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Book Description
Pistol is more than the biography of a ballplayer. It's the stuff of classic novels: the story of a boy transformed by his father's dream--and the cost of that dream. Even as Pete Maravich became Pistol Pete--a basketball icon for baby boomers--all the Maraviches paid a price. Now acclaimed author Mark Kriegel has brilliantly captured the saga of an American family: its rise, its apparent ruin, and, finally, its redemption.
Almost four decades have passed since Maravich entered the national consciousness as basketball's boy wizard. No one had ever played the game like the kid with the floppy socks and shaggy hair. And all these years later, no one else ever has. The idea of Pistol Pete continues to resonate with young people today just as powerfully as it did with their fathers.
In averaging 44.2 points a game at Louisiana State University, he established records that will never be broken. But even more enduring than the numbers was the sense of ecstasy and artistry with which he played. With the ball in his hands, Maravich had a singular power to inspire awe, inflict embarrassment, or even tell a joke.
But he wasn't merely a mesmerizing showman. He was basketball's answer to Elvis, a white Southerner who sold Middle America on a black man's game. Like Elvis, he paid a terrible price, becoming a prisoner of his own fame.
Set largely in the South, Kriegel's Pistol, a tale of obsession and basketball, fathers and sons, merges several archetypal characters. Maravich was a child prodigy, a prodigal son, his father's ransom in a Faustian bargain, and a Great White Hope. But he was also a creature of contradictions: always the outsider but a virtuoso in a team sport, an exuberant showman who wouldn't look you in the eye, a vegetarian boozer, an athlete who lived like a rock star, a suicidal genius saved by Jesus Christ.
A renowned biographer--People magazine called him "a master"--Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric.
The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete's father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press's obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father's vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete's own sons. Now in their twenties--and fatherless for most of their lives--they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts.
Pistol is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family's history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.
"Why Pistol?"
An Exclusive Essay by Mark Kriegel
"Why Pistol?" I'm asked that all the time.Pete Maravich became famous in the late 1960s, while setting scoring records at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. I'm not a son of the South. Nor, at 44, do I have any meaningful recollection of basketball's boy wizard in his floppy-socked prime. I grew up in the Seventies, on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, a few blocks from Madison Square Garden. I was a fan of the Knicks and their star guard, Walt "Clyde" Frazier. In terms of basketball style, Clyde and Pistol were antithetical. Frazier's flamboyance--I recall committing his "wardrobe stats" to memory--was not apparent on the court. Rather, he was celebrated as a dogged defender. His game was wise, economical, his gaze expressionless. Maravich, by contrast, was considered a head-case. His eyes were sad--even a kid could see that. Still, there was a distinct exuberance in the way he moved. No one moved like that, before or since.
Continue reading "Why Pistol?"
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining, tragic, yet uplifting.......2007-09-21
This is a VERY well written book that appealed to me both because of its broad sweeping history of basketball interwoven into a very compelling generational drama. If you had told me that the first third of the book would be mostly about father Press Maravich, I would have thought that was taking too long to get to the good stuff. But that was fascinating as well, and really set the stage for the enigma that was Maravich. Brilliant, creative, in-your-face, yet also insecure, frightened, obsessed, and sometimes crazy. Although Pete's sons are not "larger than life" like Pete and Press, I found their inclusion to be a nice touch as well. The book has a tremendous number of references and footnotes, for those who want to dig further. Highly recommended.
Slam Dunk.......2007-08-23
What a fantastic book. The Pistol was way before his time, but how great to relive that time. And to remember this great player for what he brought to the game. The semi-reverence of some of the great players of the present (Sir Charles) says it all. The book is so well written, the perspective fair, the back stories fascinating, and the included photos illuminating.
Outstanding Book About a Tortured Individual.......2007-07-24
David Maraniss, the author of When Pride Still Mattered: A Biography of Vince Lombardi ( definitely among the better sports bios ever written)
endorses Pistol. Says Mr. Maraniss " Pistol is a classic Americdan tale wonderfully told". I certainly agree. Tthis is just a wonderful book even for readers who aren't into basketball, though your being into basketball will make it even better. The author addresses not only Pete Maravich but expands the book to cover his father and his sons, kind of like putting bookends on Maravich's life, and an interesting life it was. Five stars all the way.
Lessons To Be Learned.......2007-07-23
Whether you are a basketball fan or not this biography of Pete Maravich will provide you with lessons to be learned. People search for happiness in all the wrong places such as alcohol, fame, or even in their chosen profession. Pete Maravich's stage was a basketball floor, but during his heyday as a college star at LSU and being coached by his father happiness eluded him. His introduction to the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks and later with the New Orleans/Utah Jazz, and finally the Boston Celtics brought him more heartache than pleasure. It wasn't until his playing days were over and by simple faith accepted Jesus Christ as his savior that the load he had been carrying was finally removed. He found happiness in the simple things in life by being devoted to his two sons and telling others what Christ had done for him. The loss of his father was a difficult blow to him, but he took comfort in knowing that he, too, had accepted the Lord into his life. Biographies of people can teach us a lot, not the least of which is that others, who we often think of as living famous and glamorous lives, are often saddled with problems we can be thankful we don't have. While anyone who enjoys biographies would enjoy this book I think it would be especially appreciated by high school students who love basketball.
Great Memories and Inspiration for the Future........2007-07-07
During the summer between my junior and senior year of high school I attended the Pete Maravich Basketball Camp at a college where I would later attend and play basketball myself. I remember that week of camp and the magical things that Pistol could do with a basketball. He was definitely mesmerizing. When he would shoot a basketball, the ball seemed to float off his hand in slow motion and then gently glide into the basket. I would say of all of the hundreds of shots he attempted while we were there that week he maybe missed a total of three or four shots.
I also remember the food at the camp. No red meats or processed sugars. Everything was fresh and healthy. Although I would have probably loved the food now; I hated it then, and I remember the first thing our coach did after the camp ended was he took us to McDonalds and we gorged ourselves on Big Macs, french fries and milkshakes. To be honest, I am pretty ashamed of that now.
When I was playing ball at college during the last years of Press's life. I think he was probably retired and just to keep himself busy, he would come by the college and work with us individually on different parts of our game. I remember he used to work with me on my freethrows. He improved my average by about 10%. I still remember the smile on his face when I made 20 freethrows in a row while he was standing under the basket shagging my attempts.
Needless to say this book was great and it brought back all those great memories. Pete was such a huge impact on our culture but even more incredible is that I can't think of another person with such a tremendous influence on society having such a real, authentic Christian conversion. Sure every now and again you hear by word of mouth or maybe on the gossip news that someone is now a Christian, but then you look at there lives and nothing has changed. Pistol changed...completely changed. Not only did he change his ways but he was finally happy and content with his life. I saw that for myself at his camp and this book details that change in way that was so interesting and captivating.
Another unexpected thing I got from this book, and I am not sure that Kriegel had this goal or not, but reading about Pete's life with Press and how he changed his ways to be a tremendous father to his two sons has really inspired me to be a better father to my two kids.
This one of those very few books that I just could not put down, and I highly recommend it.
Average customer rating:
- Executive Director
- A bunch of one liners.
- "Leadership! We don't need no stinking LEADERSHIP"
- Valued Centered Leadership
- 12 lessons on leadership from an extraordinary leader
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Wooden on Leadership
John Wooden
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
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Similar Items:
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ASIN: 0071453393 |
Book Description
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A compelling look inside the mind and powerful leadership methods of America’s coaching legend, John Wooden
"Team spirit, loyalty, enthusiasm, determination. . . . Acquire and keep these traits and success should follow."
--Coach John Wooden
John Wooden’s goal in 41 years of coaching never changed; namely, to get maximum effort and peak performance from each of his players in the manner that best served the team. Wooden on Leadership explains step-by-step how he pursued and accomplished this goal. Focusing on Wooden’s 12 Lessons in Leadership and his acclaimed Pyramid of Success, it outlines the mental, emotional, and physical qualities essential to building a winning organization, and shows you how to develop the skill, confidence, and competitive fire to “be at your best when your best is needed”--and teach your organization to do the same.
Praise for Wooden on Leadership:
“What an all-encompassing Pyramid of Success for leadership! Coach Wooden’s moral authority and brilliant definition of success encompass all of life. How I admire his life’s work and concept of what it really means to win!”
--Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
“Wooden On Leadership offers valuable lessons no matter what your endeavor. 'Competitive Greatness' is our goal and that of any successful organization. Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success is where it all starts.”
--Jim Sinegal, president & CEO, Costco
Download Description
"Team spirit, loyalty, enthusiasm, determination. . . . Acquire and keep these traits and success should follow."
--Coach John Wooden
John Wooden is without question one of the most respected and honored sports coaches in our nations history. But it wasn't winning games that drove him; it was ensuring that, regardless of the final score, his players always put forth their utmost effort and performed to the best of their abilities.
One of the lesser-known aspects of Wooden is the notebooks in which, beginning in 1948, he regularly recorded his thoughts, inspirations, and life lessons. In Wooden on Leadership, the legendary coach and his longtime collaborator Steve Jamison combine the best of those notebooks with Wooden's far-more-celebrated Pyramid of Success to create a leadership skills guide designed to help anyone develop character, conviction, and remarkable achievement.
Whether discussing teamwork ("It takes 10 hands to score a...'
Customer Reviews:
Executive Director.......2007-09-10
John Wooden is a qualified success and his book demonstrates how others can be successful. Wonderfully written and well documented with examples of Wooden's method and how to apply the pyramid of success. If you want a map for success, this is the book to read.
A bunch of one liners........2007-08-01
The book has some good ideas, but it is full of one liners. It gets boring at times.
On the good side - you have a lot of one liners to say and put on posters.
"Leadership! We don't need no stinking LEADERSHIP".......2007-07-19
Wooden was never my type of role model to emulate, then I saw an HBO documentary and my curiosity was tweaked.
Coming of age in the fifties and sixties when whenever I heard the word "leadership" I would immediately turn off.
Leadership was the antithesis of the flower child age almost but not quite to a fault.Going through the seventies, eighties and to the present day a sea change has occurred among athelets, coaches, fans and franchises
to the point where one as jaded as myself will simply in regards to sports clamor-"WHATEVER DUDE."
The magic seems to have disappeared with the overexposure of the Knights, Bonds, Cubans and Boros (my home Spurs gladly are the exception)to the point of boredom when one thinks sports.
_Wooden_ reminded me of what I chose to ignored: there are those who are worthy of the title Leader,however rare.
Reading the work I was simply nonplused thinking can this be taught? Sadly the answer was no it can not. The question after this was is it worth pursuing; and the answer was beyond a doubt a big affirmative.
Above all Mr. Wooden is a gentleman, a very wise and worthy gentleman who can not be diminished by anyone. My generation seems to have forgotten this, myself included, and this book reminds me of the way it could be.
If you are looking for a rah-rah self-improvment book forget about _Wooden_, if, however your looking for something with nuances that force you to relate to your behavior and how you can make a difference in whatever you do then grab it, open, devour it and keep it nearby in case you ever forget what it is to be a gentleman.
Valued Centered Leadership.......2007-06-16
An amazingly simple step-by-step book that produces results. John Wooden is the epitome of a man who lives by his values. In this book, he shares these core values and combines them with key management tactics to produce a blueprint for success as a leader. He has a knack for taking a concept and breaking it down to its most simple format so that others can understand how to move forward step-by-step. He is visionary, yet operational and this book gives the basics of both worlds.
Using his Pyramid for Success as the foundation, Wooden, tells the "secrets" of being a good leader. Call yourself a teacher, It takes 10 hands to make a basket, little things make big things happen, make greatness attainable by all, seek significant change and see adversity as your asset were the chapters that I enjoyed the most. His colorful storytelling style brought the management concepts to life with vivid examples through his legendary basketball years at UCLA. A must read for the avid sports enthusiast!
I had the privilege of attending UCLA and could see the influence of Coach Wooden's tactics play out in all the sports teams....self control, hard work, control your response to adversity and make it work for you.....he was truly a man that "walked his talk" and lead by example. My daughter actually met the famous Coach while she was a freshman in high school when he came to talk with her soccer team and she still talks about that experience today as one of her greatest life experiences......they won the CIF championship that year.
I found his ideas regarding teamwork, success, and continuous improvement through lifelong learning to be the cornerstones of his philosophy of leadership and management. His commitment to striving for continuous excellence through simple day-to-day tactics makes management look easy. He has a deep understanding of how to utilize the concept of teamwork to incorporate everyone and propel them forward toward a common goal....and in the process making each individual the best that he can be. This is a must lead for leaders and managers in any setting.
C Deckers RN, MSN
Pepperdine University
Education Technology Doctoral Student
12 lessons on leadership from an extraordinary leader.......2007-05-30
Coach Wooden's book practically drips with leadership maxims. I believe that Mr. Wooden would definitively be a "Level 5" leader, to use Jim Collins description of the best leaders. His chapter on using values to attract good people is great. I was particularly impressed by his dogged determination to use the basics to get the best out of his players. His lack of emphasis on winning was also inspiring. He wanted his players to do their best and was not at all interested in the scoreboard at the end of the game. With the concern placed in making the players and the team the best they could be, winning became a natural consequence of that. "Make each day your masterpiece" was another great chapter. John Wooden was unwavering about not wasting time; his fastidious interest in keeping track of every minute helped the day become a masterpiece for his players. Finally, the Pyramid of success is worth the price of the book alone. This book is important for anyone who has an interest in leadership, which, in my opinion, should be everyone. I highly recommend it.
Amazon.com
Coach Wooden's remarkable 10 national basketball championships in 12 years at UCLA speak for themselves. In Wooden, the coach--quiet, thoughtful, and introspective throughout his distinguished career--finally speaks forhimself, and he's well worth hearing. Wooden is a modern chapbook of inspiration and good sense that reveals the hard-court philosopher behind it as a man of character, conviction, decency, and straightforwardness. There are no complex ideas, just little beams of light filtered through anecdotes that project the kinds of simple, immutable truths that in the end touch nothing but net.
Book Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
"I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs."--John Wooden
Evoking days gone by when coaches were respected as much for their off-court performances as for their success on the court, Wooden presents the timeless wisdom of legendary basketball coach John Wooden.
In honest and telling passages about virtually every aspect of life, Coach shares his personal philosophy on family, achievement, success, and excellence. Raised on a small farm in south-central Indiana, he offers lessons and wisdom learned throughout his career at UCLA, and life as a dedicated husband, father, and teacher.
These lessons, along with personal letters from Bill Walton, Denny Crum, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bob Costas, among others, have made Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court an inspirational classic.
Customer Reviews:
3 Pointer!.......2007-10-05
This book of reflections and advice by John Wooden is a favorite of my husband's, mine and our teen aged son. We purchased several copies to give as gifts to coaches in our soccer league. The principles in this book can be applied to ALL areas of life. The Leadership Pyramid is a very powerful tool.
A book about basketball & life.......2007-08-31
John Wooden shares his thoughts about not only basketball but about life and how his seemingly "simple" views and beliefs shaped his success. He is a inspiration to us all and his values are much needed in today's world where we have seen scandals in almost every sport. I believe this book can be enjoyed by people who are old enough to have witnessed him coach as well as the youth who have only heard about Mr. Wooden.
Life begins at 50?.......2007-07-02
A rival coach, one who had won championships,
described him as a very good coach,
a bit set in his ways, probably a better
offensive than defensive strategist. "John
was a heckuva offensive player in his day,
which may be why he runs an exciting offense
but a predictable defense."
John, the basketball coach being described above
by his peer, had at that time been a high school
and college basketball coach for 25 years,
the last 12 years at the same college.
He was 50 years old, and while he had never had
a losing season as a coach, he had also never
won a state or NCAA championship. Could
anyone have imagined at that point that John,
whose last name is Wooden, would over the next
15 years become the greatest college basketball
coach of all time, winning 10 NCAA titles?
Advice on Life.......2007-04-10
Feel inspired and find the strength to keep going in whatever you pursue. Wooden is not just an expert on basketball, but on life as well.
Wooden.......2007-01-15
This book is a great book that everyone should read. My husband purchased it for us and after reading it we purchased six copies and gave one to each of our grown children. In addition I purchased a copy for my brother. It offers a lot of straight forward advise on life. An excellent and easy to read book!
Book Description
The Essential Wooden--more leadership lessons from the Wooden playbook
The Essential Wooden is the ultimate collection of Wooden’s opinions and observations on achieving exceptional leadership in any organization, with 200 invaluable lessons for inspiring championship performance.
Coach Wooden offers his hard-won wisdom on building an organization that performs at its full potential under pressure, from preparing and training the team to instilling personal drive and dedication. He takes his famous Pyramid of Success to the next level, filling the entire book with his straight-shooting personality and keen insight on human nature.
Wooden shares rarely seen preseason letters to his players, revealing how he instilled productive attitudes and winning ways. He also includes previously unpublished analyses from former players and managers, including Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
From Wooden’s earliest days as a leader through his legendary UCLA dynasty, The Essential Wooden distills a lifetime of learning into the leadership playbook for the twenty-first century.
Customer Reviews:
An American Icon.......2007-09-12
A book to familiarize yourself with Wooden's Pyramid of Success. The down to Earth view of what it takes to be successful in anything you engage in is laid out in this book. Coach Wooden used the ideas here to mold his basketball teams but the underlying ideas can be applied to anything in life and allow you to be successful and fullfilled. Following the ideas he presents will make you a good person and who could ask for more then that.
Quick read, gread value.......2007-07-16
Here is a book that is sure to inspire you. From the first pages it grips you, then keeps your attention until the very end. Wooden's philosophy emphasizes that sucess is not measured in "bottom-line" results -- such as games won, sales figures, or other analogous metrics -- but rather on reaching the maximum potential one can achieve -- either individually or as a team. The measure of this becomes self-evident through honest preparation, intensity of practice, selflessness, and so-on. End results, then, are simply byproducts of hard work that was paid up front. Other discussions center around concepts of teamwork, and how to handle people. These have value for everyone, not just leaders and players.
The book is an easy read, and very well written. You won't be disappointed with this one.
Words of wisdom from a master.......2007-07-06
Each page in this terrific book offers nuggets of wisdom from one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time. John Wooden's UCLA teams won 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 12 years, including 88 consecutive winning games, setting legendary and enduring records. But the way Wooden's players behaved was even more impressive than the number of games they won. Never arrogant, the Bruins epitomized self-control and teamwork - unselfish, disciplined and intense. An outstanding tactician, Wooden recruited superbly talented athletes. However, he always believed that basketball was merely a vehicle for teaching his players about life and what really matters, hence this book of maxims and advice. Coach Wooden's principles about leadership and individual potential extend far beyond the basketball court. He does not define success just as victory, but as a full, complete team effort. We recommend this book to everyone, no matter what game you play or lead.
The John Wooden method of success........2007-02-02
When it comes to leadership and team building, few professions compare with the ranks of organized sports coaches. From the ranks of coaching we have been given a vastness of leadership training with which to shape and improve our lives. Every venue of athletics has made its' coaching contributions. From football, we have the hard nosed precision of Vince Lombardi and the stoic presence of Bear Bryant. Baseball has given us the lighthearted leadership of Casey Stengal and the chess game cunning of Jim Leyland. Boxing has produced such brilliant motivators as Lou Duva and the no-nonsense yet compassionate Eddie Futch. And basketball has been no exception from the explosive emotionalism of Bobby Knight to the intensity of Pat Summitt. But even among such greats as these, when it comes down to success, few can even be mentioned with the name of John Wooden.
His leadership and team building philosophy differs from many, lacking the emotionalism and intensity of what coaches typically display, and I wont go so far as to say Wooden's methods are better, but they certainly proved to be a championship building formula for him. In fact, Wooden even guarded against allowing emotions to reign supreme in his players.
The book focuses primarily on Wooden's 15 component Pyramid of Success. Wooden explains why each component is a part of the pyramid and why it is located where it is within the pyramid. There are also bits and pieces of letters to his teams as well as brief comments from his former players throughout the book.
I don't believe this is the best book with Wooden's name on it, but it is certainly, as expected, filled with sage advice ranging from simple profound statements to more complex principles of leadership, team building and ultimately, success. If you appreciate, as I do, that the coaching profession has produced some of the greatest leaders of the last century and you want insight from one of the best of the best, you'll appreciate this book.
Book Description
There are very few American coaching heroes better known than Coach K. The long-time head coach at Duke University is at the top of the class when it comes to those who believe in doing the right thing and who stress leadership, accountability, responsibility, and academics to his players. Now, in this powerful collection of essays, written with one of his daughters, Jamie K. Spatola, readers will discover this incredible leaders personal philosophy on winning, losing, and sportsmanship, as well as dozens of everyday lessons that apply to life on and off the court. On trust: There are four words that, when said, will bring out the best in your team, your employees, and your family. They are: I believe in you. On discipline: All leaders, whether they be coaches, CEOs, or parents, should be wary of relying too much on predefined rules.
Customer Reviews:
Real Leadership.......2007-04-10
Learn great leadership skills that apply in the business world, sports world, or anywhere else in life. This book makes a great gift.
Doug.......2007-04-10
Coach K is an awesome coach but an even better person. I encourage everyone to read his books.
Just what I expected.......2007-01-16
Coach K says a lot in a few pages. Everything I read applies to me or it also can apply and be enjoyed by my 13 year old son or 11 year old daughter. I appreciate Coach K and his daughter taking the time to share the insights contained in this book.
Real words; real meaning!.......2007-01-11
COACH k HAS AMPLIFIED THROUGH LIFE EXAQMPLES THE REAL MEANING OF WORDS THAT ARE TOO OFTEN USED CARELESSLY. HE GIVES "COURAGE" AND "LOYALTY" AND ALL OF THE OTHERS HE ADDRESSES IN HIS COMPACT BOOK REJUVENATED MEANING! i GAVE COPIES TO BOTH OF MY GROWN CHILDREN WHO, THEMSELVES ARE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD AND THEY LOVED IT
Great reading!.......2007-01-11
I purchased this book as a gift for my daughter. I started to skim thru it and could not put it down! My daughter loved the book so much she ordered one for her basketball coach as well. Great book on leadership and would highly recommend it to share with coworkers, family and friends.
Book Description
Drain three pointers, slam dunk easily, and sink that buzzer beater from half court with the help of simple science. Your coach, physicist John J. Fontanella, shows how you can improve your game if you take advice from Isaac Newton. As you read, relive some of the great moments in the game -- this time with a scientist and diehard basketball fan as your color analyst.
Find out why you ought to put spin on the ball. Get tips on how to improve your free throw and increase your percentage from the charity stripe. You'll even learn how to shatter the backboard, if that's something you've always dreamed of doing. With photographs and simple high school formulas, physics professor Fontanella -- who played in college against Pittsburgh and Syracuse -- reveals the key pieces of physics that underscore basketball. He covers almost every aspect of the game, weaving in stories from games he's played and games he's seen, and tales from basketball history and folklore. Physics comes alive as you see how Kobe Bryant, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Becky Hammon, and J. J. Reddick do naturally the things that Isaac Newton says they should.Steve Watkins, International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
Customer Reviews:
Shoot da Rock, Baby!!!.......2007-06-12
This is a great book for delving deeper into the game of basketball and getting the low down on practical physics. Highly recommend this.
Font size.......2007-05-14
I gave the book as a gift and was disappointed when I got a glimpse of the print on the page ... it was very small (to save cost of printing?) and did not look like it would be easy to read....however, I did not read the book so I will have to talk to the giftee to find that info
The true science of basketball.......2007-05-13
Over the years, I have found it fascinating to read books on the physics of baseball. Curve balls do curve, knuckle balls do knuckle and scientists have come to admit to the facts that the experimentalists (baseball players) have known for decades. In this book, Fontanella, a physics professor at the United States Naval Academy and a former college basketball player, analyzes the many ways a basketball can bounce. It is very detailed yet extremely entertaining. It is so specific that he points out how much less a basketball weighs as a consequence of air buoyancy. Even to the point where he compares the differences in the weights between the balls used in the women's game versus the men's game. While that part was not of great interest, the rest certainly was.
Like the baseball players, the basketball players have carried out a lot of empirical research. However, not to the extent that Fontanella has. He is very specific about the best angle for a shot, where the "sweet spot" is on the backboard when attempting a lay up and even to the distortion affects on a basketball when it is bounced. While the latter may not appear significant, it is critical for shooting percentages. As the author points out, very few shots are "nothing but net." Most make some contact with the rim and many bounce off the rim before going through the net. The manner in which the ball bounces off the rim is critical. If you have ever played, you know the difference between a soft shot and a "brick."
This is not a book where the author expresses his love for the game and then throws in a bit of physics. It is a serious treatise on basketball with enough formulas so that it could be used in a high school or college physics class. That part was impressive, many coaches would find an examination of this book time well spent.
Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission
Physics + Basketball.......2007-04-10
Physics teachers can add some pizzazz to their lectures with these great basketball stories used to explain physics.
The Physics of Basketball.......2007-01-11
Make no mistake about it, this is not an introductory book. This is for people who know basketball and a little physics or know physics and a little basketball. It tells basketball stories to illustrate physics and physics stories to illustrate basketball.
I would recommend this book to high school and college physics teachers to add interest to their discussions. It could even be used as text for a college course on physics of sports. Not only does sport interest students, they already know something about 'how it works' and with the help of this book, an instructor can use physics to introduce them to 'why it works'.
I found of the sequence of explanation of the four force model of the flight of the ball exceptionally well done. As with a good scienctist, he started with data. Then he took one force, gravity, explained how it works, what effect it will have on a shot ball and compared the effect to data. He showed how gravity was necessary but insufficient to explain the ball's motion. Through three more forces: buoynacy, drag (air resistance) and Magnus force, he methodically discussed the force, performed measurements, then added the force to the model. Now that he had the four force model, he used it to explain how a good shooter chooses his shot angle to make a shot 'softer' not, as one might expect, easier. Marvelous -- data, theory (or theories), model, prediction, repeat until it matches nature, and finally use the model to explain something not originally in the model. How much more accurate a view of the method of scientist than the "scientific method".
As the motion of the ball gets more complicated, following the physics does get a bit challenging. Through the discussion of deflections off the rim and backboard, I admit I read for a while and then let it sink in before I returned to it. I was however rewarded in discovering how correct I was in trying to use the board when close to the hoop -- only thirty years too late.
As with any good rock concert, one should be left wanting more, and I wished that the discussion of breaking the glass was given a bit more space. I think a figure or two more showing the effect of compression and tension and how this leads to an explosive break would have helped.
Finally, in addition to instructors, this book would be a good read for your scientist friend or science dabbler who would like good basketball stories along with some good stories of scientific inquiry.
Product Description
Not only was John Wooden a great basketball coach, he was a master teacher. In fact, he was a great coach because he was a master teacher. What Wooden has learned from others in the classroom and perfected on the practice court are fundamental principles of effective teaching, which are conveyed in You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden's Teaching Principles and Practices. Co-author Swen Nater, one of Wooden's former players at UCLA, provides insightful first-hand accounts on the many life lessons he learned from Wooden that he has applied to his life since becoming a teacher himself.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent study on Wooden's teaching methodology.......2007-02-11
If you've read a lot of Coach Wooden's books, you may be familiar with his wisdom, maxims and his wonderful pyramid of success; this book studies the methodology of his teaching and how he applied his wisdom to the successful transfer of knowledge and skills. If you're a teacher, buy this book!
Timeless Insights about Teaching and Learning.......2006-05-28
Ron Gallimore and Swen Nater combine their incredible knowledge about teaching and basketball to deliver a new and insightful look at the teaching practice of John Wooden. The book is a wonderful balance of personal stories from Nater and insights about teaching and learning from Gallimore that demonstrate just how incredibly wise, intentional, and gifted The Coach was and is. This book demonstrates the hard work, preparation, courage, and commitment to continuous learning that defines quality teaching. A must read for every teacher and coach.
Swen Nater's book: You WILL learn!.......2006-03-23
Swen Nater knows John Wooden - that much is clear. Clear too, is what a great teacher John Wooden was and, continues to be. This is a book any teacher can learn from. Sure it is great for coaches, but when a teacher is looking for guidance on how to handle varying student potential within their class, is it better to treat everyone the same - or to treat each individual differently, according to their personality, talent, ability, commitment etc. as Wooden did? Swen does a great job of interjecting his own life's experience into the priniciples Wooden taught. And he uses those of "Alcindor", Wicks, Walton, Allen and others to make the stories fit the lesson. This is textbook material, or should be required reading for aspiring or experienced teachers - 5 Stars plus!
Book Description
A private war is being waged on city playgrounds and in high school gyms in the never-ending search for the next big player, and the potential millions in sales that player could bring to the major athletic shoe companies by endorsing their products. For every legitimate spokesman like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (the respective endorsers for Nike and Adidas) there are dozens of teenage kids all over North America who are lavished with brand new sneakers, expensive clothes, new athletic gear, or free trips in an attempt to gain their athletic shoe brand loyalty. And that's just where this sordid story begins.
Download Description
A private war is being waged on city playgrounds and in high school gyms in the never-ending search for the next big player--and the potential millions in sales that player could bring to the major athletic shoe companies by endorsing their products. Far from the glamour of the NBA or the NCAA Final Four, the sport has changed into a high-stakes war of greed and includes such tactics as expensive gifts, pampered perks, grade fixing, standardized-test fraud, and kickback recruitments. For every legitimate spokesman like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (the respective endorsers for Nike and adidas) there are dozens of teenage kids all over America who are lavished with brand new sneakers, expensive clothes, new athletic gear, or free trips (parents included) in an attempt to gain their athletic shoe brand loyalty. And that's just where this sordid story begins.
Customer Reviews:
i dont like what they say about my friend myron piggie.......2003-11-13
Hi my name is quin and I live in Missouri. I dont like what they say about myron piggie. he is a good man. otherwise the book was pretty good. i recommend it for college basketball fans.
Interesting delve into amateur athletics ..........2003-04-27
However not always balanced, SOLE is a page turner for sports fans that enjoy the stories off the playing arena.
Wetzel and Yaeger provide interesting cases and a great work of journalism, however the line between reporting and storytelling is often blurred.
The best way to enjoy this book is to come away entertained, informed, but not disillusioned.
A Classic Hoops Book!!!.......2001-06-02
Buy this book. Love it.
A great look at how the big corporate money of the shoe industry has tainted high school level and college basketball, not to mention all of those who are involved in it.
A surprising aspect of the book is the names of villians who you would not believe; Billy Packer, Dickie V, George Raveling, and Roy Williams are a few who are found "guilty" of killing the game that I love.
This book will expose you to the negative underworkings of the great game of college basketball.
It explores the seamier side of sports........2001-02-24
I knew that high school and in some cases elementary school athletes in sports like basketball and football that are extremely gifted can get free perks, but I didn't think it would go as far as it did. The fact is there is a lot of fingerpointing at the athletes, but very little at the others involved in the game. Let's face it, no one would care about these sports if there wasn't a relatively high standard of quality players available. Everyone involved in the game makes money off the players, from the coaches,universities,athletic apparel companies,broadcasters, etcetera, you name it. It's about time that college athletes and high school athletes receive fair market value for the money they generate. The point is many schools would be probably be in a lot worse financial shape if it weren't for basketball and football. Yes, it exposes the greed behind the players, but it's human nature at work. I don't agree with the tactics employed by the agents and companies involved to get players, but I do understand the motivation for doing so. If they don't get these players, some other competing agent or company likely will get their services. It's no different than when univerisities engage in recruiting practices, and some of these universities can get put on probation for recruiting violations. All in all, this was a realistic look at what goes on in youth basketball. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the dark side of amateur basketball. An excellent companion book to this would be the book Money Players, which looks at things from the NBA perspective.
Outrage, a complete lack of ethics..........2000-06-19
I've suspected for decades that the college recruiting process was (is), to a certain extent, corrupt.
To even the casual observer of college basketball, at the upper echelon of Division I, there is (has been) an uneven playing field. It's as if some colleges have had the top five picks in the annual draft for several years in a row.
On the surface the uneven playing field seems impossible to explain, but books like "Sole Influence" begin to shed light of the corruption that mars college basketball -- the search for the next Michael Jordan.
In a series of anecdotes, the authors provide case studies of how, especially, Nike and Addidas have made a mess of AAU basketball, especially in large urban centers.
It's difficult, almost impossible, to get first hand information, especially from big-name college coaches -- few go on the record. What "Sole Influence" reveals, seems to me, is the tip of the iceberg.
The most shocking revelations surround the role played by George Raveling, the former head coach at Washington State, Iowa and USC. Thankfully, Raveling made himself available to the authors and provides candid comments which, while attempting to rationalize his role in this sorry mess, tend to indict him as one of the prime offenders.
The book, although poorly edited, contains much food for thought and is worthy of reading and reflection by serious college basketball fans.
The authors include a good index, but omit footnotes and a bibliography of sources. Also, a complete list of names of persons interviewed for the book would have been appreciated. To the layman, many of these "characters" are complete strangers.
The authors have included capsule introductions to the book's key "characters," which are especially helpful for those of us unfamiliar with the shoe company corruption of AAU basketball.
I agree with those who've commented about the book's excessive repetition, as the authors do a thorough job of indicting the shoe companies.
The authors do provide some implied remedies for the problems they've documented. Whether these recommendations are feasible, given the hunger for dollars, is questionable and discouraging.
Again, this title is recommended for college basketball fans who care about the integrity of the game. The book makes me wonder to what extent college basketball has integrity.
Book Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
For John Wooden's millions of fans--a heartfelt and revealing self-portrait about the people and events that shaped his life
Sports Illustrated declared: "There has never been a finer coach in American sports than John Wooden. Nor a finer man." ESPN selected him as the "Greatest Coach of the 20
th Century." From his birth on an Indiana tenant farm, to All-American honors at Purdue, to his historic record-setting UCLA dynasty, John Wooden is a towering figure in 20
th-century sports, and his experience and wisdom an American treasure. In My Personal Best, Coach Wooden tells how he did it and the lessons he learned on his remarkable journey.
Pairing never-before-seen photos from Coach Wooden's private collection with his personal stories and affirmations, this book encompasses the dramatic arc of Wooden's larger-than-life achievements and experiences. As he did in his perpetual bestseller Wooden, Coach offers a wealth of biographical details, personal reflections, and a lifetime of lessons. His millions of fans will cherish this definitive pictorial history of a living sports legend.
"John Wooden is a living legend because he practiced what he preached--the code of ethics which created America's strength."
--Phil Jackson, head coach, Los Angeles Lakers
"Most of what I know, what's made me a smart man, has come from John Wooden."
--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer
"A man of John Wooden's accomplishments and integrity would stand out in any era, but now, almost three decades after he coached his last game, he is in some ways an even more striking figure."
--Bob Costas
Customer Reviews:
Secrets of Life.......2007-06-09
John Wooden has figured out some of the secrets of life. And he passes them on directly, in a way that can be transformational for a reader.
John Wooden is a hero of mine. His own heroes include Abraham Lincoln and Mother Theresa. Like them, he is a treasure for all of us because his life and lessons demonstrate what it means to live to "our personal best" in a way that is simple, profound and so clear.
This book should be required reading in "Human Being 101".
Wooden's Personal Best.......2007-03-22
We grow up hearing about the importance of developing " good character", not always knowing what it is, or just how to obtain it. All of Wooden's books give his personal guidelines for developing character and living a decent life, whether we are athletes, musicians, teachers, or anything else.
Wooden's teachings have stood the test of time. His life and those he has influenced are proof of that.
I use his wisdom for myself, and I pass it on to all my students. They all know who John Wooden is. His life blesses us all.
revealing, pleasant read.......2007-01-05
John Wooden is one of my heroes. When I was growing up, his teams were dominant, but more importantly, they made the game beautiful to watch. After he retired at the peak of his game, he quietly stepped off the stage. With the rush of books on leadership in the 1990's through the present, it was inevitable, and overdue, that folks take time to examine Coach Wooden's approach to leadership. This has led to a cottage industry in Wooden books.
This book is short, personal and focuses on life lessons learned from the narrative of Coach's life. It doesn't attempt to be weighty, just a good read, that imparts wisdom without hitting you over the head with it. It touches on each chapter of Coach Wooden's life, and particularly shows the infuence of his father, his high school and college coaches and his growth thru experience
This is a fun, easy read that leaves the reader wiser. Highly recommend
Good for coaches.......2007-01-04
This is a great book to help any coach of any sport get a good feel for the right way to coach young players. Teach them good life lessons and skills. It gives an insight into a great coach and even greater man.
Short, but Very Good.......2006-05-10
I loved the book, but I would have liked for it to be longer. It is a very quick read but is full of wisdom from one of the best coaches of all time.
Customer Reviews:
Have had this book since 1997 and love it.......2007-07-05
I am reading this book again.. prob the 5 time and I have used about 3 different colors of hi-liter so far. I recommend it and even used the lesson and guidance to help me with my addiction issues this time around.
First time it was family issues, then 2nd time was work issues, third time was deaths in family and fourth time was post college work issues. Its been there for me everytime and this time along with Tx, I am using it again.
Pat Riley would have made one heck of a military general. .......2007-05-17
He is the ultimate strategist, always thinking ahead and planning every act of inspiration and conversation he might use to channel more out of his players than they were currently giving. In 'The Winner Within', Pat Riley shares his tactics for converting his basketball teams into units with an emphasis on the greater good. The highlights of this book came for me in the following:
* Pat Riley's acceptance of being in the right place at the right time when the Lakers needed a head coach and how preparation added to his own confidence that he could succeed at a high level.
* Riley's view on the strengthening process of one's mentality and how being thrown the wolves can be a very healthy experience.
* Making the LA Lakers a team instead a collection of self-serving, finger-pointing superstars. He mentions tactics he employed on each of his different leaders, including ways to use Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's moody eccentricities as a leadership tool.
* How embracing success hurt the Lakers in the mid-eighties and the ways Riley developed a plan to combat complacency on the team.
* How leaders in any profession must be willing to confront cancerous team members swiftly and thoroughly.
* Riley's methods of using strategic moments of temporary insanity and how this can be highly beneficial to the overall good of the team.
* When to know your time is done and move on, as he did when he left LA for New York in 1990.
* Setting reasonable goals that are both attainable and difficult. For example, his 1992 New York Knicks set the goals of being the most hated team in the league, the most conditioned team in the league, and the most professional team in the league. To a T, they succeeded in meeting all their goals.
Riley is very open and honest in this book. He admits that he knew his Knicks would have zero chance of beating the Bulls in a do-or-die game seven in 1992. He had predicted Jordan would get calls and go to the line, and that Ewing would get into foul trouble quickly. Both of his predictions became eerily true. He admits that you must know your place in the pecking order and follow this format:
#1. From nobody to upstart
#2. From upstart to contender
#3. From contender to winner
#4. From winner to champion
#5. From champion to dynasty
Riley's book is also filled with numerous quotes from histories great minds and leaders. Each quote helps highlight what Riley is trying to emphasize.
I recommend this book to anyone who is or hopes to be a manager in any avenue in life. Riley gives a clear-cut format to achieving goals as a leader.
Championship Inspiration.......2006-10-31
This is a book about how Pat Riley coaches to get out of the individual the Winner Within. There are 12 short chapters in this 271 page book with many quotes from many great individuals throughout history including this one from Sir Winston Churchill: "Success is never final."
Shaq has stated the Riley is the most motivating speaker he has ever heard and after reading this book I think you will get a feel for what he meant. Most of the book focuses on Basketball and the Lakers. But there are some good business principles scattered throughout the book that will inspire you to be the best. Riley lets you into his mind so you can see his thoughts and how he worked to get the most out of his team to bring home the championship. It's a great book that will prove a quick read.
A great inspiration for any coach.......2006-07-17
I am a first year basketball coach and found this book very inspirational. It makes me want to work even harder than I have and set higher standards for myself. Pat Riley is an excellent motivator and role model. I like any coach who is willing to write about his major losses in his career as well as greatest triumphs. A must read for any coach. However, he needs to write a sequel since he won his new title this summer. Go Heat!
Doesn't make the playoffs........2005-08-03
Of the over fifty books on leadership/coaching that I've read, this is by far the least useful. There are anecdotes for basketball fans, but as far as useful ideas on success and leadership there are few. It is the most useless book I've read in the coaching/leadership field (even worse than Coach K's or Dean Smith's).
Books:
- Reeds Maritime Meteorology
- Runner's World Runner's Diet: The Ultimate Eating Plan That Will Make Every Runner (and Walker) Leaner, Faster, and Fitter (Runners World)
- Runner's World Runner's Diet: The Ultimate Eating Plan That Will Make Every Runner (and Walker) Leaner, Faster, and Fitter (Runners World)
- Snook on a Fly: Tackle, Tactics, and Tips for Catching the Great Saltwater Gamefish
- Spirited Leading and Learning: Process Wisdom for a New Age (The Jossey-Bass Business & Management Series)
- Sports Illustrated: The Baseball Book
- Sports Marketing: A Strategic Perspective (3rd Edition)
- Starships: Stories Beyond the Boundaries of the Universe
- Strength Training Anatomy: `
- Stretching: 20th Anniversary (Stretching)
Books Index
Books Home
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- Religions of the Silk Road: Overland Trade and Cultural Exchange from Antiquity to the Fifteenth Cen
- Advances in International Accounting, 1995
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- The Cat with a Really Big Head, and One Other Story that Isn't as Good
Maravich
Johnny U: The Life and Times of John Unitas
Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero
Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season
