Basketball Books

This is a great book for players and coaches, there is a ton of valuable information inside. Read this book if you want to become a better player or coach.

Obviously Dick Devenzio was impressive in many ways. His ability and drive was amazing as was his passion for teaching. Were this review on him, it would be an unqualified 5+.

Running the Show offers some of Dick's ideas on leadership and you can "feel" his enthusiasm through the words. On the other hand, there is not a whole lot that can be learned if you are an "old hand". I gave it to my 14year old and I fully expect that she will get more out of it than I did.

It is well written and I heartily recommend this for younger and/or less experienced players and coaches.

In addition to this book being a "labor of love", Steve Carp leaves no stone unturned regarding the history of the team. Chock full of facts and statistics, as well as personal observation, it is easy to read and comprehend even if one is not a fan of the team, or of the sport.

Being a local from Las Vegas I have always been a fan of the Rebels Basketball Team. "Runnin" is a great vivid look into the 'entire'history of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Steve does not throw any punches as he looks into the drama and glory that continually surronds this team located in the heart of 'Sin' City. A good book for any basketball aficionado or weekend couch viewer.

A Season with Dick Bennett, an inside look at Bennett's Wisconsin basketball team during the 1996-1997 season, is outstanding. I'm sure many people looking at this review have no idea who Dick Bennett was. This is unfortunate, as Bennett was a terrific coach who did not get the publicity of, say, Bobby Knight or Dean Smith. Ferris does a terrific job of introducing the Dick Bennett to the reader. The book is somewhat similar to Feinstein's Season on the Brink,although not quite as good. (To be sure, the subject is a far more sympathetic figure).

Ferris, a coach himself, gives the reader a revealing look at Dick Bennett, not only as a basketball coach, but more importantly as a husband, father, and mentor to his players. Bennett, while not as well known as Bobby Knight or Dean Smith, was one of the best coaches in the game. He would take a less than superb Wisconsin team to the Final Four three years later. In this book, he is portrayed as both an excellent coach and an outstanding, if flawed, human being. Most readers will , as I did, come to the conclusion that Bennett is as good a person as Ferris portrays him. Bennett is proof that a coach does not have to be a boor (e.g. Bobby Knight) to win at the Division I level.

The reader will also appreciate Ferris' inclusion of a glossary, as some of the terms used in the book were fairly technical and might not be understood by a casual basketball fan. Basketball coaches, whether high school or college, will gain from studying Bennett's philosophy. My only complaint with Ferris is that he does not ask the Badger players how they feel about playing for Coach Bennett. Without that perspective, I felt the portrayal of Dick Bennett was incomplete. Nevertheless, I still recommend this book.

One sequel I'm sure many Badger fans would love to read: the story of Bennett leading Wisconsin to their miraculous run to the Final Four in 2000. Given the relative lack of talent on that team, the word miraculous is not an overstatement.

This book provides a great portrait of an educator dedicated to excellence. Coach Bennett provides the author with intimate access to not only his team, practices, games, and staff meetings, but inside his own life and thought processes. What is exposed is a man dedicated to faith, family, and dedication to excellence. His strong Christian values are reflected in the five intangible concepts stressed to his team: Humility, Passion, Unity, Servanthood, and Thankfulness. Of particular interest is the role of faith through the tough times a highly competitive season brings, dealing with the anger and disappointment that can result, then using those situations as a catalyst for change and improvement. A chapter "Prepare To Succeed By First Eliminating Failure" is must reading for any dedicated basketball coach. His feelings on the down side of personal competitiveness and the skewing of personal priorities are outstanding reflections. In a time where coaching has become in many instances style over substance, Coach Bennett's team concepts and personal toughness in the face of adversity reveal the substance of a champion on and off the court. His insights on Indiana's Bob Knight during their preparation to compete are interesting as well. Eric Ferris's book provides the reader with an intimate look at the competitive toughness needed to succeed in major college basketball. Anyone who liked "Bob Knight, His Own Man", John Wooden's "Reflections On A Lifetime", and "The Smart Take From the Strong" will love this book.

Dear Mr. Bill Gutman,

I have read the book you have written on Shaquille O'Neal. I read this book because "Shaq" is one of my favorite basketball players. This book is an awesome book if people like playing basketball, watching basketball and enjoying Shaquille play. "Shaquille O'Neal" is a very well written book on the player. It tells you how Shaq grew up, what kind of an environment he was raised in and why he starting playing basketball.

Some of my favorite parts where when you describe how much hard work the player has to go through to make him self as good as he is. You describe his endurance, his training and also his abilities to do things he's not able to do. Since I am a high school basketball player I enjoyed reading this, because we train our selves to do things we aren't capable to do. I also liked the action filled chapters when Shaquille is playing for the Orlando Magic. You describe each movement and each point scored, that's fun to read because you describe it so well, and also when it is so action filled you don't want to put the book down.

The parts of the book I really didn't find so interesting to me is when you wrote about other basketball players that played in the NBA(National Basketball Association) a long time ago. I didn't think it had anything to do about the player Shaquille O'Neal. It was Shaq's biography and you described other people in the book. Its like you took Shaquille's spotlight away from him and gave it to the other players.

To conclude this letter Mr. Gutman I have really enjoyed reading this book. It is very action filled and thrilling if you are a crazy basketball player/fan.

This book was awesome! It was very well-written, and it makes you feel like you are in the thrill of the NBA life. It gives you the idea of how hard it was for SHAQ, not only as a kid who grew up on military bases, but also his college and NBA basketball ways of life. I would recommend this book to any basketball fan. I would rate this book a five star book. --DH

This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to try snowboarding but is too afraid or unsure of their ability. It's not a guide to snowboarding-- learning how to snowboard can only be achieved through actually doing it-- however, it does help a woman to overcome fear and try the latest trend. Chickie was my instructor and is one of the best female snowboarders out there. Try this book, I'm sure you will love it and its delicious recipes!

Chickie Rosenberg's unbridled enthusiasm for snowboarding is apparent on every page of her book. She can convince even the most reluctant winter sports un-enthusiast to try the great sport of snowboarding, by overcoming the objections of "it's too cold" and "I don't know how."

They won't even be able to use the "I'm too old" or "I'm afraid of heights" excuse once they realize that Chickie STARTED snowboarding over a decade ago at age 50 and that she is also afraid of heights. This book contains inspiring advice about facing down fears in order to enjoy a great sport, from an experienced snowboard instructor. It's also filled with the practical advice new riders need to do things right. Helpful websites are listed too.

I love this book and will be giving copies to my friends who want to learn to ride. I am already a snowboard enthusiast.

THIS IS THE STORY OF SPENCER HAYWOOD, FORMER NBA STAR. SPENCER DOES A GREAT JOB TELLING US OF HIS DAYS LIVING IN THE SOUTH WITH THE JIM CROW LAWS. HE TELLS OF PICKING COTTON AND HAVING HAND ME DOWN EVERYTHING. HIS MAIN ESCAPE WAS BASKETBALL WHICH WOULD BE HIS BREAD AND BUTTER FOR YEARS TO COME. ALONG THE WAY TO A GREAT CAREER, SPENCER MARRIED ONE OF THE HOTTEST AND POPULAR MODELS OF HER TIME, IMAN. HIS REALTIONSHIP WITH THIS VERY SELF CENTERED AND CONFUSED WOMAN IS VERY INTERESTING ALONG WITH STORIES OF HIS CAREER. BUT THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS BOOK IS HIS ADDICTION AND RECOVERY FROM COCAINE. THE FRIGHTNING AND HONEST TELLING OF THIS IS TRULY RIVETING. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYONE. A MUST READ, GREAT JOB SPENCER.

Spencer Haywood's story is one that is not uncommon in sports. A brilliant career derailed by drug abuse. What I found especially compelling about this book was Haywood and Ostler's harrowing account of Spencer's crack addiction. After reading this part of the book, I found myself rooting when Spencer beat his problem and went back to try out in the NBA. A great story.

String Music is about a boy who loves basketball. He's having some problems at home, so he sneaks off to a NBA basketball game where he will see his favorite basketball player, Jasper Jasmine. After the game he sneaks off into the locker room to get a couple of words with Jasper Jasmine. Before he gets thrown out after the game he started crying because he was thinking about his mom's problems. Jasper pulls up at a red light in his black Ferrari and talks with the boy. He takes the boy home, and the next week the boy gets a letter aking if he could be a ball boy for four home games. He convinces his mom to let him go. They become friends and this helps the boy. I liked this book because I like basketball and I` would like to meet a basketball star.

Rick Telander spins the tale of a young boy who loves basketball, although he is not a great player. The boy comes from a troubled home and is not treated well by his coach. Still, the boy pushes onward with his dreams.
The story is a pretty good story, but more important is Telander's writing style. Telander totally captures the mind and heart of the youngster. He obviously feels what this kid feels and he conveys that feeling beautifully to his audience all throughout the book. More than just reading the story, I walked away feeling a lot of the emotions.

I thought this book was very good. Lots of nice, short stories of UK basketball (players, coaches, etc.). A great read for any UK fan.

I got this for my dad on his birthday in October and he recently finished it and told me how much he enjoyed reading it, SOOO, I can conclude it makes a nice gift for a Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan. (Although `fanatic' better describes my dad every March.) The stories in Tales from the Kentucky Hardwood ranged from thrilling recountings of games where microseconds counted, to tales of the colorful coaches, Adolph Rupp to Tubby Smith, who led the Wildcats to so many successful seasons down thru the years. This is a well-written, respectful trip into the distant and not so distant past of one of the most storied athletic programs in the NCAA, and what makes it so special and separates it from the dry, praising look back it could have been is the extent to which players, staff and coaches from a half-century of teams stepped forward to lend their support in the creation of this book. Their input was invaluable and went a long way toward elevating Tales to a work of cultural importance in a region where basketball outranks perhaps even horse racing as the state's most cherished institution.

This was an interesting read. I felt bad for Sasha. The poor girl don't know what to do. Some people are never happy. I can't wait to read the Sequel.

This was the best book I read. I love this book and will read it again and again .....

Sasha is a intelligent, sexy, go getter. She takes an interesting job working for a basketball player, Pheonix. Sasha and Pheonix then discover spark that become uncontrollable amongst each other.

This story makes turn that keep you flipping the pages. This books is rated as the most addictive book, once you start you will not be able to stop reading Brenda Thomas's books - she is a creative author that keeps her reader's fening for more.

I loved this book. Like John Nordahl, I'm a Magic fan, and I'm happy to see that he said Orlando Arena was a great place to see a game. Too bad I'm from North Carolina and have never been there. Nordahl gives a good description of every arena; you won't be disapointed.

John Nordahl takes an NBA fan's dream trip around the country to each NBA city. Giving his opinion of each arena and the fans that inhabit it, Mr. Nordahl is sure to spark some controversy along the way.