AnyBook4Less.com	Find the Best Price on the Web Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Home  |  Store List  |  FAQ  |  Contact Us  |
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money Keyword AuthorISBN

Title: Rookie: When Michael Jordan Came to the Minor Leagues by Jim Patton ISBN: 0-201-40959-3 Publisher: Perseus Publishing Pub. Date: May, 1995 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $23.00

Your Country USA Canada United Kingdom Australia Austria Belgium France Germany Italy Netherlands Switzerland Currency AutoUSD CAD GBP EUR AUD CHF Delivery Only cheapest delivery All delivery options Include Used Books Are you a club member of: Barnes and Noble Books A Million Chapters.Indigo.ca

Average Customer Rating: 3.67 (3 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: Interesting book
Comment: Here's something a little different...this covers the gap between the time Michael announces his retirement in October 1993 to the time he rejoins the Bulls. A pretty interesting book, but as a previous reviewer mentioned, it chronicles the author's frustration to get access to Michael. Michael's baseball experiment was probably fun for him, and granted it didn't go too well, but at least he enjoyed himself trying to be a pro calibre baseball player, which clearly he is not. I think MJ just wanted a break from hoops to do something else and come back when he was upset about the Major League Baseball lockout in 1994, which I think played a major factor in his decision to return to the NBA.

Rating: 2
Summary: This could have been a great book.
Comment: The title was so promising! But I was seriously disappointed with it. Unfortunately the author couldn't get access to Jordan. He wasn't even able to obtain the credentials to just hang around in the locker room after the game like every other reporter. The interviews he did get were from reluctant sources who say the same thing over and over: 'he can do it with some effort' and 'he's such a nice guy'. Unfortunately since there isn't too much substance to this book the author resorts to excruciating descriptions of the scenery of various minor league towns that he visits, and little tidbits about his visits with family. Without it I estimate that this book could be at least 50 pages shorter. Another thing that lack of material forces is his constant (but actually quite interesting) writing about his relations with baseball's "higher ups" It at least makes for some interesting behind the scenes reading.

Now, as for what the author did right (why I even gave it 2 stars): He calls it like he sees it. While admiring Jordan for his physical ability, he comes right out and makes sure you know about his weak points. His "selling out" is discussed at length, as is his strange, but constant, refusal to acknowledge his race or take any sort of personal or political stance on *anything*- even his own father's death.

This 220 page escapade is basically about the treatment Patton gets from various personnel in the Birmingham Barron's front office, his ongoing war with Jordan's agent and just basically what it's like to be Jim Patton writing this book.

With more access and more time this book could have been a great analysis of Jordan, his motives, his family and his career in general. Patton is a *very* good writer and his analysis of many of the issues surrounding Jordan was superb. The last 60 pages really brings home what a good book this could have been! Maybe with the right editor, Patton could have restructured the book and had a serious hit on his hands!

If you are looking for a little behind the scenes info on agents, minor leauge GM's and the life of a writer while working on a book, with a bit of actual analysis on Jordan thrown in, this book is a big winner. Otherwise just check it out at the library.

Rating: 5
Summary: exeptional read!!!
Comment: not at all what i expected. i started reading and two hours later i was through the whole book. jim patton did a wonderful job of making you feel like you experienced what he wrote about. very enjoyable to read.