Mallozzi (Asphalt Gods), a sports journalist, writes in a straightforward, unpretentious style that will have readers hooked after reading his heartfelt dedication. He starts with Erving's childhood, the son of a single mother on Long Island, NY, then moves through Erving's basketball career in college, the ABA and the NBA, with firsthand accounts from important people in Erving's life from childhood on, including Dave Anderson, Marv Albert, and Bob Costas. Erving faced numerous struggles both on and off the court; Mallozzi offers details about Erving's affairs and the divorce proceedings from his wife, Turquoise, of nearly 30 years. Some of this material is quite graphic, which makes the book more suitable for adults. While the personal details end the book on a shadowy note, as a whole this is an encouraging and positive work about one of basketball's legendary greats. Verdict Mallozzi does what he promises: he presents Erving's life honestly as it occurred. This is a quick read that will be appreciated by most basketball fans.-Rachel Winchel, Louisiana Tech Univ., Ruston Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Before young basketball players wanted to Be Like Mike, they aspired to fly like Julius Erving. Noted basketball writer Mallozzi was one of those kids who modeled his game after the man they called Dr. J, and his biography does justice to one of the greatest basketball players ever. While Erving declined to be interviewed for the book, there's enough insight from those close to him for a complete portrayal. Erving goes from a talented but not heavily recruited high schooler to a rising collegiate standout at the University of Massachusetts, and eventual superstar in the ABA (New York Nets) and NBA (Philadelphia 76ers). Of course, Erving is most known for his aerial assaults, looking like an "angel flying across the heavens." Beyond that, Mallozzi shows us how Erving not only developed an all-around game to complement his acrobatics but also became a consummate teammate, a mentor to younger players and a friend to both former coaches and players. There's also the darker side of Erving's life, mostly after his retirement, including the tragic death of his teenage son and lengthy saga about his once-estranged daughter. But in the end, Mallozzi concludes that Erving is as good a person as he was a basketball player, and based on the near-unanimous consensus on that premise by those interviewed, it's hard to argue. It's a well-researched yet fun look into the man to whom current NBA dunkers owe a debt of gratitude. (Dec.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.