Basketball Books

jeff sheppard is one of my fav players of all time and after i had read this book i like him even more.I laughed i cryed i was totally moved. But i might be a little partial since he used to live right down the street from me.

Jeff Sheppard is the epitomy of Kentucky basketball. This is another "must read" for anyone who follows the mighty wildcats from the bluegrass state. Go deep inside the heart and soul of this year's "Comeback Cats".

My name is Amber. Jeff Sheppard is a HUGE inspiration to me. His book is just mixed emotions to me. It touched me. Deeply. Being his BIGGEST FAN, it truely inspires me. He truely does have a heart of a champion, and now he has inspired me to dig deeper. I am a basketball player and also have the number 15. He is such an inspiration. I would love to meet him and tell him how much he and his wonderful book has inspired me. Jeff, if you ever read this, you and your book are touching and mean so much to me and my basketball career since i first heard of you. Even me starting out as a sophomore in hs and playing basketball all my life, you and your book are truely my lifetime idol and inspiration.

This was an outstanding book on Johnny Orr. I have gone to ISU basketball games since i was 3 years old and Johnny's wife sat right behind me, so i really got to know him and her. The book is all about is tremedous coaching career and his awesome life.

When I am loyal to a team like the Cyclones, I try not ever live in the past. I love to remember past events and particular games, but to compare present teams with past teams is not fair. With this book, it is hard not to hark back to a special time in Cyclone basketball lore. Gene McGivern gives a genuine and heartfelt gift to the true Cardinal and Gold fans of the world. The fault I found to this book is that sometimes McGivern became too repetitive and this is probably due to his sports writing experiences. On occasion this slowed down the pace, but otherwise this book is a treasure as is Johnny Orr. This year Iowa State nearly beat eventual champions, Michigan State, and would have earned a Final Four bid. Their first. None of the present success at ISU would be possible without Johnny Orr. This book is THAT story. It is a inspirational success story and it is REAL! Something that is not found in similar stories.

Ok, so I'm married to the author. I'm a basketball fan by marriage, and this book was an important part of my conversion. Gene was the sports editor of the Ames Tribune and knows Johnny both personnally and professionally. He documents the Johnny Orr era with such precision, that you'll feel like an ISU alum even if you aren't. We hope you enjoy the book

This was a very quick read, and goes into something of the history of the person behind the Spurs Coyote, Tim Derk. He lived a double life, with a secret identity, for two decades until he suffered a stroke.

As the Coyote, he performed feats of athleticism that were amazing, all the time showing the humor for which he was known. Only a few people knew his true identity until shortly after his stroke on Feb 13, 2004.

The book is a quick read, easily completed in a single night and has several tales of the misadventures of the Coyote, and its actor. It is written very much as if the author was speaking to you, however it is somewhat disjointed jumping around from time to time, inside a chapter.

The seven chapters are relative focused, each one detailing aspects of Tim'sis life. From the inception of the Coyote, to a number of injuries, to his hey-day activities, to the stroke, then to rehab, and finally to recovery, though that is obviously an ongoing issue.

The book is inspiring, showing how much a person can accomplish if he puts his mind to it. Considering that Tim's stroke is central to the book, it still remains a relatively enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mascots, and specifically to anyone who may be facing a tough time. It is also a must for any fan of the Spurs Coyote.

The reading is quick paced and engaging. One minute you are laughing, the next you are saying "WoW", or "Mmmmm"

This book makes profound thinking easy to read!

A fascinating read and a great look at the king of NBA mascots. Whether hanging from the ceiling or making up hilarious bits, Tim truly set the bar for other mascots and athletic entertainers to follow.

Much like others much more famous than I, I also believe that the Chip Hilton series reminds us all of the basic values of life. I would certainly recommend the series to all young people, even at the risk of them being put off by Clair Bee's "hokeyness". There are great lessons contained wthin each story as Chip and his friends work very hard to navigate through their teen years.

I loved this book. Chip Hilton is a good series for girls and boys. I can't wait to read the rest of them. I am going to get Championship Ball today.

For those readers new to the Chip Hilton series, this is a good book in the series as it has basketball and a good off-the-court story. I feel the earlier books in the Hilton series are the best. I had many of original Hilton books as a kid and absolutely loved them. I re-read them through the years and am truly disappointed my son never got into them the way my brothers and I did. Of course, I was thrilled when the stories were re-released so I could read the volumes I never read. The stories are still great, but I am greatly annoyed by the small changes the authors chose to make, in attempt to modernize them, when they re-released the books. I have found these small changes often lead to confusion in the stories, particular in this book. For example, in "Touchdown Pass" Speed Morris is referred to as being black, which he was not in the original version. No big deal. That is, until this story which dealt with racism very well as the team took a young black player to a hostile town for the first time. The fact that Speed was now black changed the significance of the event, which the author apparently realized and scrambled to make sense out of it. Oh, well, my brother (another Hilton fanatic) told me to lighten up and just enjoy the books!

Basketball is one of my favorite sports. I liked the book Hoop Girlz because it tells a story about girls around my age who play basketball just like me. Lucy Jane Bledsoe has written many books about sports but Hoop Girlz is my favorite because it is about a sport that I could relate to. Now if I read her book on baseball I would not be interested in it at all because I personally don't know anything about baseball. Any hoops player including myself would find it somewhat easy to understand because you know the pressure and hardships that come with playing this sport.
Hoop Girlz is about a sixth grade girl named River Borowitz- Jacobs. She and her cocky neighbor Kammie try out for their school basketball team. However, she becomes very disappointed to find out that she made the B team while Kammie made the A team. River decides to name her team Hoop Girlz and hopes that she with some help from her brother can help the team win the tournament. This book kept me very interested and it was believable because the outline of the story is something that would happen in real life and something that I can closely relate to. There are no slow or confusing parts and the whole story connects together at the end. This is one of the best books I have ever read.
The author, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, has an extraordinary way of describing the actions and characters in this story. My favorite part of the whole story was the ending because if all came together and all of my questions were answered. I do wish that the author had extended this book a little farther or made a sequel because even though most of my questions were answered I still had many more. For example, will River be a professional basketball player when she grows up? Over all Hoop Girlz was still a very interesting book.
I recommend Hoop Girlz to anyone who enjoys basketball or is into sports and fiction. If I had to rate this book between a one and a five I would definitely rate this book a five. Read Hoop Girlz and be ready for an incredible book.

Basketball is one of my favorite sports. I liked the book Hoop Girlz because it tells a story about girls around my age who play basketball just like me. Lucy Jane Bledsoe has written many books about sports but Hoop Girlz is my favorite because it is about a sport that I could relate to. Now if I read her book on baseball I would not be interested in it at all because I personally don't know anything about baseball. Any hoops player including myself would find it somewhat easy to understand because you know the pressure and hardships that come with playing this sport.
Hoop Girlz is about a sixth grade girl named River Borowitz- Jacobs. She and her cocky neighbor Kammie try out for their school basketball team. However, she becomes very disappointed to find out that she made the B team while Kammie made the A team. River decides to name her team Hoop Girlz and hopes that she with some help from her brother can help the team win the tournament. This book kept me very interested and it was believable because the outline of the story is something that would happen in real life and something that I can closely relate to. There are no slow or confusing parts and the whole story connects together at the end. This is one of the best books I have ever read.
The author, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, has an extraordinary way of describing the actions and characters in this story. My favorite part of the whole story was the ending because if all came together and all of my questions were answered. I do wish that the author had extended this book a little farther or made a sequel because even though most of my questions were answered I still had many more. For example, will River be a professional basketball player when she grows up? Over all Hoop Girlz was still a very interesting book.
I recommend Hoop Girlz to anyone who enjoys basketball or is into sports and fiction. If I had to rate this book between a one and a five I would definitely rate this book a five. Read Hoop Girlz and be ready for an incredible book.

The editorial review called it contrived and I guess that's right but my 12 year old hoop playing daughter enjoyed it nevertheless. It was a fun read and did show the hard work involved in getting good. I didn't like the weak, clueless parents but did appreciate that unlike so many other sports stories, the underdog did not win in the end. Basketball girls, ages 9-12 will probably like this book.

THIS IS A BOOK BY ROD HUNDLEY EX NBA PLAYER AND BROADCASTER. I FOUND HIS BOOK TO BE VERY INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING. ROD WAS QUITE A CHARACTER AND A CROWD PLEASER. I REALLY ENJOYED HIS STORIES CONCERNING HIS EARLY LIFE AND CAREER WITH THE LAKERS. ROD THEN TURNED TO BROADCASTING WHEN HIS CAREER ENDED. I ALSO ENJOYED HIS MANY STORIES CONCERNING HIS BROADCASTING CAREER BUT GOT TIRED OF HEARING HOW GREAT JOHN STOCKTON AND KARL MALONE WERE. OVERALL THIS IS A VERY NICE READ FOR ALL LAKER, WEST VIRGINIA, JAZZ AND NBA FANS

This is a refreshing and amusing book about a man who has made the NBA a more entertaining place for the basketball fan. You do not have to be a Rod Hundley fan, a Utah Jazz fan, or even a basketball fan to enjoy his opinions and experiences. From his troubled childhood to his golden years, Hundley speaks his mind in a fresh and honest manner. The effort put in by McEachin to edit and organize 60 years of Hundley's stories and anecdotes is obvious, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable book.

Hot Rod Hundley was the first player drafted in the 1957 NBA draft. He played six years for the Lakers in Minneapolis and Los Angeles. Following his playing career, Hot Rod has remained active is the sport. He is currently the play by play announcer for the Utah Jazz. Since 1957, he has seen or played with or against almost every great NBA player. In his book, which is basically his basketball autobiography, Hundley analyzes the game and its great and not so great players. Hot Rod Hundley was a showy basketball player; he was fancy and "cool" long before they became essentials in the professional game. His writing is much the same as his game was. His book is a good interesting read. His style is both conversational and informative. He gives his opinions freely and unhesitantly. He can be lavish with his praise and unsparing with his criticism. If you are a basketball fan or a Hot Rod Hundley fan, you will enjoy this book.

This promises to be THE book on the NCAA college basketball tournament - all the stats, matchups, insights and interviews we've been craving since March Madness became 'The Spring Superbowl.'

You can't put this book down. Interview after interview, you are amazed at the stories behind each legend. The best part is that this is basically a compliation of mini-autobiographies, but narrated as a conversation between good friends. The book starts with an interview with Rey Meyer - it reminds you how lucky the author was to have interviewed him before his passing away. You are also amazed at the hard work, passion and perseverance of Eddie Einhorn. If you love basketball (or even just "like" sports), this is the book for you.

Fans of college basketball will enjoy the information and stories provided in this book. The book is a collection of interviews, set forth in story format, in which the author met and interviewed with a number of significant figures in college basketball, including coaches, media, and players.

There are many great stories here, and the book is divided up into different stories on the different personalities, so it makes for an accessible read. You can pick up the book, read one article, then put it down. I found the stories by the coaches to be among the most entertaining: Coach K, Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Dean Smith, Guy Lewis and others all provide insightful stories.

Also, the book puts college basketball in its historical context, with a focus on the first televised basketball game, UCLA vs. Houston, played in the Astrodome. Overall a very informative and entertaining book, I would strongly recommend it to any college basketball fan.

This book takes you through all the facets of the motion offense from a basic few to a more complex strategy. If you have the talent to use the motion offense this book will help you utilize their talent.

This is a great book,very well written and easy to understand. It moves from the simple to more complicated without one being overwhelmed.You can "get off" at any time you want according to your personel and the level or age group you are coaching.If you've got no big guys, this offense can stir up enough movement to keep a bigger team honest. There's a lot of options and information there, it's a matter of taking what you want.

This book is the best motion book that I have read. It gives you so much informaion that you have to read the book again to go through it all. The first time I read this book I was overwhelmed, but after further readings I figured out you cannot do all the options, you just need to pick out the ones that best suit your personel. Excellent book!

Beckett Publications has issued the most recent version of their ever-popular basketball card price guide. Although it is not as comprehensive as Krause's Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards, it is nonetheless a superior reference work. This inexpensive paperback provides the collector with a handy price guide for the major mainstream sets, in a convenient mass market format. It is often found for sale not only in regular bookstores, but on racks at newsstands and retail outlets. The pictures inside are small but give the collector a good idea of what the cards look like, both front and back. Veteran collectors might consider the prices a bit high, but such is the case with most card guides. It is not very difficult to find a street level or card show dealer who hawks their wares at "20 to 50% off Beckett." A couple of things you won't find, however, in this otherwise helpful shorthand guide are a detailed history of the hobby or listings for the many attractive minor issue sets sought by advanced collectors. For that, you will have to seek out other books by experts in the basketball card hobby. --Mike Bonner, author of COLLECTING BASKETBALL CARDS, A Complete Guide With Prices.

Beckett Publications has issued the most recent version of their ever-popular basketball card price guide. Although it is not as comprehensive as Krause's Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards, it is nonetheless a superior reference work. This inexpensive paperback provides the collector with a handy price guide for the major mainstream sets, in a convenient mass market format. It is often found for sale not only in regular bookstores, but on racks at newsstands and retail outlets. The pictures inside are small but give the collector a good idea of what the cards look like, both front and back. Veteran collectors might consider the prices a bit high, but such is the case with most card guides. It is not very difficult to find a street level or card show dealer who hawks their wares at "20 to 50% off Beckett." A couple of things you won't find, however, in this otherwise helpful shorthand guide are a detailed history of the hobby or listings for the many attractive minor issue sets sought by advanced collectors. For that, you will have to seek out other books by experts in the basketball card hobby. --Mike Bonner, author of COLLECTING BASKETBALL CARDS, A Complete Guide With Prices.

I think that you should buy the book Beckett offical price guide to basketball cards because you can find all of the prices to any of your cards! You can also check off the cards you have in the boxes next to the card name. Now I know all the prices to all my basketball cards because there are more than 40,000 prices.

There are a lot of baseball biographies out there but this one provides a unique twist. Kathryn "Katie" Conley, the author of the book, is Gene Conley's wife and it is as much her story as it is his. You learn about their young lives, their courtship, Katie's devotion to the teaching of the Seventh Day Adventist church, and Gene's rise to play two professional sports, starting with the Boston Braves and later with the Boston Celtics. Gene would go on to win a World Series ring with the Milwaukee franchise in 1957 and then an NBA championship with the Celtics the year after (Conley would repeat to win two more consecutive NBA titles with the Celtics). Katie Conley is proud of her husband's achievements and she gives him his due.

The author doesn't gloss over her husband's shortcomings with alcohol abuse while playing ball. Both would admit that this, as well as arm trouble, brought his baseball career to an end much sooner than if he had taken better care of himself. Money is a major topic of the book. The chronic shortage of money when they first started life together, the contract disputes and issues around playing two professional sports,
and even the phone being removed because of mounting long distance bills
are some of the problems faced by the couple as Gene was, for a while, gone year 'round, playing basketball after baseball season was over and then diving into baseball in late spring (he went on to play baseball for the Phillies and the Red Sox and the Knicks in the NBA).

You are more likely to read about the horrid hotels and motels in which they would stay than you would about what it was like to pitch in the World Series. There is a distance in the telling of the story, since it is not written by Gene himself. There are glimpses into the goofiness that went on in baseball like the "Braves Playboys" where Gene at 6'10" is on the floor Indian wrestling someone and he ends up knocking he legs out from under a piano. Of course, the gendarmes were brought in, which later caused Gene a paucity playing time under manager Fred Haney.

Perhaps one of the starker topics that threads its way through the biography is all of the injuries that he suffered playing two sports: fingers, hands, ankles, hip, feet, shoulder are all mangled or abused or damaged sometime during his career and like many others of the time, he played when he was hurt...as much out of fear being replaced as loyalty to his team.

Also, in this book, you get the full account of why Gene Conley (after having been bludgeoned by the Yankees in game in the Bronx) decided after tying one on to catch a plane to Jerusalem. This AWOL action caught everyone off guard, even his family, who didn't know where he was.

Katie Conley does a good job explaining what it was like as a baseball wife and mom, trying to bring up three children and this adds a personal touch that pages of stats won't provide. It is also obvious that she is proud of her husband's accomplishments, not only on the mound or court, but also his work with NBA pensions. (Both of them founded organizations to lobby the NBA to provide pensions to older NBA players who were receiving little or no pension money.)

This book will not give you a pitch by pitch or jump shot by jump shot view of the professional careers of pro baseball and basketball. It does provide enough highlights of his career and a glimpse into his family's private life to provide well-rounded enjoyable reading.

There are a lot of baseball biographies out there but this one provides a unique twist. Kathryn "Katie" Conley, the author of the book, is Gene Conley's wife and it is as much her story as it is his. You learn about their young lives, their courtship, Katie's devotion to the teaching of the Seventh Day Adventist church, and Gene's rise to play two professional sports, starting with the Boston Braves and later with the Boston Celtics. Gene would go on to win a World Series ring with the Milwaukee franchise in 1957 and then an NBA championship with the Celtics the year after (Conley would repeat to win two more consecutive NBA titles with the Celtics). Katie Conley is proud of her husband's achievements and she gives him his due.

The author doesn't gloss over her husband's shortcomings with alcohol abuse while playing ball. Both would admit that this, as well as arm trouble, brought his baseball career to an end much sooner than if he had taken better care of himself. Money is a major topic of the book. The chronic shortage of money when they first started life together, the contract disputes and issues around playing two professional sports,
and even the phone being removed because of mounting long distance bills
are some of the problems faced by the couple as Gene was, for a while, gone year 'round, playing basketball after baseball season was over and then diving into baseball in late spring (he went on to play baseball for the Phillies and the Red Sox and the Knicks in the NBA).

You are more likely to read about the horrid hotels and motels in which they would stay than you would about what it was like to pitch in the World Series. There is a distance in the telling of the story, since it is not written by Gene himself. There are glimpses into the goofiness that went on in baseball like the "Braves Playboys" where Gene at 6'10" is on the floor Indian wrestling someone and he ends up knocking he legs out from under a piano. Of course, the gendarmes were brought in, which later caused Gene a paucity playing time under manager Fred Haney.

Perhaps one of the starker topics that threads its way through the biography is all of the injuries that he suffered playing two sports: fingers, hands, ankles, hip, feet, shoulder are all mangled or abused or damaged sometime during his career and like many others of the time, he played when he was hurt...as much out of fear being replaced as loyalty to his team.

Also, in this book, you get the full account of why Gene Conley (after having been bludgeoned by the Yankees in game in the Bronx) decided after tying one on to catch a plane to Jerusalem. This AWOL action caught everyone off guard, even his family, who didn't know where he was.

Katie Conley does a good job explaining what it was like as a baseball wife and mom, trying to bring up three children and this adds a personal touch that pages of stats won't provide. It is also obvious that she is proud of her husband's accomplishments, not only on the mound or court, but also his work with NBA pensions. (Both of them founded organizations to lobby the NBA to provide pensions to older NBA players who were receiving little or no pension money.)

This book will not give you a pitch by pitch or jump shot by jump shot view of the professional careers of pro baseball and basketball. It does provide enough highlights of his career and a glimpse into his family's private life to provide well-rounded enjoyable reading.

I know Katie and Gene, and they are wonderful people. Gene's sports life was terrific, to say the least. He played 2 national league sports, at the same time, basically; basketball and baseball. Not many can say that. This book highlights his life, his family, and him. God bless him, Katie, and their family, and those who read the book.