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Prehistoric
The Audacious and Improbable Origin Story of the Toronto Raptors
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Prehistoric is ideal for basketball enthusiasts, sports history buffs, and Raptors fans eager to understand the roots of their beloved team. It also appeals to readers interested in Canadian sports culture and stories of underdogs overcoming odds to achieve greatness.
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Description
The improbable story of the birth of modern-day pro basketball in Toronto
In just over 25 years, the Toronto Raptors have evolved from an intrepid expansion team to an NBA champion. But for all the triumphs of the past decade, the beginning looked a bit different. When the franchise began its first season in 1995, a pro basketball team in Toronto was viewed as an experiment. There was no playbook to follow, and very few people gave them a chance to succeed.
In Prehistoric, irreverent Raptors voice and culture writer Alex Wong explores the franchise's fascinating and unconventional inception through 140 original interviews with those involved with the team's very beginning. The book examines the process of how the team came up with their name and logo inspired by the blockbuster film Jurassic Park, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the drafting of star point guard Damon Stoudamire, tells the backstories of a group of misfits who formed the first-year roster, and provides an in-depth look at the team's opening night victory at the SkyDome and the expansion franchise's signature win over Michael Jordan and a 72-win Chicago Bulls team.
The Raptors boldly and intentionally pursued a much different audience in a hockey-first town. The result is a team who went through the necessary growing pains and eventually captured the heart of a city. This essential origin story is told through the lens of the people who were there to help lay the foundation for a thriving modern-day basketball franchise in Toronto.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Prehistoric has been praised for vividly capturing the spirit and struggles of the Raptors’ early days. William Lou of The Raptors Show describes it as essential for both long-time fans and newcomers, highlighting the heartfelt portrayal of the team and its supporters. J.E. Skeets, co-host of the No Dunks podcast, calls it the ultimate nostalgic journey for Canadian basketball fans, perfectly capturing the joy and passion of having an NBA team to rally behind. Alex Wong is recognised for making readers care deeply about the figures central to this story.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781637272015
Publisher: Triumph Books
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 24 October 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: Triumph Books
Illustration: Illustrations
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 22.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 228.0mm
Weight: 657g
Pages: 256
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About the Author
Alex Wongis a writer based in Toronto. He has written about basketball and culture for publications includingThe New Yorker,GQ,SLAM,The New York Times, andThe Atlantic. He is the author ofCover Story: The NBA and Modern Basketball as Told Through Its Most Iconic Magazine Covers. He co-authored the Canadian bestsellerWe The Champs: The Toronto Raptors' Historic Run to the 2019 NBA Title.
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