Another great basketball book by Feinstein who made his name with A SEASON ON THE BRINK, an in depth look at the notorious Bobby Knight. This book focuses on the basketball crazy state of North Carolina, and the three great but very different coaches, Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, and Jim Valvano. Readers may feel the book is slanted because Feinstein did attend Duke and because both Smith and Valvano have passed away, and Krzyzewski is one of the main sources for the book. That being said, he gives each coach his due, explains why Dean Smith and North Carolina have always been the favorites of North Carolinians until two upstarts appeared in the early 1980's, ready to take the crown away from the King, Dean Smith, and his Tar Heels.
It was rough going at first for both Krzyzewski and Valvano as they had to build their programs whereas Dean Smith had been coaching for years, knew all the tricks, was able to recruit the best players, and had fan support. Both Krzyzewski and Valvano, however, were ready for the task and Valvano was the first to make a break through, with his NCAA championship in the early 80's. It made him a house hold name and with his personality and sense of humor, and he became a rock star, in North Carolina as well as on TV. And for a few short years, he reigned as the most popular coach in the US until his program was put on probation by the NCAA for violations and Jimmy Valvano was forced out. He soon, however, became ESPN's most popular basketball announcer and many felt he could easily have moved into one of the Morning News shows with his wit, intelligence, charm and personality. His life was cut short by cancer and he died early, at age 47.
Krzyzewski struggled his first five years, rarely if ever defeating Dean Smith and his AD was on the hot seat for having hired a no name coach from Army. Krzyzewski , however, began to recruit the great players needed to compete with North Carolina and his teams started winning conference and AAC tournaments, as well as making the Final Four numerous times. This, to say the least, bothered Dean Smith and the rivalry between these two schools, the two coaches, often became ugly as neither had much love for the other. Smith was respected but not liked by many coaches; his major sin, in my estimation, was getting on opposing players, much like the legendary John Wooden. I could never understand this in a great coach but it seemed to be part of their overwhelming desire to win at all costs. Krzyzewski was not like that but his weakness, to me, was allowing the Duke fans to razz, embarrass, and make fun of opposing players, to the extent that they would make ridicule players personal lives. Krzyzewski not only put up with it but seemed to defend the students.
We follow the rivalries through the years, as Duke and Krzyzewski gradually eclipse the great Dean Smith, winning over a thousand games, five NCAA championships, and numerous AAC championships. For now, Krzyzewski is the undisputed genius of college basketball. He's still coaching, loves the game, and has the respect of players and coaches alike. A good read if you like basketball, especially college basketball over the past 35 years and the stories of three very different but successful coaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment