249th out of 432 books
—
355 voters
Don't Put Me In, Coach: My Incredible NCAA Journey from the End of the Bench to the End of the Bench
by
Mark Titus
An irreverent, hilarious insider's look at big-time NCAA basketball, through the eyes of the nation's most famous benchwarmer and author of the popular blog ClubTrillion.com (3.6m visits!). Mark Titus holds the Ohio State record for career wins, and made it to the 2007 national championship game. You would think Titus would be all over the highlight reels. You'd be wrong.
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Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
March 6th 2012
by Doubleday
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Apr 06, 2013
Allan Colgan
added it
Good thing I got this as a library book because otherwise I would have wasted a lot of money on a sophomoric rambling essay that showed a distinct lack of education in the English language as used to write or communicate with other people. If this is the quality of work that Ohio State University approves as acceptable writing for its students, then the world of education is really in a sad state of affairs.
I find his choice of scatological language, his lack of intensity to the sport, his willi...more
I find his choice of scatological language, his lack of intensity to the sport, his willi...more
As a longtime member of Club Trillion, I read Titus's blog for years, eagerly awaited new posts, and looked forward to the book as soon as it was announced. After tearing through it in the span of twenty-four hours, I rattled off a definitive text to my friends among the "Trillion Man March": "don't waste your time."
There's a lot wrong with "Don't Put Me In, Coach." For one, the bulk of the material will be extremely familiar to fans of the blog, who I imagine comprise most of this book's reader...more
There's a lot wrong with "Don't Put Me In, Coach." For one, the bulk of the material will be extremely familiar to fans of the blog, who I imagine comprise most of this book's reader...more
I’m not a big sports fan and of the few sports I do watch basketball really isn’t even on the list. (*Cringe* Sorry but I’m more of a hockey girl) That being said I wasn’t sure if I’d like it at first or not. But I do have to say Don’t Put Me In, Coach turned out to be an interesting book. In short it is a memoir of his rise to bench sitting stardom and how he turned his minor status on his team into Club Trillion, thereby giving hope to the average Joe everywhere.
Mark Titus’s humor is very sar...more
Mark Titus’s humor is very sar...more
First of all, I know that anytime a reviewer posts a review on a book that they didn't finish they get slammed...mainly by other reviewers. With that said, here we go...
Mark Titus is smart, funny, and edgy (maybe too edgy?)...
"Don't Put Me In, Coach" is written by Mark Titus, a walk-on player who sat the bench 99.9% of the time during his 4-year NCAA Div I basketball career at Ohio State University. This book has received some buzz in stories on NPR and other media outlets, so when I had a chanc...more
Mark Titus is smart, funny, and edgy (maybe too edgy?)...
"Don't Put Me In, Coach" is written by Mark Titus, a walk-on player who sat the bench 99.9% of the time during his 4-year NCAA Div I basketball career at Ohio State University. This book has received some buzz in stories on NPR and other media outlets, so when I had a chanc...more
This book was a somewhat informative look into the Ohio State basketball program just a few years ago. It's a very light read, and fairly entertaining, although at times is extremely crass. Pretty much what I expected, having read a little bit of Mark Titus' blog. Titus can be at times quite interesting and insightful, and then bury that with a mountain of scatological humor. Sort of expected from a 20 something jock. Titus' style can probably best be summed up by the trick shot video, which has...more
Finding Fame from the Bench: Mark Titus’ Don’t Put Me In, Coach:
Despite spending four years on the Ohio State Buckeyes, Mark Titus played very little college basketball. However, he manages to make every single one of his forty-eight career minutes into a memorable moment in his new memoir, Don’t Put Me In, Coach. If you love basketball, then there is no question you need to read this book. If you love juvenile humor or are a frequent visitor to collegehumor.com, you will definitely enjoy this b...more
Despite spending four years on the Ohio State Buckeyes, Mark Titus played very little college basketball. However, he manages to make every single one of his forty-eight career minutes into a memorable moment in his new memoir, Don’t Put Me In, Coach. If you love basketball, then there is no question you need to read this book. If you love juvenile humor or are a frequent visitor to collegehumor.com, you will definitely enjoy this b...more
A very grudging three stars. May deserve two stars instead.
The anecdotes are interesting, the descriptions of teammates and coaches enlightening, but I just can't stand his writing style. Ever have a conversation with someone who's convinced they're hilarious and WILL. NOT. SHUT. UP? That's Mark Titus. That's this book.
Specific examples? I can do that. Here's one sentence from the book, verbatim:
The anecdotes are interesting, the descriptions of teammates and coaches enlightening, but I just can't stand his writing style. Ever have a conversation with someone who's convinced they're hilarious and WILL. NOT. SHUT. UP? That's Mark Titus. That's this book.
Specific examples? I can do that. Here's one sentence from the book, verbatim:
Again, it was frustrating to know that we probably would have also beat Michigan had The Villain been...more
Looks like most of these reviews start off with an explanation of where the reviewer fits on a scale of predisposition to interest in this book. I never read Titus' blog, but I love college basketball and have read and enjoyed his articles on Grantland. I think that's like a 7.5.
This book is an entertaining read thanks to Titus' engaging style and sense of humor. My main complaint is that he zips through four years at warp speed. I put the book down convinced there was more that should have been...more
This book is an entertaining read thanks to Titus' engaging style and sense of humor. My main complaint is that he zips through four years at warp speed. I put the book down convinced there was more that should have been...more
Darn it. I wasted $25 and several days of my life. Granted, as a 47-year-old woman, I'm not the target audience for this book, but I thought it would be fun to see what my son - attending University of Missouri this fall as a preferred walk-on basketball player - might expect to experience.
I tried to glean what I could from the walk-on experience specifically (how he worked out and traveled with the team but played only the last minute or two of a game, etc.), but it was hard to ignore Mark's an...more
I tried to glean what I could from the walk-on experience specifically (how he worked out and traveled with the team but played only the last minute or two of a game, etc.), but it was hard to ignore Mark's an...more
In high school Mark Titus played basketball with Greg Oden, a future NBA #1 draft pick, and when he doesn't get the scholarship expected to Harvard, he decides instead to follow his friend to Ohio State. He starts of managing the basketball team, but when the team loses a player or two Mark winds up on the actual team. He spends the next 4 years at college, not necessarily playing, but still a member of Ohio State's basketball team.
This wound up being a really funny and amusing memoir. The book...more
This wound up being a really funny and amusing memoir. The book...more
Here's the thing about this book - does it have interesting anecdotes? Yes. Did it make me laugh out loud 5 or 6 times? Yes. Did I learn some things about the structure of OSU/NCAA athletics? Yes. This was all I had hoped to get out of this book, but it has a terrible, glaring weakness: the infuriatingly intermittent PG-13 language. I don't know if I should blame Disney/ABC/ESPN, Doubleday, Ohio State, the NCAA, or Mark Titus, but SOMEONE decided it was okay to say things like "S my D" and "I to...more
I was a Goodreads winner of this book, and fortunately for me, I am a targeted reader. I love college basketball, and while I was not specifically aware of Mark Titus, I do remember seeing some of the Ohio State teams he was on. Once I saw his team play in person in San Antonio during the NCAA tournament. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Mark's often irreverant relationship with the basketball life, his teammates, the college experience at Ohio State, his blog, and about every other topic that...more
I am honestly still a bit confused as to what in this book is true and what is embellished and what is plain made up. I'm sure Titus would be very happy to hear that. Sometimes funny, sometimes crude, rarely mixing the two. In other words, scatological humor does not appeal to me (It's not that often I get a chance to use that word in a sentence, so I had to go for it). And once I looked it up, I can never un-know what "2 Girls 1 Cup" is about. Thanks a trillion, Titus! Best story of the book (b...more
Never read the blog, even though I'm a die-hard Buckeye fan... and only had a passing interest in reading this book. Didn't follow the story closely (he was an OSU basketball player, after all, not a football player, ya know?), and only read this thing because I currently have a lot of time on my hands.
But, I'm really glad I did. This is an (occasionally) funny and (even less occasionally) semi-poignant look into the mindset of a unique individual... a quick, enjoyable read, with enough insight...more
But, I'm really glad I did. This is an (occasionally) funny and (even less occasionally) semi-poignant look into the mindset of a unique individual... a quick, enjoyable read, with enough insight...more
I found the writing of Mark Titus very fun and humorous throughout. He writes as if you are sitting on a couch with him telling stories back and forth. If you are a fan of sports or specifically college sports and what happens after and before the games this is a book you will find very interesting. If you've ever heard of Club Trillion this will explain what it is and how it got started. The hilarious bench warmer out of Ohio State, Mark Titus takes us on a journey through his book of his four...more
I was hoping to get a behind the scenes look at a college basketball team that made me laugh. And that's exactly what I got. Mark Titus' stories about living the life of a walk-on for 4 years at OSU made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.
However, I have an important message for Mr. Titus. Mr. Titus, I believe you may find the following links useful: http://www.pepto-bismol.com/ or http://www.imodium.com/ Seriously man... no person should have that much diarrhea. I only wish I could have to...more
However, I have an important message for Mr. Titus. Mr. Titus, I believe you may find the following links useful: http://www.pepto-bismol.com/ or http://www.imodium.com/ Seriously man... no person should have that much diarrhea. I only wish I could have to...more
My bias towards Ohio State athletics shows in the rating. This really should be somewhere between a 3 and a 4. As any fan of sports should agree, the anecdotal insight provided from an insiders view was both fun and interesting. When watching kids from a nationally prominent University perform on tv, it's sometimes hard to remember that they are just 18 - 20 years old. This book offers a (mostly) humorous look behind the scenes. As the book comes to a close, it starts feeling a bit tired, as the...more
The author's writing style is supposed to be casual and bloggy, but it comes off more as an overly excited high school freshman. The run-on sentences and absence of worthwhile detail drove me crazy.
While his journey to NCAA basketball is interesting, it's as if the author is trying too hard to make everything funny. He turned crass in unnecessary moments, adding to the feel of forced humor. To me, a good comedic book contains moments of depth, which I felt this book lacked..
To be fair, I only r...more
While his journey to NCAA basketball is interesting, it's as if the author is trying too hard to make everything funny. He turned crass in unnecessary moments, adding to the feel of forced humor. To me, a good comedic book contains moments of depth, which I felt this book lacked..
To be fair, I only r...more
This book is a hilarious book. If your looking for something funny, then read this. This book, Don't Put Me In Coach, is very good. What was so great about this book is that Mark Titus was a walk-on benchwarmer on the Ohio State basketball team. During this book, he talks about all the ups and downs of being a walk-on. He does not just say how he didn't play but he made it interesting. He would through around a hilarious joke every now and then. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone w...more
Being from Indiana and a basketball fan who was paying attention to Big Ten basketball during the time the author was (not) playing, this book was a great read. Fun insights into AAU, high school and college basketball. It is only held back by his continual sophomoric humor. Not that he's never funny, but the schtick gets a little old after a while. But Titus definitely has a gift at describing certain nuances of playing organized basketball (from early teen years through college). And his perso...more
"An irreverent, hilarious insider's look..." (from Goodreads summary)
Irreverent? Yes. Hilarious? Eh. Mark Titus spends an inordinate amount of time praising his poor work ethics and morals and too little time on his wasted intellect. It's obvious that he loves to find synonyms for his genitals. I lost count after the first 2 chapters. Should I be impressed? Eh. Will I put this in my junior high/high school library? Nope. It's not worth the space in my online catalog. Where was his editor? This c...more
Irreverent? Yes. Hilarious? Eh. Mark Titus spends an inordinate amount of time praising his poor work ethics and morals and too little time on his wasted intellect. It's obvious that he loves to find synonyms for his genitals. I lost count after the first 2 chapters. Should I be impressed? Eh. Will I put this in my junior high/high school library? Nope. It's not worth the space in my online catalog. Where was his editor? This c...more
If you love basketball and/or college humor, read this book. You will be laughing out loud. Although if you are not a fan of the crude, juvenile language of the average 18-22 year old male, you may find yourself cringing at several points. Colorful metaphors for body parts and functions abound.
This book is also an insightful look into internet fame - what it means to be a well-known blogger, and how it can reshape your life. You will want and possibly need to read the blog that led to this book...more
This book is also an insightful look into internet fame - what it means to be a well-known blogger, and how it can reshape your life. You will want and possibly need to read the blog that led to this book...more
I've been going back and forth between three stars and four for this very funny book - three stars for me, because while I liked Don't I didn't really like it, which is the criterion for four stars. However, that's me, a woman who NEVER watches basketball and am beyond Titus's demographic as well.
I gave it four stars because I realized just how many people I'd recommend it to - I can't figure out which of several basketball-loving family and friends to pass it along to. It's hilarious, a great...more
I gave it four stars because I realized just how many people I'd recommend it to - I can't figure out which of several basketball-loving family and friends to pass it along to. It's hilarious, a great...more
I chose this book out of curiosity,plus it is March Madness time. It looked interesting,learning about those bench players that don't get much playing time.I learned how the statistics are done for those players who don't get much play time and how Club Trillion came about.
The good: Mark Titus does give us all an inside look at playing as a nonstar player in college ball. He did get a chuckle out of me several times. There were several interesting anecdotes of his four years on Ohio state team....more
The good: Mark Titus does give us all an inside look at playing as a nonstar player in college ball. He did get a chuckle out of me several times. There were several interesting anecdotes of his four years on Ohio state team....more
Sep 06, 2012
Kourosh
added it
I first heard the author speak about his book, from a sports talk show I listen to on my drive to work.
He provides a behind the scenes look of what it's like to be on a division 1 basketball team. It takes the reader through the ups and downs of a full NCAA basketball season. It's an easy read, and everything flowed from chapter to chapter.
My favorite parts of book were reading about Greg Oden, the number one pick in the 2007 nba draft, and all the pranks the author pulled on his fellow players.
He provides a behind the scenes look of what it's like to be on a division 1 basketball team. It takes the reader through the ups and downs of a full NCAA basketball season. It's an easy read, and everything flowed from chapter to chapter.
My favorite parts of book were reading about Greg Oden, the number one pick in the 2007 nba draft, and all the pranks the author pulled on his fellow players.
This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Having grown up in Columbus, and being raised as a fan of OSU football and basketball, I really enjoyed this look inside the basketball program. Some people have complained about the abundance of references to pooping, puking, and the language Titus uses, but remember, these are young men in college. Maturity is not the strong suit for most of them. I think anyone who enjoys college basketball, whether an Ohio State fan or not, will enj...more
Super quick read. Fun for fans of college basketball. This guy literally had a front row seat to one of the nation's great programs during some great years. Imagine being on an AAU team with Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daquean Cook! Or witnessing the emergence of Evan Turner (seriously though, all The Villain stuff left me a bit uncomfortable as I currently root for Evan Turner on a nightly basis as part of my Sixers, though I do recognize it was mostly good-natured. Or I hope it was.). But o...more
Great book about basketball. I had to stop reading it in public because I kept laughing out loud! It was really interesting to see the life from the point of view of a "player," and I liked seeing the Big Ten from the viewpoint of a different team (Buzzcuts is a great nickname for the Badgers. Just one example of Titus' cleverness). "The Shark" is hilarious, with self-depricating humor and blunt attitude. Highly recommend for any NCAA basketball fan, especially those of us in the Big Ten. Great...more
Don't Put Me In, Coach: My Incredible NCAA Journey from the End of the Bench to the End of the Bench by Mark Titus (Knopf Doubleday Publsihing 2012)(nonfiction) is an engaging story by one of the most creative self-promoters that I've ever run across. The author, a four-year benchwarmer on the basketball team at Ohio State University, seems to have an endless supply of anecdotes about his teammates and coaches, some of which are even funny. My rating: 6/10, finished 9/13/12.
I enjoyed Titus' last article on Grantland (about Greg Oden's struggles in the NBA) and figured I'd enjoy his book. Not so much. The anecdotes aren't very interesting. The running diary of game outcomes is boring. And Titus' amateurish junior-high pg13 tone is annoying. People seem comfortable labeling Titus "irreverent" - I didn't really see the advantage of the attitude/voice he employs. Very quick read, but I'm kinda bummed I wasted prime afternoon in the sun reading hours.
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“We spilled onto the court to celebrate, but most of the guys were confused about how excited they were supposed to be. I mean, sure we won the tournament, but at the end of the day it was the NIT and being the best team in the NIT is like being the most attractive Michigan cheerleader.”
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