Kristaps Porzingis The Inspiring Story Of One Of Basketball S Most Versatile Big Men

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Kristaps Porzingis: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Most Versatile Big Men

Author : Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 130 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2017-10-08
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1978110049

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Kristaps Porzingis: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Most Versatile Big Men by Clayton Geoffreys Pdf

Learn the Inspiring Story of the New York Knicks' Star Kristaps Porzingis! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In Kristaps Porzingis: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Most Versatile Big Men, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier big men, Kristaps Porzingis. Since joining the NBA, Kristaps Porzingis has quickly emerged as one of the league's best forward centers due to his abilities on both sides of the floor. The trade of Carmelo Anthony in the 2017 offseason marks the beginning of Porzingis' chapter as the go-to player for the Knicks franchise. It will be exciting to see how Porzingis takes on these new responsibilities in the 2017-2018 season. This work details everything up until the start of the 2017-2018 NBA season for the young career of Kristaps Porzingis. If you're a fan of Kristaps Porzingis, don't delay in picking up this book. Start learning his inspiring story today. Here's a preview of what you'll read about: Childhood and Early Life Baloncesto Sevilla European Professional Career Kristaps Porzingis' NBA Career Getting Drafted Rookie Season On the Rise Porzingis' International Career Kristaps Porzingis' Personal Life Porzingis' Impact on Basketball and Legacy An excerpt from the book: A unicorn is a mythological creature that resembles a horse with a single horn on its head. While considered a myth and legend, some would say they exist, but they are as rare as any creature there is in the world. Though some would claim to have seen them, no real evidence would point out that such creatures exist in reality. However, there are those that claim that unicorns exist, albeit in a much more different form. Some say that unicorns exist in the NBA. In the NBA, a unicorn is far from the one-horned legendary creature. But due to their rarity, they are still somewhat considered myths. While they may not be horses, an NBA unicorn is a player that could play the power forward and center position due to their size, height, and length, but could move as fluidly and quickly as guards and smaller forwards. Not only do they resemble smaller players on the court due to their athletic abilities, but they also have the skills to boot. Many players considered as unicorns can spot up on the perimeter or outside the three-point area to shoot jumpers or dribble the ball all the way to the basket themselves like guards do. What makes a unicorn unique is that they are matchup nightmares for their defenders. A seven-foot big man that could shoot three-pointers with precision would make their defenders think twice about staying in the paint, leaving their matchup wide open. A big man that could move like a guard could blow past slower defenders on their way to the basket. And when unicorns get the treatment of being guarded by smaller and quicker perimeter defenders, they would simply post them up inside to make use of their superior size. As rare as unicorns are, there have been players that fit the bill. All-time great center Hakeem Olajuwon was so graceful down at the low post and so mobile for his size that he could be called a unicorn. Another one is Kevin Garnett, who stands at least seven feet tall, moved fluidly, and had the skills of a guard. While unicorns were rare back in the day, the evolution of the NBA towards a more perimeter-oriented game has paved the way for the rise of several more unicorns. Tags: kristaps porzingis bio, kristaps porzingis basketball, new york knicks basketball, carmelo anthony, karl-anthony towns, joakim noah, derrick rose, phil jackson, jeff hornacek, nikola jokic

Julius Randle: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's All-Star Forwards

Author : Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 154 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2021-07-03
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9798530821509

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Julius Randle: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's All-Star Forwards by Clayton Geoffreys Pdf

Learn the Inspiring Story of the New York Knicks All-Star Power Forward, Julius Randle! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Julius Randle: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's All-Star Forwards, you'll learn the motivational story of one of basketball's young All-Star Power Forwards, Julius Randle. Since being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014 NBA Draft, Julius Randle has had quite the journey in order to become the All-Star that he is today. His consistent hard work over time paid dividends, as he was given the NBA's Most Improved Player Award in just his second season with the Knicks and named a reserve for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Randle has many good years of basketball left, so it'll be exciting to see what he achieves next. Get this basketball book on Julius Randle today if you're looking for an inspiring basketball biography book to read, or a gift for a basketball fan! It's perfect for reading at home or on the go. Here is a preview of what is inside this Julius Randle book: Chapter 1: Childhood and Early Life Chapter 2: High School Career Chapter 3: College Career Chapter 4: NBA Career - Getting Drafted, Injured Rookie Year, The Return, Final Season in LA, The Short Stop at Nola, Moving to the Big Apple, and Becoming an All-Star Chapter 5: Personal Life Chapter 6: Impact on Basketball Chapter 7: Legacy and Future An excerpt from this biography book on Julius Randle's story: In the NBA, or even in the game of basketball as a whole, there are players who are born to be stars the moment they first get to touch a ball. When they get to the NBA, they are already poised to become some of the best players in the entire league because of how seemingly talented and ready they are for the next level. This is something that is quite a rarity in the league, as only generational talents have this attribute. When you think about such players, names such as Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James come to mind. Those few generational talents came to the NBA and instantly became megastars. In a league that is never shy of talent, such players are rare, as only those who are born with the gift and the potential to become big-name players get to rise to such heights. Of course, these are the type of players that will excel in whatever situation and team you put them in. But we are not here to talk about such names. Too much has been said about the greatest players the league has ever seen. Instead, we are here to talk about the players who may have been immensely talented but still needed to be in the right place at the right time to truly shine and become the best versions of themselves. These are the guys who may have had the potential to become stars but were not in the best situation at the start of their careers. One such name that we can think of in the NBA right now is the versatile power forward named Julius Randle. Did you enjoy this excerpt? If so, be sure to pick up a copy of this basketball biography book on Julius Randle today! This is just one of many basketball biographies by Clayton Geoffreys. Also, be sure to check out Clayton's biography on Derrick Rose and Rudy Gobert after you finish this one.

Kristaps Porzingis: a Biography of the Latvian Superstar

Author : Benjamin Southerland
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 55 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2017-02-03
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1520522207

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Kristaps Porzingis: a Biography of the Latvian Superstar by Benjamin Southerland Pdf

Learn about the inspirational story of Kristaps Porzingis In Kristaps Porzingis: A Biography of the Latvian Superstar you will learn about the life, professional career, and accomplishments of Kristaps Porzingis. Kristaps Porzingis, a trailblazer, a New York Knick, an athlete, a Latvian, this is the story of someone who dared to dream of the NBA and then made it all come true. He kept growing, to 7-3 in height, as his game kept growing. It is a story about a family, who shared their knowledge of basketball and made sure they did everything possible to get Kristaps to the NBA. Porzingis went from a small city in Latvia to starting for the Knicks as a rookie; bringing hope and excitement back to the franchise and creating new basketball fans all over the world. Here is a preview of this biography: Latvia, Basketball and Family Moving to Spain to Improve His Game Declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft Season 2014-15 in Spain with Sevilla With the Fourth Pick of the 2015 NBA Draft Becoming a New York Hero in 10 Games His Amazing NBA Rookie Season Here is an excerpt from the book: There is nowhere in sports where a player is under the microscope, in the spotlight and constantly critiqued like New York City. It is the media capital of the world, and there is a huge focus on the New York Knicks who play in "The World's Most Famous Arena," Madison Square Garden. It takes a special type of athlete to survive in that environment, let alone thrive or become a superstar and fan favorite. Kristaps Porzingis did all of that, instantly becoming one of the Big Apple's biggest sporting attractions.

Dirk Nowitzki: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Best European Stars

Author : Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 124 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2016-02-15
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1530073723

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Dirk Nowitzki: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Best European Stars by Clayton Geoffreys Pdf

Learn the Incredible Story of the Dallas Mavericks' Basketball Superstar Dirk Nowitzki! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In Dirk Nowitzki: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Best European Stars, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier power forward, Dirk Nowitzki. Since entering the league in the the late 90s, Dirk Nowitzki has established and remained one of the most dominant power forwards to ever play the game. With a dynamic ability to take ridiculously difficult fadeaway jumpers to popping out to the top of the key for a rainbow three-pointer, Nowitzki has wowed audiences all around the world. While he struggled when first entering the league, Nowitzki worked relentlessly to solidify himself and his future in the NBA. Since then, he has never looked back. Having played alongside talented individuals including but not limited to Steve Nash and Tyson Chandler, Nowitzki will forever have a legacy as one of the best and most consummate professionals to ever play the game. A quiet superstar just like Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki has consistently delivered over and over again, including the legendary 2011 Championship run of the Dallas Mavericks as they prevailed over a stacked Miami Heat team, led by none other than LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Early Life and Childhood Training with Holger Geschwindner and Playing Professionally in Germany Dirk Nowitzki's NBA Career Rookie Season Breakout Season First Playoff Season Dirk, the All-Star Getting Past the Second Round Playing as the Starting Center Without Steve Nash, New Look Mavs Breaking Through to the Finals The MVP Season, Early Exit Another First Round Exit Continued Run as the Best Power Forward in the NBA, Playoff Exits Winning the NBA Championship Championship Hangover Season, Another First Round Exit Retooled Roster, Non All-Star Season, and Missed Playoffs Back to All-Star Status and to Playoff Contention 2015-2016 NBA Season Dirk Nowitzki's Personal Life Dirk Nowitzki's Legacy and Future An excerpt from the book: Two decades ago, when you saw guys standing 7 feet tall hoisting long-range shots from behind the three-point line or shooting turnaround fadeaway jumpers out on the perimeter, you might have been screaming, "Is that guy crazy?!" Head coaches would lose their heads watching the tallest guy on the floor throwing up ill-advised shots. They'd rather see them posting up or camping inside the paint. You could actually say that big men who were fond of shooting long-range shots often found themselves on the far-end of the bench back in the day. Fast forward to today's NBA and you'd see a near 7-footer named Kevin Durant playing as a small forward and making his living out on the perimeter. You would see 7-footer big men like Chris Bosh, Kelly Olynyk, Kristaps Porzingis, Andrea Bargnani, and Nikola Vucevic camping out between 18 and 25 feet away from the basket to shoot jumpers over smaller defenders. And you know what? Everyone's okay with it. Nobody goes crazy over 7-footers trying to take over the game with their perimeter shooting. In fact, coaches even love the fact that big men venture out of the paint to stretch defenses. Decades ago, nobody thought that these types of players could actually impact the game. Now, they're as big a part of the game of basketball as any type of player. Tags: dirk nowitzki bio, dirk nowitzki basketball, deron williams, steve nash, dallas mavericks, tim duncan, kobe bryant, kristaps porzingis, chandler parsons, kevin garnett, monta ellis

Kevin Love: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Dominant Power Forwards

Author : Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 60 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2014-08-31
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1501022865

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Kevin Love: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Dominant Power Forwards by Clayton Geoffreys Pdf

Learn the Incredible Story of Cleveland Cavalier Kevin Love! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In Kevin Love: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Dominant Power Forwards, you'll read about the inspirational story of basketball's star, Kevin Love. Newly acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love was all the trade chatter in the summer of 2014. After finally being acquired in return for Andrew Wiggins, Thaddeus Young, Anthony Bennett, and a $6.3 million trade exception, Kevin Love teamed up in Cleveland to create one of the most hyped trios in the Eastern Conference for this upcoming year. Yet despite this news, Kevin Love left a legacy in his six years in Minnesota. This book largely focuses on that legacy and how Kevin reached where he is today. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Early Life and Childhood High School Years College Years at UCLA Kevin's Personal Life Kevin Love's Impact on Basketball and Beyond Love's Legacy An excerpt from the book: There are few sports leagues today as grueling as the NBA. In basketball, the effect of a superstar is gigantic compared to other sports. In baseball, an elite hitter will get only about as many chances as his teammates, and his defense only matters if the ball is actually hit towards him. In football, while the impact of a quarterback might be comparable to a star, the fact that football players only play offense or defense limits their capabilities. Time and time again in NBA history, we have seen great superstars lead mediocre supporting casts to high regular season win totals and playoff success. Kobe Bryant won 45 games in 2006 with an incredibly weak Lakers supporting cast. Tim Duncan won a championship in 2003 even though his best playoff teammates were a David Robinson with one foot in the grave as well as various other players who were too young to reach their eventual potential. LeBron James dragged the 2007 Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. Unlike the other leagues, NBA stars have shown that they are fully capable of creating great results almost entirely by themselves. If this is true, then what are we to make of Kevin Love? The newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers spent the first six years of his career as the star for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves never won more than 40 games during Love's tenure. They routinely struggled during the close games where superstars are supposed to take over. They were never a top 10 defensive team, particularly concerning given that superstar big men can make a big difference on that end. It is true that Kevin Love put up absolutely staggering numbers, but how much impact did he create if the Wolves never made the playoffs? Is Love a superstar who was cursed to play with garbage in Minnesota and will now make Cleveland the most dangerous team in the league? Or is he an overrated player who looked out for his own numbers above the teams, never won anything in the NBA, and will not help the Cavaliers as much as people expect? Tags: Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves, UCLA Bruins, Bruins Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Kevin Garnett

Nikola Jokic: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars

Author : Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2019-03-02
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1798590654

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Nikola Jokic: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars by Clayton Geoffreys Pdf

Learn the Inspiring Story of the Denver Nuggets' Star Center Nikola Jokic! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Nikola Jokic: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's most exciting young centers, Nikola Jokic. Once just a second round pick in the 2014 Draft, Jokic has quickly become the future of the Denver Nuggets franchise, most recently securing his first All-Star selection. He is one of the best recent international players to transition their game successfully into the NBA. Still so young, Jokic has his prime years ahead of him as he continues to become a stronger and more skillful player. Time will tell as to whether his leadership abilities and talents on the court can translate to championships, but at the time of this writing, he is just twenty-four years old. A renaissance has occurred for the Nuggets organization, and Nikola Jokic is largely a reason for it. Get this book today if you want to know the inspiring story behind basketball's latest rising star. Perfect for sports fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Nikola Jokic biography book: Childhood and Early Life Early Professional Career in Serbia Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, The Franchise Star, The MVP Contender International Career Jokic's Personal Life Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future J An excerpt from this Nikola Jokic biography: The influx of international talent into the NBA has contributed to the way the game has rapidly evolved. From a game that relied on size and athleticism, the NBA now has a lot of players that have become stars in their own right thanks to their rare combination of skills. It is now imperative that you come into the league with a complete skillset if you want to be a star in the NBA. But this trend is nothing new. We saw the foundations of this evolution back in the late '90s and early 2000s when international players brought something new to the NBA. We saw European players bring the Euro-step, which has now become a favorite move among elite NBA superstars. Then there was Dirk Nowitzki, a seven-footer that could hit jump shots like a shooting guard. We have also seen particularly big players such as Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stokajovic who have the size of power forwards but the skills of guards. That trend has paved the way for the "unicorn" movement in the NBA. Unicorns are considered to be players 6'10" or above but with the skills of guards and wingmen. The rise of unicorns has led to matchup nightmares in the NBA and the evolution of basketball itself. In that regard, among some of the best unicorns we see today are Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Ben Simmons. Though most of the unicorns we see in the league today are still international players, even the Americans have gone on to become a lot more skillful for their size. Now we see 6'11" Kevin Durant dribbling and shooting like a guard. There is also the 6'10" Anthony Davis, who moves with the grace of a wingman. And then there are seven-foot centers such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, and DeMarcus Cousins shooting three-pointers. Tags: Nikola Jokic Bio, Denver Nuggets basketball, marc gasol, jamal murray, paul millsap, gary harris, devin booker, luka doncic, isaiah thomas, joel embiid

Tony Parker: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards

Author : Clayton Geoffreys
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 62 pages
File Size : 40,8 Mb
Release : 2014-06-28
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1500350796

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Tony Parker: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards by Clayton Geoffreys Pdf

Learn the Incredible Story of Basketball Superstar Tony Parker!Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device!In Tony Parker: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards, you'll read about the inspirational story of basketball's premier point guard, Tony Parker. Tony Parker became one of the first international players to create a lasting impact in the NBA at the point guard position. In an age filled with greats like Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, and Tim Duncan, Parker played in one of the most exciting eras of modern basketball. In Tony Parker's duration as a San Antonio Spur, the Spurs have won six NBA championships and created a perennial contender. While he may have been considered raw upon first entering the league, Tony Parker worked tirelessly throughout his first few seasons in the league to ensure his sustainable success in the NBA. Whenever he decides to retire, he will be remembered as one of the key pieces of the San Antonio Spurs Big Three.Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Early Life and Childhood Career in France Tony Parker's NBA Career Parker's Personal Life Impact on Basketball and Beyond Parker's Legacy An excerpt from the book:While basketball today is a global sport with dozens of international players currently in the NBA, it was not like that in 2001. Basketball was a sport played almost entirely by Americans.A few foreigners had done well for themselves in the NBA. Lithuanian Arvydas Sabonis, even as a 36-year old center, had led the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2000 Playoffs to a near victory over the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. Croatian Toni Kukoc had played a key role as part of Michael Jordan's second three-peat. And over the past NBA season, a German 7-footer named Dirk Nowitzki had averaged 21.8 points and 9.2 rebounds over the past 2000-01 season. But all three of those players were big men, and big men would always be in demand. For an international guard to succeed in the NBA was a different story. Croatian shooting guard Drazen Petrovic had made the All-NBA Third Team in 1993 before he tragically perished in a car accident. But in the eight years since his death, no foreign guard had come close to surpassing his legacy.No guard until now. For on June 27, 2001, the San Antonio Spurs would select a French point guard named Tony Parker with the 28th pick in the draft. Outside of his invitation to the Nike Hoop Summit in 2000, Parker had never played in the United States. He was listed at just 5'11'' during the draft and was viewed as a "project", a good athlete who would need time to develop into a legitimate basketball player. Would Parker be able to adjust to playing in an entirely different country? Would he be able to handle playing for the San Antonio Spurs, a championship-level team that had no time to coddle him? Would he handle the transition from playing in Paris to the middle of Texas?The answer turned out to be a resounding "yes." Under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, Parker slowly developed from an inconsistent, unsure point guard to one of the most devastating offensive players in the game. Alongside Hall of Fame power forward Tim Duncan and Argentinian shooting guard Manu Ginobili, Parker has helped to create one of the most devastating trios in the history of basketball. The result has been winning seasons year after year, multiple nominations to the All-Star Game and the All-NBA Team, a Finals MVP, and five NBA championships. International players are now a regular part of the NBA, and their ranks continue to swell each season. But while there were foreign players before Parker as well as foreign players better than him, Parker showed that any international player could succeed in the NBA if they worked hard enough for it.

Tall Men, Short Shorts

Author : Leigh Montville
Publisher : Anchor
Page : 353 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2022-05-24
Category : Sports & Recreation
ISBN : 9780525567318

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Tall Men, Short Shorts by Leigh Montville Pdf

This "part memoir, part sports story" (Wall Street Journal) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Big Bam chronicles the clash of NBA titans over seven riveting games—Celtics versus Lakers, Russell versus Chamberlain—covered by one young reporter. Welcome to the 1969 NBA Finals! They don’t set up any better than this. The greatest basketball player of all time - Bill Russell - and his juggernaut Boston Celtics, winners of ten (ten!) of the previous twelve NBA championships, squeak through one more playoff run and land in the Finals again. Russell’s opponent? The fearsome 7’1” next-generation superstar, Wilt Chamberlain, recently traded to the LA Lakers to form the league’s first dream team. Bill Russell and John Havlicek versus Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The 1969 Celtics are at the end of their dominance. The 1969 Lakers are unstoppable. Add to the mix one newly minted reporter. Covering the epic series is a wide-eyed young sports writer named Leigh Montville. Years before becoming an award-winning legend himself at The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, twenty-four-year-old Montville is ordered by his editor at the Globe to get on a plane to L.A. (first time!) to write about his luminous heroes, the biggest of big men. What follows is a raucous, colorful, joyous account of one of the greatest seven-game series in NBA history. Set against a backdrop of the late sixties, Montville’s reporting and recollections transport readers to a singular time – with rampant racial tension on the streets and on the court, with the emergence of a still relatively small league on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry, and to an era when newspaper journalism and the written word served as the crucial lifeline between sports and sports fans. And there was basketball – seven breathtaking, see-saw games, highlight-reel moments from an unprecedented cast of future Hall of Famers (including player-coach Russell as the first-ever black head coach in the NBA), coast-to-coast travels and the clack-clack-clack of typewriter keys racing against tight deadlines. Tall Men, Short Shorts is a masterpiece of sports journalism with a charming touch of personal memoir. Leigh Montville has crafted his most entertaining book yet, richly enshrining luminous players and moments in a unique American time.

Deep South

Author : Paul Theroux
Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Page : 485 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2015
Category : Travel
ISBN : 9780544323520

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Deep South by Paul Theroux Pdf

The travel writer Paul Theroux turns his unflinching eye on an American South too often overlooked. He finds there a paradoxical place, full of incomparable music, unparalleled cuisine, and yet also some of the nation's worst schools, housing, and unemployment rates. On road trips spanning four seasons, wending along rural highways, Theroux visits gun shows and small-town churches, laborers in Arkansas, and parts of Mississippi where they still call the farm up the road 'the plantation.' He talks to mayors and social workers, writers and reverends, the working poor and farming families ... the unsung heroes of the south, the people who, despite it all, never left, and also those who returned home to rebuild a place they could never live without

The Book of Basketball

Author : Bill Simmons
Publisher : ESPN
Page : 754 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2010-12-07
Category : Sports & Recreation
ISBN : 9780345520104

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The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons Pdf

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The NBA according to The Sports Guy—now updated with fresh takes on LeBron, the Celtics, and more! Foreword by Malcom Gladwell • “The work of a true fan . . . it might just represent the next phase of sports commentary.”—The Atlantic Bill Simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as ESPN’s The Sports Guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA. 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.

COVID Curveball

Author : Tim Neverett
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2021-08-31
Category : Sports & Recreation
ISBN : 9781637581445

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COVID Curveball by Tim Neverett Pdf

A riveting inside account of the most unforgettable season in Los Angeles Dodgers history, from the COVID-delayed start through the incredible playoff run, by the broadcaster who saw it all. As America’s Pastime reeled from a global pandemic, the LA Dodgers rallied to win arguably the most difficult baseball season ever played. Amid strict new rules and Coronavirus outbreaks on other teams that wreaked havoc on the schedule, the Dodgers maintained a laser focus as a team and organization, and ultimately, won the first bubbled playoffs in the history of Major League Baseball. In COVID Curveball, author and Dodgers’ broadcaster Tim Neverett takes us through this unprecedented season, offering exclusive access and firsthand, edge-of-your-seat, play-by-play coverage of the surreal days and weeks that led up to the dramatic championship climax. It’s a highly entertaining, often humorous chronicle of the quirky nature of the season, the goings-on behind the scenes at the stadium and MLB at large, as well as the unique chemistry forged in the diverse and dynamic clubhouse. Along with insights into the potent lineup that produced jaw-dropping moments by Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Max Muncy, and Cody Bellinger, the book also celebrates the incredible achievements of Clayton Kershaw that cemented his Hall-of-Fame legacy, and the remarkable job done by Dave Roberts and the Dodgers’ executives and ownership. Highlighted by empty stands, remote broadcasts, and relentless testing, 2020 was perhaps the strangest baseball season ever…but it produced the most savored World Series celebration in the history of the game. Includes an in-depth foreword by Dodgers’ legend Orel Hershiser.

Thinking Basketball

Author : Ben Taylor
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 180 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2016-06-29
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1532968175

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Thinking Basketball by Ben Taylor Pdf

Are top scorers really the most valuable players? Are games decided in the final few minutes? Does the team with the best player usually win?Thinking Basketball challenges a number of common beliefs about the game by taking a deep dive into the patterns and history of the NBA. Explore how certain myths arose while using our own cognition as a window into the game's popular narratives. New basketball concepts are introduced, such as power plays, portability and why the best player shouldn't always shoot. Discover how the box score can be misleading, why "closers" are overrated and how the outcome of a game fundamentally alters our memory. Behavioral economics, traffic paradoxes and other metaphors highlight this thought-provoking insight into the NBA and our own thinking. A must-read for any basketball fan -- you'll never view the sport, and maybe the world, the same again.

The Big East

Author : Dana O'Neil
Publisher : Ballantine Books
Page : 281 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2023-02-28
Category : Sports & Recreation
ISBN : 9780593237953

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The Big East by Dana O'Neil Pdf

The definitive, compulsively readable story of the greatest era of the most iconic league in college basketball history—the Big East “This book, full of long-standing rivalries, unmatched moments in the lives of coaches and players, and juicy insider gossip, is, like the game of basketball, a ton of fun.”—Philadelphia magazine The names need no introduction: Thompson and Patrick, Boeheim and the Pearl, and of course Gavitt. And the moments are part of college basketball lore: the Sweater Game, Villanova Beats Georgetown, and Six Overtimes. But this is the story of the Big East Conference that you haven’t heard before—of how the Northeast, once an afterthought, became the epicenter of college basketball. Before the league’s founding, East Coast basketball had crowned just three national champions in forty years, and none since 1954. But in the Big East’s first ten years, five of its teams played for a national championship. The league didn’t merely inherit good teams; it created them. But how did this unlikely group of schools come to dominate college basketball so quickly and completely? Including interviews with more than sixty of the key figures in the conference’s history, The Big East charts the league’s daring beginnings and its incredible rise. It transports fans inside packed arenas to epic wars fought between transcendent players, and behind locker-room doors where combustible coaches battled even more fiercely for a leg up. Started on a handshake and a prayer, the Big East carved an improbable arc in sports history, an ensemble of Catholic schools banding together to not only improve their own stations but rewrite the geographic boundaries of basketball. As former UConn coach Jim Calhoun eloquently put it, “It was Camelot. Camelot with bad language.”

Basketball Junkie

Author : Chris Herren,Bill Reynolds
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Page : 286 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2011-05-10
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781429924146

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Basketball Junkie by Chris Herren,Bill Reynolds Pdf

In his own words, former NBA and overseas pro Chris Herren tells how he nearly lost everything and everyone he loved, and how he found a way back to life. Powerful, honest, and dramatic, this remarkable memoir,Basketball Junkie, is harrowing in its descent, and heartening in its return. I was dead for thirty seconds. That's what the cop in Fall River told me. When the EMTs found me, there was a needle in my arm and a packet of heroin in the front seat. At basketball-crazy Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, junior guard Chris Herren carried his family's and the city's dreams on his skinny frame. His grandfather, father, and older brother had created their own sports legends in a declining city; he was the last, best hope for a career beyond the shuttered mills and factories. Herren was heavily recruited by major universities, chosen as a McDonald's All-American, featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story, and at just seventeen years old became the central figure in Fall River Dreams, an acclaimed book about the 1994 Durfee team's quest for the state championship. Leaving Fall River for college, Herren starred on Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State Bulldogs team of talented misfits, which included future NBA players as well as future convicted felons. His gritty, tattooed, hip-hop persona drew the ire of rival fans and more national attention: Rolling Stone profiled him, 60 Minutes interviewed him, and the Denver Nuggets drafted him. When the Boston Celtics acquired his contract, he lived the dream of every Massachusetts kid—but off the court Herren was secretly crumbling, as his alcohol and drug use escalated and his life spiraled out of control. Twenty years later, Chris Herren was married to his high-school sweetheart, the father of three young children, and a heroin junkie. His basketball career was over, consumed by addictions; he had no job, no skills, and was a sadly familiar figure to those in Fall River who remembered him as a boy, now prowling the streets he once ruled, looking for a fix. One day, for a time he cannot remember, he would die.

The Back Roads to March

Author : John Feinstein
Publisher : Anchor
Page : 450 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2021-03-16
Category : Sports & Recreation
ISBN : 9780525564751

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The Back Roads to March by John Feinstein Pdf

#1 New York Times bestselling author John Feinstein returns to his first love--college basketball--with a fascinating and compelling journey through a landscape of unsung, unpublicized and often unknown heroes of Division-1 college hoops. John Feinstein pulls back the curtain on college basketball's lesser-known Cinderella stories--the smaller programs who no one expects to win, who have no chance of attracting the most coveted high school recruits. To tell this story, Feinstein follows a handful of players, coaches, and schools who dream, not of winning the NCAA tournament, but of making it past their first or second round games. Every once in a while, one of these coaches or players is plucked from obscurity to lead a major team or to play professionally, cementing their status in these fiercely passionate fan bases as a legend. These are the gifted players who aren't handled with kid gloves--they're hardworking, gritty teammates who practice and party with everyone else. With his trademark humor and invaluable connections, John Feinstein reveals the big time programs you've never heard of, the bracket busters you didn't expect to cheer for, and the coaches who inspire them to take their teams to the next level.