Players Books

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.

THIS BOOK IS SO FUNNY. I FOUND IT VERY ENTERTAINING AND EASY TO READ. THE AUTHOR DID AN AWESOM JOB WRITING THIS BOOK AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO READING HIS OTHER BOOKS.

THIS BOOK WILL KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED FOR HOURS! I FOUND IT HARD TO PUT DOWN. THE AUTHOR REALLY DID HIS HOMEWORK FOR THIS BOOK. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR THE SPORT "FACTALCOHOLIC"!

Item sent quickly and in good condition. Very satisfied with vendor. Would use again.

A lot of college football programs talk about having tradition but the University of Michigan IS tradition. The University of Michigan has the most wins and highest winning percentage of any college football team in history. The Wolverines also boast the nation's largest stadium where on any given Saturday in autumn you can rub elbows with 110,000 of your closest friends. Continuing their great series of Game Day books focusing on different college teams, Triumph books presents Game Day Michigan Football, a look at some of the greatest coaches, players, games, and moments in Michigan football history.

The book begins with a foreword by legendary former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler and then delves into some of the great history of the program from the birth of the winged helmets to the composing of one of the nation's most recognizable fight songs, "Hail to the Victors". Ohio State fans will be disappointed to learn that it was the Michigan Marching band that first performed the script spelling of Ohio way back in 1932.

From there its on to meet some of the school's greatest players. Heisman trophy winner Tom Harmon, Bob Chappuis, Bump Elliott, Dan Dierdorf, Rick Leach, Anthony Carter, Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, Braylon Edwards, and many more are profiled. And of course we can't leave out former President Gerald Ford who was the team's MVP in 1934. Michigan's greatest teams are featured as well. There is the "point a minute" teams of Fielding H. Yost in the early 1900's, the 1947 national champions, The 1970 - 1974 teams of Schembechler who compiled an astounding record of 50-4-1, and the undefeated national championship team of 1997.

Greatest Games? How about the 1969 upset of undefeated Ohio State who coach Woody Hayes referred to as his greatest team, or Tim Biakabatuka's single-handed dismantling of the Buckeyes with 313 yards rushing in 1995, the wolverines astounding fourth quarter comeback from a 21 point deficit to beat Minnesota in 2003, Anthony Carter's last second TD on the final play to beat Indiana in 1979, or the thrilling OT defeat of Michigan State in 2004.

The Rivalries, the great plays, even the Little Brown Jug is all here in a book that is simply indispensable for the Michigan Football fan all in an attractive hardcover book loaded with brilliant color photos. Triumph Books proves again why they are a leader in sports publishing.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Got this book for my son-in-law and could hardly put it down myself. Great pictures and information. Easy reading, easily find information wanted. This was the perfect gift for my Notre Dame fan.

There really is something magical about Notre Dame Football. Eve growing up as a Michigan Football fan I realized this. Part of it came from growing up in a Catholic family. We'd often visit my grandparents on Saturday afternoons and my grandmother always had the Notre Dame football game on on her radio. The fact that Notre Dame is not in a conference has provided them with the kind of national appeal that other programs don't have. Game Day Notre Dame Football is one of Triumph Books' Game Day series featuring the greatest players, games, and moments in Notre Dame Football history.

The numbers are staggering: 7 Heisman Trophy winners, 21 national championships, 179 first team All-Americans. With those stats it's no wonder that Notre Dame has been a football powerhouse since the beginning of the 20th century and the days of the legendary coach, Knute Rockne. It was Rockne who was responsible for developing the modern passing game where previously the pass had been a novelty.

Most people are aware of two of the most famous campus landmarks at Notre Dame. First the Golden Dome which was built after a fire destroyed the main building in 1879 and the 132 foot tall Touchdown Jesus. But there are other great landmarks including "We're No. 1 Moses" and "Fair Catch Corby" that are detailed in this great book. It's no wonder the Notre Dame campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation.

Great players abound in Notre Dame's history. Heisman winners Leon Hart, Johnny Lujack. Paul Hornung, and Tim Brown stand side-by-side with other legends like George Gipp, The Four Horsemen, Joe Montana, Alan Page, and Joe Theismann. Gipp, of course, has become the stuff of folklore. Gipp led the team in rushing and passing in 1918, 1919, and 1920 but died from complications of strep throat in 1920. Eight years later in 1928 Rockne, the story goes, gave his famous "win won for the Gipper" speech just before the team was set to play the powerful Army team. Notre Dame's team was weak that year, coming in to that game with only a 4 - 4 record, but inspired by Rockne's speech, the team went out and pulled the upset.

Other great games are highlighted as well including the win over Oklahoma in 1957 which ended the Sooners record-breaking 47 game winning streak, the "game of the century" 10 - 10 tie with Michigan State in 1966, the 1978 dismantling of Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and the 1993 upset of #1 ranked Florida State.

As with all the fantastic Game Day books from Triumph it is a beautiful, heavy, hardcover book with fantastic photography and comments from former Notre Dame players and coaches. A great book about a great football program!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This book is a must read for all Badger football fans! It is a well-written tribute to the great football players that have graced Camp Randall over the past several years!

Drawing from the photos and writings of award-winning authors and photographs at Athlon Sports, "Game Day: Wisconsin Football" showcases University of Wisconsin football teams in general, and what it means to be a Badger football fan in particular. Packed from cover to cover with entertaining and informative anecdotes of past and current players, the stories behind Wisconsin football rivalries and traditions, detailed histories of some of the greats players, coaches, teams, and moments in Wisconsin's collegiate football, lists of the most successful seasons, recaps of the most exciting games every played, as well as year-by-year team performance statistics. Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Game Day: Wisconsin Football" will be read with interest and appreciation by the legions of Badger fans -- and should be considered 'a must' for all Wisconsin school and community library collections.

Richard Pickvance's book "A Gamelan Manual" should be required reading for anyone playing or attempting to understand one of the world's most beautiful musics--central Javanese royal court gamelan music. The book is presented in incredible detail.

This book is a fine detailed explanation of Javanese gamelan music, suitable both for beginners and for more experienced listeners and players alike. The descriptions of the various instruments, their functions in the gamelan orchestra, and related cultural aspects are all very well presented.

Now that George Brett has finally been elected to the Hall of Fame (with the 4th highest vote total in history no less), interest in reading about this baseball immortal is at a high and it's very unfortunate that Garrity's book is no longer in print. The book was written after Brett's wonderful 1980 season, when he captured the hearts of America with his quest to become the first player to hit .400 since Ted Williams did it in 1941. The book's a great look into the life of a player on the brink of superstardom. It'd be great now to get a book on Brett's entire career, because many of his highlights occurred after the '80 season. If you're a Brett fan, I strongly urge you to find this book!

Now that George Brett has finally been elected to the Hall of Fame (with the 4th highest vote total in history no less), interest in reading about this baseball immortal is at a high and it's very unfortunate that Garrity's book is no longer in print. The book was written after Brett's wonderful 1980 season, when he captured the hearts of America with his quest to become the first player to hit .400 since Ted Williams did it in 1941. The book's a great look into the life of a player on the brink of superstardom. It'd be great now to get a book on Brett's entire career, because many of his highlights occurred after the '80 season. If you're a Brett fan, I strongly urge you to find this book!

I've never played baseball but the game fascinates me and I read everything I can get my hands on.

WOW! This book was a great surprise. It is one of the most informative baseball books I've ever read. So many people from the game talk about this career from different perspectives. Since reading it, I look at players differently, with a kind of appreciation of what they go through.

It's an easy read and lots of fun. I felt like I was talking with such baseball giants as Frank Robinson, Andre Dawson, Bob Feller, Mark Grace, Robin Ventura and, well, that list of names is long and reads like a who's who of baseball.

It's one of those rare books where you read along, have a great time, then realize you're learning a lot at the same time. It definitely lives up to its name and kids who want to go pro really should have it as a reference.

My copy was a gift. Now all my friends are getting one for Christmas.

FIVE STARS for sure!

There's a lot of books out there ABOUT baseball and its players. Go Pro BASEBALL WISE is a baseball book BY its players.

This book doesn't focus on baseball's greatest moments, the endless comparison of stats, or the controversy of sod over turf. In fact, there's no mention of any game in particular.

What is in this book is baseball discussing baseball as a career. Author PJ Dragseth made a tremendous effort to interview a wide variety of baseball people across the country, from Hall of Fame players to rookies. He talked to some of the greatest players in the game. As a result, his book not only entertains, but could accurately be called a "baseball career handbook" for those who love baseball as well as for those who want to play the game professionally.

This book is a great accomplishment and Dragseth is to be commended for his effort. I recommend it highly and give it five stars.

Steven Boxer

Georgetown University, Washington, DC

I really enjoyed the book. I was a little disappointed that there was no mention of the local Baseball Hall of Fame. I think if you are interested in Sacramento's baseball history, you would be interested in the hall of fame too. It seems to me to be an important part of the history.

Alan O'Connor provides a very thorough and detailed look into Sacramento's very own history of the greatest game of all time. The book was very well researched, as well as very well put together. Very strongly recommend!

I have used this book as a study guide, and I found it very instructive and complete, Irving Chernev has a particular and delightful style to explain all the games, I reccomend it to any chess player.

Of the many chess books I have read i still believe this book is the best ever. Chernev is probably one of the best chess authors ever and this book is his best in my opinion. He has a unique style in annotation that could make any game interesting, but these are the best! Twelve of the greatest chess players in history (as of about 1975) and their chess masterpieces are included, and Chernev studied over many books so as not to leave anything important out in his annotation. This not only shows the beauty in chess but is very instructional too! It also has a short bio of each of the great's and even some humorous anecdotes about some players. This book should be owned by every chess player, Novice to Master, Serious Student or Casual Player, it is a MUST for EVERYONE!