Sports Books

This volume is an absolute must for those interested in baseball history from 1900 to 1991 or fans who want to see how the uniforms of their favorite teams have changed over the years.

The book was recommended to me - when it was initially published - by an artist who was working at that time for a major trading card company. You will notice that most of the current uniforms borrow style points from years past. I guess the "retro" look of stadiums led to a "retro" look in the home garb.

Since its publication, teams have literally flooded the market with variations of their standard home and away uniforms. An update of the book may not be cost efficient due to this situation, but I hope at some point a companion volume will be published to chronicle the years starting from 1992.

Extremely comprehensive for any baseball historian. Very informative and extremely interesting. Much like everyone else who submitted a review, I would love to see a revised edition of this book - especially with the onslaught of alternate jerseys and sleeve patches.

Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century is THE definitive reference on baseball uniforms. Nowhere will you find a more complete list illustrating every major league uniform used every single year. Do you know when the Astros introduced their "rainbow" uniforms? What year did the White Sox sport Bermuda shorts? Did you know that the New York Giants once wore plaid uniforms? It's all in this book. I find it odd that this book was written to represent the uniforms of the 20th century seven years before the century's end. This book is crying out for a second edition. There have already been dozens of uniform changes since 1993. Marc Okkonen, I'm beggin' ya. PLEASE!

When I discovered BASEBALL UNIFORMS OF THE 20TH CENTURY, I was overjoyed. It is a true missing link of baseball information. Of all the pictures of ball players I poured over through the years, players who graced the diamonds during the first 50 years of this century, the one thing I could never discern was the COLOR of their uniforms. However hard you studied the permeations of gray and black in the photographs, you could not accurately guess the colors. Similarly, it was difficult to detect the exact year each major league uniform changed. This book solved those mysteries for me. I place it among my most valuable baseball books, a collection which encompasses maybe 80 books. I would love to see a similar book done on baseball uniforms of the 1870s-1890s, as well as a book on football uniforms of the 20th Century. Kudos to the author and publisher!

I have been collecting MLB replica/current baseball caps since the late sixties. I guess that makes me a fanatic. I received a postcard from Marc Okkonen a few years ago, and thought his 1991 volume was without sequel. Now I have heard that there is a 1993 revision of this fine book, with corrections. (Baseball lovers need this). I started getting serious about tracing the history of team caps in 1995, so I have a bit of a gap that a "new" Okkonen could help me fill. I have found a few errors in the book; in fact the author said there were some. Where can anyone go to improve and update Okkonen? Until further notice, he is my constant reference for cap styles, a monumental piece of research, which I use "for the love of the game."

I first had the pleasure of reading "Charlie's Touchdown" in 2004. I have recently savored the story again and enjoyed it just as much. The story, told through the eyes of his mother, focuses on Charlie, a courageous and inspiring boy who was born with multiple heart anomalies. The book is written in a conversant manner; you can't help but feel like you come to know Charlie and his family. The summation of Charlie's life is so much more than his medical problems. The truest meaning of life is exemplified by the example of this young man. His life, though relatively brief, was a woven tapestry of hope, determination, faith, trust, love, humilty, joy and gave validity to the value of suffering.
I highly recommend this book. After reading "Charlie's Touchdown" you will readily see the appropriateness of the book's title.

Vickie Batcheldor

"Charlie's Touchdown" is an awesome testimony of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness (no matter the daily struggles, the never-ending challenges, the pain of human suffering, and the grief of the human heart). Charlie, his family, and their faith will inspire you. And you will find plenty of the Holy Spirit all along the way!

A powerful read for anyone; an especially uplifting read for bereaved parents and those grieving the loss of a loved one.

"Charlie's Touchdown" is a very personal account of a family's joys and sorrows in living with a member with a physical disability. As I read this true story, written by the mother, I felt as though she was actually taking me with her and her husband and her family as they lived with Charlie and his gift. I laughed and I cried as I went through the years with Charlie. One wonders why I would call Charlie's disability a "gift", especially in our society, which no longer values people with disabilities and actually eliminates them through untold abortions and the growing tide of euthanasia. I call it a "gift", because when seen with the eyes of faith, one is able to connect all sufferings up to the Cross of Christ, which is the greatest gift we have been given. Then, our sufferings can, indeed, become redemptive as St. Paul states in Colossians, chapter 1, verse 24: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church..." God gives us the opportunity, as He gave Charlie and his family, to grow in love through suffering. I highly recommend this book for all, especially those who struggle to see the value of suffering in our world today. Read the book and you will be uplifted.

This is a beautiful and well written true story of love, perseverance, tragedy, humor, and faith. Every parent, no, every person, should read this story!

This book is an inspiring example of how much we can rely on God to help us through the pain of this life. Mary Jo's reliance on faith to provide strength in her most painful and difficult experiences helped me see that we can and must TRUST God ... His plan is eternel and reaches far beyond this life. Thank you, Mary Jo, for sharing this experience with the world and demonstrating the very faith and trust that Jesus told us was possible.

Fantastic book/offensive system. Worded very well..

Pros:
- Quarterback and Wide Reciever play is focused on thouroughly and is very clear
- The system is very efficient in terms of play names etc
- Playbook section in the back sets up the young coach with plenty to base his offense off as a start
- Read progressions for every play are simple, very organized
- Provides a sample practice plan
- Describes how the huddle should be run
- Provides a template for an effective call sheet
- Running system is extremely simple

Cons:
- While a template is provided for the call sheet, Coach Jenkins doesn't do a complete job of identifying what type of plays can fill out the sheet. A beginner coach might have trouble creating his sheet using this book as his pure source.
- While the running system is defined, runningback play and run-blocking is somewhat ignored. Coach makes it clear that offensive line play is something that he feels is up to the personal coach so he does not go into detail.
- Unlike most coaching books, Coach doesn't list the specific characteristics the WCO coach should be looking for at each position

well that was difficult trying to find cons lol..great book, 5 stars

I just heard coach Jenkins speak at the Irvine Mega Clinic and he was probably the best speaker there. I don't think he even mentioned his books, but I bought all three. His books are the best out there, bar none! I highly recommend all three of his books.

I was at a football clinic this past weekend and a guy comes out of one of the talks and makes the guy selling the books unpack (he had just packed up and was walking out the door). He said he needed a "West Coast Offense" book. So he opens two or three cartons and takes out "Coaching The Multiple West Coast Offense" (the second edition for what it's worth). So I decide to go ahead and get a copy for myself because it must be good? Long story short -It's the best darn book on football out there! Just a lucky timing thing and I really love the offense. We are bringing the author out to our school to install the offense..... An outstanding book that I found because of luck. It's that good........

This book is very indepth and comprehensive. It not only diagrams plays, but it also explains the techniques and read progressions that make the plays work. It's a great book if you are looking for an offense or just looking to add to your own.

Excellent, best-of-breed books on the West Coast offense, especially for those who haven't lived in the system from ground zero as a player or a coach.

HS coaches should beware...the WCO works well, BUT only if you have a stellar athlete/passer as a QB and at least one receiver w/great speed who is capable of consuming the cushion, tracking the ball, and acting as a complete deep threat. The strength of the WCO (the desired traits in the QB and WR) is also its achilles heel, in the same way as the WCO's mirror-opposite, the wishbone (you must have a dominating FB who can draw defenders at the point of attack). Given the paucity of talented QBs who are able to throw 40 - 70 yards with great accuracy consistently and WRs who demand and get consistent double coverage, it would behoove you to think twice about installing the WCO at the HS level.

If you make the mistake of pushing the WCO as a template on a HS team w/out the QB and WR, you are going to be in for a long and painful season. Defensive backs will congregate in the short zones, defensive coaches will send 6 - 7 defenders in full blitz, and if your QB isn't mobile you can count on numerous sacks, missed throwes, interceptions, or an injured QB (the shotgun, a favorite in the WCO, only delays the agony).

Good luck, and this book is as good as it gets for the HS coach seeking to implement the WCO.

This book 'Eddie Would Go' is a great read if your are a water man or surfer.

This is an important book about surfing. Watching movies like "Riding Giants" you will most likely be left with the impression that native Hawaiian contributions to this sport stopped sometime in antiquity, last one being The Duke, and that the only object of surfing is to make a stunt video or earn a title. In fact, if you come to Hawaii and really look beyond the hype, you will likely find that the sport continues to be sustained and nourished by its many faceted native Hawaiian roots, the spirit of Aloha being most important, courage ("Eddie Would Go"), synergy with nature ("Eddie Wouldn't Tow"), family values, music, humility, spirituality (all of which manifest as "free spirited hippie culture" in pop culture) and, of course, the sheer enjoyment of the ocean, while being respectful, for "pleasure instead of treasure".

I liked the commentary and collected anecdotes in the book. Eddie was the kind of guy that is typical of Hawaii. Holmes describes his character as self-effacing, humble, generous... always giving of himself to others. These are attributes which are valued in the local Hawaiian culture and also,universally. Sadly, the very things which locals in Hawaii value the most, are taken advantage of by outsiders looking to capitalize or commercialize the "Aloha," shown to them. This is demonstrated continually in the book.
Overall, a very interesting biography written with respect and conviction to the legacy that Eddie "lived" during his short life. Many details in the book encourage self-introspection within one's own life.

An intriguing tribute to hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau, "Eddie Would Go" explores the life journey of a true native legend. From big-wave surfing, to saving countless lives as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay, Eddie epitomized the true essence of Hawaii and the spirit of "aloha." This book embraces the strong family connection that is so inherent in hawaiian culture, while focusing on the characteristics that made Eddie a local hero, a surfing icon and a dedicated waterman.

Author Stuart Holmes Coleman explores Eddie's lifelong connection to the ocean, while also giving a glimpe of life as it was and is on the ever famous North Shore. Always the adventurer, Eddie's passion for the water would bring him across infinite miles of ocean over the course of his lifetime, and in the end would serve appropriately as his eternal resting place. This book transcends all genders, ages, races, surfers and adventure seekers alike, a thrilling gem of a read for all. An epic tale, it will stir your emotions and touch your soul. Eddie was an inspiration to many and a friend to all, and his spirit lives on in this book just as it will forever in the ocean.

This book is a true story with many messages. Eddie Aikau was a hero many times over, a warrior waterman. He was a hero to the many whose lives he saved. He was a hero to the Hawaiian culture. He was a hero to his crewmates on the Hokuleia.

He wasn't perfect, however. Author Stuart Coleman worked very hard to find the true Eddie, separating the man from the myth, the sinner from the saint.

If you like reading about surfing, the Hawaiian culture, and people who have influenced the reputation of the Hawaiian North Shore, this is the book. The photos are terrific, but the story is sad. I thank Coleman for pulling it all together.

This book is excellent for beginners. It takes you step by step through the whole process of tying fishing flys with pictures. It tells you how to use certain kinds of flys for certain kinds of fish and fishing. Good to have around for reference.

This is a great book for beginning tiers. I have just gotten into tying during the past few months, so I've been on the lookout for any good sources to learn the art. I've checked out literally dozens of books from the library that all purport to be the greatest fly-tying references around, but this is the one that I find myself referring to most frequently.

The basic format for the bulk of the book is a left-hand page showing a particular fly (e.g. The Royal Wulff), along with detailed instructions on how to tie it, and a little more on the fly and its variants. The facing page contains the "recipes" for 6 variants on the same theme (e.g. Grizzly Wulff, Ausable Wulff, etc.). Additionally, the right-hand page contains a short blurb on fishing that particular fly "series." He also lists the primary sizes in which each of the flies is tied, and highlights the sizes he recommends in particular. Also, flip to the back of the book, to the Conclusions section, first, because he provides a list of the flies (and sizes) that should always be in your basic box. I spent lots of time going through, series by series, making my own list of flies I want to tie to get ready for next spring, and then flipped to the back, only to find a list there that was almost identical to mine!

This book is enough to enable you to tie just about every fly you might need. If there are individual flies not contained in the book, you can probably figure out how to tie them just by reviewing Hughes' notes on a related "series." If not, there's always the internet...

There is some information in the front of the book on materials, methods, etc., but you are probably better off getting that information elsewhere (I'd recommend "The Fly Tier's Benchside Reference," by Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer, since it has nice big pictures and step-by-step instructions for all of the basic techniques). The Leeson and Schollmeyer book would make a good companion to this one. The only critique I have for Hughes' book is related to format--it would be nice if the book were spiral-bound, so it would lay flat on the tying desk--but it's not a huge problem.

If you are just getting started, I would highly recommend Hughes' book. It's the only one I own, and the only one I feel like I need. The content is great, and I really enjoy his writing style, which manages to be informative without being boring.

This was a fun little surprise when I started flipping through this book. I was sucked in by the cover and title and found out the content and numerous pictures are just as good. It is one of my top 5 fly tying and fishing books on my shelf and would say it is a great reference for anybody looking for a little more indepth knowledge on trout flies and techniques. I had a great time trying out patterns and techniques from this book and have recommened it to others.

I have been involved in fly fishing for 8 years and fly tying for 7. Over that time I have assembled a library of books and scoured the internet for information related to this sport. In all my years of research this book has been the most informative in both fishing and tying. The way he has organized the information is tremendous. It is very simple to understand, yet is overflowing with valuable information. I keep coming back time and time again. If I were to put a dollar value on what this book is worth to me it would be in the hundreds of dollars. To think that I picked it up for $10 blows my mind. Buy this book and I know it will be one you get your money's worth. This is by far the most valuable resource in my fly fishing library. I only wish I had come across it 8 years ago!

This is a must have book for any fly fisherman. This book will help you fill up that fly box with exactly what you need to catch trout. I own many different fly tying books that I have collected through the years. "Essential Trout Flies" by Dave Hughes is by far the one I reference the most. If you can only have one fly tying reference - This is the one you want! I really like the way the book is set up. You will learn about each fly pattern and why it's essential. Once you learn one pattern, you'll know how to tie many others. Dave Hughes list many other fly patterns that can be tied basicially the same way... This helps keep the book fairly condensed and still very imformative.

Pat Jordan wrote this book about his three years playing minor league baseball trying to live up to the giant bonus the Milwaukee Braves had given him to be a pitcher for them. He chronicles what days he can remember spent in small towns, meeting interesting people, and going through the struggles any 18 year old boy must go through with the extra added pressure of having to throw a small white ball past a professional athlete.

What makes this book stand out from other such books is that Jordan is an extremely strong writer. Some of his landscape descriptions bring back Steinbeck and his tales of dankness Dreiser. He is very talented and I finished the book in about four days because of its easy flow.

The biggest disappointment was that many parts of the story are left unresolved. About halfway through the book he drops a major bomb after calling an old girlfriend and yet nothing more about it is ever mentioned. The ending too is sort of dropped on us, almost as though there is was another chapter that got cut off. I know this is a non-fiction book and sometimes real life is unresolved, but it seems as though there are parts left out. I only hope some of the answers are contained in his sequel to the book written almost 30 years later entitled "A Nice Tuesday".

"A False Spring" is so good I cannot do it justice here. It is, along with "Ball Four", "The Suitors of Spring" (also by Pat Jordan) and "Bo: Pitching and Wooing" by Maury Allen, one of the best baseball books ever written. This book describes minor league baseball, the hopes and dreams of a young athlete, youthful sex, raunchiness, crushing disappointment, and Americana. I read this book and memorized it, then went off to play minor league ball myself and totally lived all of it. My experiences in the Cardinal and A's organization did not resemble Jordan's, they rhymed. This book tells the story of thousands of young hopefuls who live amongst us, and many more of us can relate to it than can relate to the superhuman life and accomplishments of Barry Bonds.

Those of us who are profesional sportswriters spend a lot of time in press boxes with other writers who criticize what they see on the field, but either never played the game or never played it well. "The Suitors of Spring" is brilliantly written by Pat Jordan, who did play the game. It also brings to mind some of the best sports books ever. "Ball Four's" Jim Bouton played the game. "North Dallas Forty's" Peter Gent played the game.

Having stood on the mound, facing down a hitter with the bases loaded, the crowd yelling, the opposition hurling insults, your future on the line and the hair standing up on the back of his neck, is an experience known by few. Jordan knows it.

Here he writes about pitchers, his specialty. He writes about superstars like Tom Seaver, playboys like Bo Belinsky, hardthrowing drunks like Steve Dalkowski, 6-6 lefties who never lived up their potential, like Sam McDowell, and prep phenoms from his home state of Connecticut who met the same fate as the author.

Jordan's talent is not one that can be learned in a literary class. He is of the school of hard knoocks, rough hewn, real, human. Bravo, Pat.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

Like so many baseball books, this really isn't just about baseball. It's about a young mans' journey growing up. It's about what happens to a "can't miss" prospect when he does miss. Pat Jordan looks back 15 years after he threw his last pitch--trying to figure out what happened. He's still not sure-I got the feeling he wrote this book for theraputic reasons. But we learn a lot about Mr. Jordan, and some of it is not too flattering. It's obvious he's still searching for the answers, and that's what I like the most about the book-because YOU understand while reading that he just didn't have what it takes to be a big league pitcher. A wonderful peek inside Mr. Jordan's "coming of age." Highly recommended!

I first read excerpts from "A False Spring" about 30 years ago when they appeared in three consecutive issues of Sports Illustrated. From the moment I began reading that first installment, I was entranced. It is hard to describe exactly why, but I am sure that the baseball action in the book was not the reason. Instead, I remember Jordan's vivid portrayls of such seemingly mundane things as a prarie thunderstorm, an afternoon fishing in the swamplands of Florida and the glow of the instruments on his dashboard. These depictions riveted me, I'm convinced, because they put into words how I saw the world. As an 11 year-old, this was a unique and novel experience for me.

Jordan's portrayal of his own feelings of dissatisfaction, disappointment, anger, rage and finally resignation also resonated with me. Most of the reading I had done up to that point portrayed life's events in a linear fashion that was totally at odds with what I had already experienced. I was fascinated that Jordan could take an accessible subject matter and weave all of these other elements into it.

Mind you, all of this came to me from reading the three SI excerpts. I never did read the book until, by chance, I was searching on this site and came across a name I remembered. So, 30 years later, I got a copy and tried to find out whether this book would have meaning for me anything like what I experienced as an 11 year-old.

Some pompous windbag spoke at my college graduation ceremony about the test for what he called "clahsic stahtus." According to this guy, any writing qualified for that status if one could read the work at widely spaced intervals and still feel the same spark as in the previous readings. He assumed, I guess, that peoples' perceptions and interests change over the years and that only writing that had a certain breadth would be able to appeal to a reader who had undergone those changes.

"A False Spring" certainly passed the test. All of the vivid descriptions -- the hand-me-down uniforms, the barracks-like atmosphere of minor league spring training, the experience of pitching in frozen northern outposts-- remained as vital and gripping as before, as did Jordan's portrayal of the unravelling of his baseball career. With the benefit of 30 years' experience, I was able to understand the author's struggles in more than the visceral way I did as an 11 year-old. Further, I got the strong sense -- confirmed in Jordan's later memoir, "A Nice Tuesday" -- that Jordan himself had not figured out exactly why things had gone so wrong for him.

At times, reading this book was like watching someone reliving some horrible nightmare. At other times, it was simply a pleasant experience to read Jordan's description of day-to-day life in small town America in the late 50s. Throughout, the book was just as gripping as those SI excerpts that grabbed me 30 years ago.

I have read that Pat Jordan set about to create a persona in this book and that the portrayal of that persona was calculated and not always accurate. Even so, this book reveals enough of the real experiences of the man that it withstands the test of time. I'm not so interested in absolute historical accuracy when I come across a book that can hold my attention and bring me back for more 30 years after the first reading.

GLORY ROAD IS ABOUT TEXAS WESTERN COLLEGE WHO WON THE 1966 NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY DON HASKINS WHO COACHED THIS GROUND BREAKING TEAM. BY THAT I MEAN FIVE BLACKS WERE IN THE STARTING LINEUP AN UNHEARD OF THING BACK IN THE 1960'S. HASKINS REALLY KICKED PREJUDICE IN THE ASS. HE WAS NOT PREDJUCIDE TO COLOR BUT TO GUYS WHO WOULD NOT GIVE A 100% EFFORT. HE WAS A REAL S.O.B. TO PLAY FOR, MAKING HIS TEAM PRACTICE VERY HARD AND LONG. (SOMETIMES EVEN AFTER A GAME HE WOULD WORK THEM UNTIL WELL INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS) THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR TODAY WOULD GET HIM SUED OR TEMINATED OR BOTH. HE IS VERY DRIVEN AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WINNING. HE ALSO TRIES TO COME ACROSS AS BEING A NO EGO TYPE OF GUY BUT HE ALSO BRAGS HOW GREAT A POOL PLAYER HE WAS. NOT ALOT OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE ACTUAL 1966 TOURNAMENT ITSELF BUT MORE ABOUT HIS RESPECT FOR LEGENDARY COACH HANK IBA AND MORE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS WHO HELPED MAKE THEM CHAMPIONS. THIS IS A VERY GOOD READ AND I RECOMMEND IT MOSTLY FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS.

An amazing person as well as basketball player and coach, Don Haskins relates the history of Texas Western/UTEP basketball in a way that the movie "Glory Road" (though very good) simply could not. Even though the title makes it sound like the 1966 season is all that is covered, this book actually tells the history of Haskins' long tenure here at UTEP, from his first years at the school through the historic championship in '66, and beyond. His insights into the players, coaches, and personalities he came into contact with were enthralling, and the wonderful storytelling really makes you feel like you were there through all the good times and bad. I read it cover to cover the same afternoon I bought it, and highly recommend it to any fan of UTEP, Coach Haskins, or basketball in general. Thanks for everything you've done for the city of El Paso, our university, and the game of basketball, Mr. Haskins.

Your current published reviews are enthusiastic but in some cases contain factual inaccuracies. The movie and the book are related in title and subject (Don Haskins); but that is about as far as it goes. The movie which focuses on 1966 is moving and concludes with a happy and factual ending - that is, that Texas Western won that game in 1966 --- but the movie not always true to the facts. Understandably I suppose when you try to compress a life story, even if only one year of a life, into a 2 hour or so movie. The book, from someone who played for Coach, reviewed and commented on the galley proof, and has represented Coach Haskins and the '66 team as a lawyer and a friend for 35 plus years, is "spot-on" and should be read by everyone who has ever had an interest in basketball.

As to the fortunes of 1966 team and the gentlemen representing that team so well, then and now, suffice it to say that the past 3 or 4 years have indeed been a trip down Glory Road: The team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA this past April, only the 6th team to ever be so honored - and the first collegiate team --- with the enshrinement proceedings to be held on September 7 and 8, 2007 at the HOF facility. The team has also been honored with dinner and a movie at the White House with President and Mrs. Bush; the team will be inducted in the Boys Clubs of New York Hall of Fame in October of 2007, and some of the members volunteered to take an Armed Services Entertainment Tour to Germany, the Netherlands and England in February of 2007 to entertain our country's troops and their families. Also, Texas Western's victory on March 19, 1966 in College Park, Maryland over Hall of Fame Coach Adolph Rupp and his great Kentucky Wildcat team, that included Pat Riley, Louie Dampier and Larry Conley, among others, was selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") as one of 25 defining moments in the 100 year History of NCAA sports.

I could go on but I think this should at least clear up a few matters and hopefully whet the appetite of prospective readers and reviewers to pause and consider reading this book, viewing the movie. Coach Haskin's story is presented in an interesting manner, containing both Coach Haskin's well known skills as a pick-up riding around story teller and the literary skills of Dan Wetzel who spent hours upon hours riding, listening and recording those stories.

It is well written and factual to a fault; and points out what people can do when they put aside prejudices, rediculous stereoptypes (blacks had no discipline, couldn't be a point guard or quarterback) and circumstances and judge people by character and performance; not color and privilege. Every one of those (then but now not so) young men -- all are still alive except Bobby Joe Hill who passed away of a heart attack in 2002 --- that comprised the Texas Western Team in 1966 had talent and skill; more importantly they had character and heart and respect for each other and their coaches and that combination took them to over the top.

Enjoy this story and share it with others - because of their courage and accomplishments, and those of others in other aspects of the 60's civil rights movement, questions surrounding recruiting, playing, starting and honoring people of color in sports today seem strangely quaint, and beyond the imagination of most people born after the '60s. But it wasn't always so and for this all of society owes a debt of gratitude to Don Haskins, the members of his '66 team, the University of Texas at El Paso (formerly Texas Western College) and the citizens of El Paso for contributing to the environment in which we now find ourselves with respect to race relations in sports.

I have the honor of being Don Haskins teammate at Oklahoma A & M, now Oklahoma State University and couldn't be prouder and happier for a very good film about a very historic Coach and athletic event. Please be advised that Don's whole 1966 team was just inducted into the new Collegiate Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri. Buy it, you will like it...!

In one of those quirky moments in the book and movie industries, the autobiography of coach Don Haskins was already "in the pipeline" before the development of the picture.

The book and movie share the title - Glory Road - which is a name of a street on the UTEP campus to commemorate the championship basketball season.

The book obviously gives a more fuller picture of Haskins and does not solely focus on the monumental victory by Texas Western College (UTEP) over Kentucky in the 1966 NCAA Finals. There will be areas "filled-in" where the movie takes artistic license with some facts/scenes to push the plot along.

The years after the title run are especially interesting, since the basketball program somewhat faded from national view as the sport became a multi-billion-dollar industry.

It is a shame that history - especially when it comes to matters of race - oftentimes become blurry as the years lumber forward. Though Haskins has always downplayed his role in what was a defining moment on the court of race & athletics, he truly deserved the attention from the national platform that propelled the book to national bestseller status.

The lessons learned along that glory road are as important today as they were 40 years ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed GROWING UP BASEBALL. It was definitely a memorable reading experience. --David Dewse

A new book is out that takes an original approach to baseball. "Growing up baseball, an oral history," lets players tell their stories in their own words. Among those who write about their childhood baseball memories: Mark Grace, Bob Feller, Dom DiMaggio, Sam McDowell, Don Larsen and Mike Scioscia, manager of the Anaheim Angels, who vanquished the Giants in the World Series.

By Harvey and Frederic Frommer, the book is a quick and satisfying read about the innocent youth of baseball stars.

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The title and premise intrigued me. A series of mini-bios told in the first person by men who had actually made it to the "Big Leagues". I was looking for an answer, into my own psyche perhaps as to why the game is so compelling. Why do I stay up late for Opening Day and to watch every possible minute of the World Series? Why is Opening Day for my home team so important that I consider it a national holiday and have not missed an opening day game most of my adult life, even traveling over 300 miles to be there.

Why are celebrities like Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Kostner and Billy Crystal so obviously obsessed with the game. Even presidents are drawn to the game, our current president owned a team, Bill Clinton is said to be "bonkers about baseball". It is not just America that is taken with the game. The Japanese passion is well documented as well as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. I thought if I could hear in their own words what brought many major leaguers to the game I could find a commonality and understand why I am so gripped by the game.

In Growing Up Baseball players from the past and present, ones who had afleeting time in the major leagues to ones who are icons- discuss their intimate childhood memories of the game. Players who grew up with and without TV and /or in areas where there was no access to major or minor league teams and areas where cities have several major league teams all have the same passion for the game.

Chuck Stevens - Played three years for the St. Louis Browns. Grew up occasionally hearing games on the radio and reading ticker tape reports of World Series games. But spent 23 years in the Browns organization.

Scott Brosius - NY Yankees third baseman, knew he wanted to be a major leaguer from age three, but never saw a major league game until he was drafted by the Oakland A's at 22-years old.

Jose Cardenal -Native of Cuba whose whole family's life was devoted to baseball. His father played, his older brother played for the Army League, his cousin is Bert "Campy" Campaneris and his sister was the only female official scorer in Cuba. Signed by the Giants but couldn't get very much playing time due to the existing outfield of Mays, McCovey and the Alou brothers, was later traded and played 18 years in the majors.

The stories recount tales of parents who encouraged, parents who discouraged. Idols who became mentors. Boys who became men.

While Growing Up Baseball was not able to give me insight into my own obsession it does give intimate details and takes a peak into the childhood of majors leaguers who we love so much and always wanted to be.
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"Ambitious, very interesting. The wonderful oral histories humazine the players so much."

The title and premise intrigued me. A series of mini-bios told in the first person by men who had actually made it to the "Big Leagues." I was looking for an answer, into my own psyche perhaps as to why the game is so compelling. Why do I stay up late for Opening Day and to watch every possible minute of the World Series? Why is Opening Day for my home team so important that I consider it a national holiday and have not missed an opening day game most of my adult life, even traveling over 300 miles to be there?

Why are celebrities like Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner and Billy Crystal so obviously obsessed with the game? Even presidents are drawn to the game. Our current president owned a team. Bill Clinton is said to be "bonkers about baseball." It is not just America that is taken with the game. The Japanese passion is well documented as well as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. I thought if I could hear in their own words what brought many major leaguers to the game I could find a commonality and understand why I am so gripped by the game.

In Growing Up Baseball players from the past and present - ones who had a fleeting time in the major leagues to ones who are icons - discuss their intimate childhood memories of the game. Players who grew up with and without TV and/or in areas where there was no access to major or minor league teams and areas where cities have several major league teams all have the same passion for the game.

Chuck Stevens - Played three years for the St. Louis Browns. Grew up occasionally hearing games on the radio and reading ticker tape reports of World Series games. But spent 23 years in the Browns organization.

Scott Brosius - NY Yankees third baseman, knew he wanted to be a major leaguer from age three, but never saw a major league game until he was drafted by the Oakland A's at 22-years old.

Jose Cardenal - Native of Cuba whose whole family's life was devoted to baseball. His father played, his older brother played for the Army League, his cousin is Bert "Campy" Campaneris and his sister was the only female official scorer in Cuba. Signed by the Giants but couldn't get very much playing time due to the existing outfield of Mays, McCovey and the Alou brothers, was later traded and played 18 years in the majors.

The stories recount tales of parents who encouraged, parents who discouraged. Idols who became mentors. Boys who became men.

While Growing Up Baseball was not able to give me insight into my own obsession it does give intimate details and takes a peak into the childhood of major leaguers who we love so much and always wanted to be.

"Growing UP in Indiana" is a fascinating personal journey and excellent read. Dr. Jones uncovers the reasons and driving forces for the small town passion and personal drive youngsters learn and embrace at an early age to play basketball in Indiana. His journey includes insightful commentary on the moral and social climate of the times. As important to understand the will to play and to excel at Indiana's game, players also learned not only how to win games but also how to win friends, build teammates and forge lessons for life and for living.

"Growing Up in Indiana" comes close to explaining the passion that we young Hoosier boys had for the game of basketball. If you ever took the ball at the top of the key and made a few dribbles to your right and shot that jumper, pretending that you were Bobby Plump; or if you ever tried to perfect a jump shot by putting the ball up and behind your head the way you had seen Oscar do it - then you can appreciate Norm Jones' book. Dr. Jones as a young man had a great passion for the game and this has enabled him to tell a story that needs to be told. Even though it is his personal account it represents the view of thousands of young men of the 50's and 60's who knew that the most important thing was to put the ball in the basket. His history of the era and his personal experience with so many important greats of the game makes this a very improtant read for anyone interested in basketball and Indiana culture. If you lived in an Indiana town in this era of limited TV and minimal IT communications, you knew that the social/cultural hub was the school's basketball game. Everyone went to the games and everyone was involved. "Growing Up in Indiana" captures that euphoria and everyone's need to be part of it.

Pat Chase
6th Generation Hoosier
Knightstown High(Home of the "Hoosier Gym") Class of 1963

If you have ever wondered what it was like growing up in the basketball-crazy Hoosier state during the heydays of the 50s and 60s, Dr. Norman Jones provides that opportunity in Growing Up in Indiana: The Culture & Hoosier Hysteria Revisited. Jones was one of those players, and he had the inevitable task of guarding the likes of Bobby Plump (Milan Miracle) as well as the incomparable Big O. In an era when basketball players were equals only on the court, Jones goes on to describe the inequities imposed on the black players off the court.

I thank Norm Jones for giving us the meticulous chronicling of his youth as a Hoosier. Through his descriptive writing and stellar story-telling ability, Jones allows us to vicariously experience his adventures on the court. Anyone who has ever aspired to make his high school basketball team will enjoy this realistic look back to the glory days of Hoosier basketball.
Chic Hess, Author of Prof Blood and the Wonder Teams: The true Story of Basketball's First Great Coach

While I found this book to be an interesting read and perhaps captures what it was like for a typical young man to grow up in Indiana (like I did) and be a basketball player (like I wasn't), it wasn't what I was expecting when I bought it. The title led me to believe I would read more about the Big Picture -- what Hoosier Hysteria was (is) and how it has affected the Indiana population as a whole over the years. Instead it was mainly about the author and his personal journey playing high school and college basketball. I enjoy memoirs, but I think the word "memoir" in the title or subtitle would have helped me understand what I was ordering. I do praise the author for his insight into racism in the state -- and in Hoosier basketball in particular; I learned a lot from this book about that sorry history. Those who like this book might also enjoy reading "Getting Open" by Tom Graham.

"There is no greater impact on what Indiana basketball means to a kid 'GROWING UP IN INDIANA' than this book by Dr. Jones. Although I played, coached,and refereed basketball at all levels, this book gives a perspective that can only be (italics) imagined - unless you lived it like Norm did. A fun and easy read.

Jim Tunney. Ed.D
Former NFL Referee, educator and author of "It's the Will, Not the Skill"

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Good memories are refreshed if you grew up in Indiana through the book by Norm. Jones. "Growing Up In Indiana" is entertaining even for those who hail from different states. Norm"s memory is unusual and sharp and he has been on the cutting edge of some spectacular events in Indiana basketball history. I share his memory of several of these events and sports fans will enjoy the many stories he tells. I enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with Norm and have always appreciated his work ethic and his devotion to high principles. Enjoy this book---it will provide great entertainment.

Jack L. Davidson
Tyler Texas

Even though I don't own any hermit crabs, I see them for sale in pet stores often and was interested in learning more about them. Sue Fox's book is an excellent introduction, with basic information (behavior, appearance, etc.) not only about pet land hermit crabs, but also wild ones. She additionally provides information about wild marine hermit crabs. There are plenty of clear close-up photographs detailing hermit crabs of various sizes and colorations (wild ones).

It's a great and quick read for anyone interested in this unique animal, owner or not. Pet owners, however, might wish for a bit more care information; it seems like a lot was as of yet unknown when the book was written. As a non-owner, I felt as though all of the information was of interest, which means owners may find the more specific care information lacking.

I have had hermit crabs most of my life. So, when my son asked to get some while at the beach I couldnt say no. To brush up on my knowledge I got this book. It covers everything. Great for the beginner or someone who has crabs. Beautiful pictures through out the book. I have a few books this is the ONE I recommend.

This book is just what it says it is. I learned so much about my cabs that I didn't know. I only wish that is would tell me exactly what the enjoy to eat but it said that you have to learn what they like and don't like. Just like each of us like and dislike things they do to.

I picked up this book because we recently got two hermit crabs and I wanted to learn more about taking care of them. While this book was among the more helpful I've come across on the subject, I was hoping it would be more detailed. Everything in it was useful, and it helped me know what to do for the basics, but I want to go a little more advanced.

I found the book to be extremely informative and helpful.
there was a great deal of information that i found very useful. Very pleased with this product.