For me, nothing says “I love you” or “I know you” then giving me the perfect must-read book. Maybe that’s because I’m a book junkie. But I’m going to use the super cheesy like “books are a gift that keeps on giving” because I truly believe that. There are some books that have stayed with me for over 25 years!

Sports books are even more likely to strike a powerful chord with the receipient because most of them are very inspirational and full of “overcoming the odds” stories that make you feel like You Can Do Anything!

Here is my list of Must-Read Sports Books for 2009 that I have either read (and cried to) or I have on my holiday wish list! (keep in mind this is just the ’09 list! Also check out the Stiletto Sports Bookshelf for other great sports reads)

• Open: An Autobiography Andre Agassi (Read the Reviews) This is definitely the must-read book of the season. Agassi’s book hit the stands only a few weeks ago and was at the top of the list before it even debuted. I hate to quote someone else here but I couldn’t say it better myself: After 20 pages, I knew that this was unlike any other biography I had ever read. Couldn’t put it down. Couldn’t stop thinking about it. Agassi dug deeper inside than most of us ever will have to, to get to core of what made him so powerful as a player and so conflicted as a person. It is all conspicuously real: The small moments, the outlandish triumphs and the friendships that sustained him and/or corrupted him. The gauntlet he had to run through to arrive at the balance and joy he has today. It’s transformative. –H.S. Brice via Amazon Reviews

• When The Game Was Ours Larry Bird & Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Read the Reviews)This is the must-read book of the season in my house! The book, written by digs deep into the past of on-court rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The two were the fiercest of competitors for nearly . This book takes you on their journey through those pivotal games, key moments and highlights and better yet, gives us a glimpse of what was really going on, what they really thought. This should go down as one of the most intriguing and best reads about pro basketball and even sports”
  
• The Yankee Years Joe Torre (Read the Reviews) Ask any Yankees fan what he or she did on Feb. 3, 2009 and a majority of them could probably answer “Bought Joe Torre’s book,” (except of course those who had preordered it!) This was one of the most highly anticipated sports books of all time. It almost reached Harry Potter or Twilight release levels of excitement. Yankees fans, haters and even those bored by baseball were dying to know what was in this book. And it lived up to the hype. Not only does it recount amazing memories about America’s beloved team but also “The Yankee Years chronicles the end of an era in baseball, a more innocent time before steroid scandals, big money and executive decisions based on advanced statistical analysis.”
  
• The Blind Side The Michael Oher Story (Read the Reviews) Written by Michael Williams The Sandra Bullock The Blind Side has been getting rave reviews in the theaters and the book the movie is based on is just as good. However…..it is very different from the Disney-esque movie version (note: the movie was not done by Disney, just has that feel-good vibe, ya know?) which focuses more on the the inspirational family aspect of the story. The book still delves into Michael’s story and shows how truly remarkable his upbringing and raise to fame really is, but the book is so much more. It shows great insight into sports and American society and the evolution of both. Highly recommend.
  
• Hard Work: My Life on and Off the Court Roy Williams(Read the Review)I’ve been a huge Roy Williams fan since his coaching days at Kansas. He’s always radiated class and sound philosophies. This book details just how much hard work and struggle he had to go through to get to where he is today: the coach of the National Champion North Carolina Tar Heels. But shows you that with hard work and perserverance, you can accomplish anything.
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• Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance Tony Dungy(Read the Review) The motivational words behind former NFL coach Tony Dungy’s book, and his life, are simple: “Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man. I’m looking for uncommon people.” In this follow-up book to Quiet Strength, Dungy explains the foundations of how he lives his life and how to become uncommon. The book is a wonderful mix of autobiographical tales, self-help, inspiration and football.
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• First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner Kurt Warner (Read the Review) In a sense, this is the sequel to All Things Possible: My Faith, Football and The Miracle Season, which I also highly recommend. The story of Kurt’s struggling rise to fame will make you truly believe that all things are possible. They are the perfect books for the holiday season–and during these difficult times.

• The Catch: One Play, Two Dynasties, and the Game That Changed the NFL Gary Myers (Read the Review) Gary takes one of the most famous moments in NFL history
  “The Catch” in the endzone and brings the story to light from both sides in this tale of Two Dynasites. A must read for any football fan–or any sports fan for that matter—since it is based on an iconic moment in sports history.
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• Safe at Home: Confessions of a Baseball Fanatic Alyssa Milano (Read the Review) I have been dying to read this book for months now (hint hint for all those shopping for me!) First, I’m a huge Alyssa fan—follow her on Twitter and watch old episodes of Charmed pretty much every night! So if she loves baseball, that’s a pretty good way to get me—and any anti-baseball girl— to love it too. Once again, the book is just about her life or her love of the Dodgers. Her book illustrates how sports are the last real social interation and connection we have today.
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• On the Line Serena Williams (Read the Review) Originally I had this book higher up on my list—and in my wish list cart in amazon—because it hit the best seller list and I thought, hmmm, she’s a sports figure I’d love to know more about. However, the reviews for the book have been so ….well, so-so….that I’ve shoved the book to the bottom of my list. Apparently the book doesn’t really even scratch the surface of Serena, on or off the court. But hey, if you are a tennis or Serena fan, then check it out and let me know what you think!
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Have you read any of these or have them on your wish list? Leave me a comment below! I’d love to know what you think. Also, don’t forget to check out the Stiletto Sports Bookshelf Archive which features other amazing sports books that make great reads and even better gifts!

Please let me know if there is something you think should be added to the list. Also, let me know what you are hoping Santa (or the Holiday Armadillo) is bringing you this year! Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @StilettoSportsJ.

Don’t forget to check out 55 Gift Ideas for NFL Fans and 102 Gift Ideas for Yankees Fans. Stiletto Sports: One stop shopping for all the sports fans in your life!

Books

1. The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy  “ From the review: “Bill Simmons, best known as ESPN.com’s “The Sports Guy,” explores the NBA with hilarious insight, brilliant analysis, and a bevy of irreverent footnotes. Simmons is a fan first  and writes from the stands, not the press room.  The Book of Basketball is not just a tribute to hardwood heroes, but also a celebration of yelling at TV sets, revering lucky jerseys, and holding our breath until the final buzzer sounds. Throw in pages of nearly-insane statistical breakdowns (including a projected boxscore from the movie Teen Wolf), and it’s easy to see why fans of all levels should clear shelf space for this instant classic.”
2. When the Game was Ours: The behind the scenes story of Larry Bird & Magic Johnson and the decades long rivalry between them.
3. Sports Illustrated: The Basketball Book Everything a basketball fan could possibly want in a book, done by the experts.
4. Shooting Stars The LeBron James Story
5. The Art of a Beautful Game: The Thinking Fan’s Tour of the NBA From the review: It’s fashionable to say that pro athletes don’t have anything interesting to say. Maybe that’s because they’re not being asked the right questions. Chris Ballard, who covers the NBA for Sports Illustrated, asks the right questions. Namely, he gets players to talk at length on what they’re most passionate about — the intricacies of the sport that is their life’s work.
6. Mindgames: Phil Jackson’s Long Strange Journey A peek inside the long, strange mind of Chicago Bulls/Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Phil Jackson.
7. Michael Jordan: A Biography. The man, the myth and the legend himself.
8. Let me Tell You A Story: A Lifetime in the Game the tales of Red Aurebach, the legendary leader of the Boston Celtics, written by John Feinstien, the legendary sportswriter
9. The Los Angeles Lakers: 50 Amazing Years in the City of Angels. Not for Boston Celtics fans.
10. The Ultimate Basketball Book: More than 100 years of the Sports Evolution The name kinda says it all here! It’s the ultimate book of 100 years of basketball!

Basketball Movies & DVDS

1. One Love: The Game. The Life. One Love features the top NBA All-Stars of the day and gives the viewer a clear view of how they got to the top of the basketball world. Highlights include never-before-released high school footage of over 30 current NBA players, literally at the beginning of their career paths. Check out Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Rasheed Wallace, and many more.
2. NBA Ultimate Jordan 20th Anniversary Collector’s DVD There aren’t many basketball fans that  won’t appreciate an MJ collector’s gift. Even fans that claim to hate him because they were Barkley, Malone, Magic or Ewing fans can still appreciate the awe-inspiring Jordan and all he did for the game of basketball.
3. NBA Dynasty Series & Complete Histories: Collector’s DVDs of your favorite dynasty. See all the highlights and behind the scenes footage of the L.A. Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and other top teams during their peak years!
4. The Los Angeles Lakers 2008-09 Champions DVD: Relive the Lakers 2009 championship minute by painful minute. Don’t mind me, I’m a Celtics fan.
5. NBA: 25 Years of Champions: This is a great archive collector’s DVD of the last 25 years of NBA championships. There is locker room coverage and all the key highlights of the playoffs .

Also, basketball themed movies make great gifts like Hoosiers, Coach Carter, The Pistol or The Air up There. My post Basketball Movies for Guys Who Love the Shake and Bake gives a bunch of suggestions!

NBA Fan Gear

Official Basketball Jerseys are always a great gift, no matter what the occassion! Check out Stiletto Sports’ 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys for 2009-10 to see who’s hot right now!

Fashion Basketball Jerseys/Gear are also great, unique alternative gifts for basketball fans! Majestic makes great imitation jerseys for guys and gals!

1. Majestic NBA Imitation Jersey Tees
2. Majestic NBA Imitation Jersey Tanks for Her

Basketball  Sneakers

I had no idea just how popular basketball sneakers were to NBA lovers until the 2009 All-Star Game. That’s when I discovered that All-Star Weekend is like the Spring Fashion Show for NBA Sneakers. Seriously, that’s when all the new hot shoes premiere. I even did a post called the NBA All-Star All-Shoe Team, going through the best sneakers of all time.

Actually, basketball shoes debut constantly. There is always a new hot pair of kicks hitting Finish Line. Never let a guy make fun of how many shoes you have because let me tell you, they have the same shoe fetish. It’s just for sneakers not stilettos.

Here are some of the most popular brands and NBA player sneakers.

• Nike Zoom LeBron
• Nike Zoom Kobe
• Converse Wade Dwayne Wade’s signature line
• adidas TS Bounce Commanders: Who wears them? Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett
• Nike Huarache: Tim Duncan
• adidas Lightening Creator
• Air Jordans: Michael Jordan, despite being retired, still has one of the hottest sneaker lines in the industry. New releases in his line (in most divisions) are always highly anticipated and gobbled up like Manolo Mary Janes. And the retro collection is highly coveted

Fun Basketball Gifts & Games

1. NBA Monopoly If you haven’t checked out the other gift guides, then you don’t know how obsessed I am with customized monopoly games. I think they are such a great idea.
   Choose 22 of the 30 NBA teams and place the labels on the game board. Which teams will you choose? Which team will you put on Boardwalk, Park Place, Illinois, Baltic etc.? It’s your say which teams play! Then. . . buy, sell and trade your favorite teams in an effort to own and control the NBA, a basketball fan’s fantasy
2. Lakers Monopoly: Perfect for Lakers fan, this special-edition Monopoly board features famous Lakers players throughout history. Also contains six collectible Lakers-themed pewter tokens, including: Lakers Logo, Basketball Hoop, NBA Basketball, NBA Championship Trophy, Defensive Player and Offensive Player.
3. NBA Officially Licensed Poker Chip Set: This NBA set is sure to be one of the hottest items for poker players. It includes: 500 assorted 11.5g NBA branded chips, 2 full decks of officially licensed playing cards, “Referee” Dealer, “Big Blind” and “Small Blind” Buttons, 5 translucent red dice and a basketball leather wraped aluminum case. And reviews say they are all really high quality and very impressive
4. NBA Team Mr. Potato Head: I first game across this guy when doing research for my 102 Yankees Gift Ideas post and thought he was so stinkin’ cute! Such a fun, original gift idea for a sports fan!

NBA Stocking Stuffers

So maybe you don’t want to to turn the holidays into an NBA All-Star Christmas with jerseys and books and sneakers. That’s okay! How about fun little NBA themed stocking stuffers instead? These five ideas are guaranteed to put a smile on your basketball fan’s face!

1. NBA Team Bottle Openers
2. NBA Team Key Chains
3. NBA Team Magnets
4. NBA Team Coffee Mugs & Glasses
5. NBA Team Jewelry & Cufflinks

Ultimate NBA Lover Gifts

1. Tickets to a Game. Tickets to a game are really the best gift idea for any sports fan. Always get at least two tickets: one for them and one for you, whether you like the sport or not. It’s a great way to share on something you friend, father or significant other enjoys. Make it extra special by putting the tickets in an awesome Ticket Scrapbook Holder and then wrapping it up! Definitely a great suprise!
2. Gift Baskets: For this I recommend finding a fun basket, ceramic basketball shaped dish or a NBA team waste basket to start. Then fill it up with all sorts of goodies. I like doing basketball movie or book themed baskets. If you do the movie one, don’t forget to throw in some popcorn and popcorn seasoning! If you do a book one, add an NBA team mug so they can curl up and read with a cup of chocolate or coffee!
3. NBA Leather Recliners Yes the team colors can be garish and probably don’t go with your home decor, but there’s got to be a room somewhere in your house that it would fit in! This chair is super comfy and will make your basketball lover super happy—and the envy of all his other basketball loving buddies!
4. NBA Collectibles

• Signed Basketballs: For true NBA Fans, the best gift you can give is an autographed basketball from their favorite player. But be forewarned, if their player is any good, it’s going to cost you big bucks for the basketball. And the case to keep it in.
• Framed Memorabilia: I know this is a bit vague “memorabilia” but it covers it all. Because there is so many different kinds of collectibles, everything from framed game winning shots to pieces of hardwood floors of iconic basketball stadiums like Boston Garden.

Over the next month we will be bringing you The Ultimate Gift Giving Guide for Sports Lovers. Every day a new post designed to find the perfect present for the sports fans in your life! From World Champion Yankees, Steelers and Tar Heels merchandise to the most unique tailgating gift ideas EVER, these posts will have something for everyone on your shopping list.

And not only will we tell you what to get, we’ll help you figure out where to find it!

Now most of you probably know all about Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year… the day that has retailers going to bed on Thanksgiving with visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads. But do you know about Cyber Monday? Because somehow I didn’t! Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30th and it’s the day that online retailers have insane specials!

I have a whole bunch of coupons and deals to share with you from places like Finish Line, Foot Locker, Champs, Shoes.com, Zazzle eSportsOnline, Sports Authority and Amazon.com! I’ll get those up as soon as I can!

Later this week we’ll be going through the most popular NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, and college jerseys as well as top tailgating gifts, 10 must-read best-sellers for any sports fan, and the most unique sports gifts of the season.

But for right now, since I also have a day job in retail and it’s a big week for us there as well, I’m just going to give you a little Holiday Guide Preview by recaping & linking to all of our best Stiletto Sports Giving Guides from the last year!

Also, I’m going to send you to the Stiletto Sports Fierce and Fabulous Boutique because all of the products featured in the guides are available for easy purchase through our store, which is an Amazon.com affiliate.

Oh… and, I’m a big fan of “one for them, two for me” when it comes do gift shopping. So don’t forget to check out The Stiletto Sports Shop to pick up something cute for yourself!

*****These are all links to older posts on Stiletto Sports, NOT random websites!

Stiletto Sports Complete Gift Giving Guide for Sports Loving Moms

Stiletto Sports Complete Holiday Gift Giving Guide for Sports Fans

Great Gifts  Ideas for Basketball Fans

• Slam Dunkin’ Best Gifts for NBA Lovers
• NCAA Basketball Books
• The Best Damn Basketball Books
• The Best Damn Basketball Movies for Fans Who Love the Shake and Bake
• UNC Tar Heels National Championship Gear

Great Gift Ideas for Baseball Fans

• Fun-est Baseball Gifts EVER!
• Great Gift Ideas for Yankees Lovers
• Tales of Modern & Past Baseball: Great books for any baseball fan!
• The Best Damn Baseball Movies for Guys who JuSt Love baseball!
• The Best Damn Baseball Movies for Girls who Like Crying in Baseball

Great Gift Ideas for Football Fans

• The Best Damn Books for the Football Fanatic
• The Best Damn 5-Star Football Movies
• My Favorite Football Gift Ideas

A few More Great Gift Ideas for all sports lovers

• . The Best Damn Sports Movies: Hockey, Boxing, Golf
• Stiletto Sports Ultimate Sports Lover Gift Sets/Baskets

My new favorite shopping site: The NBA Store

I will say my top recommendations are:

-Jerseys. I think every basketball loving friendI know has at least one jersey and always wants another.

-Hot Kicks: Yeah, I didn’t really think I was cool enough to pull that expression off but I had to try. But NBA fans are bigger shoe addicts than I am and that’s saying something. They are always coveting the hottest new sneakers that are released

-A Collector’s DVD. And I did give a list of my favorites. I did notice that Amazon.com was usually cheaper.

-A gift card to the NBA Store or online store. Then if you were just as overwhelmed as I was, grab the gift card and let the recipient try to decide!

2009 NCAA Tournament Tickets

-And my personal favorite: Tickets to a game! I LOVE live games. Check out your favorite team and players live. And with March Madness fast approaching…just saying, that would be a great gift!

My Favorite NBA Collectors DVDS

-Ultimate Jordan 20th Anniversary Collector’s Set

I am actually going to admit that I would like myself. I don’t care who the superstars of today are or how great they may be, no one can compare to Michael Jordan. I thought about being objective but, well, it’s my site so I can sat what I want Included in the set are 5 of MJ’s best games and 5 of his top selling programs like “Come Fly With Me”

-Boston Celtics 2007-2008 Championship Collectors Edition

-These are also available for Spurs, Rockets, Lakers…..pick a team

-Greatest NBA Rivalries & Upsets: Volume I

-60th Anniversary Edition: Greatest Moments in NBA History (this is from 2005 though)

-NBA Dynasty Complete Histories

-Knicks, Lakers, Bulls, 76ers, Celtics

The name might be a mouthful but the book itself is a great look into college basketball. These are serious powerhouse teams and the breeding ground for the elite. I’m actually just going to give you the back cover as my summary because after reading that, you will realize it is a must-have for any basketball fan.

Back Cover: “As the 2005 NCAA basketball season entered conference tournament play, three of the nation’s top five rated teams were from the famed basketball hotbed in North Carolina known as “Tobacco Road.” Between 1981 and 2005, teams from the four basketball powerhouses – Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest – reached the Final Four nineteen times and won seven national championships. Not since the Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants all played in New York City have rivalries so passionate been contained within such a small geographical region. These four college programs grew up within just thirty-four miles of each other (though Wake eventually moved across the state to Winston-Salem) and have staged classic battles throughout the decades, featuring stars like David Thompson, Michael Jordan, Johnny Dawkins, and Tim Duncan, and legendary coaches such as Dean Smith, Jim Valvano, Mike Kryzewski, and Roy Williams, Tobacco Road covers the rich traditions of Tobacco Road basketball – and the backyard rivalries that become more and more intense with every year.”

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Basketball Game That Changed American Sports by Frank Fitzpatrick

A.k.a  Another verision of Glory Road, the book that has now been made into a movie. But I will be honest here and tell you that I had no idea it was the same story when I picked the book out. It was only as I was typing the description that I said, hmm, this sounds familiar! Because I reviewed Glory Road in the basketball movie section, I thought here I would change it up and refer you to this different POV on the event, because Glory Road is actually from Coach Don Haskins perspective. This one, is not. It’s 1966. Texas Western has 5 black players as their starting line-up, something unheard of at that time. They went on to beat Kentucky in the NCAA Championship and their players totally dominated the white boys of Kentucky. This game wound up becoming a history altering event. I would LOVE if someone could read them both and then tell me which one you like best because after reading The Pistol I really want to re-read the Harry Potter books.

How March Became Madness: How the NCAA Tournament Became the Greatest Sporting Event in America by Eddie Einhorn and Ron Rapoport

Wow! That’s a bold title! I mean, I’m not going to dispute since I, Admitted March Madness Addict since the early 90s, 100% agree. This book shows how NCAA basketball went from a bunch of coaches and college kids playing ball to the crazed, billion dollar phenomenon that it is today. How the first televised regular season game between UCLA and Houston in 1968 paved the way for march madness. It is also a a great story compiled from interviews from the greatest coaches and players.

A Season on the Brink by John Feinstein

This was Feinstein’s breakout book. Since then he has gone on to acheive greatness in his career as an acclaimed sports novelist. It is the best selling sports book of all time because of the winning combo of Feinstein’s writing and his “main character” Indiana Hoosier’s head coach Bobby Knight. Feinstein was able to follow the infamous Knight during the 1985-65 season and helped shed light the heart of Knight who was always known for his volatile temper and love of throwing chairs during game.

Leading with the Heart: Coach K’s Strategies for Basketball, Business and Life by Mike Krzyzewski and Donald T. Phillips

Go ahead, try to say his name. Not many can, hence the Coach K. There are many books about the beloved Duke Basketball coach but I’m picking this one because it is his words, even though it’s not necessarily his biography. There are his rules of life and how to apply them to you every day life whether you are a coach, a businessman or just a basketball fan looking to better himself. Duke fan or not, there are few people who don’t love and respect Coach K.

Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravitch by Mark Kriegel

I read about this while researching for my DVD list and I really can’t wait to read the book and see the movie. I’m flat out admitting that I have absolutely no idea who this kid is, although the name Pistol Pete did sound familiar (although I think that I think he is a cartoon character that is friends with Bugs Bunny….) But his life sounds remarkable. This is the story of Pete Maravitch, told in what has been described as an unforgettable biography about “a child prodigy, the prodigal son and his father’s ransom in a Faustian bargain.” Maravitch was a remarkable basketball player in the 60s who went on to set huge scoring records at Lousiana State University. But beyond that he became “basketball’s answer to Elvis, a white Southern who sold Middle America on a black man’s game.” And the price he paid to be so great.

Let me tell you a story: A Lifetime in the game: by John Feinstein and  Red Auerbach

I was about to say it is the tale of the coach of the Boston Celtic’s Dynasty when I just read a better headline: The Emperor of the Celtic’s Dynasty. Feinstein spent four years meeting with Auerbach once a week, for lunch with the good ole boys at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays. And every week he learned more and more about one of his great idols. Feinstein is a highly acclaimed sports novelist so that alone is reason to read this. Auerbach has many books about his life and philosophies but this one is truly unique and fascinating.

Michael Jordan: A Biography: by David L. Porter

It’s Michael Jordan. Do I really have to elaborate on why this book should be read? He is one of, if not THE, greatest athletes and sports heroes of all time. He single-handedly (although I hate to say that because his teammates, coaches and rivals were great as well) changed the game of basketball into what it has become to day and became and international phenom. His skill, personality and branded image had a profound impact on American society. I’m sorry, I really can say nothing bad. I love him.

Mindgames: Phil Jackson’s Long Strange Journey by Roland Lazenby

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that this man is good. He lead the Bulls and Lakers to a combine 7 Championships as head coach and he also had two rings himself when he was a player. He was a mentor to Michael Jordan, Shaquielle O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and he was adored in Chicago, L.A., and even in New York during the 90s when the Knicks/Bulls rivarly ran rampant. He is truly a fascinating person and the book sheds light on both the good and bad parts of his long, strange journey of his life.

Stiletto Set’s Best Basketball Movie Guide

*See a movie you like or want to give as a gift? Just click the pic or name and you will be taken to Amazon.com to get prices!

Inspirational High School Ball:

1. Hoosiers

Referred to over and over again as the best basketball movie of all time and in the top sports movies of all time, Hoosiers is an iconic classic. It’s based on a true story of the high school basketball team in Milan, Indiana in 1954 that made it to the state championships, against all the odds.  Inspirational, powerful, uplifting and full of basketball plays!

2. Coach Carter

Also based on a true story and has a very similar feel as Hoosiers. However this is about a coach’s struggle and his unconventional methods with his academically stuggling team. It’s almost like taking Hoosiers and mixing it with Gangsters Paradise or The Principal.

3. Hoop Dreams

I will admit I’ve seen it and now, 14 or so years later I’d probably see it again. I just know that is was very long. Good, but long. It’s a documentary about two very talented players, Arthur Agee and William Gates, and their dreams of making it in the NBA. The film follows them through high school and into college and it’s a remarable portrayal of their struggles to succeed.

4. The Pistol

This has just been released on DVD and after reading about it, I actually can’t wait to see it. It is the story of Pete Maravich, or Pistol Pete as he is commonly known, the basketball prodigy who stunned and inspired the nation with his unparalled talent. He was a scrawny white kid in the deep south playing the black man’s game. And he was good. I’m actually going to send you to Amazon’s review of the book so you can read more about it because I loved what the had to say and I personally can’t wait to learn more. Amazon’s Review of The Pistol, the novel.

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NCAA:

5. Glory Road

The true story of Texas Western’s 1965-66 controversial team and their Coach Don Haskins.The Miners had the first all-black starting lineup team and they made it to the NCAA national basketball championships. The team was mocked and hated then but became a legend.

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NBA

6. Forget Paris

Now this I like! Not sure any male in the country would call it a good basketball movie (although I know my dad likes it). It’s a romantic comedy set around the basketball court! Billy Crystal is an NBA referree that travels around the country. The story is actually told by their friends that are sitting in restaurant waiting for the couple to arrive and are recapping their up and down history over the years. It’s cute!

Comedies:

7. White men Can’t Jump

Hilarious classic comedy with Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes and Rosie Perez. The unlikely combo pair up to hustle other players around town. Best known for its trash talking sequences between the “teammates.

8. The Air up There

The only way Coach Jimmy Dolan is going to get his promotion is to get a superstar on his team. He heads to Africa to convince Saleh, a basketball prodigy to come to the US to play. But in order to get him, Jimmy has to convince Saleh and help his tribe. Full of funny moments and great basketball moves like the “Jimmy Dolan shake and bake!”

9. Semi-Pro

It’s 1976. The American Basketball Association is about the go under and merge with the National Basketball Association. Only the top four teams get to go, and the Flint Michigan Tropics are not in the top. Enter Will Farrell, aka Jackie Moon, the owner, promoter, coach and star player of the team. Moon rallies his team with the hopes of moving from last place to top four! And underdog story and a Farrell comedy? Can’t beat that!

A few other “baskeball movies” with at least some ball in them:

-He Got Game–Great story between father and son starring Denzel Washington and real NBA star Ray Allen. The basketball scenes are great and the relationship between the two is very intense.

-Teen Wolf–Who doesn’t love Michael J. Fox???

-Above the Rim

-Like Mike

-Eddie

-O – I am sneaking this one in at the very bottom because I am a huge Josh Hartnett fan!