Basketball Books

Humor, great characters, lovely moral-of-the-story, and basketball! You'll want to get the whole series. Great gifts for all the boys in your family, too.

If you want to know everything about the University of Louisville Cardinals basketball from 1912 until 1996 with DeJuan Wheat you have to get this book. If you are one of the better Cardinal fans, like me, you will want your family and friends to quiz you on the trivia questions or you can see if the cardinals break any records during this years and future years games, like they did recently against Morgan State. You can also look back at the national championships in 1980 and 1986 with pictures and everything. This is a GOTTA HAVE for the DIE-HARD CARDINAL FAN

The Detroit Piston's stunning five-game upset of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA finals is about the only reason that this volume from "Above the Rim: The NBA Library Series" needs to be updated. There has not been as much turnover in the "Central Division" as there have been in the rest of the NBA (except for Rasheed Wallace joining the Pistons), but then the off season is still young and who knows what will happen before and during the NBA draft this week. In telling the history of the teams in this division one of the points of emphasis is winning championships and what the Pistons did would certainly qualify.

The chief value of this series is that it gives young fans of the NBA a look at the history of each team in the league. "Central Division" tells the story of the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, and Toronto Raptors. Robert E. Schnakenberg provides a brief history of the division, the teams that make it up and their greatest coaches and players. Fans of the Chicago Bulls who grew up watching Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen get to learn about Bob Love, Norman Van Lier, and Jerry Sloan. Even long time NBA fans might learn something new (Red Auerbach coached Atlanta at some point?).

Fans of each team will find that Schnakenberg does a good job of providing a basic history of the franchise so they can at least know the highlights. If you are a fan of the Atlanta Hawks and only know Sharif Abdur-Rahim and not Bob Pettite and Dominique Wilkins, then this book will explain why you need to expand your knowledge of NBA history. "Central Division" is illustrated with photographs of superstar NBA players, with both black & white shots of the likes of Bob Lanier and Oscar Robertson along with color shots including Reggie Miller and LeBron James. The back of this book includes all time team records, as well as the career leaders in points and rebounds for each franchise, and members of the Naismith Memorial National Basketball Hall of Fame from each team. There is also a Glossary of terms from "All-American" to "role players," along with a Time Line of when teams were founded and won championships, Books and Web sites for additional information about the Central Division and the NBA, and an Index.

Through the eyes of Eddie Jones and Aaron McKie, Donald Hunt takes us inside Temple basketball and the tough-love world of Don Chaney. It's a thoughtful look at a coach who has made integrity the center of his program. How few other coaches can make the same claim? A longtime observer of the Philly sports scene, Hunt knows this subject top to bottom.

Roland Lazenby
author of The Show

Steve Brewer replaces the humor that so often punctuates his Bubba Mabry novels with suspense and action that keeps the reader engaged throughout. Unlike Bubba, Drew Gavin is a more confident, less klutzsy protagonist who takes on challenges with an aggressive, "take no prisoners attitude."

But one aspect of Brewer's writing that is so rewarding for the reader, and which is a hallmark of all of his books, is his uncanny ability to describe his characters so that you can see and even smell them, as though they were standing in front of you. When he writes that the high-tech guru, Wally Mertz, " . . . looked like Alley Oop" and then adds, "Lank black hair . . .", "A square face and a heavy brow and a long upper lip.", "A jagged beard along his jawline.", and "Big forearms . . ." you picture the guy and know the character in a way that few writers are able to convey. Brewer makes you care about his protagonists, his victims, and even the peripheral characters. And boy does he make you hate the bad guys!

I can't wait for the next book in the Drew Gavin series.

I moved to Manhattan two years ago to begin my first post-collegiate job. I ran competitively in college and thought that running would be the easiest, not to mention most convenient, way to stay in shape once I had entered the working world. However, I ran into one problem...well, maybe two, or three, or four. It's dark before work and it's dark after work. It's too cold, too hot, and/or too cozy under my covers. Without my college teammates expecting me at practice, the motivation to get out and run was less than lacking. Walking past the Barnes and Noble in Lincoln square, I noticed a copy of The Chelsea Piers Fitness Solution in the window. I had heard of Chelsea Piers, but never really took the time to explore its offerings. So, I went into Barnes and Noble and browsed through the book. Needless to say, I bought a copy. I've also done some research on the Chelsea Piers website to find classes for the sports that seem to best match my personality and found out that the Field House at Chelsea Piers offers evening adult gymnastics and rock-climbing classes for all levels. So, it turns out you don't have to be a kid to enjoy exercise and make physical fitness fun! I definitely recommend this book for anyone who's sick of the treadmill and is ready for a change to make this year's New Year's resolution stick.

This was the greatest Bulls book that I have ever read. It provides information that you need to and want to know. I recommend this book to the ultimate Bulls fans.

Chris Webber is my favorite playor sence 1993.I recomend this book to enybody who Likes Chris Webber and for enybody that likes Basketball.

What separates good coaches from great coaches? What makes aprogram of college basketball successful? What motivates collegeathletes to excel? In almost all cases it's the coach, and over the years Cliff Ellis has made a habit of winning wherever he has gone.

From the beginnings in Cumberland Junior College and South Alabama, to his days with Clemson and Auburn, Ellis has put to together winning program after winning program. Ellis has taken many college players and guided them, taught them and most importantly given them the chance to succeed.

The book is more than just basketball, it's the story of a man who more than coach. As you'll read Ellis is also a teacher, author and very talented cook, the book has some of his "famous" recipes included.

Sports Publishing hits the game winning shot with this inspirational autobiography...you'll find the money is well worth it.

Dear Mr. Yellen and Mr. Kozak,

I just finished reading your book, 'Coach and Us.' I am an avid golfer and found quite a few relevant tips for improving my game.

Your book discusses taking control of the mind and will. Many golf improvement books suggest the same, but don't explain how to do it.

Your book not only explains how to take control, but also illustrates how greater commitment, more practice, clearer thinking and a better attitude, relate to many goals in life.

I will follow the precepts in the book to improve my golf game (I'm sure my handicap will drop); I will also use them to enhance my life.

'Coach and Us' is more than a basketball book, albeit a great one, it is a guide for self-improvement. Thank you for writing such an inspirational story!