{"title":"Bob Whitsitt","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBob Whitsitt\u003c\/strong\u003e delivers gripping narratives from the world of sports, blending insightful analysis with personal stories that captivate both fans and newcomers. His writing often explores the complexities behind the games and the key figures who shape them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a thoughtful journey through pivotal moments and transformative characters in sport, portrayed with a clear passion and an eye for the drama beyond the scoreboard. Whitsitt’s works offer more than just records of games—they reveal the stories that change the game itself.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"game-changer-by-bob-whitsitt-9781959411260","title":"Game Changer","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom groundbreaking trades to team-saving negotiations, Bob Whitsitt reveals the behind-the-scenes deals that changed the destinies of three iconic Pacific Northwest sports teams: the Seahawks, the SuperSonics, and the Trail Blazers.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1994, Whitsitt was named the NBA Executive of the Year, but in 1978 he was just an intern for the Indiana Pacers. Over the next decade and a half, he would find his way to the front lines of an athletic revolution, leading a transformation that took the NBA from an asterisk in sports to a global phenomenon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy 1986, at the tender age of thirty, Whitsitt had been recruited to salvage the Seattle SuperSonics, whose glory had faded after the 1979 NBA championship. In just one season, and after many daring player trades, Whitsitt guided the team back to fighting form and into the playoffs. Whitsitt's grit and risk-taking moves caught the eye of billionaire Paul Allen, who coaxed the savvy executive into taking the helm of the Portland Trail Blazers and leading them back into championship contention. Whitsitt went on to play a pivotal role in convincing Allen to purchase the Seahawks to keep them in town, lobbying for a new stadium—and the implosion of the iconic Kingdome—ushering in a new era of professional football in Seattle. Whitsitt is the only person to have been both the president and general manager of the Seahawks, Sonics, and Trail Blazers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eGame Changer\u003c\/i\u003e, Whitsitt offers insights and stories from the glory days of three beloved teams, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehow he earned the nickname Trader Bob by mapping his trades many moves—and even years—ahead;\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehis prescient recruitment of one of the first straight-to-pro basketball players, Shawn Kemp—and why his second signing of Kemp was one of his worst missteps;\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehis time-tested negotiation tips for any situation;\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehow he knew the mercurial George Karl was the right man to coach Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, and the rest of the scene-stealing Sonics team;\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ethe truth behind the heroics needed to keep the Seahawks in Seattle;\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehis rankings of the all-time-best NBA players and coaches;\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eadvice for how to get a job in professional sports.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn unprecedented view into the front office of three of the most beloved franchises in the NBA and NFL during their most pivotal years, \u003ci\u003eGame Changer\u003c\/i\u003e offers a new vision for pro sports, perfect for students of the game, lifelong fans, and sophisticated dealmakers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558921781484,"sku":"9781959411260","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781959411260-game-changer.jpg?v=1776922297"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/bob-whitsitt.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}