Reviews (8)

Alford teaches that hard work and a good attitiude, pays off
Indiana basketball legend Steve Alford, describes what it was like playing for the General, Bob Knight. Alford shows us in the book the genius of Bob Knight. He also talks about the temper tantrums, mind games, and manipulations he and his teammates had to go through while playing for the General. In the book, he describes some of the war stories about coach Knight. Alford, talks about the brilliance of the General and how he made him become a better player and person.
This book was very inspiring to me. Not only did I learn that Steve Alford is from my hometown, I learned many more things about his family and his relationship with his coach. In the book, Alford talks many times about how hard he had to work to achieve all of his goals in life. All of the countless hours he spent on the court and how they paid off. If you are looking for an inspiring and motivational book, this is an excellent choice. I think all younger kids that are basketball players should read this book. It may have many goods tips for them. "Playing for Knight", would definitely teach them, how hard work can get you to the top. They may also learn more about life's little lessons. Knight had the willingness to sacrifice victory just to teach his players a larger lesson about work, pride, and honor. If your are thinking of reading a book, this a great story to start with.

Pulls some punches
Alford admits that he cleaned up Knight's language in this book. Bob Knight was famous for swearing up and down the court and all around, sometimes even when the camera and microphone were on. Alford probably also had some selective memory since being a professional in basketball who would eventually go on to be a coach, he didn't need Bob Knight as an enemy. Alford and some other players admitted as much when Knight was fired from Indiana a few years ago that they weren't always as honest about what went on as maybe they could have been. But that's understandable.

If you buy into the idea that sports is another kind of warfare, then Knight's style made sense. Think Bryant and the Junction Boys here. Knight did coach military before Indiana, too. But this story is not really a book about Bobby Knight. There are bunch of those. It concentrates just on that time when Alford was there, in the 80s, probably when Knight's power and prestige were at their greatest. Despite his size (Alford is on the short side to be a basketball player) he had skill and determination, and apparently the obedience that Knight wanted in a player.

Alford's daydream at the end will never come true, at least not in the way he sees it. He saw Knight still being at Indiana, and no one would have ever thought he could be toppled from there. He thought despite the drawbacks it would still be an excellent opportunity for his son, and he wouldn't hesitate to recommend playing for Knight. It was an experience.

The Steve Alford and Bobby Knight Story
My brother, a huge Bobby Knight fan, has been bugging me to read this book for a long time. As he's the basketball player/authority in the family (although I might note that none other than Bill Bradley did advise him once -- in writing -- that he needed to work on his inside game), I thought I'd read this book to see if the inside Knight story would change my inability to appreciate Knight's methods. Here's my conclusion. If you buy the notion that sport/basketball is war, then Knight's methods make some sense. In the same vein that Patton made a lot of sense for the army. (Knight is, by the way a big Patton fan). You didn't have to want Patton to be the godfather to your children to appreciate that his methods meant a shorter war, less American casualties and a quicker victory. Of course, Omar Bradley, who was by all accounts a pretty decent human being, was also a great war commander. However, war, unlike basketball, has no rules, no timeouts, and doesn't end with a buzzer, but when one side is willing to cry uncle. During my reading of Alford's book, I was constantly wondering if another coach could have been as successful with Indy's players if he had taken a positive approach to motivation as opposed to Knight's very negative mode. I don't know enough about John Wooden to know if he was a decent person to his players, but he certainly took a very positive approach to motivating his team and had more success than Knight has enjoyed. But, you have to admit that Knight gets the job done. This book doesn't go into the questions I've ruminated on above, but chronicles Steve's Alford's four years with Bobby Knight. This sanitized version (Alford admits he deleted Knight's trademark profanity in his recollections), gives a pretty good inside picture of what it's like "playing for Knight." I did feel the title is somewhat misleading, the book is really the Steve Alford story, and details his life / basketball career. His approach to the game and psyche were so dominated by Coach Knight that the IU helmsman does dominate the book. Alford takes an anecdotal approach to the telling -- playing for Knight before or after Alford's time is not explored. This is rather like a diary of Alford's life, the biggest chapters being his IU years. One winds up with a rich tale (Knight's antics, although somewhat repetitive, are so outrageous that they do make for pretty interesting reading) that's a quick read. If you're a college basketball fan, you'll enjoy this book. So too, will psychology majors

A clear picture
Steve Alford offers a clear and concise picture of what it is like to play for one of the most successful yet intimidating coaches in college basketball. You'll feel the frustration he felt when in the coach's doghouse and the joy he felt when winning the national championship. Through four years of playing at Indiana, Alford was able to see thru the mind games and realize the coach's motive. A truly great book written by a truly gifted athlete.

A must-read for any Big Ten basketball fan!
Admittedly, I didn't read this book until Alford took over as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. But, I could not put the book down. The Knight "war stories" are enough to make you scratch your head and the complete enthusiasm Alford has for his game is very awe inspiring. Yes, Hawkeye fans will love this book, too! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very comprehensive, everything you always wanted to know
A comprehensive guide to collecting Michael Jordan memorabilia. Very well documented with hundreds of pictures to help identify the various items.

An indispensable guide for MJ collectors. ... Read more

Book Description

For forty years, he has been the Quiet Man of the NBA. As a rookie, he was overshadowed by two pretty fair guards who entered the league

at the same time: Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.As a veteran, he was -- both figuratively and literally -- a coach on the floor, but he had the misfortune to play for several struggling teams.As a general manager, he won a championship and made back-to-back Finals appearances -- but he did it without superstars, a year before Magic Johnson and Larry Bird revitalized the league. And as a coach, he has won more games than anyone in NBA history -- but spent his best years locked in the same division as Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.

Basketball connoisseurs have long appreciated the style and intelligence with which Lenny Wilkens played and the unflappability and class he's brought to coaching. The respect he has earned resulted in his joining the legendary John Wooden as the only men to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame twice -- first as a player, and then as a coach.

Now, in Unguarded, Lenny Wilkens steps out from behind his placid demeanor to speak plainly and unequivocally on the enormous social and athletic changes he's seen in his career.

Wilkens sounds off about the challenges he had to overcome in the course of his journey: the racism that left him off the 1960 Olympic basketball team and kept him from being chosen as head coach of the first Dream Team; the fatal miscalculation that kept his Cleveland Cavaliers from getting past Michael Jordan to the NBA Finals; the painful, frustrating task of coaching a troubled and troublesome J.R. Rider, a player who contributed to his departure from Atlanta. And he credits those who went out of their way to help him: the priests and nuns who taught him the value of discipline and reinforced his faith; the coaches who pushed him to develop his talents to the fullest; the selfless players such as John Johnson, Hot Rod Williams, Larry Nance, Steve Smith, and many others who sacrificed individual glory for the good of their teams; his mother, Henrietta, and his wife, Marilyn, who stood beside him in many trying times.

Unguarded reveals the Lenny Wilkens we have never seen before, the tough, strong, thoughtful, and analytical man who has spent a life in basketball making his teammates and players better than they knew they could be. Thought-provoking, candid, always honest, Wilkens shares all the secrets he's learned in his four decades surviving in the NBA storm. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF DIGNITY AND CLASS
LENNY WILKENS DOES A GOOD JOB RELAYING HIS LIFE AND CAREER. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EXAMOLE OF CLASS AND GOOD WORK ETHICS. I REMEMBER HIM WITH CAVALIERS IN THEIR EARLY YEARS TRYING TO MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM THE BOTTOM TO CONTENDER. HE HELPED ADD SOME LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE FOR ALOT OF YOUNG PLAYERS. LATER ON HE WOULD BE THE MOST SUCESSFUL COACH IN CAVALIER HISTORY. I LIKED HIS BOOK AND AGREE HE WAS OVER LOOKED AS A PLAYER AND COACH. A VERY CLASSY INDIVIDUAL AND INTELLIGENT. RECOMMENDED FOR YOUNG AND OLD SCHOOL PLAYERS.

A classy memoir from a classy individual
I was drawn to "Unguarded" primarily because I grew up with the Sonics coached by Lenny Wilkens. I remember the championship season he guided the team to, and have always rued the day he left the Sonics for other coaching endeavors.

This book isn't verbose, and doesn't go into tremendous detail about every aspect of his career, but this style works for Mr. Wilkens. What the reader gets is a nice, classy snapshot of a career that has - as player and coach - encompassed the rise and current decline of the NBA.

I was particularly fascinated with his descriptions of the NBA he played in during the 1960's. The murky arenas, low pay, poor treatment of players in general, the caste system between rookies and veterans, and subtle bigotry were all things Mr. Wilkens highlighted. Most NBA fans would no doubt imagine the league as always being the "showtime", glamorous atmosphere of the Magic-Bird-Jordan era. Mr. Wilkens' description would probably be as surprising to the hard-core fan as it would be to the non-fan.

I also found his opinions on the current state of the game to be fascinating. He laments the "SportsCenter" style of play where everyone's playing for highlight reel material, the "me-first" attitude among players, and the general loss of the art of the game he played. These are all things that have prompted me to quit watching NBA basketball in recent years, so I couldn't help but say a quiet "amen" as I read the book.

One of the troublesome areas I found with the book were when he addressed the topic of racism. In the very first chapter he tackles it head-on, saying that he saw it and experienced it, but then alluding that he doesn't dwell on it or hold grudges. However, when it arises in later chapters - notably in his being left off the Olympic team as a player or when up for coaching the original "Dream Team" - Mr. Wilkens comes off as definitely holding grudges and letting racism play a big factor in his life. It is a paradox I couldn't grapple with personally. I certainly don't deny he was treated horribly in situations based on his race, but I found that it was almost as if he was trying too hard to walk the tightrope between being bitter and handling the issue with class. It was an area of the book that just didn't work, because you couldn't tell whether he had indeed let it go or was still holding grudges on many an situation.

All in all, though, this was a nice memoir. There is nothing scandalous revealed, and he doesn't attack anyone - even in his descriptions of the aforementioned racial treatment or in his criticism of the modern game. Perhaps this also accounts for the puzzling, clumsy way he addresses racism, because while he does criticize a few, he writes very well of those who fired him or cut him over the years.

There is no doubt Mr. Wilkens has led an extraordinary career, and has done so with dignity, modesty, and class. We get our best glimpse of this tremendous man with this book, and I recommend it to fans and non-fans of basketball. The fan will be interested in the history of the game; the non-fan will see that there are still a few class individuals in an otherwise horrendous NBA. Mr. Wilkens has penned a nice book here, and it further confers upon him the status that Seattle and the Northwest is STILL "Lenny's Country".

A classic (and classy) point guard
Along with John Wooden, who practically invented basketball, Lenny Wilkens is the only man to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. In one or both of these capacities he has competed against giants of the game from Bill Russell to Michael Jordan to today's superstars such as Allen Iverson. He has experienced the evolution of the NBA from the shoestring operation it was in the 1950s to the global phenomenon that it is today. Wilkens was a publicly prominent African-American during one of this country's most racially turbulent periods. He has risen from childhood poverty to almost incomprehensible wealth.

It is not hard to see why Lenny Wilkens has been so successful as a point guard or coach. In these memoirs he comes across as perceptive and self-effacing - just the qualities that one wants in a point guard or a coach. No chair-thrower, he. And with veteran basketball writer Terry Pluto handling the prose the book is an easy read. Yet herein lies the problem: I would have been happy to read twice as much. The book is weirdly uneven in its treatment of Wilkens' life both on an off the court. One feels like there are huge things going on both in the NBA and in the world that pass by unnoticed or with only cursory mention.

Perhaps this is unfair: afterall the subtitle of the book is "My forty years of surviving in the NBA," not "what it was like to be a public figure in turbulent times." Even the basketball aspects of the book have some of this unevenness, however. To give one example: Wilkens goes into a fair amount of detail describing his first contract negotiation (he received less than $15,000 and had to take a summer job) and a subsequent salary dispute later in his career. Yet late in the book he mentions almost in passing that one of his coaching contracts was for millions. What is it like to have one's income rise like that? What does it do to your family and others around you?

In the end these are quibbles, I suppose. The book is unguarded and revealing in certain aspects, but one gets the sense that the extreme self-discipline necessary to accomplish what Wilkens has also lends itself to a certain degree of self-censorship. I have no reason to believe that Wilkens is anything other than the thoroughly decent man that he appears to be from this book, and if he chooses to emphasize some aspects of his life over others in his memoirs, well, that's his prerogative.

As another reviewer mentioned, Lenny Wilkens does come across as an admirable role model in this book without being a goody two-shoes or a candidate for sainthood. This book would make an excellent gift for young people interested in basketball or simply the life of one remarkable American individual. It might also be a good antidote for fans who believe the key to winning basketball games is throwing chairs.

All Young Basketball Fans Should Read This Book
I am not a fan of the NBA. I am not even a basketball fan. I bought and read this book because Lenny Wilkens was a member of the St. Louis Hawks of the 1960's when I closely followed the Hawks of Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan, "The Big Z" Zelmo Beaty, John "Rabbit" Barnhill, Chico Vaughn, and others. I was interested in reading what Wilkens would have to say about the Hawks. According to Wilkens, coaching in the NBA in the '60's consisted of scrimmaging and shooting free throws. Rather than teaching, coaches screamed at players. Wilkens says that one of his Hawks' coaches, Richie Guerin, played favorites namely Bill Bridges and Gene Tormohlen. Wilkens credits his faith in God for directing his life and for providing him with the many blessings that have come his way. Having graduated from Providence with a degree in economics, he had no idea he would be playing in the NBA. He takes the reader through the discrimination he encountered in St. Louis during the '60's and how this was all new to him having been raised in Brooklyn, New York. Wilkens provides us insight of his experiences of playing with St. Louis followed by the trade to Seattle and his two coaching stints there along with coaching at Cleveland, Portland, Atlanta, and now Toronto. Along the way he managed to pass Celtic legend Red Auerbach's career victory total. Both Wilkens and former UCLA Bruins' coach, John Wooden are the only two members elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as both players and coaches. I rate this book five stars, not because it is a keeper for me. I plan on sending this up to our local high school library so people who are interested in basketball can benefit from this book. In addition, how refreshing to read a book without any profanity. Lenny Wilkens, you have been a credit to the game of basketball and you will touch a number of lives of those who will read your book.

Very good.
This memoir is low-key, yet quite emotional. No NBA fan will find it a waste of time. Like many of his generation, Wilkens longs for basketball to be like its past, like the game he played. But that age is gone forever; it only survives in an excellent memoir like this one, or in the work of co-author Terry Pluto.

Roland Lazenby Author of Mindgames, Phil Jackson's Long Strange Journey ... Read more

Amazon.com

Now a sports columnist for the Providence Journal-Bulletin, Bill Reynolds suffered from a common affliction. He was a star athlete in high school and college, but he couldn't quite give up the ghost when his playing days were done. As a young man, he put everything he had into the dreams of his basketball glory days, and suddenly, too suddenly, they were over. Now what? It's the question that haunts this affecting memoir of a man who found it impossible to let go. A decade after the cheering stopped, "I knew," he admits, "my life no longer worked the day the sheriff knocked on my door with a summons to appear in court for an overextended credit card loan." Once he figured out that he could make his obsession work for him--mentally, as a sportswriter; physically, in pick-up hoops--his life began to work, too. What makes Glory Days ultimately work is Reynolds's ability to take his confessional beyond the personal; he skillfully uses his experience as a laboratory for exploring the nation's fixation on its games and the unwillingness of so many American men to grow up and move on. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

an ex-player must
This is the second Bill Reynolds book that I have read. Loved them both. I found his descriptions taking me back to high school and the playground. It brought back a lot of memories and also made me think about how I prioritized basketball for so many years.

Non basketball junkies may call Bill's live experiences crazy. I dream of some of his experiences. Great book!

An engaging personal memoir of interest to all ex-jocks.
Bill Reynolds is certainly one of America's finest sports journalists. "Glory Days" addsto that luster.While some may dismiss it as a purely personal account of one's growing up, it is a lot more. It is a book to be read and enjoyed by all former star athletes, high school or college, who realized at some subsequent point in their life that they had to move on but did not want to let go of the one thing that they had worked at while growing up A disclaimer: Bill was a fraternity brother of mine at Brown. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Book of Isiah, the career of the NBA's most successful player-turned-basketball-executive comes to life. From Thomas' early years as a member of a close-knit family trying to survive on Chicago's mean streets, to his years at Indiana University under the stern tutelage of the legendary Bobby Knight, to his stellar seasons with the "Bad Boys" of the Pistons, Thomas' devotion to the game of basketball is chronicled, as is the development of his canny sense of timing both on and off the court. With the newest chapter being written in the boardrooms of the Toronto Raptors, The Book of Isiah details every aspect of big-time hoops for fans of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Great Book on Isiah
I have always dug Isiah Thomas.The Brother overcame alot of Obstacles&still does to this day.he doesn't always get the Credit&Love he so deserves.He was a Great Player.I Loved it when He&The Pistons Beat The Over-Inflated Bulls.ZEKE was always the man.He Played with So Much Heart&Determanation.Now as Coach of The Pacers it will be Interesting to see where the Next Journey Takes Him.I Really Dig the Fact that he is about Black Ownership.it's Time to have a Say on&Off The Court.He has had his Ups&Downs but has still Remained a Class Act.this Book Reflects so Much About this Man.

Excellent biography of Isiah.
I have been a fan of Isiah and the Pistons for a long time now. This was the first biography of Isiah that I have read and I enjoyed it very much. I knew a lot about Isiahs childhood but also found out a lot more reading this book. The writer seems to spend a lot of time discussing Isiahs time with the Raptors, I would have liked to read more about his time with the Pistons. I also would have liked to see a mention of the 70+ students that Isiah put through college out of his own pocket. Overall I really enjoyed this book, if your an Isiah fan you need to pick this one up.

very well written it tells of both the good and bad of a sup
I thought the book was very well written. It allowed the reader to see that Isiah is a superstar that pulled himself up out of poverty and despair, but he is also a human being (which we sometimes forget about star atheletes) with human failings, fears, and needs. I is the best 20 bucks I have spent in a long time. I would suggest to anyone who has ever looked at athletes in a negative light to read this book it details the life of growing up poor and not allowing it to rule your life. Isiah, like so many of our black males in America grew up poor and without his father, but he did not allow himself to wallow in it, and that is a lesson that many of young people need to adhere to.

Tamara Randolph, Rich, Va.

Very realistic presentation of Isiah Thomas
I found the book very realistic and accurate display of Isiah Thomas. It chronicles the life of Isiah Thomas, documenting the good and the bad of Isiah Thomas. I'm a Detroit Pistons fan, and was glad to see the author and the publisher didn't present a sugar-coated version of his life, which isn't what I can't say sadly for Bob Greene's Rebound, which is a biography on Michael Jordan. This biography covers the part of Jordan's life when he was away from basketball and in baseball. I felt I should mention the Jordan book, since they were rivals for a long time, but it appears they have buried the hatchet. It should be interesting to read now, considering that he is no longer the Raptors' GM, and is currently works for NBC as a color commentator. Thanks to Paul Challen and ECW Press for taking the high road and presenting something that is actually worthy of reading from cover to cover, unlike the Greene schlock book on Jordan, which never criticizes him at any point from what I can see. I hope ECW Press continues to present sports biographies like this in a realistic portrayal. The Greene biography looked at Jordan's problems always with a positive light on Jordan, and don't talk about his gambling. I found the reading about how Isiah's brothers could have been NBA stars interesting reading, especially the one brother, Henry Lord, who was supposed to possess outstanding ability. It was interesting to see how Isiah overcame many odds to get to where he was, and it perhaps it helps understand why he is the person he is today. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Book okay but binding stinks
My husband really wanted this book for christmas based on some TV show interview he watched but after reading the review about the binding, I went to a local bookstore to check it out for myself. All FOUR copies had binding problems. When I opened the book, the pages started to break off so the store is returning them all.

I am quite disappointed because it looks like a really good book content wise. Hope they get a new printing soon.

Publisher's Fault
BEWARE!! I bought this book at Borders, then got in a line for Willis Reed to sign it. While waiting, I turned the pages back & forth a few times - it's a photo book primarily - and the pages began to fall out. I exchanged it for another, and those pages began to fall out. I paged through five more books, and their pages began to fall out, so I got my money back & didn't buy it. The store management said they were aware of the problem. The binding is so horrible that if you use it as it's intended - to look through over & over again - the pages will fall out (at least in all the books shipped to that Borders). It would have been especially horrible to give as a gift - not worth the money! A book is supposed to stay as a book.

Fantastic Historical Overview.
"Giants" Big Men Who Shook The NBA, by Mark Heisler,is a must own book, for any basketball fan who enjoyed the era of the dominent center. The top 25 centers of all-time are profiled in detail, with great photo's,statistics, and commentary by some of the greats of the game. I will tell you that Wilt Chamberlain is ranked #1 of all-time, and Artis Gilmore is in at #25. In between, all the greats are like Russell, Jabbar, Oneal, Malone, Walton, Mikan, Reed,Thurmond and Duncan are just some of the 25 centers who are profiled. Special insight from Jerry West, Willis Reed, and analysis from Pete Newell make this book even more appealing. Willis Reed states, "I was very proud of my first game against Chamberlain, I scored 32 points, and I held him to 56 points?" Imagine that! He held Wilt to 56 points? It is insights like that from Reed, that makes this book so special. This coffee table book is all that it is cracked up to be, and is one of the finest books ever published on the sport. I highly recommend this book to any fan, both young and old, so you can spend hours with friends arguing, who was the greatest center of all-time. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the exciting story of Oklahoma University basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. During his 18-year career as a head coach, Sampson has been Coach of the Year in three different leagues and has taken the Oklahoma Sooners to seven straight NCAA Tournaments. Through personal interviews with the coach and some of his former players, author Steve Richardson weaves the story of one determined coach as he leads his team to the top. ... Read more

Book Description

Never mind Michael, Shaq and the rest, the U.S. Women's Basketball Team was the real "Dream Team" at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. After a remarkable undefeated season, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo and their teammates brought home Olympic gold under the unparalleled leadership of three-time National Coachof the Year, Tara VanDerveer. Shooting from Outside is Tara's riveting, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the excitement, drama and triumph of that unforgettable year, as well as an inspiring account of her own career: her battle against sexual discrimination in a male-dominated field, and her ultimate ascendance to the very top of her profession. This book is the riveting true-life story of the molding of a women's team that made sports history, and an intimate portrait of an indomitable leader who turned an impossible ambition into a reality. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Shooting from the Outside
Tara Vanderveer is the author of the inspiring autobiography Shooting form the Outside.  In this autobiography, Tara Vanderveer discusses the challenges and obstacles that she must overcome into to reach her goal of winning the gold medal.  The autobiography discusses the hardships, conflicts, and problems that the team faces throughout the year and shows how teamwork can overcome anything.
This novel is pretty much an overview of the Women's Basketball team throughout their Olympic season.  The novel starts out with Tara Vanderveer talking about her child hood days and how she developed a love for the game.  She talks about how she use to be a mascot for the school, used to write down every new play she heard in a notebook, and how she went and watched the men's basketball team to learn any new play on offense or defense she could pick up.  The story then proceeds to Coach Vanderveer discussing her thoughts and concerns for the year that lay ahead of the eleven woman that have been selected as the national team.  She talks about her past failures like the 1994 World Games that have pushed her and motivated her to win the gold medal.  She promised that the embarrassment and disgrace that she felt from the World Games will never happen again.  One can easily feel the strong determination and motivation that Coach Vanderveer feels, and how she uses this as an ally and works the team harder than they have ever been worked before. 
This book was undoubtedly worth reading from my point of view.  This book taught me information about Title IX that I had previously never even heard about.  The book showed me the true struggle that a woman must face and has taught me a sense of respect for woman who have succeeded in the past. 
One issue the book brings up is that woman are not given enough opportunity to succeed in life.  A woman's determination and motivation can easily be destroyed or brought down by the cruelness and unfairness of discrimination towards woman.  Therefore, since woman can do all jobs just as productively as men, the book suggests that woman should be given fair and equal treatment and equal opportunities to men. 
In conclusion, Shooting from the Outside is an excellent book that teachers lessons and values that should be known and followed by all of society.  The story teachers discrimination is pointless and by not allowing woman to perform to their full capacity we are truly ruining our own opportunities to further succeed in life.

Inspirational For Any Female Athlete
This is a really inspirational book for those who care about womens' basketball. I had a really hard time putting it down. You feel as if you are part of the U.S. Olympic Team, and were there to witness the trials and tribulations of their road to Gold. Great book for those who play basketball or enjoy it. (Especially if you're female!!) I think I will start reading the book from the beginning again tomorrow. It also meant more to me then maybe someone else because I have been to Tara's Camps and been able to interact with Jennifer Azzi and Katy Steding, and other players as well. It is totally my favorite book ever!

An interesting insider view of high-stakes basketball
I confess that I have been a fan of Tara Vanderveer for nearly 10 years. I think I understand that basketball is a very major part of her life. She likes Bob Knight, sheesh. This book was a very easy read even though you already know how it will end. When you finish the book you might feel like you want to see if the players saw everything the same way. Well, this is her point of view.

Really fascinating!
I thoroughly enjoyed this in-depth view of Tara's work with the Women's National (Olympic) team of 1996. The team was a masterpiece, and being able to see it thru the eyes of its coach was really something special. It gave me great insight into Tara and her drive and dedication to the sport and to the team. A great book!!

A must read book for ANY basketball fan!
A great story! The story of the 1996 US Women's Olympic Basketball Team from the coach's point of view. Tara gives a great overview of the Olympic team from their first tryout to the Gold Medal game in Atlanta. Its filled with information that helps you get to know and love the team and its coaches. It also helped me realize some of the inequities that women athletes must face in achieving their goals. Tara clearly gets this point across to the reader without sounding like she's on a feminist mission to champion women's athleteics. This is a must-read book! ... Read more

Book Description

His name is Mke Krzyzewski. You can call him Coach K. And he has the basketball team that can't be beaten -- Duke is a powerhouse, thanks to the winning tradition this coach has created at Duke University. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Coach K did not listen to Doyel
Hi My name is Julio. I did not like this book. It is an unauthorized look at Duke. Coach K does not like Gregg Doyel and did the right thing when he did not be interviewed for this book. Doyel had nothing else to write about it, especally when my friend Kenny D. did not return Doyel's phone calls. To know the real truth about duke you have to see how Casey Sanders held Nick Collision to 33 points when he could have easily scored 40.

Interesting only because Duke Basketball is interesting
What suprised me was the fact that the author got some of the facts wrong within the first chapter. Doyel later contradicted homself when he got them right in laterchapters. The only thing interesting is the content of the book, but that jumps around from one year to the next and back all in the same sentence. Doyle just spit everything out onto paper and did not worry about the flow of the book. Aweful, the only reason it is interesting is because it is Duke, and Doyle does not have anything to do with that, thank goodness!

Doyel is the 100% cure for insomnia
This book was nothing more than a carbon copy of the expanded Duke Basketball media guide. Its like Doyel simply copied numerical factoids out of the ACC statistics books. If I wanted to read a book on numbers I'd dust off my college calculus book. Don't waste your money.

A tabloid-like read
While this book has some great moments it also leaves a lot to be desired. It tells the great story of Krzyzewski's boyhood, the values instilled by his parents and his neighborhood friends, his time in the army and the early years with his wife Mickie. It touches on his relationship with Jim Valvano during his loosing battle with cancer. However, way too much of the book reads like a tell-all tabloid article. I suspect that was because Coach K did not participate in this effort and the writer is struggling to get enough material to produce the book. I would recommend Coach K's own "Leading with the Heart".

Great subject, fair book
There are few new insights in this book; it is little more than a chronological regurgitation of glorious Duke hoops, a few interesting vignettes about Bob Knight and Jim Valvano, notwithstanding. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Through the game," writes New York Times sports columnist Ira Berkow about basketball, "I have an unusual opportunity to look into the soul of others, as well as, the spirit and wisdom willing, my own." At 52, following a knee injury, he was told he would never hit the hardwood again. Four years later, he exposed his soul--and knee--to tests of self-discovery in pick-up games from Manhattan playgrounds to California beaches. The mid-life memoir, filled with wisdom from unusual places, is about far more than a game: "Autumn," NBA legend Oscar Robertson tells the author, "happens to everybody," and Berkow discovers much that is moving, exuberant, and beautiful in his personal change of seasons. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chicken Soup for Anyone Suffering with Hoop Junkie's Disease
If you're addicted to "the greatest game ever invented," whether or not you play it well, you'll love "To the Hoop."It has insights and anecdotes from the famous and the unknown players Berkow has encountered in his checkered basketball career.Anyone who has played pickup basketball on a consistent and regular basis has their own memory bank of unusual characters and incidents.Berkow just packages and weaves his stories together in a way that grips the reader. Added to the mix is the emotional tale of alienation and reconciliation between brothers in the context of a life threatening illness. Aging baby boomers who are struggling to deal with the deterioration of whatever athletic talents they may have believed they once had, are the perfect audience for this autobiographical tale.

Self-absorbed, with occasional interesting moments
I bought this book on the strength of an
excerpt in the New York Times Magazine,
which detailed a pickup basketball game
Berkow played with Oscar Robertson.
Unfortunately, most of the book is a self-
absorbed account of the writer's basketball
career -- his opinions of his high school
coach, accounts of his best games in high
school and a Division III college. He even
went back and looked up his old press clips,
such as they were, in the Chicago papers.
He devotes a fair amount of space to
recounting, in detail that verges on parody,
his ability to make a shot when dared by
Magic Johnson.

The book does have some interesting passages,
but not enough, in my opinion, to make it
worth buying. The Robertson pick-up game
story is a good, short read, available in the
NYT Magazine. There is a genuinely amusing
story involving Bill Bradley and
Dave DeBusschere. That's about it.

Put this one low, low on the priority list,
unless the life and times of a New York Times
sportswriter interests you.

Dale Wetzel Bismarck ND dewetzel@btigate.com ... Read more

Reviews (6)

one more word
I have mixed feelings about Michael Jordan. On the one hand, he is a great athlete. I respect his work ethic. He has turned in a number of great performances and is no doubt one of the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

There is a flipside. Michael Jordan got all kinds of special treatment while he was in the NBA. He was the first player I noticed who was granted all kinds of trips to the charity stripe because of unbelievably, ticky tack calls. He scored at least ten points a game at the free throw line from bogus calls. It was great when there was a picture session for 'greats of the game' with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Magic told Larry not to stand too close to Michael or they might call a foul. In front of reporters and television viewers, that was a classic comment by Magic. I believe Mike got 99% of all calls in his favor because he was such a cash cow for the NBA. Dominique Wilkins was robbed of a slam dunk championship when Mike scored a perfect 50 doing the same dunk Dr. J did years before. I doubt Dr. J ever received a perfect 50 for it. Dominique's dunk was much more impressive, and he received a 49.5. Please. Mike got in a fight with Reggie Miller, and only Miller got suspended at first. Only after there was an outcry did Mike get suspended. How are Mike's punches different? Mike elbowed Kevin Johnson to the ground for all to see, and Kevin was called for blocking!

I am not too impressed that the bulls beat the lakers in the NBA finals. Magic was double teamed every game every minute he was in. On top of that, James Worthy and Byron Scott were injured. Magic and Larry never won three championships in a row because the competition, teams, and players in the 80s were much better than the nineties. Luc Longley, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, or Bill Wennington stopping Kareem? Ha!

Sport Magazine recently had a piece on the ten greatest moments and ten greatest players ever in the NBA. Mike was ranked number one all time player. Kudos to Mike for mentioning in 'For the love of the game' that to pick a "greatest ever" is impossible because of all the different eras and evolutions of basketball. The nineties bulls were given three of the ten greatest moments in NBA history. This is just more Mike bias. Give me a break. There are hundreds of classic and amazing moments in NBA history. One of the moments picked was Mike beating the Jazz in the final minutes of his last game. He put his hand on Bryon Russel's backside and shoved him out of the way. Then Mike made the game winnig shot. All eyes were on Mike, but the ref did not make the obvious call.

There is also Mike's arrogance. According to him, Wilt Chamberlain was a fluke eventhough Wilt was a great all around player. He made a comment about Magic and Larry reaching a 'certain level of greatness' and that the two were not good on defense. What? Are we talking about the same Larry Bird? Shaquille Oneal is also much better and much improved than Mike gives him credit for. Shaq has turned into a solid defender, passer, and he works hard at both ends of the floor.

Mike's corporate poster boy behavior is laughable. He did ads for AT&T and then MCI. The Wayans family is also split between the two companies. Mike talked about the enviroment in Rayovac ads and then pitches hot dogs? Mike is not the only athlete who will pitch anything and everything to make millions. I wonder if Mike has checked into Nike's labor practices.

Players like Mike and Charles Barkley soured me on the NBA. Charles played like a thug and got away with it because he was a star. Plus, Charles insisted on wearing number 34 at Philadelphia eventhough it was retired for NBA great Billy Cunningham. The star treatment and inflated egos has grown old, and that has turned a lot of people off to sports. I miss the Lakers and Celtics match ups of the 1980s.

JEALOUS
AFTER READING THIS BOOK I CONCLUDED THAT SIR CHARLES IS JEALOUS OF MICHAEL JORDAN!

Great book
This book is exacatly what I wanted. It showed evert thing I expected and wanted. I not only shows the life and work of his lustrous but on his life before he was the most fundimenally sound basketball player. It showed that not only does he play basketball but it showed that he played 3 other sports. When I read this book I thought it would be like every other book on him saying how great he is and all his great feats. It did but at the same time it showed how he achieved it. It shows you how many times it took and what it takes to be the greatest ball player in the world.

Great for MJ fans, not bad for non-fan either
A book filled with comments from MJ's peers and celebrity admirers. Would've liked more, but a good one to add to your collection.

very dissapointed with barkley's skills in elaborating
JORDAN's story is really great and fantastic BUT...when it is brougth out by barkley, it is really very dissapointed HIS skill in elaborating is really the worst!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Known as The Master and Inventor of the triangle offense that made the Chicago Bulls a dynasty and Michael Jordan a superstar, Tex Winter is a man with a story. This authorized biography tells the story of the coach with the longest tenure in the nation. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

One of the best basketball autobiographies
This book is a 300-page testimonial to why Tex Winter should be fast-tracked into the basketball Hall of Fame. NBA fans need this book right now. Tex Winter is the antithesis to the Glamour Coaches of today. His Depression-era frugality, gratitude, and humility provide some balance for the Superstar mentality, and he clearly demonstrates that even professionals like Jordan and Pippen still need a true basketball educator like himself.

Excellent book for NBA junkies
This book is a 300-page testimonial to why Tex Winter should be fast-tracked into the basketball Hall of Fame. NBA fans need this book right now. Tex Winter is the antithesis to the Glamour Coaches of today. His Depression-era frugality, gratitude, and humility provide some balance for the Superstar mentality, and he clearly demonstrates that even professionals like Jordan and Pippen still need a true basketball educator like himself.

A Winner!
Bender's succinct, edgy style carries the reader through Winter's life while racing down the court with Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and other NBA giants. Bender tells it like it was--no holds barred. Winter's coaching philosophy of discipline, hard work, fairness and individual intergrity comes alive as we watch him lead individual players to become not only the best players they can be, but also the best men that they can be. Bender brings basketball personalities to life as we watch them struggle to learn Winter's famous "triangle offence" and to balance their individual desires for achievement and glory with Winter's emphasis on the ultimate good of the whole team.

The pace is fast, and the anecdotes and behind-the-scenes tidbits entertain as we go with the teams through Winter's unprecedented 53 year professional career as a coach. From Kansas State, Washington, and the Houston Rockets to fourteen years with the Chicago Bulls, and the current LA Lakers, we travel the backroads of behind the scene basketball. Bender gives us the inside story on the conflicts, the joys, and the frustrations of coaching mega-stars with mega-egos while trying to teach them values of character and integrity.

This book would be a perfct gift for any high school athlete. Bender gives the reader deep insights into not only the sports psychology that Winter uses, but into the secrets of what it really takes to be able to uphold personal values in the rip-roaring jungle of professional sports.

I loved every minute of this great ride, and if you love basketball, you will too!

MY LATE NIGHT REVIEW, AFTER EXPERIENCING TRIANGLE FEVER!
Trial by Basketball is the Slaughterhouse Five sports book. It's a fascinating history into Laker coach Tex Winters rise from garage band gymnasium roots, college sucess, the amazing Bull Run to current Los Angeles Laker status. As a Long Beach State 49er booster and renewed Laker backer, I recommend TRIAL strongly to fans from N.Y. to L.A. The authors unique style is a keenly accurate flashback account of Tex Winters classic career with insights into the world of sports and life as it is! A humorously intriguing One of A Kind Biography. The book equally satisfies the golden age Wilt Chamberlain transition era as well as the Rodman, Kobe X'er generation. ONCE YOUR IN TO IT, YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT--- MARK BENDER CLEANLY RUNS THE TABLE!------------------------ Linda Fallico-Coto De Caza, Ca.

Must Read for Triangle Offense and Tex Winter Fans
I started the book on Friday and finished it on a Saturday. Bender does an outstanding job covering Tex Winter's Life up to and including his joining the LA Lakers in 99. The book covers the life of a 78 year old basketball guru (the Master of the Triangle Offense) and spans his 50+ coaching years at the college and professional level.

Bender's writing style is well balanced...and is completely honest. Tex Winter's coaching philosophy is covered with frequent quotes from Tex Winter's 1962 Coaching Book, the Triple Post Offense.

Some readers may see this authorized biography as kind of a "Forest Gump of Basketball" due to it's basic story telling of Tex's as a folksy, nice guy with a willingness to tell the "unvarnished truth".

More importantly, the book serves as a useful reference tool on how a person should face conflict and live life in a stressful world. Bender writes a biography that illustrates the importance of good character, hard work, integrety, having a sense of humor, and not taking yourself too seriously.

Basketball coaches will find the book instructional with the many lessons learned from a coaching career spanning 7 decades...specifically it descibes how a coach deals in a competitive must win environment.

I especially liked how the book started off and closed.

Foreward is by Phi Jackson. MJ, Pippen and Rodman fans will enjoy the second half of the book which deals largely with the Chicago Bull years (some new stuff too). As Mickey would say, "Try it, your Like It" or better yet, just read it! ... Read more

Book Description

The first in-depth book on Vince Carter, Drive captures the magic of the young superstar and charts the latest transformation of the NBA. Without a doubt, Vince Carter is the best thing to come along since Michael Jordan took basketball to a new level in the 1990s. Here in Canada, Vince Carter is The Franchise.

Veteran sports writer Chris Young tracks Vince Carter over the entire 2000–2001 NBA season. By charting the trajectory of Carter’s career from his origins in a Florida high school league, he reveals how one star can transform not only a team, but the entire NBA.

The Raptors were in their fourth season and at the bottom of the league when Carter joined as a rookie — now, three years later, he’s thrilling fans with his trademark levitations, breath-taking body control, and the power of his slam-dunks. His unique skills have turned him into one of pro sports’ rarest of performers: the charismatic superstar.

After the bitter labour dispute that delayed the 1998–1999 season and Michael Jordan’s retirement in February 1999, the NBA fell into a slump — TV ratings began to slide and attendance flatlined. It was at this point in NBA history that Vince Carter first attracted notice. His transcendent talent soon led media commentators to name Carter the most exciting young superstar in the NBA. Carter led the U.S. team in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and has been the leading vote-getter for the last two NBA All Star Games — a clear reflection of his intense popularity with the fans. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

interesting
This book is a good book, but don't buy it if your just a fan of Vince Carter. It's more about the franchise of the Raptors and the business of sports and the NBA. Chapter 5 is the best chapter in any book I've ever read, if you interested in the business side of sports and advertising. So to a sports fan this is a very interesting book, but to someone thats only in it to find out about Vince Carter, it's not a good choice.

Review For Drive: How Vince Carter Conquered the NBA
This is a very good book showing what the world of the NBA, Vince Carter lives in. It goes a little into the problems of Butch Carter, the Raptors organization , and Tracy Mcgrady's rise to stardom. Mostly it involves what Vince Carter, a rising superstar, has done to get where he is in the NBA. Overall it shows the side of the NBA you don't normally see. It' a very interesting book. I enjoyed this book very much and I think you will too.

No need to bother with this one
As an avid sports and basketball book reader, I'm glad to say that truly great sports books (ie. A Season on the Brink by John Feinstein or David Halberstam's Michael Jordan and the World He Made) actually exist. Sadly though, Chris Young's effort at documenting Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors' history does not even come close. In fact, in terms of both content and interest sustainability, it pales in comparison even next to Shaquille O'Neal's lighthearted autobiography, "Shaq Talks Back." Young is certainly a decent newspaper journalist, however, the book offers little beyond typical newspaper sports journalism. Essentially, what you get is a montage of newspaper articles about the history of the Raptors and not very much about Vince Carter. His life story, significant relationships with other people, and important events are all neglected and instead we get page after page of description of Carter's otherworldly leaping ability. Thanks Chris, but we could get that by watching TV. Also, the identity dilemma that appears to be the thrust of Young's portrayal of Carter, that of being a star athlete while trying to be a nice guy at the same time is imminently laughable.

The only sort of groundbreaking news this book offers Vince Carter and Raptors fans (who by definition, already know everything else Young tries to present) is its occasional naming of certain NBA players who have had a history of smoking marijuana. I'm glad to see Young at least put something in the book he doesn't write in the newspaper.

Drive: How vince Carter Conquered The NBA
If you read this book and it didn't have a title you would think it would be entitled "The Toronto Rapter's Organization." If you are looking for a biography on Vince Carter, sorry this is not the book to get. But if you want to see the aspect of business in the NBA, then this is the book for you. It's a great book about the business end of the NBA.

"Drive" shows an in-depth look at the business side of the NBA, and some of the controversies that happen in the NBA, and its teams. This book is suppose to be about hot Vince Carter has done so far in his three years in the NBA, and hit trials and tribulations with the Toronto Rapters, but is more about the Rapters organization, and players and coaches who have been with the team.

The book is written by Chris Young, who is a writer for the Toronto Star who followed Vince around for the 2000-2001 NBA season to complete the book.

The financial well being and the interest of fans is declining, because the business part is taking over the love of the game. When Vince Carter joined the NBA, he came at absolutely the right time. Michael Jordan had just retired, and ratings were down. There wasn't anybody that could capture the love of the game, and the charisma until Vince entered. The NBA needed something that stood out and Vinsanity took the NBA by storm. His growing fan population has brought back tv viewers, tv ratings, and sales of NBA merchandise.

I agree
The main problem I have with DRIVE is that it turns out to be more of a book on the Raptors organization as a whole than on Carter himself. Young devotes entire chapters to the likes of Tracy Mcgrady, Butch Carter, Isiah Thomas, Glen Grunwald, etc that have little or no connection to Vince Carter himself. Very little is devoted to Carter's childhood growing up in Florida or about his college career, or other historical moments about his life you would expect to find in a supposed biography. ... Read more

Book Description

An amazing and captivating story of how a kid on a farm in the depression years who never played the game rose to the pinnacle of the high school coaching profession in the basketball arena. Recognized as one of the best by his peers and former players, Dusty Carter wound his way from the hills of Clay County, Alabama into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Coaches Hall of Fame. During his journey, he endeared himself to those along the way--his family, his coaching colleagues, and his former players. This is his story of that pilgrimage, told through the mouths of those he touched along the way. ... Read more

Book Description

She has been called the best woman basketball player ever, the player with the power to decide the direction of the WNBA. But the popularity of twenty-three-year-old Chamique Holdsclaw is rooted not only in her basketball status but also in her remarkable and inspiring life. Here, Chamique takes us on her journey, revealing her unstable and anxiety-ridden childhood with her parents and the escape she ultimately found by moving to her grandmother's housing project, where she discovered the restorative comforts of structure, focus, and basketball. As she finishes her first full year playing for the Washington Mystics and training for the 2000 Olympics, Chamique describes her ambitions, insecurities, frustrations, drives, and dreams, and credits a good part of her success and well-being to her disciplined, humble youth in Astoria, Queens -- a background that inspires in her fierce loyalty and pride.

In these pages, Chamique relates what it felt like the first time she ever held a basketball in her hands, how she practiced dunking at age thirteen on a hidden court overlooking New York's East River, her four seasons playing at Tennessee and her transformative relationship with Coach Pat Summit, and her exhausting and exhilarating first year playing professionally and living on her own.

She also looks inside to examine her strengths and weaknesses; what motivates her; why she doesn't drink; and how she thinks, both on and off the court. The unparalleled confidence she drew from discovering and nurturing her talent and her lifelong need for focus and discipline have infused both her adult personality and her basketball playing. She reveals her complicated and turbulent relationship with her parents; her total devotion to her younger brother, Davon; her complete admiration for and gratitude to her grandmother. Along the way, she shows the impact all of this has had on who she is and how she lives and plays.

Interspersed with short testimonies from the people who know Chamique best -- her family, friends, coaches, and fellow players -- this book offers inspiration, insight, and a window on her life that speak not only to any child with a basketball and a dream, but also to the adults involved in their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Story of Confindence
I don't know how to express how Chamique's book has given me confindence. Knowing Chamique is succeeding over come obstacles in her here life has given me inspiration. The book has taught me to work hard in school and on the basketball court. If you work hard you will success in great things. It could be changing the world or graduating from High School.

NOT AS GOOD AS THOUGHT
Chamiquqe did a good job writing about her life,but it wasn't as good applying it to her life. It was about her family, basketball, but wasn't very much on focus. It was an okay book.

Must Read For Anyone Battling Extreme Obstacles
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only from the basketball perspective, but even more from the human aspect. Chamique is a great example for children coming from broken homes and dysfunctional situations. I think it's a must read for anyone battling extreme obstacles.

The Mique Shall Inherit the Earth
Chamique reveals the obstacles she has overcome to be the superstar she is. Instead of dwelling on her troubled family life, she excelled in basketball. She's gracious: she credits her grandmother, uncle, coaches, teammates, and God for her success; she tells how she reconciled with her parents. Unlike certain NBA players, Chamique isn't likely to miss practices, make a violent rap album, or become a prima donna. She is acutely aware of her status as a role model and that her talent is a gift. This is a book that all kids should read.

Chamique on Family, Focus, and Basketball
Being the Lady Vol fan that I am, I couldn't wait to get this book. (I have read both of Pat Summit's). This book gives you a very up-close and personal look at Chamique, and all of those involved in her life. She lets you into her thoughts and feelings. Great personal feelings of the UT Lady Vols basketball program in general. I sat down to read a few pages and finished the book the very next day. Chamique has touched a part of me that I didn't think she could. I really recommend this to all her fans, young and old, and fans of women's basketball in general. ... Read more

Book Description

Al McGuire was the Mark Twain of college basketball. Never was there a figure in the game so quoted and so quotable, on sports and on the human condition. This book collects more than a hundred of McGuire's most colorful quotations, plus photographs from his life and career, in a tribute that is funny, poignant, and brimming with his streetwise sagacity.

McGuire, a brash and fiery New Yorker who grew up working in his parents' saloon, played a rough and tumble game of basketball at St. John's University and briefly in the NBA before entering the coaching ranks. He reached the pinnacle of his profession and gained national fame at Marquette University in Milwaukee, where in thirteen seasons he compiled a 295-80 record, appeared in nine NCAA tournaments, and won eighty-one home games in a row. He was a fine coach who cared deeply about his players and was beloved by his teams and fans alike, but his flamboyance and his mouth sometimes got him into trouble. The end of his coaching career captivated the nation: McGuire wept on the bench as his Marquette Warriors won the national title.

McGuire then began a ground-breaking career in network broadcasting, adding a zest and unconventionality that the college game had never seen. His sometimes bizarre and always entertaining commentary kept viewers tuned in even after the outcome of a lopsided game was a foregone conclusion. When Al McGuire died of leukemia in 2001, the sports world lost a true original.

Foreword by Dean Smith ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An unusual coffee table-type book
This is a strange coffee table-type book. Author Kertscher apparently did not know Al McGuire personally, and this book is the product of a posthumous project of collecting McGuire-related photographs and quotes. Yet despite the lack of direct personal connection, the book does a good job of communicating the odd combination of street-level wisdom, humanity, and whimsy that made McGuire such an intriguing and compelling character to a generation of basketball fans and non-basketball fans alike.

AL
Al McGuire has been truly captured through this book. The photos and quotes truly capture the man, the charachter, and the coach that was AL. Anyone who grew up around the legend, understood what he meant to the game, but I don't believe anyone has a true grasp until they have turned the pages of this book.

Cracked sidewalks and french pastry
Tom Kertscher has done an excellent job in introducing me to Al McGuire. I've never followed college basketball so I wasn't familiar with coach McGuire. However after reading the book I can see why so many people thought so highly of him. I very much enjoyed getting to know the coach from his many quotes and photos over the course of his career. He's one of those colorful figures in life that adds that missing ingredient making the ordinary, something rich and flavorful.

Great Gift
I don't know basketball, and I'm sure that my elevator doesn't go to the top, but I know a wonderful remembrance when I see one. Kertscher illustrates the humanity of McGuire - humorous and touching. The phrases from the glossary have become a shared language between myself and my son.

Fun to read!
Growing up in Harvard, IL, I tended to gravitate toward Wisconsin sports. However, I still did not recognize the name Al McGuire. Despite that, I found the book to be wonderful! It made me feel as if I did knew him. Tom Kertscher did a wonderful job of presenting the many quotes and photos, memorializing a man who obviously contributed so much to sports! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A True Example of Determination and Self-improvement
This autobiography is one of the best, if not the best, that I've read. It's amazing how Cynthia Cooper writes her own story to motivate and make readers have more confidence. She's a real example of a true athlete hero, someone that can be a role model to all. Thanks to her and her success in the WNBA, she's given Women's Basketball a new meaning. Her determination and motivation to become successful is admirable. This book is really an inspiration to those who lack self-esteem and self-confidence. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone because is really interesting and inspirational. I'm proud of Cynthia Cooper because she's a real good representative of Women's basketball and a great example of determination and success. She also proved that with God's help, anything is possible.

Inspirational and Uplifting.
I have renewed admiration for Cynthia Cooper