5 comments about When Nothing Else Matters: Michael Jordan's Last Comeback.

1. Published in 2004, author Michael Leahy shares his experiences during Michael Jordan's last comeback to the National Basketball Association.
   
   Leahy's potrayal of Jordan showed a different side of the basketball legend which is not normally seen in the eyes of the public. Jordan, the "the most marketed player in the history of the NBA," was finally..."mortal" and did go through the same trials and tribulations (from a heightened perspective) that we all go through at some point in our lives. Leahy accounts the days wherein Jordan was at his best and would score 35 points over the span of several games to the days wherein he wasn't unstoppable and hit his career lows of 8 and 2 points respectively.
   
   What stood out for me was Jordan's lambasting of players who didn't play up to his standards. Leahy quotes Jordan on numerous occasions wherein he would lambast teammates. Coach Fred "Tex" Winter, an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers and former assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls summed it up best, "you either work hard or Michael has no use for you."
   
   But the one paragraph in Leahy's entire book which rocked my very foundation of emulating Michael Jordan was the following:
   
   "His people had held him up as a man to be emulated, making Jordan more than a half-billion in endorsement dollars in the process...he had raised the bar on his behavior during 17 years of unremitting self-promotion, in campaigns approved by the Jordan camp and coordinated by Nike and other corporate sponsors that elevated him from great athlete to hero and, finally, to moral symbol.
   
   ...when you present yourself as virtuous in years of ad campaigns and TV commercials, you will be fairly held in time to that standard. Fairly held because uou have sold your basketball shoes to people plunking down in excess of $100 not merely for a chance at better Ups but for a way to rub up against your aura, to feel a tiny sense of you in that admittedly silly way people feel when they wish to emulate anybody, to be inspired by your class and elegance, your morality and grace, as they've heard it told. And if some of that was artifice, then so, too, was everything you sold with your likeness on it."
   
   Disturbing but quite true, personally, I have seen myself on many occasions wanting to "be like Mike." I've bought the shoes, worn the clothes, gotten the cards, read the books...and it is only now I realized. What about me? Leahy's book showed me that. In the years that I have been collecting "Jordan" in order to be inspired, all I needed to do in the end was look in the mirror in order to be inspired.
   
   This is a great book that puts any not only Michael Jordan's life in perspective but also that of your own, especially if you are a Jordan fan who has collected his paraphernalia over the years.



2. Michael Leahy obviously likes to tear down icons. In doing so he comes over as petulant and singularly lacking in the understanding of what it takes for a Michael Jordan to be as successful as he was.
   
   All of the NBA elite are tough in an over the top alpha male hyper competitive environment. If they are not, they quickly fall by the way side. Obviously the author failed to grasp this fact.
   
   That Jordan wasn't a crack executive is neither here nor there. His single minded successful quest to be the best player ever, did not leave him much room to observe and learn board room politics.
   
   If Mr. Leahy ecomes half the writer that MJ was as a player he would have world's of success and probably win a Pulitzer, however, he will more likely have a career mirroring a Brad Sellers, just not good in the clutch!



3. Mr. Leahy is a very talented reporter, but his interesting, carefully collected raw material is poisoned by his obvious agenda, which is to make the case that Michael Jordan is a terribly flawed man who never truly deserved the admiration of his fans. By the end of the book, Mr. Leahy's perspective just seems childish. He is forever blaming others for telling part of the truth, but concealing the rest--yet that is precisely what he does throughout the book. Certainly, Jordan had his faults as a teammate and as an employee, but what about the admirable features of his "last comeback"? What other fading sports star tried to turn around a miserable franchise? What other fading sports star remained one of the best players in the world at 39 years old, even though his performance was limited by a serious knee injury? What other sports legend risked spoiling an absolutely PERFECT conclusion to a brilliant career just because he loved the game and wasn't ready to give it up forever? Jordan took on an extraordinary challenge and didn't succeed. That may seem pathetic and selfish to Mr. Leahy, but I don't see why readers should view Jordan's struggles as a Wizard in that way.



4. The Michael Jordan story always seems to be told in extremes. Either he is heralded as an icon so mindlessly that the storytelling appears uninteresting or he is vilified, as previous writers knew the value of tearing down an icon.
   
   When Nothing Else Matters is a portrait of a man that feels honest, Jordan is neither vilified nor overly praised; instead Micheal Leahy has given us a view of a man experiencing his only real failure in his career as a professional basketball player. A failure that is proven by the simple fact the Washington Wizards, with Jordan in a powerful position off, then on the court, never ascended the heights of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Eastern Conference. It is a fascinating look at the world's most famous basketball player, during a time period where he seemed unable to transition his on the court reputation and success, to a career in management.
   
   Jordan, the man, had grown comfortable being an icon and as his skills faded and his team missed the playoffs, Leahy reveals someone whose disconnect from the world around him made him unable to finesse his way to off the court success. Therefore his last games for the Wizards are revealed to have been one last chance to court the spotlight as a prime-time player, as the chances to move forward off the court didn't exist, Leahy lays out these realities, and Jordan's apparent blindness to them, that shows Jordan as a very accomplished yet out-of-the-loop figure who couldn't overcome his last challenge in the N.B.A. It also makes clear what Micheal Jordan was to the Washington Wizards management, a cash infusion.
   
   Leahy's even handed treatment may prevent When Nothing Else Matters from being extreme in its presentation, but it doesn't prevent it from being an extreme success as it stands as a historical document for basketball fans to turn to when looking at a honest portrait of life in the N.B.A.



5. I was hoping that Leahy had recaptured some of the magic that Sam Smith used when he wrote 'The Jordan Rules,' and early on I wasn't disappointed. However, halfway through the book I realized that the magic ran out. It's possible that the magic ran out because Jordan himself ran out of magic when he came back with The Wizards.
   
   This book does a fine job detailing the downward spiral of Jordan's NBA life, but becomes tedious and boring in the latter half. Much like the Wiz stopped selling out their arena during Jordan's comeback as fans lost interest, I started losing interest. The ending of the book chronicling Jordan's 2nd Wizards season is a desultory piece of writing without a strong narrative flow.
   
   Recommended for hoops diehards, but not the casual fan.

5 comments about Paddy on the Hardwood: A Journey in Irish Hoops.

1. If you like sports from a spectator or participant viewpoint, chances are you will like this book. You will love the book if you have ever coached, are Irish, play or listen to Celtic music or simply have a great sense of humor. The book is well-written, a quick and delightful journey into an idividual's dream that is lived out in a real-life way. I visited Ireland for the first time shortly after reading the book. The accounts are accurate and added an additional dimension to my visit.



2. As an aspiring writer and former hoops coach, I was very interested in reading this book after getting re-acquainted with Coach Rus (we first met at Don Haskins' summer camp in 1989) at a local book signing. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. There were many times when I would find myself laughing out loud at his witty observations about the basketball-challenged Irish culture or his players' quirks. Coach Rus' story transcends the sport of basketball, but will entertain the best hoops junkie. His journeys to the Irish pubs and eventual fiddling sessions made me want to book a tour of Ireland. And true to any hero's journey, Coach Rus gets rewarded for his perserverance.



3. He's not Ernie Hemingway, but if you have a great story to tell, it doesn't matter. And he has a terrific story to tell.



4. A good read for those who like basketball. Music gets less attention, but the music teachers are interesting.



5. Rus Bradburd's "Paddy on the Hardwood: A Journey in Irish Hoops" is a highly enjoyable book on many levels. Bradburd's story revolves around his love for basketball and traditional Irish music. In Ireland, not everyone (in fact, almost no one!) shares his passion for basketball; Bradburd's struggle for respect for his team, and his sport, are part of the journey. In contrast, Bradburd's efforts to learn and to master traditional Irish music is a challenge which arises within himself, and the best part of the journey may be his success in dealing with that challenge. This is a book which transcends its subject matter, one which you can (and will) appreciate whether or not you know (or care) anything at all about basketball or Irish fiddles. It's a well-crafted and well-written book, and a great read. Highly recommended!

5 comments about High Above Courtside: The Lost Memoirs of Johnny Most.

1. This book chronicles one of the most beloved sports figures the Boston area will ever know. Johnny Most is one of the most beloved Celtic legends and the ultimate homer. His love for his children and each individual Celtic player is evident in this easy-flowing, fascinating book.
   
   Johnny narrates most of the book (with editor contributions and special sections authored by Red and Larry) in a well-versed, fun-to-read style which brings us more insight into the man's early days and career. The laugh-out-loud stories were priceless. His inspirational return after health issues and fatherly counseling of Celtic players add insight into the man's legendary character.
   
   I highly recommend this book for to all New England sports fans.
   
   JK



2. HE MAKES HIS MEMOIRS COME ALIVE. HE WAS A FANTASTIC PERSONALITY AND THE GREATEST BASKETBALL ANNOUNCER EVER. LOOK WHAT HE HAD TO WORK WITH. THE CELTICS AND ALL THOSE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
   I WISH HE WERE STILL ALIVE. THIS BOOK IS GREAT. BUY IT FOR YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY.



3. Overall, this is a worthwhile book for Celtics fans to buy. The epilog from Larry Bird alone makes it that.
   Overall, Johnny told a lot of good stories and had good detail on his years with Boston. There were a couple of problems I had, however:
   Namely, there were a lot of long quotes by players allegedly "told" to Johnny, and it was clear that they almost certainly never said them. I mean, was Johnny's memory that good, where he could recite word-for-word long passages said to him 20 years earlier?
   It would have been a better book if he had just paraphrased what he thought they told him, instead of long, ridiculously formalized passages.
   I'm a professional sports writer, and I can tell you athletes don't normally talk the way they are quoted in Johnny's book.
   But still, there are a lot of good inside stories for C's fans. The back-and-forth ribbing between Bird and Rick Robey was something I didn't know, and there are a lot of good insights from players about Johnny himself. Robert Parish recouting Johnny's penchant for call girls, for instance.
   I went to Johnny's basketball camp as a 12-year-old in Nashua, N.H., and he was very nice to all us kids. In fact, he did something nice for me; for some reason, I was getting picked on severely by a couple of older kids, to the point where I was crying and afraid to go anywhere. It was brutal. I mean, just out of the blue, these guys were making my life miserable.
   So, I went to Johnny about it. I felt like a wuss in some ways, but they were a lot bigger and older than I was, and I just felt scared. I went to Johnny one night as he was sitting alone in the kitchen watching a rerun of "Hawaii 5-O" on a little black and white TV set.
   I explained my problem, and was very concerned and sincere. A few minutes later, Johnny came into the room where all the boys had bunks and addressed it only for a minute. I can't remember the exact words he said, but it was something about how he can't stand an unfair fight, which was something he learned in the military.
   And that was it. But it was enough to get the bullies off my ass, and I was grateful to him.
   So, here's to you Johnny. Rest in peace, high above courtside.



4. In the early 80's, all my friends had state-of-the-art electronic equipment for their listening pleasure. My friend Ty had a boom-box the size of a suitcase. Scott had the first walkman of our group. Dave had a massive stereo system in his bedroom, much to the dismay of the rest of his neighborhood and, later on in the 80's, Joe's family bought a CD player.
   
   I personally could have cared less about music in those days. My "entertainment system" was a chocolate brown clock radio which the time was illuminated by an orange hue and the minute tiles flipped down every 60 seconds.
   
   I don't even remember if the radio had an FM dial. I am, however, quite certain that WBZ 1030, the flagship station of the Boston Celtics, could be heard.
   
   And the voice of the Celtics, Johnny Most, put me to sleep 82 times a year.
   
   "High Above Courtside: The Lost Memoirs of Johnny Most" is a treasure for anyone else who grew up a basketball fan in New England. Published over 10 years after his death, Most chronologically recounts his early days in broadcasting and ultimately his personal experiences with the 16 NBA championships he called throughout the years.
   
   Since his death in 1993, the Celtic organization, and the scope of the NBA has changed dramatically. Most's writing brings the reader back to the days when basketball was played the right way. He tells inside stories of every Celtic legend. There are lockerroom, hotel and plane ride adventures that only Most would know and find humorous enough to write about. And every one of the stories are terrific.
   
   Johnny Most was clearly a talented man. His writing is spectacular. I laughed out loud many times the way he recounted stories, like the day his pants caught fire from a lit cigarette...while he was on air.
   
   Most was a smart, witty, "homer" whose us-against-the-world attitude had millions of Celtic fans fired up to listen to him. His use of the English language was flawless. And his cantankerous demeanor toward referees and opposing players was priceless. Because of Johnny Most, I still call Isiah Thomas "Little Lord Fauntleroy". When Rick Mahorn flew into the stands during the Pistons/Pacer brawl, New Englanders immediately found the irony in "McNasty" being the peacemaker.
   
   The book is a time capsule. Why it was not published before his death or sometime in the last ten years is beyond me. True, "High Above Courtside: The Lost Memoirs of Johnny Most", is an autobiography, but it's also a biography of the greatest franchise in professional sports history: the Boston Celtics.
   
   It is a perfect Christmas gift for anyone who fell asleep to the scratchy, cigarette damaged, loud, surly, obnoxious yet soothing voice of New England legend Johnny Most.



5. No one ever cared as much about the Boston Celtics as did Johnny Most, the radio voice of the Celtics for 37 years including their 16 championship seasons. To him, no one in the green and white ever made a mistake. No opposing player failed to be a "bum" who was "mugging" the Celtics. The referees were all suspect . . . especially Jake O'Donnell. His rants anticipated the development of that form of entertainment, and came equipped in four different voices . . . depending on how outraged he was. Humor was always interceding as Johnny was known to get into brawls with fans, light himself on fire while smoking, insult the security guards who tried to get him to stop smoking, and told one revealing personal story after another that would leave us in stitches. But we never laughed at the man . . . but with him . . . because we knew he loved the Celtics.

   Like almost everyone who loved the Celtics, I usually listened to his broadcasts on the radio even when watching the games on television (with the sound off). I would turn on the radio to hear the post-game show whenever I left a home game. My eye would often sweep up to see what antics he was up to while attending a game.

   Basketball broadcasting hasn't been the same since Johnny left the field. Tommy Heinsohn is the closest we have now, but he's not the total fan (atic) that Johnny was.

   The book is remarkable in many ways. It fills in the gaps in Johnny's story -- as a World War II hero, as someone learning to be a broadcaster in New York, as a New York-born Jew suffering from discrimination, as a loving father of four, a good friend to everyone on the Celtics, a hilarious (but challenging) companion during road trips, a patient recovering from a stroke, and a man keeping his dignity during his final illnesses.

   Almost every page has an insider's story about one or more of the Celtics or other basketball insiders which I had never heard or read before. The stories are mostly heart-warming and are often quite funny as we find out more about the pranks that were pulled and by whom. Within those stories are subtle observations about why the various Celtics teams prospered or did not. Former owner John Y. Brown (who was widely despised in Boston) would do well to avoid this book.

   While most autobiographies build the person up at the expense of others, the comments by many of the Celtics greats at the end seem to suggest that Johnny's comments actually understate his significance to the team, the franchise and to them personally.

   One of the most fun parts of the book is where Johnny picks his top 15 opposing players (done before the full development of Michael Jordan because this book was begun many years ago while Johnny's health began to fail).

   The only thing missing from this book is a CD of Johnny calling some of the most famous moments in Celtics history. But if you've ever heard his voice, you can hear him as you read his words.

   Johnny may be famous for screaming, "Havlicek stole the ball," but in this autobiography "Most stole the scene."

   Keep cheering, Johnny, wherever you are!

5 comments about Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?.

1. I grabbed this in a bookstore discount bin because it was cheaper than the magazine I had in hand. I have Charles' other book and enjoyed it, so I thought it would be better time spent.
   
   Unlike his previous book, this isn't about Charles Barkley at all. Rather, it's a series of interviews with prominent Americans with peppered comments from Charles on racism and race relations. It was a little disjointed, and I don't think it really made any points other than racism is a bad thing and someone needs to do something about it. But I will give him points for attempting to use his notoriety to call some attention to the issue, and it was great to hear from many of the people he selected. I wouldn't have expected some of the responses I read.



2. I love the title, by the way.
   
   The premise is simple. Barkley rightly sees racism as a cancer, and he believes we need to open a dialogue on the topic, so he interviews people who have something to day. I'm sure there's a list of them elsewhere in this Amazon listing.
   
   The execution is pretty much flawless, and the subjects are chosen well. And after that, readers can simply read, enjoy, learn and ponder. A very commendable effort.



3. Until now, I was not much of a of Charles Barkley fan. I always saw him as a "washed up bully" and ex-basketball superstar, still trying to cash-in on his name recognition and tying to keep it in the "limelight" by saying outlandish and provocative things. I no longer think that after reading this book, which I bought after seeing it, and Barkley "unceremoniously put down" in Larry Elders incredibly ill conceived, confusing and poorly written book called "Stupid Black Men."
   
   My thinking was that if Larry Elders didn't like Charles Barkley, then there must still be something good and redeeming about him that I had not yet discovered. And sure enough, there was: This book, which is a miniature masterpiece. Barkley is no "Stupid Black Man," as Elders has portrayed him to be.
   
   Rather incredibly, this book is the missing dialogue on race that America has never had, and may never have. It is just the opposite of Elders' "Stupid Black Men" and the "Bill Cosby and Alvin Poussaint two-man road show:" "Come on People," in which both take the fashionable "low road of least resistance: "Just attack Black men, and you are safe: America will love you, but nothing will ever be done, and nothing will ever change:
   
   End of the American dialogue on race.
   
   Perhaps for the first time in American history, we get a collection of what fourteen successful and well-known people have to say about race in America -- rather than mindless ideological tripe, oozing out as more "Christianized racism," from the likes of Armstrong Williams and Larry Elders. And what these fourteen people (most of whom are black) have to say will not only surprise Cosby, Pousaint and Elders, but the rest of America as well.
   
   Hear what Tiger Woods, Ice Cube, Barack Obama, George Lopez, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, and many others both black, white and other colors, have to say about the racism that still exists across the American landscape in every industry and in every town.
   
   Rather than steal the book's thunder, I will simply say this: If one wants to know what the racial situation is like in America, they would be wise to interview some successful black people and others who understand and know the consequences of racism rather than listen to the "hired conservative media hit men" who all speak the same language: "Uncle Tom-speak."
   
   Five Stars



4. Although I'm not a huge basketball fan, I know who Charles Barkley is and was curious to see what type of book he would write. Consequently I was overjoyed while reading the introduction it grabbed me from the start. It's an easy read and the writers puts you at ease by making you feel as if you're listening in on a conversation with friends. I am throughly enjoying being enlightened, informed and educated all at the same time. I only wish I had know about the book when it first came out. Excellent read, I have bought numerous copies as gifts for the young men in my life.



5. For some strange reason I am a Charles Barkley fan, that is why I recieved the book. I was disappointed, it wasn't what I expected at all! Know what you are buying before ordering this book.

5 comments about Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson.

1. This book is about allen iverson and his life growing up in newport, virgina. It talks about his hardships and his life. Larry Platt describes him as 4 people: a raper, basketball player, a hero, and a father. It also talks about his accomplishments and goals in life. This book surpases any other sports biography I've ever read.



2. This book is about Allen Iverson and his life and how it was like to grow up where he lived. Iverson lived in NYC where people that he hated would try to start a fight with him. His friends would have to keep an eye on him. Allen Iverson then tried out for a team to keep him out of trouble. Then he started to play basketball and that worked because they weren't able to mess with him. Then Iverson grew up to be a professional basketball player. Iverson then played for the Sixers and became MVP. His life was really hard because his mom would stay on top of him but his mom was nice. Iverson then met a girl and she became his girlfriend and then they had a baby. Iverson just kept playing basketball and his wife was proud of him because he played so well and that's all about Allen Iverson.



3. This book on Allen Iverson just came far too soon.
   
   Allen Iverson is my favorite current NBA player partially b/c he shakes up the status quo -- not necessarily because he wants to make that his objective, but quite poetically, he's doing it just by being true to who he is.
   
   This book is a tale about a kid from the wrong side of the tracks, that basically struck it rich but admirably remains "the same" as opposed to "assimilating" just to make his economic & financial counterparts feel comfortable around him.
   
   No true criticism of Larry Platt's writing style. If he wanted to go deep into Allen Iverson's undocumented youth and youth exploits, that's fine too.
   
   Bottom line is this book, while it has several defining moments, just isn't a compelling enough read because it was written still TOO SOON.
   
   A.I., love him or hate him, totally revolutionized the NBA and the image it projected to Middle America.
   
   I'd love to read a book about his life when he's 50, 60 or 85.
   
   I'm sure he'll be on "60 Minutes" doing a "My Life & times" segment.
   
   Whoever writes the book about his life just before that interview will surely have a No. #1 best-seller.



4. This book delivers the confidence needed to endure any obstacle set before you. Larry Platt digs deep into Iverson's history to give you the experience no else has. Excellent read on the life of Allen Iverson.



5. One of the things I look for in a basketball biography is a person with an interesting story. Allen Iverson certainly qualifies.
   
   This biography is written by Larry Platt, the unofficial hip-hop hoops biographer and author of Keepin' It Real. Platt tells Iverson's story, starting with his mother's upbringing through Iverson's - starting with his life in the rough Newport News, Virginia ghetto, through his 2-year college stint at Georgetown and through first six seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers.
   
   The best part about the book is that it goes into detail on many of the controversial events of Iverson's life: the bowling alley incident in high school, his "practice" rant to the media, his arrest for allegedly throwing his naked wife out of his house, his rap album, his "disrespect" of Michael Jordan, and his relationship with Larry Brown. The media worked overtime to paint him as a 1-dimensional thug, but it never seemed to add up when you saw him dote over his children in interviews: this doesn't jibe for a guy who wants to be a thug at all costs. I mean, seriously, a warm spot for kids? Platt paints a more complete picture of Iverson, adding depth to the media characture. He exposes where the media screwed up by not correcting their own mistakes, and on occasion why they would hold a grudge. He explains Iverson's problems with Larry Brown (as well as Brown's with Iverson, which was mentioned numerously by the press). He also explains Iverson's close relationships with his friends and mentors.
   
   Platt is one of the best authors at explaining the hip hop generation. His writing is quick, easy, and entertaining. He goes into detail about the problems white middle class America has with embracing a hip hop superstar. However, his weakness is, just as it was with Keepin' it Real , is that he goes overboard in rationalizing his subject material. He adds depth to their character, but never paints a complete 3-dimensional picture. It appears he is too attached to his subjects to be objective. Once again, true to form, you find him reaching for straws at points - working a little too hard at canonizing Iverson. He mentions, but doesn't dwell on Iverson's unreliability to meet commitments, such as the aforementioned practice, or his skipping school, tutoring sessions, or even Magic Johnson's charity game. One of the worst sidestepping jobs dealt with Iverson's rap album. One of the excerpts from the song 40 Bars was "Come to me with faggot tendencies, you be sleeping where the maggots be." Platt does explain that rappers tell stories about life in the hood as 3rd person accounts as fictionalized characters and shouldn't be taken any more seriously than an author telling a story. Platt goes on to explain that Iverson was upset to think he offended people by his use of the word "faggot" which he says was a hip-hop synonym for "weak" without regard to sex, and he leaves it at that. I told this to a gay friend I know who likes hip hop and basketball and she said it is offense and if she used the "N" word and told Iverson, "Don't be offended by it. I use it to mean a stupid person, without regard to race" it would be equally as absurd, as Iverson's stereotype-based slurs supposedly surprised him. I believe Platt should have looked at the the gripes people had with the record, rather than just telling Iverson's rationalization and leaving it at that. This type of one-sided reporting pops up on more than one occasion.
   
   The strength of book is Platt explaining how Iverson's rough and hard background shaped him into the player that he became in the NBA. The other strength is his explanation of Iverson's marketing appeal. Since Jordan had broke into the league, the sponsors had been looking for the next Jordan: polite, non-threatening, and photogenic - the kind of African-American athlete who transcends race and makes middle class white America feel comfortable. The search had turned up empty, as Anfernee Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O'Neal were unable to completely fill the Jordan mold. Iverson refused to go along with this. He viewed the Nike-type opinion-less and harmless character like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods to be phony people who read what was handed to them and pretended to be somebody else in order to make money. Iverson insisted on "keeping it real." He was who he was and if you didn't like him, he didn't care, because making you happy isn't his priority. Reebok (his shoe sponsor) respected his wishes, and rather than find the next Jordan/Dr. J who would bridge the middle-class white America gap, they burned the bridge, but created a bigger bridge: to the youth of America, who liked the Anti-hero and could relate to Iverson, as their parents and authority figures didn't approve of their friends and their haircuts and/or tattoos. Reebok had done the unthinkable: they threw out the conventional wisdom of sports marketing and re-wrote the laws, and created the next big thing.
   
   If you are a fan of Iverson, definitely read it. If you aren't a big fan of his, but find him interesting or intriguing, and would like to learn more about him - because believe me, everything you thought you knew was wrong - then read it. If you have made up your mind that he is a hooligan and represents all that is wrong in basketball and nothing is going to change your mind, then don't waste your time. I'm not saying you have to think the guy is a pure saint, because he isn't, but there is more to him than meets the eye.

4 comments about The Franchise: Lebron James and the Remaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

1. A superstar player like Lebron James doesn't come along too often in the world of the National Basketball Association, "The Franchise: Lebron James and the remaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers" is the tale of who is viewed as the second coming of Michael Jordan and how he is changing the NBA everyday he plays. Award winning team of sports writers in Terry Pluto and Brian Windhorst write this story of how James brought the struggling basketball Franchise from obscurity to prominence and how Lebron James is doing more than carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers - how he is carrying the entire NBA on his shoulders. "The Franchise: Lebron James and the Remaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers" is highly recommended to sports fans and analysts who want a wide ranging look at today's NBA.



2. This book was great at providing background information on the Cavaliers in the pre-James era. It also gave great insight into the courting of James by shoe companies. It didn't give enough information in the years since acquiring James and it was poorly written with dozens of typos. Other than that, if you enjoy Lebron or are interested in learning just how much he has revolutionized a franchise, it is a worthy reading.



3. Great book for anyone who is a lebron james or cavaliers fan. lots of great input and tips in it.



4. Pluto and Windhorst do a very nice job of providing background, insight, analysis, and perspective on recent Cavs history. And not only from the time James was drafted. After a very brief review of Cavs history (literally a couple pages) prior to the Gund purchase, the authors provide an interesting look into the franchise from the time James was a freshman in high school. Alternating the Cavs saga with James progress during those four years is a really fascinating build-up to the drafting of James. Of particular import during this time is the story of the trade that got Shawn Kemp out of town and off the books (the story of their pursuit and acquisition of him in 1997 is given a long look also), followed by the dismantling of the team, and the additional dumping of salaries in the hopes of getting James.
   
   An in-depth look into the shoe companies courting James is followed by the elation of the Cavs getting the number one pick and choosing James. A chapter on the Carlos Boozer fiasco provides perspective on that situation and its short-term and long-term effects. Much time is given to the change of ownership to Gilbert (with some fascinating insights and perspective from Gund and Gilbert), the subsequent hiring of Brown followed by Ferry (discussion of the latter's playing career and move to Cleveland as GM is detailed), the rough start Gilbert had, lessons learned, and future successes ending in a spot in the NBA finals in 2007.
   
   Plenty of time is given to James, of course. By no means a detailed autobiography, enough information is given on his early years, and particularly his influences (family and friends), that a real solid picture is given of how he became a phenom early in life and how he developed into the star he is today.
   
   A couple of negatives, though. Apparently recent interviews with Gilbert, Gund, Embry, Paxson, Silas, Tait, and Ferry really give insight and perspective to past events. But no interviews with Brown or current or recent players, especially James, appear. I would have liked to get their thoughts. Also, particularly annoying were several typos and awkwardly worded sentences. I'm sure these will be cleared up in any future editions. But these are mild criticisms and do not substantially take away from the book.
   
   Meant to be a history of the Cavs leading up to James and how he has changed the franchise, the authors succeed admirably. A must-have for the hard-core Cavs fan, this would also be of interest to avid NBA fans of any stripe. In addition, casual fans would get great insight into how the Cavs got to where they are today and the impact one player can have on a franchise.

No comments about The Mogul: Eddie Gottlieb, Philadelphia Sports Legend and Pro Basketball Pioneer.

5 comments about For the Love of the Game : My Story.

1. This book tells about Micjaels jordans life all the way from his college life in north Carolina to the nab playing on the Bulls. He led them to 6 nab championships. Then he went on to win the gold in the summer olympics. He is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. In the book For The Love Of The Game. One thing that I learned about this book is that you should never give up and always keep on trying. Even if you are not good at something at first then you should not give up and keep on trying untill you get good at the thing. And that you should not just stick with one thing but, try other things. You might be good at it. And that things just do not come to you, you have to work at it. That is what I learned about the book.



3. The book is full of great photos. I especially liked the one of Jordan and Dr. J! It also has great statistics from Michael Jordan's career. The layout is very different. I did not like it all that much. I was also a little disappointed that we did not really get to see more of the real Jordan. For a brief moment, we saw his humanity when he wrote about his father. Briefly, he mentioned his family. But mostly, he wrote about himself on the court. I guess I was hoping for more humility from this superstar. I believe he has it in him but the book doesn't show it. He certainly has much to brag about, but I thought he always let his bragging be seen through his play on the court.



4. The book I read was for the love of the game. It's about Michael Jordan and his life. I'd give it four stars because it explores through his basketball statistics to personal information. He talks about how he was drafted and how he almost didn't chose nike. It talks about all the inside information. It is one of the best autobiography's I've ever read. If you like basketball or a sport, you will reall like it. I learned a lot of stuff I'd probabaly would have never known. Some of the things I didn't know was that he played baseball. He also was number 45 in basketball for a year. His first Air Jordan was band from the league. I would recommend this book for people who like sports and biography's.



5. For The Love of the Game by Michael Jordan is the best book about Michael Jordan ever. This book is so cool. The pictures are great of Michael Jordan. I have read this book four times already and I also have the paperback and the hardback. This book means so much to me because I am going through what he went through when he was in high school. He got cut from his basketball team too, and he gives me ways in the book to put that behind me and keep me going on with my life.

5 comments about The John Wooden Pyramid of Success: The Authorized Biography, Philosophy and Ultimate Guide to Life, Leadership, Friendship and Love of the Greatest Coach in the History of Sports.

1. Basketball fan or not, this is a good read. Even better if you are. John Wooden's Pyramid is a pattern for successful living with tools that provide the means & inspiration to guide you to a more worthwhile and fulfilling life. Teamwork is the foundation for success in any team effort, on or off the court. This would be a great gift for teenagers invloved in sports. Coach Wooden's teams proved you don't have to be a "glory hound" to gain recognition.



2. I think Mr. Willingham is reviewing the first edition of this book. I have seen a copy of that and there are many typos in that edition. I should know as I am a professional proofreader. But I have a copy of the second edition, the one that has the cover shown on this page, and I have found very, very few typos, and most of those small grammar things that you might find in any book. Considering this book is well over 400 pages I think it is presented very well. I do agree with Mr. Willingham that this book gives a lot of new information about the people around Coach during the Wooden Era. All in all, I find it an excellent read and a must for any Wooden follower.



3. This book has a great deal of information about John Wooden, UCLA basketball, and many of the people who were involved with Coach Wooden during the "Wooden Era". However, this book is also FULL of typographical errors, grammar problems, and such. While it does not severly impact the content, it is frustrating and irritating for such a product that has so much potential.



4. I am a licensed psychotherapist practicing in San Francisco for the past twenty years. I am always looking for books that give people a healthy and motivational structure for living life.
   John Wooden's Pyramid of Success is one of those books that I recommend to my clients. This book was recommended to me and although I did not know much about John Wooden, I was very inspired by his life and his work. His ability to educate, and help others build character, gain wisdom and expand their capacity to live a life of integrity, service and love is remarkable.
   Most people come into therapy because there is some area of their life that they are dissatisfied with. Therapy is about bringing into consciousness deeper emotional truths that can keep us from achieving a truly satisfying and meaningful life.
   The Pyramid clearly defines the actions we are taking and the decisions we are making when we are living life to the fullest. John Wooden is an important role model and teacher for us all. This book is an excellent resource for living on purpose and for reaching the upper limits of what is available to us all in life.



5. This is by far the most comprehensive book on Wooden yet. About half the book is interviews with former Wooden players, with Wooden's family, his friends, and even his former teachers. These interviews prove Wooden truly walks what he talks. The biography section is as in-depth as anything I've seen on Wooden and the amount of new information revealed is daunting. If you are a Wooden fan, or want to learn more about the former UCLA coach, this is the book for you.

5 comments about Bad as I Wanna Be.

1. In my opinion, in his prime, Dennis Rodman was a better athlete than Michael Jordan in his prime. The event that convinced me of this was a playoff game many years ago when the Bulls were playing a team where Shaquille O'Neal was the opposing center. Luc Longley, the starting Bulls center was in foul trouble and on the bench. The backup Bulls center was getting completely overwhelmed by O'Neal and the Bulls went to Rodman in an attempt to stop him. Rodman is 6'7" and around 240 pounds and O'Neal is 7'1" and well over 300 pounds. And yet, the first time that O'Neal tried to bull Rodman out of the way, he just came to a halt and this was repeated. It amazed me that this relatively little man could so forcefully stand up to the most powerful man in the NBA.
   Dennis Rodman was a difficult person, yet he was very well liked, even admired by many people. He was outrageous, at times unstable, flippant, yet there is something very endearing about his approach to life. Much of what I admired about him on the court is that he was a very unselfish player who took an absolute beating in his battles for rebounds. He was also a very smart player, when his fellow players gave an honest appraisal; they were generally universal in extolling his depth of understanding of the game of basketball.
   This book continues that Rodman tradition, standing up for himself, making no excuses and not having a great deal of concern over what people think of him. He often uses segments of bolded text to make his points, as if we need to be shouted at in order to understand his statements. At times the book is disjointed, Rodman moves from point to point in a sequence of inconsistent phrases where it is often difficult to understand the connections between the statements.
   A rebel to the core, this book is Dennis Rodman's statement of "you can put it somewhere" to the world that criticizes him. It is entertaining to read, a glimpse into the mind of a man whose basketball and general intelligence is under appreciated due to his desire to stand out as a wild man with an attitude. If he had been born 100 years earlier, he, by his own admission, would have likely been lynched.



2. I lived in Chicago during the Bulls heyday during the 2nd run of their championships, and everyone I knew had this book, or knew someone who did. I didn't have a copy, but I read it during a break, and found it to be very tiresome and really boring. Even though it's not meant to be Tolstoy, Dickens, or even a dime novel, it's really a waste of time. The book now is completely dated, and Rodman is just a nobody again. All I remember from the book was a rant against David Robinson which started, in typical 90's fashion, "the problem with David Robinson is...". Rodman went off on how Robinson didn't have what it takes to win an NBA championship (Rodman was wrong. Robinson did eventually win a few). Rodman was one of the greatest rebounders of all time, but that's really the only thing he was ever good at. He was your typical celebrity. Obnoxious, rude, outrageous, "outspoken", filled with drugs, marrying stupid women (Carmen Electra in his case), and generally moronic behaviour. The media loved people like that in the 1990's. Rodman just loved to party and behave like an idiot. In other words, typical celebrity behaviour. He did a few bad movies, wrestled in WCW (now defunct), and went on Fear Factor, but he was never a great actor, star, or writer. Just a good athlete that like being a celebrity (hence all the ridiculous clothes, dye jobs, tattoos, etc., etc.).



3. i start loving the NBA because of dennis!! i saw him ones in tv in europe!! and i start to watch the NBA !! i was reaqding the book the first time 1997 in german!! i gave it to a friend and never got it back!! i love the story about his life and all the questin he ask people and what he have done before he was a superstar!!!
   i just can say thanks dennis !! if u are in basketball u must read this book!!



4. As a longtime basketball fan, I was at first anxious to see what I would find in a tell all novel of one of the best rebounders and all around defensive players of the game. What I found was horrible talk about women and other players. Rodman's racist comments against white people are enough to scoff at no matter what color a persons skin is. His comments of "black" players being better than whites is just a terrible shameful label to put upon all of those who play the game. Would have loved to hear what Larry Bird, John Stockton, and Jerry West had to say when they heard that one!
   
   Rodman does talk in depth of the family he lived with for some of his life and I commend him for that. The only downfall to this is the fact he didn't seem to learn from them anything about class or manners. If you are looking for a book about a "worm" then you've come to the right place. If your looking for a book about the wonderful game of basketball as told by one of it's greatest players, I suggest that you look elsewhere.



5. Dennis Rodman was a fascinating bad boy who wasn't afraid of mouthing off about anyone. His book is full of a very few good stories and plenty of complaints about fellow players, basketball management, coaches, everyone. He's bitter and angry, not full of interesting anecdotes. Most of this has ceased to be relevant as his heyday of shock value has passed. For someone not intimately involved in the mid to late 1990's basketball scene, none of the information retains relevancy as time passes. This might be good as a history book for a true fan, but if you lived through the Rodman heyday, you probably picked up his memoir back then.
   
   So much is done for pure shock value, and it gets tiresome.