The inside story

Yeah, he's a friend of mine. So what?

If you're a dedicated Celtics fan, or if you know a dedicated Celtics fan who's on your Christmas Bar Mitzvah or birthday list, have I got the book for you.

The book is "Top Of The World," and it's hot off the presses and available in all the usual book outlets (or it damn well better be). It's published by Da Capo Press and it was written by Peter May, who had the right access to the right people in order to explain just how this team went from 24 victories and mid-April tee times to champions of the NBA, like lickety-split.

Peter May's the man for the job. He's been covering the Celtics since before Rajon Rondo was born, and his NBA contacts as he wrote for the UPI, Hartford Courant and Us were second to none. Unfortunately for you and me, he took a buyout last spring. But he left us with a nice parting gift.

It's all here: everything you want to know about Ubuntu, everything you need to know about how Doc Rivers established the proper mind set for the Big Three; and, of course, how the Big Three materialized in the first place.

I would think anyone reading this book would come away with a very enhanced appreciation of just how good a coach Doc Rivers has been for this team. I'm totally biased; that's true. Doc Rivers has been one of my favorite NBA people since he first came into our lives as an Atlanta rookie 26 years ago, and I couldn't be more pleased for his good fortune in being able to coach this team. But after reading "Top Of The World," you will likewise agree that it was the Big Three's equal good fortune to have Doc Rivers guiding them for the 2007-08 season.

It's not as simple as people think. Talent is a beginning, nothing more. You need it, yes, but it is never enough, in any sport. This book reinforces that essential concept.

I write this in the aftermath of that little stinkeroo the Celtics submitted in Indy. All that does is remind us that Last Year was Last Year and This Year will be This Year. I'm not worried. They'll be OK.

Anyway, if you're interested in the topic, get this book. I don't know how I can be clearer than that.