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Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA
by
Lance Allred
Lance Allred was probably the last person you'd expect to make it in professional sports. Not only did he grow up on a polygamist commune in Montana, he struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. If those hurdles to the NBA don't seem large enough, Lance is also deaf.
Self-deprecating, witty, and wholly original, "Longshot" is the unlikely story of an unlike
...moreHardcover, 272 pages
Published
June 1st 2009
by HarperOne
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This is the story of a legally deaf man (he can hear enough to function with his hearing aides in) from Utah and his journey to the NBA. Lance signed on with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008 and played with them for part of the 2008 season and preseason for 2008-2009. Although he isn't currently with the NBA - it's the struggle to get there that is amazing to me. He is the first deaf NBA player in history. I really liked it! Memoir is one of my favorite genres, and this book didn't disappoin...more
yawn. Just another memoir by an asthmatic, deaf son of a polygamist, with OCD, who makes it to the NBA.......
Even if you don't like basketball, his background story is pretty interesting. Making the NBA is the climax of the story -- most of the book concerns his upbringing in a Mormon sect, the pain of his family's leaving the sect after a conflict, growing up deaf in a hearing world, and playing for a (by this account) tyrannical coach at his first college before transferring, and...more
Even if you don't like basketball, his background story is pretty interesting. Making the NBA is the climax of the story -- most of the book concerns his upbringing in a Mormon sect, the pain of his family's leaving the sect after a conflict, growing up deaf in a hearing world, and playing for a (by this account) tyrannical coach at his first college before transferring, and...more
I'd probably give this book 3 1/2 stars. It was good, but not great. I was hoping to read about life in the NBA, but given that Allred has been with Cleveland just over a year now, the book ended just when they signed him. Allred is a fairly good writer and quite intelligent. For most of the book I felt somewhat inspired by the challenges he dealt with on his way to the NBA, but by the end I almost wanted to tell him to just quit whining. He might not have had any money, but if worn out sho...more
This is the autobiography of Lance Allred, the first legally deaf player in the NBA. Lance was raised in a cult-like Mormon sect that practiced polygamy. Thankfully, his parents had the sense to leave the group when Lance was13. Because of his height, everyone told him he should play basketball. Through basketball, Lance found a way to fit into his new community. Oh, yes, he also has OCD. He persisted through abusive coaches and injuries. His disabilities did not define him. I love insp...more
I'll give Lance credit for being very honest and open with his life. His path to the NBA is nothing short of amazing and a testament to his stubborn work ethic. He's a pretty funny guy and the book almost has a Holden Caulfield vibe to it. If Lance was an ancestor of mine, what a great book this would be to me. But he's not and there are way too many parts of his life that read like a journal entry for an audience of one.
Autobiography of Lance Allred. He has had a really interesting life, and he knows how to write. The basketball is important, but it is not just about the games and practices. He would have a story to tell even if he weren't a pro basketball player.
The first 1/3 of the book is about growing up in a polygmist colony and the last 2/3 is about basketball. I enjoyed both and makes me admire his journey more. Nice that he is my sisters neighbor in MT too!
The title says it all-- a deaf LDS kid actually makes it to the NBA, albeit only for about 30 games. But, overall, a surprisingly funny and honest account
I read an article about Allred in yesterday's newspaper. Not sure I want to read the book, but I'm interested enough to make note of the title.
This book was pretty good. If you're interested in Mormon fundamentalists, NBA players, or deaf people you'll find something to enjoy.
I started out liking this book however by the end I had a hard time finishing it.
Everyone go BUY this book...then read it.
Interesting but not very well written.
So far I'm enjoying the book, thought there is a lot more swearing than I expected. I appreciate the author’s description of his severe hearing loss following rH incompatibility at birth. I also appreciate his description of his early life in Montana in a fundamentalist polygamist commune. His honest description is disturbing at times - but interesting. I appreciate his distinguishing this fundamentalist group from the main LDS church. Lance's parents seem like admirable people.
A fun and enjoyable read. Allred has an easy to read style and is an entertaining author. I was fascinated by his descriptions of growing up in the world of polygamy. His account of playing basketball for Rick Majerus was interesting. I found his experiences of making it to the NBA to be quite inspiring, as well as his arrival at the LDS faith. It was an unusual combination of sports biography, exposé and motivation.
A good book. Allred compellingly discusses his childhood in a polygamous family, his family's disillusionment, his journey into basketball, his journeyman career in college and the pros, and other minutiae from his life. At times harrowing and, at other times, silly, this is a fun read from an interesting character.
on the cusp of 2 1/2 to 3 stars, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The book was more about him venting to the world and how he was the victim. I thought he complained too much. He was always looking for an excuse to justify his problems
Quite a story. While many NBA and near-NBA players have difficult childhoods, I doubt there are very many who had one like Lance.
Matt Clear
marked it as to-read
Mandy Acord
marked it as to-read
Doreen
marked it as to-read
Elm
marked it as to-read
Julia
marked it as to-read
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