Basketball Books

Steve Thompson clearly shares an emotional bond with the athletes and students that he gives his life to. He once said, "Life is not only about the 4.0, you need to stop and invest in relationships." Thank you, Steve.

This book is very similar in style and purpose to John Feinstein's "Season On The Brink". The author's main focus in planning this book was to present a day to day behind the scenes look at the 1999-2000 Alabama basketball team. And for the most part that is what Stephen Thompson writes about. What he didn't plan for was the team's loving and caring relationship with Robert Scott, one of the assistant coaches who is suffering from terminal stomach cancer. Despite horrible pain Scott is always there at practices and games and always there to provide emotional support for his young team doomed themselves to a season that would gradually come apart as player after player is lost due to injury. At one time, there were not enough players to even practice. Walk on players were used in games. Yet the team is able to pull off upset wins over ranked teams, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and hated rival Auburn and came close to beating another ranked team...Florida. As a basketball fan I love this book. Thompson takes you inside the locker room, insde the coaches meeting and planning sessions. This book is never mundane. The ending is poignant yet hopeful. This is not just a great baskeball book; it's a great book.

It has been said that sometimes you don't find a book, it finds you. "A Gift Before Dying" is a book that found me. If you're a basketball fan, I hope it finds you.

You need to read this book! I am one of those people who turn down the corner on pages with vital information and this book has so many dog eared pages that I had to read it again and again (you will too).

While not the life changing book that I found The Magic of Teamwork to be, I liken this to the great books I have read by John Maxwell, Harvey Mackay and Harry Beckwith. Fun reads, tons of nuggets to improve your life, your relationships and your ability to connect with others.

Buy this book and enjoy.

I purchased this book several years ago and it is one of my favorite books I have ever read. Pat Williams is a successful GM for the Orlando Magic but and even more successful father who has adopted over 15 children. His mix of business lessons from work and life lessons from growing his family is not only inspirational, but a tribute to what a person can achieve in life. He, like myself, is a great admirer of Walt Disney, and includes many stories about him in providing examples in his book. I think anyone who buys this book will be pleasantly surprised, educated, and inspired by this great book.

...can there be any better way to spend a few hours of reading time?

I have seen other positive reviews of Mr. Guffey's book: they are well-deserved!

"The Milan Miracle" is one of those sports legacies as big as the world of sports itself. To think that the characters Mr. Guffey writes about are real--and to know that the story he tells actually happened--makes this book an even more compelling read.

With the arrival of the 50th anniversary of this milestone sports event comes another occasion to remind ourselves of the sheer joy provided by the greatest all-American game!

Perhaps it is the fact that I live in Indiana that I can relate to this book's underlying themes of fundamental human emotion: through the telling of this true David-and-Goliath story (and a fast-forward to the lessons learned in the meantime), we encounter the doubt, the disbelief, the sheer grace of high school sports the way it existed 50 years ago.

If this book merely retold the tale in order to wax eloquent about the 1950's as a "time of innocence," I could not recommend it as highly.

But here is a story that's more than a story...it's a history of a simpler time when the values of hard work, perseverance and dogged determination could carry a small-town kid to the pinnacle of achievement.

Most importantly, Mr. Guffey's book provides the encouragement that these values still exist--and are worthy of pursuit.

There is much to be said in favor of Mr. Guffey's writing style. There is an underlying respect for the characters in this book. Having seen some of the recent ESPN coverage of the 50th anniversary ceremonies, it is evident that many of the individuals Mr. Guffey interviewed are from social backgrounds as varied as their Hoosier drawls. Whether conveying the voices of the townspeople or the Milan players themselves, Mr. Guffey writes with a real respect for the characters. It's an important element of his obvious respect for the "Milan Miracle" and high school basketball in general.

I look forward to Mr. Guffey's next work!

The one class state basketball tournament. I miss it and I am not even from Indiana. I miss it despite the fact that I have never watched a single game of Indiana high school basketball. I miss it even though in Texas I have never known anything but multi-class basketball.

And reading a book like Greg Guffey's "The Greatest Basketball Story Ever Told" is a big part of why I miss the single class tournament. The story of the two-season run by the overwhelming underdog Milan Indians in 1953 and 1954 is not only the greatest basketball story ever, but maybe the greatest sports story ever.

Everything I love about small town America is here. The spirit, the hope, the despair and even the pettiness. Reading this book made me wish I was from Milan and made me wish it was 1954.

I was fascinated by the follow up stories of the players; each of them a success in life in their own way. I was deeply moved to find out that Marvin Wood, the coach, had lost a battle with cancer at around the same time of the change to a multi-class basketball tournament.

I really enjoyed this book. I'll read it again. And when I do, I'll be in the stands at Butler Fieldhouse watching Bobby Plump realize the ultimate high school dream in the ultimate American era.

Read it, and you'll know what I mean.

This book provides a very good bibliography about Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon. Hakeem Olajuwon is an amazing athlete from Nigeria who came to America and succeeded as a basketball player. He is my favorite basketball player from the NBA, and this book shows why he was so great. He's won two championships, and he even recorded an extraordinary triple-double one time. If you want a very interesting book about Hakeem Olajuwon, look no further than this one.

HAKEEM, THE DREAM, OLAJUWON! Greatest blocker,MVP of 94/5 and two time NBA champ. If you want to find more about this phenomenal player, who has lead his team, the Houston Rockets through so many victories, read this excellent book!

I loved this story of hardship and struggle. It made me realize if you have a dream go after it. I liked the reality of life portrayed in this book.I think that William and Aurthur and their families were perfect for this documentary. HOOP DREAMS HOOP DREAMS HOOP DREAMS

...Spinning, around the back swooping in for the lay-up. The kids swarmed around the b-ball court as Arthur plays ball with the other boys. He shoots lights out, drives past the defense.... Growing up, Arthur was always a top competitor. As he gets to high school he learns some hard lessons about life. As does William Gates, the other star basketball player. The book is filled with great details about the games, the dazzling life experiences, the realistic settings the book describes. The story of two boys: great basketball players growing up, living their lives through basketball, in and out of school. This book was really great; it taught me about how it is to live in bad conditions and to fight against odds to get what you want. I think everybody with a goal who is willing to work towards goals they set, should read this book.

This is indeed the definite book on college basketball, replacing the now-dated "All the Moves" by Neil Isaacs. "Hoopa" contains the complete story of college basketball across its first full century, with all the necessary rich historical detail, plus the colorful oncourt and sideline figures who made the game one of the nation's leading sports spectacles. Detailed accounts of important games and vital rule changes flesh out the sport's evolution. I highly valuable and nowhere-else-available year-by-year timeline chronicles all of NCAA basketball's highlight moments. There is also an informative chapter on the evolution of increasingly popular women's college hoops. Perhaps all that is lacking in this attractive book is an index which might have further enhanced an already first-rate effort. This book is an absolute must read for any dedicated or casual college basketball fan.

This is indeed the definite book on college basketball, replacing the now-dated "All the Moves" by Neil Isaacs. "Hoopa" contains the complete story of college basketball across its first full century, with all the necessary rich historical detail, plus the colorful oncourt and sideline figures who made the game one of the nation's leading sports spectacles. Detailed accounts of important games and vital rule changes flesh out the sport's evolution. I highly valuable and nowhere-else-available year-by-year timeline chronicles all of NCAA basketball's highlight moments. There is also an informative chapter on the evolution of increasingly popular women's college hoops. Perhaps all that is lacking in this attractive book is an index which might have further enhanced an already first-rate effort. This book is an absolute must read for any dedicated or casual college basketball fan.

Hoops of Steel is a powerful and realistic portrayal of a high school senior and how he copes with life's difficulties. His problems range from the very serious (alcoholic father and shattered family) to the not-so-serious (zits and smelly feet). The author is honest in his approach and does not attempt to solve all of his main character's issues. Instead the main character struggles to make choices as people do in real world. Basketball is used as a vehicle for the story but it could just as easily have been any school activity. This should not be dismissed as "just another basketball story" since it is much deeper than that.

Jackson is beginning his senior year with one goal: To play basketball and get a college scholarship to a division I college. He lives with Granny (who is not his actual grandmother, but rather a kind neighbor who took him in when things "got crazy" about a year ago). Even though Jackson didn't play basketball during the previous year's season due to a broken hand, he's been honing his skills with friends from his school's rival team. Even though he still battles ferocious acne and shyness, Jackson feels he is handling life well and is looking forward to when basketball practice begins.

That's when the coach informs Jackson that he won't be a starting player. He is the only good senior and the coach's goal is to develop the younger players in hopes of a winning season next year.

And Jackson wonders why everything he touches turns out bad. He's separated from his family, won't be able to get that scholarship, and he is being shunned by most people at his school. He even considers quitting the team. On several occasions.

Will Jackson chase his dream when there doesn't seem to be any hope? Will others' actions choose the destiny of his life or will he be in charge? That's a tough question for a high school senior to figure out.

Many readers will relate to Jackson's self-doubt and will understand why he might give up. Readers will also cheer for Jackson as he makes small steps towards recovering from his turbulent past and to live for himself rather than others.

HOOPS OF STEEL is a realistic book full of real pain and real surprises. It is also filled with good friends, hope, and determination. If only everyone would continue to do what they love even if it might not make their dreams come true.

Reviewed by: Dianna Geers

I bought and loved this book a couple of years ago and it disappeared when a well meaning friend "borrowed" it for a school project. Mr. Lawrence, I've seen a million Indiana high school ball games and I grew up in the culture. I love your descriptions of the gyms and the pomp and ceremony surrounding Indiana H.S. basketball.I've seen pennies thrown at coaches and players in Loogootee, I've seen fights in the parking lot at Southport versus Tech in the 70's , I've seen future NBA players get the crud kicked out of them by future insurance agents (no embarrassing ID's,OK?), and I have seen my cousins battle my childhood friends in games that made my skin crawl with sheer emotion. I,like you, despise class basketball in Indiana .....may its' reign be short (Agh...years and counting) and boring.

Indiana holds a well-earned reputation as a basketball-loving state. And not surprisingly, many a book has been penned about "Hoosier Hysteria," the state's longtime love affair with its high school cage teams.

One might assume that this 343-page title would fit neatly into that genre. Indeed, there is much here to please the diehard Indiana sports fan. Virtually every school in the state is referenced by its enrollment, its team name, the age of its gymnasium, its noted alumni, and its crosstown arch-nemeses.

Yet the Hoosier Hysteria Road Book covers far more ground -- succeeding not only as a sports publication, but as an Indiana travel guide, a history book, and a humorously incisive work of sociology.

For some years, author Dale Lawrence has been the chief singer and songwriter of the Vulgar Boatmen, a critically-acclaimed rock band. As something of a sports outsider, he brings a unique perspective to the world he explores. He also offers prose that is observant, intelligent, and often borders on the lyrical.

On the dimmed lighting and atmosphere of a recently retired gym in Zionsville: "The game was played in a smoky haze, how I've always imagined watching a prizefight used to be. It was like having a dream about a basketball game."

On the horn in Columbus North's gym: "It's in stereo: two simultaneous but separate noises emanating from opposite corners. One is a sputtering BZZZ, like a novelty hand buzzer or an alarm clock on its last legs. The other sound is a sustained TOOOT, like a cartoon tugboat whistle. You can hardly believe it hasn't been replaced ages ago, and no doubt some misguided soul will someday do just that."

On Logansport's school mascot, ostensibly Felix the Cat: "The current live mascot is a rather paunchy incarnation of the famous cartoon character, which you probably wouldn't immediately recognize as Felix (or even a cat). With its mouth permanently screwed open to one side, it most closely resembles a bear doing an imitation of Buddy Hackett."

Reasoning that no game is complete without dinner afterwards at a local restaurant, Lawrence also devotes a fair portion of his book to recommending funky local eateries across the state. In fact, he seems willing and eager to review virtually any tidbit that wanders across his path. An ancient Presbyterian church in Williamsport. School pep bands. The lyrics of school fight songs. The crowds. The gyms. The popcorn at the gyms' snack bars. Public address systems. Game announcers. Call-in radio shows heard on the way to and from particularly distant destinations. All are dutifully considered with a mix of reverence and affectionate amusement -- a tone that steers thankfully clear of condescension and irony.

Lawrence has an evident and heartfelt love of Indiana basketball, and a passion for all things unique. In a world where the individual is being overtaken by the corporate, where chain stores are homogenizing the national landscape, where distinctions between peoples and places are fast disappearing, the Hoosier Hysteria Road Book is an homage to the singular and eccentric -- an invaluable celebration of those small, oft-overlooked differences that make our lives worth living.

I reccommend this book to sports fans of all ages... it's a great book, now my fave of all time! This is the best book I've ever read!

Huskie Mania is among some of the finer works of modern non-fiction sports literature in print today. Huskie Mania, which is both editorial and factual, contains Shea's thoughts and opinions on the University of Connecticut's basketball teams, both men's and women's, as well as exclusive information on coaches, team members, and games not found anywhere else. And along with his sentimental view points are the authentic, legitimate, unquestionable, and valid approaches to what really went on behind the scenes of college basketball at the University of Connecticut. Unique in its approach, breathtaking in its style and brilliant in its sincerity, Huskie Mania is a must-read for children, teenagers, adults, parents, and especially basketball fans. I reccomend this book to anyone who has ever had a dream to do something amazing, for it will inspire you to become anything you want to be. Shea, if you are out there, congratulations on a book well written and a job well done. You truly are one of the, if not the, greatest author of all time.

I Got Game is an outstanding and highly recommended collection of humorous cartoon strips by Matt Beeuwsaert centering around Zac Ryan, a 15 year old basketball player delusions of basketball grandeur. Zac's dreams higher than the stars -- or at least higher than he can jump, but that doesn't stop Zac from trying. Witty, drawn with energy, and a vivaciously funny page-turner, everyone who ever aspired to athlete prowess and felt themselves destined for the majors will find a lot of truth embedded in the undeniably and irresistible humor.

"I Got Game" is a comic book with an exaggerated and humoristic view of a young boy, Zac Ryan, and his encounters with family, friends, teamates, and coaches. He LOVES basketball more than anything, but Zac is a legend in his own mind and has an inflated opinion of his own ability. Invariably, that causes him to fall on his face, all the while we fall in love with the character. Many life (or at least basketball) lessons are evident to the reader - but not to Zac.

If you are a young basketball player it's hard to "Be Like Mike" but every player can remember - "Don't Be Like Zac!"

The artwork is great, the characters are lovable (and easily compareable to people in every readers basketball past), and the situations are quite humorous. The author, Matt Beeuwsaert, is a former professional basketball player and draws from his experiences to create this hit book. Look for Zac Ryan, his friends, and the book "I Got Game" to be a huge success.