Basketball Books

mike weaver, stud king of high school, trying to knock boots with the luscious alicia...alicia won't give him any, so he turns to her cousin pepper for lovin

By Mike "Big Mack Daddy" Chin

Hey man, nice book. Now I'm definitely intrigued, as I'm sure many other viewers are as well.... Hey everyone, BUY THIS BOOK! Good stuff...

mike weaver, stud king of high school, trying to knock boots with the luscious alicia...
alicia won't give him any, so he turns to her cousin pepper for lovin...

By Mike "Big Mack Daddy" Chin

Man, Now I'm definitely intrigued, as I'm sure many other viewers are as well.... BUY THIS BOOK! Good stuff...

I just want to comment that everything in the book about Mr. Wootten is absolutely true. I attend DeMatha and have the pleasure of knowing Mr.Wootten and can personally say that he is a great coach, teacher, and human being. I think the book does a great job of pointing that out and I would recommend it to anyone interested in basketball and Mr.Wootten's life story,or who is just looking for an interesting and well-written book.

Great story about a great program. Morgan coaches at the infamous Dematha High in Maryland. He is a history teacher their as well. He started there with nothing. For the past 40 years they have something like a 90% win loss ratio. Yet Coach Wooten supposedly keeps it all in perspective. He first stresses God, family, and education. His players include Adrian Dantley, Danny Ferry, Sidney Lowe, Joseph Forte, etc. His most famous win was over Lew Alcindor and Power Memorial in the early 60's.

I love basketball, and I love this book. It's got great nuggets of stories, and it's fun to read, too. I've given it for gifts to friends of mine who enjoy the raucous stories and humor. If you love basketball, you'll love this book--in fact, you'll love it even if you don't

If teams such as the Syracuse Nationals, Rochester Royals, and Fort Wayne Pistons mean anything to you, or names such as Dolph Schayes, Bob Pettit, Bill Sharman, and Bob Cousy ring a bell - or merely wonder why they do for many people - you will enjoy this book. It's a look at what professional basketball was like in the '40s and '50s, when the NBA was first coming to light (a mix of teams from various regional leagues) and developing. Charles Salzberg conducted 15 interviews with players from that era, asking them to relate their experiences - how they got started, what they thought of their teammates and opposing players, highlights of their careers, how they think the game has changed, what they think of basketball today (1980s) - and the results are interesting and informative.

The game was played differently back then, before the 24-second clock went into effect: it was a much more deliberate game, slower in execution, lots of passing, the set shot the main weapon. Just about all the interviewees note how the 24-second clock changed the game, made it more exciting (especially near the end of the game), some thinking it actually saved the NBA from extinction. Bill Russell is someone mentioned by many of them as having a profound influence on the game, too, and the reason for the Boston Celtic dynasty in the 50s-60s. Most of those interviewed believe that players today have more talent, especially when it comes to shooting the ball, but regret the loss of team play the way it was for them. There aren't a whole lot of surprises here (most of the interviews talk in generalities rather than specifics) and no skeletons in the closet are revealed, but for anyone getting a little long in the tooth it's a nostalgic look back at the game before multi-million dollar contracts and schoolyard antics became the mainstay. And for younger fans it's a reminder that there was basketball before Michael Jordan.

The Authors, James and Michael Klinzing, have written an easy to follow, concise, and thorough step by step instruction for the basketball player, coach, and anyone else that is interested in learning more about the root fundamentals of the game of basketball. The Authors' expertise on the core steps to becoming a more sound player are quite evident. You will recognize their true belief that good and well-rounded play starts and ends with a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

I recommend this book for all coaches, whether you be in an elementary league, high school or college. Thi is a must for the die hard basketball person, that wants to go back to the fundamentals. 5 stars! Check out Klinzing's other books on the net.

The Authors, James and Michael Klinzing, have written an easy to follow, concise, and thorough step by step instruction for the basketball player, coach, and anyone else that is interested in learning more about the root fundamentals of the game of basketball. The Authors' expertise on the core steps to becoming a more sound player are quite evident. You will recognize their true belief that good and well-rounded play starts and ends with a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

I recommend this book for all coaches, whether you be in an elementary league, high school or college. Thi is a must for the die hard basketball person, that wants to go back to the fundamentals. 5 stars! Check out Klinzing's other books on the net.

This book gave me some insight into some of the players, coaches and history of women's basketball. I must admit, even as a fan I had made some assumptions and stereotypes that I found to be inaccurate after reading this book. Not only did it tell the story of the Seattle Storm's development, it brought out the human element of some of the players and coaches. There are even some tear-jerking elements to the story. A good story!

I bought this book after hearing fellow Storm fans rave about it, and it's true, this is a GREAT book. It goes over the issues of women in sports, homophobia etc. Plus, there's great info on the Storm and it's history.

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

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

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

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

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

Buy this book and enjoy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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