At times little separates the author and his subjects, both of whom are emotionally linked by their passion for hoops. But as the summer unfolds and even superstars such as the
legendary and incendiary Fly Williams are confronted with the realities of ghetto life and the sociological hurdles facing African American males, the joy of the game starts to be seen
as the wispy pipe dream it often becomes. Written before cell phones, disposable cameras, and cable TV,
Heaven Is a Playground is one of a kind—a funny, sad, ultimately inspiring
book about Americans and the roots of the sport that they love.
In this third edition, thirty-five years after Telander discovered New York’s kings of basketball, the author provides a retrospective of the game and times.