[Jeff Benedict]Out of Bounds : Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime(pdf){Zzzzz}

Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime is a searing indictment of professional basketball players who live in a world where criminal laws and social norms don't exist, a world where they are given license to act above the law.

On the court, they dazzle us with their spectacular physical feats. They generate millions of dollars of revenue for the NBA and their teams. They inspire adulation. But underneath all the glitz, the money, and alley-oops is a seamy underbelly, a rash of lawlessness that is gripping the NBA.

Based on a first-of-its-kind investigation into the criminal histories of 177 NBA players from the 2001–2002 season, Out of Bounds shows that an alarming four out of every ten NBA players have a police record involving a serious crime. They are All-Stars and they are journeymen, involved in crimes ranging from armed robbery to domestic violence to gun possession to rape.

Out of Bounds takes a hard look at shocking cases, with graphic accounts of physical and sexual violence and other outrageous conduct by players. In all, more than 250 people are named, including many prominent NBA players. It exposes the environment and culture that encourages such criminal behavior. It also explains the unique challenges these cases pose for law-enforcement agencies and prosecutors. And Out of Bounds takes readers inside the hidden yet critically vital role that lawyers, agents, and fame play in insulating criminally accused players from accountability.

Author Jeff Benedict, an expert on athletes and crime, draws his conclusions from exhaustive research. In addition to his criminal-background checks, the author retrieved documents from law-enforcement agencies, courts, and private attorneys. He conducted more than 400 interviews with police officers, prosecutors, defense lawyers, players, agents, victims, witnesses, and coaches. What emerges is a disturbing and appalling picture of men who live above the law.

A seminal and important work, Out of Bounds will forever change how we look at the NBA and its stars' lives of excess and privilege.

Publisher: It Books (June 14, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060726040
ISBN-13: 978-0060726041

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In what is bound to be one of the more controversial sports books of this year, Benedict (Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL) applies his superb investigative reporting skills to the "dark, sinister side" of dozens of NBA players, painstakingly detailing criminal behavior ranging from drug abuse and domestic violence to armed robbery and rape. Using criminal background checks on nearly 200 NBA players; thousands of pages of trial transcripts and other legal documents; and more than 400 interviews with police officers, attorneys, players, victims and witnesses, Benedict tells hard stories, some well known and others discussed in depth for the first time here. Benedict also has no fear of naming some big names—including all-stars Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, Glenn Robinson and Damon Stoudamire—to detail what he calls "the rash of lawlessness that is currently gripping the NBA." Benedict exposes how life as a touring player in the NBA offers vast amounts of free time and sex, encouraging criminal behavior and leading to a warped perception of women and their availability, as well as producing an environment "hot-wired" to produce incidents of sexual assault. He explains how the "see-no-evil approach" of NBA teams and their armies of lawyers fosters the perception in players that they are above the law, leading to outrageous behavior toward law-enforcement officials. As well, he explores the role that agents play in keeping criminally accused players from accountability. This is an excellent book that proves its point that life in the NBA is "out of control and absolutely demands close scrutiny."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jeff Benedict conducted the first national study on sexual assault and athletes. He has published three books on athletes and crime, including a blistering exposé on the NFL, Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL, and Public Heroes, Private Felons: Athletes and Crimes Against Women. He is a lawyer and an investigative journalist who has written five books.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Obviously Well Researched, But Missing Something
By A Customer on June 30, 2004
While Out of Bounds is a well-researched book, the author (Jeff Benedict) succumbs to the flaw in logic known as the overextended generalization. The book's overall premise -- that NBA players as a whole are a bad brood -- is not supported by the information presented. There are some -- and I repeat, some -- compelling stories of crime and decadence in the book. (Examples: the Ruben Patterson and Atlanta Gold Club stories.) But this does not add up to a basis for castigating the NBA as a whole.
Some of the incidents that Benedict describes are not worth the effort spent to discuss them. Example: the incident in Portland where Scottie Pippen threw water in an obnoxious fan's face. So what? This incident does not prove Benedict's premise, yet it was one of the first incidents discussed in the book.
The author also takes aim at lawyers (and agents) who represented players in the incidents discussed in the book. But Benedict himself is a lawyer, and he knows full well that lawyers are responsible under the law to zealously represent their clients. Benedict seems disturbed that NBA players can buy high quality legal advice. Well, again, so what? High profile businesspeople do the same. Martha Stewart, Dennis Kozlowski, and Frank Quattrone all come to mind. Why aren't NBA stars entitled to obtain the same high quality legal advice?
Overall, Out of Bounds weaves together some interesting and disturbing stories. But those stories do not add up to the support needed to prove Benedict's larger premise.

Women Beware
By R. Spell VINE VOICE on July 23, 2004
Benedict chooses a premise that is easy to prove: Professional athletes, particularly NBA players, statistically are more likely than the general population to commit crimes, specifically crimes of sex and violence. His research is very compelling as he provides statistics on the number of players in his sample who have been accused of crime.

But I do have mixed emotion about this book. The biggest flaw is after stating his thesis, he then gives examples. These are graphic and what grab the reader. But, in my opinion, he spends an exorbitant amount of time on a few examples. So, instead of focusing on a well-researched subject, he relies on a few examples. Now these examples are horrible. Specifically Rueben Patterson. You become more and more amazed at the stupidity and sense of entitlement of some of these athletes. It is appalling!

My second gripe with this book is the story of the Iowa State freshman basketball player who commits armed robbery but is found not guilty, per the book, primarily due to the testimony of his coach, Johnny Orr. This is another detailed history which makes for interesting reading. But virtually all of it concerns an athlete with problems in college. This player's stay in the NBA was very short and not crime related. Benedict has plenty to prove his point. But I was very unimpressed with the stories he chose. Was it because these stories are the most entertaining to tell even if they only narrowly touch NBA players?

Overall, I am glad I read this book. It contains great information and interesting, though disturbing stories. But I find it a little distressing on the thesis/proof connection. And it's also damning to the many good players/citizens who are painted with this broad brush. But if you are a female and want to be around NBA players, you need to understand what you may be dealing with.