Out of print for more than 30 years, now available for the first time as an eBook, this is the controversial story of John Wooden's first 25 years and first 8 NCAA Championships as UCLA Head Basketball Coach. Notre Dame Coach Digger Phelps said, "I used this book as an inspiration for the biggest win of my career when we ended UCLA's all-time 88-game winning streak in 1974."

Compiled with more than 40 hours of interviews with Coach Wooden, learn about the man behind the coach. Click the Book to read the players telling their stories in their own words. This is the book that UCLA Athletic Director J.D. Morgan tried to ban.

Click the book to read the first chapter and for ordering information.

What Happens in Vegas (6/10)

by Tony Medley

I admit it. I like Ashton Kutcher. The guy is everything George Clooney hopes to be. He’s much closer to Cary Grant than Clooney is. Kutcher is naturally funny. He has inherent timing. He’s got the physical moves.

Unfortunately, in this film he is matched with Cameron Diaz, whose stardom I don’t understand. In a situation in which chemistry between the two stars is essential to the success of the comedy, there isn’t an iota of it between Diaz and Kutcher.

Jack Fuller (Kutcher) and Joy McNally (Diaz) meet in Las Vegas and after a drunken evening, awaken wed to one another. They decide to go their separate ways until she gives him a quarter and he wins a $3 million jackpot with it. This sets in motion a love-hate relationship that must endure for six months when Judge Whopper (Dennis Miller) sentences them to stay together for six months before he will consider a divorce.

In the hands of a director like Garson Kanin or Leo McCarey, and actors like Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, this could have been a classic. But although Kutcher is up to it, Diaz is the weak link that sentences the film to mediocrity. She doesn’t have Dunne’s subtlety or comedic timing. It’s difficult to put in to words why her performance isn’t up to snuff. Not beautiful, she’s still attractive enough. She utters her lines OK. She just doesn’t give the performance required by the role.

There are good supporting performances by Miller and Lake Bell, who plays Joy’s tough girl friend, Tipper. In fact, Bell is almost as entertaining as Kutcher. But those performances aren’t enough to make up for Diaz and the script (Dana Fox, who was also responsible for “27 Dresses,” another film that didn’t make the grade). Director Jon Vaughn gives it a good try, but he’s fighting a stacked deck. This comes close, but it can’t overcome its built in weaknesses.

A person’s body of work is dependent on lots of things, not least of which is the quality of the people with whom he works. Kutcher has  talent and potential. It has been his misfortune to attach his star to people who aren’t up to the quality of his talent. He has time to correct this, but the clock is ticking.

 May 10, 2008