Bob Delaney sheds light on PTSD in new book, Surviving the Shadows, in memorable weekend at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Aug. 6, 2011) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Legends of the Game series continued this weekend with recently retired elite NBA referee and author Bob Delaney at Center Court.

Paul Lambert, Vice-President of Guest Experience and Programming at the Hall of Fame, led the interview of Delaney's career on and off the court – from his days as a New Jersey State Trooper who went undercover for nearly three years infiltrating organized crime to his 25-year NBA career, along with his work with Post-Traumatic Stress and those who serve us: law enforcement, firefighters, emergency workers and the military.  

Delaney was at the Hall of Fame for an early launch of his new book, Surviving the Shadows: A Journey of Hope into Post Traumatic Stress (Sourcebooks), co-authored by national award-winning journalist Dave Scheiber.

Delaney told his personal story in his first book, Covert, My Years Infiltrating the Mob (Sterling Publishing), also co-written with Scheiber and named a Best Book of the Year by USA Today. Delaney has provided presentations on PTS and PTSD for the past 30 years and in Surviving the Shadows, you will find his uplifting journey through powerful and inspiring stories of perseverance and personal courage.

Along the way, Delaney introduces medical experts who have developed groundbreaking methods in dealing with the disorder and explores one-of-a-kind therapy programs for PTSD sufferers. He says "while an individual is going through Post Traumatic Stress, family and friends are going through Active Traumatic Stress as they try to make sense of what is taking place – this human condition has a ripple affect to loved ones.”

Delaney supports peer-to-peer therapy as the first line of defense in the PTSD battle. He says: "Cops need to talk cops, firefighters to firefighter, soldiers to soldiers, combat spouses to combat spouses and combat mom's and dad's to combat mom's and dad's."

Delaney spoke with teams of law enforcement and military playing in the Hoops and Heroes basketball tournament played at the Hall of Fame to benefit Special Olympics and threw up the ceremonial opening jump ball at the championship game.

The powerful weekend was capped with Delaney getting deputized by the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. He then spoke at Westover Air Base sharing his PTS/PTSD message with members of the military and civilians, sharing an important message of hope for the men and women who serve us in ways many of us will never know.