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. This is the only book that gives a true picture of the character of John Wooden and the influence of his assistant, Jerry Norman, whose contributions Wooden  ignored and tried to bury.

Compiled with more than 40 hours of interviews with Coach Wooden, learn about the man behind the coach. The players tell their stories in their own words.

Click the book to read the first chapter and for ordering information. Also available on Kindle.

Gringo (9/10)

by Tony Medley

Runtime 110 minutes.

R.

This is a throwback to the old days, a good screwball comedy updated to include X-rated language. In fact, star Charlize Thereon said, “When I played Elaine, things came out of her mouth that I never imagined would come out of my mouth. There were a lot of moments during the making of this film where I was completely red in the face and kind of looking at my crew going, ‘Guys, I’m really sorry for saying all this stuff’.”

The story is nothing if not convoluted. Harold Soyinka (David Oyelowo) works for his school friend Richard (Joel Edgerton, who adds to his collection of fine work) and his partner/scheming girlfriend, Elaine (Thereon, who looks as gorgeous as ever and displays a bright comedic touch). They order their Mexican lab, run by manager Sanchez (Hermain Mendoza) to stop selling their bioengineered marijuana product Cannabax to a vicious, Beatles-loving cartel boss known as The Black Panther. After Harold is left in Mexico, he learns that he is about to lose his job.

That’s the setup and what ensues is screwball comedy from the ‘40s as things turn from bad to worse for everybody, and it’s a gas.

There are good performances by everyone, including Sharlto Coopley, who plays Mitch, Richard’s humanitarian brother with severely confused values. Joel’s brother, Nash Edgerton directs with a deft touch from an original script by Matthew Stone that was apparently substantially rewritten by Anthony Tambakis.

Shot in Chicago, Mexico City, and Veracruz, Mexico, this film combines action with comedy and never drags. Unlike many new movies, this film celebrates color and light, a pleasure to watch.