Broken Trust - The Murder of Basketball Star Jack Molinas
A MURDER MYSTERY THAT COMBINES RELIGION, POLITICS, SPORTS AND GAMBLING!
In his fourth and most riveting novel, Jerry Marcus takes the killing of basketball great Jack Molinas - and creates a murder mystery that combines religion, politics, sports and gambling. Marcus uses his knowledge of basketball and insights into human behavior, and the tragic and complex figure of Jack Molinas, to illustrate how powerful business interests, religious hypocrites, and attorneys hide behind a facade of morality and justice.
As an All-American at Columbia University, Jack Molinas was chosen in the first round of the NBA draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons. He was intelligent, handsome and talented, with the ability to take control over a game. In his first season for the Pistons, Jack was named to the All-Star team. This would be his only season as an NBA star. Jack tossed it all out the window by living on the edge - always having to beat the system. In 1954, Jack was suspended from the Pistons and tossed out of the NBA for gambling on games. He was later considered to be the lead figure in the 1961 college basketball scandals that rocked the NCAA.
According to Marcus, "Jack's story epitomizes a hypocrisy seen not only in sports, but throughout society. Some sportswriters and columnists vilified Jack on the same newspaper pages that also carried the point spreads and gambling odds on college and professional games."
"Jack would have loved how you portrayed him." Bill Tosheff, 1951-52 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year
Just finished Broken Trust! It certainly gave me a different picture of Jack! I had the feeling that Jerry was his friend and the narrator of the book! I have read so much about Jack through the years, it is always hard to separate fact and fiction! Would certainly have loved to meet and talk with Jerry… A.S. New York, New York
"Great book..." Sam Amico, Editor and Senior Writer, ProBasketballNews.com
"Besides writing a gripping tale of a powerful, rich, highly competitive industry, Marcus delivers a high-impact, no holds barred, picture of modern social establishments - both religious and secular..." Rabbi Yaakov Fogelman, Torah Outreach Program, Jerusalem, Israel
Paperback . 264pp . $24.00 . ISBN 978-0941394-06-2
SHIPPING IS FREE TO THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
"Broken Trust - The Murder of Basketball Star Jack Molinas" will remain in print for years to come and guaranteed new books are available exclusively from Brittany Publications, Ltd. For information on reprints, electronic/digital, or screen rights to this book, and all books by Author Jerry Marcus, please contact [email protected].
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Click here to read A Conversation with Jerry Marcus about
Jack Molinas and the novel BROKEN TRUST |
Click here to Meet the Characters in BROKEN TRUST
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BROKEN TRUST—The Murder of Basketball Star Jack Molinas illustrates Marcus' gift
for taking readers on a compelling and unforgettable Journey.
After Marcus explored the killing of basketball great Jack Molinas, he decided to create a murder mystery that combined religion, politics, sports and gambling. Marcus did not just enjoy watching the game of basketball—he was a high school basketball star who understood the nuances of the game.
In June 1957, he was interviewed by the well-known sportswriter Hugh Bradley for the New York Journal American. At the time, Marcus was playing as a senior for Chaim Berlin High School. Bradley wrote: "The first time I saw Jerry Marcus on the basketball court was at the Brownsville Boys Club, where he competed against some of the very best players in the Public High School league. He was an intense player and a fierce competitor...It was evident that this young player understood the fundamentals of the game...It came as no surprise to me that this dynamic young athlete was voted Most Valuable Player in a tournament for his age group."
(Click here to read Bradley's interview with a very young Jerry Marcus.)
Excerpt from BROKEN TRUST
"It was obvious to me that Jack needed something important to replace basketball, to give him a strong direction and purpose in his life. He had burned so many bridges along the way, leaving behind many who would never forgive him. Then there were the others who had shared in Jack's guilt but were never punished for their deeds. Instead of being grateful to Jack for his loyal silence in not implicating them, they saw him as a future threat to all they had accomplished. One wrong word to the authorities, or too much said to a reporter, and all their dreams could be shattered.
"At the head of this list was an attorney, Ed Ryan. Ryan was a big basketball fan and had followed Jack's career at Columbia. At one of the games, he sought Jack out, and they hit it off immediately. Years later, Ryan was involved with Jack in one of his gambling operations. When the roof fell in on Jack, he did his best to make sure Ryan was not implicated...
"Now a very well-respected attorney, Ed Ryan was even being talked about as a future Supreme Court nominee. Although it had been many years since Ryan had been in contact with Jack, he wondered if going on the national stage would bring out rumors and innuendoes pertaining to his involvement with the then young basketball player.
"Yes, Ed Ryan began feeling cheated. His life had been clean for so many years. He was a large donor to many worthwhile charities and was on the boards of several large educational and health care research foundations. Why should he suffer for his youthful mistakes? He never even considered how much Jack had suffered and lost for his youthful transgressions.
But with such baggage, Ryan knew that if he were nominated to the Supreme Court, he had better consider all the possibilities and questions that the routine investigations of his background would raise. He began to think about the steps he should take to make sure the odds were in his favor."
Copyright (c) 2007 by Jerry Marcus. All rights reserved by Brittany Publications, Ltd.
ENJOY MORE THOUGHT-PROVOKING NOVELS BY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR JERRY MARCUS
ESCAPE FROM HEAVEN
FINALIST IN THE 2023 NEW MEXICO-ARIZONA BOOK AWARDS IN THE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION CATEGORIES
Reader Comments:
“From the intriguing title, I wondered—Who would want to "Escape from Heaven?"
Isn’t that where we all ultimately want to end up? To the beautiful cover depicting a glowing full moon glimmering upon a calm ocean…
I was certain the full moon and the title had special meanings—and they do! And I thoroughly enjoyed reading each chapter.
The thought-provoking vignettes were meaningful and informative. The conversations between two unexpected friends…Moses and Jesus were truly
a match made in heaven, both hoping for a new age of reason—with an absence of bigotry and intolerance.
An interesting editorial feature were the creative conversations and commentaries between
the "Laughing Angels" and the "Righteous Ones" at the end of the discussions between Moses and Jesus.
They added surprising and sometimes comical touches to the stories…
Kudos to Marcus and Gold’s fresh and thoughtful approach to understanding the complexities of the gift of free will--
and how it influences all that we do, both good and evil, all in the name of God and religion!”
“Escape from Heaven is written with wisdom and thought provoking insight to our human condition on earth.
The novel motivates us to live up to our highest potential as humanitarians on a daily basis in every interaction.”
“Daringly Profound!!! Jerry brings the characters to life without prejudice!
The details of conversation between Jesus and Moses makes one wonder if this is really happening.
Jerry and Marion both capture the realism of todays events and past difficulties of religion.
I highly recommend taking the time to read this book. So much thought, creativity and understanding of faith is in this story.
An absolute must read…I'm truly sorry it is Jerry's last.
“Regardless of where you fall on the theism/deism/atheism continuum, there is plenty here to interest and provoke the reader.
It is with sadness that I read Jerry Marcus' last book.”
DAUGHTERS OF GOD
WINNER OF THE 2018 NEW MEXICO-ARIZONA BOOK AWARDS IN THE PHILOSOPHY CATEGORY
Reader Comments:
"I loved the suspense and the characters. The story line drew me in right away and held me...a great book to curl up and read and get lost in for hours!"
"So wonderful a read...I didn't want it to end!"
"Just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out, the twist sent me into another direction. A great who-done it."
SHOSHANA'S SONG
A FINALIST IN THE 2013 NEW MEXICO-ARIZONA BOOK AWARDS
"Masterfully told coming-of-age story... Jerry Marcus interweaves discussions of faith, marriage, intellectual freedom, and the roles of women throughout their lives.
It will help both young and mature readers explore how women gain strength in their faith journey."
Mary Lou Henneman, Congregational Libraries Today, Church and Synagogue Library Association
THE LAST POPE
"A creative and provocative...suspense-filled novel." The Chicago Tribune
"A wonderful premise...a great plot." Naples Daily News, Florida
"Prophetic...Gripping...and Enlightening." Rabbi Yaakov Fogelman, Torah Outreach Program, Jerusalem, Israel
"An intriguing story...An intellectual thriller." Marquee, San Diego
"A provocative tale that kindled my imagination..." Mary Harris, Minister, United Church of Christ, Boonville, Missouri
Chicago Columnist ANNE GERBER said Marcus' 1997 book has a "gripping premise"
and compared it to The DaVinci Code, which was published AFTER The Last Pope.
THE SALVATION PEDDLER
"A master of the suspense novel." Abilene Reporter-News, Texas
"I enjoyed The Salvation Peddler." President Bill Clinton
ABRAHAM ISAAC, JACOB and ZEV
Morton Teicher, Book Editor for The Jewish Floridian, compared Marcus to Chaim Potok, Marcus “Caused us to care about the characters he created.”
"A significant and moving novel...An important addition to books about the Holocaust and Jewish people." American Jewish Congress
"Original and compelling." The Chicago Tribune
"An extraordinary book...that deals with the agony of morals." Dorothy Fuldheim, News Analyst, Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Company