The Gifts of Jimmy V: A Coach's Legacy [Hardcover]

Bob Valvano (Author), Mike Krzyzewski (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those who rekindle the inner spirit.”  -Albert Schweitzer For Bob Valvano, as for countless others, that person was his brother Jim.  Jim Valvano was a man whose life had an unforgettable impact on those who knew him.  When he died of cancer on April 28, 1993, after a long, heroic, and very public struggle, his spirit, vibrancy, dreams and passions did not die with him; they live on in the people he touched.  Looking at the lives through the eyes of the people who loved him most, The Gifts of Jimmy V reveals the heart of Jim Valvano present in them all.  Through dozens of interviews with family, friends, coaches, players, and colleagues, authors Valvano and Hill not only reconstruct the life of this unusual man, but also capture the essence of his unique ability to lead, galvanize, inspire, and motivate others.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Jim Valvano was a larger-than-life college basketball coach and broadcaster who died of cancer in 1993 at age 47 but who lives on through the V Foundation for cancer research. In this book, his brother Bob, also a basketball coach and broadcaster, tells the story of Jim's life through a collection of reminiscences from colleagues and friends who knew him. This scrapbook approach is woven into Bob's own personal narrative and covers both career highlights (NCAA tournament triumphs) and troubles (being fired from North Carolina State under a swirl of allegations). It also includes the speech he made at the ESPYs just two months before he died. What emerges is an affectionate portrait of a boisterous but flawed man who loved life, his family, and basketball and who fought a gallant battle against terminal cancer. Recommended for college basketball collections. John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Jimmy Valvano was a high-profile college basketball coach whose underdog North Carolina State team won the NCAA tournament in 1983. He was fired in 1990 under a cloud of scandal but reentered the national spotlight as a basketball commentator. His heroic battle with cancer and subsequent death led to his virtual sanctification within much of the sports community. Bob Valvano, Jimmy's younger brother, does his best to set the record straight. Jim Valvano was neither a saint nor a coaching outlaw. He was a charismatic coach who let his program at NC State slip out of his control. He was also a decent man who helped many more than he harmed. This memoir vividly captures Jimmy V's humor, compassion, and street-smart coaching techniques. It also reprises his genuinely inspirational struggle with cancer, which motivated friends and colleagues to form the Jimmy V Foundation, which in turn has raised millions for research. A moving tribute recommended for most sports collections. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books; First Edition edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892049309
• ISBN-13: 978-1892049308
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, December 29, 2002

By 

Brian Taylor (Dix, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gifts of Jimmy V: A Coach's Legacy (Hardcover)

I literally couldn't put this book down. Upon receiving this book as a Christmas gift from my wife (who has endured my fascination with Jimmy V for years) I read the book within a day of opening the front cover. As a student at NCSU during the last year of his tenure I was touched by his gifts. This book shows the human side of Jimmy and his relationships with his family, players, fellow coaches, sportswriters. You will find yourself laughing outloud and moved at the same time. The book gives an informative look into the truth behind all of the myths surrounding his departure from N.C. State. This is truly a motivational book which provides an insightful look to the life of coach Jimmy V.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fast, funny read and inspiring too!, December 14, 2001

By 

Bill Sperry (Cape Coral FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gifts of Jimmy V: A Coach's Legacy (Hardcover)

Jim Valvano is best remembered for two things--running around the court after NC State won the 1983 National Championship, and for the emotional ESPY speech he made, where he urged everyone "Don't Give Up--Don't Ever Give Up." This book goes beyond that to tell amusing and often touching stories of Valvano's life through the eyes of those who knew him best, starting with his brother Bob who author's the book. Bob has a radio show on ESPN Radio that is pretty funny (I have heard it late at night while driving mostly), and he tells some funny stories in this book. The book is a biography of Jim Valvano, but VERY liberally spiced with stories all throughout.
It covers Valvano's firing at NC State, and raises interesting issues about it. Bob adored his brother, and makes no secret about that, but it serves him well here when talking about Jim's very courageous fight with cancer. Those chapters are often very moving.
It is a very quick read. Includes the entire text from the ESPY speech, and some columns from writers Tony Kornheiser, John Feinstein and Mike Lupica in an appendix.
I thought it was funny and moving, and really enjoyed it. It is not really a "basketball" book, and not really a biography...it is like Bob Valvano has just decided to chat with you and tell you about his brother. It helps that Jim was a very interesting guy...if you know who he was you'll enjoy it, and if you didn't you will probably get to know him and admire him, as I did!

4.0 out of 5 stars The Gifts of Jimmy V: A Coach's Legacy, August 21, 2010

By 

Jackie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Gifts of Jimmy V: A Coach's Legacy (Hardcover)

I was very pleased with this book and the condition it arrived in. As a used book, it was categorized to be in very good condition and it definitely was. As the seller indicated, the outside cover showed some slight "rubbing" but other than that it was like new. The price was excellent and I will purchase from this seller again! Thank You!