Customer Reviews

Coach Tex Winter: Triangle Basketball

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ann Parr has written a most in-depth, factual and inspiring closeup and personal story of one of the nation's great basketball minds, Tex Winter. Her years of personal friendship with Coach Winter, nurtured through her husband Jack Parr, who was an All-American for Winter at Kansas State, has provided the author with a unique, inside opportunity to share with the rest of us, the values and attributes behind the genius sitting on the bench during nine NBA world championship seasons.

This is not a book of "x"'s and "O"'s, or "triple-post/triangle offense intracacies. Rather, it is a story of how one man's belief in the team concept over individual talent became a foundation for those nine NBA world championship teams - each of which abounded in individual superstar talent but never won until grasping Winter's team philosophy in the triangle offense which Phil Jackson so masterfully orchestrated on the court.

Having had the privilege of knowing Tex Winter for years, I was nonetheless mesmerized by the stories he told through Ann Parr. I learned so much about Tex and his teams and his dreams and even got a great glimpse at what it was like to coach the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Scottie Pippen and the most intriguing Dennis Rodman.

"Triangle Basketball" is a must read for basketball fans and for those striving to find out why some teams are so successful where others fail. Tex Winter, already a giant in basketball lore in this country, was given, in my opinion, a magnificent boost through Ann Parr's book, to a permanent place of honor in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. With beautiful graphics, photos and quotes from numerous men who played for Tex Winter, my appreciation and affection for Tex Winter and for the author were magnified a thousand times. I simply could not put this book down.
Ted Hayes, Executive Director
State of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

I read magazines and newspapers, not books. I had some free time recently and picked up this Tex Winter book. Although I like to watch basketball, I don't know much about the specific plays and strategies, and I didn't know who Tex Winter was. I flopped the book open -- to a middle page -- and started reading. I kept turning back toward the front of the book to find out what happened before, and then what happened before that, and pretty soon, I couldn't put the thing down. All the interesting quotes and stories by and about famous players and coaches got me hooked. And all the quotes and personal notes by Tex made me read more. It's great, and I'd recommend it for anyone who has any interest in basketball, or sports in general, or just likes inspirational personal stories. It's a "can't put down" book.

This book is fantastic. I am a huge Laker fan, and for years watched the Zen Master teach his players to execute the Triangle Offense, but never really understood its origin or knew anything about the man that invented it. It wasn't until Coach Tex Winter had his stroke that I decided to read about this man's life, and all that he accomplished while creating a whole new way to play basketball. With details that go back to Tex in grade school, and all the way through the different teams he coached, this book will not only inform its readers about Tex as a man, but also about Tex as a coach, mentor, and inventor of the Basketball's most complicated and effective offense. This book is ideal for any fan of basketball that loves the game, but also wants to learn about the man who created the offense that changed it forever.

It is not actually what I expected, it's not about the triangle or theoretical stuff, it's about a very special man who loves the game, and a very pleasant review of his life and basketball career as one of the most importants coaches of our time.

Think Phil 'Jax' is THE MAN? Sorry, wrong answer.
All nine of his Championship rings are the res-
ponsibility of Texas E. Winter, former great
NCAA player from Texas (1940's) and Coach.
I am simply amazed that this virtually ageless
man continues to be a top NBA Ast. Coach in
the League in his '80's. Tex Winter for Pres.!
Hey, he can't be worse than Bush/Clinton/Bush, Jr.!

I need to admit first that I know very little about basketball (5 on a team, right?!) and was nervous that this lack of bball knowledge would deter from the story. This is a fabulous story about a man that doesn't give up and shows how teams and team work can achieve more than the sum of the parts. A great story that I couldn't put down. Thanks Ann Parr for putting this together and documenting for posterity the history of one American hero.

Need to say I found some mistakes in this book, like the year when Olajuwon was drafted, but it's a really good book, helps me learn much more about Tex whom I admired so much.

Very interesting and informative book that captures Coach Winter as a coach and as a person. Having had the opportunity to have Coach Winter as an instructor while at Kansas State, I feel the book describes him very accurately. He was a very caring instructor, even for those of us who weren't his athletes. I picked up many points that I have used in my 40 plus years of coaching. Excellent reading!

Author Ann Parr artfully details the principles that led to Tex Winters' rise to greatness in the coaching profession. The book is masterfully interwoven from beginning to end with insightful anecdotes from those most intimately associated with Tex during his travels from his earliest days as a youth in Texas to his current post as Los Angeles Laker Assistant Coach and Hoops Guru in residence.
My dad played for Tex during his two seasons at Marquette University in his initial Head Coaching Position. Many years later during Coach Winters' tenure with the Chicago Bulls Tex most graciously and generously volunteered his valuable time to share his expertise on the fundamentals and strategies of the game as well as imparting his wealth of knowledge of the triangle in a sincere effort to aid me in beginning my coaching career.
I can personally vouch for the books authenticity in describing the character of the man and the values for which he stands. I highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to learn to coach the game the way it was meant to be played.
As the sports preeminent "Keeper of the Flame" Tex lights the way to a thoroughly enjoyable journey that was and is his life story.

Great book about Mr. Winter's childhood, military career, college basketball coaching, and of course NBA career. Not an Xs and Os book about the "triangle" or "triple-post," but full of nuggets such as how he helped Dennis Rodman, and how the wrong drink caused them to lose one game against the Jazz in the NBA Finals!