5 comments about My Losing Season.

1. This was my first Pat Conroy book, and the last. while I understand all of his books are memoirs of his abuse-riddled childhood, his endless, repetitive self-absorption eventually just wore me down. the first half of the book was engrossing, but the author gave enough signals how it was all to end. the second half was a real slog. boring! get over yourself, Conroy! I am so over you.



2. Pat Conroy's work is normally a little negative and down beat for me. However this book grabbed me by scruff of the neck and pulled me through it.
   
   It is authbiographal and because it is so well written,unlike many others I have read, it is utterly compelling.
   
   I really enjoyed this one.
   
   J. Robert Ewbank, author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"



3. Probably 98% percent of sports books are about winners. I mean, how many athletes want to lay out their worst moments in public for all to acknowledge. Conroy takes on the challenge as he writes of his basketball career at the Citadel. Instead of reading one painful chapter and laying the book gingerly aside, I had to read more. He captivated me by opening up his increasingly ravaged emotions and presenting that rare description of what the athlete goes through who fights like heck, yet loses game after heart-wrenching game. Amazingly, Conroy succeeds so well, that I surmise some non-athletes could pick up the book and be entertained. Some say Americans are so consumed with the winner mentality, the happily ever after syndrome, that we will not dare enjoy a book that reveals the dark side. This book proves them wrong.



4. I watched "Great Santini" and I cried. Someone else knew what I had felt. Pat had succeeded where I had failed. My Dad expressed his disgust regularly with me while I was at home. I was insufficiently manly for him from grade school to high school. I preferred the library to giving someone brain trauma on the gridiron. I got an appointment to West Point and it was complete repudiation for him. I just wanted him to be proud of me but he saw it as me eclipsing his star in the most spectacular fashion. He didn't make it to my swearing in on the Plain-he was busy. This book was validation for me. I guess I can't be clinical in my dissection of this piece but it did it for me. I had read it while I was in a mudlogging trailer in the Permian Basin. I just had to have my own copy. Yes, I recommend it.



5. If you are a Conroy fan, this book will give you an insight into his life. Expands on The Great Santini. I throughly enjoyed this book even though I am not a basketball fan.

5 comments about Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made.

1. "Playing for Keeps" is definitely worth reading. It goes into detail about how good Michael Jordan actually was, and verifies with no argument that he was the best that ever played the game. David Halberstan's insight and analysis of Michael Jordan's life is spectacular and unbelievably insightful.
   
   Most of the reviews I read stated that the book paid a lot of attention to detail and did not only focus on his greatness, like most would have expected, but talked a lot about the behind-the-scenes events that took place. One reviewer said "This is not merely a book which focuses on the greatness of Jordan; although it does that, What Halberstan does even better...captured the events and influence that assisted him to become the figure he became." When reading the book, I made these same observations, and agreed with them 100 percent.
   
   Obviously this book would be very biased, because it's about an amazing basketball player written by a person who must have favored him because otherwise he would not have written a whole book about him. Over and over throughout the book Halberstan says how superior Jordan was to his era, and how Jordan was almost a godly figure. This is definitely an obvious bias toward Jordan. There were also a lot of overgeneralizations; for example "Every man wished they were in his shoes, and every kid looked up to him as an idol." A stereotype I saw was when Halberstan said "the idea of Jordan going to the hated and snobby East Coast city." There was also overgeneralization in the fact that Halberstan said "Michael Jordan was the best basketball player in the universe." As I read this book I began to associate the Bulls general manager with an evil character in a comic book, because that is how the author portrayed him. Halberstan refers to Reinborg as having ice in his veins and being cold hearted. Reinborg , according to the book , could care less for the players or relationships as long as he made his money."
   
   David Halberstan was able to balance how good he thought Michael Jordan was with how good he actually was. This book was able to correspond with everything that I know about Michael Jordan and was able to verify things that I have heard. For instance I have heard a lot of people say that Michael Jordan did not make his varsity basketball team his sophomore year and that his brother was a much better player, and in the book it was verified. Halberstan also mentions in his book facts such as Michael Jordan won six champion rings which I know from prior knowledge. David Halberstan is a well known author, is very trustable and knows what he is talking about.
   
   David Halberstan did a great job at verifying the facts he put in his book with quotes and references to actual meetings that took place. He was very knowledgeable and gave you the feeling he knew what he was talking about. The reviews I read were very well depicted what I read in "playing for keeps." It was exactly what I expected out of this book and I appreciated how well written the reviews were in helping me pick this book.
   
   Nate Debebe, TJHS student



2. This book not only offers the most incisive portrait of Jordan, the Bulls championship years, and the NBA of that era, but is also wonderful Halberstam, who tells the story with an epic sweep. Simply a beautiful work from cover to cover.



3. Nike turned Michael Jordan into a dream. Nike funneled in 1984 all of Nike's advertising resources in one player instead of in several teams. Nike made Michal Jordan a cultural icon and featured him as a star amidst other entertainment stars. And in the beginning Jordan didn't even like Nike sneakers. He preferred Adidas. Ultimately Nike paid Jordan in roughly 1 million dollars a year for five years. In 1984 no one realized that Nike was getting one of the great bargains of the time. Nike was a shoe company in great trouble. Michael Jordan saved Nike by his appeal to the youth. In the mean time basketball benefited from satellite reception that was just opening the world of cable television. Satellite reception facilitated cheap broadcasting. Bill Rasmussen obtained channel space on a communications satellite. His ESPN opened new broadcasting opportunities for basketball. In Playing for Keeps David Halberstam tells the tale of Michael Jordan in the broader cultural context. In this book Halberstam displays his usual journalistic skills. But somehow I missed the emotional involvement of his other books. The Summer of 49 and The Breaks of the Game learned me more about the relevance of sports.
   
   Luuk Oost



4. As someone very familiar with Michael Jordan's career I was startled by all the new bits of information crammed in this book. Its clear Halbertstam did his homework. He employed an exhaustive interview process that yields so many new anecdotes and perspectives of Michael Jordans career. I particulary enjoyed all the stories of Jordan showing flashes of greatness early on while being recruited by North Carolina. The book makes it clear that even at those early stages while no one could predict what was to come, those around Michael had never seen anything like him.
   
   Halbertstam also reveals the background story for many of those surrounding Jordan during his run with the Bulls. Namely Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Jerry Krause, Jerry Reinsdorf, and others. He delves into their lives, paints a picture of their character, and allows you to understand what motivated all these contrasting personalities along the way.
   
   It must be noted that the writing of David Halbertstam is just incredible. If you're a fan of Michael Jordan or just basketball this book is a must read. The subject could not be approached by a more accomplished author.



5. 
   I'm not a big Halberstam fan, and this book didn't change that opinion.
   
   The subtitular "world that he [Jordan] made" is never really explored in any depth, and this is a surface-skimming bio of Jordan with the addition of some mini-bios on major figures in his life (David Falk, Dean Smith, Phil Jackson, etc.).
   
   The research is limited and insight is scant as Halberstam leans heavily on material already published, pulling entire sections of the book (e.g., his thumbnail bio of Jackson) from the subject's own earlier book. He returns to quote the same two or three sports writers time and again (Sam Smith - Chicago Trib and Jordan biographer - OK, but Bob Ryan - Boston Globe - a dozen quotes???).
   
   "Playing for Keeps" is a fast-reading Jordan sketch, a 400 page magazine article, during which Halberstam defers to Jordan too frequently: no real examination of the gambling, glossed over recount of James Jordan's murder, no meaningful exploration of Jordan the global commercial icon.
   
   For my taste, this book is another disppointment from Halberstam.

5 comments about They Call Me Coach.

1. "They Call Me Coach" is a fantastic book by Coach Wooden, and it is a great resource for any coach of any level. If you are tired of buying coaches polo shirts and whistles each year for birthdays and holidays, pick up a copy of "They Call Me Coach", and your quest for that perfect gift is over.



2. The book's delivery exceeded expectations. The book is outstanding and a recommended read for baskeball fans and anyone interested in the incite a great philosopher has on life.



3. I read this book based on a recommendation from Forbes magazine in an article named "books to get rich by".. well, this one is quite a reach to have on that list. Now, if you are a fan of UCLA basketball, Mr. John Wooden himself, or 60's college basketball, you will love it. I am a not a fan nor a hater, but I was trying to get some value out of it for business purposes. I didn't get much.



4. This is an excellent book. I bought it for my future grandson-in-law for Christmas. He is just in his first coaching position right out of college. I think it will be a big help to him.



5. Anyone who knows the game or has coached should read this book. Wooden is top notch and classy...the way every coach should be. A great example of a coach and man.

5 comments about Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior.

1. This book provides great insights on Phil Jackson's philosophy and some of the things he does with his teams.
   A very good pick for anyone in the coaching business.



2. Amazing book with a lot of great points that really brings the best out of the reader, Great for athletes and coaches...



3. A great read - rereading right after just finishing it. Raised as a buddhist but attending catholic school most of my life, I could easily relate to Jackson's upbrining, only in reverse. Also having grown up and watched the NBA during the 90's has made me appreciate what Phil has done for the game as well as the teams he has coached through out his career. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in a sports book that is more than just that.



4. If there were a Mount Rushmore of basketball coaches, Phil Jackson would have to be there (along with John Wooden, Dean Smith, and Wilbur Flatch). Phil Jackson is like tacos de tripa - either you like him or you don't; but unlike tacos made from the stomach of a cow, there's always something you can learn from him.
   
   Here are 17 sentences from Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson that I think I like:
   
   1. "... success comes from being awake, aware, and in tune with others."
   2. For the raindrop, joy is entering the river - Ghalib
   3. "One day my mother wasn't home when I returned from school and I got so frightened the rapture had started without me that I ran all over town looking for her."
   4. "Lesson one: Don't let anger ... cloud the mind."
   5. Lesson two: Awareness is everything."
   6. Our own life is the instrument with which we experiment with the truth. - Thich Nhat Hanh
   7. "Arguing isn't where faith is. That just feeds the ego. It's all in the doing."
   8. "Awareness is the seed of compassion."
   9. "My brothers and I ... dug my father's grave ..."
   10. One of the most important qualities of a leader is listening without judgement, or with what Buddhists call bare attention.
   11. If we rage and resist, our angry, fearful minds have trouble quieting down sufficiently to allow us to act in the most beneficial way for ourselves and others.
   12. One of the most important qualities of a leader is listening without judgement.
   13. Vision is the source of leadership.
   14. The acceptance of boundaries and limits is the gateway to freedom.
   15. One instant is eternity.
   16. If you have a clear mind and an open heart, you won't have to search for direction. Direction will come to you.
   17. When I understand that this glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious. Impermanence is a fundamental fact of life.



5. Sacred Hoops is mainly about a coach's legacy and the struggles he's been through. Not only that, but all of the accomplishments he has been through mentally and physically. The main idea of Sacred Hoops is about Phil Jackson and the techniques and strategies he uses to be successful as a coach in the NBA. Phil Jackson always finds a different solution whenever a problem occurs whether it is a personal problem or a coach able issue.
   
   This book is basically all about Phil Jackson's life and the struggles he's been through, and all the accomplishments he has achieved. I am very impressed with this book because I love the sport and it catches my attention. The reviews on amazon.com and King County Library System's [...] all have good reviews about the book. They all have positive feedbacks and positive descriptions of the book that they enjoy. This book isn't only for people who play sports, but for anyone interested in the potential of the human spirit. All of the reviews give this book a pure satisfaction and an excellent feedback.
   
   Sacred Hoops is briefly over-generalization, for example, as Scottie Pippen moves the ball up court, he and two other players form a triangle on the right side of the court floor about fifteen feet apart from each other-Steve Kerr in the corner." This passage is over-generalization because it is portraying every little detail that they are doing. Also, "Here's a typical sequence: the point guard brings the ball up and passes it inside to one of the big men, who will either make a player move to the hoop or kick it out to somebody on the wing after drawing a double team." And lastly, "when we won the championship, and we were in the locker room, while champagne bottles were being lit left and right, it felt like it was pouring rain from the sky with thunderous cheering from everyone. This passage is showing over-generalization because the author is over exaggerating with this statement saying how loud his teammates are and how the champagne feels like rain.
   It is also biased towards Michael Jordan, for example, "Jordan could do things with a ball nobody ever seen before: he seemed to defy gravity when he went up for a shot, hanging in for days-sometimes weeks." Clearly no body could be able to defy gravity and be able to hang in the air for weeks, not even days. The author portrays Jordan (the greatest player to play the game in history) to be invincible and unreal. To hang in the air when he shoots or jumps, the author conceives Jordan to be a mere illusion.
   
   The author wrote Sacred Hoops with accuracy: Hugh Delehanty felt that this book would be influential to the readers from his thoughts on "[...], [...], and [...]." Sacred Hoops isn't the only sports book he has written, "The power of purpose", another type of Sacred Hoops and "Caring for your parents". The similar traits about all of his books Is that they are all non-fiction and they are inspirational to whoever reads it.
   
   I've done research on his books, and almost all of his reviews on them are positive. Most of the reviews from people said that it has influenced them in many ways. Sacred Hoops has honestly inspired me as well, not only in a type of retro view of sports, but with the patience it shows. It helps me when it comes down to situations when stress or anger is involved. Sacred Hoops was definitely one of a kind of book. I'm my opinion, hands down the best book I've read.
   
   Danny Shin, TJHS student

5 comments about A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond.

1. From start to finish Craig Robinson provides a heart warming, inspirational narrative of his family's experience and the lessons to be learned from a warm and caring home led by loving and determined parents. Written in a straightforward conversational style, the book shares Craig Robinson's family and life experiences through his eyes. Readers soon find themselves part of the wonderful Robinson family and at the book's end turn the last page hoping for more.



2. I truly enjoyed reading how Mr. Robinson and his sister, the First Lady, grew up. The games, the teasing, the love make it relatable to almost every one as it is a story of loving parents who do the best they can as a team.
   
   I could just picture the story of little Sasha at his wedding. It had me rolling and brought back memories of when I grew up. So did the liver story.
   
   The other things I love about the book are his passion for basketball that is clear throughout, the way he handles challenges and the great sense of humor that the whole family seem to share.
   
   I already recommended this book to a friend of mine in Holland who also loves basketball with a passion, is also a coach, and just won another championship.



3. I gave sent this book to my mother for Mother's Day. She is an avid reader and truly enjoyed Craig's sharing of his life, growing up with Michelle and the great lessons taught by his parents.



4. This book is the inspiring story of Michelle Obama's brother who is well known in his own right as a college basketball coach. The values he was raised with needs to be passed on to young people and adults these days. I hope a version comes out for young teen. You can tell from the chapter headings that there is a lot of good advice contained in this fast read:
   Part I: The Fundamentals
   1. Meet the Home Team
   2. Robinson Family Values: Love, Discipline, Respect
   3. Know Who You are and Live Your Life with Conviction
   4, Be Relentless: You have to Win to Stay on the Court
   5. Don't Be Afraid to Be Smart and Cool
   6. The Correct Choice May Not Be the Right Choice
   Part II: On the Road
   7. From the Southside of Chicago to Princeton
   8. Learn the Game, Not Just Your Position
   9. Luck is Just Another Word for Hard Work
   10. Character is Shaped by Choices Made Very Step of the Way
   11. Expect the Best but Prepare for the Unexpected.
   Part III: A New Season
   12. Building a Strong Family is like Building a Strong Team
   13. A Strategy for Change Starts with the Belief that You can Win
   14. Playing a new Position
   15. Be Relentless: You Have to Win to Stay on the Court (Reprise)
   Part IV: Full-Court Press
   16. What Would Fraser Robinson Say?
   17. Harnessing Energy, Seizing Momentum
   18. The Character of a Nation
   
   Postgame: We All Have a Window of Opporunity



5. I purchased this book a couple of days ago and just finished it. I loved this book because it was a positive read. Well worth the purchase.

5 comments about Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon.

1. This book is different than the average sports book you'll read - some reviewers have commented on the excess coverage on West's beginnings and yes, while it is a tad extensive - almost half the book covers his life thru college - it is refreshing, too. Far too many sports books have too many game summaries but you don't learn much about the person - if you're reading this, you know who Jerry West is and don't want to bother with trivial game descriptions - a few game summaries are okay but a book with too many is tiresome reading. And speaking about you know who Jerry West is, why do so many reviewers try to give you his life story, like we don't know who he is?? - if you're reading all these reviews, then you obviously know who Jerry West is and it's tiresome reading to slog thru those kinds of reviews - I mean, we know who Jerry West is, just tell us about the book.



2. I too was a huge West fan who wore his number through high school and practiced in the mud on my dirt court just like he did. I was eager to read the book after reading the rave review from Tim Rutten in the LA Times.
   
   I was disappointed. The nearly 80 pages at the outset, covering the plight of West's relatives going back several generations, seem endless, and are told at the snail's pace of a West Virginian's dialect. If only Lazenby had directed his considerable research hours into more interesting and pertinent topics, such as West's career after retiring as a player -- which gets a shallow and perfunctory 30 pages at the end of the book. What comes in between, West's playing career, will be no news to anyone who has read Bill Libby's excellent bio of thirty years ago and followed West's career with even moderate interest in newspapers and periodicals.
   
   I felt the author got lost in the West Virginia roots he shares with his subject (and, tellingly, with Tim Rutten), then ran out of time, steam or both before his deadline. After the slow opening, the whole book feels rushed: as another reviewer noted, it is sloppily edited, with typos, errors, narrative confusion, and inconsistencies in abundance.
   
   Clearly, judging by the overwhelmingly positive reviews here, your mileage may vary.



3. Biographer Roland Lazenby describes Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West as "the most influential figure in the history of American basketball." Lazenby takes on the task of trying to explain the "mystery that is Jerry West."
   
   Lazenby was told that to understand West, he needed to understand West Virginia, where West was born and raised and played for the University of West Virginia. Lazenby spends the first 75 pages, detailing the history of West Virginia, exploring West's ancestry and interviewing many of his family members, relatives and boyhood friends. While this does help to explain West, I'm afraid it's about 50 pages too long for many readers.
   
   But, by the time you finish this nearly 400-page biography, you'll have completely forgotten about the book's slow start.
   
   Lazenby achieves his goal of explaining the mystery of Jerry West. Jerry's mother was a perfectionist, who was a loner and shy. Jerry, who had little relationship with his abusive father, took after his mother. He was also deeply affected by the death of his older brother in the Korean War.
   
   West was never able to enjoy his accomplishments. Nothing he ever did was good enough. Instead, he settled for disappointment, harsh criticism or perceived slights by others. He would go through long periods of depression when he wasn't playing well. He was extremely competitive, had more heart than any other player, obsessed with winning and driven to greatness. He was humble, shy and reserved.
   
   Lazenby says West's rise to the top of basketball was "absolutely improbable." West was physically frail through high school, college and much of his NBA career. As an NBA rookie he was 6-foot-3 and 172 pounds. Coach Bill Sharman called West, known as Mr. Clutch, "the tallest 6-foot-3 player ever." Sharman also felt West was "probably the greatest defensive guard ever."
   
   Lazenby gives a good account of West's high school and college basketball careers, particularly the rivalry between West and Oscar Robertson of the University of Cincinnati to be considered the best college player in the nation. The book is equally divided between West's pre-NBA years and NBA career.
   
   West's heroics and heartbreaks in the NBA, losing year after year to the Boston Celtics for the championship, are well chronicled. West and the Lakers finally won a championship in 1972, beating the New York Knicks. Lazenby points out that if West had scored a total of 10 more points in five games, he would have had an NCAA title and four NBA titles.
   
   After his playing days, West served three unhappy years as the Lakers coach and then became their successful general manager.
   
   This is an insightful biography about one of the NBA's greatest players ever. It should be on every basketball fan's "must-read" list.



4. The best sports biography I ever read from the historical periods leading up to Jerrys birth to the present day. I could almost hear Chick Hearn describing the activities of the court action moving from "left to right on your radio dial".
   
   Jerry Lee (age 72)



5. This is the second book I've bought by Mr Lazenby. I'll have to look again who his editors are, but in both books there are several instances where sentences, paragraphs, even a series of pages are repeated VERBATIM from another section in the book. This is not an instance of an author telling an anecdote two different ways, in two different places in the book. It is an instance of someone copying and pasting the same text and inserting it later in the book as filler to make the book appear larger. This gets obnoxious because you find yourself stumbling across the same 3-5 pages you read 60 pages ago, and having to flip through the next 3-5 pages wondering where the narrative picks back up with new material. I don't know why an author and publisher would allow this to occur. It was something that happened frequently in Lazenby's book on Kobe, and I just came across the first few instances of it in the West book, but like a sucker, it's the topic of his books that reel me in--not the writing or editing. Most of us who consider books like this are so interested in the Lakers that we don't really care how well written the books are...... Anyways, just thought you should know.

5 comments about Shooting Stars.

1. being from the Cleveland area , I waited to review this until the Cavs won or lost. Well , no surprise , the best record for the regular season , and Lebron and the Cavs choke in the playoffs.
   What does this have to do with the book ? Nothing , yet everything. The book is the same as the end result of this season. A great story with an awful ending.The team chocked , but more than anything Lebron chocked. It was like he gave up , just like I did after page 25 of this self-righteous garbage. What an ego.



2. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure I'll like it, its about LeBron, the MVP winner. GOOOOOOOOOOO Caaaaaaaaaavs!



3. This is a very great book, it is very inspiring for any one who loves the game of basketball or likes lebron james. Great Book. High Recommendations



4. Well written, entertaining tale of five young St. Vincent-St.Mary high school basketball players and their quest for a high school national championship. The strengths of this book rest upon the enthralling personalities and challenging circumstances experienced by the individual players and coaches. It's amazing the amount of details that can be recalled by James; especially conversations and extensive in-game details (which can become a bit tedious). Co-written by Buzz Bissenger, author of "Friday Night Lights", the reader is transported into the personal lives and ambitions of the "Shooting Stars". Well worth reading and provides vivid details of young Lebron James and his ascendancy from H.S. champion to the top tier of the NBA.



5. In "Shooting Stars", by Buzz Bissinger & Lebron James, the main characters are LeBron James,Little Dru Joyce,Coach Dru(father of Little Dru),Sian Cotton,Willie McGee,and Romeo Travis. LeBron,Little Dru,Sian, and Willie pretty much grew up together, playing basketball together in the AAU tournament being coached by Coach Dru,hence his nickname, who would also later on become their St. Vincents head coach in their junior and senior seasons.The conflict in "Shooting Stars" is one of Man Vs. Man, the Fab Four fighting those who persecuted the Fab Four for not attending and playing basketball for Butchel High School, but instead attending a "white" school, St Vincent's-St Mary's. Another conflict in the story consisted of the St Vincent's team and the teams they played throughout the high school tournaments. Also, a third conflict was one of Man vs. Surroundings, LeBron James growing up in poverty and having to move constantly, Willie having to uproot from Chicago to Illinois, and Romeo transferring from the high school he played at as a freshman to a St. Vincent's school where he had trouble making friends, but eventually befriending the Fab Four.
   
   The hard work and determenation in practices and in AAU basketball led up to the rising action. One event was when the then Fab Four played the AAU National Championship and lost, making them tougher and stronger. Also, Romeo Travis joining the team led up to their number one ranking in the country, as close as a national championship win they would get since there is no high school national championship. Third, the defeat of Mater Dei, a private catholic school powerhouse, certainly led up to their number one ranking. What did I like about this novel? Virtually everything. This book was not only about LeBron James, which most would come to expect, it highlighted the whole Fab Five. For Example, there was a whole chapter on Willie McGee and a whole chapter on Romeo Travis alone. Also, after reading this book you feel like you know the Fab Five personally. The book tells every small detail about their run to number one. Last, this books starts with background information on the players' personal lives, not just their life on the court.

5 comments about The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team.

1. As a basketball fan and a coach I found this book interesting and really enjoyed reading about the things that happened behind the scenes. I do like how the book is setup and the way it was written. It was great to read how the NBA players were and gave me a different view of them.



2. The item came in new condition like listed; however, I had purchased the item for a Christmas gift on dec. 10th and didn't receive it till after Christmas!



3. Ordered a book, seller said he put it in the mail on jan. 4th and 3wks later no book... so he obviously lied. however he did return my emails and gave refund but still it took a month in total to find out i wasnt gettin anything.



4. I bought this book for my thirty-something son-in-law for Christmas. He had requested it. He was very excited to get it and read it through in the first few days after Christmas. He enjoyed it very much and definitely recommends to others in our family and in his business.



5. This book by Coach Krzyzewski is a very good read about Basketball and the Olympics. But, it was the inner story that I found fascinating.
   There is a short episode about Colonel Brown and a few soldiers he brought to talk to the Olympic team. Injured soldiers. Heroes.
   This was remarkable. Just remarkable.
   
   The book was well written and interesting, but the inner story about the soldiers and this Colonel was incredible.
   
   It shows Coach K's humanity and his kindness, and it shows the courage that these soldiers live with every day.
   
   Well worth the time.
   Randy

5 comments about Hard Work: A Life On and Off the Court.

1. I'm not a sports fan. I didn't even know who Roy Williams was. BUt, I picked the book because I was trying out our library's new ebooks section. And, I love nonfiction. So, that's how the book was selected. What a fortuitous find. This book is fantastic. I love Roy's work ethic, his humility, his love of his wife and children, his interest in his students, and cares about his team's character. Roy had a tremendous disadvantage with the father he had, yet he was a terrific father to his own children and to his teams. I admire this coach a great deal, so when the NCAA tournmanet rolls around next year, I'll be rooting for NC and Roy Walker.



2. First of all, I am a Tar Heel fan, Roy Williams is a wonderful head coach. I think that is his best work. I learned a lot from this book, I certainly learned Carolina should never have let him leave the campus after the first offer without a signed contract. He is very indecisive when it comes to changing jobs & really keeps schools & NBA teams waiting. I doubt he gets asked again...okay by UNC, I'm sure.
   
   He thought the 2009 team was hard work, well, I wonder what he would say about the 2010 team, I think he should have waited another year to write Hard Work.
   
   You have to admire him for having a dream, a goal and doing all it took to make it happen...and be a success at it and apparently at being a good husband and father, as well as son.
   
   But the book is not a good read, it has details about recruiting that only a coach or asst coach would care about...there are way too many details about this player and that player and how much Roy loves them. Hey, it is very apparent that Roy loves everyone. Great... I'm for that, but he can't write, or tell and the writer couldn't write or make it interesting. I listened to every word cause I am a Tar Heel...but it was not easy. It was hard work.



3. Such an inspiring story from Roy Williams. He deserves all the respect he receives because he has defiantly earned it.



4. The only problem with this book was that I couldn't put it down. I'm not even a UNC basketball fan.



5. EXCELLENT book! I bought one for my daughter and her friend - both UNC basketball wannabes! I enjoyed reading the book myself! A+++++

5 comments about Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich.

1. The word "Icon" is becoming overused in much the same way as the words "Superstar" and "legend. But in the case of Pete Maravich, it is no exaggeration. He was a household name, and very possibly the greatest college basketball player who ever played.
   
   His life was a sad, tragic, twisted affair punctuated by his mother's suicide, alcohol dependence, loneliness and a relationship with his father that never really brought any joy.
   
   Pistol Pete brought excitement and joy to huge numbers of fans at LSU and later, Atlanta, New Orleans and Utah. Although a decent man, his leadership was always questioned, and his presence, and his pocketbook brought jealousy to his teams and teammates.
   
   He was a true artist on the court, and played the game at a higher level than his contemporaries. Much like many other misunderstood geniuses in other fields, questions still abound.
   
   What if?
   
   He had a coach in the pros who really understood how to harness his talent?
   A GM understood the type of team to build around him?
   He had a great big man, like Jabbar, Lanier or Chamberlain to pass to?
   He had signed with the ABA out of College?
   
   His standards were impossibly high, and his achievements, as great as they were, never measured up to his own perception of greatness.
   
   This book is cordoned off into three sections. The first is about Press Maravich, his father, and a fascinating case study in his own right. The lion's share is about Pete, and the final section is about his two sons who were both children at the time of his shocking, untimely death at the age of forty.
   
   This book is full of mysticism and spectres. Maravich was a man of his times, New Age, but he was also searching for peace in his life.
   
   I found this book to be a riveting read, about a fascinating subject.



2. "PISTOL" IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL. HE WAS TRULY ONE OF THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER IN HISTORY RIVALING MICHAEL JORDAN AND LARRY BIRD. HIS BOOK REMINDS MANY OF US WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN HIM HOW TRULY REMARKABLE HE WAS.



3. I saw this book for over a year and had no interest in it because I had read Maravich's autobiography "Heir to a Dream." How would a stranger know more about Pete Maravich than Pete Maravich? But, I ended up buying it off the cheap shelf and I'm glad I did.
   The story of Maravich is unique because you can't tell it without telling the story of his father, Press Maravich, because they were joined at the hip. Press was an old school coach rooted in the fundamentals and devised a lot of unique drills for his growing son. He was a pioneer for people like Marv Maranovich. He created a ubber-basketball player. However, instead of creating the most dominant player ever, he created the most flashy player. His goal was to make Pete the first million-dollar basketball player, so he trained Pete to throw outrageous passes, as opposed to say, learning defense. When he coached Pete in college, he threw out everything he believed (team play and strong defense) and instead used blatant double-standards, all to make sure his son received individual glory and scoring titles.
   Meanwhile, Pistol Pete felt the burden of living up to the legend he was becoming. He was not socially adept, yet suddenly, he is idolized by millions. He faced resentment from teammates and resentment from old school opponents. He drank heavily and became depressed as he felt he could never live up to what others wanted, before finding redemption through Jesus Christ.
   Why is this book worth reading? Combined with Maravich's autobiography, it provides a three-dimensional look at the man. Maravich's autobiography is more sanitized. You can't expect him to harshly criticize the man he idolizes, even when it seems obvious. Mark Kriegel researched Pistol Pete and Press' lives in detail, interviewing countless others and telling the story from an outsider's view. Kriegel's a very good writer, and he wrote one of the better sports biographies.



4. Fantastic job by Kriegel. Amazing insight into who Pete was and the role Press (his dad) played in his life. Would have made a great fiction book, hard to believe the whole thing is actually true.
   
   Well worth the 99 cents plus shipping.



5. Like a lot of other reviews I thought this was a nice breezy read. Didnt think I would find it so readable. Pleasant surprise. Pistol Pete really was a big deal. Remember him well from my school days. Today he is rarely mentioned. Too bad. Commend the author on bringing him back to the fore. The reason for the 4 stars was the over-attention paid to Pete's father Press. I understand that in order to get a complete picture of Pete, you have to get to know Press. Still, the details on him were actually, to me, better detailed and more relevant than those about Pete. Pistol is revealed to be into UFO's with contrasting ideas of holistic diet and alcohol consumption along with other ideas that are considered fringe. Somehow these details just dont seem to tell the complete picture of Pete. I felt that there wasnt a well rounded portrayal of him. The mother seems ancillary and his pro career is overly detailed in some areas and not enough in others. Before i knew it, his career was over. I think much of the issues were with the relatively few sources in the book. In many cases they were not involved with Pete and contribute only minimal insight. Still, the book was really good and dont want to harp on the bad. Just good to see Pete back where he belongs.