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Lapchick: the life of a legendary player and coach in the glory days of basketball
LAPCHICK encapsulates Joe Lapchick’s fifty-year career that mirrors the framework of basketball in America. Coach Lapchick, twice enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, experienced a life in basketball that places him with a handful of the pioneers of the game. The book uses Joe Lapchick as a lens through which the rise and development of basketball is clearly understood. Lapchick began a professional career that led him in the 1920s to the famous Original Celtics where he became the game’s most successful big man. After a successful professional career, he turned to coaching where he spent more than twenty years coaching at St. John’s University [1936-1947, 1956-1965] only separated by nine years with the New York Knickerbockers. His record was among the nation’s best, both as a collegiate and professional coach, winning four NITs. During his second stint at St. John’s, Gus had the pleasure of playing for Coach Lapchick. The experience was so riveting that he later was motivated to write his coach’s biography. Alfieri conducted more than 250 interviews, including ones with Lou Carnesecca, Wilt Chamberlain, Bobby Knight, and John Wooden.
404 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 19, 2019
"Lapchick: The Life of a Legendary Player and Coach in the Glory Days of Basketball" chronicles the life of Joe Lapchick, one of the first professional basketball players in our nation's history and one of the most memorable college and professional coaches in the history of basketball.
The book discusses Lapchick's youth as a talented basketball player who gained attention in New York city for his excellent playing. He was in demand as an 18 year old when several semi pro teams tried to sign him to play for them. As a youth, he was always training and trying to improve his basketball skills. His parents disapproved of him playing basketball because they felt that there was no money in in. Lapchick, when he was playing semi pro ball, actually hid his uniform from his parents so that they did not know he was playing.
Lapchick also excelled at baseball and golf. In the 1920's he played for the McGarry's Reds- a semi pro team in New York city. The games were rowdy and the crowds could often become unruly - not unlike some professional games today.
Lapchick was one of the "Original Celtics" a prominent pro team that was based in New York city. The "Original Celtics" were one of the first teams to travel to other cities to entertain and play before crowds. This was also one of the first teams that had permanent rosters. Other teams would often share players or lose players because they were offered more money by other teams - very similar to modern day sports where players often sign with the highest bidder.
The "Original Celtics" were known for their teamwork and their commitment to defense. They had team chemistry and combined fun with serious play. They had unique uniforms which helped the Celtics to stand out. All the newspapers who covered the Celtics spoke of their unselfish play.
In 1936, Lapchick was hired to coach at St. John's University. At first, Lapchick lacked confidence as a coach and he did not know how to structure practices and scrimmages. He thought that the players noticed his diffidence. However, they did not notice his lack of confidence or trepidation. Over time, he grew into the job and gained more confidence as a coach.
At this time, college sports and professional sports dealt with the problem of illegal gambling. After the Black Sox Scandal in 1920, laws were passed against gambling on professional sporting events. However, these laws did not pertain to amateur events such as college games.
Lapchick liked coaching the college game and learned to communicate better with his players
Lapchick went on to coach the New York Knicks and eventually returned to coach at St. John's.
Overall, the book grants an insightful view into part of the history of college and professional basketball. The book also presents Lapchick's contributions to both.
The book discusses Lapchick's youth as a talented basketball player who gained attention in New York city for his excellent playing. He was in demand as an 18 year old when several semi pro teams tried to sign him to play for them. As a youth, he was always training and trying to improve his basketball skills. His parents disapproved of him playing basketball because they felt that there was no money in in. Lapchick, when he was playing semi pro ball, actually hid his uniform from his parents so that they did not know he was playing.
Lapchick also excelled at baseball and golf. In the 1920's he played for the McGarry's Reds- a semi pro team in New York city. The games were rowdy and the crowds could often become unruly - not unlike some professional games today.
Lapchick was one of the "Original Celtics" a prominent pro team that was based in New York city. The "Original Celtics" were one of the first teams to travel to other cities to entertain and play before crowds. This was also one of the first teams that had permanent rosters. Other teams would often share players or lose players because they were offered more money by other teams - very similar to modern day sports where players often sign with the highest bidder.
The "Original Celtics" were known for their teamwork and their commitment to defense. They had team chemistry and combined fun with serious play. They had unique uniforms which helped the Celtics to stand out. All the newspapers who covered the Celtics spoke of their unselfish play.
In 1936, Lapchick was hired to coach at St. John's University. At first, Lapchick lacked confidence as a coach and he did not know how to structure practices and scrimmages. He thought that the players noticed his diffidence. However, they did not notice his lack of confidence or trepidation. Over time, he grew into the job and gained more confidence as a coach.
At this time, college sports and professional sports dealt with the problem of illegal gambling. After the Black Sox Scandal in 1920, laws were passed against gambling on professional sporting events. However, these laws did not pertain to amateur events such as college games.
Lapchick liked coaching the college game and learned to communicate better with his players
Lapchick went on to coach the New York Knicks and eventually returned to coach at St. John's.
Overall, the book grants an insightful view into part of the history of college and professional basketball. The book also presents Lapchick's contributions to both.
March 8, 2021
An interesting book dealing not only with the coaches life but with the development of basketball from an almost unknown sport through to the doorstep of what the NBA has become today.
I read it primarily to find out about Sweetwater Clifton's breaking the NBA color barrier, but was very excited to find a lot about the segregation and situation of Black basketball players generally during the first part of the twentieth century. And, along the way, I found a great story about a humble man and how he used his moral compass and height to get through life.
I didn't think I would like that the author, who was also a player, was, during the last section of the book when he played for Lapchick, interjecting his thoughts and remembrances into the story, blurring the biographical lines, but it actually worked very well.
I read it primarily to find out about Sweetwater Clifton's breaking the NBA color barrier, but was very excited to find a lot about the segregation and situation of Black basketball players generally during the first part of the twentieth century. And, along the way, I found a great story about a humble man and how he used his moral compass and height to get through life.
I didn't think I would like that the author, who was also a player, was, during the last section of the book when he played for Lapchick, interjecting his thoughts and remembrances into the story, blurring the biographical lines, but it actually worked very well.
November 29, 2020
A wonderful history of basketball in NYC from the Knicks to St. Johns – the man was a giant in many senses. Excellent read
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews