Customer Reviews

Cracked Sidewalks and French Pastry: The Wit and Wisdom of Al McGuire

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This is a strange coffee table-type book. Author Kertscher apparently did not know Al McGuire personally, and this book is the product of a posthumous project of collecting McGuire-related photographs and quotes. Yet despite the lack of direct personal connection, the book does a good job of communicating the odd combination of street-level wisdom, humanity, and whimsy that made McGuire such an intriguing and compelling character to a generation of basketball fans and non-basketball fans alike.

I don't know basketball, and I'm sure that my elevator doesn't go to the top, but I know a wonderful remembrance when I see one. Kertscher illustrates the humanity of McGuire - humorous and touching. The phrases from the glossary have become a shared language between myself and my son.

Most people may know Al McGuire as one of television's most colorful broadcasters, but the real Al McGuire can be found in his insights into coaching, recruiting and life. Even after his death, McGuire remains a towering figure in sports and one of the most intriguing coaches in college basketball history. This book delves deeply into McGuire in the most telling way possible - his own words.

I purchased this book on Al McGuire as a gift for my father's 71st birthday. As a former basketball coach, he had been a strong admirerer of one of the most unique individuals in sports. Both me and my father highly recommend this for lovers of college basketball, especially for those who tend to march to the beat of a different drummer. I'm sure that even though Al McGuire is no longer with us he will be remembered whenever some young person is making the sign of the cross on his/her forehead before shooting a critical freethrow with his immortal statement that the "Nuns are Working the Beads."
Sergio S. Guerrero Jr.
El Paso, Texas

Tom Kertscher has done an excellent job in introducing me to Al McGuire. I've never followed college basketball so I wasn't familiar with coach McGuire. However after reading the book I can see why so many people thought so highly of him. I very much enjoyed getting to know the coach from his many quotes and photos over the course of his career. He's one of those colorful figures in life that adds that missing ingredient making the ordinary, something rich and flavorful.

Most people may know Al McGuire as one of television's most colorful broadcasters, but the real Al McGuire can be found in his insights into coaching, recruiting and life. Even after his death, McGuire remains a towering figure in sports and one of the most intriguing coaches in college basketball history. This book delves deeply into McGuire in the most telling way possible - his own words.

Growing up in Harvard, IL, I tended to gravitate toward Wisconsin sports. However, I still did not recognize the name Al McGuire. Despite that, I found the book to be wonderful! It made me feel as if I did knew him. Tom Kertscher did a wonderful job of presenting the many quotes and photos, memorializing a man who obviously contributed so much to sports!

K. Gridley wrote "Very nice...I like that anyone can pick it up and read it without knowing him."

Al McGuire has been truly captured through this book. The photos and quotes truly capture the man, the charachter, and the coach that was AL. Anyone who grew up around the legend, understood what he meant to the game, but I don't believe anyone has a true grasp until they have turned the pages of this book.