The Miracle Landing: The True Story of How the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers Almost Perished in an Iowa Cornfield During a January Blizzard
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.63 (639 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1935991973 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 176 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-06-13 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
"Pleasantly Surprised" according to Shannon. I'm not a history buff, nor am I particularly interested in basketball. My main attraction to this title has to do with an interest in aviaiton. I was "pleasantly surprised" when the story pulled me into itself in ways I didn't at all expect! The story itself is very intriguing and its "never a dull moment" pace keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat. The book is packed full of history and fact however, the author is able to simultaneously keep the reader entertained and in the moment. I highly recommend "The Miracle Landing" to those interested in Aviation History, the L.A. Lakers or anyone who simply wants a really good story.. "Long before Scully landed in the Hudson, there was this truly miraculous landing" according to CivWar6Long before Scully landed in the Hudson, there was this truly miraculous landing CivWar64 (Bob) As a former private pilot and someone who has loved reading both real-life piloting stories as well as fictional ones, I became aware of the 50th anniversary of an emergency DC-3 landing in an Iowa cornfield during a snowstorm. I was especially intrigued as the landing occurred exactly on my 8th birthday with a team plane that was carrying all of the NBA Minneapolis Lakers. At the time I discovered this, I contacted the copilot of the plane, Mr. Harold Gifford, and learned that he was contemplating putting the story on paper. I am so glad that he did.Imagine taking off in 1960 at night in a DC-3 and shortly thereafter both generator. (Bob). As a former private pilot and someone who has loved reading both real-life piloting stories as well as fictional ones, I became aware of the 50th anniversary of an emergency DC-Long before Scully landed in the Hudson, there was this truly miraculous landing As a former private pilot and someone who has loved reading both real-life piloting stories as well as fictional ones, I became aware of the 50th anniversary of an emergency DC-3 landing in an Iowa cornfield during a snowstorm. I was especially intrigued as the landing occurred exactly on my 8th birthday with a team plane that was carrying all of the NBA Minneapolis Lakers. At the time I discovered this, I contacted the copilot of the plane, Mr. Harold Gifford, and learned that he was contemplating putting the story on paper. I am so glad that he did.Imagine taking off in 1960 at night in a DC-3 and shortly thereafter both generator. landing in an Iowa cornfield during a snowstorm. I was especially intrigued as the landing occurred exactly on my 8th birthday with a team plane that was carrying all of the NBA Minneapolis Lakers. At the time I discovered this, I contacted the copilot of the plane, Mr. Harold Gifford, and learned that he was contemplating putting the story on paper. I am so glad that he did.Imagine taking off in 1960 at night in a DC-Long before Scully landed in the Hudson, there was this truly miraculous landing As a former private pilot and someone who has loved reading both real-life piloting stories as well as fictional ones, I became aware of the 50th anniversary of an emergency DC-3 landing in an Iowa cornfield during a snowstorm. I was especially intrigued as the landing occurred exactly on my 8th birthday with a team plane that was carrying all of the NBA Minneapolis Lakers. At the time I discovered this, I contacted the copilot of the plane, Mr. Harold Gifford, and learned that he was contemplating putting the story on paper. I am so glad that he did.Imagine taking off in 1960 at night in a DC-3 and shortly thereafter both generator. and shortly thereafter both generator. Ashley said Thanks to Harold. The Miracle Landing, what a great read, made even better by actually knowing the co-pilot who flew it. You would have to know the flyer to really appreciate how dangerous and nerve-wracking the situation was. Everyone was fortunate that Harold had all of those years of experience. - Jack
In any case, this flight would be like no other. Perhaps the memory of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper perishing in an Iowa cornfield only 11 months earlier had faded. On January 17, 1960 after a game in St. Louis, the Lakers boarded their DC-3 for the flight home. Then something happened, completely out of anyone's control, that almost changed everything. Team owner Bob Short had drafted college standout Elgin Baylor the year before and was rebuilding his team around this future superstar. The team even bought an airplane so they could play teams further away in the newly expanding NBA. It was a rough couple of years for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers. Adding a new coach in the form of Jim Pollard along with a dose of hometown enthusiasm had fans looking up. But at least the 1959-60 season had a promising start. For the first time in print, the co-pilot of that flight, Harold Gifford, tells the real, full story of what happened that almost wiped out the Lakers before that NBA dynasty even had a chance to really get started.