Basketball Books

For keith the opportunities for his family were his main focus. He was sure of the longevity of his decision. Keith's bestfriend Curtis had a different agenda which is probably why they are such good friends they both respected each other and the game. maybe Keith was slightly envious of each other since all Keith could think of doing what he had to do where Curtis seems to have more freedom.

The loss of his father made him feel even more obligated to step up, dealing with his own guilt and possibly losing Sherry. The shock of finding out his father never forgave himself for allowing Keith to make the choices he made must have been a slap in the face considering a poor kid from BedSty growing up and attending Harvard is a pretty impressive feat since most people in the hood never imagin getting out.Attending a Ivy league school would be any parents' dream. Keith was confident he did the right thing, sending the message that there is more than one way out,Curtis on the other hand is what we all see the fast track to success and money which isn't the wrong way but im sure Keith wonders what if he had taken the other route.

Well I think that there is a lot of reason for motivation in this story. First I think that Derrick is motive by the idea that he can beat any one on that court. Black or white bigger or smaller it din t matter. But then he wanted to stay loyal to his friend, but could not cause his dad wanted him to go to the better school to help him in the long run. So then his motive was to show his dad no matter what he would make it. But he was scared. Then when he was doing well he thought that he could help his family that is when his parents got there jobs and his sister got in to the school. But he still felt bad cause of his friend. He was not getting and playing time because there were a lot of good players on his team. But then he thought that just maybe he could do what he wanted to do from day one that he picked up a ball, make it pro. But should he get his education first. But then he and his family say that he could go to school with a broken leg and 5 million dollar but not to the NBA with a broken leg. So that is why he did what he did. I think that he made a good decision. Great story K-FAB. This is a great way to learn, I think that this help a lot better then a book.

I think Keith Marconi motivation to making a decision on going to harvard and not taking an NBA contract was first his family and giving them a better life. I also think that he wanted to make sure he had a better education so that if he ever got shut out of the NBA he would have a fall back job or carrer he could attend to. He realized that he had to make a choice at the last years of his school at harvard is he had to finally think about himself and make sure he has a better life. Joining the NBA was his dream but he also realized he had to make a choice of bettering himself for the rest of his life.

When given the opportunity of fortune and fame over a Harvard education, Keith chose the Harvard education. The first time he did it to help his family become more secure, the second time he did it for himself. He believes if he focuses then opportunity will follow.
In order to make an educative decision, Keith asked for advice from the ones he loved in hopes that they will be proud of him as well as be there for him no matter where his path in life will go. It is that strength that allows him to make one of the biggest decisions in his life. His family motivates him to push himself to do the right thing. As seen in articles today, when it comes to professional sports, one day you're on top the world and the next you're like everyone else. At least with an education the possibilities are endless.

Keith Marconi.....seems like a well mannered, unselfish, honest man. In the beginning of the story he wants to do what is right for all the people around him. He chose, i think wisely, i might have done the same. It was a hard choice to decide for happiness for the people around you. The happiness for them was an obvious definite. It seemed like a coin toss for him to find the same.

Later in the story once again he is stabbed with a hard decision. But this time he finally takes all the determination he has and uses it for himself. He finally decides to stay in school and furthur educate himself like he wanted.

I think Keith had made two very good decisions in a round about way.

OMIGOD I AM SO EMBARASSED..I WROTE ABOUT BARNYARD BATTLE IN HERE .WHERE IS MY BRAIN...FORGIVE MEEEEEEEE.

Well,this book is good too.In it,the girls cheering team,including Jesica of course,want to show the boys that they ARE good at sports too and form their own basketball team.Steven is their very tough coach.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I am a really big fan of Sweet Valley Twins' books and this book is unmissable! It's really funny when Jessica refuses Bruce's pleading and gives an offer that he can't resist! I recomend it to every Sweet Valley fan!

this is my favorite sv twins book for sure. i totally love how jessica and the other take charge of bruce and the other players. this book is great

Twins Jessica and Elizabeth are interested in playing basketball,but when they start up a girls team,the boys are less than impressed,and act like a girls team is no big deal.So when the boys diss the girl's matches,the girls' cheerleading team refuses to cheer at the boys games,until the boys realize that they need the cheerleaaders.The girl's promise to cheer,only one condition.Look at the cover..can you guess what it is?!(giggle)

I dont THINK I have already written this review..when the twins' class is sent to a pioneer farm,a bet is on with the boys as to which gender will get by easiest...i think I have written about this b4..oh well..By the by,this book seems to REALLY get girls fired up!

This is excellent reading if you enjoyed the movie. It just gives the reader a deeper look into the lives of Arthur and William. There is so much detail we didn't get in the movie. In the book, we learn about additional family members and best friends. Who knew William lived with his sister when he started attending St. Joes? We found out more about race relations at St. Joes and that William had janitorial duties at the school to offset his financial obligations. There's more to how William felt about Coach Pingatore. We learn more about Arthur and his relationship with his father. Best of all, there is more about their lives once they begin college. It's a must read for everyone who enjoyed the movie.

Summarized by, Isaac Sarate

Two kids dream of playing basketball is offered a chance to shine. Who will succeed, and who will fail? It all begins in the city Of Chicago; two young athletes are offered to play basketball at a private school. This school is known as a basketball powerhouse. The often required pay for enrollment but since these gifted athletes play basketball and play it well the school pays for the expense. The only requirement to get this scholarship is to maintain a passing GPA.
The young boys by the Name of William Gates and Arthur Aggee are in a documentary of the life in the hood trying to succeed at basketball and life. Arthur comes from rough life of abusive, drug dealing, never there dad. He struggles to adapt to the private school. He soon is released due to failing grades and no money to maintain him enrolled. Arthur returns to his former high school. He never gives up his dream and works on every aspect of his life school, family, basketball, and most importantly his belief in himself. While all the hard times in his life he becomes stronger at basketball proving many wrong.
While Arthur was struggling at the beginning William gates was competing highly at the varsity level as a freshmen. He played 3 strong years for the school school. Offered many scholarships William comes to the point where the S.A.T.S gets in his way of his dreams of playing college ball. His final year as a senior playing basketball was cut short with injury to his knee. Rehabbing his knee while his teams try's to return to state. Will William Gates be able to play again in high school let alone play in college?
The most inspirational part of the story was when Arthur's father really distracts Arthur's focus on basketball and school, with abuse and violent drug dealing lifestyle. He took money from the family and left them with out electricity for weeks. Many troubling times was brought to Arthur but the never gave up or even gave in on his lifetime goal. He studied in the dark and took care of his family. Arthur rose above all negatives in his life and managed to stay focused. He completed his goals. That really inspired me! It taught me no matte what the situation is make best of it and never give up.
The main theme of this book is clearly to never give up. Like what I wrote in the above paragraph, many obstacles might get in your way but, if you're positive and focuses things will workout. Hard work and dedication does pay off in the end.
This book is a book I really encourage people to read. It teaches you the lifestyle of kids in the hood. The troubling time many of those young kids go threw really show you in this book. Life lessons are addressed in many different ways. The kid's choices, the downfall in family, grades, collage, and how it affects you and others. People who have trouble in believing in them selves should read this, and it would make them stronger.

this story is about two young boys the grew up off the street playing basketball. They both went to the N.B.A. to play basketball and were very good and this was my favorite book of all time and i havent seen the movie but it looks good

Hoop Dreams was probably one of the best books I've ever read. I don't think I would have liked it so much if it hadn't been based on a true story. This book is about two inner city kids from Chicago who aspire to play in the NBA. Although the odds aren't in their favor (only one out of every 7,600 high school players make it to the NBA) they still live for basketball. Without basketball these two boys would have nothing to them. Ben Joravsky does a good job of re-telling the story and showing all the problems these boys faced in there life. If it wasn't for basketball they probably would be out on the street trying to make a living. Throughout the story you feel as if you get closer and closer with the characters, and since it's spanned out over four years, it's as if they are growing and maturing right in front of you. Listening to Arthur's part of the story always kept me amused because he's a funny kid that everybody seems to like. William's story is focused more on the St. Joseph basketball team because that's pretty much all he cares about. This book was definitely a good read and I recommend it to anybody who likes books. Not just sports books either because this book goes beyond the boundaries of sports and is a compelling story about two inner city kids who defied the odds.

This book is a story of a basketball player who makes his dreams come true with persistence and a ambitious will. It does have some profane words that come about sporadically as your read but the story is not consumed by them. They are in there though so beware if a young child wants to read this story.

I am a Big NBA fan and a huge Laker fan so that being said those of you that watch the NBA know that I hate the suns. However I love the NBA and picked this book up because it was a year with a NBA team. I loved every page of this book it was a fun read and very entertaining.

At times the Author ( who is a great author and a great journalist) skips back and forth between the season but not in great lengths and does not overuse it.

overall it was a great book and I really enjoyed it and recommend it to any NBA fan.

I have enjoyed reading this book. It gives lots of great insight into the stresses of nba players and coaches. How they prepare for games and their perceptions of fans and media. You really see how almost all NBA players are prima-donnas with fairly fragile egos. They all have their front that they put on for the masses and the media. It's good to see the human side of them. The book is an easy read and very enjoyable.

Even though I'm not a Suns fans and for that matter, not much of a basketball or a sports fan anymore, this was a pretty good book - it's mainly about the Suns' 2006 playoff run, with some "flashbacks" to some regular season games that season, with some insight into most of the players and an NBA season's roller coaster ride, and some insight into the coaching staff too. Individual players are discussed, as is the coaching staff, and it's nice to read that kind of info too.

Expected a lot more to be honest. There are better books by beat writers, such as "If They Don't Win It's A Shame" by Dave Rosenberg.

A great, well-written and funny book exploring what goes on behind closed doors on an NBA team.

If you're looking for a book that delves into players affinity for clubs, booze and girls, then you'll have to look elsewhere. The Suns are a pretty clean club, and I'm sure they've done some stuff that isn't included in the book. What is included is an insiders look into the thought processes of coaches and players and discusses how the relationships within a professional organization can affect the win-loss column. There are some solid perspectives on team chemistry, ownership, the role coaches play in the success (or failure) of a ball club, the pressures of the playoffs, the psyche of the pro athlete (who knew someone making $20m a year could be so sensitive), how marketing efforts can affect a player's attitude and much more. I kind of wish the Suns would've won it all in 2006 so that this book could've been longer. Also, you don't have to be a Suns fan to appreciate this book. I'm a die-hard Pistons fan, and found this read very enjoyable.

On thing to point out: there's some swearing in this book (a few F bombs and the like), so if you're a parent thinking of picking this book up for a young Suns fan you may want to browse the pages beforehand. Otherwise, there really isn't anything worse than that, though.

I loved the coach and his teams. Book is just a slow read, but interesting for those of us who witnessed his talented teams.

Coach Wooden is the Monet of coaching. His philosophy and work ethic, both as a player and a coach, are unparalled. This book will instruct anyone on how to deal with adversity both on the court and in the game of life.

You can't miss with Wooden's thoughts, words and advice. If you're coaching yong people, he hits home lessons that every player and coach should know and understand. Even if you're just a parent or someone's business supervisor, read this book to learn how to better deal with and motivate those who rely on you for leadership. Don't let the coach down and pass these wonerful skills on to the next generation. Wooden's vision will live long past his coaching days. Find out all about it right here.

Excellent book examining the life , philosophy and thoughts behind a great coach. Not just about basketball but good for anyone coaching any sport or anyone wanting insight to a great life.

John Wooden is perhaps America's greatest coach. His UCLA basketball team won ten national championships, including seven in a row. Concomitant with winning was his insistence on character and virtue rather than getting caught up with results.

This autobiography is a fascinating glimpse into Wooden's extraordinary life. It chronicles his life as a player (many forget that Wooden was elected to the basketball hall-of-fame as a player and coach), his coaching days (mostly at UCLA), and a little bit about his activities after his retirement. Interspersed in all of this are Wooden's coaching philosophy, pictures, box scores of the national championship games, and Wooden's opinion on how to improve the quality of NCAA basketball.

They Call Me Coach is tremendous for any sports fan, especially basketball. It can also be enjoyed by those who enjoy reading about what it takes to achieve success. Wooden was not a dictator, but imparted his insistence on doing one's best to his players with meticulous detail.

TCMC is not a complete autobiography, and it omits many aspects of Wooden's life. It is certainly not a "tell-all" account, nor is it perhaps the best book on articulating Wooden's coaching philosophy. For that I would recommend another of Wooden's books, appropriately titled Wooden. There are also others out there.

They Call Me Coach is a wonderful account of a man who as achieved true life success, and you will enjoy this read regardless of your previous knowledge on Wooden or college basketball.

I am reading this book again.. prob the 5 time and I have used about 3 different colors of hi-liter so far. I recommend it and even used the lesson and guidance to help me with my addiction issues this time around.

First time it was family issues, then 2nd time was work issues, third time was deaths in family and fourth time was post college work issues. Its been there for me everytime and this time along with Tx, I am using it again.

This is a book about how Pat Riley coaches to get out of the individual the Winner Within. There are 12 short chapters in this 271 page book with many quotes from many great individuals throughout history including this one from Sir Winston Churchill: "Success is never final."

Shaq has stated the Riley is the most motivating speaker he has ever heard and after reading this book I think you will get a feel for what he meant. Most of the book focuses on Basketball and the Lakers. But there are some good business principles scattered throughout the book that will inspire you to be the best. Riley lets you into his mind so you can see his thoughts and how he worked to get the most out of his team to bring home the championship. It's a great book that will prove a quick read.

I am a first year basketball coach and found this book very inspirational. It makes me want to work even harder than I have and set higher standards for myself. Pat Riley is an excellent motivator and role model. I like any coach who is willing to write about his major losses in his career as well as greatest triumphs. A must read for any coach. However, he needs to write a sequel since he won his new title this summer. Go Heat!

He is the ultimate strategist, always thinking ahead and planning every act of inspiration and conversation he might use to channel more out of his players than they were currently giving. In 'The Winner Within', Pat Riley shares his tactics for converting his basketball teams into units with an emphasis on the greater good. The highlights of this book came for me in the following:

* Pat Riley's acceptance of being in the right place at the right time when the Lakers needed a head coach and how preparation added to his own confidence that he could succeed at a high level.

* Riley's view on the strengthening process of one's mentality and how being thrown the wolves can be a very healthy experience.

* Making the LA Lakers a team instead a collection of self-serving, finger-pointing superstars. He mentions tactics he employed on each of his different leaders, including ways to use Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's moody eccentricities as a leadership tool.

* How embracing success hurt the Lakers in the mid-eighties and the ways Riley developed a plan to combat complacency on the team.

* How leaders in any profession must be willing to confront cancerous team members swiftly and thoroughly.

* Riley's methods of using strategic moments of temporary insanity and how this can be highly beneficial to the overall good of the team.

* When to know your time is done and move on, as he did when he left LA for New York in 1990.

* Setting reasonable goals that are both attainable and difficult. For example, his 1992 New York Knicks set the goals of being the most hated team in the league, the most conditioned team in the league, and the most professional team in the league. To a T, they succeeded in meeting all their goals.

Riley is very open and honest in this book. He admits that he knew his Knicks would have zero chance of beating the Bulls in a do-or-die game seven in 1992. He had predicted Jordan would get calls and go to the line, and that Ewing would get into foul trouble quickly. Both of his predictions became eerily true. He admits that you must know your place in the pecking order and follow this format:

#1. From nobody to upstart
#2. From upstart to contender
#3. From contender to winner
#4. From winner to champion
#5. From champion to dynasty

Riley's book is also filled with numerous quotes from histories great minds and leaders. Each quote helps highlight what Riley is trying to emphasize.

I recommend this book to anyone who is or hopes to be a manager in any avenue in life. Riley gives a clear-cut format to achieving goals as a leader.

The Winner Within actually gets 4.5 stars from me. If you like team sports, not even basketball, this book will get to you. When you're in business and are strongly dependent on good teamwork, his lessons can be transformed to business life.

Riley's success is known throughout the US. Being European and less familiar with the person itself it gives me good fundamentals for judging without strings attached. I think his methods work. His methods work, but they may not last or can be implemented in any situation. You have to take the best 60% of his method and mix it with your own beliefs and culture. This last 40% will be your adaptability withing your own situation.

I have learned a great deal reading this book, as I was soon to become a business owner with a team of programmers. Riley's methods definitly helped me in creating my own team and, as important, my own style.

Read it, absorb it, use it. Do not copy it.

A great book, even if you're not a Duke fan! A perfect choice for busy people because it can be read a few minutes a day (or in one sitting if you're so inclined). Each short chapter describes a word which is important to success, not just on the basketball court, but in any endeavor. What elevates the book above the ordinary are the real-life situations and examples Coach K uses to illustrate each point. Makes a great choice as a gift with a personal touch for high school or college graduates.

Beyond Basketball is a collaborative effort by 2008 USA Basketball and current Duke University Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski and one of his three daughters, Jamie Krzyzewski Spatola. The National Bestseller is Coach Kzyzewski's third book and first after his successful "Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life (2001).

In 171 pages, Coach K shares his personal experiences and learning's as a coach, husband, father, friend, teacher, and leader through forty solitary words--Adaptability, Adversity, Balance, Belief, Care, Challenges, Collective Responsibility, Commitment, Communication, Courage, Crisis Management, Culture, Dependability, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Excellence, Failure, Family, Friendship, Fundamentals, Giving Back, Guidance, Imagination, Integrity, Learning, Love, Motivation, Next Play, Ownership, Passion, Poise, Pressure, Pride, Respect, Selflessness, Standards, Talent, Trust, Will, and Work.

Overall, the beauty of this book is that Coach Krzyzewski invites his readers to embark on a journey to write their own book using these forty words as a baseline. Coach K adds that by writing one's own personal experiences and learning's through these and other solitary words, these words would then hold a special meaning to that person.

So don't delay. Read Coach K, and start one today!

Coach Krzyzewski and his Daughter write a wonderfully inspiring book that is so true. Write-on Krzyzewski's!

Coach K scores a 3 pointer with this book. Words indeed have power to lift up or to tear down. The coach lifts us up to new levels with his short chapters on important words to anyone who aspires to greatness. This is a well written and inspirational book that encourages us all to look at the words that shape a well lived life.

Coach K is a great leader and coach, he thinks beyond the apparent and tries to reach to the need, which many leaders do not ever seek to see. His insight is valuable.

A thoroughly enjoyable and motivating read. This is a remarkable collection of exclusive interviews with the best American sports coaches of the last 40 years. The author has packed a voluminous amount of wisdom, inspiration and facts into what amounts to a road map to a good life. "How to Succeed in the Game of Life" is a brilliant compilation of advice that offers inspiration at every turn.

Game of Life is an insightful book on the thoughts of many of the world's best known coaches. It provides a biography on each of the 34 coaches (which I recommend reading first to gain a better appreciation of the field and achievements of each coach) and asks them a number of questions that can relate to both on the field and life in general. I have gathered a number of relavant quotes that I will use both personally and professionally. A highly recommended read for sporting buffs and managers.

After buying a copy of this book for both myself and my father I was thoroughly impressed. The book was both an easy read yet very informative. I gave a copy of the book to my father, who is not one to read a book, and he was so taken back by how interesting he felt the content was. He picked up the book in the morning and had it finished by mid afternoon. He must have called me 15 times to tell me how inspiring he felt it was and how he was amazed at "all the tricks it taught an old dog"...He thought he had heard all there was to hear about inspirational quotes. We were both pleasantly surprised with how well written the book was. Both my dad and I would highly recommend this book with two thumbs up.

Having read only excerpts, I was shocked to read that Tony Dungy was hired as head coach by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002 by owner Robert Irsay. Irsay had been dead for five years (longer than that mentally). Hopefully the rest of the book does not contain such shoddy information.

This book went through various questions about succeeding in life and listed all the responses from each coach. It was interesting but somewhat repetitive in that many said basically the same thing. I enjoyed reading this book because it had a lot of good advice from a lot of successful coaches. The advice I remember most is to work harder than anyone else, never quit, always be honest, do your best, failure is opportunity for a comeback, and be passionate about what you do. All of them agreed that making a lot of money does not mean you are successful, but money can be a by-product of being successful. The last chapter included short summaries about each coach. My favorite chapter was the one of their favorite quotes.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy, or who is looking for some advice or inspiration about success.

Karen Arelttaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bill Bradley has led a remarkably distinguished and successful life -- an All-American at Princeton, an Olympic gold medallist, a Rhodes Scholar, a two-time world champion as a member of the New York Knicks, a Hall-of-Famer, a Senator for 18 years, and a Presidential candidate. Not to mention author, educator, husband, father, and Eagle Scout. It's been a full life.

In "Values of the Game," Bradley credits much of his success to the game of basketball and the life lessons he learned on the court. Passion, discipline, selflessness, respect, perspective, courage, leadership, responsibility, resilience, and imagination -- these are the qualities that separate the celebrated players from those who have been forgotten. And those same values that brought success on the court can do the same in life.

Full of brilliant photographs and Bradley's own recollections and insights, "Values of the Game" is a real treat for anyone who loves and respects the game of basketball. Bradley obviously does. He peels away all the greed, glamour, fame and infamy that clouds the NBA today and shows us the bare essence and beauty of this uniquely American game, reminding us why we ever liked the sport in the first place.

I've long been a Bill Bradley fan . . . his talent on the
basketball court always impressed me, in large part because
he seemed to have to work so much harder than many
other players . . . then when he entered the political
arena, I continued to follow his career with interest . . . my
only regret is that he never got past the Senate . . . I still
think he would have made a fine President.

Hearing his book, VALUES OF THE GAME, impressed me
even more . . . it is not a standard spots autobiography, but
rather a collection of essays by Bradley that deal with such topics as
passion, discipline, responsibility, and resilience . . . he shows
how these all became key parts of his life, citing examples
of such greats as Cousy, Chamberlian, Iverson, and Pippen . . . I
got a particular kick out of what he said about Dennis Rodman: he
admired his rebounding tenacity, but noted that Rodman
"isn't everybody's cup of tea" because of his behavior.

This would be a great gift for any basketball fan, young or
old . . . nevertheless, I'd recommend giving the book rather than the
audio version that I heard . . . though the narration by John Randolph
Jones was fine, I would have much preferred Bradley doing the reading
himself.

This book is about the values of basketball, and is divided into chapters with titles of values. There is a chapter called discipline, for example. The names of the chapters are passion, discipline, selflessness, respect, perspective, courage, leadership, responsibility, resilience, and imagination.

I really enjoyed this book because of it's easy readability and the wonderful pictures. There were many interesting anecdotes about basketball. Bill Bradley talks about his development as a player, and about the values of the game. The importance of teamwork and hard work is stressed. I found Bill Bradley's story fascinating, because of how the values of the game helped him win. This book related the values to many contemporary and old players, like Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and many others. If you are a basketball fan, I strongly suggest this book.

The Values of the Game
By, Bill Bradley


The Values of the Game is very motivating. It is about what you get out of sports (specifically Basketball). The book talks about why you get these values, too. The values it talks about (each a chapter) passion, discipline, selflessness, and many more. It teaches people what is important in life. I think it is a spectacular book to learn from.
I really enjoy the book the values of the game, but some people wouldn't. Mostly basketball players would like it because it's about basketball. Also, I think in most cases it is geared for 18-50 year olds, but in some cases it may vary. Also, to understand it you must be someone who knows a tiny bit about present and retired famous basketball players. I think many people will like this book.

PUTTING NATURAL ABILITY ASIDE, BRILLIANT BILL BRADLEY DIPLAYS FOR US WHY HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND TEAMMATES THAT EVER EXISTED, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SHOWING US HOW THESE SAME QUALITIES CAN SERVE AS THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE. INTERESTINGLY, HE TELLS US OF CERTAIN OTHER PLAYERS (ALBEIT FEW) PAST AND PRESENT, WHO POSSESS THESE INGREDIENTS. MARVELOUS, THOUGHT PROVOKING BOOK.