Darrell Armstrong: The King of Coffee Beans, 1999

“Hey, the league minimum, $350,000, is more money than I ever dreamed of making, Armstrong said. “But it’s nice to have some security in knowing that you can take care of things now and do things for your family.”

Charlie Criss: Guts and Elbows Basketball, 1977

Criss became known as “The Mosquito,” and it was not a phony alliterative or geographical title invented by a P.R. man. It was a high sign to Criss that even though there were guys on the playground nobody ever heard of, many of them could hold their own with the best in the NBA.

Doc Rivers Spills on How to Beat Jordan’s Bulls, 1998

The Bulls dynasty must someday come to an end. In fact, Bulls management itself—in its eagerness to rebuild—may dismantle the team. If that’s the case, this season will be the last to beat Jordan’s Bulls. Here’s how you do it.