Basketball Books

I was asked to coach my son's basketball team for the YMCA. Not being a big fan of the game, I needed a good introduction and skill fundamentals for third and fourth graders.

The book covered all aspect for someone new at coaching basketball.

Great tool for first time coaches. I'm coaching 7 year olds that never played basketball before and this is helping me coordinate my practice and game plans.

I have coached kids (boys and girls) in basketball of ages 4-12, this book provided the best information on what to do and what to expect. Particularly, the part of patience, repetition/reinforcement, and the fundalmentals. The recommended offensive plays (post interchange, wheel, shuffle, etc.) and defensive strategies (whether man-to-man or zone) are excellent. Additionally, the chapters on vision, motivational phrases, and running a practice are worth reading. The author recommends the use of parents during practice time, called "stations" to maximize proper skill development. This book is a must for those interested in coaching youth basketball.

This book does a good job of covering the basics, including the fundemental of shooting, dribbling, passing, pick and roll, give and go, fakes,etc. with good photos. Good section on defense fundamentals too. There are also sections on offense and defense (both man-to-man & zone) with diagrams. There are sections for coaches including running a practice complete with a check list. A good section for parents is added complete with motivational phrases.

A woderful book. Short (156 pp.) and highly readable, McCarthy makes it all very simple. McCarthy covers the fundamentals (footwork, dribbling, rebounding, etc.) but intersperses his text with invaluable practical advice -- e.g., "I always say to drive as close to a defender as possible. If he reacts and moves back into that lane, he will commit a foul." There is also a great emphasis on team play, and how to encourage kids to pass and play a team game. I have played and coached basketball for twenty five years. While this book covers enough basics for a novice, it also contains many valuable insights that I use in coaching a 12 and under youth program today.

Clyde gives it to you straight and he's right on the money - about the game itself and today's NBA.

Walt Frazier hits the nail on the head with his insights into the game as it is played today compared to the way it should be played.

"It's an excellent and provocative book." I don't think there's a former great with more cogent things to say about the game of basketball than Walt Frazier. I enjoyed this book immensely and I think it's great for old-timers who remember watching the grace and skill Clyde played the game with and "newbies," who want to learn how to play winning basketball. The chapters on Money, Race and The Players' League are particularly insightful and honest. If you like basketball and care about its evolution, then pick up this book and read it.

Everyone involved with the NBA should read this book. From my viewpoint, as a 40 year old fan and as someone who loved and played basketball through my freshman year of college, Clyde cogently points out the attraction of the game and most importantly where today's professional game has gone dangerously awry.

I'm old enough to remember Clyde's championship Knick teams and still take inspiration from the way those incredible individuals all focused on teamwork.

As the NBA stumbles and bumbles (a nod to Clyde) and becomes more and more irrelevant to a formerly passionate fan base, David Stern and company should take Clyde's analysis to heart. If things don't improve the NBA could soon stand for Nothing But an Afterthought in the world of professional sports.

The Game Within the Game by Walt "Clyde" Frazier with Dan Markowitz is an entertaining, if lighthearted meditation on the game of basketball. Clyde takes modern ballplayers to task for the way they approach the game, but the book is at its best whenever he casually mentions his own youthful indiscretions, like the time he invited two women to the same game and was so worried they'd find out about each other that it wrecked his concentration on the court.

"Voice of the Terps" broadcaster Johnny Holliday has written this book from the heart. It's an often humorous but always sincere account of Maryland Terp basketball memories that stand out as Holliday's favorites. It is very selective but very cool, and the photos are varied and add much to the enjoyment of this book. A few things make Johnny's book worth having for every college basketball fan: a chapter on many of the veteran referees who were in the middle of the action. Their memories, quotes, opinions, etc are interesting. Coach Gary Williams obviously spent time with Holliday and his co-author Stephen Moore on chapters discussing program "turning points" and the 2002 championship, and Coaches Lefty and Bud give their views as well. Dozens of players talk with Holliday about their favorite moments. Holliday was also friends with Len Bias, and the chapter on Bias is very moving. Many fans are also featured. All in all, I think this is a book for every Maryland Terp fan.

In 2002 I had the honor of working with the legendary Johnny Holliday on his autobiography, "From Rock To Jock." This detailed account of the "Voice of The Terps" life was critically acclaimed as an entertaining and significant history of broadcasting, Top 40 radio, and sports through the eyes of Johnny. We became close friends during the two years we worked on "From Rock To Jock", and this friendship continued when we were asked to write "Hoop Tales," a very different book, with different goals.

For starters, "Hoop Tales" follows the publisher's format for this popular series. The recipe is assemble a collection of great pictures (and our book has some very good ones, several from Sports Illustrated, and the rest from UMD Hornbake Archives, the Athletic Dept, and personal collections), and select about ten stories that basketball fans will love.

I think we did that and much more. We uncovered new information, such as the earliest formation (and games) of the team; experiences of the veteran referees- in their words - of great players, games, and their interactions with Coaches' Bud, Lefty, and Gary. Coach Williams provides his overview of the turning points in the program's evolution. The chapter on Len Bias is Johnny's personal account of knowing Lenny, and describing his growth as a player and person over four years. Several Terp players have thanked us for this positive portrayal. Coaches Bud, Lefty, and Gary, and many famed players - from Keith Booth to Walt Williams- contributed time and candid accounts to "Hoop Tales," and the greatest living sports writer, John Feinstein, wrote the Foreword.

"Hoop Tales" is a written celebration of the Maryland Terrapins with great photos. I'm giving my own co-authored book a five star rating here - and I know some readers will be critical of this self-promotion - but I can't post this author's info without a rating. And we are very proud of this book and we hope Maryland fans will support it. Thanks, and GO TERPS!!

This very short, very readable history of Maryland University's men's basketball program is an enjoyable read, especially for Maryland basketball fans. That said it also has some drawbacks.

First, there really are not a lot of details here. I didn't really learn anything I didn't already know about the program except maybe some of the items in the first chapter about the program's origins and early years. For example, the chapter on Len Bias is short and non-analytical. I know much, much more about that sad chapter in Maryland's history than is presented in this book - which basically is "it's a sad story, Len Bias was a great player, it hurt the program." Ditto the run to their first Final Four and subsequent NCAA Championship Season.

This book is probably basically what it's supposed to be, a short synopsis of the team's history and is probably better suited for pre-teens and teens than adults who have followed the program for years. Overall, I can't say I was disappointed, but I didn't really get anything out of reading this book.

As life long Terps fan, this read is a must. I loved it. Mr. Moore really has captured what being a Terrapin really means to those of us that are die hard fans. Thanks.

Award winning broadcaster Johnny Holliday can add another title and experience to his long and illustrious career - Author!

In "Hoop Tales: Maryland Terrapins Men's Basketball" Holliday, and Stephen Moore, takes the reader inside the Maryland "huddle" to gain insight into one of the most storied programs in college basketball.

As a reader, one can sense the passion Johnny Holliday has for the program, and written words are as enthusiastic as his play-by-play call, or as sweet as the swish of a long jumper.

Len Clark

I was fortunate enough to find this book for ONE DOLLAR at a used book store. I must admit that it is the best dollar that I have ever spent. I watched Manute when I was a teenager and I just remember the extreme height of this man. Thankfully this book showed me that there is MUCH more to Manute than just a really tall Dinka.

I learned a great deal about Sudanese culture and government, much more than I ever learned in school, and I have a Social Science Degree! I was amazed at the value of cows. I was shocked by the rites of passage to become a Dinka man. I was mesmerized by his journey to become an American icon. It's almost too much to believe.

More than anything, this book taught me that a person's true self and personality are what make you special. Although Manute may be the strangest looking man on the planet, you instantly feel a connection to him. It's a shame that Americans hide behind so many walls, titles, etc. and never let their true selves shine as brightly as Manute

i picked up this little gem for seven bucks (used), and it was well worth it. the subject, manute "'nute" bol, is a fascinating one. he came from an iron-age african existence to play pro hoops in the USA. not that he was a great player by any stretch of the phrase (ha!), but he DID make it, right? even if most of his "talent" was wrapped up in his astounding height (7'7"). still, montville's style of writing is a tad simple, so if you're used to and fond of, say, nineteenth-century russian-literature-in-translation, you'll find both the complexity of syntactical structures and level of descriptive detail to be somewhat lacking. buy, hey, it IS, after all, only a sportswriter and his tale of a ball-player, so what the heck can i expect? any hemingway fans out there?

picked up this number used. definitely worth the seven bucks that i shelled out for it. the subject, "nute," is a very interesting one. the guy came from, basically, an iron-age existence in africa to emerge as american pro hoops player. albeit not a great player, but he DID make it, right? even if all of his "talent" was tied up in his height (an astounding 7'7"). an amazing story, and manute is portrayed as both intelligent and amusingly eccentric. still, montville's style of writing is a tad simple, so if you're used to and fond of, say, nineteenth-century russian-literature-in-translation, you'll find the complexity of syntactical structure and the level of descriptive detail to be somewhat lacking. then again, it's only a sportswriter talking about a ball-player. any hemingway fans out there?

Spectacular description of the life of the greatest shotblocker of all time. From killing tigers in jungles of Sudan to sending opponents' shots into the 10th row with the Rhode Island Gulls -- this one is a winner

I had the great pleasure of working with this slender giant for a few years back when he blocked shots for the Bullets and I was an assistant there. I found this book brought back many memories and really captured the kindess of this man. His political beliefs and fight are so great still. He is like the Sudan's Muhammad Ali except stretched to cruel proportions like black taffy. The writing in this book is straight forward as it should be. I hope Manute knows how proud many of us are of his example. Highly recommended!!

The book I read called Michael Jordan's 50 Greatest Games is about MJ's best games that he plauyed. The book is meduim sized and is easy to read. In the book you will learn about MJ from his college years at North Carolina to the NBA on the Bulls team. Each game they rate. They rate tthe games by scoring, game importance, oppnent strength, historical significance, pressure points, defense, MJ's phyisical condition, and long odds. I really liked this book. I recomened this book for peopoe who like MJ and baskeball.

I have mixed feelings about Michael Jordan. On the one hand, he is a great athlete. I respect his work ethic. He has turned in a number of great performances and is no doubt one of the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

There is a flipside. Michael Jordan got all kinds of special treatment while he was in the NBA. He was the first player I noticed who was granted all kinds of trips to the charity stripe because of unbelievably, ticky tack calls. He scored at least ten points a game at the free throw line from bogus calls. It was great when there was a picture session for 'greats of the game' with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Magic told Larry not to stand too close to Michael or they might call a foul. In front of reporters and television viewers, that was a classic comment by Magic. I believe Mike got 99% of all calls in his favor because he was such a cash cow for the NBA. Dominique Wilkins was robbed of a slam dunk championship when Mike scored a perfect 50 doing the same dunk Dr. J did years before. I doubt Dr. J ever received a perfect 50 for it. Dominique's dunk was much more impressive, and he received a 49.5. Please. Mike got in a fight with Reggie Miller, and only Miller got suspended at first. Only after there was an outcry did Mike get suspended. How are Mike's punches different? Mike elbowed Kevin Johnson to the ground for all to see, and Kevin was called for blocking!

I am not too impressed that the bulls beat the lakers in the NBA finals. Magic was double teamed every game every minute he was in. On top of that, James Worthy and Byron Scott were injured. Magic and Larry never won three championships in a row because the competition, teams, and players in the 80s were much better than the nineties. Luc Longley, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, or Bill Wennington stopping Kareem? Ha!

Sport Magazine recently had a piece on the ten greatest moments and ten greatest players ever in the NBA. Mike was ranked number one all time player. Kudos to Mike for mentioning in 'For the love of the game' that to pick a "greatest ever" is impossible because of all the different eras and evolutions of basketball. The nineties bulls were given three of the ten greatest moments in NBA history. This is just more Mike bias. Give me a break. There are hundreds of classic and amazing moments in NBA history. One of the moments picked was Mike beating the Jazz in the final minutes of his last game. He put his hand on Bryon Russel's backside and shoved him out of the way. Then Mike made the game winnig shot. All eyes were on Mike, but the ref did not make the obvious call.

There is also Mike's arrogance. According to him, Wilt Chamberlain was a fluke eventhough Wilt was a great all around player. He made a comment about Magic and Larry reaching a 'certain level of greatness' and that the two were not good on defense. What? Are we talking about the same Larry Bird? Shaquille Oneal is also much better and much improved than Mike gives him credit for. Shaq has turned into a solid defender, passer, and he works hard at both ends of the floor.

Mike's corporate poster boy behavior is laughable. He did ads for AT&T and then MCI. The Wayans family is also split between the two companies. Mike talked about the enviroment in Rayovac ads and then pitches hot dogs? Mike is not the only athlete who will pitch anything and everything to make millions. I wonder if Mike has checked into Nike's labor practices.

Players like Mike and Charles Barkley soured me on the NBA. Charles played like a thug and got away with it because he was a star. Plus, Charles insisted on wearing number 34 at Philadelphia eventhough it was retired for NBA great Billy Cunningham. The star treatment and inflated egos has grown old, and that has turned a lot of people off to sports. I miss the Lakers and Celtics match ups of the 1980s.

there are all sorts of neat features in this book. What I especially liked were the box scores, where you can see Jordan's changing cast and how it evolved. I don't agree with every ranking, but he's got good reasons for his choices. There's even a practice listed, which I thought was really interesting.

Everybody has a favorite Michael story; it was a smart move for this writer to hash out an objective way--a formula that makes sense-- to rate stellar MJ performances on the court. In the same way that video stores carry Roger Ebert's movie/video book at the checkout counter, sports bars should stock Condor's book--right behind the Jagermeister and shot glasses--to settle countless Jordan debates that are sure to rage in years to come....

Condor has some interesting choices...and he has a formula behind his picks... from his number 1 choice, to his 50th...we see a man depecting another man...and both of them know their game...although...i think the third game of the final series with the lakers should have been in there somewhere...but, thats just me

I mistakenly didn't realise that this is a college textbook. It also reads like a college textbook on Japanese history. As a matter of fact it feels like I am studying! Anyway, a fine book but be warned, it's like taking Modern Japanese History 101.

This book was easy to read and understand. I enjoyed it so much that I did not even sell it at the end of the class. I reccomend this book to anyone even remotely interested in Japanese history.

Andrew Gordon covers the important aspects of Japanese history through time. He starts off by dealing with the Tokugawa and ends with the current political situation at the turn of the century. The appendixes provide a good account of Japanese government by listing the prime ministers and the country's election results since the end of WWII. Contemporary History of Japan focuses on important aspects of the Tokugawa regime such as its political, social and economic set up of Tokugaw Japan and focuses on its eventual downfall. The book continues with the Samurai revolution and the Meiji revolution that set the path for Japan to become a world power. Gordon then continues Japan in the early 20th centiru and how the countr began to change internallly as a result and how Japan dealt the Depressoin Crises in the 1930s, its wars with China and Russia and its eventual role in WWII and the American influence in the post WWII years. After the end of WWII, Japan becomes a dominant figure on the world stage with rapid economic growth unparalled else where in the world resulting in massive changes in society. Gordon does deal with Japanese economic troubles in the post WWII era such as the oil crises in the 1970s and the how Japanese bubble burst as well as other issues Japan is facing such as low-birth rates and changing gender roles.

Great background to Japan overall.

This is an outstanding book on the modern history of Japan since the early 19th century. Mr. Gordon writes exceptionally well; unlike most academics, his sentences are mercifully short. You won`t get lost in any run-on sentences that take up half a page. Having said that, however, this is not a book just for children. People who have lived in Japan for years or who have studied Japan extensively as graduate students will find something to learn in this book. The book has many appealing aspects. It devotes considerable time to discussing the lives of ordinary Japanese, and it makes for fascinating reading. The book is relatively short and can be finished in one week. Finally, the author`s emphasis on the similarities between Japan and other nations in the tumultuous modern era is most welcome. The Japanese are not a unique, bizarre people; like all people everywhere, modernity is something they have adjusted to and dealt with, with varying degrees of success and failure. Mr. Gordon`s book is well worth reading.

I received this book today and flipped through it while doing laundry. I'm impressed. It's been a long time since I read a history book and this isn't like the dry, boring texts I remember from school.

I won't waste time mentioning that he covers all the obvious stuff, all the wars and major political events that you would expect a history book to cover.

What struck me is his ability to smoothly give you the big picture while sticking in little bits that give you some idea of what the people at the time thought and experienced.

In addition to telling you about the hardships of farming, he gives a picture of a 21-year-old girl's hands; that's all you need to see. In addition to telling you about the influence of the west, he shows you pictures of Japanese women in wanna-be outfits that just say it all. The cartoons, political posters, songs, propaganda posters -- they give a feel for Japan I wasn't expecting from a book.

This book is mostly text; I don't want to imply it has a ton of extras but it has enough to really drive home some of his points.

All that and I haven't even read the book yet!

It was interesting to learn that (obviously) Japan wasn't always like it is now. The description of the employment situation in the 1920s sounds quite a lot like America in the 1990s boom -- no loyal employees with lifelong employment then! Knowing that less than a hundred years ago the reserved, peaceful Japanese engaged in widespread political riots where they beat each other and the police shook up my stereotypes.

Good book, highly recommended.

This is a great book for delving deeper into the game of basketball and getting the low down on practical physics. Highly recommend this.

I gave the book as a gift and was disappointed when I got a glimpse of the print on the page ... it was very small (to save cost of printing?) and did not look like it would be easy to read....however, I did not read the book so I will have to talk to the giftee to find that info

Over the years, I have found it fascinating to read books on the physics of baseball. Curve balls do curve, knuckle balls do knuckle and scientists have come to admit to the facts that the experimentalists (baseball players) have known for decades. In this book, Fontanella, a physics professor at the United States Naval Academy and a former college basketball player, analyzes the many ways a basketball can bounce. It is very detailed yet extremely entertaining. It is so specific that he points out how much less a basketball weighs as a consequence of air buoyancy. Even to the point where he compares the differences in the weights between the balls used in the women's game versus the men's game. While that part was not of great interest, the rest certainly was.
Like the baseball players, the basketball players have carried out a lot of empirical research. However, not to the extent that Fontanella has. He is very specific about the best angle for a shot, where the "sweet spot" is on the backboard when attempting a lay up and even to the distortion affects on a basketball when it is bounced. While the latter may not appear significant, it is critical for shooting percentages. As the author points out, very few shots are "nothing but net." Most make some contact with the rim and many bounce off the rim before going through the net. The manner in which the ball bounces off the rim is critical. If you have ever played, you know the difference between a soft shot and a "brick."
This is not a book where the author expresses his love for the game and then throws in a bit of physics. It is a serious treatise on basketball with enough formulas so that it could be used in a high school or college physics class. That part was impressive, many coaches would find an examination of this book time well spent.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission

Physics teachers can add some pizzazz to their lectures with these great basketball stories used to explain physics.

Make no mistake about it, this is not an introductory book. This is for people who know basketball and a little physics or know physics and a little basketball. It tells basketball stories to illustrate physics and physics stories to illustrate basketball.
I would recommend this book to high school and college physics teachers to add interest to their discussions. It could even be used as text for a college course on physics of sports. Not only does sport interest students, they already know something about 'how it works' and with the help of this book, an instructor can use physics to introduce them to 'why it works'.
I found of the sequence of explanation of the four force model of the flight of the ball exceptionally well done. As with a good scienctist, he started with data. Then he took one force, gravity, explained how it works, what effect it will have on a shot ball and compared the effect to data. He showed how gravity was necessary but insufficient to explain the ball's motion. Through three more forces: buoynacy, drag (air resistance) and Magnus force, he methodically discussed the force, performed measurements, then added the force to the model. Now that he had the four force model, he used it to explain how a good shooter chooses his shot angle to make a shot 'softer' not, as one might expect, easier. Marvelous -- data, theory (or theories), model, prediction, repeat until it matches nature, and finally use the model to explain something not originally in the model. How much more accurate a view of the method of scientist than the "scientific method".
As the motion of the ball gets more complicated, following the physics does get a bit challenging. Through the discussion of deflections off the rim and backboard, I admit I read for a while and then let it sink in before I returned to it. I was however rewarded in discovering how correct I was in trying to use the board when close to the hoop -- only thirty years too late.
As with any good rock concert, one should be left wanting more, and I wished that the discussion of breaking the glass was given a bit more space. I think a figure or two more showing the effect of compression and tension and how this leads to an explosive break would have helped.
Finally, in addition to instructors, this book would be a good read for your scientist friend or science dabbler who would like good basketball stories along with some good stories of scientific inquiry.

Michael Jordan is my favorite athlete! This is the first book I bought on him and I'm very happy. It's brief but there are huge pictured on every page taken by a photographer from Sports Illustrated. It's a quick read but more than enjoyable! Makes a nice addition for any fan!

I have mixed feelings about Michael Jordan. On the one hand, he is a great athlete. I respect his work ethic. He has turned in a number of great performances and is no doubt one of the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

There is a flipside. Michael Jordan got all kinds of special treatment while he was in the NBA. He was the first player I noticed who was granted all kinds of trips to the charity stripe because of unbelievably, ticky tack calls. He scored at least ten points a game at the free throw line from bogus calls. It was great when there was a picture session for 'greats of the game' with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Magic told Larry not to stand too close to Michael or they might call a foul. In front of reporters and television viewers, that was a classic comment by Magic. I believe Mike got 99% of all calls in his favor because he was such a cash cow for the NBA. Dominique Wilkins was robbed of a slam dunk championship when Mike scored a perfect 50 doing the same dunk Dr. J did years before. I doubt Dr. J ever received a perfect 50 for it. Dominique's dunk was much more impressive, and he received a 49.5. Please. Mike got in a fight with Reggie Miller, and only Miller got suspended at first. Only after there was an outcry did Mike get suspended. How are Mike's punches different? Mike elbowed Kevin Johnson to the ground for all to see, and Kevin was called for blocking!

I am not too impressed that the bulls beat the lakers in the NBA finals. Magic was double teamed every game every minute he was in. On top of that, James Worthy and Byron Scott were injured. Magic and Larry never won three championships in a row because the competition, teams, and players in the 80s were much better than the nineties. Luc Longley, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, or Bill Wennington stopping Kareem? Ha!

Sport Magazine recently had a piece on the ten greatest moments and ten greatest players ever in the NBA. Mike was ranked number one all time player. Kudos to Mike for mentioning in 'For the love of the game' that to pick a "greatest ever" is impossible because of all the different eras and evolutions of basketball. The nineties bulls were given three of the ten greatest moments in NBA history. This is just more Mike bias. Give me a break. There are hundreds of classic and amazing moments in NBA history. One of the moments picked was Mike beating the Jazz in the final minutes of his last game. He put his hand on Bryon Russel's backside and shoved him out of the way. Then Mike made the game winnig shot. All eyes were on Mike, but the ref did not make the obvious call.

There is also Mike's arrogance. According to him, Wilt Chamberlain was a fluke eventhough Wilt was a great all around player. He made a comment about Magic and Larry reaching a 'certain level of greatness' and that the two were not good on defense. What? Are we talking about the same Larry Bird? Shaquille Oneal is also much better and much improved than Mike gives him credit for. Shaq has turned into a solid defender, passer, and he works hard at both ends of the floor.

Mike's corporate poster boy behavior is laughable. He did ads for AT&T and then MCI. The Wayans family is also split between the two companies. Mike talked about the enviroment in Rayovac ads and then pitches hot dogs? Mike is not the only athlete who will pitch anything and everything to make millions. I wonder if Mike has checked into Nike's labor practices.

Players like Mike and Charles Barkley soured me on the NBA. Charles played like a thug and got away with it because he was a star. Plus, Charles insisted on wearing number 34 at Philadelphia eventhough it was retired for NBA great Billy Cunningham. The star treatment and inflated egos has grown old, and that has turned a lot of people off to sports. I miss the Lakers and Celtics match ups of the 1980s.

RareAir is Rare, This book was soul out very fast.Michael is a rare player and this is a rare book ,One of the Best Photographs of the century,and a great Editer.Walter Iooss,js and Mark Vancil.if you have this book dont "sell" is a Collectible and a rare Collectible . Words from the man."WHEN I STEP ONTO THE COURT,I'M READY TO PLAY.AND IF YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST ME,THEN YOU'D BETTER BE READY TOO.IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COMPETE,THEN I'LL DOMINATE YOU.' RareAir is Hot'Hot'Hot'Hot

This is an oversized book with excellent photography, especially given some of the tricky lighting involved. Jordan's comments are candid, although he did write that once he left the game of basketball, he wouldn't come back. Basketball fans can rejoice that in this estimate, Jordan was wrong.

Michael Jordan -- the essence of Air. This book, a unique photgraphic autobiography, takes a very personal look at the superstar. Michael Jordan opens up and describes his life. The spectacular photograpghy and Michael's own thoghts (on both competition and life) compliment each other perfectly. The book is actually like the title says "Michael on Michael". Full-color photographs (more than 100 previously unpublished) and the clockwork of Michael's world provide the reader with a never-before-seen intimate view of the world's greatest athlete.

I have to agree with Michael Erisman's review of this book - well written and informative but it just doesn't have the "ooomph" of Pluto's other basketball book, "Loose Balls." About halfway through the book, it feels like it starts to follow more of a season to season format, instead of continuing to concentrate on the personalities and the players in the league, and the league itself - most everyone knows the Celtics dominated the league during this period and it gets just a lil tedious to be reading about them all the time - a more comprehensive review of the league would have been nice.

"Tall Tales" by Terry Pluto is a fascinating, insightful and wild ride through the NBA's formative years. I'm 25 and have been following the game since the late 80s. I've always had an awareness and appreciation of NBA history with Chamberlain, Russell, Auerbach, Pettit, the Celtics, West, etc, but "Tall Tales" dives deep into the memories of the men who shaped the game, from the inventor of the 24-second shot clock to improvisational refs who made up calls on the spot to running hook shots, daily fist fights and coaches smoking on the bench-it's all here. "Tall Tales" is a masterfully conducted journey with Pluto at the wheel showing you all the great scenery of the NBA's past, but never getting in the way of the insider's stories. From players and coaches to refs and GMs and owners, all the great names from this era contribute (except for Russell, which doesn't surprise after reading some of player's and coach's comments about him). For anyone with even a casual interest in the NBA's glorious, if much ad-libbed, past, this book is a must read.

The players were different, the game was different, the fans and social climate were at polar extremes compared to what we see today. I've always tried to compare players of this generation to the all-time greats, but after reading this book, you can see how it's hard to even compare two greats who played in the same era like Chamberlain and Russell, let alone players from different decades and really, different games. To compare Shaq to Wilt or Magic to Oscar just isn't fair to any of the players because the game changed so much over the years. To compare players from different ages is similar to comparing the NBA to FIBA (international hoops)- it's the same game, but played with such different rules that comparisons do little except expose the differences. Speaking of the Wilt-Russell comparison, several of the book's contributors comment on the age-old Wilt vs. Russell debate which never gets old. A lot of these retired players come across as bitter about the way the game is played today and the kind of money the players are making. Often it comes across as sour grapes which is disappointing because these guys were so unbelievably talented and did so much for the game's development.

If you like the NBA and have any curiosity about the game's forebearers, then you need to check this out. The cast of characters is colorful, insightful and the anecdotes are amusing and entertaining.

Excellent book on the NBA of the 50s and 60s. All the big names are here, Wilt, Russell, West, the Big O and also many names that have been forgotten but shouldn't have been. Bob Pettit, Lenny Wilkens (as a player not coach), Tom Meschery, Al Attles and more. The stories come directly from the players with numerous quotes from different individuals who were actually there. This book is written in the same style as Loose Balls another great book by this author about the ABA. Anyone who thinks the NBA came into being with Michael Jordan should read this book and get a reality check. These are the real founders of the NBA. Current fans think a triple double by a player is a wondrous feat, Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double for a whole season!! If you like basketball and are interested in its history, this is the book for you.

very good book. brillant oral history of the NBA from the beginning until the 1968-1969 season, the end of the Boston Celtic dynasty. A brillant companion piece to Loose Balls the flip side from the ABA version of events.

Terry Pluto is a great writer. He has a knack for pulling together short paragraphs, quotes and descriptions that make his subject come alive. In this book he reflects on the early years of the NBA. The book is written in the same style of "Loose Balls" his classic story of the ABA, yet like the NBA itself it is not as funny nor interesting.

The book covers from the 50's through the early 70's with lots of discussions about the early style of play which was much more physical than the constant whistles and free throws of today's "superstar rules". The section on the referees was especially interesting. It seems that these early games could literally be influenced by the crowds and the "home court advantage.

Of course there are some great insights into the early superstars; Chamberlain, Russell, Cousy, Miken, West, Baylor and Oscar Robertson. Many of these early records will never be touched. In addition to Chamberlains 50.4 scoring average for a season, you have his 100 point game, his 55 rebound game, his 27 rebound average, Oscar Robertson averaging a triple double for a whole 82 game season, and could have had as many as five seasons like that had the stat been a big deal then.

The Celtics early dominance, the Lakers move to LA, and with the league trying to build its fan base, the "home teams" playing cities all over their "region". The racism faced by black players in the 50's and early 60's. All of these quirks, growing pains and oddities are discussed here. For any fan of the game, this book is a must as the best way to learn about the history of the game as we know it today.

While not as good as his depiction of the ABA (which is the best sports book period) this book is nonetheless a great read, entertaining and engaging and interesting to even a causal fan, or someone who wants a glimpse into some American history.

After the tumultuous 2002 season, where the club was in national publications like Sports Illustrated for all the wrong reasons, the Detroit Shock basically had nowhere to go but up in the standings.

Instead of one of those cliche-ridden rebuilding years in 2003, the Shock had one of those remarkable runs that culminated with a WNBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks in a three game series.

In a brief, yet thorough chronicle of the season, author Vince Prygoski demonstrates how the Shock captivated a region that loves pro basketball. To celebrate the title, an industrial gas holding tank near I-75 was painted like a basketball with the Shock logo.

Under the leadership of coach Bill Laimbeer, the team had a little bit of the swagger from the Pistons' Bad Boys era of Isiah, Vinnie, Dennis and Joe with a nucleus consisting of 2004 Olympian Swin Cash, Finals MVP Ruth Riley, Deanna Nolan and rookie of the year Cheryl Ford. To win the Eastern Conference crown, Detroit defeated Cleveland and Connecticut.

The Sparks won game one by 12 points and seemed in control during a tight game two. Some late heroics at the free-throw line by Nolan, who smoothly drained free throws late in the contest, gave the Shock an exciting 62-61 victory. Detroit won the third game 83-78.

What made it all satisfying was it demonstrated how a true team with a great leader can cap a successful regular season with a storybook ending.

Sports fans and women's history buffs will both enjoy author Vince Prygoski's latest: "Worst To First (A 'Shocking' Tale of Women's Basketball In Motown)." The book presents the story of the Detroit Shock, and the amazing turnaround of the women's basketball team who went from last place to league champions in the course of two seasons.

Those interested in how women have advanced themselves in U.S. society over the last 100 years will appreciate the difficulties faced by female pioneers to take their place in professional sports, as Prygoski provides a quick history of women's basketball in the U.S. Personally, i wish the book had gone into much greater detail about this subject.

The book primarily caters to sports afficionados. Prygoski provides game-by-game coverage of several seasons as the Detroit Shock start off with a jolt, lose their footing, and then come back with a roar in the 2003 Season when they swept the championship. In the final chapter, Prygoski switches to announcer-mode, and gives play-by-play coverage of the most important games. As one who is primarily interested in
women's history, i still found myself caught up in the enthusiasm.

The book is a brief 72 pages, but it is a fun and fascinating read.

With the enthusiasm of a devoted fan and the keen eye for detail of a seasoned journalist, Vince Prygoski takes us along on an amazing journey with the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), which in 2003 achieved the remarkable feat of going from cellar dweller to League Champion in just one year.

Vince Prygoski's writing style is reminiscent of the great Dick Schaap's, in his books about the Green Bay Packers' championship years. Both authors have a good feel for the ebb and flow of a long season in pro sports, how it is a test of endurance and will as much as of athletic talent.

Vince shows us all the pieces that have to fall into place-involving both hard work and a lot of luck-in order for a team to be able to make such an amazing turnaround. He also places his story in the larger context of the determined struggle of women's professional sports to gain recognition, media attention, and fan support, including a brief history of women's pro basketball leagues.

This fast moving, crisply written book makes an entertaining addition to any basketball fan's library, or anyone interested in the history of women's pro sports.

--written by Brian Hill, author of the pro football novel OVER TIME

Worst To First: Or A 'Shock'ing Tale Of Women's Basketball In Motown by Vince Prygoski is an intriguing telling of the 2003 Detroit Shock WNBA championship winners. Informatively exploring the history of the Shock's 2003 basketball season, Worst To First compiles the thrilling story and fascinating facts of one of the least expected to succeed teams and their historic victory. Worst To First is very strongly recommended to readers with an interest in the WNBA league of basketball, and most particularly fans of the Shock team and their hallmark year of outstanding basketball triumph.

An exhilarating account of the fast and furious rise of the women's professional basketball team, the Detroit Shock, from last place to national 2003 champions.

Well researched and well written, without getting mired in tiresome detail. Vince Prygoski takes the reader from the beginnings of women's sports in the sixties to women's professional sports, specifically basketball, in 2003. Worst to First is an in depth and intense look at the players, the coaches, the teams and the WNBA (Womens' National Basketball Association). Prygoski follows the inception of the Detroit Shock to their seemingly overnight success: an overnight success that took five years in the making.

Prygoski conveys the excitement of the games, the disappointments and his love for sports without being maudlin or trite. I felt like cheering as Elaine Powell grabs that final rebound in that final game. And yes, now, I do believe in miracles.

Dee Power, Co-author of The Making of a Bestseller: Success Stories of Authors and the Editors, Agents and Bestsellers Behind Them.