Nothing But Net: Just Give Me the Ball and Get Out of the Way

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I FOUND BILL TO BE HONEST, REFRESHING AND OPINIONATED. I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME BUT HE MAKES MANY GOOD POINTS. HE DOES NOT GET INTO HIS PRIVATE LIFE TOO MUCH BUT THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED PRIVATE. I ENJOYED HIS STORIES AND PHILOSOPHIES OF JOHN WOODEN AND THE OTHER COACHES HE PLAYED FOR. WALTON WAS A REBEL IN HIS YOUNGER DAYS BUT HAS CALMED DOWN. HIS FEET INJURIES TOOK AWAY A GREAT CAREER. HE WAS THE BEST PASSING CENTER I HAVE SEEN. THIS BOOK IS FOR BASKETBALL FANS AND DEADHEADS. (GROUPIES OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD)

I liked this book. I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Walton a few months ago and I subsequently read his book. What you get in the book is an honest discussion of basketball and life. It is not written so much to "entertain" you with juicy gossip or snide remarks as it is to explain what it is really like. What are the pressures of big time college basketball and the pros? That is the insight that I appreciated. Bill clearly conveys his experiences, the successes and the failures. As a person of similar age, I found it fun to remember what I saw and thought and compare it to someone who was experiencing it first hand. Bill Walton is a man of principle and honor. He doesn't necessarily say the popular or the politically correct thing. But, he speaks his mind and he makes a lot of sense. Read this book with an open mind. If you approach it as a conversation, not a logical, step by step lesson, you will find yourself like I did, listening, reflecting, and thinking. Isn't that what you really want in a book?I have seen Bill Walton go to great efforts to speak to ordinary people he meets on the street. I have seen him personally provide motivational materials and notes of encouragement to Special Olympics kids that he will never meet. I have seen the real Bill Walton. It is someone that you should meet. Your life will be all the richer for it.

Even though Walton can be thought of as biased towards his favorite players, like Michael, I did enjoy this book. You get to learn about Walton's UCLA days, when he played for the US team, and his NBA days. We get to understand the relationship he had with John Wooden, which continues to this day. He had an injury riddled pro career, so we will never know how good he could have been. One thing is certain, his place as one of the greatest centers in college basketball history is assured. Also, he was one of the greatest sixth men in NBA history when he helped the Celtics win an NBA championship.