European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Books Abdul Jabbar stands tall both on off court Kareem by Kareem Abdul Jabbar random House 233 pp., $18.95 Steve Taylor its a Book about basketball. Its also a Book about life. Only a Man who played professional basketball longer than anyone else could provide an accurate picture of what the sport looks like from the inside. But for Kareem Abdul Jabbar who played the game for 20 years there a More to basketball than teams and courts and world championships. How one plays the game reflects How one plays at life. In his second Book a Kareem a Abdul Jabbar chronicles his last season with the los Angeles lakers in a personal diary written during the year starting with the fall training Camp in Hawaii and culminating with the Aba playoffs in june 1989. The Book he admitted during a visit in Munich earlier this month was not his idea. Editors from random House approached him with the concept. For his co author he picked mignon Mccarthy who writes with a style similar to that of mystery writer Raymond Chandler one of Abdul Jabbary a favorite. The two made the Book More than just a Day to Day diary. A Kareem Quot offers a behind the scenes look at the lakers with portraits of other stars like magic Johnson a seem Olajuwon James worthy former Urcla coach John wooden and even movie Star and Laker fan Jack Nicholson. Kareem Abdul Jabbar says he always reaches High in whatever he does. It also takes a look at the philosophy that helped make Abdul Jabbar the National basketball associations All time leading scorer the master of the Skyhook a player who dominated his sport longer than anyone before him. And for controversy there is an open letter to Wilt Chamberlain in which Jabbar addresses the retired superstar As a Wilt Shumper lame who will be remembered As a a whining crybaby and a quitter stats and  while at times the Book reads like a lot of personal diaries a a Little dry a avid basketball fans will find most of it interesting As it traces Abdul Jabbary a basketball experiences with his first team at age 8 through to his Aba retirement at 42. Abdul Jabbar writes that he played for an idea. That idea was to see How close he could come to becoming his Best. Thais a Basic concept to him to a do the most with your potential a a message he Learned from wooden his College coach and from the 17th Century japanese philosopher Musashi. He also talks about the Impact of the Media on his life the importance of education and How important it is for parents to teach values. Sprinkled throughout the Book Are Little titbits like a people mistakenly think children need toys and other material things in order to thrive but what they really need is your attention and your love. If they re confident they have that they do All right. A he is particularly concerned about the spate of inner City warfare especially the fighting Over athletic clothing because he sponsors a line of shoes for . Gear. He feels much of the fighting is a result of a Lack of values springing from parents spending too Little time with their children. The ghetto and its a single minded focus on sports As an escape is a detrimental for the kids Quot he says. Its the High profile the flashy cars and expensive clothes that turn the kids on. A they done to consider that the Way out is by being a computer technician or accountant a he said in Munich. The Book finishes with his last game in the Aba. The lakers lost to the Detroit pistons 105-97, a we ended on a note of disappointment a but not a note of failure a he writes. A a Kareem provides Many such insights into what goes into the making of a Champion both on and off the court. Steve Taylor la a  in stars and str Paa Munich Bureau. In stars and strips  three Blind mice by de Mcbain Arcade 293 pp., $18.95 realistic portrayals of the Seamer Side of life Are part of what make de Mcbain novels work. But the talented crime writer May have been too accurate with his graphic description of a rape in a three Blind  the scene is Central to the plot and the description from the fictional trial transcript is True to life. But some readers May find it just too brutal in the Middle of what is otherwise pleasurable Reading. Nevertheless the return of the Matthew Hope novels is Vintage Mcbain a interesting characters vivid imagery and a masterful plot. Hope is hired to defend the wealthy husband of the rape victim after the three vietnamese immigrants who were charged and acquitted in the rape Are found murdered and mutilated. But this is not a simple Story of a husband seeking revenge for his wife a attack. Mcbain follows Hope through the surprising twists and turns of the Case and the Reader is hooked and along for the ride. Michael Collins United press International an american love Story by Rona Jaffe delacorte 423 pp., $19.95 if this is an american love Story then cynicism and social climbing must be what concerns society most. A an american love Story is a compelling contemporary look at aspirations and a a love through three generations of women tied to the same Man. The Book following several generations shows the evolution from the woman who did everything to please a Man who  be pleased to the woman of the �?T90s who is pleased Only by what makes her Happy. This is a novel with depth and poignant painful lessons. It is a novel of growth despair destruction and realization a a novel to read and have a daughter read. Kathleen Ostrander United press International Blue lightning by Charles Stella Warner 320 pp., $19.95 this novel about air combat during the Vietnam War is preceded by a five Page glossary of terms which comes in Handy when the Reader encounters such words As a a Barca a a Forest penetrate or and a yellow  but the glossary is also an indicator of one of the books minor failings the Battle segments Are often cluttered with technical terms Only a Navy flier could appreciate. However the Story about . Carrier based Pilot Jim Campbell and his buddies adventures Over North Vietnam generally flows smoothly. And it has the unusual twist of also telling the Story from the enemy a Side putting a human face on Campbells Nemesis in the air a communist fighter Ace known As the a Gray  Stella effectively weaves combat action with the personal tribulations of the main characters but he is at his Best when he Sticks to the War. Bob Lowry United press International into the darkness by Barbara Michaels Simon and schuster 358 pp., $18.95 this is an entertaining mass Market seller from an experienced romantic suspense writer. Along with inheriting half of a jewelry shop heroine Meg Venturi receives a legacy of dark secrets about the shops co owner and some a inventoried jewels. Although the plot and characters take predictable turns Venturi is a likable heroine and even experienced suspense readers will be surprised by the ending. Kathleen Ostrander United press International All books Are or will a available at stare and stripes  c sunday september 23,1990