Digger Phelps's Tales from the Notre Dame Hardwood [Hardcover]

Digger Phelps (Author), Tim Bourret (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

ESPN basketball commentator Digger Phelps is regarded as one of the most charismatic and opinionated analysts in the profession. And he was the same personality during his 20 years as the head coach at the University of Notre Dame. Digger PhelpsÂ’s Tales from the Notre Dame Hardwood recalls the most successful period in Notre Dame basketball history. In his 20 seasons, 17 of PhelpsÂ’s teams advanced to postseason play, including 14 NCAA Tournament teams. In the book, Phelps recalls his initial expression of interest in Notre Dame through a 1965 letter he wrote to football coach Ara Parseghian. It recounts the scenes of his seven wins over number one-ranked teams, including the landmark game in 1974 when the Irish ended UCLAÂ’s 88-game winning streak. Two chapters concentrate on the coachÂ’s former Notre Dame players, concluding with the selection of his All-Digger teams. He also recalls the 20 Hall of Fame coaches he competed against, including Bobby Knight, Al McGuire, Ray Meyer, and John Wooden. Digger PhelpsÂ’s Tales from the Notre Dame Hardwood concludes with a chapter entitled "Domers," which documents PhelpsÂ’s relationships with Notre Dame coaches, administrators, and student-athletes, including Father Theodore Hesburgh, the man who made Notre Dame what it is today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard "Digger" Phelps compiled a 393-197 record in 20 years at the helm of Notre DameÂ’s basketball program, becoming the winningest coach in Fighting Irish history. Fourteen of his teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including the 1977-78 team that reached the Final Four. PhelpsÂ’s Irish teams beat a record seven teams that were ranked number one in the nation, including the 71-70 victory over UCLA on January 19, 1974, that ended the BruinsÂ’ record 88-game winning streak. Since his retirement from coaching he has worked in President George H.W. BushÂ’s White House administration (1992-93) and provided commentary on college basketball for CBS and ESPN. He is now in his 12th season working for ESPN.

Tim Bourret worked in the Notre Dame sports information office from 1975-78 and traveled with Digger Phelps and the Fighting Irish to the 1978 Final Four. He has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Notre Dame and has served as the sports information director at Clemson University for the last 15 years. In 1997 Bourret joined forces with Phelps and Sports IllustratedÂ’s John Walters in writing Basketball for Dummies.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC; First Edition edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582618275
• ISBN-13: 978-1582618272
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,203,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Danny Ainge Moment!, August 13, 2005

By 

Dave Dunker (South Bend, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digger Phelps's Tales from the Notre Dame Hardwood (Hardcover)

I was really disappointed in this shallow,collection of crumbs from Phelps. It is much less interesting and honest than Echoes on the Hardwood by Mike Coffey. This would have been a good opportunity to hear Phelps explain why he couldn't win it all with some really great rosters. Instead we get a boring recital of Digger's finer moments, and total glossing over of his obvious shortcomings as a coach. This is more a book about how much Digger likes Digger than it is about basketball, the game, and character building. Save your money...buy Coffey's book, not this one

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for any Notre Dame fan, March 25, 2005

By 

K. Marshall - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Digger Phelps's Tales from the Notre Dame Hardwood (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book because it was told from Diggers point of view on the different games and situations. My favorite aspect of the book was how he told personal stories about the players and program, stories that you would not hear any place else. Although it only concentrates on twenty years in the Notre Dame program, it still gives fans a great deal of knowledge about the history of a program that experienced great success in the past, went through some down years and is now on the rise again. I would recommend this book to any Notre Dame fan!

5.0 out of 5 stars Life lessons from the coach, September 14, 2007

By 

John A. Viniello - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Digger Phelps's Tales from the Notre Dame Hardwood (Hardcover)

Should be required reading for every young person in high school..The chapter on his experiences in the Bush (sr.) administration show very clearly with all of the things wrong in Washinton Digger Phelps was one of the few things right...If more people would give back in their lives instead of taking this world would be a better place..this man has...