No comments about Tommy Nunez, N B A Reference: Taking My Best Shot (A Mitchell Lane multicultural biography).

2 comments about Bruce Weber: Through My Eyes An inside look at the man, the coach and the greatest season in Illini history..

1. This is very quick, easy and light reading, but it's a wonderful walk of remembrance through the 2004-2005 basketball season. It's sprinkled along the way with revelations about Bruce Weber, the man. I truly recommend the book to any Illini fan who would enjoy "reliving" that dream season.
   
   Some tidbits:
   
   * When Weber entered the Ohio State arena (before that fateful first loss), an Ohio State fan yelled, "You're going down, Coach!"
   
   Weber replied, "Thank you."
   
   * Weber's voice is the way it is because of a surgery he had when he was 8 or 9 years old. He had polyps in his throat and they were lasered/burned off.
   
   His remembrances of the Arizona game, the championship game, and the beginnings of his professional relationship with Gene Keady are a treat to read and too special to be entirely revealed here.
   
   No, it's not bestseller material (like Three Nights in August), but for rabid Illini fans such as myself, it's well worth the read.



2. Everything went like clockwork from the time I ordered "Through my Eyes" by Bruce Weber until it arrived in perfect condition in the mail. Thank you so much.

2 comments about I Remember Pete Maravich: Personal Recollections of Basketball's Pistol Pete by the People and Players Who Knew Him.

1. This biik is an oral history of Pete Maravich, the player and the person. It recounts the memories of various people who knew Pete as the Pistol and as just plain Pete. It gives a balanced view of his past and is especially interesting in recounting Pete's later days and his conversion to Christianity. A good read for people who may have read Pete's biography but want to see him through others eyes.



2. Pistol Pete was my childhood hero and this book tells me an awful lot about him from people who knew him during different parts of his life. It's people talking about Pete in their own words and the stories and memories are rich and interesting. I especially like the Christian angle to the book, telling of Pete's conversion to Christianity and his evangelical work. Most of the stuff I've read on Maravich downplay that stuff, but I think it as important as anything else he ever accomplished. Nice book for sure.

5 comments about Reynolds Remembers: 20 Years with the Sacramento Kings.

1. A riveting read. I could not put this book down. A truly must read for all Sacramento Kings fans. A book any real NBA fan should enjoy. Being able to learn some of the inner thoughts of a real NBA insider is rare.
   
   If only there had been more amusing stories and anecdotes Reynolds is so well known for. These reflecting the personalities of NBA players few of us fans ever see. Maybe this will be in Reynolds next book "Reynolds Remembers More" ?? We can only hope!!



2. I have been a Kings fan my whole life and I truly enjoyed reliving the past 20 years with Reynolds. It is amazing on how fast we forget the early teams and players and how soon we get used to 50 win seasons. Reynolds uses the same humor and great one-liners in the book that he uses in his telecasts. I just wish the book contained more personal stories and memories and I can only hope that a sequel is in the works. Here's to another great 20 years of Reynolds and to another book.



3. The details within "Reynolds Remembers" paint a vivid and entertaining picture of what life was like for a struggling and then reborn NBA franchise. It was filled with anecdotes and humorous observations of true events. I enjoyed it very much.
   
   Although, I wish there had been more than a single page describing Jerry's "the Carly Simon period." Maybe we'll hear more in a sequel.



4. Remember that? This is a must read/item for those that have lived the history. If you've been part of the ride, then you know the story. But Jerry Reynolds has filled in the blanks with information that you could only get from... well, from Jerry Reynolds: The front office background on the Terry Tyler and Derek Smith trades; Bobby Hurley's potential and toughness; the head coach candidates; actual Bill Russell conversations (apparently he could talk... and laugh). What? We could have "stole" Detlef Schrempf!?!? The book even helped explain my "unique" encounter with Jawann Oldham on the day he was cut loose by the Kings.
   
   Aside from all the great Kings gems that have been unearthed, there is some foreground on Jerry himself as well as documentation of his "rise" up the organization. Like everyone else, I would have liked for the book to be longer--182 pages for 20 years is just not enough. Oh well, Reynolds Remembers is a great and easy read, but to the Kings fan, it's truly great literature--the man did minor in English after all.



5. Jerry Reynolds and Don Drysdale's Reynolds Remembers: 25 Years With The Sacramento Kings is for any interested in the evolution of a shortstring operation which couldn't compete to a model NBA franchise. The Kings are celebrating their 20th season in Sacramento, California - and Jerry Reynolds was part of them before their rise to fame. His memoir celebrates their growth and provides a powerful leader's first-person experiences.

5 comments about Drive: How Vince Carter Conquered the NBA.

1. The main problem I have with DRIVE is that it turns out to be more of a book on the Raptors organization as a whole than on Carter himself. Young devotes entire chapters to the likes of Tracy Mcgrady, Butch Carter, Isiah Thomas, Glen Grunwald, etc that have little or no connection to Vince Carter himself. Very little is devoted to Carter's childhood growing up in Florida or about his college career, or other historical moments about his life you would expect to find in a supposed biography.



2. If you read this book and it didn't have a title you would think it would be entitled "The Toronto Rapter's Organization." If you are looking for a biography on Vince Carter, sorry this is not the book to get. But if you want to see the aspect of business in the NBA, then this is the book for you. It's a great book about the business end of the NBA.
   
   "Drive" shows an in-depth look at the business side of the NBA, and some of the controversies that happen in the NBA, and its teams. This book is suppose to be about hot Vince Carter has done so far in his three years in the NBA, and hit trials and tribulations with the Toronto Rapters, but is more about the Rapters organization, and players and coaches who have been with the team.
   
   The book is written by Chris Young, who is a writer for the Toronto Star who followed Vince around for the 2000-2001 NBA season to complete the book.
   
   The financial well being and the interest of fans is declining, because the business part is taking over the love of the game. When Vince Carter joined the NBA, he came at absolutely the right time. Michael Jordan had just retired, and ratings were down. There wasn't anybody that could capture the love of the game, and the charisma until Vince entered. The NBA needed something that stood out and Vinsanity took the NBA by storm. His growing fan population has brought back tv viewers, tv ratings, and sales of NBA merchandise.



3. As an avid sports and basketball book reader, I'm glad to say that truly great sports books (ie. A Season on the Brink by John Feinstein or David Halberstam's Michael Jordan and the World He Made) actually exist. Sadly though, Chris Young's effort at documenting Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors' history does not even come close. In fact, in terms of both content and interest sustainability, it pales in comparison even next to Shaquille O'Neal's lighthearted autobiography, "Shaq Talks Back." Young is certainly a decent newspaper journalist, however, the book offers little beyond typical newspaper sports journalism. Essentially, what you get is a montage of newspaper articles about the history of the Raptors and not very much about Vince Carter. His life story, significant relationships with other people, and important events are all neglected and instead we get page after page of description of Carter's otherworldly leaping ability. Thanks Chris, but we could get that by watching TV. Also, the identity dilemma that appears to be the thrust of Young's portrayal of Carter, that of being a star athlete while trying to be a nice guy at the same time is imminently laughable.

   The only sort of groundbreaking news this book offers Vince Carter and Raptors fans (who by definition, already know everything else Young tries to present) is its occasional naming of certain NBA players who have had a history of smoking marijuana. I'm glad to see Young at least put something in the book he doesn't write in the newspaper.




4. This is a very good book showing what the world of the NBA, Vince Carter lives in. It goes a little into the problems of Butch Carter, the Raptors organization , and Tracy Mcgrady's rise to stardom. Mostly it involves what Vince Carter, a rising superstar, has done to get where he is in the NBA. Overall it shows the side of the NBA you don't normally see. It' a very interesting book. I enjoyed this book very much and I think you will too.



5. This book is a good book, but don't buy it if your just a fan of Vince Carter. It's more about the franchise of the Raptors and the business of sports and the NBA. Chapter 5 is the best chapter in any book I've ever read, if you interested in the business side of sports and advertising. So to a sports fan this is a very interesting book, but to someone thats only in it to find out about Vince Carter, it's not a good choice.

2 comments about Slick Watts's Tales from the Seattle Supersonics Hardwood.

1. As I started this book, I couldn't put it down, so I walked to the cashier and bought it. Great memories from a great time in my life. This book is well written and has a great story for any Sonics or basketball fan.



2. I grew up a Sonics fan in the era of Slick Watts. While I played basketball in various youth and school leagues, we all knew about the fast, bald, guy with the headband and big smile. Slick was "one of us". A short guy playing with giants, with seemingly little more than heart and determination. So, when I saw the book, I wanted to relive some of those memories and get the inside scoop.
   
   The book itself is simple to read, and while it does contain some great tidbits of perspective on various NBA players, coaches and life in the NBA, it was poorly edited and structured. Instead of a chronological story, or a biographical retrospective, the book is nothing more than paragraphs and short blurbs. Further the timing skips around, and often repeats itself. I think Slick did a great job sharing his perspective, and being open and honest, but Frank Hughes seemed to rush this book out to print with little insight on how to really do a solid job of pulling it together in a more cohesive and memorable way.
   
   The highlights are the funny anecdotes about Bill Russell, and the insights into some of his teammates. Slick comes off as a mostly humble guy, but too much time is spent on how he didn't "get paid". I came away thinking more of Slick, and far less of Bill Russell, who ends up looking like a bitter and controlling egomaniac. Lenny Wilkins is similarly dismissed. It was good to see a different perspective on Bob Hopkins, who according to Slick seemed to have a better basketball mind than he was given credit for.
   
   Overall, if you are a Sonics fan, or like to read about the NBA, this book is a light and easy read about one of the Seattle cultural icons of the 1970's and a fun and memorable basketball player.

No comments about Kobe Bryant.

3 comments about Swee'Pea and Other Playground Legends: Tales of Drugs, Violence and Basketball.

1. Great book about could-have-been basketball legend Lloyd Daniels. A great inside look of how the glory of basketball corrupts youth. Inspirational because of Lloyd Daniels' limited success in the NBA and CBA. I loved this book because of its rags to seemingly riches to rags story about the Swee'Pea Lloyd Daniels.



2. MAGIC JOHNSON WITH A JUMP SHOT, that's what they called him, who am i talking about? Read on my friend. In this grippin and tear jerking story of street ball, we learn the true goods and evils of the game. In this story, the main character, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels, struggles against his addication to "the rock". This story will give you the true vision of what it takes to be a great, and the situations young urban kids have to go through to make their dreams come true.



3. This is simply my favorite book ever. I have read approximately 100 sports books and no single book ever made me feel as the authors (Valenti and NYC high school coach Ron Naclerio) were so close to and affected by the actions of their subject. Daniels has been labled as one of the greatest high school basketball players ever and his legend is probably even larger. He came from a broken home and became a victim of drug abuse at such an early age that his career never amounted to anything close to what it should have been. He did eventually play in the NBA only after years of drugs and a critically wounding gunshot robbed him of the potential he had when he was young. I met him in a bar at the New Jersey shore (close to where he and his family now live) on a chance one night years after I read this and was still simply awed by him as a result of this book. If you are a sports fan, please read this.

5 comments about The Home Team: Of Mothers, Daughters, and American Champions.

1. Very well written and inspiring. Surviving with strength and heart to carry her family, Mrs. Lobo is amazing! Rebecca's tales of life and the heart ache of her moms struggle with breast cancer. They stuck together and beat it out! WAY TO GO MRS. & MS. LOBO!!!



2. I had the opportunity to meet the Lobos at a seminar, and they are as congenial in person as they appear in this fantastic book. Each personal chapter of this narrative made me feel like I was almost a part of the Lobo family. I liked reading about how Rebecca and her brother and sister grew up, what it was like to be part of a team as tight as the Huskies, and how the family dealt with RuthAnn's cancer. I have read this book over and over, and my mother and grandmother both love it as well. It is definitely worth sharing!



3. This book is a must read for all WNBA fans. Rebecca Lobo's life is revealed in many aspects, that of her point of view and her mother. It talks about many issues such as Ruthanne's struggle with breast cancer and how the family dealt with it. As a 15 year old girl, reading is not one of my favorite pastimes. When I heard of a book about my idol Rebecca Lobo, I decided maybe I should give reading a try. I finished the story in a total of two days and found myself waking up in the middle of the night wanting to know what was going to happen next. It is an extremely moving book in which I fould that it was very easy to relate to. As a basketball player, some of Rebecca Lobo's theories such as playing basketball to relive stress and cope with problems I use also. It gave a new perspective to why I am two different people a hustler and leader on the court and a shy and proscinator off of it. Athlete or not, this book will get you moving. It will leave the message in your heard that anything is possible and it will help you to get out and reach that goal that you have been striving for.



4. I really love this book! I did not want to put it down. A couple of reasons I love the book is because now I know she was a normal child once and she did'nt always play basketball. I also liked it because her mom talked about her life. Now I know they had problems just like any other family does.



5. I was already a huge fan of Rebecca Lobo before reading this book. 'The Home Team' gives you a look into the lives of Rebecca and Ruthann Lobo. It's such a real look at how their lives truly are and how much they love each other. After reading this book I was blown away by the courage both of these amazing women have shown in thier lives.

2 comments about Free Throw Wizard.

1. Fred Feder is an amazing person who spent decades mastering the art of free throws. This book tells the story of how he mastered his craft.
   
   I had the good fortune of seeing Fred shoot over boxes, live, several years ago. He really is amazing, and should be an inspiration for anyone, young and old, who needs to channel their energies and negative thoughts into something positive.
   
   It's too bad that Fred no longer practices his "positive addiction." It would be nice if someone else took over as "Free Throw Wizard."
   
   I can't wait for the sequel to come out!



2. Fred Feder has displayed a wonderful ability at sinking a high percentage of exhibition basketball free throw shots over an eleven foot high wall of boxes.
   Fred's book describes the history of his life. He never played on a basketball team. He has met numerous celebrities. He has displayed a positive personality.
   I am a basketball trick shooting exhibition show performer known as JIM "TRICK SHOT" LISTER. I have shot over high obstacles. It is difficult to alter a shot's arc over a tall object. Consequently the shot's accuracy decreases.
   Fred Feder is only five feet six inches tall. The average N.B.A. professional basketball player is six feet six inches tall. Fred has had to shoot the basketball from the fifteen foot free throw line an additional five feet six inches over the top of his head to position the trajectory of the basketball over his eleven foot box tower. The average N.B.A. professional basketball player has to shoot a free throw three feet six inches over the top of his head to reach the ten foot tall rim. Ironically, Fred Feder has been able to sink a higher percentage of his practice free throw attempts without seeing the rim than numerous N.B.A. professional players could ever do even though they see the rim!
   Fred's marvelous book has many photographs. One major omission is that the book lacks an index. The other significant thing that was omitted is that Fred doesn't inform the reader as to what were his personal all-time basketball free throw shooting statistical records. It would be fascinating to know what were the most consecutive free throws Fred ever sank behind his wall of boxes? What were the most free throws he ever sank out of one hundred attempts? Did Fred ever attempt to shoot
   over his mountainously pinnacled peak of boxes from a lot farther range than fifteen feet? If so, what was the longest shot he ever sunk?
   Fearlessly and furiously freaky, fantastical Fred Feder's free throw goodwill skill not only defies belief but magnifies inspiration. Yes, indeed... for many readers of Fred's supremely motivational book have the same innate potentiality to create their own original basketball trick shooting talent.
   It would be fantastic if Fred were to eventually release a DVD or a video clip on youtube.com of his exhibition trick shooting showmanship.