Saturday, September 27, 2008

Maravich signing at Hollywood Book Fair


Pete Maravich Book Signing on Sunday, Sept. 28

Wayne Federman, one of the co-authors of Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete, will be signing selling and signing books at the West Hollywood Book Fair this Sunday afternoon.

Federman will be signing from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. The award-winning West Hollywood Book Fair takes place on Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, 647 North San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood, California.

“Pistol” Pete Maravich is recognized by the NBA as one of the all-time Top 50 Basketball Players. More than 30 years after he left Louisiana State University, his NCAA scoring record still stands. He enjoyed fame, wealth and, short of winning an NBA championship, achieved every possible success.

Yet despite all that, Pete was unfulfilled and unhappy. After injury forced him to retire from the NBA, he suffered deep depression and thoughts of suicide.

Things changed dramatically and permanently, however, when Pete found Christ. At last he experienced peace and a purpose that extended beyond the basketball court. He became an avid student of the Bible and a tireless evangelist. His behavior as a husband and father was transformed.

Book Features:

  • The authorized biography of Pistol Pete, with exclusive insights from the Maravich family
  • Never-before-seen personal photos from the Maravich Family archive
  • Comprehensive appendix of Pete Maravich statistics
  • A new forward by Dr. James Dobson.
  • Sports action photos spanning his entire career, from setting NCAA records to NBA stardom
  • List of Pistol Pete’s 25 Greatest Game, with highlights from LSU and his three pro teams
  • Endorsed by hundreds of media outlets including ESPN, The New York Times, NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, The Boston Globe, and many more.

For more information – please go to www.MaravichBook.com

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Pang to headline Denver's Peace Paint-In


May Pang heads to Denver for Imagine Peace Paint-In

May Pang will be painting the town on John Lennon's birthday.

Pang, who was John Lennon's long-time personal assistant and lover, will be the featured guest at Denver's Imagine Peace Paint-In on Thursday, October 9. The one-day event will be held in Civic Center Park starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 6 p.m. The celebration commemorating the life of John Lennon's life is free and open to the public. Hundreds are expected to gather to paint, play music and celebrate peace.

“John and I came through Denver in 1974 on our way to Caribou Ranch to join Elton and the boys for the Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds recording session,” Pang said. “He was amazed at the mountains and the clean air at 9000 feet up. This is where he got his first pair of Frye boots, which he wore all the time.”

Civic Center Park, located between Broadway and Colofax Avenue, is over a city block of landscaped park connecting the Denver Art Museum and the State Capitol.

Art classes, from all grade levels, will also be participating. In addition to the art and music, the Paint-In will feature various local and national peace groups, food and drink vendors and a few other vendors who fit in with the themes of peace, art and music.

In addition to speaking about her decade-long relationship with the icon, Pang will be on hand to sign copies of her best-selling photo book, Instamatic Karma. The book shows Lennon from 1973 to 1975 in a variety of settings: at work, at play, at home, and away.

The Imagine Peace Paint-In will benefit the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Student Peace Alliance, Colorado Department of Peace Campaign and ImaginePeace.com.

For more information, visit www.paint-in.org or www.maypang.com.

Friday, September 12, 2008

James Dobson writes foreword on Pistol Pete bio


Dr. James Dobson's foreword for Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete.
(By Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill, Tyndale, Focus on the Family, $14.99)


Foreword

Pete Maravich may have had as big an impact on the game of basketball
as any player in modern history. If a chronicle of his unprecedented athletic
achievements is what you’re looking for, you’ll certainly find it within
the pages of this book: more than 40 NCAA records (many of which still
stand today); an average of 44 points per game at LSU and 24 points per game
over his ten years in the NBA; five Sports Illustrated covers; and an illustrious
collection of awards, records, milestones, and landmarks too numerous to list.
Even today, two decades after his death, the name “Pistol Pete” inspires
awe, respect, and admiration from those both inside and outside the world of
sports. He was an icon in the days before salary caps, product endorsements,
and celebrity shrouded that term in a cloud of crass commercialism. He was
the real deal.

Nevertheless, the awards, records, and recognition were not what ultimately
defined Pete Maravich. By his own admission, he reached a point in
his life where he realized that fame and fortune were ultimately meaningless
in the eternal scheme of things.As he would later say,“Money will buy you
anything but happiness. It’ll pay your fare to every place but heaven.”And so,
on a rainy night in 1982, he asked Jesus Christ to fill his life and his heart.
For the remainder of his days on earth, which ended in 1988,“Pistol Pete’s”
passion was not basketball or any other earthly pursuit, but his love for God
and his desire to share it with others.

And that is where he and I crossed paths for the first time. I did not know
Pete well, but we did begin to develop a friendship when, in 1987, I invited
him to share his story on our Focus on the Family radio program. On January
5, 1988, the day the broadcast was to be recorded, I had the audacity to invite
“Pistol Pete” to join me and several of my colleagues for an early morning
pickup basketball game at a local church gym. Early morning games of this
sort had been a tri-weekly tradition among us for years.

The sports legend was very gracious to accept our invitation and to
endeavor not to embarrass the rest of us too severely while we lumbered
around the court as only over-the-hill guys can.

I quickly learned that Pete had been suffering from unidentified pain in
his right shoulder for many months. If it had been in his left,physicians would
have suspected it was his heart. The problem was incorrectly diagnosed as
“neuralgia.” Aside from playing in the NBA “Legends Game,” he had not
been on the basketball court in more than a year. Nevertheless,we had a good
time that morning.

Pete moved at about one-third his normal speed, and the rest of us
huffed and puffed to keep up.We played for about forty-five minutes and
then took a break to get a drink. Pete and I stayed on the court and talked
while waiting for the other players to come back. He spoke of his desire to
play more recreational basketball after his struggles with shoulder pain were
over.

“How do you feel today?” I asked.

“I feel great,” he said.

Those were Pete’s last words. I turned to walk away, and for some reason,
looked back in time to see him go down. His face and body hit the
boards hard. Still, I thought he was teasing. Pete had a great sense of humor,
and I assumed that he was playing off his final comment about feeling good.
I hurried over to where he lay, still expecting to see him get up laughing.
But then I saw that he was having a seizure. I held his tongue to keep his
air passage open and called for the other guys to come help me.The seizure
lasted about twenty seconds, and then Pete stopped breathing.We started
CPR immediately, but were never able to get another heartbeat or breath.
Pete died in my arms.

Several of us accompanied the ambulance to the hospital, where we
prayerfully watched the emergency room staff try to revive him for another
forty-five minutes. But it was no use.

An autopsy revealed a few days later that Pete suffered from a congenital
heart malformation and never knew it. That was why his shoulder had
been hurting. How he was able to perform such incredible exploits on the
basketball court for so many years is a medical mystery. He was destined to
drop dead at a fairly young age, and only God knows why it happened during
the brief moment when his path crossed mine.

In the world of sports, it’s not about how you start; it’s about how you
finish. If you’re a coach, no one will remember your early victories if your
team loses the big game at the end of the season. At the same time, legends
are made by those who overcome losses and disappointments early to emerge
victorious when the championship trophy is up for grabs. Those are the
“dream teams” that people remember.

“Pistol Pete’s” life was like that.Without a doubt, his massive, record smashing
contributions to the game of basketball are worthy of the accolades
he has received. But his accomplishments and his trophies did not give him
satisfaction. Pete found lasting peace and contentment in the saving grace of
God, and I believe he would want to be remembered first and foremost as a
passionate follower of Jesus Christ. It’s not about how you start; it’s about how
you finish.

During our basketball game on the morning Pete died, he was wearing
a T-shirt that read, “Looking unto Jesus,” which is a reference to Hebrews
12:2.That says it all, doesn’t it? You’ll read a lot about basketball and trophies
and fame in this book, and there’s no denying the remarkable achievements
of one of America’s truly great basketball players. However, in the end, I
believe the simple message contained on that T-shirt tells you all you need to
know about Pete Maravich.

JAMES C. DOBSON, PH.D.
Founder and Chairman of Focus on the Family

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Definitive Pete Maravich book now in paperback


"The definitive biography of Pete Maravich" - David Lloyd, ESPN sports commentator

One of 2007's most acclaimed sports biographies is now in paperback. Focus on the Family and Tyndale Publishers proudly present Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete by Wayne Federman and Marshall Terrill.

With a new photo section and a foreword by Dr. James Dobson, the 480-page biography is the definitive account of the basketball superstar.

After staying silent for two decades, Jackie Maravich has welcomed authors Federman and Terrill into the superstar basketball player's private world. She has shared her personal memories and also provided unfettered access to the family archive of scrapbooks, films, letters, calendars, diaries, and photographs to allow Pete's story to be fully told for the first time.

The result is Pete Maravich, the Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete.

From childhood Pete Maravich mesmerized fans and opponents alike with audacious ball handling and relentless scoring. Julius Erving called him "a basketball genius." The mop-topped, floppy-socked prodigy was a legend at LSU, averaging a staggering 44.2 points per game--the highest in NCAA history. Then a brilliant pro career with the Hawks, Jazz and Celtics led to enshrinement in the Hall of Fame and selection as one of the top 50 players in NBA history.

But there was a price. Maravich brought a child-like exuberance to the court that often masked a tortured and confused adult. His obsessive personality--he often referred to himself as a "basketball android"--and inability to win a championship triggered despair and thoughts of suicide. Eventually he found peace in Christianity and a quiet home life.

Then, at age 40, Maravich died. The exact cause--a congenital heart defect-- stunned both the sports and medical worlds. Pistol Pete had been living on borrowed time. It was called a medical miracle that he survived his teens, let alone become a superstar athlete.

In addition to countless hours spent with Jackie and her sons, Jaeson and Joshua, the authors also interviewed more than 300 teammates, opponents, journalists, coaches, detractors, fans, and extended family to bring back to vivid life the story of a transcendent athlete who thrilled everyone except himself.

Also included is a comprehensive appendix of Maravich statistics, plus Pistol Pete's 25 greatest games.

For more information, go to www.MaravichBook.com

Urban Affair in Downtown Phoenix


URBAN AFFAIR CELEBRATES DOWNTOWN PHOENIX


Celebrate the downtown Phoenix lifestyle during Urban Affair, the Valley’s premier urban living event, Friday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. . The Phoenix Art Museum hosts this special cocktail reception highlighted by local artists and representatives of performing arts and culture organizations including Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Heard Museum, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Iconic downtown restaurants and chefs will present a “progressive tasting menu” throughout the evening, including Cibo, Art of Soup, Elizabeth the Market Chef, Urban Cookies, The Breadfruit and more.

A portion of the event proceeds, promotion and energy will benefit Community Food Connections, the non-profit organization that produces Downtown Phoenix Public Market.

“Urban Affair reflects the growing amount of activity and energy in downtown Phoenix and so this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “Because we have more people living downtown and more arts and cultural options in our urban core than ever before.”

“Phoenix has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the terrific Arts Organizations that are established within close proximity here in the downtown area. Not all cities are so lucky,” commented James Ballinger, The Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum. “Phoenix Art Musem has been a downtown amenity for 49 years, and we are joined by several other great museums and performing arts institutions. We are extremely pleased to host this multi-faceted event and support the overall endeavors of Urban Affair.”

Facts at a Glance

  • Location: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
  • Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
  • Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Schedule: performances will be programmed throughout the evening
  • Tickets: $30, $75 VIP (VIP includes host bar and access to the Champagne & Dessert Gallery)

Tickets are available online at http://www.urbanaffairaz.com through Showup.com.

Urban Affair is supported by Phoenix Art Museum, City of Phoenix, New Times, Media Publishers Group, Holy Click! Web Design, Creative Backstage, Local First Arizona, Yelp.com, SoDo Phoenix Business & Civic Association, Roosevelt Row, No Festival Required, RadiatePhx, and Make Phoenix Weird.

###

Phoenix Art Museum hosts Urban Affair


URBAN AFFAIR CELEBRATES DOWNTOWN PHOENIX


Celebrate the downtown Phoenix lifestyle during Urban Affair, the Valley’s premier urban living event, Friday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. . The Phoenix Art Museum hosts this special cocktail reception highlighted by local artists and representatives of performing arts and culture organizations including Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Heard Museum, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Iconic downtown restaurants and chefs will present a “progressive tasting menu” throughout the evening, including Cibo, Art of Soup, Elizabeth the Market Chef, Urban Cookies and more.

A portion of the event proceeds, promotion and energy will benefit Community Food Connections, the non-profit organization that produces Downtown Phoenix Public Market.

“Urban Affair reflects the growing amount of activity and energy in downtown Phoenix and so this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “Because we have more people living downtown and more arts and cultural options in our urban core than ever before.”

“Phoenix has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the terrific Arts Organizations that are established within close proximity here in the downtown area. Not all cities are so lucky,” commented James Ballinger, The Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum. “Phoenix Art Musem has been a downtown amenity for 49 years, and we are joined by several other great museums and performing arts institutions. We are extremely pleased to host this multi-faceted event and support the overall endeavors of Urban Affair.”

Facts at a Glance

  • Location: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
  • Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
  • Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Schedule: performances will be programmed throughout the evening
  • Tickets: $30, $75 VIP (VIP includes host bar and access to the Champagne & Dessert Gallery)

Tickets are available online at http://www.urbanaffairaz.com through Showup.com.

Urban Affair is supported by Phoenix Art Museum, City of Phoenix, New Times, Media Publishers Group, Holy Click! Web Design, Creative Backstage, Local First Arizona, Yelp.com, SoDo Phoenix Business & Civic Association, Roosevelt Row, No Festival Required, RadiatePhx, and Make Phoenix Weird.

###

Urban Affair in Downtown Phoenix


URBAN AFFAIR CELEBRATES DOWNTOWN PHOENIX


Celebrate the downtown Phoenix lifestyle during Urban Affair, the Valley’s premier urban living event, Friday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts this special cocktail reception highlighted by local artists and representatives of performing arts and culture organizations including Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Heard Museum, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Iconic downtown restaurants and chefs will present a “progressive tasting menu” throughout the evening, including Cibo, Art of Soup, Elizabeth the Market Chef, Urban Cookies and more.

A portion of the event proceeds, promotion and energy will benefit Community Food Connections, the non-profit organization that produces Downtown Phoenix Public Market.

“Urban Affair reflects the growing amount of activity and energy in downtown Phoenix and so this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “Because we have more people living downtown and more arts and cultural options in our urban core than ever before.”

“Phoenix has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the terrific Arts Organizations that are established within close proximity here in the downtown area. Not all cities are so lucky,” commented James Ballinger, The Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum. “Phoenix Art Musem has been a downtown amenity for 49 years, and we are joined by several other great museums and performing arts institutions. We are extremely pleased to host this multi-faceted event and support the overall endeavors of Urban Affair.”

Facts at a Glance

  • Location: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
  • Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
  • Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Schedule: performances will be programmed throughout the evening
  • Tickets: $30, $75 VIP (VIP includes host bar and access to the Champagne & Dessert Gallery)

Tickets are available online at http://www.urbanaffairaz.com through Showup.com.

Urban Affair is supported by Phoenix Art Museum, City of Phoenix, New Times, Media Publishers Group, Holy Click! Web Design, Creative Backstage, Local First Arizona, Yelp.com, SoDo Phoenix Business & Civic Association, Roosevelt Row, No Festival Required, RadiatePhx, and Make Phoenix Weird.

Urban Affair in Downtown Phoenix

URBAN AFFAIR CELEBRATES DOWNTOWN PHOENIX


Celebrate the downtown Phoenix lifestyle during Urban Affair, the Valley’s premier urban living event, Friday, September 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Phoenix Art Museum hosts this special cocktail reception highlighted by local artists and representatives of performing arts and culture organizations including Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Heard Museum, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Iconic downtown restaurants and chefs will present a “progressive tasting menu” throughout the evening, including Cibo, Art of Soup, Elizabeth the Market Chef, Urban Cookies and more.

A portion of the event proceeds, promotion and energy will benefit Community Food Connections, the non-profit organization that produces Downtown Phoenix Public Market.

“Urban Affair reflects the growing amount of activity and energy in downtown Phoenix and so this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “Because we have more people living downtown and more arts and cultural options in our urban core than ever before.”

“Phoenix has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the terrific Arts Organizations that are established within close proximity here in the downtown area. Not all cities are so lucky,” commented James Ballinger, The Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum. “Phoenix Art Musem has been a downtown amenity for 49 years, and we are joined by several other great museums and performing arts institutions. We are extremely pleased to host this multi-faceted event and support the overall endeavors of Urban Affair.”

Facts at a Glance

  • Location: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
  • Date: Friday, September 26, 2008
  • Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
  • Schedule: performances will be programmed throughout the evening
  • Tickets: $30, $75 VIP (VIP includes host bar and access to the Champagne & Dessert Gallery)

Tickets are available online at http://www.urbanaffairaz.com through Showup.com.

Urban Affair is supported by Phoenix Art Museum, City of Phoenix, New Times, Media Publishers Group, Holy Click! Web Design, Creative Backstage, Local First Arizona, Yelp.com, SoDo Phoenix Business & Civic Association, Roosevelt Row, No Festival Required, RadiatePhx, and Make Phoenix Weird.

###

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Book Soup hosts Robert Relyea on Sept. 10


Movie executive was assistant director on Jailhouse Rock

Producer Robert E. Relyea, a fifty-year veteran of the movie industry and assistant director on Elvis Presley's most iconic film, Jailhouse Rock, will appear at a world famous book store on the Sunset Strip this month to promote his new action-packed autobiography.

The two-hour signing will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 10 at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Relyea will be signing copies of Not So Quiet On The Set: My Life In Movies During Hollywood’s Macho Era, which promises to become a must read for anyone who yearns to know the “real” stories about the movies.

Co-authored by son Craig Relyea, Not So Quiet On The Set provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes, first person look into Hollywood’s movie-making landscape during the turbulent pre-and post-Kennedy years in America. The book also chronicles Relyea’s relationship with Elvis Presley on the set of Jailhouse Rock and Kid Gallahad.

Tidbits include:

  • When Relyea rushed Presley from the MGM soundstage to Cedars-Sinai Hospital because the singer had swallowed a tooth cap.

  • A behind-the-scenes look at the famous dance sequence that became Presley's most enduring image on celluloid.

  • How Presley won over the film's veteran cast and crew with his polite manners and sincerity.

  • Relyea's take on Presley's romance with co-star Judy Tyler, who died in a tragic automobile accident shortly after Jailhouse Rock was finished.

  • Having fun with Presley and the Memphis Mafia on the set of Kid Gallahad.

The 348-page work includes candid photos of Relyea on the sets of epic films and presents rare insights into the mechanics and politics of film making, defining a dynamic period in motion picture history. A unique collaboration between father and son, Not So Quiet On The Set not only illustrates how the movie industry really works, but also provides a revealing portrait of Hollywood’s loss of innocence.

For more information, go to www.booksoup.com or www.NotSoQuietOnTheSet.com.



Book Soup hosts Robert Relyea on Sept. 10


Relyea was assistant director on The Alamo

Robert E. Relyea, a fifty-year veteran of the movie industry and assistant director on John Wayne's The Alamo, will appear at a world famous book store on the Sunset Strip this month to promote his new action-packed autobiography.

The two-hour signing will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 10 at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Relyea will be signing copies of Not So Quiet On The Set: My Life In Movies During Hollywood’s Macho Era, which promises to become a must read for anyone who yearns to know the “real” stories about the movies.

Co-authored by son Craig Relyea, Not So Quiet On The Set provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes, first person look into Hollywood’s movie-making landscape during the turbulent pre-and post-Kennedy years in America. The book also chronicles Relyea’s relationship with John Wayne on the set of The Alamo, one of the icon's most enduring films.

Tidbits include:

  • The Duke's explosive temperament, who dispensed with the pleasantries when it came to dealing with demanding fans.

  • The time when Wayne punched a horse for biting him on the backside. The force of the star's punch brought the animal to its knees.

  • How co-star Richard Widmark wanted to go toe-to-toe with Wayne after he called Widmark a “little son of a bitch.”

  • Setting up the film's final battle sequence, which required thousands of extras and took more than a month to shoot.

The 348-page work includes candid photos of Relyea on the sets of epic films and presents rare insights into the mechanics and politics of filmmaking, defining a dynamic period in motion picture history. A unique collaboration between father and son, Not So Quiet On The Set not only illustrates how the movie industry really works, but also provides a revealing portrait of Hollywood’s loss of innocence.

For more information, go to www.booksoup.com or www.NotSoQuietOnTheSet.com.



Book Soup hosts Robert Relyea on Sept. 10


Movie executive was Steve McQueen's right hand man

Producer Robert E. Relyea, a fifty-year veteran of the movie industry and Steve McQueen’s right hand man at Solar Productions, will appear at a world famous book store on the Sunset Strip this month to promote his new action-packed autobiography.

The two-hour signing will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 10 at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Relyea will be signing copies of Not So Quiet On The Set: My Life In Movies During Hollywood’s Macho Era, which promises to become a must read for anyone who yearns to know the “real” stories about the movies.

Co-authored by son Craig Relyea, Not So Quiet On The Set provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes, first person look into Hollywood’s movie-making landscape during the turbulent pre-and post-Kennedy years in America. The book also chronicles Relyea’s friendship, business relationship and canon of films with McQueen, which includes Never So Few, The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, The Reivers and Le Mans.

The 348-page work includes candid photos of Relyea on the sets of epic films and presents rare insights into the mechanics and politics of film making, defining a dynamic period in motion picture history. A unique collaboration between father and son, Not So Quiet On The Set not only illustrates how the movie industry really works, but also provides a revealing portrait of Hollywood’s loss of innocence.

For more information, go to www.booksoup.com or www.NotSoQuietOnTheSet.com.