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.


Sports Medley: Mattingly Disrespects the Game of Baseball 25 May 15

by Tony Medley

Clueless Mattingly: On June 23, 1917 Babe Ruth started on the mound for the Boston Red Sox against the Washington Senators. Walking the first batter, the Babe was so incensed at one of umpire Brick Owens’ calls that he slugged him and was ejected. Ernie Shore was called in to replace Ruth. After the runner was thrown out attempting to steal second, Shore retired the next 26 batters in a row, for a perfect game. In fact, it was more than perfect since he got 27 outs while only facing 26 batters, completing one of the greatest pitched games in baseball history.

Saturday Dodgers pitcher Mike Bolsinger gave up a leadoff single to San Diego Padres’ Yangveris Solarte. After that single, Bolsinger proceeded to have the next batter hit into a double play and retired 23 batters in a row, for one of the greatest pitched games in Dodgers’ history. Allowing only the single hit, he struck out 8 with no walks (naturally). But would Don Mattingly allow him to complete this unforgettable gem of a game? If he retired the last three batters, it would be a game for the ages. No! Even though he had not reached Mattingly’s childishly simplistic 100 pitch limit at which Don apparently thinks that pitchers turn into pumpkins (Bolsinger had thrown only 92 pitches), he pulled Bolsinger so Donnie Baseball’s beloved closer, Kenley Jansen, could retire the next three batters for the win.

 Asked after the game if he didn’t want to finish the game, Bolsinger diplomatically declined to comment. I don’t have to be so diplomatic. Pulling a pitcher who is so obviously dominant and not allowing him to pitch the ninth inning of the game of a lifetime to bring in a pitcher cold from the bullpen is sheer idiocy and shows disrespect for his pitcher and for the game of baseball. Does anyone doubt that this Mattingly would have also pulled Shore in 1917 and Sandy Koufax in his 1965 Perfect Game?

 Burying the Lead:  As bad, in the game article for the LA Times, writer Bill Shaikin and the unknown headline writer were so dismissive of Bolsinger’s accomplishment that the headline for the game was “Young Arms Are Lending a Hand,” and Shaikin couldn’t bring himself to mention the masterpiece until his third paragraph. Thoroughly brainwashed and dismally ignorant of baseball history and heritage, there was nary a peep of criticism in his article about Mattingly pulling Bolsinger for the 9th inning.

Old Man Federer? On the first day of the French Open in the third set against Alejandro Falla, aging, 33-year-old Roger Federer made one of the most amazing shots one will ever see. With Roger at the net, Falla hit a lob over Roger’s head. He turned around and with his back to the net moving away, he hit an overhead with the ball behind his head smashing it crosscourt as if he were hitting a normal overhead standing still facing the net waiting for it to some down. It would have been a remarkable, memorable shot were he 22, but at 33 it was nothing short of spectacular.

 

top