I've tried this at another board and it lasted a while then fell off so I decided to try it here also. This is a place to talk about the books you have read that deal with basketball. A book I just finished yesterday was a book called <u>The Last Amateurs</u> by John Feinstein. It was a really good book about the only NCAA conference (the Patriot League) who has schools that offer only need-based scholarships to their recruits. These are the schools in Division 1 that are just below the Ivy League in terms of education. The kids that go to these schools have no future on the next level (NBA) and play their heart and soul out every game while trying to go through the rigors of exams and such and studying majors that aren't P.E. like the big conferences. If you want to learn about how kids on the lower level of Division hoops get by go read this book. As for other books, my favorite would probably have to be <u>Soul Influence</u>. It is how the sneaker companies of America (namely Nike and Adidas) have corrupted America's youth and the game of basketball altogether on the college, high school, and pro level. It has tales of how these companies have grown, the people who work for these companies with not so great pasts, and the lengths some schools go to in order to have a sneaker company help get them a player. I totally recommend this book <u>The Last Shot</u> by Darcy Frey is another great book. This book follows Stephon Marbury's high school team while he was a freshman. The book revolves around mainly three of the teams seniors who are trying to make it into a Division one school, but are being held back by their environment and the fact that they can't pass the SAT. It also gives light into how some schools go into recruiting players and just how fast those same schools will turn on a player if things don't go as planned. If you think Michael Jordan is an all-heavenly saint then go read <u>The Jordan Rules</u>. This books, which is supposed to be pro-MJ, shows Michael's dark side. From punching teammates, to missing practices, to getting special treatment, and more this book shows exactly what kind of special treatment Michael got in his years in Chicago. Feel free to add to the discussion.
good idea, but i am afraid i dont read many basketball books. I will check out <u>Soul Influence</u> though
for those interested in researching it... the book is <u>Sole Influence: Basketball, Corporate Greed, and the Corruptions of America's Youth</u> by Dan Wetzel, Don Yaeger
my av?? why thats the one and only Bootsy Collins, one of the founding members of THE Parliament Funkadellic. aimnt gon mess wit the boots "WHATS BOOTSY DOIN'?"