Book Description

Since Yao Ming's electrifying NBA debut with the Houston Rockets in 2002, the 7-foot-5 Chinese center has appeared in numerous TV commercials, on magazine covers, and in countless basketball-highlights reels. And yet, despite Yao's status as one of the country's most recognizable sports stars, the remarkable story of how a shy, gangly kid from Shanghai went on to become the NBA's first foreign-born and developed #1 draft pick has remained, until now, largely unknown.

With this memoir, Yao reveals himself as a thoughtful, opinionated young man whose insights extend far beyond the basketball court. He paints a compelling portrait of how his parents, both former Chinese basketball stars and fully aware of the bleak outlook for ex-players, resisted the Chinese government's interest in steering their son into the sport as a child. But the love of the game took hold of Yao as a teenager, and he began to sense both his own potential and the restraints he would face from the bureaucrats who ran the sport. As Yao's success in China grew, it became clear that his future would be with the NBA. But nothing came easily. With riveting detail, Yao recounts the white-knuckle gamesmanship required to win the approval of Chinese officials for his leap to America.

Yao: A Life in Two Worlds vividly chronicles Yao's move from Shanghai to Houston: The sudden millionaire has to learn to drive his newly acquired car; the young man who has only ever had one girlfriend tries to make sense of pro-basketball's hard-partying life off-court; the supremely dominant player in China is transformed into a NBA rookie unnerved at the prospect of facing Shaquille O'Neal. But soon enough, aided by his easygoing manner and sense of humor that has proved so appealing to fans, Yao finds his moorings and flourishes as a major NBA star with a worldwide following.

Sports writer Ric Bucherspent hundreds of hours in conversation with Yao in the U.S. and China, closely tracking the player's feelings and observations during that historic first season with the Rockets. Yao: A Life in Two Worlds is an inspiring account of how one man's faith in himself, hard work, and drive have taken him from national success story to international icon—and helped build a bridge between two countries. ... Read more

Book Description

"Of all the people I play against, the only one I truly fear is Larry Bird."--Magic Johnson, from the Foreword.

The heart and soul of a champion: his life, his career, his game. To understand basketball, you have to understand Larry Bird. Arguably the greatest all-around player the game has ever known, he led the Boston Celtics from the basement to three world championships, collecting three NBA Most Valuable Player awards along the way. Yet, despite these massive accomplishments, Bird has rarely talked to the press, and much about the man has remained a mystery. Now in Drive, the long-silent superstar sets the record straight, revealed a side of himself-and of basketball-you've never see before. Inside, you'll learn Bird's most private feelings about: The momentous decision to transfer from Bobby Knight's Indiana University to Indiana State. The heartbreak of his father's suicide and his own failed marriage. The single-minded discipline that tumed a small-town hero into a national superstar. The Boston Garden and the legendary Celtic charm. The Isiah Thomas controversy and the fierce Celtic-Laker rivalry. The great players of the NBA: including Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins, and Michael Jordan, and much more. here is the book that puts a basketball legend-and his game-on the line. And scores! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

This is and inspirational book
The heart and soul of a champion: his life, his career, and his game. To understand basketball, you have to understand Larry Bird. Arguably the greatest all-around player the game has ever known, he led the Boston Celtics from the basement to three world championships, collecting three NBA Most Valuable Player awards along the way. Yet, despite these massive accomplishments, Bird has rarely talked to the press, and much about the man has remained a mystery. Now in Drive, the long-silent superstar sets the record straight, revealed a side of himself, and of basketball, you've never see before. Larry Bird grew up in the small town of French Lick, Indiana. His family was not very well off. Infact, they would occasionally stay at his grandmother's home. When Larry was twelve he found that he had a God-given ability to play basketball. He knew he was blessed and knew he had to do something about it. Everyday Larry would practice, practice, practice. Shooting foul shots, threes, it didn't matter, he just love the game. Even when he broke his ankle he would still shoot free throws every day. Larry's father committed suicide when Larry was still young. This broke his heart, but he knew his father did what he thought was best for the family. Bird was a celebrity on his High School basketball team in French Lick. The population of the town was only 2,100, but 4,000 people attended his last HS game. After high school he enrolled at Indiana, but never played, dropping out and then hitch-hiking home. He waited a year to be eligible to play at Indiana State. He brought respectability to the Indiana State program which ended in losing to Magic Johnson's Michigan State team in the NCAA Tournament Title Game in 1979. Larry left Indiana State with a career scoring average of better than 30 points a game, fifth all-time in NCAA history, and a 3-year school record of 81-13. Larry was named the 1978-79 Sporting News Player of the Year and won the Naismith and Wooden Awards. He was the number six pick in the 1978 draft by Boston, as a junior, but he joined the team a year later, because he chose to stay in school for his last year of eligibility. His stellar play in his first year led to his Rookie of the Year selection in 1980.

We all remember his ability to hit the remarkable shot and don't forget his commercials with Michael Jordan where he makes the unbelievable shots. NBA players probably still have nightmares of his smooth jumper that would fall with deadly accuracy from ten feet or twenty feet. There may never be another with such a consistent sweet stroke. However, the legendary Celtic charm could not jump. He was slow, uncoordinated, but if you gave him a locomotive to pull he could do it for you. I'm not saying he was buff or strong or anything, I just mean he was a workhorse. He would not give up. Bird's all-time stats are an impressive: 21,791 points (11th. all-time), 1,556 steals (8th all-time), 0.886 FT Percentage (fourth all-time), 8,974 rebounds, 5,965 assists and 897 games played. He has a career 24.3 scoring average to lead the Celtics all-time list. Larry Bird was a successful player due both to talent and hard work. He was usually the first Celtic to arrive on game day when he would practice hitting jump shots for hours from everywhere on the floor, including dozens of free throws. This effort and ethic of work that he showed is an example I would like to follow. After reading this book I thought to myself, am I going to play varsity this year, and I going to achieve this goal and be able to dunk on DEC. 20 this year. Birdman has gone from a small town gangly country boy to an impressive person and player. The time he put in, the commitment he showed to his team. He played his entire career with the Celtics. This shows me how a player should be, faithful to your duties, contracts, and other commitments. He didn't just give up on basketball after his marks forced him to drop out, he prevailed and continued basketball and then went to college.

As his marks were so poor this shows me another basic fundamental to make it far in basketball, grades. Although my goals say I will play at college level, I will never be able to achieve this without the proper grades to do so. Academics are a very important part of my future.

This book is and awesome book in which I give five stars to. It was well worth my time to read and I hope to read it over again. It has inspired me to do my best and anything is possible if you work hard enough for it

The greatest book ever made dogg!
Book Review

The book I chose to read was Drive a biography about Larry Bird and written by Larry Bird and Bob Ryan. This book was made in 1989, the book includes a forward from Magic Johnson and a description of each city Bird played in.

A summary of my book is about the life and the career of Larry Bird. Larry Bird was the best professional basketball player to ever live, he also had more work ethic than 99% of the people who ever lived. He would stay after a game for like 4 hours until he perfected whatever he did wrong that game. He would wake up at 6 in the morning to shoot 500 free throws. He grew up in a small town in Indiana, he was very poor and all he did was play sports. I guess coming from a poorer family people usually have better work ethic because they have to work for everything they get and earn it. Bird played Varsity basketball in 10-12 grades and then he went to Indiana to play for Bobby Knight who obviously didn't see talent in Larry. So Larry transferred to Indiana State and brought them to the national championship. He then got drafted by the Boston Celtics and played there until retirement and having one of the greatest rivals in sports history with the famous Ervin "Magic" Johnson, and the rest of the Lakers.

Larry Bird Drive
The book Drive by Larry Gird starts off by talking about his close friends and what is was like for him to grow up. It also discusses certain issues about how growing up was hard. Larry let me know that hard work pays off and nothing good came easy. The book also talked about many of his memorable moments throughout his basketball career and all of his triumph's that brought him fame. Towards the end he gave us some personal thoughts about what he thought of himself and his relationship with his family.

One of the things that I liked about the book is that he earned what he got due to hard work and dedication. I liked him because he put in the time to become the man that he is now and he wasn't stuck up or anything despite his great skills. I also liked the kind of life style that he said he lived. It described all of his fame and what he had to go through in order to have fun and still keep his normal life. One of the things that I didn't like about the book is that he wasn't that organized with the serious of events that he arranged the book, plus sometimes he went a little too much into detail in something simple like just shooting a basketball shoot.

Larry bird Drive
The book Drive by Larry Gird starts off by talking about his close friends and what is was like for him to grow up. It also discusses certain issues about how growing up was hard. Larry let me know that hard work pays off and nothing good came easy. The book also talked about many of his memorable moments throughout his basketball career and all of his triumph's that brought him fame. Towards the end he gave us some personal thoughts about what he thought of himself and his relationship with his family.

One of the things that I liked about the book is that he earned what he got due to hard work and dedication. I liked him because he put in the time to become the man that he is now and he wasn't stuck up or anything despite his great skills. I also liked the kind of life style that he said he lived. It described all of his fame and what he had to go through in order to have fun and still keep his normal life. One of the things that I didn't like about the book is that he wasn't that organized with the serious of events that he arranged the book, plus sometimes he went a little too much into detail in something simple like just shooting a basketball shoot.

Awesome novel, Basketball fans should read it...
Larry Bird- Drive: The Story Of My Life

Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana on December 7, 1956. Although Bird was born in West Baden he grew up in French Lick. He had three siblings: One sister, Linda and two brothers, Mark, and Mike. As Bird grew older he realized that he was falling in love with the game of basketball. He attended High School at SpringsValley (which was in French Lick). After High School he went to Indiana University for about 3 months and played basketball but then dropped out because he thought that the schoolwork was tough. He went home for about 2 months but tried college again but attended Indiana State University instead and thrived there at the game of basketball. The Boston Celtics drafted him in 1979. He went on to win 3 championships for the Celtics and played from 1979 to 1992. He was and still is one of the greatest all-around players the game has ever seen.

I liked this book a lot because of the way it was written. It was pretty easy to read and understand. I liked how Larry Bird wrote the book in that he explained how he became good at basketball. He would get up every morning before school at about 6 a.m. and shoot free throws on his basketball court. He even got to the point when he was at school of sneaking in the gym in between class and shooting some jumpers. It also had a lot of comical stories in the book. For example, there was one story that made me crack up. I quote: Once I was coming down on the (fast) break and pulled up for an eighteen foot jumper and my basketball coach yelled, "No, no wait for the other guys!" Just as I released the ball I said, "Too late, coach." The ball hit nothing but net. K.C. Jones just sat down.

I disliked this because of Larry Bird's life when he was growing up. When he a little boy his family did not have that much money. His father was lucky if he made $120 in one week. So he did not a lot of things he would have liked to have. When he was 19 years old he was starting at I.U. and he learned that his dad committed suicide. When he went to I.U. he only brought about 5 pairs of clothes because he did not have much money. His buddy, Jim Wisman who he was rooming with said, "You can borrow all of my clothes if you want." And Larry did end up wearing all of Jim's clothes. One last thing that I did not like was all the mistakes I found in the book. I found about 6 fragments. But, other than that it was a great novel. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

This is an excellent book
While this book captures the hip sensibilities of SLAM, it's objective is not to be cool. The objective was clearly to tell LeBron James story, and the author does so fluidly and intelligently. The only issue I had when it came out was if LeBron warranted an entire book. Given that he's spent the first three quarters of his rookie season proving he may have even be underrated, consider the book warranted. So, basketball fans, if you want to know the real LeBron James story before it gets changed or distorted by the corporations that are soon to be even more involved in his life, check out this book and you'll get all the background you need to be able to intelligently discuss the first superstar of the new millenium.

The Truth on King James!
I first heard about Lebron when he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and followed him ever since. I thought I read a lot about him, but reading this book told me so much that I had never known about Lebron as a player, a person, and all the hype and attention he got from the media, the shoe companies and everyone else. The fact that he dealt with so many distractions and people hating on him and still succeeded was really inspirational. This book has tons of info and quotes from Lebron, and it shows that he seems like a cool guy, too. I would definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of Lebron or just a fan of basketball and sports in general.

SLAM
I haven't read this book, but dont stop reading just yet. To all of you who have been living in ignorance for the past few years, I'd like to open ur eyes to a little magazine known as SLAM. 3 words: OF THA HOOK (please excuse my language - just trying to talk the talk)
But seriously, no matter how die-hard of a ball fan you are, this is essential reading. Ryan Jones writes for the mag.

AWESOME BOOK
This was a very cool book. It had a ton of great inside stuff I didn't know about The Man. The sneaker stuff was really interesting. Clearly LeBron was under enormous pressure to perform and to do the right thing, and even with the scounts and everything esle going on he gave 100% to his high school team, The Irish. Jones does a great job taking us inside the making of a star. ... Read more

Book Description

Chick Hearn was the beloved broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers for four decades and 3,338 consecutive games; his previously unpublished memoirs are now available for the first time ever along with a anecdotes and stories from those who knew him (and the Lakers) best along with an audio CD of Chick's greatest calls. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Stories and the Voice.
For 3,338 consecutive games Chick Hern was the voice of the L.A. Lakers. He became as famous as the best of their players. As the voice of the lakers, he essentially was the lakers to millions of fans. He brought the team, the coaches, and the rest of the organization to the millions of fans. He lived Lakers basketball, and it showed in the way he talked.

This book presents Chick in two ways: One is the writing about Chick, his life, his stories of the team, people, and life in general. Second is the CD included with the book that gives some of his greatest calles, along with narration by Al Michaels. Normally the voice of a sports broadcaster is a transient thing. You hear what he said, or maybe you miss it, and it's gone forever. Here are some of the best of his work, recorded forever.

The Greatest Laker of Them All
I have an autographed picture of Chick and myself courtside hanging on my living room wall, so yes, I'm a fan. I grew up listening to two of the greatest announcers in history: Vin Scully and Chick Hearn. Thank you Los Angeles.

There is no Laker in franchise history that looms larger than Chick Hearn. He brought the Lakers into millions of fans homes. He told the story of every game with passion and wit and honesty. He practically invented a new language for basketball. I can't think of the Lakers without thinking of Chick and his voice. I haven't lived in L.A. for a few years and since Chick died, I don't miss it nearly as much. He was abosolutely the greatest announcer the NBA has ever known.

The book has it all. His life both away from and in the broadcast booth is told by those who knew him. They are all here and they tell their favorite stories and proclaim their admiration for the man and his dedication to his family and his profession. The CD included has some of his greatest calls and gave me chills the first time I listened to it. Any Laker fan would be proud to own this publication. I'll treasure it.

No one will ever replace Chick. He was as important to the franchise as any player that ever wore the purple and gold. It's fitting that a jersey with a microphone and his name hangs in the arena rafters alongside the other Laker greats. There will never be another Magic Johnson and there will surely never be another Chick Hearn.

A Toast to the voice of the Lakers
Chick Hearn truly was one of a kind Broadcaster.He had a way of presenting the game&also vibing with the players. there is nobody else quite like Him. I feel His spirit is watching over the Lakers.D-Fish's Shot in San Antonio or Kareem Rush hitting those Big 3's in Game 6 versus the Timberwolves.He touched many lives with His take on the game&overall vibe.RIP to a Great Talent&down to earth Man.

Chick as people knew and loved him
I would say this is a labor of love from Steve Springer except that doesn't convey just how good this is. Reading it prompted me to get out some old recordings of interviews I'd done with Chick. What a character, what a gentleman, what a book. So many perspectives, so many stories. Just like he used to troll for unwitting victims to his pranks on the Lakers' team bus, Chick's aura is all over these 2004 playoffs. I'm certain it was his hand guiding Derek Fisher's shot into the basket to end Game 5 with San Antonio. If you don't own this, you don't have a Lakers library.

Roland Lazenby, author of several Lakers-related books

Long Live The Memory of Chick Hearn!!!
It's been almost two years since Chick died and I am still grieving. This book brought back a flood of wonderful memories dating back to the early '60s and the bonus CD brings Chick's voice back to life. For anyone who loved Chick Hearn, this book is a must; for those curious about the huge amount of love Chick generated both towards and from his fans, this book will help explain just how magic his relationship was with Laker fans. I was lucky enough to meet Chick in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, the last time being at Arco Arena prior to game seven of the Kings-Lakers battle several years ago. Every single time we met, from when I was a 12 year old kid up to a 50 something adult, he took the time to shake hands, look me in the eye and leave me with the feeling that he was genuinely happy to make or re-make my acquaintance. Bill Walton's afterword about being a kid with a transistor radio under his pillow listening to Chick like he was part of the family pretty much sums it up. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

The worm
I have to say that there isn't two people in the world like Dennis Rodman! You have to read his book to understand who he is. This book isn't the best biography out there but it's Dennis Rodman... he tell you what he knows about him self not all cause he has still have many questions unsolved about him self and his sexuality for example! what i liked in this book is that, no matter what some revieuwers told here, this (...)always kepped real, ok, he got a big ego, that's the case with all the famous people, and i have to say everything he predicted in his book has happened Chicago bulls became the biggest team of nba history (72 victory), David robinson never win a championship alone(Tim Duncan was the man in the Spurs victory),Madonna is a mamma now(isn't trash nomore) and he is in the truth we he say how much David stern and the nba hate on some players, he talked about him, but there is Allen Iverson case. what i regret with this book is that sometime he doesnt say much,..., like about the women and him , the sex,..., that' s still a good book for all the people who really want to understand Dennis Rodman.

A '90s twist on the classic frog-becomes-Prince tale.
Perhaps it's simply coincidence that I've read Dennis Rodman's book at the same time I've read James Stewart's fog-lifting expose on Bill and Hillary Clinton and their business dealings. Thus, some contrasts conveniently come to mind. In "Blood Sport" readers find a politically motivated couple of idealogues constantly seeking to mask who they are by creating an image of mainstream normalcy. In "Bad As I Wanna Be" readers are able to scratch below an outrageous self-made image to find a fairly normal guy inside...and I emphasize "inside." Certainly most men will never dye their hair five different colors; nor do we desire to dress in women's clothes, cover ourselves with tatoos or appear butt naked on the cover of our biography. Yet, there are some chords which Rodman strikes in his book that echo in the hearts of most men. Themes such as rejection, seeking one's identity, looking beyond the surface and temporality of some of our institutions (like the NBA), hard work and a humble realization that good fortune is arbitrary and can turn at any time. Most people have had an opinion of Rodman which bounces from curiosity to hate, more often hate. As one who was raised in Massachusetts, and therefore a big Bird fan, I still remember the racist remarks Rodman made in his rookie year, following the Celtics' defeat of the Pistons. Yet, after reading his frank recollection of what led him to trigger that famous incident (and the fact that he does give Bird his due in the book)I forgive him. Rodman's language is certainly honest, albeit extremely crude at times. Yet, after sifting through the vulgarities, one can't help but saying: "The guy's got a point, there." Having said that, however, there are other times in the book when Rodman's assessment of himself is out of proportion. For example, his belief that people primarily watched the 1995 playoff series between San Antonio and Houston to see him and not a match-up between Hakeem and David Robinson. And certainly we all could have done without hearing about Madonna's foreplay instructions. Yet overall, Rodman comes across in the book as a likeable guy who is seeking to find reality and justice for himself (which I would imagine was one of the goals of writing such a book). After reading books about him and the First Family, I can tell you with whom I'd rather spend an afternoon...and it's not on Pennsylvania Avenue

What an ego he has.
First off, after looking at the cover of this book, you'll find out that "Bad as I wanna be" doesn't appeal to everyone. Why? Quite simply because the cover features Dennis Rodman nude on a motorcycle. I'd also like to include that, as if the cover weren't enough, the back of the book features a picture of Rodman's bare @$$ - uncensored.

After trying to get those disturbing images out of my head, I decided to take the time and read the full book. This book was published in 1997, so it doesn't include his final days (the latest it goes is his 1996 run with the Bulls), but it does greatly detail his entire life and all the troubles he's had growing up. I just have a few comments on some of the stuff he says:

- This guy is an egomaniac. There's actually a quote in here where he says something like "Jordan is number 1 in the NBA, Shaq is #2, and everyone knows I'm #3". Is he serious? He was a great player and everything, but I wouldn't even think of putting him in the top 10. He was #3 on the Bull's team (behind Jordan and Pippen of course), but he definitely wasn't #3 in the entire league.

- Dennis is extremely bitter. I thought it might be interesting to hear Dennis' thoughts on other players and coaches. Sadly, I was mistaken. Throughout the entire book, he just constantly complains about almost everyone he's come into contact to in the NBA. It gets rather boring after a while.

- The way Rodman describes the games, you'd think the team that gets the most Rebounds wins. He acts as if points don't mean anything in the NBA and the only thing that shows how well you play is the amount of rebounds you get. To me, it seemed like he was trying to cover his own @$$ here, since Rodman never was much of a scorer.

I haven't read very many NBA books, but if all of them are like this, I think I'll pass. If you're an NBA fan, I'd suggest to skip this one. If you're a Rodman fan, there's a small chance you might enjoy this.

Repetitive as I Wanna Be
I found this book disappointing. I was expecting something resembling an autobiography of Dennis' life, with plenty of tales from experience. While there were a few such stories, much of the book could be described as a rant, with Dennis harping on about the same old stuff again and again.
He hated the Spurs' coach, he's never been paid what he's worth, David Robinson is crap, he's a good rebounder, he was in two championship teams, he misses his daughter, he boinked Madonna, he's misunderstood, he had a tough upbrining.
I mean, fair enough that this may all be be true...but do we REALLY need to hear about it over and over and over?? Even in the chapter about sex, which you would expect to have something a little risque in it, Dennis manages to mention his rebounding average AGAIN.
If I took all the insights Dennis gave us and cut out all the repitition, this book would be about 20 pages long.

Dennis You Isn't Baaaaad
You just stupid. Big wedding dress wearin sissy wit all them tattos. Look like a painting. Why you go writin books? Everybody knows you messed up in tha head, so why you frontin' and gots to flaunt it? For reals, yo! Peep down on it. ... Read more

Book Description

There are few figures among America's media-saturated landscape that loom larger than the National Basketball Association's undeniable superstar Allen Iverson. He was the first overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft, and the spotlight has not left him since. Defiantly tattooed, with his hair in cornrows, the six-foot Philadelphia 76ers point guard has been vilified by a sports press still fawning over Michael Jordan's non-threatening, clean-cut visage. From Iverson's rap sheet to his rap album, from his on-court feats to his off-court antics, breathless fans and journalists alike seem determined to track his every move. Part sports star, part antihero, part hip-hop icon, Iverson has managed to cross over into the mainstream of American culture -- without compromise.

It wasn't long before Iverson's prodigious athletic skills became apparent. Raised in poverty, with his father in prison, Iverson retreated to his local playgrounds and found escape from the all-too-common woes of the inner-city dweller. In one summer alone, eight of his friends were killed in shootings. But Iverson's talent simply could not be denied, and basketball remained the one constant in his tumultuous existence.

And so Iverson, despite all odds, rose. A now-infamous scuffle in a bowling alley led to near race riots in Iverson's hometown of Newport News, Virginia, resulting in his being sentenced to jail time during high school. Eventually, Governor Douglas Wilder granted him clemency, the conviction was overturned on appeal, and his ascent continued. Georgetown coach John Thompson stepped in, giving Iverson a berth on his team at a time when other universities were too skittish to offer the same. It was their loss. After two tremendous years at Georgetown, Iverson declared himself eligible for the NBA draft. And the rest is history.

In Only the Strong Survive, Larry Platt offers up the first full portrait of a complicated and intensely private star, a man whose loyalty to his family, the streets, and his friends (a group he calls Cru Thik) trumps any other concerns -- and that includes multimillion-dollar endorsement deals. Possessing an almost otherworldly talent, Allen Iverson is determined that everyone -- his mom, his homeboys, his cousins -- benefit from it. By embracing his roots and refusing to conform, Iverson has won fans and admirers far beyond the boundaries of the sports world.

Filled with exclusive interview material and unprecedented access to many of Iverson's inner circle, Only the Strong Survive provides the first in-depth look at the truth behind this newly minted legend.

Reviews (13)

Behold Iverson, the human being.
As a young Caucasian man, I would never claim to understand Allen Iverson's meteoric rise from a dilapidated home in Newport News to the sparkling arenas of the NBA. Surely Iverson, his unique talent notwithstanding, has faced and cleared obstacles I cannot even fathom, obstacles to which so many have succumb. No, it is only those dominated by arrogance and pride who write off Allen Iverson as a thug, a threat, a disaster, a "them." Having read this book, though, I am content to trade whatever pride and arrogance I have for a new vision of Allen Iverson that transcends the "worst days" his critics are so quick to cite.

This book is looking for Iverson's core, digging deeper than Sportscenter highlight reels and police blotters. A careful reading reveals that there is more to Allen Iverson than cornrows, tattoos, snarls, and jumpers, even while each of these points to the man behind them. Indeed, if one wants to know anything of Allen Iverson, this book leaves you with one thought: no one loves like this man.

Iverson loves the game others claim he is destroying. Only love could score 20 points with a broken hand. More than that, Iverson loves his friends and family. So many have denigrated his "posse" as a distraction or a poor influence. This book, though, tells of a shared concern and loyalty between Iverson and his friends that existed long before the NBA millions and will surely survive his withdrawal from the spotlight. The importance of this love to Iverson's life cannot be overstated, but that's not the story you'll read in any newspaper.

You will find that passion in the pages of Larry Platt's book, and it is a passion with which everyone can sympathize. I do not know Allen Iverson. I know only what I could pull out of this book. Still, I know enough to declare that there are shades of Iverson we all could do well to find within ourselves. Far from painting Iverson as a model citizen, Platt's book does the next best thing: it paints him as a human being. For that reason, it is a worthy read.

A Book About Inspiration
Here I was walking up and down the aisle in the book store looking for an interesting book to read and then my eyes fell on this Allen Iverson book. Since I'm a fan of Allen I decided to get it knowing I wasnt gonna to read it cause I believed I knew everything there was to know about him. So that night I was bored, grabbed the book, and started to read. And I was amazed at what I read.

This book is not just about Allen Iverson and his trials and tribulations its about inspiration. If you only believe you can achieve. Not only is Allen an amazing athlete he is an amazing person at that. This book is about believing in yourself and to never give up for when you fall just pick yourself up, dust your self off, and try again. This book is not just about Allen Iverson and his trials and tribulastions its about inspiration.

Good Read for A.I./Basketball fans!
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was honest and more detailed than most books about athletes. It did not sugar-coat or villanize the subject. For the most part it just presented situations and let the reader be the judge. There were some things in the book that made you not like AI and there were things that made you really like AI. In the end, I think the book really captured who AI is: A work in progress, an honest guy who plays with enormous passion and lives the same way. What makes him interesting is his unpredictability. His life off the court seems like the one on the court. You never know his next move. Yet you never doubt his confidence and self-awareness. This is a very good book for AI fans and anyone interested in knowing the details of his seemingly tumultuous life.

Left me amazed
Prior to reading this book, I had read EVERY thing on Allen. I'd read every magazine and newspaper article I could find. I thought this book couldn't possibly be anything I didn't already know. I was wrong. This book captures Allen in a way no other writer has. There is insight from people who haven't spoken to the media before. Platt is not an AI apologist. The good and the bad is included. 5 stars!

Ghetto basketball
This is a great book for all the basketball fanatics, that want to see how one of the best (Allen Iverson) went from down in the dirt to rising to the top.
In this book Iverson has to defeat many obstacles to work his way to becoming the best. Just when you think it's all over, and he's defeated all of his obstacles, you're in for a suprise! ... Read more

Book Description

Photographs of the wildest, weirdest and most interesting tattoos of the NBA, accompanied by firsthand accounts of what the tattoos mean and why they're there.

Ten years ago, Dennis Rodman was the only NBA player with tattoos worth mentioning and back then he was considered a freak. Now around 70% of the league is "tatted out." The game is played so fast that it's hard to tell what even the most obvious tattoos actually are. And some of the most interesting ones are hidden behind jerseys or under socks. Allen Iverson has more than two dozen tattoos -- some you can see, some you can't. Some are obvious, like his nickname, "the answer," and some are cryptic like "Jewelz," or "NBN." What's on Stephon Marbury's forearm? What's covering Cherokee Parks' entire body? In the Paint takes you in the locker room and as close as you can get to the tattoos and the stories of the NBA.

Get under the skin of your favorite NBA players including:-- Shaquille O'Neal
-- Kenyon Martin
-- Chauncey Billups
-- Doug Christie
-- Mike Bibby
-- Penny Hardaway
-- Mateen Cleaves
-- Antonio Daniels
-- Corey Maggette
-- Larry Hughes
-- Allen Iverson
-- Moochie Norris
-- Karl Malone
-- Stephon Marbury
-- Cherokee Parks
-- Greg Ostertag
-- Jason Richardson
-- Jalen Rose
-- Quentin Richardson
-- Sean Rooks
-- Lorenzen Wright
-- Eric Williams
-- Jason Williams

In the Paint is filled with tattoos from NBA superstars, rookies, and journeymen. And for every tattoo there's a story. The stories take you behind the scenes, on the court and off. Some are sad, some are funny, some are bizarre but they're all interesting. The book has a nearly limitless audience -- basketball fans, photography and art lovers as well as aficionados of body art. In the Paint is primed to be the holiday gift book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hmm...
This may look odd but I was trying to post someone else's review of my book that they e-mailed to me. I mean, why would I review my own book? I didn't even read it.

What a joke!
NBA players have no respect for the art of tattooing or the history of it-- they simply get tattoos to look tough and/or get attention. This book is about as superficial as the tattoos it portrays.

Tattoos and Sports
I was'nt that impressed with this book.I thought it was going to go into alot more detail and show better array of pictures.Most of the pictures you can see on the internet already.The pictures that new were very few and far in between.It is a nice book to add to a collection,if you like tattoos or sports.Not a hreat book to learn about the players tattoos and meanings or even to see pctures of them.Some pictures shown didnt even get explained in the book.

Fascinating Inside Look In the Paint
This book is more than just a bunch of pictures of NBA guys with tatoos -- though it has some great pictures. It is wittily written (the jacket says the author is comedy writer) without being condescending to the athletes. It's informative and fun and thorough. The players come off as everything from funny and strange to thoughtful and deep. My only complaint is that the colors in the photography could be a little more vivid. I'd reccommend this book to any NBA, skin art, or self expression. ... Read more

Book Description

A legendary NBA pioneer and one of the game's most intriguing characters, Johnny Most was the Boston Celtics' play- by-play radio broadcaster for all 16 of the team's championships and 37 years overall. His autobiography is the ultimate insider's in-depth look at the personalities of the players and coaches who contributed to "Celtics Pride." Most's numerous famous, shrill, almost ear-piercing calls, including pro basketball's most memorable moment when "Havlicek stole the ball," are still frequently used to introduce national TV games. Johnny Most's career began as a struggle. A World War II hero, he spent several frustrating years "pounding the pavements" in search of work before landing bit parts on soap operas. He served as a quiz show stand-in, accepted one-line roles in the United Nations' "FM Playhouse" and then served as an assistant program director for tiny Oil City, Pennsylvania's only radio station, where he was the DJ, newscaster, and sports reporter. (He was fired from that job for slugging the station's owner.) Johnny Most, as one referee said, "could cause a riot at a High Mass" with his emotional, pro-Celtic descriptions. He turned shoving matches into "bloodbaths" and minor fouls into "vicious muggings." As Boston's recently appointed director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, "I always believed we had thirteen guys on the active roster--twelve wore uniforms and the thirteenth--Johnny Most--was high above courtside." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Reminiscences of The Ultimate Boston Celtics Fan!
No one ever cared as much about the Boston Celtics as did Johnny Most, the radio voice of the Celtics for 37 years including their 16 championship seasons. To him, no one in the green and white ever made a mistake. No opposing player failed to be a "bum" who was "mugging" the Celtics. The referees were all suspect . . . especially Jake O'Donnell. His rants anticipated the development of that form of entertainment, and came equipped in four different voices . . . depending on how outraged he was. Humor was always interceding as Johnny was known to get into brawls with fans, light himself on fire while smoking, insult the security guards who tried to get him to stop smoking, and told one revealing personal story after another that would leave us in stitches. But we never laughed at the man . . . but with him . . . because we knew he loved the Celtics.

Like almost everyone who loved the Celtics, I usually listened to his broadcasts on the radio even when watching the games on television (with the sound off). I would turn on the radio to hear the post-game show whenever I left a home game. My eye would often sweep up to see what antics he was up to while attending a game.

Basketball broadcasting hasn't been the same since Johnny left the field. Tommy Heinsohn is the closest we have now, but he's not the total fan (atic) that Johnny was.

The book is remarkable in many ways. It fills in the gaps in Johnny's story -- as a World War II hero, as someone learning to be a broadcaster in New York, as a New York-born Jew suffering from discrimination, as a loving father of four, a good friend to everyone on the Celtics, a hilarious (but challenging) companion during road trips, a patient recovering from a stroke, and a man keeping his dignity during his final illnesses.

Almost every page has an insider's story about one or more of the Celtics or other basketball insiders which I had never heard or read before. The stories are mostly heart-warming and are often quite funny as we find out more about the pranks that were pulled and by whom. Within those stories are subtle observations about why the various Celtics teams prospered or did not. Former owner John Y. Brown (who was widely despised in Boston) would do well to avoid this book.

While most autobiographies build the person up at the expense of others, the comments by many of the Celtics greats at the end seem to suggest that Johnny's comments actually understate his significance to the team, the franchise and to them personally.

One of the most fun parts of the book is where Johnny picks his top 15 opposing players (done before the full development of Michael Jordan because this book was begun many years ago while Johnny's health began to fail).

The only thing missing from this book is a CD of Johnny calling some of the most famous moments in Celtics history. But if you've ever heard his voice, you can hear him as you read his words.

Johnny may be famous for screaming, "Havlicek stole the ball," but in this autobiography "Most stole the scene."

Keep cheering, Johnny, wherever you are!

A Most Familiar NBA Voice
Johnny Most was an original. As the Celtics play by play man, he rooted for Boston on the air. He berated anyone who did not wear a celtic uniform. Yet his calls were so thrilling and ear-piercing that they are still heard today introducing NBA telecasts---11 years after his death.
Most was inventive, imaginative and excitable. He once got so excited, his false teeth popped out and almost fell over the balcony and into the lap of an unsuspecting fan sitting below.
Even his targets---the refs, Jeff Ruland, Rick Mahorn, Rick Barry, Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, and Isiah Thomas, among others----had fun battling Most, who once described Kurt Rambis as "something that had crawled out of a sewer.
The book is not a history of the Celtics but it does provide detailed insight into the personalities of players like Russell, Cowens and Bird.
If you're unaware of Most's "classic moments" in broadcasting, I guarantee you'll laugh your way through this book. The epilogue by Larry Bird is a tribute to Most, who countless Boston players termed "a loyal 'teammate' and friend."
Johnny Most helped many young, aspiring broadcasters. He critized the "new breed" of broadcasters who he said were "artificial and superficial." He called them clones because they all sounded the same, with no style of their own.
The language in "High Above Courtside" can be rough at times but this book was a pleasant surprise for me. Besides detailing Most's fascinating life, it provides a excellent picture of the Celtic players' personalities and life on the road in the NBA.

One of A Kind
"High Above Courtside: The Lost Memoirs of Johnny Most is required reading for any true Celtics fan. '
The book chronicles Johnny's truly amazing career in a writing style that captures the broadcaster's passion for all sports and love of the Boston Celtics.
I found it amazing that Johnny Most was such a huge part of the Celtics that a number of players complained that he never received a championship ring.
The authors, Mike Carey and Jamie Most, pointed out various classic stories which few Celtics fans---even the diehard ones---probably weren't aware of.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I bought it because I thought it would be interesting to read about Most's famous calls. However, the book was not just a rehash of his Celtics broadcasts. It was a fresh look at both Most as a person and his relationships with players, refs, owners, fans and his own family.
Even the pictures were excellent.

high above courtside is the best
This book brought an insight into THE MAN HIMSELF THAT we knew as Johnny Most. Anyone growing up a Boston Celtic fan knew and loved Johnny Most for "bringing them right into the game," with a unique approach that left no doubt that he was one of you---a Boston Celtic rooter. He helped us cheer on our team and did it with style---even when the team lost. But we never realized what an incredible human being he was and how much he actually did to bring about the "Boston Celtic Mystique," and how much he meant to all the generations of Celtic players, as well as fans. This book brings all that to light without any actual bragging, just facts. I never knew he was a war hero, a poet and a champion of
worthy causes. All the "behind the scenes" stories Mike Cary has chronicled brought Johnny Most back to life for me---in a new, and much more illuminated light. He was an icon for more than one generation and an inspiration to us all, especially after losing his legs to diabetes and I thank Mr. Cary, Jamie Most and the publishers for bringing us this incredible story. I would like to hear more of Johnny Most's life AFTER his operation and am loking forward to....the rest of the story.

The Celtics' "Thirteenth Man"
When I began to read "High Above Coutside", I expected to read another somewhat boring history of the Celtics. Instead, I read about a man, a war hero, who did just about everything in the broadcasting field. And he did it using his own unique style---whether it was calling dog races, hockey games, football or baseball.
It took him years to get his first real break. He would walk New York City going from audition to audition, making very little, if any money, from the jobs he managed to get.
Then a famous broadcaster, Marty Glickman, happened to take a liking to Johnny Most's style. He eventually became the radio voice for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York football Giants and then---finally---the Boston Celtics.
As the Celtics broadcaster, he was unbelievably one-sided. He was a classic homer. As Johnny Most said, "There are thousands and thousands of Celtic fans in New England. When I did my job, I just considered myself the one lucky fan who got to tell all the other fans what was taking place on the basketball court."
Along the way, Johnny Most made enemies, from Roughhouse Rudy LaRusso, to Rick Barry, to Kareeem Abdul Jabbar, to Wilt Chamberlain, to Rick Mahorn, Jeff Ruland and the entire Pistons team.
His battles with them, among others including a physical fight with a team owner, makes for fascinating reading.
His battle against ill health was a losing one, but Johnny Most, according to Boston legend Larry Bird, never lost a winner's attitude.
I read the book in four days and I'd recommend it to any New York, Boston, or New England sports fan. ... Read more

Book Description

As one of the greatest, most celebrated athletes in history, Michael Jordan conquered professional basketball as no one had before. Powered by a potent mix of charisma, nearly superhuman abilities, and a ferocious need to dominate the game, he won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and captured every basketball award and accolade conceivable before retiring and taking a top executive post with the Washington Wizards. But retirement didn't suit the man who was once king, and at the advanced age of thirty-eight Michael Jordan set out to reclaim the court that had been his dominion.

When Nothing Else Matters is the definitive account of Jordan's equally spectacular and disastrous return to basketball. Having gone on the road to chronicle Jordan's final two seasons, award-winning Washington Post writer Michael Leahy draws a riveting portrait of a deeply complex man waylaid by his impulses and impatience, frequently hampered by injuries, assaulted by younger players eager to usurp his throne, and ultimately done in by his presumption. Encouraged for two decades by his sport's magnates to believe that he had no limits or superiors, Jordan could not see his influence and power fading as his Wizards days ticked down and his team's losses and dissension grew. For teammates and outsiders alike, the star emerged as a relentlessly driven, at times unapproachable personality. Leahy reveals the striking contrast between Jordan's public image and the man who couldn't stand not "bein' it."

Hell-bent on transforming the mediocre Wizards into championship contenders, Jordan controlled every facet of his new team, dispensing orders behind the scenes to coaches and players. As his anger and bitterness over Washington's on-court setbacks became increasingly public, his teammates' resentment of him stoked already burgeoning tensions between Jordan and the Wizards' top brass. Leahy unmasks the myths and unravels the deeper lessons behind the highs and lows of the two seasons, illuminating the excruciating reality Jordan was forced to accept after the Wizards' failed playoff bid in his final season. When Nothing Else Matters is about nothing less than a man struggling to come to grips with the end of a career, and the uncertainty of his life ahead. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

When Nothing Else Matters: The REAL Michael Jordon
I wanted to tell everyone how much this book rocked. This is so revealing about what Michael Jordon thought, did, and wished he could of done, over the 2 seasons that he came back into the NBA. This is a quick read, and it tells an amazing story. This is a 100x what you get from any other sports book, and especially from anything you could ever see on NBC. Michael Leahy is an amazing writer who has a nack for getting the stuff that people really want to read. You want to know the real Michael Jordon? Then read "When Nothing Else Matters", by the acclaimed Wasington Post writer, Michael Leahy. ... Read more

Book Description

"A true emotional phenomenon...Entertaining...Of particular interest to fans will be the evolution of Johnson's relationship with Bird, his great karmic partner in the game."
NEW YORK NEWSDAY
He's faced challenges all of his life, but now Magic Johnson faces the biggest challenge of all, his own brave battle with HIV. In this dramatic, exciting, and inspirational autobiography, Magic Johnson allows readers into his life, into his tirumphs and tragedies on and off the court. In his own exuberant style, he tells readers of the friends and family who've been constant supporters and the basketball greats he's worked with. It's all here, the glory and the pain the character, charisma, and courage of the hero called Magic.
AN ALTERNATE SELECTION OF THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
... Read more

Reviews (10)

THE NAME THAT GOT THE GAME
Magic is unlike any other. Some thing special, filled with twists and turns. It is amazing considering what he went threw. He goes threw the ups and downs sum how he seem to keep his head up. This book tells about the old-school player that helped pave the way for the basketball players of today. Great book for the ages.

Magic
Earvin Johnson a.k.a Magic is a regular guy who is a nba legend who has aid, that' s what we all know, but at the reading of this book i found out, Earvin the man , how he felt when he found out he has aid , how much he got respect for other NBA players like Michael Jordan or Larry bird, it's a very interesting book,..., just buy it and enjoy it!

THE MAGIC MAN!!!!!!
Magic I love ya baby! You's the best hoopster ever. Forget Jordan cuz he be a big old ball hog. You passed with them sick no look passes cuz you's a team playa! That's what b-ball is all about. I love ya man and you inspire me from when I was in my crib. But daaaaang Magic. You write worse than me.

Magic's Review
This book is awesome! I have been a fan of Magic Johnson forever and I still love him today. This book tells you all, from when he was a child and how life was growing up in the ghetto and his life now with his wife and son. It is very inspirational for any age. If you are an athlete this is a must read. Magic brings out his humorous side and his emotional side in this book. WELL DONE!

Intimate and inspirational
Magic shares about his life, basketball and battle w/HIV. He shares candidly and provides insights into his character, work ethic and upbringing. It's a book that's written w/a lot of enthusiasm and passion, words that would also describe Magic. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines spent 47 years as coach and athletic director at Winston-Salem State University. As such, he became the fifth-winningest coach in NCAA basketball history (behind Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith, Bobby Knight, and Jim Phelan of Mount St. Mary's College) and the winningest African-American coach. In this book, Gaines concentrates on what was happening socially in the country during his tenure, as well as offering behind-the-scenes details about his many victories. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Vitale's best book
Vitale holds court on all things college basketball and in doing so offers some nice tidbits about life in general. Living a Dream is much better than Holding Court, which he wrote with Weiss about ten years ago. Living a Dream is well-written and much more polished and organized. Chapter 7 on "Absent Friends" such as NC State's Jim Valvano is terrific. There's a foreword by Coach K for Duke fans. Dickie V is a colorful guy with something to say, and that shines through again in this book.

He's not just any Dick. He's Dick Vitale!
I found this to be a fascinating review of the college basketball scene from a viewpoint rarely taken, from inside the "Coach K Waste Disposal Tunnel at Cameron Indoor Stadium," where many Duke fans in the media hang out, and discuss matters of interest to Duke athletic supporters. Dick Vitale really dares to go where no other living soul would.

Beyond that, Dick's use of hackneyed cliches sets the standards for a whole generation of 1-trick pony sports broadcasters yet to come. Kudos to Dick for having the courage to be an exemplar of stupidity, BABY!

More Dreck
Self-parody at its finest

Fantastic Read
This book contains a foreword written by a CLASS ACT, Mike Krzyzewski. Much unlike the classless Gary Williams, who refused to attend my barbeque ----- Perhaps this explains why can't pull recruits from his own backyard? This is described in detail in chapter 5. Mr Vitale is a pleasure to read. He describes his trips to Cameron Indoor and his friendly conversations with Coach K, Mike Dunleavy, and Wayne Gooch. ... Read more

Book Description

Vince Carter didn't waste any time leaving his mark on the NBA landscape. Shocking veteran opponents with his dazzling combination of speed and power, Carter quickly became the player to watch and was named the Rookie of the Year for the 1999 season.

In 2000 Carter has emerged as the undisputed leader of the young and talented Toronto Raptors. His spectacular moves and acrobatic dunks have won him legions of young fans and made him a fixture on highlight reels across North America. The Raptors and their young superstar are filling arenas wherever they play. With the NBA All-Star game, the Slam Dunk Contest, the playoffs, and a possible Dream Team berth all on the horizon, 2000 promises to be a year of incredible firsts for Vince Carter.

Carter has been named a Goodwill Ambassador by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America and has founded The Embassy of Hope foundation to support children's charities.

In this lavishly illustrated book, basketball columnist Bill Harris examines Carter's career from a member of the high school band to the University of North Carolina and on to NBA superstardom. A must for any true basketball fan. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Vince Carter Is the Best!!!
This was an awesome book, with many accurate pictures for this rising star. The book is very imformative. ... Read more

Book Description

"I Remember Pete Maravich" is a beautiful hardcover book that details the professional career and personal example of "Pistol Pete" Maravich. His amazing record and ball-handling tricks are just some of the stories recounted here by some of Maravich's closest acquaintances, including his friends, fellow basketball players, coaches, and relatives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful reading!
Pistol Pete was my childhood hero and this book tells me an awful lot about him from people who knew him during different parts of his life. It's people talking about Pete in their own words and the stories and memories are rich and interesting. I especially like the Christian angle to the book, telling of Pete's conversion to Christianity and his evangelical work. Most of the stuff I've read on Maravich downplay that stuff, but I think it as important as anything else he ever accomplished. Nice book for sure.

oral history
This biik is an oral history of Pete Maravich, the player and the person. It recounts the memories of various people who knew Pete as the Pistol and as just plain Pete. It gives a balanced view of his past and is especially interesting in recounting Pete's later days and his conversion to Christianity. A good read for people who may have read Pete's biography but want to see him through others eyes. ... Read more

Book Description

When Dean Smith retired from the University of North Carolina in 1997 as the most successful college basketball coach in history, he left behind a long list of staggering statistics, including seventeen Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season titles, thirteen ACC tournament championships, twenty-three consecutive NCAA tournament bids, two national championships, NCAA records for twenty-five-win seasons and consecutive trips to the tournament Sweet 16 (thirteen), an Olympic gold medal, and twenty-four first-round NBA draft picks. A special panel assembled by ABC and ESPN named him one of the seven greatest coaches of the twentieth century in any sport. Another measure of Dean Smith's legacy is his profound impact on the lives of the players he coached. From Michael Jordan to the last man on the bench of his least gifted team, Dean Smith's players all credit him with forging in them the values of discipline, respect, camaraderie, and fortitude that laid the groundwork for their success in basketball and in life. Ninety-eight percent of his players earned college degrees, and a high percentage went on to graduate and professional schools.

In A Coach's Life, for the first time, Dean Smith tells the full story of his fabled career. With warmth, humor, and unflinching candor, he gives readers the best seat in the house—the view from the bench—for all of the memorable games, players, coaches, and teams, including North Carolina's fierce rivalries, their darkest hours, and their greatest triumphs. He explains his basketball philosophy and its sources, the origins of his many innovations to the game, and his thoughts on the issues and challenges facing college basketball today. He talks about his roots in family and faith, the source of much of his strength in taking controversial stands on social issues over the years, such as desegregating the Carolina basketball team in the early 1960s. He relates incisive leadership lessons distilled from five decades of showing young men how to win the right way, on the court and off.

A Coach's Life is a book about basketball filled with wisdom about living. To read it is to understand why Dean Smith made everyone around him better, and to see that even in the most competitive of arenas, doing good and doing well can be one and the same thing. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

don't expect kiss and tell...
This memoir is consistent with what I have observed of Smith over the years: intelligent, organized, interested in the world outside of basketball, publicly reserved, and loyal to a fault. The last two characteristics make the book a little frustrating to read: Smith will not name names or criticize his former players or coaches, though if you are fan of Carolina basketball you will know the names to fill into the anecdotes and incidents he describes (e.g. J.R. Reid's suspension from the 1989 ACC tournament semifinal for missing curfew.) Nevertheless, it is far better than most other sports memoirs (i.e. he actually had a life off the court)and should broadly appeal to people not especially interested in basketball in general or Carolina in particular.

More than just a basketball book
The book was mostly appealling to me because of my love for Carolina basketball. However, the novel would be interesting to any basketball lover in that of the genius behind Dean's coaching strategies. He also sets a great standard for morals that a person should have in life. The book DOES travel into other sectors of life rather than just basketball. Dean Smith provides an excellent role model as his character is nothing less than the fine aspects of discipline, church, and honesty.

A Feel Good Book with Substance
Dean Smith accomplishes something truly remarkable in this I 300+ page book. Not a negative word. The book is a building block to help coaches develop fine young men and women. Dean Smith is a true gentleman, and a man of principles who passes along valuable nuggets to coach any sport. The hardest thing for a coach to do is to set and maintain a culture of a team. Smith does this in a focused and people-minded(caring yet pushing them to be better) way. It's not just about winning. He regularly put in his 8-12 spot players in every game in the second half regardless of what the score was. This way they had something to look forward to in each game and would work hard at practice. Carolina had a rule "pass ahead"--pass to the guy who is ahead of you to advance the ball up the floor. What a great message (team enhancing and unselfish) for young players in basketball, soccer, and hockey. What most impressed me about this book was how positive Smith is. He is so complimentary to the people who matter in his life. It is always about them not about him. The one thing which I found curious was very little mention of his first and unsuccessful marriage to Ann. But I also respect his desire to keep their married life personal. If you are a dedicated coach then read this book, and Jim Thompson's Positive Coaching. Both are testimonials to what Erik Erikson coined the "generative" capabilities of men.

a great look inside the heart and mind of a living legend !!
college basketball's greatest coach chronicles his life and details the philosophy and principles which governed his life and his approach to basketball. after reading the book you will understand why many consider him not only the greatest college basketball coach,but an even greater man.

The Dean of All Coaches
"A Coach's Life" details the interesting facts of Dean Smith's story - from his childhood memories to his first coaching job to reaching the pinnacle of his career (winning the NCAA titles in 1982 and 1993). Along the way, you meet many people who enriched Dean's life and who, in turn, were enriched by him...there's Michael Jordan, of course, but Dean also reveals details of his relationships with a number of his players, associates and opponents, including John Thompson, James Worthy, and Frank McGuire, to name a few.

To his credit, he avoids speaking negatively about others. It seems that he was operating under the axiom, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything." This would explain the virtual omission of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski - glaring by its absence. So be warned - those looking for a mud-slinging expose' will be disappointed.

But that's OK - Dean showed that he didn't have to write a "tell-all" in order to write a good book. It's just a story of a simple Kansas boy who found a way to make a difference in people's lives. And what's wrong with that?

Rating: 4 stars. ... Read more