This moving book was much more than I thought it would be. A shining example of how we all may aim high, own up to our limitations and occasional defeats, and keep pushing forward while humbly welcoming the gift of wisdom, of love, and assistance from the various people with whom our lives intersect. People of virtually any age may look upon these pages and feel as I did, that Mr. Stockton has given us a tremendous gift in his reminiscences and musings, vignettes that, in total, intrigue, inspire, while serving as a blueprint for how to be an honorable human being in the age of distraction. And we are shown how he hasn't done that alone. Read more
This was an enjoyable read through which I got insight into the man's life who helped me to love basketball. When I was on the court, I didn't want to be Jordan, Magic, or Bird. I wanted to be Stockton. I loved the kind of person he was, and the way he played. When he hit the "Shot Heard Round the World," I was watching, and am not ashamed to say that after so many years of hoping they'd finally get to the next level, the tears came. Best thing about Stockton, he never disappointed me with behavior that so many public figures do. That may not be fair, because no one is perfect, but public figures are role models, whether they like it or not, and he was a great one. This book was simply a pleasure to read. I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it by sharing details other than to say if you liked Stockton, or are interested in the road he travelled to get to the pinnacle, you'll enjoy this read. Read more
It's just very John Stockton. Humble, and unaware of his own greatness. Great for fans who want to learn more about his journey in life and basketball. Basketball fans might be craving for a little more coverage on basketball than life's lessons and such. A truly wonderful treat for fans of the great little men of the game and arguably the greatest true blue point guard of our time. The pages get flipped quickly and you are done with it before you know it, because it is thoroughly entertaining. If you've caught his Hall of Fame induction speech, you'll know what to expect. A great read that I'd recommend to anyone, non-sportsfans and bball fanatics alike. Read more
John Stockton has been my favorite basketball player of all time. I grew up watching him play on my small TV, and even enjoyed going to many games at the Delta Center to watch him and the Mailman put on their show! This book delves into how John became who he is today, and touches on many personal events that most people don't know about him. I'm glad I read the book; his dry sense of humor was great and the writing was well done. John gives a lot of sage advice (all of which he learned from his parents, coaches, and others). I have come to respect him for being so firm in his values, and for going the extra mile with his family. What an inspiration! The part that made me feel bad for John was the last few years of his NBA career. The way he explains how after Antoine Carr and Jeff Hornacek retired, the new young players on the team showed no interest in befriending him. John was used to being best buds with his teammates, like Mark Eaton, Thurl Bailey, etc. The new guys preferred to attach to their electronics. I think this is what truly hurt the Jazz, not the retiring of the other players. When a team consists of friends who know each other on and off the court, it makes sense that their teamwork and hard work in basketball will show. I get the feeling that this disconnect largely affected Stockton in such a way that retirement was indeed a necessity. All in all, this book was very inspiring. Perhaps one day I will write my own personal memoir, reflecting on the sage advice I have received throughout my life. This is just another thing that came to me while reading about John Stockton and those who "Assisted" him on his journey. Read more
John's autobiography was as simple and humble as he always seemed to be. He goes into great detail explaining his take on the limelight, which is only one of many topics that shed more light on his life and career than probably any other source ever has. One particular topic, his love of his family, struck special chords for me personally. You're not going to get a raw history of the game of basketball according to John. You're not going to get too many juicy details of players at the time. You're not going to get a self-serving account of his accolades. On the contrary, you will get to see players as John saw them: friends, people, and competitors with real lives and feelings. You will rarely hear of an accolade; instead, you will get an account of all the work he put in. If you want the story of a flashy athlete, complete with scandal, money, and sex, this is not the auto-biography for you. If you want to hear about the values of hard work, friendship, and family this is for you. If you just want more insight on the best pure point guard to ever play basketball, this is definitely for you. Read more
I gave this book a 5 star rating, John tells his story in the must humble way. I do not care about the "the first time" or "how many" in the previous reads about NBA players. The way John handled his fame with keeping his family values is what earned my respect for John. John had several key people who helped him get to where he is today and the greatest part of this is that John still to this day stays close to these people. John, I know you don't like being called a role model but you are to me! Thank-you for sharing your autobiography with your fans! Read more
