BOOK REVIEWS
The book chronicles the ups and downs in Curtis Carter's basketball career. It includes his rejection letters from Georgetown University and Kentucky. He ended up in Westmoreland County Community College in Pennsylvania and that's where he helped his team get to the NJCAA (Junior College) finals.
Then he went to Lakeland Community College to Dyke College where they cancelled the program. He is 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds and he still couldn't get a scholarship to a major college program even though he had good grades and letters of recommendation. That's part of the frustration that college athletes have to go through.
Curtis joined some funky leagues and played for a Harlem Globetrotteresque team in Canada! They were billed as a comedic basketball team. But after that Mr. Carter started to travel the world as an "Ambassador of Basketball" and that makes the book very different and interesting.
In 2002 he tried to join a Slovakian league for a rate that might surprise the readers out there. It was higher than I would have expected. It really shows how many leagues there are around the world. Find out how that turned out. Then he went to Korsovo, a first for a player that touched an NBA basket (he played during the strike).
I definitely recommend this book because of its honesty; The book could serve as a sneak peek into the future for some aspiring professional basketball players hoping to find a way to keep playing the game that they love. The Road To The NBA is difficult for most players and this book is the first that I have seen that shows that. Stars get pampered in school and eventually in the NBA but there are a lot more players like Curtis out there that can relate to his story. I found myself cheering for him to see what happens next and in Volume II I will do just that.
-Russ Cohen, Director of Communications / http://hoopsology.com/
I am excitedly starting on a book by pro basketball vagabond Curtis Carter entitled, "The Road To The NBA: The Other Side, Vol.1." Carter is a fellow Northeast Ohioan and born again Christian who cites his faith and love of the game as the biggest factors in allowing him to overcome his physically abusive parents and become a college graduate, author, and professional athlete. So far, it looks inspiring.
-Sam Amico, Editor and Pro Basketball Analyst / www.probasketballnews.com
Very interesting story!
-Brian Ross, Senior Editor / http://minorleaguenews.com/
The book is amazing! And very thought provoking. The reality kept me glued to the pages. I highly recommend this book.
-Charmane Townsell, Sheriff's Depart. Employee
A really good book.
-Lamont Robinson, former G.M. (ABA) NEPA Breakers Professional Basketball Team
/ Owner, The Harlem Road Kings / http://roadkingsbasketball.com
Unbelievable! Courageous! Strong! A great example of rising up against the odds. It drew me in from the very first page. I couldn't put the book down. Some areas made me cry and some areas made me laugh. This is a great book.
-Stephanie Hunter, Flight Attendant
This book was very informative about professional basketball and it opened my eyes about the true nature of the sport. I will now watch the game in a different way.
-Basketball Fan
Educational, Refreshing, and Bones Reality!
-Paul Higgins, Award Winning T.V. Producer, Athletes-In-Motion Sports Television
A belief in keeping dreams alive. His vision became his plan. I do believe that one day he will play in the NBA. Persistence!
-Eduardo Diaz, Owner (IBL) Cedar Valley Jaguars Professional Basketball Team and former G.M. of AAA Minor League baseball in Mexico, and is a Certified Major League Baseball Associate
I can see what a tough life is, to search a dream or just to survive. I am very glad for you. You are an example of Determination.
-Eneko Izkara Herreros, Former Assistant Coach (ESP-ACB) Team Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket in Spain
Overall this book is one of a kind. However, I disagree with the author, I believe that people who are gay are born that way. Nonetheless, the horrible bus accident that almost ruined the authors professional basketball career was heart-wrenching. I still can't figure out how a passenger got his hand caught underneath the bus when it crashed and flipped over without having it separated from his wrist. I have to say that the author is a real inspiration for surviving that accident. Wow!
-Doug Jenkins, Mortgage Broker
The Road To The NBA is a long and painful road for many people. It is not easy becoming one of the few elite who get paid huge sums of money for doing what they love, but the prize at the end of the road is well worth it. This book is a great read if you enjoy reading about the tough times that players have through the years in getting to where they are now.
-http://fishpond.com.au/books (Austrailia) / "Customer Review" (****), 4 out of 5 stars
The Road To The NBA "The Other Side" is the best book I have ever read. The book set's a course for success at all aspects of life. It doesn't matter if it is sports, or education, or social status, the book shows how to take bad situations in your life that are beyond your control and turn them into victories. It shows that if you never give up on your dreams that eventually good things will happen.
Also, by making good choices in life you have the ability to determine if you will be a success. As a teacher and a coach, I found his perseverence to be inspiring and uplifting. I recommend this book to not only educators and coaches who want to motivate their players and students but also to anyone who has ever come up short on his dreams and how to bounce back when things don't always work.
This book can be paralleled to our everyday lives throughout every page and you will cheer with him as he reaches the pinnacle of his dreams and struggle with him through the disappointments of his life like you are there with him every step of the way. I give this book 2-thumbs up and recommend it to anyone who has ever had a dream.
-John Neil, Iowa High School Educator 15-years
2006 Writer's Digest / 14th Annual Self-Published Book Awards Judge's Comments:
Volume 1- The author does a very good job at making the book easy to read. It feels like he is sitting in the room with his readers telling them the story. Carter's simple language choices keep the book from crossing into the realm of technical basketball jargon. He is also thorough and complete, leaving no stone unturned as he outlines the ups and downs of his life and career on the basketball court. I also like that he reflects on his past and acknowledges things he may have done wrong or places where he could have acted differently. Those acknowledgements give the reader a sense of who the author is...a changed man.
Volume 2- The book is a glimpse into the world of professional basketball. The author takes his readers on a journey through not just the NBA that most readers should know about, but also the sport in other parts of the world. The pictures are fascinating; It is also interesting to review the various letters and documents referred to in volume one. The reviewer also liked the hardback binding coupled with the tasteful cover art. The two novels do provide a vast insight into the world of professional basketball. These books are a powerful foundation for what could be a very useful tool for many young basketball players.
A wonderful story of one man's willpower, perseverance and faith in trying to realize his dream of a professional athletic career.
By- TODD MISHLER http://mlnsportszone.com/
See Article: http://minorleaguenews.com/premium/books/basketball/articles2007/03/10/01.html
