5 comments about The Home Team: Of Mothers, Daughters, and American Champions.

1. I was already a huge fan of Rebecca Lobo before reading this book. 'The Home Team' gives you a look into the lives of Rebecca and Ruthann Lobo. It's such a real look at how their lives truly are and how much they love each other. After reading this book I was blown away by the courage both of these amazing women have shown in thier lives.



2. I really love this book! I did not want to put it down. A couple of reasons I love the book is because now I know she was a normal child once and she did'nt always play basketball. I also liked it because her mom talked about her life. Now I know they had problems just like any other family does.



3. This book is a must read for all WNBA fans. Rebecca Lobo's life is revealed in many aspects, that of her point of view and her mother. It talks about many issues such as Ruthanne's struggle with breast cancer and how the family dealt with it. As a 15 year old girl, reading is not one of my favorite pastimes. When I heard of a book about my idol Rebecca Lobo, I decided maybe I should give reading a try. I finished the story in a total of two days and found myself waking up in the middle of the night wanting to know what was going to happen next. It is an extremely moving book in which I fould that it was very easy to relate to. As a basketball player, some of Rebecca Lobo's theories such as playing basketball to relive stress and cope with problems I use also. It gave a new perspective to why I am two different people a hustler and leader on the court and a shy and proscinator off of it. Athlete or not, this book will get you moving. It will leave the message in your heard that anything is possible and it will help you to get out and reach that goal that you have been striving for.



4. I had the opportunity to meet the Lobos at a seminar, and they are as congenial in person as they appear in this fantastic book. Each personal chapter of this narrative made me feel like I was almost a part of the Lobo family. I liked reading about how Rebecca and her brother and sister grew up, what it was like to be part of a team as tight as the Huskies, and how the family dealt with RuthAnn's cancer. I have read this book over and over, and my mother and grandmother both love it as well. It is definitely worth sharing!



5. Very well written and inspiring. Surviving with strength and heart to carry her family, Mrs. Lobo is amazing! Rebecca's tales of life and the heart ache of her moms struggle with breast cancer. They stuck together and beat it out! WAY TO GO MRS. & MS. LOBO!!!

1 comments about 101 Little Facts About Michael Jordan (101 Little Known Facts Series).

1. This book is fantastic and super! You should buy this book if you're Michael Jordan fans! It's so cheap,if you go out and buy it,it is much more expensive than buying it from the internet! So get it now! For more information,please e-mail me at chew_rachel@hotmail.com!

2 comments about Beckett Great Sports Heroes: Michael Jordan (Beckett Great Sports Heroes).

1. 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.




2. This book shows the amazing career of a great basketball player on and off the court, it has great pictures and fabulous quotes.

No comments about Sports Illustrated For Kids: Basketball Big Shots.

No comments about My Losing Season.

5 comments about Drive: How Vince Carter Conquered the NBA.

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



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



3. As an avid sports and basketball book reader, I'm glad to say that truly great sports books (ie. A Season on the Brink by John Feinstein or David Halberstam's Michael Jordan and the World He Made) actually exist. Sadly though, Chris Young's effort at documenting Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors' history does not even come close. In fact, in terms of both content and interest sustainability, it pales in comparison even next to Shaquille O'Neal's lighthearted autobiography, "Shaq Talks Back." Young is certainly a decent newspaper journalist, however, the book offers little beyond typical newspaper sports journalism. Essentially, what you get is a montage of newspaper articles about the history of the Raptors and not very much about Vince Carter. His life story, significant relationships with other people, and important events are all neglected and instead we get page after page of description of Carter's otherworldly leaping ability. Thanks Chris, but we could get that by watching TV. Also, the identity dilemma that appears to be the thrust of Young's portrayal of Carter, that of being a star athlete while trying to be a nice guy at the same time is imminently laughable.

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




4. If you read this book and it didn't have a title you would think it would be entitled "The Toronto Rapter's Organization." If you are looking for a biography on Vince Carter, sorry this is not the book to get. But if you want to see the aspect of business in the NBA, then this is the book for you. It's a great book about the business end of the NBA.
   
   "Drive" shows an in-depth look at the business side of the NBA, and some of the controversies that happen in the NBA, and its teams. This book is suppose to be about hot Vince Carter has done so far in his three years in the NBA, and hit trials and tribulations with the Toronto Rapters, but is more about the Rapters organization, and players and coaches who have been with the team.
   
   The book is written by Chris Young, who is a writer for the Toronto Star who followed Vince around for the 2000-2001 NBA season to complete the book.
   
   The financial well being and the interest of fans is declining, because the business part is taking over the love of the game. When Vince Carter joined the NBA, he came at absolutely the right time. Michael Jordan had just retired, and ratings were down. There wasn't anybody that could capture the love of the game, and the charisma until Vince entered. The NBA needed something that stood out and Vinsanity took the NBA by storm. His growing fan population has brought back tv viewers, tv ratings, and sales of NBA merchandise.



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

No comments about A Raging Bull: Chasing the Big Time.

No comments about Springing Forward.

3 comments about A Dream Come True: The Faith to Be a Kentucky Wildcat.

1. After reading this book, I realized that with faith, anything is possible. I really enjoyed this book, and think it is a great book for anyone to read.



2. after i read the Jeff book i had to read this one this was not as good as Jeff A Heart of a Champion but it was a good story of a boy who fell in love with the wildcats and never wanted to go any were eles



3. This is a "must read" for all people in every stage of their Christian life....especially those who bleed the blue of Kentucky. Cameron Mills is one of the most powerful speakers and writers I've ever seen.

5 comments about The Book of Isiah: The Rise of a Basketball Legend.

1. I knew it was a bad sign when in chapter one, I was wishing I was through with the book. I always want to finish books, for the sense of accomplishment and to acquire knowledge, but this was different: I wanted to be done because I wanted to move on to a good book.
   I picked up the book because I enjoy reading the late 80s Pistons. Thomas is indisputably one of the 5 greatest point guards in history (along with Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy, and John Stockton). He won a NCAA championship, and 2 NBA championships, and was named to the 1980 Olympic team. That alone makes his life interesting. Toss in the amazing performances (16 points in 91 seconds, 1990 Finals MVP, etc), controversy (Larry Bird was only good because he's white), and the jobs (NBA legend on the court, GM of the Raptors), and I was looking forward to jumping in. So what went wrong?
   First, this is not a biography, it is an homage, practically a love sonnet. It is written by a guy who sees no fault in Thomas. I believe the author is a Toronto journalist, and obviously a Raptors fan. The book was written right before the Raptors' 2nd season. In jocking the Raptors, Challen has to jock the man who runs the team. Look at the book's subtitle: "The Rise of a Basketball Legend." At the time the book was published, Thomas already was a basketball legend. Challen is trying to paint him to be the next Jerry West and Red Auerbach of the front office after a mediocre season on the job.
   The first problem is that the book is incomplete. Challen lightly glosses over Thomas' first 7 NBA seasons, and really only spends significant time on the 1989 season. After a little more glossing, he jumps to Thomas' tenure with the Raptors. He never mentions any of his legendary scoring bursts, such as the 16 points in 91 seconds at the end of regulation of the deciding playoff game in the New York playoff series in 1984. He does go over the Larry Bird controversy and the all-star freeze out of Michael Jordan that Thomas orchestrated, and he mentions the 1992 Olympic snub, but never really dwells much on the background. He also never mentions how Thomas blocked the pay-per-view game between Jordan and Johnson, and how that came back to bite him in the Olympics.
   Challen praises Thomas' every decision as Raptors' GM without stating the obvious: he screwed up on the hiring of Brenden Malone as coach. Had he spent more time interviewing Malone, then he would have learned that Malone did not share his vision on how to coach an expansion team. He never chastises Thomas on his blatant favoritism towards all-things Pistons, even when the people were unqualified. Because Thomas had a couple of endorsements, he makes it sound like Thomas was a savvy businessman ready to move into a GM role, rather than state the obvious: the owner went to Indiana University with Thomas and was star struck. It gets funnier in retrospect, as you see Thomas consistent failures since the book was written: he bankrupted the Continental Basketball Association after he purchased it. He failed as coach of the Pistons and Knicks and was a disaster as GM of the Knicks. His failures are so legendary that a satire website (sportspickle) wrote a story that George W. Bush had named Thomas as Michael Brown's replacement to head F.E.M.A. It is obvious that Thomas had done nothing to earn the responsibility to run a franchise, but Challen never ever considers this. (The parallels between Thomas and Jordan are eerily similar, and both were miserable failures in the front office.)
   The next problem with the book is the editing. I assume "paycheque" is a Canadian spelling, and that is fine, but the book is full of editing errors and Challen cannot spell "offense" and "defense." Perhaps this is because he is the guy who holds the picket fence at the games.
   It is obvious that Challen is no basketball expert. He says that Thomas played in the Big 10 conference and then adds it is now known as the "Big 12". Um.... no. He says that Thomas was named NBA MVP three times. He was never MVP. He writes the book in such simplistic terms that it seems as if his audience has no clue about basketball, which maybe true -- I am guessing it was written for Canadians who are not familiar with basketball, as a way of selling the Raptors to the public. Furthermore, by deifying the head man of the Raptors, the sell becomes easier. If this was his purpose, I hoped he succeeded, because beyond that context, the book is an unbelievable bore.



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



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



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

   Tamara Randolph, Rich, Va.




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