Lapchick: the life of a legendary player and coach in the glory days of basketball - Softcover

Alfieri, Gus

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1480030775 ISBN 13: 9781480030770

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Synopsis

LAPCHICK encapsulates Joe Lapchick’s fifty-year career that mirrors the framework of basketball in America. Coach Lapchick, twice enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, experienced a life in basketball that places him with a handful of the pioneers of the game. The book uses Joe Lapchick as a lens through which the rise and development of basketball is clearly understood. Lapchick began a professional career that led him in the 1920s to the famous Original Celtics where he became the game’s most successful big man. After a successful professional career, he turned to coaching where he spent more than twenty years coaching at St. John’s University [1936-1947, 1956-1965] only separated by nine years with the New York Knickerbockers. His record was among the nation’s best, both as a collegiate and professional coach, winning four NITs. During his second stint at St. John’s, Gus had the pleasure of playing for Coach Lapchick. The experience was so riveting that he later was motivated to write his coach’s biography. Alfieri conducted more than 250 interviews, including ones with Lou Carnesecca, Wilt Chamberlain, Bobby Knight, and John Wooden.

About this title

Review:

"I loved reading "Lapchick." Through this legendary figure, the reader experiences the fifty most critical years in the development of the game."--Pat Conroy, author of "My Losing Season" and "The Prince of Tides" ""To Sir, with Love" in short pants."--Phil Pepe "Captures in every detail the magnitude of Joe Lapchick, this great basketball coach and human being."--Lou Carnesecca, legendary former coach of St. John's "Of all my memories of people who have helped me, none are greater than those of Mr. Lapchick."--Bobby Knight "Joe Lapchick's importance in basketball history can't be overstated. Anyone interested in basketball, or in human beings, should enjoy and learn from this portrait."--Leonard Koppett, author of "Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia""Growing up in the metropolitan New York area, I was enamored with the success of the St. John's program. Obviously, in those days, the architect and the leader was Coach Joe Lapchick. His teams always played with intensity and emotion and were "so" well organized. Joe Lapchick had a big-time basketball IQ and was years and years ahead of those he was competing against. To put it in Vitalese - he was "Awesome, Baby" with a capital "A"!" --Dick Vitale "It was amazing to watch Joe Lapchick stage his own fabulous retirement party by winning both premier Madison Square Garden college tournamnets in 1964-65--the Holiday Festival and National Invitation--to close his St. John's coaching career.What an exit! It was an emotional thrill to be a telecaster at both tournaments and witness the thunderous ovation for Joe." --Bob Wolff ..".a good-hearted, reverential homage to basketball great Joe Lapchick...Alfieri's book rings with respect for Lapchick's career and demeanor both on the court and along the sidelines."-- "Publisher's Weekly""" "Lapchick respected basketball, and fans of the game will respect this warm and intelligent biography."-- "Kirkus""" "A moving sports b

About the Author:

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Gus Alfieri was the point guard on Hall-of-Fame coach, Joe Lapchick's 1959 St. John's NIT Championship Team. He received his BA & Masters in Education from St. John's and taught high school social studies for over 35 years on Long Island. Gus Alfieri coached 2 state championship teams and earned national recognition for St. Anthony's High School which inspired his second book, The Heart of a Champion. Gus returned to school for his Ph.D. in American Cultural History at Stony Brook University. With this foundation, he taught for 14 years in Stony Brook's graduate school while also writing a syndicated sports column in Suffolk County newspapers. Gus started the first sports book club in the country; this concept has struck a nerve and has gained national publicity. In 2006, he accomplished his lifelong goal of writing a book when the biography of his coach, Joe Lapchick was published (LAPCHICK). He is the director of the All-American Basketball Camp, which he has maintained for the past forty years; it is his legacy. Gus lives in Smithtown with his wife, Janet & his golden retriever, Jake. He has four children & nine grandchildren. He loves to write & ride his bike.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1480030775
• ISBN 13: 9781480030770
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 404