Reviews (1)

Doing His Homework
Stan Friedland is a retiredhigh school principal who had a highly successful and satisfying 34-year career in education with a doctoral degree from Columbia University.In 1998 he published, along with Phil Craft, "An Orphan Has Many Parents."
Since Stan, throughout his lifetime was interested and active in athletics and sports, it was not surprising that his next literary work would be a biography of a famous sports figure of the mid-20's through the mid-50's; i.e. Sam Schoenfeld--teacher, basketball player, coach, radio and TV commentator! What is interesting is how this new work came into being. Certainly, it was serendipitous to say the least.
Dr. Robert Schoenfel, Stan's personal physician of the past 15 years, following a physical exam in early 2003, asked Sam about the book he had co-authored.He learned that the orphanage was in the East NY/Brownsville section of Brooklyn; that Stan had attended Thomas Jefferson HS where Schoenfeld (Bob's father) had been the Phys.Ed. Director; that Friedland had him as a teacher; and when he majored in PE at Brooklyn College he came back to Jefferson to student teach, Sam Schoenfeld was one of his mentor-teachers!
When Friedland opined that it was unlikely Dr. Schoenfeld could be successful in his campaign to have his dad enshrined in the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (alongside the likes of Nat Holman and other "Jewish Sports Greats")merely on the basis ofhis coaching career, Dr.Schoenfeld enlightened him of the wide spread of his dad's accomplishments--as teacher, basketball player, coach, collegiate basketball official, sports
commentator,etc.He revealed that he had over 700 news clippings about the career of Sam Schoenfeld and offered to lend them for Stan to peruse.When Friedland brought them back a week later, he observed that only a book could fulfill "the full magnitude of your dad's accomplishments."It was then that the book was born!
But Stan Friedland did not rely soley on 700 news clippings.In his Acknowledgements he writes; "A good biography requires ample documentation, authenticity and accuracy,plus a plentiful number of eye-witness sources to provide the human and colorful elements of a particular individual."
Friedland interviewed each of Sam Schoenfeld's three sons, Bob, Ed and Peter and "each is well represented in the book..." Sam's "kid-brother, Jack,83 years young, was a tremendous
historical resource" and "delighted to be part of this project that honored a brother."And other members of the family were like-wise contacted, had their recollections recorded and duly acknowledged.
"Then there was the vast contingent of alumni from Jefferson." The author either spoke to each of them in person or over the phone, but in any event "were they ever so impressive!"
So, there is no question that Stan Friedland did his homework and fulfilled his own description of what constitutes "A good biography."The work is decidely that--a good biography of a notable sports figure who died at too young an age ("not even 50 years old" as son Robert laments in his Foreword in the form of a "letter to his Dad" in which he further laments "I never knew about most of your achievments. You were always a modest man."
And while the focus is always on Sam Schoenfeld and his climb from obscurity to acclaim, Stan Friedland takes the time to describe Schoenfeld's milieu and the social forces at work at the time.My favorite is Chapter 7:"Basketball; The Jewish Sport--a Cultural Phenomenon."Perhaps because I personally was witness to much of what he was describing about the 20' to the 40's.I grew up during the fame of Nat Holman and the CCNY "Cinderella Teams."
If there is any criticism that might be levied at the work, it could be that, in his eagerness for "accuracy and veracity" Stan Friedland presents his readers with a surfeit of quotations from the news clippings attesting to the achievements and accomplishments of Sam Schoenfeld.And even though each such presentation is for a new set of achievements and accomplishments on the part of Mr. Schoenfeld, it creates for the reader a sense of redundancy.Still, one may well ask: "is the redundandcy in Sam Schoenfeld's accomplishments--or the reporting of them?"
Sam George Arcus 1-11-05 ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Karl Malone shows that Mark Beekman is a purple belt...
That Karl Malone fellow has been on the man show, movies, W.C.W, and knows Maxercise purple belt Mark Beekman. What else can a superstar basketball player accomplish?! The book is great, just like my girlfriend Joelle Fillipo and that Barry Sanders guy the dude mentioned when reviewing the book. Karl Malone should break the all-time record in a few years for points to show that Jason Haines from Parkway Manor kissed Jennifer Sue Frisch!

If you have never heard of Karl Malone...
...then this is probably an okay book to get started. Probably more for teenagers. I was in Salt Lake when K.M. was drafted and the then owner of the team had really wanted Keith Lee but the fans gathered at the Salt Palace were happy Malone was still available. Before his name was announced fans were chanting "Mailman, Mailman..." That draft began a long and very good relationship with the Utah fans. Both have benefited greatly from the union. Unfortunately that part of K.M.'s story isn't in the book. Neither are a lot of things you'd like to know, such as the details of Mr. Malone's famous off-season workouts that make his workout partners puke, although it is touched on. I wanted to know how he developed it and who can keep up with him and what else he does to maintain his high durability in the modern game.

Karl deserves better. I met him his rookie year and found out he was a fantastic person, able to handle fame better than most. At that early stage he could make you feel like you were very important - how many rookie NBA players can do that? I've been a huge fan ever since and I don't even like basketball much.

I read the book hoping to see his development into the best power forward of all time and instead I got a bunch on newspaper clippings and vignettes on early NBA thugs. I think there's more to Mr. Malone than that. I think there's more to his development as a player than what I read.

He still hasn't won a championship. Well neither did Barry Sanders, Carl Yastremski, Gale Sayers or even Jerry Sloan. K.M is a great basketball player and an even better person - he deserves a better story than what the book told. ... Read more

Book Description

If there was ever anyone who can be called a living legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the genuine article. Dubbed "history's greatest basketball player" by Time magazine, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's place in NBA lore is assured.

But even legends sometimes find themselves at the crossroads. Tired of life in Los Angeles, disillusioned with the state of basketball, and devasted by the death of his mother, Abdul-Jabbar accepted an invitation from the White Mountain Apache reservation in Arizona to coach the high school basketball team.

He encountered a complex reality. The kids on the Alchesay Falcons team don't easily embrace what he's trying to teach them on the court. But gradually he teaches them to get out of their comfort zone and try new things, both in sports and in life. They give him something he didn't quite expect: a way to reconnect with his passion for basketball.

This is the story of Abdul-Jabbar's "sojourn" with the Falcons. He connects with the kids, and with their culture and customs. An avid student of history, Abdul-Jabbar discovers new truths about the connections between Native Americans and African-Americans -- and learns some deep lessons about the inter-racial care of America's heritage. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A decent read
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has proven to be not only a great athlete, but a very intelligent and thoughtful writer. His book "Black Profiles In Courage" is outstanding. This book, while not in the same genre as "Black Profiles...", doesn't quite meet up to expectations, even though in its own right, it is a good read.

The story of Abdul-Jabbar going to the White Mountain Apache reservation to be an assistant high school basketball coach was truly one of the more compelling sports stories of the last several years. It was only fitting that with all the media attention that followed, he should write an account from his perspective.

However, in the attempt to document his experience, I think Abdul-Jabbar got caught in a literary crossroads of sorts. It seemed to me that he couldn't quite decide whether this was to be a social-historical book about the Apache as a whole, or a work about the sport end of it. In places, he managed to weave the two perspectives well, because some of his coaching experiences did indeed warrant historical perspective. However, in other places, the historical and social background seemed more of a disjointed distraction from the central theme of the book.

While the specific theme of his coaching experience made for a good read, it seemed that he could have fleshed it out some more. I would have liked to see more description of his work with the big men he kept referring to as vital pieces of the team. I would have also liked to have seen some more of what he contributed to the team as far as philosophies and coaching. Instead, he only highlighted about a half-dozen games, and kept repeating some of the same things over and over. Granted, coaching is a repetitive activity, and many things could have been repeated in a more detailed work. But, what we got seemed to be more like another story by a reporter who had only seen a handful of games rather than an assistant coach who had been with the team the whole season.

This is a good read, adequate for addressing some of his experiences on the reservation. However, I don't think it warrants more than three stars because more could have been done with the book. I would hope that at some point, Abdul-Jabbar would write a deeper social-historical book on the Apache people, because it seems that was his ultimate motive here.

A Season on the Reservation: My Sojourn With the White Mount
I think this is a book you must read. In reading this book you will be able to visualize what life is like on the rez. You'll get to know the players and read about the a season with the Alchesay Falcons. I guess hearing about my reservation from the eyes of someone else was a good feeling. This book proves how unique the Apache people of the White Mountain Apache Reservation really are. Read this book and fine out what life and basketball are like on the reservation.

An Honest Look at the Man and his Passions
The honesty with which Kareem Abdul-Jabar's "A Season On The Reservation" is written is quite refreshing. In this age of spin control, especially when it comes to athletes and other public figures, it's nice to see a high-profile individual such as Mr. Abdul-Jabar share his insights and interactions with no noticeable smoke or mirrors. He begins his journey to an Apache reservation with hopes of uncovering some history (Mr. Abdul-Jabar has a fascination with Native-American history) and of sharing his wealth of basketball knowledge with the resident high school basketball squad. There are many bumps in the road, though, and "A Season On The Reservation" speaks eloquently about the cultural differences Mr. Abdul-Jabar encounters when dealing with the Native-American basketball players. They are not comfortable being singled out for criticism and they are not necesarily open to learning techniques that may make them better players. Over the course of the book, however, they learn from Mr. Abdul-Jabar and he, in turn, learns from them. One scene in particular, a confrontation with a player named Tony, is amazingly honest. "A Season On The Reservation" paints Mr. Abul-Jabar as a fellow human being, not a sculpture standing on a pedestal. The history lessons in the book, often drawing a parallel between Native Americans and African Americans, get a bit cumbersome occassionally, but "A Season On The Reservation" is well worth the cover price thank to its honest approach.

Very good book!
This book was very interesting and was filled with a lot of information in many ways. Abdul-Jabbar told us the history of the surroundings, the Apache tribe, and also told of his daily challenges and joys.

Call Him Coach
After being frustrated in his attempts at beginning a coaching career at either the collegiate or professional level, circumstances led the NBA's all-time leading scorer to an Apache reservation in Arizona where he became the assistant coach of the boys high school basketball team. In addition to relating the chronology of that season, Kareem also provides a fair amount of history while he's at it, and offers more of himself than he typically did during interviews throughout his playing career. As might be expected, Kareem gained as much from his year on the reservation as his players did. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rodman's book is worse than his hair doo
Dennis Rodman gives us a jorney of his thoughts and what makes him tick. Rodman fails to mention the things we really want to know about, like his fling with Madonna and playing with Micheal Jordan. ... Read more

Book Description

When Norm Stewart retired as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Missouri, the state, the conference and the sport lost one of their most enduring figures.Beyond the Norm chronicles the playing and coaching careers of Norm Stewart, coach of the Missouri Tigers for 32 years.The book includes features on Stewart's top 10 games as a coach, Coaches Against Cancer, and Stewart's life off the court, as well as the record and statistics Stewart has established during his coaching career. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great read
This should win a Pulitzer this year. The content is tremendous, full of insightful garb about the most cantankerous coach to ever pace the hardwood sideline. Plus, one writer in particular really bolsters this literary masterpiece, James D. Horne. Buy this book while supplies last.

Good view of the career of Norm Stewart at Mizzou
This is a very good view of the overall career of Norm Stewart at Mizzou. It is unique in it is a compilation of articles from the Columbia Tribune starting with a game in February, 1956 through his retirement this past April, 1999. For the avid Missouri basketball fan it will bring back alot of fond memories and things long forgotten. For the newer fan, it will point out just what kind of coach Norm Stewart was and bring out a side of him alot of people don't know about. For just the rabid basketball fan, it is an interesting look at some of the great upsets by Missouri basketball teams, such as over Notre Dame in 1980 in the NCAA and Louisville in 1982, along with the battles within the Big 8. It's an easy read with alot of good pictures. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

History of basketball as seen through the eyes of a player
Outside Shooter: A Memoir is the personal autobiography of professional basketball player Philip Raisor. The pressure of serving in a team sport in the 1950's is aptly recalled (especially since this was an era when American society first took steps toward integration in professional team sports), steps as hotly resisted in the area of athletic competition as anywhere else. Both Philip's physical struggles and difficulties of conscience are astutely and honestly detailed in superbly insightful work which is especially recommended to the attention of anyone interested in the history of basketball as seen through the eyes of a player on the front lines. ... Read more

Book Description

Rookie of the Year. World Champion. All-Star. MVP. Coach of the Year. Throughout his basketball career, Larry Bird has gathered countless accolades and awards. From Springs Valley High School to Indiana State University to the Boston Celtics to the Indiana Pacers, one thing has remained the same: Bird's commitment to excellence. ... Read more

Book Description

"Houston, I am come."

These were the words that came via satellite from Shanghai on June 26, 2002, resounding with Wagnerian force. They came from the mouth of an enigmatic, 7-foot-5 Chinese giant named Yao Ming who, moments earlier, had been selected by the Houston Rockets with the very first pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.

Since that day, the biggest sports hero to the most populous nation in the world has attracted a great deal of attention from Western basketball fans, writers and reporters alike. He has been referred to by many as "the Michael Jordan of Chinese basketball," causing one Rockets insider to demur. To the people of China, he remarked, "[h]e's Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Babe Ruth all rolled into one." Yao's play on the court earned him this renown; yet he is also known as a gentle spirit who liked to ride his bicycle to his games in Shanghai. David Hardisty, Webmaster of the popular Rockets fan site, explains the public's fascination with Yao's off-the-court life and manner this way: "We want to know because we want to be able to say that he's an easy guy to like, but nobody really has any idea what the real Yao Ming is like."

The Tao of Yao provides both the dyed-in-the-wool fan and the merely curious with an unprecedented window into the life and mind of the quiet yet fiercely competitive rookie sensation - through his own words, as expressed in numerous interviews and meetings with the press and his fans. It also provides fascinating insight into how Yao is seen by others, both inside and outside the league. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An inspiring story about a great star
The Tao of Yao is an "up close and personal" look at one of the sporting world's greatest heroes. The story of Yao Ming, who came up from the Chinese Basketball Association's Youth League all the way to superstardom with the Houston Rockets, is not only a tale of success against long odds. It is also an account of a remarkable person who has become a role model for over a billion people, and an ambassador of Chinese culture to sports fans around the world. What comes through most clearly in this book is the "who" of Yao. I could hear his sense of humor, like when he said to the press that his five favorite English words were "This is the last question." I learned about his humility, from exchanges like the following with Shaq after a Rockets-Lakers game that Shaq had to sit out with an injury: "You played pretty good, Yao Ming," said Shaq. "That's because you weren't there," said Yao. I also got a glimpse of what it must be like to arrive in a new country, not speaking the language, not knowing the culture, and having to quickly adapt to the pressure to be not just good, but great.

By relying solely on interviews with Yao and those who know him best, Doug Choi tells the story of Yao in a way that is immediate and personal. The book is like a good highlights tape - it vividly tells the story with page after page of memorable moments that reveal much about Yao the person and Yao the player. You hear the NBA trash talk that turns to respect, and even "love". You re-live the anticipation of his epic showdown with Shaq. You learn, in Yao's own words, what it means to him to play in the NBA. You find out little things, like why he doesn't go to Chinese restaurants in Houston. And big things, like how he wants to be remembered as a person and as a player. If you're a fan of NBA basketball and "the moving wall of China", then you'll love this book. But even if you're not, I think you'll find this 21st century "coming to America" story to be engaging and inspiring. And, as a bonus, there is a picture of Yao stuffing Shaq under the glass that is worth the price of the book all by itself.

The Wow of the Tao of Yao (ooh-ooohh!)
Choi's breakin ankles, and hits the trey, nothin but net. This book has it all: insight, humor, and wisdom. He gets the assist in his ability to organize and distill the essence of Yao Ming in a very readable format. Somebody holla, "Alley-oop!" This is a must-have for all Yao fans and for Asians in general who finally have a true playa representin fo tha Fa'East-side. ... Read more

Book Description

She's Got Handle engagingly demonstrates what happens when a determined inner-city girl - supported by a dedicated, hardworking family - sidesteps the land mines of poverty, drug use, violent crime, and teenage pregnancy to pursue her dream of playing Division I basketball.She's Got Handle examines women's basketball at a critical juncture in history, when it can either mimic the mistakes of the men's game or pursue a more compassionate path.Nicole Louden is a determined, dedicated, intelligent, young African American woman with a powerful desire to succeed. Her story is as inspirational and hard driving as a full-court press. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

She's got handle is a winner.
Being in high school was never like this for me! I played sports but was never recruited from any colleges, much less a top ten Division I school. It's amazing to learn about what these kids go through while being recruited to play at that level. The story of Nicole Louden is the story of very bright and motivated young women making her way through her inner-city high school basketball career and the recruiting process.

This book is also a comment about the challenges that kids in America face today. Nicole grew up around kids selling drugs, gangs and violence. Without her families strong support it's unlikely that she would have excelled as she did, both academically and athletically. Zagoria does a great job following Nicole and documenting all the details of the recruiting process. If have ever been interested in what it takes to play college sports, and the process of getting there this book is a fun page-turner.

A touching journery that makes you love basketball even more
The author does a terrific job chronicling the journey of a young girl whose dream it is to play Division I college basketball and then the WNBA. The book takes you through the struggles, the victories, and everything in-between about a high school female basketball player attempting to beat some very long odds. Growing up in a violent, poverty stricken, drug-infested New Jersey neighborhood, SHE GOT HANDLE describes how an extremely ambitious girl uses her enormous basketball talents, overwhelming support from her family, and terrific smarts to get an athletic scholarship from a top educational university. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Weak
The best thing about this book is the pictures. This was definitely written by an outsider with limited insight into the real Allen Iverson. The book appears to be written from news accounts with little insight into Allen Iverson and the important players in his life. If you want to get a look at who Allen really is, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

An in-depth look into the mind of Michael Jordan
This book answers the question that millions of people were thinking when Jordan quit basketball: What was HE thinking! With everything from his first retirement and death of his father to his attempt at baseball and return to the NBA, Greene's book lets you know exactly what Jordan was thinking during this period of time and his reasoning behind everything. A good book!

Jordan Rulez!
I am the biggest Jordan fan so this may be a little biased :) This book shows us a lot of the personal side of Michael Jordan. His thoughts, feelings, and frustrations. This book goes throught his baseball career and his return to basketball. It is funny, sad, and serious. I highly recommend it to any Jordan fan and to anyone else that wants to hear a facinating life story.

MJ Book Review
Any book or anything with Michael Jordan is great because he is the best of ALL time!And all his books like Rebound are great books to read.And they have great pictures.

Soso book
It explored some issues, like is Jordan a ballhog, but not in depth. It is average quality. I wouldn't recommend it, but I wouldn't disparage it either.

not "hang tine"
don't get me wrong...it's a good one. boby greene really writes well.... but it's just not the magic of "hang time" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

coach crum is the best
coach Denny crum is the best there is in this buisness.I spent three years playing for coach crum. He took a chance on me when no one else would. That is what coach is all about helping and teaching kids not just basketball but life.Ilearned so much from this man and this book is your chance to get to know coach up close and personal.I advise all fans to read this book it is a inside look at the state of the game. Troy Jackson#53 class of 1998. Feel free to email me at tjax53@aol.com

a must for college basketball fans and fans of integrity
This book lets you inside the mind of one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all-time. If you are a basketball fan, the thoughts on coach Wooden and the story about the game of horse with Larry Bird will thrill you. If you are a university of Louisville fan, you will relish in the four chapters about Crum's specific teams at Louisville, including his two NCAA title teams. Names that you had not thought about in years will come flooding back to your mind. A great book about a humble man whose story needs to be told

Crum is a proven winner.
This book details a true winner in sports today. A coach who has won over 600 games and 2 titles but is somewhat unknown-because he never promotes himself. The profit from this book goes to charity and Crum would have it no other way. Read this book and you will see how a true winner approaches life - with humlity and concern for others. Denny is a winner and his legacy will endure. If you think he cannot coach remember this - if Crum went winless over the next four seasons he would still average 20 wins a season for his carear. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Great Biography of MJ Himself
I like to read biographies of athletes but so many times they do not explain the athlete's life, game, how he gets ready for a game or how he deals with all the critism. This biography is just the oposite and I feel they explain every thing about what Michael Jordan does and who he really is. Another reason why I give this book 4-stars is because it is not often that you get to hear what the athlete really thinks about the critism or how they handle it, or any thing to deal with there life outside the game.

quotes
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.

This guy thinks he's buddies with Jordan?!?!?!?! Whaaaaat???
If amazon.com had a "NO STARS" category, that would've been my selection. But as it is, 1 Star will have to do. I have no idea how this Krugle guy thinks he was tight with MJ. From reading this book, there's just no way he was! Half the quotes sound like they were made up, and the rest sound like they were taken directly off of a freakin' press release! Who does this guy think he is? I was at least glad to see that Krugle has another instant classic...this one on Patrick Swayze! Maybe that one has some quotes that actually came directly from the book's subject. To me, this poorly-written book is merely a means for Krugle to capitalize on the success of someone other than himself, and it doesn't look like he's had much of it. Hey, I could be wrong. But I don't think so. What a disappointment this book was. How the other reviewer gave it 5 stars, I have no clue. But that reader obviously must be Krugle himself, looking to tout this not-so-fine piece of work further. I wonder what Jordan had to say about this book...funny how I never heard MJ mention anything about his good buddy Mitchell Krugle. I smell a lawsuit.

This book tells you everything you need to know about MJ
This is more than a biography. This is a complete overview of the man and his life. Krugel does what Bob Greene, Sam Smith and David Halberstam failed to do - get inside the life of Michael Jordan and explain how he did what he did. If you are looking for one book about Michael Jordan, this is it

Excellent, rare courtside perspectives from Jordan
This has to be the best single book on Jordan so far. Not only does it cover intense game situations as they happened, it has the events covered from other players' perspectives and then by Jordan himself. He talks about opponents and they talk about him. He talks about people calling him greatest ever and how other players measure up to him - especially Wilt. The only negative point is that the photographs are weak. However, the text is fascinating and offers an in-depth world of the pressures of being Michael Jordan. It does not repeat the same factoids about his childhood that we already read a hundred times about. This book is about The Man and what makes him tick and how he goes about doing what he does. It is a truly unique experience and one of the rare occasions where we can actually learn about a genius from his own words. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good, but not quite enough
I did enjoy this book somewhat because I love Michael Jordan. But it didn't really connect the reader and Michael Jordan like I good book should. Not enough details I guess, or just too many little ones. But I think this is an enjoyable book for a younger person. ... Read more