Furious George (book)

Karl's memoir spans his career playing and coaching in the NBA, including his time as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets, but does not include his last two years as head coach of the Sacramento Kings.{{cite news | url = http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/columnists/gary-damato/2017/01/24/damato-george-karl-still-stirring-pot/96989426/ | title = D'Amato: George Karl still stirring the pot | date= 24 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | author = Gary D'Amato }} Early versions of the manuscript did include critical commentary of Karl's time in Sacramento, but those pages were not authorized for inclusion in the book due to Karl's settlement agreement with the Kings.{{cite web | url = http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18345998/sources-sacramento-kings-passages-removed-george-karl-forthcoming-book | title = Sources: Sacramento Kings references removed from George Karl's forthcoming book | date= 24 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | publisher = ESPN | author = Mark J. Spears and Marc Stein }} The book includes two chapters dedicated to Karl's Seattle years, with particular emphasis on his relationship with Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton and General Manager Wally Walker.{{cite news | url = http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/nba/george-karl-invents-new-term-chaortic-to-describe-his-time-in-seattle/ | title = George Karl invents new term, chaortic, to describe his time in Seattle | date= 2 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = Seattle Times | author = Larry Stone }} Karl also explains how he almost traded Shawn Kemp for Scottie Pippen in 1994, but was unable to execute the trade due to salary cap reasons.{{cite news | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/07/01/jordan-pushes-trade/ | title = Jordan Pushes Trade | date= 1 July 1994 | access-date = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | author = Sam Smith }}{{cite magazine | url = http://www.complex.com/sports/2016/12/george-karl-confirms-spoke-with-michael-jordan-about-trading-shawn-kemp-scottie-pippen | title = George Karl Confirms He Spoke With Michael Jordan About Possibly Trading Shawn Kemp for Scottie Pippen | date= 28 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | magazine = Complex | author = Chris Yuscavage }}

Furious George includes anecdotes from dozens of NBA players and coaches including Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson and others.{{cite magazine | url = http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/12/george-karl-on-nba-conspiracies-phil-jackson-and-carmelo.html | title = Former Coach George Karl on NBA Conspiracies, Phil Jackson, and Carmelo

| date= 28 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | magazine = New York Magazine | author = David Marchese }}

Furious George was scheduled for its release on January 10, 2017, but excerpts from the book, which caused significant controversy among media members and former NBA players, leaked two weeks before that publication.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.si.com/nba/2017/01/11/george-karl-book-furious-george-reaction-carmelo-anthony-kings-nuggets | title = George Karl Q&A: 'This Isn't What I Wanted' | date= 11 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | magazine = Sports Illustrated | author = Jon Wertheim }} The controversy stemmed from Karl's remarks about fatherhood among some NBA players, specifically his claims that Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin “carried two big burdens” because they had “all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man.”{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/10/george-karl-book-furious-george-carmelo-kenyon-martin/96357236/ | title = George Karl says he regrets controversial 'fatherhood' comments | date= 10 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = USA Today | author = AJ Neuharth-Keusch }}{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/sports/basketball/carmelo-anthony-phil-jackson-knicks.html | title = Derrick Rose Leads Knicks' Win; Carmelo Anthony Says Focus Is on 'Playing Ball' | date= 18 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = New York Times | author = Mike Vorkunov }} Karl was also critical of J.R. Smith, claiming he had "a huge sense of entitlement, a distracting posse, his eye always on the next contract and some really unbelievable shot selection."{{cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2683287-george-karl-blasts-carmelo-anthony-in-upcoming-book-furious-george | title = George Karl Blasts Carmelo Anthony in Upcoming Book 'Furious George' | date= 22 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | website = Bleacher Report | author = Timothy Rapp}} Howard Bryant was critical of Karl's comments in the book and wrote, "Karl...offers a glimpse into the minds of the coaches who are intolerant of players, their upbringing and, obviously, their power. If that is the father figure, maybe it's better not to have one."{{cite magazine | url = http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18557199/howard-bryant-george-karl-inflated-clout-coach | title = George Karl and the cult of coach | date= 26 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | magazine = ESPN the Magazine | author = Howard Bryant }}

In the book, Karl also claimed that players used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.{{cite web | url = http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/12/26/george-karl-nba-has-steroid-issue/ | title = George Karl: NBA has steroid issue | date= 26 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | publisher = NBC Sports | author = Dan Feldman }}{{cite news | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/george-karl-accuses-nba-stars-steroid-abuse-new-book-article-1.2925397 | title = George Karl accuses NBA stars of steroid abuse in new book — 'It's obvious some of our players are doping | date= 27 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = New York Daily News | author = Brett Bodner }} Commissioner of the NBA Adam Silver later responded to Karl's allegations saying, "I have no reason to believe whatsoever that we have an issue, either as the result of testing or as the result of other information that comes to the league office."{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/13/adam-silver-george-karl-ped-nba/96537540/ | title = Adam Silver addresses George Karl's suggestion of PED use in the NBA | date= 13 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = USA Today }}{{cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2686909-adam-silver-responds-to-george-karls-comments-on-ped-use-in-nba | title = Adam Silver Responds to George Karl's Comments on PED Use in NBA | date= 13 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | website = Bleacher Report | author = Alec Nathan }}

Karl has expressed regret for how the controversial sections of the book were written and apologized for his comments in Furious George.{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/01/10/george-karl-answers-criticism-his-book/96402622/ | title = George Karl answers criticism to his book | date= 10 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = USA Today | author = Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt }}{{cite web | url = http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/01/10/george-karl-regrets-furious-george-statements/ | title = George Karl Regrets 'Furious George' Statements | date= 10 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | work = CBS Sports }} He added that he "didn't write anything in the book that he hadn't said to players' faces."{{cite news | url = http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4845211-155/nba-george-karl-doesnt-hold-back | title = NBA: George Karl doesn't hold back in first book

| date= 20 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = Salt Lake Tribune | author = Arnie Stapleton }}

Basketball Insiders described the memoir as "outspoken and raw."{{cite web | url = http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-george-karl-dishes-on-carmelo-mvp-race-and-more/ | title = NBA PM: George Karl Dishes on Carmelo, MVP Race And More | date= 23 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | publisher = Basketball Insiders | author = Lang Greene }} The Denver Post reviewed the book favorably, adding, "George is furious, but he’s just as introspective."{{cite news | url = http://www.denverpost.com/2016/12/31/furious-george-book-review-george-karl/ | title = Dempsey: "Furious George" is controversial, but is much more as well | date= 31 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = The Denver Post | author = Christopher Dempsey }} One review of Furious George noted that while Karl was critical of several former players and others he had crossed paths with, he was also critical of himself, stating, "The most compelling part of the book is when Karl tackles Karl. He is unsparing here, too."{{cite news | url = http://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/ailene-voisin/article122901099.html | title = George Karl not making friends with 'Furious George' | date= 24 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = Sacramento Bee | author = Ailene Voisin

}}

The book has also been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone and others.{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/sports/basketball/ny-knicks-orlando-magic-carmelo-anthony.html | title = For Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, a Bad Day Continues Into Night | date= 22 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = New York Times | author = Mike Vorkunov }}{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-lillard-karl-book-20161229-htmlstory.html | title = George Karl continues trashing NBA players — this time Damian Lillard — while promoting his book | date= 7 January 2017 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | newspaper = Los Angeles Times }}{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/news/kenyon-martin-nba-players-respond-to-george-karl-book-w457628 | title = Kenyon Martin Lashes Out at George Karl's Comments About Not Having a Father | date= 23 December 2016 | accessdate = 8 February 2017 | magazine = Rolling Stone | author = Scott Rafferty }}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062367792/furious-george Furious George at HarperCollins]
• [https://www.amazon.com/Furious-George-Surviving-Clueless-Selection/dp/006236779X Furious George on Amazon]

Category:2017 non-fiction books

Category:American non-fiction books

Category:Basketball books

Category:English-language non-fiction books

Category:Sports autobiographies

Category:Collaborative autobiographies

Category:HarperCollins books