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Rick is joined by author and writer, Jon Reinman, this week. Reinman is a writer for the Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon and WWE.
He has a new book out.
‘The Garden’s Always Greener: Another NBA Timeline’
What people have to say about the book
“I always read a writers material before I decide to meet with them. I decided to meet with Jon Rineman. That should tell you everything you need to know. Case closed. Enjoy the book.”
– Jay Leno
“This book brings together three of my favorite pastimes: playing “what if?”; the NBA; and Jon Rineman’s comedy! A delightful read!”
– Gary Gulman, Star of The Great Depresh
“As some who has spent two decades working in sports media, I believe the two keys to success are the ability to entertain and teach. Jon does both of those things in this book. He is one of the most talented writers I know, and certainly the most passionate basketball fan I know. Give a talented writer something they are passionate about and the result is what we have here in the pages that follow.”
– Justin Termine, Host of NBA Today on SiriusXM Radio
Plot:
In 1986, the Boston Celtics were basketball’s gold standard – NBA Champions and owners of the second pick in that year’s draft. From Jon Rineman (writer for The Tonight Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, WWE) The Garden’s Always Greener explores a timeline where the good times rolled, thanks to a charismatic rookie who changed everything. From one player saving Tupac to stopping O.J. to another’s unlikely billions as a coffee magnate, it is a complete reimagining of the late-80s and 90s – with traces of 11/22/63, Forrest Gump, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. A hilarious, uplifting must-read for Gen Xers, Millennials, and fans of all ages.
Based on a computer simulation (with a story crafted around it), the book includes everything from narrative to historic rosters to Playoff brackets, as well as imagined newspaper clippings, talk show transcripts, and sitcom pages. If you are a fan of NBA tomes such as The Jordan Rules and When The Game Was War, documentaries such as The Last Dance, or HBO’s Winning Time, you’ll love this reimagined glance at what could’ve been during the NBA’s Golden Era of the 1980s and 90s.
Jon dedicated the book to his late father, who passed after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Jon is donating from his profits to the Alzheimer’s Association.
From Jon Rineman (writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show, WWE) comes the Amazon #1 New Release The Garden’s Always Greener: Another NBA Timeline. On June 14, 2024, the book reached #1 on Amazon for Professional Basketball (Kindle) and #8 for Professional Basketball (Books).
In 1986, the Boston Celtics were basketball’s gold standard – NBA Champions and owners of the second pick in that year’s draft. The Garden’s Always Greener explores a timeline where the good times rolled, thanks to a charismatic rookie who changes everything.
In this timeline, a role-player inadvertently stops O.J. and saves Tupac, the surviving Beatles (attempt to) reunite, and Michael Jordan struggles to win. Meanwhile, a mysterious creature looks on from the hallowed Boston Garden rafters at this epic melding of Forrest Gump and Curb Your Enthusiasm which also features the likes of Shaq, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Red Auerbach, and Rick Pitino. A must-read for Gen Xers, Millennials, and fans of all ages.
MORE BACKGROUND: The basis for the story is an NBA2K video game simulation Jon ran during COVID-19 lockdown back in 2020-21. Once complete, Jon revisited the results (which remained untouched) and used that as a prompt to compose a comedic narrative. (Additional research into other NBA “what ifs” of the 1980s & 90s was incorporated.)
NOTE: Jon dedicated the book to his late father, who passed after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Jon is donating from his profits to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Website: GardensGreenerBook.com
