Product Description
Surveys the history of African Americans in basketball, from the beginning of the sport to the present, discussing individual teams and players and the integration of the National Basketball Association. ... Read more

Product Description
Continuing Sports Illustrated's tradition of producing best-selling coffee-table books for the holiday season, SI presents The Basketball Book, a lavish celebration of the athleticism and pageantry of both the college and professional game. With the same kind of unforgettable photographs and award-winning writing that propelled The Baseball Book, The Football Book and The Anniversary Book to The New York Times best-seller list over the past three years, this volume brings to life the legendary players, the classic action and the great rivalries of the court. In 294 oversized pages, The Basketball Book commemorates the epic teams and characters, the personalities and performances and artifacts that have created legions of passionate fans since Dr. James Naismith nailed up a peach basket and devised the Original 13 Rules of the game more than 100 years ago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

great pictures
i got this as a gift for my boyfriend, an avid bball fan, he loved all the articles and pictures. its a pretty big coffee table book, and arrived quickly in good condition.

Disappointed
Not what I expected at all, but maybe that's my fault.

I was expecting a collection of basketball's greatest moments, but instead got more or less a history of basketball with pictures that depict very random moments and players of basketball.

It would've been okay as a history book if the writers weren't sports writers; since it is, it's neither history nor journalism but something very awkward inbetween.

Almost perfect for hardcore b-ball fans
SI has a great reputation and they've created a great thing here. Like the football book, this is oversized and perfect for the coffee table. In our house, it has helped kick start lot of discussions.

B-Ball
whether you are playing in the school yard on blacktop or in the gym on hardwood, basketball is rich and exciting with talent. this book tell the tale of some of B-Balls finest.

8 year old son loves this book!!
We could not get our son to stop reading this book!Hours and hours of reading. He not only learned the history of basketball but was comparing stats and sharing all his new knowledge with all our friends.What parent doesn't want that! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

A Work of Art In Its Own Right
In Bethlehem Shoals's writing for the FD blog (or one of the other 18 sites he writes for) I can always count on at least one display of casual writerly irreverence that will stop me in my tracks and make me wonder what the Hell just happened, exactly as the most amazing basketball athletes do.From his music blog:

"...I prefer to think of it as Sun Ra making peace with an unfamiliar life form, one that tries to strangle him twice, then eats the Saltines he offers, then radiates orange light and [defecates] sundaes."

Its the verbal equivalent of playground ball, where the informal nature of the session leads to greater risk taking and more stunning displays of athletic ability.

To write a full scale book however, requires a whole other set of skills.It takes the fundamental game that too many playground legends unfortunately lack, which spells their doom in the NBA.In short, it requires structure.Form to allow a topic like history to be developed in a meaningful sense.

In this book, I'm happy to state that the writerly flair he applies to his shorter work is reworked directly into the structure of this book.The same creative skills set up frameworks that don't just show off his skill but actually help present the information at hand in a more informative manner.George Mikan isn't just the first superstar of the NBA, he is related to the same questions of "Time and Space" that led to a standardization of basketball rules.

At the end of a 2 or 3 page essay, several issues have been presented clearly, efficiently, coherently and with an enjoyable aesthetic style.

The entire book is similarly structured.Shoals is only one member of the Free Darko High Counsel, and the other members contribute hundreds of asides, detail shots, etc.that act as a harmonic balance to the primary soundtrack.

And then there's the art.Jacob Weinstein brings the exact same qualities to the table as I attributed to Shoals above.In detail they are beautiful, with unexpected elements (I could stare a long time at a piece comprised entirely of the chain link fences in the Connie Hawkins illustration), but their overall structure- how they present their subjects, is just as impressive.

In short, this book is the whole package.It is enjoyable not just as something that pertains to basketball but as a work of art in its own right.Even if you don't know basketball, you can appreciate this work of craft.Though it would probably help to like basketball

Basketball as Imagined by a Room of Trained Monkey Typewriter Philosophers
The FreeDarko collective, a group of ninja-clad government agents tasked with researching wind patterns off the coast of Bora Bora, blog and podcast incessantly at [...] and have at turns been labeled hyperliterate, erudite, off-putting and Ernest Hemingway, but never boring. With "The Undisputed Guide to Basketball History," the colorfully nombred hombres can add another title: romantics. They've managed a great galumphing graphic novel of a slightly biased history of professional basketball, and both readers and FreeDarko fans are the better for it.

The fabulously detailed illustrations (some are for sale as prints and, indeed, rise to the level of great pop art) go toe-to-toe with some of the best writing this side of Papa, which is saying something, because the collective brings a lot of ability to the party. Michael Jordan, while looming large (as he must) over the enterprise doesn't dominate the proceedings, which is to the opus' advantage. This one does the collective's previous effort, "The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac," (a great piece in its own right) several ones better. Readers are in for a treat.

Growing up Kareem
My father loves the game of Basketball more than anyone I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.I grew up watching my dad come home on crutches, blowing his knees out countless times, feeling the bump on his knee that made almost a right angle.Then sitting on the couch and watching hours of recorded tapes of the Milwaukee Bucks title run and the LA Lakers title runs.He would talk to me about his favorite player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and how he himself had also perfected the "Sky Hook,"(he still kicks my ass with that damn sky hook and with his bad knees the guy can't do anything else).
That being said this is not so much a review of "The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History," as it is a thank you.This book approaches basketball the same way, and I couldn't help but be reminded of my childhood.Each story and illustration is utterly perfect in showing such great enthusiasm for the sport.Reading each story brought the basketball games and players, I didn't live through, to life as much as my dad's energetic stories did.Receiving it today I've read the book from cover to cover with a smile on my face the whole time.
Last year, for Christmas, I got my dad "The Breaks of the Game," and this year I have no doubt that he'll be receiving "The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History," from me.

Macrophenomenal
Do you ever feel a little dumb for liking sports?A hint of self-awareness makes you realize how silly and how much time is wasted on them.Somehow, though, the guys at freedarko make you feel smarter for liking sports.The prose is brilliant, the graphics are worth buying on their own, and the insights are a mix of knowingly over-the-top and understated but riveting.These guys make me glad I love the NBA.

Buy this book!
I just received this book in the mail yesterday, so I've only read the first few chapters, but it's already been exceptional.Anyone who loves the NBA, or just casually watches games, should read this book (or at least check out the incredible artwork).I have loved every word and pciture, and I am fighting the urge to flip ahead to "spoil" the rest of the artwork.

This book does exactly what FreeDarko set out to do: tell the history of the NBA in a riveting, entertaining and bring-the-past-to-life way, rather than simply regurgitating stats and facts as so many other history books have done.

FreeDarko's previous book: "The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac" portrayed current players in a different light, and brought the personalities within game to the forefront.It wasn't just about players and stats, but about how these players fit within the game itself.This book takes the same approach with players and teams of the past.FD's Almanac used to be my favorite basketball book, but I can safely bet that "The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History" will edge it out as my personal favorite. ... Read more

Product Description
With their path lighted by Michael Jordan's passion tocompete and win, Dennis Rodman's high-voltage hairdo, Phil Jackson'scounterculture coaching style and Scottie Pippen's all around floorgame, the Chicago Bulls rolled over the opposition during the 1995-96NBA season.In a stampede, they ran up a 72-10 regular season record,the most wins ever by an NBA team.From there the Bulls rumbled to anastounding record in the playoffs, and finally their fourth worldchampionship in six seasons.This was the year of the Great Bull Run,when Chicago's team rolled across the landscape, drawing crowds andconverts in every city, stirring up a storm of interest like the NBAhad never seen before. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Story of the record breaking season
Lazenby's book opens with the Bulls' heartbreaking playoff loss to Orlando in the 1994-1995 season followed by an offseason of introspection. What follows is a narrative of their record breaking regular season all the way to the championship. Each chapter tackles a key figure on that Bull championship team (Krause, Jackson, Kukoc, Rodman) interspersed with narratives of regular season games.

Lazenby provides the reader with a behind the scenes look on that historical season - the different strategies Phil Jackson uses to neutralize Miami's Alonzo Mourning for instance. My only complaint about this book is that it could have used a lot less pictures and more anecdotes. ... Read more

Product Description
The history of basketball is chock-full of famous buzzer-beating shots, amazing game-saving plays, and thrilling maneuvers that defy gravity. All fans have their favorite memory, just as they have their favorite team and their favorite player. Now here's a book that offers a look back at more than fifteen of the sport's best moments. The Block, The Steal, The Shot. Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Jordan, and James. Each entry captures the nail-biting tension of the minutes leading up to the play, as well as information about the superstar players that made them and the teams that they played for.

Packed with facts and action, this is a book young basketball fans will reach for again and again -- and because it comes from Matt Christopher, young readers know they're getting the best sports writing on the shelf. ... Read more

Product Description
Of all major intercollegiate sports, basketball remains preeminently the one that has never had to yield pride of place to its professional competition. This book is a lavishly illustrated, fact-filled celebration both of college basketball's extraordinary past & of its equally extraordinary present. In its pages you will meet again all the great coaches & their fabulous teams. Here, too, you will see the game-transforming superstars once again in action. Add to that a cornucopia of statistics, nostalgia, historic pictures, & an exciting narrative by one of the nation's foremost sportswriters, & this book becomes a work that few real fans will be able to resist. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the origins and evolution of the sport of basketball, as well as important events and key personalities in both college and professional versions of the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Book
This book is a good learning tool to use in informing others. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

ok book
Used this book for a class. Kind of stale but might be interesting to the basketball fan.

A book telling the story of basketball
It was in Bennie's Corners(a nickname for a place where Naismith played as a youngster)that Naismith first observed recreational games being played.Next, during his time as a physical educator, he observed more games except this time being played at a higher level.Naismith and others realized that there was an actual need for a new game.He knew he was going to encorporate a few things; the game was going to be mainly made from other previously existing games, the game was going to be a team sport, it was going to use a large circular ball, and finally, it was going to be an indoor game.These were the few things that Naismith and others created the game upon.However most of the main construction of the game such as rules and regulations was left up to Naismith.

After a short while, Naismith came up with rules.They were soon printed in a newspaper called the Triangle.This is where some of the foundations of spreading of the game took place.People looked at the rules found anything they could to use as hoops and used the rules and regulations.

As time progressed the game started to become more popular and issues were brought up and rules.Naismith did change/add rules over time.The game began to spread both foreign and domesticaly, in places like Japan, China, Mexico, Canada, etc.Naismith was amazed that his game was able to spread so far and become so successful.

Naismith observed a number of games through the years and wondered how the game could go from at first having such bad players, to having players that can dribble good, shoot good, and play defense good.

The book also stressed that Naismith and the others did not the game for Recreation.They said that the game of basketball was strictly a problem that had been pressing on the physical educators for some time.This is why Naismith was puzzled when his newfangled game was such a success to the public.

In my opinion this book was great.I have always wondered the real story of how the game of basketball came to be.Also how the rules of the game can change and change as time progresses.The book told me about how the game spread from one place to all the corners of the globe.Also the original rules and how they were printed in the triangle newspaper.People from every race played the game.Both men and woman started playing the game.And finally how the game just started as solution to a problem, and ended up as a changing phenomenon.Even today the game is still changing, however the game has not strayed very far from the original rules Naismith published in the Triangle.
Overall I enjoyed this book, I also think others should read it and learn the original history of the game of basketball.

The only first person account of basketball's start
A Canadian by birth, Naismith, a physician and minister with additional degrees in education and psychology, also invented the football helmet and taught sex education. Naismith never made any money from the game he invented.In fact, he refused fees when he spoke about basketball inpublic, and he once turned down a substantial sum to endorse cigarettes.Amos Alonzo Stagg, a YMCA facility member and a player in the firstbasketball games, recommended Naismith to start a basketball program at theUniversity of Kansas.He took the job, which he held from 1898 until hisdeath in 1939, though he coached basketball for only nine years.Theinventor of the game is the only coach in University of Kansas history witha losing record: 53 wins and 55 losses.An amazing man and a wonderfullook at his YMCA invention: basketball ... Read more

Product Description
The University of Illinois has fielded a basketball team since 1905. Over the years, many memorable players have donned the orange and blue, including Derek Harper, Dave Downey, Doug Altenberger, Kendall Gill, Eddie Johnson, Ken Norman, Kenny Battle, Johnny Kerr, Dike Eddleman and many more. Coaches such as Doug Mills, Lou Henson, and Lon Kruger have led their teams to conference championships and post-season tournaments.A Hardwood History chronicles the players and coaches who have shaped Illinois basketball history and the moments no Illini basketball fan can forget. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Awsome History of Illini Basketball
The name of my book is Fighting Illini Basketball.Do you know the history about Illini Basketball?This book was written by Joanna Wright.
This book is about Illini through out the years.It gives interesting facts about their records It tells about the indavisual players groups of playres that were great through out the seasons.It tells great facts about the coaches and assistant coaches.Tells about wherethey played at.Tells who they played against.
In 1914-15 Illini went 16-0 and won the national ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Shattering the Glass presents a sweeping chronicle of women's basketball in the U.S. Offering vivid portraits of forgotten heroes and contemporary stars, Grundy and Shackelford provide a broad perspective on the history of the sport, exploring its close relationship to concepts of womanhood, race, and sexuality, as well as efforts to expand women's economic and political rights. Extensively illustrated and based on original interviews with players, coaches, administrators, and broadcasters, this book is both an insightful historical work and an empowering story of the generations of women who have shaped women's basketball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Vital Reading to Understand Why the WNBA is Great
In "Shattering the Glass," Pamela Grundy and Susan Shackelford explain how women's basketball became one of the most exciting and dynamic sports in America today. They document how the sport first became popular in the late 1800s, leading many high schools and colleges to create teams. The book contains outstanding biographical sketches of the game's early pioneers, many of whom came from rural communities, factory towns, and working class neighborhoods to attract local support to the game. The authors also describe how women's basketball was strongly embraced by black high schools and historically black colleges, long before the civil rights era, as a means to combat racism and demonstrate the courage, determination, and ability that black athletes possessed, following in the footsteps of Jesse Owens and Joe Louis.

Grundy and Shackelford do an excellent job of describing how women's sports have historically been hamstrung by presumptions about women's role in society. In the early 1900s, concerns about female frailty led many communities to ban women from playing. As time progressed and more colleges created teams, administrators feared that women's teams wouldn't bring in enough revenue, or that funding women would draw too much revenue away from men's teams. In the 1950s, rising incomes and the introduction of television loosened local community ties around the nation, forcing the women's game to evolve to appeal to a national audience. Even after Title IX was enacted in the early 1970s, the severe recession forced many colleges to reduce funding for women's programs. Over time, though, women's basketball overcome these obstacles and began to thrive.

The most fascinating parts of "Shattering the Glass" involve debates regarding the future direction that the sport should take. In 1974, a group of female physical education instructors created the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) to govern women's basketball because the NCAA had little interest in supporting it. The AIAW banned athletic scholarships because it wanted to avoid the academic and recruiting scandals that plagued the NCAA. As the AIAW built momentum and achieved success, the NCAA lobbied vigorously against federal enforcement of Title IX. However, when the women's game reached the limits of where the AIAW's limited resources could take it, many women's programs chose to make the transition to the NCAA. Grundy and Shackelford explain that while giving up on the AIAW was agonizing, many women had the foresight to see that working within the confines of the NCAA was necessary to give women's college basketball the exposure it deserved.

This debate played out again in 1996, when conditions became ripe to launch a professional women's league. Once again, women had to choose whether to create their own league and achieve success on their own terms, or to work with the established men's organization, in this case the NBA. Grundy and Shackelford explain how women who wanted to strike out on their own created the American Basketball League (ABL), which played during the winter, sponsored teams in college cities, offered relatively high player salaries, and held games in small arenas. Women who chose to work with the NBA formed the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), which played in the summer, had relatively modest salaries, played in large NBA cities, and used the NBA's large arenas. Although both leagues got off to a good start, the ABL was not able to secure the long-term television contracts and corporate sponsorship necessary to survive. The WNBA went on to become an extraordinarily success, offering exciting games while solving many of the problems that plague men's professional sports leagues.

"Shattering the Glass" is a rewarding account of how women persevered over time to make women's high school, college, and professional basketball as exciting to watch as men's. The book is strongly recommended to WNBA fans who want to learn more about how the league got to where it is today with athletes who demonstrate character and integrity, vibrant franchises in both small and large market cities, strong competitive balance among the teams, and great people working to make the league work behind the scenes. The women who paved the way for the WNBA's stars overcame extraordinary adversity to make women's basketball what it is today, and fans owe it to themselves to read this excellent book and learn more about their stories.

Slam-dunk celebration and tribute to women and sports
I just purchased two more copies for friends and fellow coaches ... and I'm only halfway through this mesmorizing read. I especially enjoyed the accompanying photographs beginning in the 1890s ... and the timeless, oh-so-familiar looks of intensity, confidence, and joy in the eyes of the players. My own life in sports was incomplete until I was introduced to the women's game through my own daughters. Attention Ken Burns: Here is the script for your next project. Long live Title IX!

I had no idea
I checked this book out from the library after I first got WNBA fever two years ago.Before that, my only experience with women's bball was playing in 7th grade.Although it was the funnest sport I ever tried, I left it completely behind when i became a grungy teen and eschewed all sports.(Blame in on Texas' sports-centric culture y'all, I was just reacting, ha!)

Then WNBA games starting broadcasting regularly on ESPN2.The women's game mesmerized me.I couldn't get enough - which brought me to Shattering the Glass.It's a great overview of the history.If you're new to the scene, it's a fabulous introduction to the stories behind the big names.I didn't know Nancy Lieberman was nicknamed Fire in the 70s, thanks to her showy moves!Too awesome.The cover, showing Chamique Holdsclaw (who recently retired, sadly) and Lisa Leslie, is a great indication of the guts, brawn and glory that is the women's game.

Great overview of the game from the beginning to 2004 (WNBA)
Wow--I can't believe I'm the first person to review this book, given how comprehensive it is and what a great overview it provides for the sport of women's basketball in the United States.

Grundy takes us from the first days of the game itself as developed by James Naismith (what a smart guy he was, to envision this great game) and then quickly adopted by Victorians to allow women to play sports but with all of the quirky Victorian values in place.Readers will learn a little about the first rules for women's basketball, including organization of the court into cells, each one containing a woman who stood within its boundaries to defend her team's basket and pass the ball for offensive plays.Yes, the game was really that slow and inactive back then!But the rules were designed to prevent women from over-exerting themselves and retaining that air of refinement.

Grundy also does a good job of including stories about the key players at the college and professional levels from the 1930s onward. You'll recognize the well known women players and learn about others who, while less well known, were still instrumental in growing the sport.You'll also learn something of the spirit, vision, and character of these physically and psychologically strong women pioneers.

And, because this is a history involving women, you will also learn about the difficulties women, as recently as Pat Summitt (Lady Vols basketball coach--GO VOLS!) and Tara VanDerveer (Stanford women's basketball coach--GO STANFORD!) who went to high school when there was NO basketball team for girls, had in finding places where they could learn to play the game and play with other teams.That's hard (thankfully) for women of the next generations (like me) to imagine, but this was the reality for much of the country until the 1970s.Readers will also learn about the passage of "Title IX" by Congress, legislation that was key to creating greater opportunity in sports, and how it was actually part of a larger piece of legislation that didn't initially actually have a sports/althetics focus.Women's basketball in this country is a fine mirror of the equality, civil rights, and social justice movements that were happening concurrently with the development of the sport.

Grundy also does a good job of including some information about other women's basketball leagues that have been a part of the game's history, including Asian-only leagues.While she only mentions Chinese-American leagues, there were also Japanese-American leagues for children and youth, where many of the players and families were Japanese American.These ethnic-specific leagues were and, for some, continue to be important aspects of ethnic communities and ethnic identities, often being the only time a child or youth from that background would think to play the sport.That Grundy knew about these leagues and included them in her book only adds to the diversity, love, and support this game has had from all groups, but whose stories would otherwise be lost over time.

Grundy's book ends in 2004 and with the story of the successful WNBA (and accompanying demise of the ABL, the other competing women's pro ball league that eventually folded).

The only reason why I gave this book only 4 stars and not all 5 is because the book is too short and I would've enjoyed more details.Still, this is a great book to read if you want to know the comprehensive history of this game for women, be inspired to play the game or support players who do, and understand the evolution of sports and athletics for women.It's an even greater book to read in between the college and pro women's basketball seasons!
... Read more

Product Description
There is only one writer on the planet who possesses enough basketball knowledge and passion to write the definitive book on the NBA.* Bill Simmons, the from-the-womb hoops addict known to millions as ESPN.com’s Sports Guy, is that writer. And The Book of Basketball is that book.

Nowhere in the roundball universe will you find another single volume that covers as much in such depth as this wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining look at the past, present, and future of pro basketball.

From the age-old question of who actually won the rivalry between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to the one about which team was truly the best of all time, Simmons opens–and then closes, once and for all–every major pro basketball debate. Then he takes it further by completely reevaluating not only how NBA Hall of Fame inductees should be chosen but how the institution must be reshaped from the ground up, the result being the Pyramid: Simmons’s one-of-a-kind, five-level shrine to the ninety-six greatest players in the history of pro basketball. And ultimately he takes fans to the heart of it all, as he uses a conversation with one NBA great to uncover that coveted thing: The Secret of Basketball.

Comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down (even for Celtic-haters), The Book of Basketball offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game’s finest, funniest, and fiercest chronicler.



* More to the point, he’s the only one crazy enough to try to pull it off.
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, October 2009: The Book of Basketball is a 700-page work of hoops genius that would make Dr. James Naismith beam proudly – and probably blush. Author Bill Simmons, best known as ESPN.com's "The Sports Guy," explores the NBA with hilarious insight, brilliant analysis, and a bevy of irreverent footnotes. Simmons is a fan first – a fact best explained in an entertaining foreword by Malcolm Gladwell – and writes from the stands, not the press room. His knowledge and passion for the game provide him with few peers, yet his voice represents those who stick by their teams through thick and thin. As a result, The Book of Basketball is not just a tribute to hardwood heroes, but also a celebration of yelling at TV sets, revering lucky jerseys, and holding our breath until the final buzzer sounds. Throw in pages of nearly-insane statistical breakdowns (including a projected boxscore from the movie Teen Wolf), and it's easy to see why fans of all levels should clear shelf space for this instant classic. --Dave Callanan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (172)

The book of absolute sports writing genius.
I have followed Bill Simmon's rants and raves for quite some time now. We come from the same generation, so his unique approach on following sports, while injecting pop culture references so even the layman can understand the moment, has always been my favorite part of his writing. Plus, I get most of the references, so it makes for a great & entertaining read.

I've only NOW finished reading this book. My favorite sport growing up was basketball. Going over the history, the present and a glimpse at the future was an absolute delight.

If you're a basketball lover, you must read this.

If you enjoy a well written book by an intelligent writer, you should read this.

Thank you for your time.

Amazing amount of information and passion.....
Simmons hits a home run.If you love basketball, you will love this book.I mean, you have to LOVE basketball.......

A must buy
If you are a basketball fan. It's a must buy
Bill Simmons is the espn sports guy, and he wrote a big ass book evaluating all the great players and teams on the nba.

Good Book For Celtic fans from a Celtic Homer
The People in my life know that I am avid NBA fan so the book was given to me as a gift.I dont read Bill Simmons columns so I didnt know that he was the Tommy Heinson of the writing world.As A Laker fan the book is almost unreadable.His Celtic and anti-laker biases also undermine his credibility as a serious analyst of the NBA.He does a whole section on big shots by Robert Horry and doesnt mention any Horry made while playing with the Lakers (imagine that).He ranks the 1986 Celtic team as the best ever over the 1983 Sixers and the 70 win Bulls team.As players go he ranks Celtic Dennis Johnson over Dwayne Wade and the Celtic bias goes on and on.To Simmons every Laker championship was due to bad reffing or unfortunate injuries by other teams.For fans of the Pistons, Knicks and Sixers there are plenty of pro-celtic slights as well.According to Simmons the Knicks run in the early 70's was due only to injured Celtics.He also claims that the 1983 Sixer team featuring Moses in his prime, DR. J, Boston Strangler Andrew Toney, and Mo Cheeks was overrated even though they swept the Lakers and only lost 1 game in the playoffs.According to B.S. the 1986 Celtics were better (they were only better for people who dont actually remember the NBA in the 1980s).He constantly calls Kareem, Kobe, Laimbeer and other players names not realizing and not recognizing that non-celtic fans uniformly think that Ainge and sometimes Bird are also jerks.

The Jokes are repetitive and the book is way too long.And Pau Gasol, one of the best players in the world who just torched the Celtics in the finals, is mentioned once in 700 pages and is never mentioned in the context of a furture hall of famer even though the books spends about 500 pages contemplating who should be in the Hall of Fame.

I give two stars (and not one) because the author does have a genuine love for the NBA and it is apparent he went back and did his homework on the early days of the league.The author also demonstrates a general understanding of the racial components that have affected the league over the years.

But after this unabashed Laker bashing I can only take solace in the fact that this book was completed a year before his Celtics went down once again to the Lakers in seven games (oh so close but no cigar).I wonder how B.S. would spin that.

Annoying but interesting
After reading all 700 pages, plus the hundreds of footnotes, of Bill Simmons' The Book of Basketball, I've come to the conclusion that he actually wanted to write four separate books, but rolled them all into one.He wanted to write books about the porn industry, the movies he loves, a memoir about his college exploits...and, he wanted to write a book about basketball.In The Book of Basketball, you get all four.If you think that would be annoying, you're right.

Now, add this kicker--Simmons apparently convinced his editor (if you can believe there was one) not to delete anything he wrote.How else can you explain his 500-word discussion of the movies Hoosiers and Teen Wolf as the lead-in to explaining why Kobe Bryant is No. 15 on the list of the best players of all-time?His references to porn stars and movies he likes are sophomoric and distracting.

Somewhere in the 700 pages, however, is an excellent 5-star basketball book (perhaps about 400 pages).It's why I actually finished the book.

Simmons tackles a number of subjects, including "Who was better, Chamberlain or Russell? A history of the game, 33 "what if" questions, a review of the Most Valuable Player Awards, the 96 best players of all-time and the 10 best NBA teams ever.

Here are Simmons' Top Six NBA players of all-time: Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain.

Simmons is far deeper into the NBA than the average or slightly above average fan.Unless you have seen every playoff game in NBA history and are a complete NBA junkie with no life, you won't truly be able to appreciate Simmons' observations and opinions.So, that leaves how many people?

The Book of Basketball is mind-numbing, colossal, tasteless, inane, self-indulgent, interesting, informative, insightful, potentially addictive, undisciplined and irreverent.It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea. Readers might be better off selecting sections from the book a la carte instead of eating the entire menu. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dick Enberg Insert Incorrect?
Just got this for Christmas, and the one thing I pull out first is Dick Enberg's notes on an '88 regional game.

It lists Cedric Hunter...but correct me if I'm wrong - Hunter's last season was 1987, was it not?

Very Creative!
I was at the [...] in Lenexa, KS over the weekend and found this book. In my opinion, every KU Basketball fan should have this book. It highlights KU Basketball history through the years with posters, ticket stubs, and other inserts. Too bad I didn't have $30 on hand to buy this piece of treasure, but it's definitely on my wishlist.

Wonderful book
The book is really well written and it gives a great over view of the history of Kansas basketball.It's full of awesome memorabilia from KU's archives.It's a great gift for any Kansas basketball fan or any fan of college basketball. You really discover the history of KU basketball from the days of Dr. James Naismith up until Mario Chalmers hits his NCAA Championship game-tying shot to send it into overtime to give Kansas its fifth National Championship. ... Read more

Product Description
"Inner City Hoops", A Historical Account of Chicago Basketball is a unique publication. Both basketball junkies and social historians will enjoy the content. You will read about the top sixty basketball players in the history of Chicago.


The author gives readers a first hand look at what it's like to grow up in the inner city and make the most of the opportunities that present themselves through sports and education.This account gives you the view of the person who actually lived the inner city experience in Chicago.The reader sees a real-life view through the eyes of Calvin Davis, who gives this historical account along with his personal story.It will be exciting to learn how Chicago basketball has evolved over the past one hundred years, and how it has served as an avenue for upward mobility. This work of contemporary history gives the view of respected basketball historian Dr. Larry Hawkins, who speaks about the "Golden Triangle" where basketball talent in the city of Chicago was developed in the 1920s and 1930s.Sports Researcher,Robert Pruter who wrote the article about Early Phillips Teams indicated that "The Golden Triangle" allowed future basketball phenoms to develop their outstanding basketball skills which would change the face of basketball in the inner city in the years to come.You'll read about community spirit and growth, as well as indifference to racism. The Bronzeville neighborhood on the inner south side of Chicago and the near west side neighborhoods were the places where African Americans from the southern states migrated approximately 35 years after the civil war.This influx of African Americans led to Phillips High School becoming the first black high school in Chicago in the 1920's. The author, Calvin Davis grew up in Bronzeville more than 40 years later and sharpened his basketball skills at all 3 parts of the Golden Triangle.Calvin talks about his time as a member of the notorious Jr. Trotters, the city of Chicago's first traveling AAU type all star team of the modern era. You will read about the famed 2-2-1 press they employed that hunted down opposing ball handlers until they wilted from the relentless pressure, and how they beat any team, any time, any place, and anywhere. You'll also read about the success stories that were a result of the opportunities created, and the discipline learned in basketball that carried over into life skills.A large number of Jr. Trotters went on to not only College, NBA and European League basketball careers after college, but also to a variety of Professional Occupations. Many of them continue to give back to their communities today.In Calvin's case, after leaving the Trotters, he continued as an Honor - Student-athlete at Dunbar High on Jim Foreman's basketball team. He became a Scholarship Basketball Player at William Penn University, a Teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, an Elementary and High School Basketball Coach, a Citywide Sports Coordinator, a School Administrator, the Director of Sports Administration, Driver Education and Facilities for the City of Chicago's Public Schools, and now the author of "Inner City Hoops", a History of Chicago Basketball.The Bronzeville area in Chicago was the first home for many black families from the south and served as a home for many successful athletes.Basketball has been a springboard not only to the NBA, but to college scholarships and professional occupations for individuals like Calvin and countless others.The history in this book will expand the knowledge of readers, and provide enjoyment as well.The book was designed to be written as if a general basketball conversation is being held.As you read about the individual exploits of players, you'll feel the respect the author has for their talents along with his love for the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Don't Waste your Money!
I eagerly bought this book as a package with four other basketball books about Illinois high school basketball history.After reading the first sentence I quickly realized that this was poorly written and poorly edited.I was stunned to find out that the author was asociated with the Chicago Board of Education and had gone to an Ivy League University (Penn).Throughout the book there were so many grammatical errors and misusage of upper and lower case letters that it serves as an example of how not to write or publish a book. I teach at a downstate community college and when I showed this book to my colleagues they were horrified that this was published and concerned that this was an example of what goes on within the Chicago public school systems.

A Major Disappointment
I had high expectations for this publication, especially so with a title that offers such amazing potential. I am a product of the K-12 Chicago Public School system, former varsity basketball player and multi-sport athlete at a Chicago public high school in the early 1960's, so I have more than a vested interest in the author's subject matter. I enthusiastically bought several copies of this book with the intention of sending copies to the life-long friends that I met through my high school basketball days and are now scattered around the country. Instead, what I found was a text that was written at the level of a high school term paper. There are historical inaccuracies, punctuation errors, annoying amounts of self-promotion by the author (including an irrelevant photo of himself on the cover), and a painful lack of any meaningful research prior to the teams and stars of the 1950's. For example, the author drops a few names of stars from the 1920's and 1930's and then completely jumps over the 1940's totally omitting the great South Shore HS teams from the 1940's, coached by Tony Malfia, that went to the state tourney numerous times. Further, if this is the "History of Chicago Basketball" as the cover's subtitle says, why is there NO mention at all of the Chicago Catholic League and its great players (ever hear of Art Hicks, Corey Magette and Tom Kleinschmidt?)? To top it off, the book is printed in a style that's double-spaced - meaning that there could easily be fewer pages in this publication. I can't believe that an editor actually passed this "book" through for publication. If you want more information about the history of Chicago High School basketball, I recommend any of author Taylor Bell's related publications and books. I consider myself a relatively positive person, and have never written a negative book review before...but I felt compelled to post one here for this personally very disappointing purchase and read.

Inner City Hoops
At Last!!! A basketball player's persceptive about inner-city basketball Chicago-style. Not a sports writer's outsider point-of-view but from a sports aficionado who "played the game in the trenches" with many of Chicago's all-time greats. A must read for true Chicago basketball junkies and historians alike. Calvin Davis not only gives us an in-depth historical lesson of the roots of Chicago basketball, but also allows us to relive the glory years of hoops in the city during the 70's and 80's. After reading this book you will be equipped to talk water-cooler, barbershop, standing on the street corner reminiscing about back-the-day hoop memories with the best of them. Look forward to many more volumes to come!!!

Informative and entertaining
Mr. Davis captures the essence of Chicago's basketball culture in an informative and entertaining way. Not just facts, but this book gives you a sense of the attitudes and atmosphere that were prevalent in Chicago's basketball culture. A comprehensive history of basketball in Chicago, enhanced with the social role that basketball played in the neighborhood and the role that basketball played in forming young men's lives. This book gives a good overview of Chicago "old school" basketball, which is a major part of the foundation of the mega-million dollar, international basketball industry of today. A joy to read for any basketball enthusiast, especially those who grew up in the inner city. "Inner City Hoops" should be required reading for the young men and women playing high school basketball today.

Great read
The author portrays a realistic view of the history of Chicago basketball.The author discusses the evolution of basketball on the southside of Chicago.This s a must read for basketball fans and Chicago fans. ... Read more

Product Description
It took nearly a century for a tiny agricultural school in the hills to transform itself into the powerful state university that is UConn, and the game of basketball has been integral to the rise of Huskymania. In the University of Connecticut® Basketball VaultTM: The History of the HuskiesTM you will find the stories of all the heroes of the Husky hardwood, from Louis Alexander to Walt Dropo to Ray Allen and Khalid El-Amin. Author Ken Davis has spent more than 30 years covering college basketball, including 20 for The Hartford Courant, and here he combines great game coverage with behind-the-scenes anecdotes to present a view of Connecticut basketball you won t find anywhere else. UConn fans will also find never-before-published vintage photographs, artwork and memorabilia drawn from Connecticut s extensive campus archives, including reproductions of old game programs, historic tickets, stickers and other amazing replicas tucked into dozens of pockets. You can peruse a handwritten copy of the1925 athletic budget, read a 1948 telegram to the team from former captain Wally Luchuck and follow Ray Allen s 1992 recruiting trip itinerary. All of this and more is locked inside the University of Connecticut® Basketball VaultTM: The History of the HuskiesTM. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Read but some weaknesses
I don't know how well this book has sold but I seem to fit the demographic almost perfectly.I'm Chinese American, born in San Francisco and familiar with various locations referred to in the book:Chinatown, Chinese Playground and St. Mary's Catholic Center.I'm also an avid basketball fan as I watch, coach, play and officiate basketball.

Therefore reading this book was a treasure trove.The chapters on the Hung Wah Kues, Helen Wong Lum and Willie "Woo Woo" Wong were terrific.Books on Chinese immigration to America are great in number.There are not many that focus on the Chinese athletic experience and this book was the first one that I was aware of.

While the historical aspects were great, I did find room for improvement.The book is quite short at 120+ pages with the rest being bibliography information.The author also tries to squeeze in some analysis of the portrayal of Asian-Americans during the early days.While some of the imagery and analysis are good, some I feel may have missed the mark a bit.

Also, being very familiar with the sport of basketball, I feel the author didn't know the sport that well.Some of the basketball terms she used did not seem to match the imagery she was trying to portray.

Despite some of the negatives, I give the book a 4-star rating because the history is a good read.I hope this book encourages other authors to detail the athletic experiences that Asian-Americans have but may not be as well known.

Fantastic telling of a little known aspect of Chinese-American history.
This was a fantastic read, with vividly-drawn writing.The quotes from
the players were great.I particularly liked the chapters about
the Hong Wah Kues and the Mei Wahs, and how they toured the US.
Also appreciated the parallels Prof. Yep drew between other minority
groups, and her comments on the current state of media coverage.
... Read more

Product Description
The first major history of the most popular women's team sport in the United States.

Over the past decade, women's basketball has exploded onto the national sports scene. WNBA and NCAA television ratings have sky-rocketed; movies, magazines, and clothing lines showcase female players. But as the authors of Shattering the Glass show, women's basketball has a much longer history, reaching back over a century of struggle, liberation, and gutsy play.

Shattering the Glass offers a sweeping chronicle of women's basketball in the United States, from its invention in the late nineteenth century to its dominant position in sports today. Offering vivid portraits of forgotten heroes and contemporary stars, it also provides a broader perspective on the history of the sport, exploring its relationship to changing ideas of womanhood, efforts to expand women's economic and political rights, and definitions of sexual equality.

Based on original interviews with players, coaches, administrators, broadcasters, and extensively illustrated, Shattering the Glass provides a moving, gritty view of the game on and off the court, and an empowering story of the generations of women who have shaped women's basketball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Outstanding history of women's basketball!
This is a comprehensive and well written history of women's basketball at all levels from high school, industrial, AAU, college, pro.Great stories from its stars of yesterday and today, with many quotes and personal glimpses from players and coaches from every level and many major teams.The authors clearly understand the significance of Title IX and its significance to every female scholar-athlete and attempt to convey its continued importance with repeated references to it.

Highly recommended for any fan of the game, and a MUST READ for young girls and women who want to appreciate the pioneers of the game they play.

A "Must Read" for Anyone Interested in Women's Basketball
This is a carefully and well-written book that provides an excellent and thorough history of women's basketball. The book is a good blend of some of the unknown players/coaches/teams and the usual suspects. While the book focuses on basketball, the authors do a great job of placing the sport into the social/political dynamic of the times. They trace the continuing tension between women's expected roles and behaviors with the seemingly contradictory skills and attributes that athletic competence requires. They also don't flinch from discussing the presence of lesbians in and the impact of homophobia on the sport. I'm just an ordinary fan and enjoyed this book thoroughly. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in women's basketball. ... Read more