Basketball Books

I found this book very interesting. I watch the Tv series every day, it is my most fave show. The books are great because they are the same as the show and keep me reading. I recomend this book to everyone 10 and over. One thing to say BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!

As a loyal watcher of the show 7th Heaven and a dedicated Christian; I only wish their were more books like this out there for young readers. The show 7th Heaven has always been about a real family dealing with real issues in the real world; this book which is part of the 7th Heaven Series of books based on the popular WB show shows all of the values and expands on many of the same situations as the show does. In this particular book Mary and Lucy Camden show how being "Sibling Rivals" who are constantly bickering can have an affect on the entire family, and on themselves. Again I say if only there were more series like this one out there, our world would be a better place.

I would recomend this book to anybody it teaches you some great family morals and you learn alot from it. I would not recomend this for little kids because there is a lot a talk about sex so don't give it to any young kid. but it is a very awesome book.

I think that it talked a lot about family and love.It was the best book I read on the subject. It was a great book that I say everyone should read it.

Rivals is based on a great episode of 7th Heaven, but the book goes into more detail than the show. I also recommend Mary's Story and Matt's Story!

just wanted to say I loved Ms. King's book, " she's got next." it was refreshing to read about basketball written from her perspective. like ms. king, i grew up down south, which is sports-mad; but my alma mater was more of a football school. that is not to say my school's basketball team didn't have its moments; they made the final four a couple of times, plus they had shaq and chris jackson, so they did ok. some of the scenes which ms. king writes about basketball being played on the playgrounds of chicago and l.a. made me misty-eyed, they were so nostalgic. ms. king's self-depricating humor made her story more accessible and fun.plus the scenes which she coaches a youth team were also fun to read about. the urban flava comes through the prose easily. it's as if dorothy parker wrote a basketball book and tricked it out with some hip-hop beats...

This is a funny and inciteful book that looks into the life of a young lady as she moves from rural Arkansas to Chicago. Following a course that a lot of us have had to take she was lonely, bored, and generally unhappy. Eventually she remembered how much she had enjoyed playing basketball and turned to playing as a way to pass the time, meet people, develop a life.

Basketball was her thing, never with a thought of turning pro or anything like that (she admits to not being very good), but just finding a place to be.

That sounds kind of dull, but it's a story of finding oneself, of growing up. And through basketball she is able to discover things about the issues of race, class, gender, religion, sexual politics and love.

Hers was a trip that I had to take long before she was born. I can only wish that I'd had the literary skill to record it as well as she does. This is a delightful book.

I love this book! An industry friend loaned me his advance copy. I took it home and read it in one sitting. I plan on buying several copies to give to friends as beach reads for the summer and a copy for my daughter--this is not a kid's book, but King's life is an example of independence, the importance of taking risks and making hard choices, and balancing working hard with patience and fun.

King's voice is utterly appealing as well as fresh and unique. I've never read a book quite like this. Not just a memoir, almost a novel in it's narrative coherence and construction, not a self-help book yet relentlessly thoughtful, laugh out loud funny one moment and heartbreaking the next.

You'll root for King, want to be friends with her, rush through to find out what happens to her next. As another reviewer wrote, you don't need to know (or care, really) about basketball to enjoy this book. It's not chick-lit and men will enjoy it as much as women for the humor, the sports, and the lovely and brilliant author/protagonist. If you like southern literature, King's voice will fit right into the tradition for you, but the book takes place not only in the south, but in Chicago and LA as well, so city slickers will recognize their neighborhoods and neighbors and likely get a new perspective on city life.

A recent review in a newspaper compared King to Walker Percy and I hear the book will be featured in "Entertainment Weekly" magazine this summer. This book could get big, so enjoy the pleasure of reading it while it's still under the radar. Published in paperback, it's low price and great cover seem to match perfectly the plain spoken yet utterly lovely book inside.

Don't miss this one. There's not another book out there like this. A true original.

and, boy, I'm glad I was. My grown son brought this to me thinking I would love it because he's played basketball all his life and I've played with him and coached when he was younger. This a great story about the way sports can effect a life. If you've ever known the pleasure of casual play (of any game, not just basketball and not just sports) you'll find this familiar, fun, and inspiring. I'm going to hit the local Y today and shoot around and try test my powers of observation against King's amazing ability and I can't wait to talk to strangers and strange people again as we work towards a common goal (across race, class, gender, and, at times, skill), an experience I've not had in years and now hope to make part of my retirement. Be forewarned there is some explicit language, but nothing shocking or gratuitous--the author is clearly a master of the language and using just the right words at just the right moment. What gifts some of us get! To have her basketball skills and writing abilitiy. . .this writer has been blessed.

After reading this book, I have no doubt King's star is rising. Don't worry, you need know nothing of basketball to appreciate this honest examination of an individual life and the complicated interactions of humans. A joyful and hillarious read, King also examines our shortcomings and most desperate needs. The work of a philosopher, comedian, and athelete, you can't go wrong with this lovely memoir. Fans of David Sedaris and Anne Lamott will be especially pleased.

Pat Riley is one of the most successful basketball coaches the sport has known. In this book he tells the story of how he made it happen for the Lakers during the 86-87 season.The book is filled with anecdotal material showing how a coach motivates his players. Fans will also enjoy his stories of the big stars, and the inside insights of the relations in a team fighting for the championship.
However I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. It is choppily written. The supposed humor is not really there. Perhaps this is because the world of sports no longer fascinates me as it did when I was a child, but I found a lot of this slow- going indeed.

The 1987 Lakers IMO were without a doubt the greatest nba team ever assembled. Yes better than the 96 Bulls, 67 Sixers, or the 86 Celtics. The book describes the teams journey to the nba finals. And it states some intresting facts of how James Worthy almost got traded to Dallas. The Lakers finished the season with a 65-17 record. The went 15-3 in thr playoffs. Defeating the Nuggetes 3-0, the Warriors 4-1, the Sonics 4-0, and finally defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2.

Must Have book for Showtime Laker Fans!!!!!

Other reviews miss the point. This is my most recommended book on the art of Management. How do you manage such a diverse group of world class atheletes! That is the problem! Look at what happened with Phil Jackson and Kobe and Shaq. Disaster. Pat Riley's book is a clear set of instructions on how to manage a small group of high-power folks - like a high-power software team. This belongs well dog-eared on the shelves of the quality manager along with the Foundation Trilogy and Harold Geneen's Managing. IMHO.

Pat Riley is the legendary NBA coach who lead the Los angeles Lakers to four NBA titles in the 80's. In 1984-85, the Lakers won their third title of the decade (second under Riley) over their hated rivals the Boston Celtics. There were high expectations for the 85-86 season, but they were knocked out of the playoffs by the underdog Houston Rockets and failed to defend their title. The book takes us through the 86-87 season in which Mr. Riley strives to get his team back on top. We get to see how an NBA season underfolds from the point of view of arguably the best coach in history. He gives an insider's thoughts on all-time greats like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. Mr. Riley has a wry sense of humor and his take on things makes this book a highly entertaining and insightful read.

Coach Riley provides basketball fans of all ages with a game-by-game chronicle of the Los Angeles Lakers' glorious 1986-87 season. Riles explains why complacency drove the previous year's team to an early exit in the Western Conference Finals and tells how he reversed their attitudes. He takes you inside the locker rooms and profiles the club's stars. Peter May's book, The Last Banner, claims that the 1985-86 Boston Celtics are the best team ever. Even though I haven't read this publication, I'd have to disagree with that statement. The Lakers were a very special team in '86-'87 that were on a mission. I would highly recommend for anyone to obtain a copy of this book. It certainly is a collector's item that I will forever treasure.

I'm a basketball fanatic, I love every aspect of the game. I watch it as a spectator, I coach, I ref, I organize, I do whatever to help the game advance. I also read a lot. I bought this book few years back and read it, I loved every minute of it. Every page had something interesting, some piece of advice. I knew most of it, I got a different perspective on a lot of things and a lot of ideas. Unfortunately, I forgot about this book in my bookshelf. I came across last week and started reading it again, it's still as good as it was the first, second and third time I read it. It's something I will likely come back to every now and then, just like some other excellent basketball books. Highly recommended for everyone who loves basketball.

This new version of the late Dick DeVenzio's classic book of basketball 'tips' has been re-typeset and is much easier to read thanks to his Point Guard College protege Dena Evans. Every player and coach should have a copy of this book. Amazon's price is great on this hardcover edition. I bought the original in 1995 when I broke my foot and was unable to play ball for two years. Now I have bought copies for my son and his high school coaches along with DeVenzio's Runnin' the Show.

The things covered in Stuff are not found in any other basketball book I have read-- things many coaches surely know, but don't remember to teach and reinforce- or things they have forgotten and never really put into words. If you are a player or coach or know one, buy this book.

Coaches: You may try, but you can't teach every principle and golden rule in this book. So give it to them on their birthday's and they might surprise you by making the play you wanted them to make, without teaching it to them. Coach Dick "stuff" Devenzio did.
Players: surprise your coach by knowing and performing what he wants, before he even tells you.
As a player I would have liked to keep this book in my sportsbag, as a coach I would have liked to have written this book myself.

Although this book is in alphabetical order it doesn't jump all over the place. They try to keep a continuous flow to make it interesting and informative. The best point of this book is to give you a different approach to almost anything you'd encounter in a game.

It is exactly what I was looking for. The price was right and the book could only be found on Amazon. Thanks

Not only does this book give a remarkable description of the 97'/98' season but also a in depth look at the previous seasons and how the Jazz came to be in Utah. It is the best written Jazz book I have ever read and I will read it over and over. Michael Lewis has wrote the book in away that all the memorable moments come rushing back to you as if you were still in front of the T.V. celebrating with your friends. It brings it back to life.

This book is a summary of the 97-98 Utah Jazz season; and even as a diehard Jazz fan, I didn't know of some of the sticky situations that went on in their season and what a miracle it was that they made the finals. The whole state of Utah (they're all Jazz fans, right?) needs to read this book; along with any other Jazz fan.

Not only does this book give a remarkable description of the 97'/98' season but also a in depth look at the previous seasons and how the Jazz came to be in Utah. It is the best written Jazz book I have ever read and I will read it over and over. Michael Lewis as wrote the book in away that all the memorable moments come rushing back to you as if you were still in front of the T.V. celebrating with your friends. It brings it back to life.

I just finished this book and I can't say enough about it. It describes the Jazz's season perfectly! If you get 1 book this year make it this one.

I bought this book recently and I must say that I love it! The author is honest about the team, writing about the good times, bad times and how players react to all kind of distraction. I strongly recommend this book for all the Jazz fans out there. This is a well written book which alows the reader to travel with the team, hear what they have to say and see how they react to reporters for example. Just buy it.

This was a great book for any Vince Carter fan. It was extremely easy reading and I enjoyed greatly. Great pictures for those who do not enjoy reading. High flying fun.

The book Fast Breaks:The Vince Carter Story by Doug Smith is jam-packed with awesome facts and eight crazy photos of Carter in action.This book is for all basketball and Carter fans because it talks about Carter's struggles and accomplishments throughout his NBA career.I really enjoyed this book becuse it has everything you need to know about Vince Carter,up to how many contests he has won like the famous Slam Dunk Contest when he shocked everyone with three outstanding dunks and where he got the nickname Halfman-Halfamazing.I really admired Vince after reading this book because he's a good player,and he loves his family and friends.I really recommend this book to all basketball fans out there.

The book Fast Breaks:The Vince Carter Story by Doug Smith is jam-packed with awesome facts and eight crazy photos of Carter in action.This book is for all basketball and Carter fans because it talks about Carter's struggles and accomplishments throughout his NBA career.I really enjoyed this book becuse it has everything you need to know about Vince Carter,up to how many contests he has won like the famous Slam Dunk Contest when he shocked everyone with three outstanding dunks and where he got the nickname Halfman-Halfamazing.I really admired Vince after reading this book because he's a good player,and he loves his family and friends.I really recommend this book to all basketball fans out there.

This was a great book for any Vince Carter fan. It was extremely easy reading and I enjoyed greatly. Great pictures for those who do not enjoy reading. High flying fun.

I think the Vince Carter story is a very cool book, because I learned a lot about my favorite player. Also, there are lots of good pictures of him. I never really like to read before, but this book motivated me to pick up a book, and start reading. I would have a good review for this book, because it was easy to read for my grade level. However, any person who loves Vince Carter (like a fan, of course) would definitely love The Vince Carter Story. I myself enjoyed it very much, because of its informational content and facinating photos of Vince's dunks.

This is an excellent book for all those WNBA fans out there-it describes the league's inagural season in outstanding fashion. It also gives hope to all those kids out there who dream of becoming professional basketball players.

I THINK THIS BOOK SHOWED HOW MUCH WE REALLY NEEDED THE WNBA.THE BOOK TELLS IN A WAY THAT LITTLE GIRLS CAN STILL DREAM BIG....AND THAT IT CAN COME TRUE.

This is an great book, greatest book made about the WNBA thats for sure. I really dont enjoy reading books much but just by reading this book made me want to read alot of other books. This book tells you about the WNBA all you need to know and want to know, this book has it. It starts out with how it all started to making it work to the rules to what they want for the future of the WNBA. It also tell you a little about some players. Also it tells you some of the greatest woman players that ever thouched the ball. GREATEST BOOK EVER MADE ABOUT THE WNBA!

This is a really wonderful pictorial book about the WNBA!! It has many worderful color photos. I also has photos you probably couldn't get anywhere else!!! It includes sketches for the uniforms, many publicity photos and a wonderful text!!!It truly is a Celebration of the WNBA!!!!!!!

After decades of attempting to promote women's sports, the first successful women's professional basketball league was launched in 1997.

Spurned on in part by the successful performance of the women's basketball team at the 1996 summer games, the WNBA was explicitly positioned as the fulfillment of Title IX and something that everybody (women and men) should become a supporter of.

The Women's National Basketball Association succeeded because it had media visibility, could generate money to do additional promotion of the teams, and WNBA teams received separate names from their male counterparts. This reinforced the idea that these women are professional athletes.

I have been a devoted fan ever since that historic first season. I especially loved that my Comets were the first league champions (a title which they held until recently). Because so many other people had placed bets on New York (which at least in the 1970's was an epicenter for women's rights) having Houston lead the way in professional women's sports was a nice surprise.

There has been some reshuffling of the teams (Utah, Cleveland, and Miami's teams have transferred cities or folded all together). However this league is surpassing the expectations of people who assumed that the WNBA would not last. We have shown the doubters that women's professional basketball is here to stay in America.

Although there are salary (the players in this league are paid low for professional athlete standards) and financial issues (the WNBA has yet to make a profit as defined in business terms) the WNBA scores lots of points in my book.

Reviewed by Nick Gauvin (age 12) for Reader Views (8/07)

It's the year 2024, 20 years since your favorite baseball team (the Boston Red Sox) won the World Series, and you and your friends are worried that the 86-year Curse has once again settled on the Red Sox. So during the summer you and your friends (Peter "capisce" Capiscio, Joe "lights" and Paul "paulie" Beacon and you, Jerry "tags" Taglia) come up with a crazy plan to steal it for them. The Plan includes a new system of umpping called the "Cleanerama" which is controlled by cameras and sensors around and on the field called "the Brain," your dad who is a button salesman, a cannibal who lives in the sewer, and a hot dog.

Now let me tell you more about the characters. Capisce is twice the size of everyone else and is stronger than the rest. Lights is the fastest of all of them and is twins with paulie. Tags' dad is a button salesman and one day buys him a Louie Cardinale series glove (and by the way, he's his idol) and tells him to rub baby oil on it to help it squeeze easier. Then, about two weeks later, he and his friends get together and his friends are shocked by the glove. By that time, it is the second half of the season and the red sox are ten games ahead of everyone else and they think that even the Red Sox can't lose this lead.

Overall, I think that "The Year They Won" is an excellent book for anyone who likes baseball. Great job, Gerard Purciello!

This is a lively and fun book about four friends (Jerry "Tags" Taglia, Peter "Capisce" Capiscio, Paul "Paulie" Beacon, and Paul's twin brother, Joe "Lights" Beacon) and the Boston Red Sox. The friends come up with a wild plan to steal the World Series of 2024 for the Sox, who haven't won the Series in twenty years. They spend their whole summer working on the Plan, but the Plan goes hilariously wrong! (Turns out that the boys are brave enough to face the cannibal in the sewer, but they're no match for an elderly security guard.)

What do a robotic umpire, the "Cleanerama," a button salesman, and the "World's Best Sausage" have in common? Not much, but they all come into play in this wacky and entertaining novel about buddies, baseball, and the Boston Red Sox. (Did I mention the cannibal in the sewer?)

One might describe this book as a wonderful Sox adventure. Gerard Purciello is an amazing author. I would read other books by Mr. Purciello. (However, the language could have been chosen more wisely for the displayed age group.) All and all, I loved THE YEAR THEY WON. It's a great book, not only for Red Sox fans, but for all baseball fans'well, maybe not Yankee fans (just kidding)!

By a Flamingnet Book Reviewer for www.flamingnet.com

This book took me back to my summer vacations and hanging out with the kids in the neighborhood. Summer vacation...We never wanted it to end...And this book has magically captured those childhood days.
It is just terrific!
I should also mention, that my son, a very reluctant reader loved it. As a parent in search of books for a young boy (he's 11) who doesn't like to read, I found The Year They Won to be a real winner!

I knew I was going to like this book after just a couple of pages. The characters reminded me of my own childhood friends and the fun we had playing stickball and impersonating our heroes. The story was very creative (I was getting tired of reading recaps of the 2004 Red Sox season - this isn't one of them) and makes you want to grab your son or dad and go watch a game.

Can't wait to read more books by Purciello.

This book made me want to spend all day playing with my friends again and dreaming up outrageous schemes. It made me want to lie in the grass and listen to cicadas in the trees, and bats cracking on balls.

Chock full of funny characters and scary chases through dark tunnels! Exciting behind the scenes glimpses at a Fenway Park we only dream about.
Made me smell the hot dogs. A kids book that grown-ups will love.

John Wooden is an amazing coach. he led UCLA for many successful years. So, while I haven't read this book yet, I am assuming it must be the most masterfully written book ever produced. It is going to be a smooth read, almost as smooth and a micheal jordan stride to the hoop and open mouthed slam dunk.

If you've read a lot of Coach Wooden's books, you may be familiar with his wisdom, maxims and his wonderful pyramid of success; this book studies the methodology of his teaching and how he applied his wisdom to the successful transfer of knowledge and skills. If you're a teacher, buy this book!

Any coach should take the philosophies of John Wooden to heart, they work! Using his teachings you can win games and the players have a heck of a lot better experience. After a dismal record in only my 2nd season fresh out of college I started researching his work, and applying it - only to have one losing season over the next 7. Started to get away from his teachings recently making my frustration levels go through the roof so bought this book as a refresher, it helped and recommend it to all coaches.

Ron Gallimore and Swen Nater combine their incredible knowledge about teaching and basketball to deliver a new and insightful look at the teaching practice of John Wooden. The book is a wonderful balance of personal stories from Nater and insights about teaching and learning from Gallimore that demonstrate just how incredibly wise, intentional, and gifted The Coach was and is. This book demonstrates the hard work, preparation, courage, and commitment to continuous learning that defines quality teaching. A must read for every teacher and coach.

Swen Nater knows John Wooden - that much is clear. Clear too, is what a great teacher John Wooden was and, continues to be. This is a book any teacher can learn from. Sure it is great for coaches, but when a teacher is looking for guidance on how to handle varying student potential within their class, is it better to treat everyone the same - or to treat each individual differently, according to their personality, talent, ability, commitment etc. as Wooden did? Swen does a great job of interjecting his own life's experience into the priniciples Wooden taught. And he uses those of "Alcindor", Wicks, Walton, Allen and others to make the stories fit the lesson. This is textbook material, or should be required reading for aspiring or experienced teachers - 5 Stars plus!

I picked up a copy because I heard Pat on a radio interview and felt I could use a book on "finding your passion and pursuing it". Boy! I never thought I would enjoy the book so much...I couldn't put it down. Thanks Pat for sharing so much of your life with us! I am a Latin girl who really doesn't get much into American sports, I admit I read it for the "success" part, but I learned so much about sports and the front office operations that now I enjoy keeping up with the trades, drafts, etc. My husband has been impressed! I recently re-read it!

Pat Williams has done it again! This autobiography gives the reader a courtside seat to Williams wonderful life. He takes us from his boyhood, to his days playing with a Miami farm club (baseball), all the way to his current position with the Orlando Magic. He has many great stories, and lessons to share upon the way. He also gives a detailed account of how becoming a Christian has fullfilled all that was missing in his life. Pat Williams is the master motivator, and once again encourages the reader to reach for the stars, and go for it! A must read for everyone.

This is my third Pat WIlliams book and unlike the others which are "teaching books," this book tells the story of the story behind the stories! Pat Williams is a person with goals, dreams and objectives and without stepping on others, he sets out to achieve them. But like most people who have gained a degree of success in their life, the road has not always been smooth and paved with gold. This is a book that mirrors the "teaching books" in that it shows that Pat Williams actually has practiced what he preaches. Although filled with sports related stories, this book is also for those in businesses and careers that have nothing to do with the world of sports. Warning: Once you pick the pick the book up, you will have a hard time putting it down.

This is a well-written and enjoyable book to read. Contains interesting stories that make you really feel like you know Mr. Williams by the end. Great reading for a sports enthusiast. You sense the enthusiasm in which Mr. Williams lives his life. However, you also sense that this enthusiasm stems from his ego, which literally oozes off the pages. This leaves the reader questioning whether Mr. Williams, despite all of his religious speaking engagements, is a humble Christian or an ego-driven people pleaser.

He frequently mentions his ex-wife and 18 children (14 foster children). I would like to read his biography from their perspective.