Triumph Books
A reliable destination for Spurs enthusiasts, Pounding the Rock takes its name from the Jacob Riis quote that famously hangs in the Spurs locker room. Comprised of 21 articles, including selections from their vast archive, this new collection builds on the blog’s strengths – namely, timely and straightforward basketball writing that often closely mirrors the thoughts and concerns of the Spurs faithful.
Pounding the Rock General Manager J.R. Wilco is spot-on with his selections for the blog’s first book and, along with Current contributor Bruno Passos (who's featured in the book), splendidly sets the table for this full-color retrospective of Duncan’s storied NBA career. Other highlights include standout contributions from writers Matthew Tynan, Jesus Gomez, and Michael Erler, who deftly explore Duncan’s perceived metronomic personality.
With articles ranging in date from November 21, 2012 to July 14, 2016, Team-First Superstar gives readers an often-prescient, first-hand account of Duncan’s NBA golden years. Additional articles from Pounding the Rock’s deep roster acknowledge the fistful of championships delivered by Duncan, while recognizing the legacy of San Antonio’s Big Three.Yo, everyone buying the Tim Duncan poster, thank you so much. I love you! Everyone else, 😔 Timmy is added to the store! pic.twitter.com/BPxkwu6XR3
— Arturo Torres (@arturodraws) January 3, 2017
Hoops heads seeking a literary point of reference may recall 2013’s exceptional We’ll Always Have Linsanity, which chronicled Jeremy Lin’s meteoric rise in New York City, as documented by Knicks bloggers. Team-First Superstar is essentially cut from the same cloth, minus the tweets. Pounding the Rock’s new addition to the Spurs canon comfortably eschews snark for substance in a strong first effort.
