprecedented cast of future Hall of Famers (including player-coach Russell as the first-ever black head coach in the NBA), coast-to-coast travels and the clack-clack-clack of typewriter keys racing against tight deadlines.
 
Tall Men, Short Shorts is a masterpiece of sports journalism with a charming touch of personal memoir. Leigh Montville has crafted his most entertaining book yet, richly enshrining luminous players and moments in a unique American time.
 

Step Back in Time with "Tall Men, Short Shorts": A Gripping Account of the 1969 NBA Finals

Relive the excitement of the 1969 NBA Finals through the captivating narrative of "Tall Men, Short Shorts" by Leigh Montville. This book takes you on a nostalgic journey to one of the most memorable basketball championships in history, where two legendary teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, battled it out for the ultimate glory.

A Clash of Titans: Celtics vs. Lakers

The 1969 NBA Finals marked the culmination of a fierce rivalry between the Boston Celtics, led by the iconic Bill Russell, and the Los Angeles Lakers, spearheaded by the unstoppable Wilt Chamberlain. These two teams represented the epitome of basketball excellence, and their matchup was highly anticipated by fans across the nation.

Witness History Unfold

Leigh Montville, a young sports reporter at the time, provides a firsthand account of the thrilling seven-game series. His vivid descriptions and insightful analysis bring readers into the heart of the action, capturing the intensity of the games, the drama of the locker room, and the larger-than-life personalities that shaped this unforgettable chapter in NBA history.

A Tale of Triumph and Heartbreak

"Tall Men, Short Shorts" goes beyond the game itself, delving into the personal stories of the players, coaches, and those surrounding them. Montville paints a vivid portrait of an era when basketball was played with passion, grit, and determination. Readers will witness the triumphs and heartbreaks of these larger-than-life athletes as they strive for greatness on the court.

A Must-Read for Basketball Enthusiasts

Whether you're a seasoned basketball fan or just appreciate a well-told story of sportsmanship, "Tall Men, Short Shorts" is a must-read. Montville's captivating storytelling and unique perspective make this book an engrossing read that will leave you captivated from beginning to end.

Experience the Magic of the 1969 NBA Finals Today

Immerse yourself in the nostalgia and excitement of the 1969 NBA Finals with Leigh Montville's "Tall Men, Short Shorts." Available for free at DigeeBooks.com, this book will take you on a journey back in time to witness one of the greatest basketball championships ever played.