"There was a time, about 20 years ago, when Madison Square Garden roared so loud, opposing teams feared entering the "Mecca of Basketball." That's because it was home to the Knicks, the most physical and flagrantly aggressive team of their era. They were always looking for a fight. They fought opposing players. They fought opposing coaches. Hell, they fought each other. As a result, the NBA had to alter its rules because of this team. As the decade progressed, they endeared themselves to millions of Knicks and general basketball fans alike-not for how much they won-but for their colorful cast of characters, and their blur-collar mentality. Take guard John Starks, for example. He became an All-Star despite going undrafted after playing at four different colleges, and leaving school at one point to work a $3.35-an-hour grocery bagging job at Safeway-they saw someone who overcame incredible odds by working tirelessly and getting the absolute most out of his God-given abilities. In the undersized Starks, many Knick fans saw themselves. In BLOOD IN THE GARDEN, author Chris Herring delves deep into the origin, evolution, and eventual demise of the team. Based on original reporting and over 105 interviews with the principal characters, Herring takes readers into the locker room, executive boardrooms, and on to the court. He'll show how Pat Riley, once known for his slicked back hair and Armani suits, went from the glitz and glamour of the Showtime Lakers, to orchestrating one of the most feared, intimidating defenses of all time. Herring will detail how, over the course of the decade, this seemingly disparate collection of castoffs came this close to achieving their dreams, only to see them face the end of the 90s as older, grizzled men who fell just short of the promised land. You can't tell the story of the NBA in the 1990s without telling the stories of these Knicks. Now, for the first time ever, millions of fans will have access to the "glory years" of the once proud franchise-bruises and all"-- For nearly an entire generation the New York Knicks have been a laughingstock franchise. But in the 1990s they had earned respect not only by winning, but also through brute force. The Knicks fought opponents. They fought each other. They even fought their own coaches at time-- and coach Pat Riley encouraged the nastiness. They never won a championship in those years-- but endeared themselves to millions of fans. Herring delves into the origin, evolution, and eventual demise of the iconic club in eye-opening detail. He pulls no punches-- which is just how those rough-and-tumble Knights would like it. -- adapted from jacket Provided by publisher

Prologue -- Speaking a new language -- Thank God they didn't have hand grenades -- The reinvention of Pat Riley -- Knock Michael Jordan to the floor -- Chalk outline -- The butterfly among the buffaloes -- Daylight -- Thirty-six hours in Reno -- The enigmatic life of Anthony Mason -- Standing out in the crowd -- The dream, the chase and the nightmare -- Commitment issues -- We're all a little guilty -- Whack-a-mole -- Back to basics -- Down in flames -- Shattered -- Heart transplant -- Long-term parking -- Beating the odds -- The clock strikes midnight -- Epilogue.