5 comments about She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey.

1. Some people may shy away from this book because they think its about basketball. Wrong -- it's about life, about a person who happens to play basketball.
   
   I think every girl should read this book, because it deals with Cooper's issues with self-esteem and confidence, overcoming poverty, and her pursuit of excellence. I also think every mother should read it, because the book shows how effective a role model Cooper's mother was to her. Maybe mothers and daughters should read this book together, and have discussions about it.
   
   This is not an overtly Christian book, but Cooper is a Christian and does not hide her faith. It is not really an evangelistic book, though one can say it is pre-evangelistic.



2. Cynthia Cooper could be a role model for anyone. She knows how to play the game of life as well as basketball: when to hold, when to fold, and a whole lot more.
   What impressed me most? Signed to play in Italy, Cynthia didn't hang around being homesick. She took the opportunity to learn and grow.
   My favorite scenes:

   (1) New to Italy, she'd never even heard of famous cathedrals that someone asked her about. Later, she could have discussed the architectural history and features -- in Italian.

   (2) She asked Ford to give her a marketing internship -- and she felt right at home with the men. I use this example a lot when I talk to parents who are concerned that their daughters are more interested in sports than school.

   (3) She takes us behind the scenes of the championship Comets.

   Hard to put down, well-written, honest -- the perfect gift for any WNBA fan or any young woman looking to her future, in or out of basketball.




3. 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.



4. Cooper's book has made me relieze that nothing can turninto something. Also Cooper provides a positive role model for anyonewho wants to better themselves and improve their way of life. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all. There was problems growing up, college, overseas (work) love, and death of loved ones. This tells the reader that everyone faces problems at many different stages of life. Also how they could be overcome with the correct outlook. END



5. This book is about the story and life of a great know person and athletic. It has its good times and bad times. It tells you what happened in her life till the time she published the book. It tells you from her first time she touched a basketball until she became the leauges MVP. If you want to read a great story about a player and her good times and bad times this is the book you should read. It is for sure the best book I've read about a great person and a life she lived. You should get this book no doubt.

No comments about NOZA: A True Basketball Success Story.

2 comments about Wherever You May Be: The Bill Schonely Story.

1. Any Portland, Oregon or Pacific Northwest sports fan will dig heavily into Schoneley's story. He's a great bridge between a time when major league sports was still a family operation and now. And it's more than just one man's story: It's a fascinating microcosm of the business in the second half of the century.



2. Eggers and Schonely have put together a great book that covers Schonley's Pro Wrestling, Seattle Pilots, and Portland Trailblazer days. A great read!

5 comments about NBA's Greatest.

1. I recommend this book to basketball fans because it tells a lot about great former players. from wilt chamberlain's 100-point game to jerry west's 60 foot jumper to michael jordan's buzzer-beater vs cleveland in the 1989 playoffs. it also has duels like magic vs bird and iverson vs carter. this 180 paged book is filled with all those facts. RECOMMENDED!!!



2. If you are an avid professional basketball fan like me who appreciates the history of the game, you should know that there are so many captivating memories surviving to this day. This book focuses on the more prominent players and plays of the NBA's past and present; the buzzerbeaters that have won championships, the slam dunks that defied gravity, the amazing assists that made you wonder if he could see through his head. All these memories come alive again in NBA's Greatest. From James Naismith's invention of basketball to George Mikan, Bill Russell,'Houdini of the Hardwood' Bob Cousy and the early dominance of the Minneapolis Lakers and Boston Celtics, to the era of great swingman such as Dr. J, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, to the continuity of today's superstars, this book has them all.
   There are some feats in professional basketball that you simply never forget, such as Jerry West's last minute heave from sixty feet out, or Willis Reed's comeback in the 1970 NBA Finals, or when Michael Jordan executed a flying dunk from the free-throw line, or when Anthony 'Spud' Webb won the slam dunk contest standing at 5'7". This book reviews those highlights in great detail, plus extra statistics that summarize the changes that have taken place over a century.



3. An awesome basketball book. I just love it. Informs one about the best players ever in the NBA, from guys like Cousy, to Wilt, Jordan, to Ewing, and Duncan to Kidd. Also, shows the best NBA duels from Bird vs. Magic, to Iverson vs. Carter. Don't forget about the best teams ever assembled in the NBA like the 95'-96' Chicago Bulls. Then, read about the best guys to ever lead their team to glory . . . the coaches. Daly, Jackson, Auerbach, Wilekns, Riley . . . you can find them all here. And finally, catch up on the best momenets ever. Remember "Havlicek stole the ball" and the year Oscar Robertson AVERAGED a triple-double. Well, there all here in this book.
   
   Definitely a book that all basketball lovers should own.



4. I always enjoy reading what other Players have to say about Other Players through out time&also who they personally feel are the Greats of the game&all the details involved.this Book is a Must for any Hoops fan from start to finish it's very detailed.cool Photos&Moments that you will never forget if you follow the game like myself.



5. THE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   NBA's Greatest
   by John Havlicek
   This book is about the greatest NBA players of all time. It is also about the greatest games. Also it tells about the best teams in the league.
   I think an interesting part is when Scotty Pippen told about Dirk Nowitski. Here are some words he said, `' He's definitely shown me a different dimension in the power forward game,'' said Pippen.''He's probably the only power forward that I've seen that can do the things he does being a 7 footer.''
   I think that people who like basketball would like to read this book. Also if someone just wants to read about certain players in basketball , and he's a legend, this would be the book for them. Finally if you want to find out about the greatest moments in basketball look at this book.
   I would give this book a 10 out of 10 because it is a good book to read. If you want to learn about the NBA's Greatest check here.

5 comments about Unguarded: My Forty Years Surviving in the NBA.

1. In 1960, when Lenny Wilkens graduated from Providence, he honestly didn't expect to be playing in the NBA - his idea was to go into teaching or another job - he barely even played a season of high school ball. A player like Wilt Chamberlain was coveted by the NBA probably when he was in junior high - a player like Bill Russell was coveted coming out of USF. Lenny Wilkens lasted alot longer than any of them in the NBA becoz he had to work for everything he got - that's the kind of player, the kind of athlete that is missing nowadays and the kind of athlete we will never see again - that's what makes this low key book a great read. Yes, he does play the race angle a little but not being in his shoes, I had no idea what he went through either. You won't go wrong with his book.



2. 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".




3. 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.




4. 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.



5. 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

5 comments about Allen Iverson: Fear no One.

1. If you like biographies about famous sports people then should read Allen Iverson:Fear No One by John Smallwood.Allen Iverson doesn't have to be your favorite basketball player but if you like basketball you should read it.Read about how he grew up and the challenges he faced.It tells you how he maDe it 2 the NBA. i really like this book and if you like basketballmor A.I.(Allen Iverson)your will definetly like this book.



2. This is a book a bout a young man who is born into poverty but overcomes all challenges he is faced with. Allen practices all his life and is able to make it to the NBA.This book is great because it tells you about alot of basketball games that Allen played in. The author really gets you into the game it feels like you are in the fans watching the game. There was nothing about this book that I didnt like. A part that I really liked was when Allen said "This was a perfect ending to a day" I liked it because i could get excactly what he was saying. If you love basketball you should get this book as soon as possible!



3. If you like sports books then this is the book for you.The book about Allen Iverson tells about a young man who grew up in the flums.He became a great basketball player,and retires and has a great life and family.This book attracted me because there was tons of basketball, and it's always interesting to find out about someone's life from when they grew up in a tough neighborhood. One thing that i didnt like about this book was that it talked to much about his college carrier instead of his more interesting pro carrier. Allen Iverson was obviously my favorite character because of what he had to go through in his though neighborhood with all that violence and drugs and how he stayed away from it and became one of the NBA's greatest players.My favorite line was when Iverson said "This is a great ending to a day!" He said that after he hit the winning buzzer beating shot on page 132. It just made me feel good inside because you know that anything could happen.If you like basketball then you will love this book!One question i have is that why did he do some of those foolish things as a child?I recomend this book to everyone because it teaches that if you try your hardest you can suceed.



4. This story is about a famous basketball player named Allen Iverson. He was born in Virginia Hampton. He lived in a bad neighborhood where people sold drugs and killed people for no reason.Iverson had two sisters.He was the oldest one. he went to Georgetown when he was in college and was a point guard. In college he was the mvp on his team and is the mvp on his team right now in the NBA.Allen Iverson plays for the Philidelphia Sixers.In the 2001-2002 Allstar game Iverson was the mvp.He led his team to the playoffs and then to the championship to play against the L.a. Lakers who was number one on the western cenference.Although the Sixers lost the championship Allen Iverson and the other players on the Sixers Played a heck of a game.The Lakers were impressed to see how good Allen Iverson was and how a little man like Iverson played with sush a big heart. Even though the Sixers had a chance to win the championship in a long time they still kept there head up and waited until next year.I recomend this book people who like Allen Iverson.



5. I picked this book up to learn more on "The Answer".
   This book is good for kids ages 9-12 years of age.
   It is a great book to pick up if you want to know some more of what when on in his younger years.
   I think the author could have went into the younger years of Iverson. He mostly focused his writing on his current actions and a couple run ins with th Law.
   But other wise I think it is a great book if you are looking to read more about his NBA career and College Career.
   But if are looking for more a book where it tells about his childhood I would not tell you to pick this one up.
   It is great for kids that want to learn about there favorite Basketball player!!

5 comments about Shooting from the Outside.

1. This is a fun and easy read for any fan of the women's game, centered around the pivotal 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning team, which in many ways marked a turning point in establishing the foundation upon which the modern game is built.
   
   But not only does this book offer a wonderful historical perspective, and some great stories and inside anecdotes on many top players past and present, it also provides insight into the mind of one of the college game's top coaches.
   
   Even for those close to Stanford basketball, Tara Vanderveer is a very private inividual. That's why I found this book especially helpful in providing a better understanding of her personal history, philosophy toward the game, how she feels it should be played, and how that all filters down to the teams she puts on the floor today.
   
   Because Tara is often softspoken in public and not one to actively seek the limelight or TV cameras like some of the other big names in her profession, there may be a tendency by some to think she is more of a hands-off coach. And despite the occasional glare from the sideline, a calm and quiet presence. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book does a good job of uncovering the intensity that boils deep inside and her unbending desire to win.



2. 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.



3. 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!



4. 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.



5. 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!!

5 comments about Cracked Sidewalks and French Pastry: The Wit and Wisdom of Al McGuire.

1. I purchased this book on Al McGuire as a gift for my father's 71st birthday. As a former basketball coach, he had been a strong admirerer of one of the most unique individuals in sports. Both me and my father highly recommend this for lovers of college basketball, especially for those who tend to march to the beat of a different drummer. I'm sure that even though Al McGuire is no longer with us he will be remembered whenever some young person is making the sign of the cross on his/her forehead before shooting a critical freethrow with his immortal statement that the "Nuns are Working the Beads."
   Sergio S. Guerrero Jr.
   El Paso, Texas



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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.

2 comments about Beyond the Norm: A Salute to Missouri's Norm Stewart.

1. 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.



2. 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.

No comments about Good Knight/Knightmares: The Bright and Dark Sides of Bob Knight.