Lawrence.com

On Dec. 9, 1977, during an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, Kermit Washington hit Rudy Tomjanovich with a punch that shattered Tomjanovich's face.

It also shattered Washington's reputation, as the grainy video of the black, muscular Washington turning and cold-cocking the white, unsuspecting Tomjanovich became a ubiquitous sight on television during the following weeks.

In the ensuing years, Washington and Tomjanovich continued their basketball careers and found varied degrees of success off the court. They have, however, been forever linked by that one violent moment, which is often referred to as simply "The Punch."

That is also the title of John Feinstein's book, which focuses on the impact the incident had on both men's lives and on the lives of those close to them.

The book does not mark the first time a reporter has tried to examine the lasting impression of the punch, which occurred when Tomjanovich came running down the court to break up a scuffle involving Washington and Tomjanovich's teammate, Kevin Kunnert. Feinstein acknowledges being inspired by several newspaper articles about it and a radio interview with Washington. But Feinstein claims he is the only reporter who has had the complete cooperation of both Washington and Tomjanovich as well as all others involved and still alive.

The result is a fascinating, although unnecessarily long, look into the impact of the incident, with both Washington and Tomjanovich speaking frankly about themselves. Washington addresses the public view of him as a thug " a view both he and those who know him claim is unwarranted " and Tomjanovich discusses his difficulty dealing with the punch's aftermath and the public's sympathy toward him.

"I wasn't going to be the guy who everyone remembered for being knocked out of basketball by a punch," Tomjanovich says at one point. "I was absolutely determined not to let that happen."

Tomjanovich went on to a highly successful coaching career, winning two NBA championships with Houston. Washington has also had success as a radio talk show host but feels the lingering resentment about the punch has kept him from getting a fair shot from NBA teams looking for an assistant coach.

Both men say they bear no ill will toward the other. Yet, it becomes obvious throughout the book that the incident still weighs on both and has changed them in fundamental ways.

"I haven't let it go," Washington says, "because the world hasn't let me go."

Many years later, Washington claims the entire incident was started by Kunnert. He claims Kunnert elbowed him twice as they ran up the court, igniting the scuffle. Kunnert denies it, and no one can back up Washington's claim, but it all plays into Washington's thinking that he is as much a victim as Tomjanovich.

The fascinating part of the book, however, is not in the cold, hard facts. It is in the personalities involved and how they dealt with the situation. Feinstein does himself a disservice by devoting too much attention to the lives of both men before the punch. Although it helps show the character of each, it becomes too much exposition.

"The Punch" is at its best when it simply looks at two men who were involved in a very public, highly violent act and shows how they were able to cope.

"Under different circumstances, I believe we would have been the best of friends," Washington says.

That might be the biggest tragedy of all.