Last Dance : Behind the Scenes at the Final Four | John Feinstein, Mike Krzyzewski

Last Dance : Behind the Scenes at the Final Four | John Feinstein, Mike Krzyzewski | Great stories to hook less bookish readers.

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Last Dance : Behin...

	Last Dance : Behind the Scenes at the Final Four John Feinstein, Mike Krzyzewski Amazon Remainders Account, 2006 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 30 reviews view larger image
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There is no event in sports quite like the Final Four. John Feinstein explores what it means to a school, a coach, and a player to be in the Final Four or even at The Final. There are the moving stories of players and coaches who thought theyd never make it to college basketballs final weekend, the spectacular triumphs of the winning teams, and the heartbreaking defeats for those who missed the cut. Feinstein also brings us inspiring and dramatic stories from the people behind the scenes: from the officials and referees to the scouts and ticket-scalpers. With the unflinching eye of a seasoned reporter and the remarkable skill of a true storyteller, Feinstein exposes the driving forces behind one of the most revered events in American sports.

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Fun read for college hoop fans

I'm a college hoops fanatic, from small college to the big boys. I lost interest in the NBA quite some time ago so Feinstein's book was the perfect Christmas gift this year.

I read Feinstein's books for the wonderful tales he tells and his access to coaches, players, and in this book, referrees and committee members. I didn't think I'd be that intrigued with officials and administrators, but both chapters were excellent. I've covered and followed sports my entire life and I never knew how the NCAA selection committee worked until I read this book.

Though John can get a bit obsessed with Carolina and Duke, I did like his access into both programs. I find Roy Williams long journey to a title quite interesting. I'm not usually a Coach K fan, but he brought him to life. Of all the coaches, I found Tom Brennan the most interesting, he actually seemed like a normal guy, unlike some of the other ego-maniacs who lead that profession. And of course, the interviews with the players were excellent as was the insightful look at Bill Bradley and his Princeton years.

I also like how the author takes on the selection committee, big time TV, how the tourney has lost some of its charm, and the NCAA in general. I enjoyed his opinions, though I would've liked to have known just what Rolli Massimino did to get pushed out at Villanova, it's not like those guys have rung up a bunch of national titles to get this odd sense of entitlement. Feinstein never tells us just what Rolli did.

I do agree with some of the criticisms here, mostly the repetitiveness of his stories. I chalk that up to bad editing more than anything. And I believe the book could've closed in on 300 pages instead of 400, again, I believe John needs a new editor. But neither of those complaints were enough to have me downgrade this book.

As a college hoops nut, this was just what the doctor ordered.

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Great stories to hook less bookish readers.

I am an SAT tutor. One of my constant challenges is finding ways to encourage kids to read who'd rather do anything but. Books they actually like are a great first step. Feinstein's stories are gripping and accessible. They'll hook young readers who are more athletic than bookish, ideally making them a little more the latter. And, for anyone gripped by the love of a good sports contest or even just a good story, it's hard not to like Feinstein's works.

An Inside Look at the Final Four

Last Dance is a behind the scenes look at the NCAA Final Four. The book is mostly built on reminisces and interviews with coaches, players, and even some announcers about what it's like to get to the Final Four and win a championship. The primary theme of the book is just how important getting to a Final Four is, and winning a National Championship is, for the players and coaches. It's something that for many players is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of team that puts its stamp on college basketball history. Whether a marginal player seeing little action or a star player going on to a successful NBA career, a Final Four appearance and a National Championship are seen as things that are lifetime achievements. And the bitter disappoint of losing in the Final Four lasts a lifetime as well.

For the most part this book is well written and interesting as we hear from players, coaches, and others involved about their experiences in the Final Four. It paints a well rounded picture of what participants go through during the course of the season, but especially during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. While Feinstein does not go into great depth on the history of the Final Four, its history is told throughout the book.

The one criticism this reader has of the book is it appears to be very Duke and North Carolina centric. While maybe that's because they have been to the Final Four so often, it's a bit off putting to be constantly hearing about these two schools at the expense of others who have made the Final Four. And while hearing different perspectives on the Final Four were interesting, there really wasn't anything new here either.

My two favorite sections of the book were about UCLA coach John Wooden and his wife getting a spontaneous standing ovation from the coaches in the lobby at the Final Four and Bill Bradley's thoughts on his Final Four appearance (Bradley was a Princeton and NBA star, later a Senator and presidential candidate). And the most interesting philosophical discussion was the impact of the tournament and a Final Four appearance or winning a championship on coaches. Would great coaches like Roy Williams of North Carolina have an incomplete legacy if they never won a championship? Fair or not, the answer is yes, even though the coaches don't like to say it. The pressure to win and win big is just as hot in college basketball as it is in professional sports, and coaches with great talent at big schools feel the heat. The impact of this pressure on coaches, while discussed in other areas before, was well done in this book. Finally, the hype and hysteria that surround the Final Four today compared to years ago is also interesting to note and how this sea change in attention and hype have affected players and coaches and those gathering for their Final Four appearance is well done.

This is definitely a book worth reading if you are a college basketball fan.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

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