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Pistol Pete's Act Will Never Be Repeated
By Coach Randy Brown

Every era has a small group of players that take the country by storm. Their style, skill, or passion for championships mark these special players. Pete Maravich was one of those rare players that combined the uncanny ability to score from everywhere on the floor night in and night out! There will never be another Pistol Pete!

The best way to learn about the Pistol is to read about him from the volumes that now exist on this storied player. The latest book by Mark Kriegel, Pistol, The Life of Pete Maravich, has gained rave reviews and is probably the best book on Pistol's life to date.

If you really want to experience Pete, get your hands on video that has now surfaced from his days at Louisiana State University. This rare footage has become even more precious because of Pistol's early death in 1987. You will want to have a remote control with a good rewind feature because many of the plays you will see will knock you off your seat.

Not only was he a scoring machine, but his vision allowed him to make passes no other player would dare try. Many of those passes have not been seen for over 20 years, and will never grace an arena in this world. There are many reasons for this bold statement. Pete Maravich's life was basketball. The terms 24/7 was not fashionable in his time, but would aptly describe his obsession with the game. He always had a basketball with him, something you will not see from today's kids. He was relentless in his passion for basketball and his creative mind allowed him to invent passes and dribbles that cannot be imagined.

We lost The Pistol much too early, though his legacy lives on. Pete would be unhappy about the status of basketball in the USA as the foreign countries have proven many times that the game is more important to them than it is us. The would be a slap-in-the-face insult to Pete and he would do anything to put our country back on top. He would tell you that talent alone is not enough. Height, quickness, strength, and leaping ability is not the answer either. Victory lies in the heart of every player who plays the game.

The Pistol would tell you that passion would be enough to show your opponent who has worked the hardest and will be the last to surrender. His love for the game is unmatched. If you are looking for the next Pete Maravich to come along anytime soon you will be greatly disappointed.