Basketball Books

Book SynopsisIn urban and rural high schools throughout Illinois, basketball is a Friday night ritual. This book brings together the stories of the great players, teams, and coaches from the 1940s through the 1990s. It is titled for four players - Sweet Charlie Brown, Dike Eddleman, Cazzie Russell, and Bobby Joe Mason.

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Book SynopsisTells the story of the most significant college basketball program at a pivotal period in American cultural history.Trade ReviewA Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2014. "This volume uncovers the indelible link between sports and society in the US. While he focuses on Wooden and UCLA men's basketball, Smith remains mindful of the larger forces molding the young men who played for the 'Wizard of Westwood.' Highly recommended."--Choice"The Sons of Westwood is an excellent, wide-ranging history, not only of UCLA basketball and the Wizard of Westwood, but of the great social movements which characterized the era of the Wooden Dynasty. I recommend it to any who love basketball or are interested in one of the more interesting periods of recent American life. John Matthew Smith is a historian on which we should all keep our eye."--Charles E. Young, Chancellor Emeritus, UCLA"This is the John Wooden book I've been waiting to read--a well-written, meticulously researched, and astute portrait of one of the sporting world's most interesting and influential characters. John Matthew Smith's book is at once a pleasure to read and a solid work of history."--Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season“A highly readable cultural study of one of the greatest teams in sports history.”--Kirkus Reviews"John Matthew Smith may be the first author to fully and fairly assess the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball program during its miraculous run of ten championships from 1964 to 1975. . . . revealing and insightful."--Journal of Sport History"A thoroughly engrossing account. . . . The Sons of Westwood makes a complex story during a turbulent time in U.S. history a little easier to understand. It is a well-researched account that would be attractive to scholars and a popular audience. . . . John Matthew Smith connects the events occurring in collegiate athletics to events in the larger American society."--The Journal of African American History"In this carefully-researched study, John Matthew Smith has provided an entertaining and insightful look at college basketball's most successful coach and team dynasty. Mixing sport history with social history, Smith reveals the complex reality behind iconic coach John Wooden and his UCLA Bruin teams, as well as the not-so-innocent days of college athletics. Fans and scholars of college sports should not miss this important book."--Charles H. Martin, author of Benching Jim Crow: The Rise and Fall of the Color Line in Southern College Sports, 1890–1980"A fascinating account of the greatest dynasty in the history of college athletics and its legendary architect, John Wooden. Giving full attention to UCLA basketball's unprecedented success and the careers of its star players, John Matthew Smith provides a thoughtful analysis of societal concerns and issues surrounding the program in the 1960s and early '70s. A first-rate work."--J. Samuel Walker, author of ACC Basketball: The Story of the Rivalries, Traditions, and Scandals of the First Two Decades of the Atlantic Coast Conference "The Sons of Westwood is the history of an institution (UCLA), the chronicle of a sport (basketball), and the biography of its greatest coach (John Wooden), in a time of cultural and political upheaval (the 1960s and 1970s). It succeeds richly on all four fronts."--Susan Ware, author of Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports "John Matthew Smith tells, in a very balanced and forthright manner, the inside story of John Wooden's famed UCLA basketball program and how it fit into the larger narratives of the civil rights movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement, and the athletic revolution. He shows how Wooden and his extraordinarily talented and gifted integrated teams helped transform college basketball from a regional pastime to a national phenomenon."--David K. Wiggins, coauthor of The Unlevel Playing Field: A Documentary History of the African American Experience in Sport

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Book SynopsisBig money NCAA basketball had its origins in a many-sided conflict of visions and agendas. On one side stood large schools focused on a commercialized game that privileged wins and profits. Opposing them was a tenuous alliance of liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges, and regional state universities, and the competing interests of the NAIA, each with distinct interests of their own. Kurt Edward Kemper tells the dramatic story of the clashes that shook college basketball at mid-century—and how the repercussions continue to influence college sports to the present day. Taking readers inside the competing factions, he details why historically black colleges and regional schools came to embrace commercialization. As he shows, the NCAA''s strategy of co-opting its opponents gave each group just enough just enough to play along—while the victory of the big-time athletics model handed the organization the power to seize control of college sports. An innovatiTrade Review"Kurt Kemper's history on the rise of college basketball is a valuable addition to the University of Illinois Press's Sport and Society series. . . . One hopes that Kemper will follow this excellent book with another on the madness that the NCAA basketball tournament has become." --Journal of Sport History"Kemper details the unsuccessful fight by small colleges to keep basketball from becoming highly commercialized in the hands of the larger universities, as had happened with football. . . . Before March Madness is well researched. . . . It is well written and maintains a captivating flow." --Review of High Education"The author has a deep familiarity with and understanding of the subject matter, and he comfortably and compellingly situates Before March Madness within the landscape of existing sport history literature. . . . Unique, impressive, and insightful." --Journal of Arizona History "He does a masterful job of sorting out the various organizations that sponsored amateur basketball and providing details about their rivalries for dominance in the first six decades of the twentieth century." --History of Education Quarterly"Kemper’s research is diligent and exhaustive, and for those who like the inner-workings of college sports and its history, it’s an invaluable guide to an overlooked chapter in the evolution of amateur athletics." --Sports Biblio Reader”A well-researched and provocative inquiry into the contentious early development of college basketball. Kemper lucidly exposes the numerous conflicts over fundamental principles and specific policies that repeatedly erupted before the NCAA seized complete control of the sport in 1957.”—Charles Martin, author of Benching Jim Crow: The Rise and Fall of the Color Line in Southern College Sports, 1890–1980”An impressive and important work, Before March Madness powerfully illustrates the internecine conflicts between rival collegiate organizations and how the NCAA was forced to confront its racist, duplicitous, and often indifferent behaviors to ultimately emerge triumphant in the late 1950s.”—Milton Katz, Kansas City Art Institute

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“The book offers a timely and original contribution to an understanding of the current, highly managed transformation of the globally differentiated access to media content. Secular convincingly argues that in many respects the NBA is a frontrunner regarding its global media strategies and thus--similar to Netflix for fictional content--can be taken as a lens into the wider marketization and mediatization of sport in a global multi-platform environment.”--Markus Stauff, University of AmsterdamTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: The International House of Hoops The Court: Event Production, Streaming Television, and the Glocalization of Live Sport The Venue: Silicon Valley, Public Finance, and the Arena as Media Platform The Wires: Dark Fiber, Satellites, and the Global Infrastructures of Streaming Sport The Office: The NBA’s Executive Operation as a Global Media Empire The Couch: At-Home Sport Spectatorship and the Multiplatform Viewing Environment Conclusion: The House That Hoops Built Notes Index

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Book SynopsisHow the NBA went from nothing to "nothing but net"Trade Review"A fascinating story about the evolution of the NBA. Surdam's command of the economic history of the formative years of the NBA is flat- out impressive. He tells a very compelling story of the role of a small group of owners who stayed with the sport and the league when it was always on the verge of financial collapse and then began to cash in when the league caught on in the 1960s, a long-shot gamble that paid off big."--James Quirk, coauthor of Hard Ball: The Abuse of Power in Pro Team Sports"If you're a fan of the NBA—and I mean a real fan of the league and its history— Surdam's book won't disappoint. Surdam tells well the story of the founders creating a league in which uncertainty and excitement were part of every contest."--EH.Net

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Book Synopsis Delving into the history of gambling and corruption in intercollegiate sports, Cheating the Spread recounts all of the major gambling scandals in college football and basketball. Digging through court records, newspapers, government documents, and university archives and conducting private interviews, Albert J. Figone finds that game rigging has been pervasive and nationwide throughout most of the sports'' history. The insidious practice has spread to implicate not only bookies and unscrupulous gamblers but also college administrators, athletic organizers, coaches, fellow students, and the athletes themselves. Naming the players, coaches, gamblers, and go-betweens involved, Figone discusses numerous college basketball and football games reported to have been fixed and describes the various methods used to gain unfair advantage, inside information, or undue profit. His survey of college football includes early years of gambling on games between eTrade Review"Cheating the Spread is an important study that usefully synthesizes existing literature on college sports gambling and the major scandals and provides a wealth of new information gleaned from heretofore untapped sources. The exhaustive research in Cheating the Spread has a comprehensive sweep that is stunning."--Richard O. Davies, author of Sports in American Life: A History "A compelling, informative look into the dark side of collegiate athletics."--Booklist"An informative account illustrating the nature of incentives in big-time college athletics. It should be required reading for any serious student of college athletics."--The International Journal of the History of Sport

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Book SynopsisTells the story of the most significant college basketball program at a pivotal period in American cultural history.Trade ReviewA Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2014. "This volume uncovers the indelible link between sports and society in the US. While he focuses on Wooden and UCLA men's basketball, Smith remains mindful of the larger forces molding the young men who played for the 'Wizard of Westwood.' Highly recommended."--Choice"The Sons of Westwood is an excellent, wide-ranging history, not only of UCLA basketball and the Wizard of Westwood, but of the great social movements which characterized the era of the Wooden Dynasty. I recommend it to any who love basketball or are interested in one of the more interesting periods of recent American life. John Matthew Smith is a historian on which we should all keep our eye."--Charles E. Young, Chancellor Emeritus, UCLA"This is the John Wooden book I've been waiting to read--a well-written, meticulously researched, and astute portrait of one of the sporting world's most interesting and influential characters. John Matthew Smith's book is at once a pleasure to read and a solid work of history."--Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season“A highly readable cultural study of one of the greatest teams in sports history.”--Kirkus Reviews"John Matthew Smith may be the first author to fully and fairly assess the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball program during its miraculous run of ten championships from 1964 to 1975. . . . revealing and insightful."--Journal of Sport History"A thoroughly engrossing account. . . . The Sons of Westwood makes a complex story during a turbulent time in U.S. history a little easier to understand. It is a well-researched account that would be attractive to scholars and a popular audience. . . . John Matthew Smith connects the events occurring in collegiate athletics to events in the larger American society."--The Journal of African American History"In this carefully-researched study, John Matthew Smith has provided an entertaining and insightful look at college basketball's most successful coach and team dynasty. Mixing sport history with social history, Smith reveals the complex reality behind iconic coach John Wooden and his UCLA Bruin teams, as well as the not-so-innocent days of college athletics. Fans and scholars of college sports should not miss this important book."--Charles H. Martin, author of Benching Jim Crow: The Rise and Fall of the Color Line in Southern College Sports, 1890–1980"A fascinating account of the greatest dynasty in the history of college athletics and its legendary architect, John Wooden. Giving full attention to UCLA basketball's unprecedented success and the careers of its star players, John Matthew Smith provides a thoughtful analysis of societal concerns and issues surrounding the program in the 1960s and early '70s. A first-rate work."--J. Samuel Walker, author of ACC Basketball: The Story of the Rivalries, Traditions, and Scandals of the First Two Decades of the Atlantic Coast Conference "The Sons of Westwood is the history of an institution (UCLA), the chronicle of a sport (basketball), and the biography of its greatest coach (John Wooden), in a time of cultural and political upheaval (the 1960s and 1970s). It succeeds richly on all four fronts."--Susan Ware, author of Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports "John Matthew Smith tells, in a very balanced and forthright manner, the inside story of John Wooden's famed UCLA basketball program and how it fit into the larger narratives of the civil rights movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement, and the athletic revolution. He shows how Wooden and his extraordinarily talented and gifted integrated teams helped transform college basketball from a regional pastime to a national phenomenon."--David K. Wiggins, coauthor of The Unlevel Playing Field: A Documentary History of the African American Experience in Sport

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is a fantastic testament to the power, struggle, and triumph of wheelchair basketball and the program, coaches, and players at the University of Illinois. Dr. Nugent 's dream is alive and well and is personified by the team of individuals captured in Dream Shot: The Journey to a Wheelchair Basketball National Championship ."--Jim Scherr, Executive Director, National Wheelchair Basketball Association"Dream Shot is a unique visual and literary journey through the National Championship season of a historic and successful program. The book touches on all aspects of a season including relationship building, skill development, and setting and achieving goals. The story gives readers a chance to get to know the athletes and the process behind winning a National Championship."--Jeremy L. Lade, Director of Wheelchair Athletics, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater"Birnbaum's respectful and big-hearted honest photographs show us that on the court, and especially off of the court during their everyday lives, this is a team and a community of champions."--David Guttenfelder, National Geographic photographer

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Book SynopsisThe dramatic story of the clashes that shook college basketball at mid-century—and how the repercussions continue to influence college sports to the present day. Readers learn an innovative history of an overlooked era, looking at how promises, power, and money laid the groundwork for an American sports institution.Trade Review"Kurt Kemper's history on the rise of college basketball is a valuable addition to the University of Illinois Press's Sport and Society series. . . . One hopes that Kemper will follow this excellent book with another on the madness that the NCAA basketball tournament has become." --Journal of Sport History"Kemper details the unsuccessful fight by small colleges to keep basketball from becoming highly commercialized in the hands of the larger universities, as had happened with football. . . . Before March Madness is well researched. . . . It is well written and maintains a captivating flow." --Review of High Education"The author has a deep familiarity with and understanding of the subject matter, and he comfortably and compellingly situates Before March Madness within the landscape of existing sport history literature. . . . Unique, impressive, and insightful." --Journal of Arizona History "He does a masterful job of sorting out the various organizations that sponsored amateur basketball and providing details about their rivalries for dominance in the first six decades of the twentieth century." --History of Education Quarterly"Kemper’s research is diligent and exhaustive, and for those who like the inner-workings of college sports and its history, it’s an invaluable guide to an overlooked chapter in the evolution of amateur athletics." --Sports Biblio Reader”A well-researched and provocative inquiry into the contentious early development of college basketball. Kemper lucidly exposes the numerous conflicts over fundamental principles and specific policies that repeatedly erupted before the NCAA seized complete control of the sport in 1957.”—Charles Martin, author of Benching Jim Crow: The Rise and Fall of the Color Line in Southern College Sports, 1890–1980”An impressive and important work, Before March Madness powerfully illustrates the internecine conflicts between rival collegiate organizations and how the NCAA was forced to confront its racist, duplicitous, and often indifferent behaviors to ultimately emerge triumphant in the late 1950s.”—Milton Katz, Kansas City Art Institute

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Book SynopsisThe National Basketball Association reaches a global audience via a multiplatform strategy that leverages its uncanny ability to connect fans to all things NBA. Steven Secular brings readers inside the league's global operations and traces the history of the NBA's approach to sports media from its 1980s embrace of cable through the streaming revolution of the twenty-first century. As fans around the world stream games and other league content, NBA teams incorporate foreign languages and cultures into broadcasts to boost their product's appeal to audiences in Brazil, China, and beyond. Secular's analysis reveals how the NBA continues to transform itself into a wildly successful media producer and distributor more akin to a streaming studio than the sports leagues of old even as its media partners and sponsors erase any notion of sports as a civic good. A timely look at a dynamic media landscape, The Digital NBA shows how the games we love became content first and sport a distant secondTrade Review“The book offers a timely and original contribution to an understanding of the current, highly managed transformation of the globally differentiated access to media content. Secular convincingly argues that in many respects the NBA is a frontrunner regarding its global media strategies and thus--similar to Netflix for fictional content--can be taken as a lens into the wider marketization and mediatization of sport in a global multi-platform environment.”--Markus Stauff, University of AmsterdamTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: The International House of Hoops The Court: Event Production, Streaming Television, and the Glocalization of Live Sport The Venue: Silicon Valley, Public Finance, and the Arena as Media Platform The Wires: Dark Fiber, Satellites, and the Global Infrastructures of Streaming Sport The Office: The NBA’s Executive Operation as a Global Media Empire The Couch: At-Home Sport Spectatorship and the Multiplatform Viewing Environment Conclusion: The House That Hoops Built Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMilan may not now be the location of 'happy ending' sports stories, but the town had a magical moment many communities do not, one that can serve as burden or inspiration. The beauty of sports is that the underdog can rise up unexpectedly, even if the address keeps changing. * Indiana Magazine of History *Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsPrologueMeasurements and PrioritiesGrowing Up MilanWe Ask For a Chance That's FairHomeWorking For FreeAll QuietThe ExpendablesGames Within the GameChange For the Nice BoysStallingAgainSomething PositiveSitting TogetherHysteriaThe Milan Everyone ExpectsSenior NightHopeBoth Lion and LambGraduationEpiloguePostscript

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Kirk Haston is one of my all-time favorite players." -Bob Knight "Here's a Bet You Didn't Know, Hoosier Fan: among IU's 3-year career players, only Scott May, Archie Dees and Walt Bellamy outscored Kirk Haston; only Bellamy, Dees and Steve Downing outrebounded him. And none of those Hoosier all-timers was blessed and cursed with the emotional peaks and valleys that Kirk went through in his IU years. His mother was a school teacher, an English teacher. She would have been very proud of the excellence her son shows here as a writer, and-thanks to her urging to be a note-taker-as an inside observer of the most tumultuous years in recent IU athletics." -Bob Hammel, author of The New York Times Best Seller, Knight: My Story and Beyond the Brink with Indiana: 1987 NCAA: Champions and member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame "People don't realize the type of positive impact Coach Knight has had over the years.This book not only gives a true depiction of his greatness as a coach, but it also gives a true depiction of his greatness as an individual who cares about others." -Calbert Cheaney, Indiana Hoosier 1989-93, former Washington Wizard, assistant coach at St. Louis University "I've been a fan of Kirk for a long time, going back to his high school days, when Tom Izzo and I tried to recruit him at MSU. Kirk is a person and player who has EARNED everything he's gotten out of basketball. He has always had a rare work capacity and it carried him a long, long way. He was also very hungry and humbled in his pursuit to be successful with a desire to be coached and taught. It shows up in this book." -Coach Tom Crean, Indiana Hoosiers "I really enjoyed this book. It was very detailed and brought back tons memories. Fans wanting to know both the competitive and compassionate sides of Knight should definitely read Days of Knight." -A.J. Guyton, Indiana Hoosiers 1996-2000, 2000 All-American, Former Chicago Bull "I've always had the ultimate respect for Coach Knight as one of the great coaching minds of our time. When I was a young coach, he took me under his wing and provided valuable knowledge, just as he had with so many of his players. Thanks to Kirk Haston, a player I once recruited and have always appreciated, readers will gather insight as to what made Coach Knight successful, while also offering a view to a side of him that not all of us were fortunate enough to see." -Coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State Spartans "Days of Knight is a great look at how Coach Knight made the young players he coached better men first and better players second. It's a personal glimpse into at how the legendary Indiana basketball coach taught and mentored his team." -Jared Jeffries, Indiana Hoosiers 2000-2002, member of the 2002 NCAA runner-up team, former New York Knick "I've read lots of words about Bobby Knight, but never from one of his players. I can't wait to read this." -Tony Kornheiser, co-host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption and former sportswriter for The Washington Post "Coach Knight is a complex man with a very clear vision. Through a vast array of techniques and emotions, Days of Knight is an incredible inside look at Coach Knight's version of teaching the game of life and basketball. Most importantly, we see all sides of a fascinating leader and a brilliant tactician." -Dane Fife, Indiana Hoosiers 1998-2002, member of the 2002 NCAA runner-up team, assistant coach at Michigan State "This is an outstanding read. Kirk has done a great job of portraying the very unique relationship that is player/coach. This book will take you inside one of the most storied college basketball programs and give you insight into one of the game's greatest coaches." -Michael Lewis, Indiana Hoosiers 1997-2000, Hoosiers all-time assists leader, assistant coach at University of Nebraska "Coach Knight stories and teachings are in the veins of Indiana-and they are in the pages of Days of Knight. Filled with previously unheard knight stories and quotes, this book gives an inside look at what it was like to be a player who experienced the final three seasons of the Knight era at Indiana. If you are a Hoosier fan, you're going to want to read this book." -Jeff Overton, Indiana Hoosier 2002-2005, PGA Tour player, member of the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup Team "Haston paints an intense picture of what it takes to be an Indiana Hoosier and provides an inside look at the most controversial news story in IU history-the firing of Coach Bob Knight." -Stan Sutton, retired sports journalistTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction1. If the Game Doesn't FitThen You Didn't Commit2. Tennessee Knight Game3. The Day after Knight4. Welcome to B-Town Greenhorn5. A Hall of Fame Kind of Day6. Hoosier Family Counseling7. Talking About Practice8. This isAssembly Hall9. Close to Greatness & Close to Great Failures10. Let the Games Begin11. Phone Call12. A Parachute Policy?13. Friendship Tolerance 14. #1 Comes to Town15. Day Camp and Knight Chat16. Image Is Something, But Not EverythingBibliography

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Book SynopsisStan Sutton takes readers into the locker room to meet Butler's best players and hear their stories, making Butler Basketball Legends a must-read for all who love the game.Table of Contents1. Hinkle Home Away From Home for IU2. Program Turns the Corner3. Green and Graves Set Stage for Hayward and Mack4. It's a Dog's World at Butler5. A Dutch Treat for Bulldogs6. Bulldogs Pounded Wake Early7. Sharpshooters Shoot Down Louisville8. A New Kid on Campus9. Help Was on the Way10. Jukes Foundation supports kids11. Nored Sticks to Steph Curry12. Bulldogs Break onto National Scene13. For Crone, No Place like Home14. Part of the Gig Actually Happened15. A David and Goliath Ending16. Coming Down Off the Mountain17. Bulldogs in Final Four Again18. A New Role for the Dawgs19. Some Days Shots Won't Fall20. All in the Family21. Mack Follows Hayward to NBA22. Looking Past the Horizon23. Jones is One of a Kind24. Clarke's Stay is Brief, but Brilliant25. Just a Hop, Skip and Jump Away26. Butler Goes Big Time in Big East27. Worse Than a Death in Family28. Butler's Barlow's Floater Dooms Hoosiers29. It Wasn't Miller Time30. Brad Stevens in Disguise?31. Changes Made a Difference32. The Citadel Takes a Beating33. Butler Reaches Out to Baldwin34. Third Season Is the Charm35. Dawgs Knock Off Number One Cats Twice36. Has Butler's Rise Affected IU?37. No Ordinary Road Trip38. Help Came from Outside39. Kelan Adjusts to New Role40. X Marks the Spot of Biggest Rival41. Dawgs Reach Sweet Sixteen42. Talent Is Everywhere, Just Find It43. Lavall Jordan Takes Over Bulldogs 44. Hinkle Fieldhouse: A Historic Site45. Butler Bowl Full of History46. Stevens Leads by Example47. Hayward in High Demand48. Ground Floor of Integration49. Archey Made 85 Straight Free Throws50. Darnell Archey's Record Free Throw Streak51. "You Can't Teach Shooting"52. Bulldogs Fight for Recognition53. Size Didn't Matter Here54. Hinkle Starred as Navy Coach55. First NIT Trip for Bulldogs56. Butler Wins Pair in First NCAA Tournament57. "You Want to Come to Butler, Kid?"58. IU Recruited Plump Aggressively59. Fun Days in the ICC60. Plump Shy off the Court61. Down Goes Michigan62. No Match, a Truck and a VW Beetle—No Match63. Hinkle Subtle in His Criticism 64. Billy Shepherd Small but Mighty65. Bevo Passed through Fieldhouse66. Tony's Last Game67. The Old Coach Noticed68. Buckshot Was a Good Shot69. IU Backed Out of Classic70. Tony at Purdue?71. Hinkle Invented Orange Basketball72. Ellenberger Had a Varied Career73. A Rugged First Round74. Dampier Driven Away?75. Assistant Gets Job Done76. Tucker Still Top Scorer77. Oscar Was the Guy 78. Andrew Smith, Joel Cornette, Emerson Kampen IV79. Nored Follows Brad Stevens80. Butler's National Championships81. Back in the Old Days82. Beneath the Hoosier Sky

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"My greatest basketball memories come from playing in gymnasiums throughout central Indiana during my high school basketball career. The photographs in this book rekindled the excitement of those days and introduced me to places that I wasn't even aware of. This book will take you down memory lane."—George McGinnis, Indiana Mr. Basketball, ABA and NBA All-Star, and Basketball Hall of Famer"Looking through this book brings back so many memories and dreams of growing up in the small town of Claypool. The community support and pride for Indiana's game was evident back then through packed gyms, bonfires, cakewalks, and penny pitches. The care shown for the gyms, barns, and outdoor courts in this book is evidence that we still have pride and dreams in communities around the state. Thanks for preserving these memories and providing dreams for future players!"—Judi Warren, Indiana's first Miss Basketball, 1976"Nothing is more important than pride and community when it comes to understanding the importance of basketball in Indiana. Those gymnasiums across the state are gathering places where games brought together rivals, families, and friends to watch the game that Indiana made famous. . . . This collection of photographs from places throughout the state captures the spirit of the game and reflects the sense of community pride."—Bobby Plump, member of the 1954 Milan High School state championship team."Chris and Michael's photos bring to life the past and present of Indiana high school basketball—the players, the places, the fans. I am always amazed to see how they are able to find a little detail in a photo that tells a story better than words possibly could. This book is a must-have for Indiana high school basketball fans."—Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis StarTable of ContentsForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChris Smith PhotographsMichael E. Keating Photographs

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Book SynopsisIn Heart of a Hoosier: A Year of Inspiration from IU Men's Basketball, authors Del Duduit and Michelle Medlock Adams show readers how the famous moments and personalities of the Indiana Hoosiers can inspire them to reach for success, overcome adversity, be a great team member, and more.Trade Review"Indiana University basketball is religion to those who bleed Cream 'n Crimson, but as Michelle Medlock Adams and Del Duduit showcase in Heart of a Hoosier, it goes much deeper than that. It inspires with the faith and passion true believers need. The message is clear: speak your heart; seize the moment; overcome adversity; write a lasting legacy; and always, always move forward."—Pete DiPrimio, Indiana Sports Writers and Sportscasters Hall of Famer"Heart of a Hoosier has its finger on the pulse of what makes Indiana basketball so special. Both this book and Hoosier hoops are about the passionate connection teams, families, and fans have to the game we love."—Kirk Haston, author of Days of Knight: How the General Changed My Life"Many of my most precious memories from my time at Indiana University involved Bobby Knight and IU basketball. This book, Heart of a Hoosier brings those memories back to life. It is an absolute must read for not only IU basketball fans but for anyone who loves the game of basketball."—Jeff Ramey: Author and former baseball player at IU"Award-winning authors Michelle Medlock Adams and Del Duduit really capture the essence of IU Basketball in their book, Heart of a Hoosier. This book offers 52 encouraging inspirations, highlighting great Indiana Basketball moments and the hallowed traditions that make IU Basketball so special. Even if you're a diehard fan, or even a former player, you're sure to learn a few fun facts about the candy-striped warmups, the IU Fight Song, and many of the players you've cheered for over the years."—Kent Benson, former NBA player, and member of the undefeated 1975-1976 IU teams and 1976 NCAA championsTable of ContentsIntroductionIU Traditions1. Week 1: What's Your Motivation?2. Week 2: Give Honor Where Honor Is Due3. Week 3: Candy-Striped Legacy4. Week 4: The Simple Thing in Life5. Week 5: Bleeding Cream & Crimson6. Week 6: Hail to Old IU!Monumental Moments7. Week 7: Foul Out Your Foes8. Week 8: Pursue Greatness9. Week 9: Just in Time10. Week 10: Live Like a Winner11. Week 11: Don't Let Up12. Week 12: Are You Determined to Be Better?13. Week 13: Stay Focused14. Week 14: It's the Heart That Matters15. Week 15: The Sweet 1616. Week 16: Silence the Critics17. Week 17: Mama Knows Best18. Week 18: Your One Shining Moment19. Week 19: Find a Silver Lining20. Week 20: When a Game Is More Than a Game21. Week 21: Taking Down a Giant22. Week 22: Teamwork Always Wins23. Week 23: A Light at the End of the Tunnel24. Week 24: Get the Monkey off Your Back25. Week 25: Healthy RivalriesIU Players26. Week 26: Follow Your Heart27. Week 27: Mountaintops & Valleys28. Week 28: Be the First29. Week 29: Get the Shot You Need30. Week 30: Grace under Pressure31. Week 31: Continue through the Struggles32. Week 32: Go the Extra Mile33. Week 33: The Sixth Man34. Week 34: Stepping into Greatness35. Week 35: Break the Barrier36. Week 36: Be a True Friend37. Week 37: Live Up to Your Potential38. Week 38: Be Ready to Take the Shot39. Week 39: Always Show Respect40. Week 40: The Block Heard Round the World41. Week 41: Come Through When It Counts42. Week 42: Helping Others Succeed43. Week 43: Associate with Like-Minded People44. Week 44: You're Better Than You Think45. Week 45: What Does Your Nickname Say about You?46. Week 46: Own Up to Your Acts47. Week 47: Be a True LeaderIU Coaches48. Week 48: Critics—Yep, Everybody's Got 'Em49. Week 49: Strive for Excellence and Live with Integrity50. Week 50: Built Up, Not Beat Down51. Week 51: Not Fired, Fired Up!52. Week 52: Hold On to Your ChairConclusion

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Book SynopsisIn Heart of a Hoosier: A Year of Inspiration from IU Men's Basketball, authors Del Duduit and Michelle Medlock Adams show readers how the famous moments and personalities of the Indiana Hoosiers can inspire them to reach for success, overcome adversity, be a great team member, and more.Trade Review"Indiana University basketball is religion to those who bleed Cream 'n Crimson, but as Michelle Medlock Adams and Del Duduit showcase in Heart of a Hoosier, it goes much deeper than that. It inspires with the faith and passion true believers need. The message is clear: speak your heart; seize the moment; overcome adversity; write a lasting legacy; and always, always move forward."—Pete DiPrimio, Indiana Sports Writers and Sportscasters Hall of Famer"Heart of a Hoosier has its finger on the pulse of what makes Indiana basketball so special. Both this book and Hoosier hoops are about the passionate connection teams, families, and fans have to the game we love."—Kirk Haston, author of Days of Knight: How the General Changed My Life"Many of my most precious memories from my time at Indiana University involved Bobby Knight and IU basketball. This book, Heart of a Hoosier brings those memories back to life. It is an absolute must read for not only IU basketball fans but for anyone who loves the game of basketball."—Jeff Ramey: Author and former baseball player at IU"Award-winning authors Michelle Medlock Adams and Del Duduit really capture the essence of IU Basketball in their book, Heart of a Hoosier. This book offers 52 encouraging inspirations, highlighting great Indiana Basketball moments and the hallowed traditions that make IU Basketball so special. Even if you're a diehard fan, or even a former player, you're sure to learn a few fun facts about the candy-striped warmups, the IU Fight Song, and many of the players you've cheered for over the years."—Kent Benson, former NBA player, and member of the undefeated 1975-1976 IU teams and 1976 NCAA championsTable of ContentsIntroductionIU Traditions1. Week 1: What's Your Motivation?2. Week 2: Give Honor Where Honor Is Due3. Week 3: Candy-Striped Legacy4. Week 4: The Simple Thing in Life5. Week 5: Bleeding Cream & Crimson6. Week 6: Hail to Old IU!Monumental Moments7. Week 7: Foul Out Your Foes8. Week 8: Pursue Greatness9. Week 9: Just in Time10. Week 10: Live Like a Winner11. Week 11: Don't Let Up12. Week 12: Are You Determined to Be Better?13. Week 13: Stay Focused14. Week 14: It's the Heart That Matters15. Week 15: The Sweet 1616. Week 16: Silence the Critics17. Week 17: Mama Knows Best18. Week 18: Your One Shining Moment19. Week 19: Find a Silver Lining20. Week 20: When a Game Is More Than a Game21. Week 21: Taking Down a Giant22. Week 22: Teamwork Always Wins23. Week 23: A Light at the End of the Tunnel24. Week 24: Get the Monkey off Your Back25. Week 25: Healthy RivalriesIU Players26. Week 26: Follow Your Heart27. Week 27: Mountaintops & Valleys28. Week 28: Be the First29. Week 29: Get the Shot You Need30. Week 30: Grace under Pressure31. Week 31: Continue through the Struggles32. Week 32: Go the Extra Mile33. Week 33: The Sixth Man34. Week 34: Stepping into Greatness35. Week 35: Break the Barrier36. Week 36: Be a True Friend37. Week 37: Live Up to Your Potential38. Week 38: Be Ready to Take the Shot39. Week 39: Always Show Respect40. Week 40: The Block Heard Round the World41. Week 41: Come Through When It Counts42. Week 42: Helping Others Succeed43. Week 43: Associate with Like-Minded People44. Week 44: You're Better Than You Think45. Week 45: What Does Your Nickname Say about You?46. Week 46: Own Up to Your Acts47. Week 47: Be a True LeaderIU Coaches48. Week 48: Critics—Yep, Everybody's Got 'Em49. Week 49: Strive for Excellence and Live with Integrity50. Week 50: Built Up, Not Beat Down51. Week 51: Not Fired, Fired Up!52. Week 52: Hold On to Your ChairConclusion

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Book SynopsisA memoir by the NBA Hall of Fame player, active from 1977-1993 and widely regarded as one of the all-time great New York Knicks. NBA Hall of Famer Bernard King is one of the most dynamic scorers in basketball history. King was notoriously private as a player, and rarely spoke to the press-not about his career and never about his personal life. And even beyond his prolific scoring, King will forever be remembered for the gruesome knee injury he suffered in 1985. Doctors who told him he''d never play again were shocked when he not only became the first player to return to the NBA from a torn ACL, but returned at an All Star level. In Game Face, King finally opens up about his life on and off the court. In his book, King''s basketball I.Q. is on full display as he breaks down defenses using his own unique system for taking shots from predetermined spots on the floor. King talks about matching up against some of the all-time NBA greats, from Michael Jordan, Julius Erv

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Book SynopsisThe true story behind Crispus Attucks High School and the all-Black basketball team loosely depicted as the championship opponent in the beloved classic sports movie Hoosiers.   For far too long the mythology of Indiana basketball has been dominated by Hoosiers. Framed as the ultimate underdog, feel-good story, there has also long been a cultural debate surrounding the film. The Real Hoosiers sets out to illuminate the narrative that the film omits, the story of the unheralded Crispus Attucks Tigers, playing the game at the highest level in the 1950s in a racially divided Indiana. After a crushing loss to Milan High School in the 1954 semifinal, which was the game that the final scenes in Hoosiers are based on, Attucks went on to win back-to-back Indiana state championships. That team was led by a young Oscar Robertson and coached by Ray Crowe, who fully recognized the seemingly insurmountable challenges of playing basketball in

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Book SynopsisThe story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader. Now in paperback with a new Epilogue.   As the face of the NBA’s new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome unfathomable obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world; the personification of the American Dream. But his backstory remains largely untold. Fader unearths new information about the childhood that shaped “The Greek Freak”—from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced. Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece’s far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largely prevented him from playing for the country’s top clubs, making his NBA rise all the more improbable. Fader tells a deeply human story of how an unknown, skinny, Black Greek teen, who played in the country’s lowest pro division and was seen as a draft gamble, transformed his body and his game into MVP material. Antetokounmpo’s story has been framed as a feel-good narrative in which everyone has embraced him—watching him grow up, sign a five-year supermax contract extension worth $228 million, and lead the underdog Bucks to the NBA Championship in 2021. Giannis reveals a more nuanced story: how lonely and isolated he felt, adjusting to America and the NBA early in his career; the complexity of grappling with his Black and Greek identities; how he is so hard on himself and his shortcomings—a drive that fuels him every day; and the responsibility he feels to be a nurturing role model for his younger brothers. Fader illustrates a more vulnerable star than most people know, a person who has evolved triumphantly into all of his roles: father, brother, son, teammate, and global icon.**Instant New York Times Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller** **Mirin Fader Selected as the 2021 Sports Media Author of the Year by The Big Lead** **The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books**

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Book SynopsisThe story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader.   As the face of the NBA’s new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome unfathomable obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world; the personification of the American Dream. But his backstory remains largely untold. Fader unearths new information about the childhood that shaped “The Greek Freak”—from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced. Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece’s far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largel

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Book SynopsisFrom the former New York Times Beijing bureau chief comes a closely observed story of a struggling Chinese basketball team and its quixotic, often comical attempt to make the playoffs by copying the American stars of the NBA.       When the worst professional basketball team in China, the Shanxi Brave Dragons, hired former NBA coach Bob Weiss to improve its fortunes, the team's owner, Boss Wang, promised that Weiss would be allowed to Americanize his players by teaching them advanced basketball culture. That promise would be broken from the moment Weiss landed in China. As we follow this team of colorful oddballs on a fascinating road trip through modern China, we see Weiss learn firsthand what so many other foreigners there have discovered: that changing China happens only when and how China wants to be changed.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of PEN/Faulkner finalist Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear and Craft in the Real World comes a 'a smart, very meta take' (Kirkus Reviews) on the ways Asian Americans navigate the thorny worlds of sports and entertainment when everything is stacked against them. An Asian American basketball star walks into a gym. No one recognizes him, but everyone stares anyway. It is the start of a joke but what is the punchline? When Won Lee, the first Asian American in the NBA, stuns the world in a seven-game winning streak, the global media audience dubs it “The Wonder”—much to Won’s chagrin. Meanwhile, Won struggles to get attention from his coach, his peers, his fans, and most importantly, his hero, Powerball!, who also happens to be Won’s teammate and the captain. Covering it all is sportswriter Robert Sung, who writes about Won's stardom while grappling with his own missed hoops opportunities as well as his place as an Asian American in media. And to witness it all is Carrie Kang, a big studio producer, who juggles a newfound relationship with Won while attempting to bring K-drama to an industry not known to embrace anything new or different.The Sense of Wonder follows Won and Carrie as they chronicle the human and professional tensions exacerbated by injustices and fight to be seen and heard on some of the world’s largest stages. An incredibly funny and heart-rending dive into race and our “collective imagination that lays bare our limitations before blasting joyfully past them” (Catherine Chung). This is the work of a gifted storyteller at the top of his game.USA Today's 20 Most Anticipated Books of WinterSalon's 22 Books We're Looking Forward to in 2023Philadelphia Inquirer's Best New Books to Kick Off 2023Los Angeles Times's Best Books of JanuaryEsquire's January 2023 Book Club Pick Vulture's 30 Books We Can't Wait to Read This WinterChicago Review of Books's 12 Must-Read Books of January 2023The Orange County Register's Most Anticipated of 2023 Powell's Picks of the Month Book Culture's Most Anticipated Books of January Apple Books's Staff Picks of JanuaryVanity Fair's 8 Books We Can't Stop Talking About This MonthLiterary Hub's Best Book Covers of January

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Book SynopsisDiscover the amazing achievements of fan favorite two-time MVP Stephen Curry in this brand-new, comprehensive biography Steph Curry is a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, record-breaker, and Finals champion who electrifies fans with his incredible on-court feats. He''s also a dedicated husband, father, and philanthropist who inspires people on and off the court. Learn more about this remarkable athlete in this biography, complete with stats and photographs.

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Book SynopsisThe first memoir for young readers by the sports legend explores his path from his days as a shy boy named Lew Alcindor to becoming Kareem...

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Book SynopsisIn his first memoir written especially for young readers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will focus on his relationships with several important coaches in his life - including his father, his high-school coach and Coach Wooden - as he tells the story of his life and career. At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City with all the usual problems: He struggled with fitting in, with pleasing a strict father, and with overcoming shyness that made him feel socially awkward. But with a talent for basketball, and an unmatched team of supporters, Lew Alcindor was able to transform and to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.From a childhood made difficult by racism and prejudice to a record-smashing career on the basketball court as an adult, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar''s life was packed with coaches who taught him right from wrong and led him on the path to greatness. His parents, coaches Jack Donahue and John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and many others played important roles in Abdul-Jabbar''s life and sparked him to become an activist for social change and advancement. The inspiration from those around him, and his drive to find his own path in life, are highlighted in this personal and awe-inspiriting journey.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe definitive biography of college basketball’s all-time winningest coach, Mike Krzyzewski.Mike Krzyzewski, known worldwide as “Coach K,” is a five-time national champion at Duke, the NCAA’s all-time leader in victories with nearly 1,200, and the first man to lead Team USA to three Olympic basketball gold medals. Through unprecedented access to Krzyzewski’s best friends, closest advisers, fiercest adversaries, and generations of his players and assistants, three-time New York Times bestselling author Ian O’Connor takes you behind the Blue Devil curtain with a penetrating examination of the great but flawed leader as he closes out his iconic career.Krzyzewski built a staggering basketball empire that has endured for more than four decades, placing him among the all-time titans of American sport, and yet there has never been a defining portrait of the coach and his program. Until now. O’Connor uses scores of interviews with those who know Krzyzewski best to deliver previously untold stories about the relationships that define the venerable Coach K, including the one with his volcanic mentor, Bob Knight, that died a premature death. Krzyzewski was always driven by an inner rage fueled by his tough Chicago upbringing, and by the blue-collar Polish-American parents who raised him to fight for a better life.  With updated coverage of Coach K’s stunning final season, O’Connor shows you sides of the man and his methods that will surprise even the most dedicated Duke fan.“Basketball fans might feel as though they already know Coach K—or Mike Krzyzewski, the decades-long coach of the Duke Blue Devils who’s set to retire after this season. In this insightful biography, sportswriter O’Connor captures the formative experiences and inner drive that catapulted the coach to icon status. Even the most die-hard fans will learn something.” — Washington Post

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Book SynopsisA revealing, humorous, behind-the-scenes memoir from Kenny The Jet Smith—superstar basketball commentator, host of the top-rated show, Inside the NBA, and two-time NBA champion. Smith reveals memorable inside stories of his playing and broadcasting careers, focusing on the star players, coaches, and mentors who inspired him along the way.  Kenny Smith was a star at the University of North Carolina before his storied NBA run, in which he won two championships with the Houston Rockets. His popularity skyrocketed when he joined TNT’s new show, Inside the NBA, which has thrived for twenty-four years and won multiple Emmys, receiving enormous acclaim for the insight, humor, social commentary, and unrivaled basketball coverage from Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson, Jr. Kenny is known to fans for his laser-sharp analysis and eloquent observations of the basketball scen

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Book Synopsis*Rivaling the nonfiction works of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat....Even readers who don't appreciate sports will find this story a page-turner. --School Library Connection, starred review*A must for all library collections. --Booklist, starred reviewWinner of the 2020 AJL Sydney Taylor Honor!  From the New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside comes the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball at the 1936 Summer Games in Hitler's Germany. Perfect for fans of The Boys in the Boat and Unbroken.On a scorching hot day in July 1936, thousands of people cheered as the U.S. Olympic teams boarded the S.S. Manhattan, bound for Berlin. Among the athletes were the 14 players representing the first-ever U.S. Olympic basketball team. As thousands of supporters waved American flags on the docks, it was easy to miss

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Book Synopsis**The Instant National Bestseller**The standout memoir from NBA powerhouse Andre Iguodala, the indomitable sixth man of the Golden State Warriors. Andre Iguodala is one of the most admired players in the NBA. And fresh off the Warriors? fifth Finals appearance in five years, his game has never been stronger.Off the court, Iguodala has earned respect, too?for his successful tech investments, his philanthropy, and increasingly for his contributions to the conversation about race in America. It is no surprise, then, that in his first book, Andre, with his cowriter Carvell Wallace, has pushed himself to go further than he ever has before about his life, not only as an athlete but about what makes him who he is at his core.The Sixth Man traces Andre?s journey from childhood in his Illinois hometown to his Bay Area home court today. Basketball has always been there. But this is the story, too, of his experience of the conflict and racial tension always at hand in a professional league made up largely of African American men; of whether and why the athlete owes the total sacrifice of his body; of the relationship between competition and brotherhood among the players of one of history?s most glorious championship teams. And of what motivates an athlete to keep striving for more once they?ve already achieved the highest level of play they could have dreamed.On drive, on leadership, on pain, on accomplishment, on the shame of being given a role, and the glory of taking a role on: This is a powerful memoir of life and basketball that reveals new depths to the superstar athlete, and offers tremendous insight into most urgent stories being told in American society today.

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Book SynopsisThe moving story of a Navajo high school basketball team, its members struggling with the everyday challenges of high school, adolescence, and family, and the great and unique obstacles facing Native Americans living on reservations.   Deep in the heart of northern Arizona, in a small and isolated patch of the vast 17.5-million-acre Navajo reservation, sits Chinle High School. Here, basketball is passion, passed from grandparent to parent to child. Rez Ball is a sport for winters where dark and cold descend fast and there is little else to do but roam mesa tops, work, and wonder what the future holds. The town has 4,500 residents and the high school arena seats 7,000. Fans drive thirty, fifty, even eighty miles to see the fast-paced and highly competitive matchups that are more than just games to players and fans.   Celebrated Times journalist Michael Powell brings us a narrative of triumph and hardship, a moving story about a basketball team on

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Book SynopsisA memoir of will, success, and the luck we make—from the founder and CEO of Klutch Sports Group and one of the most influential figures in the multibillion-dollar sports industry“One of the greatest stories of growing up in America’s ghettos and overcoming adversity.”—Jay-Z “The minute I met Rich, I knew he was different.”—LeBron James, from the Foreword There’s a story about Rich Paul that everyone knows: A twenty-one-year-old kid from Cleveland who sells sports jerseys out of his car meets a high school basketball phenom named LeBron James at an airport—the two become friends and forge a decades-long partnership that reinvents the business of sports. That random meeting might seem like the lucky break that changed Paul’s life. But a moment of good fortune means nothing without the struggle that gets you there. And the truth is, Paul had always been lucky. R

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