Customer Reviews

When Cuba Conquered Kentucky: The Triumphant Basketball Story of a Tiny High School that Achieved the American Dream

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David and Goliath in real life! A book which would be inspirational to to any reader because it demonstrates success can be achieved against all odds and by anyone regardless of wealth or class. It shows that if you live and breathe any subject you will excel at it.

A well told story about the resilience of the human spirit. The author passionately narrates a Kentucky styled version of David and Goliath. It is an inspiring and entertaining read about the magnificient efforts of a high school team from the tiny town of Cuba, Kentucky. The book would appeal to any basketball fan who is a native of the Bluegrass state. However, the book is much more than a story about a small town basketball team. It is a story that reminded me of everything my parents described about growing up in Western Kentucky during the 40's and 50's. Perhaps the best part of the book is the author's observations on the influence the community had on the players and their coach. The writer provides a compelling narrative about the challenges faced by the families who struggled to earn a living as sharecroppers. The reader gets to share in the glory of the team's commitment to an enormous task and the accomplishment of that goal. It is an enjoyable story about a visionary coach and a group of boys who dared to dream and strive for the unfathomable. I thoroughly enjoyed the contents of the book, and I would rate that portion of the book a five star. I appreciated the research on the Jackson Purchase region of the state, and how the demographics of that area impacted the characters of the story. The author does a nice job of piecing together research with oral history, and she writes with a compassion for the central figures of the book. However I thought the narrative style of the book was a bit awkward at times, and that is why I give the book a four star rating.

As a radio newsman for the past 35 years I have had many interesting interview guests... including the legendary Adolph Rupp. No interview has been more interesting than the one I conducted in the summer of '99 with Marianne Walker and Howie Crittenden about the Cuba Cubs of 1951-52. Cuba defeated my hometown school (Corbin) in the '52 tournament, so I have no reason to feel warmly about that Graves county school. But I do. And it's because of the wonderful way Marianne made their story come alive. It's much more than a David and Goliath story. It's a story about shared dreams, hard work, and rural pride in dreams realized. If you're sick of high-salaried, big business basketball, return to the days of sport for sports sake....WHEN CUBA CONQURED KENTUCKY.

What a wonderful book, especially if you are familiar with Kentucky basketball. It truly is a David and Goliath story. Loved it!

I attended school at Cuba and it was interesting to read what she had to say about our school and the people that lived in that area. I enjoyed the book

A historical, enlightening, and sweet rendition of what basketball can do to the spirit of individuals, families, and a small town, this one in Kentucky.

Great book. My great uncle is Howard Crittenden and my second cousin is Jimmy Webb. I just saw Uncle Howard on Saturday and he looks great. I got pictures of him at our family reunion.

Was a very interesting story...my Dad played against Cuba in the State finals in 1951...and he got his name in the book once...i really thought that was neat....would have been better if they would have had pictures of the state tournament, but it was a good book.

Having a small town up-bringing, this book brought back so many pleasant memories. Most everyone raised in a small town or on a farm can identify with the Cuba basketball team.

I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not absolutely loving it ... and I dislike the sport of basketball with a passion! Author Marianne Walker has done a fabulous job of capturing not only the poverty and isolation of rural Kentucky in the 1930s-1950s, but also the sense of family and community that made that poverty more bearable. She has managed to make exciting and "real-time" a series of championship games of which the reader already knows--from the book's title--the outcome. You will find yourself humming "Sweet Georgia Brown" (the Cuba Cubs' theme song) and sitting on the edge of your reading perch during her recounting of the playoffs!From the opening sentences, readers will be caught up in the lives of "Doodle" and Howie and Joe Buddy and all the rest of the Cubs from the tiny community of Cuba, Kentucky, as they overcome obstacle after obstacle to make their shared dream of winning the state high school basketball championship come true. You will laugh out loud at some of the boys' high jinks, and get misty eyed at some of the cruelties life--and one sportswriter in particular--throws at them. You also will swell with pride at the outpouring of support and appreciation shown the team by the residents and businessmen of Western Kentucky.Walker captures perfectly the boys' far-from-easy childhoods, their lasting friendships with each other, and their wide-eyed wonder as they venture into the "big city" for the championship games. As high school seniors, several of them still lived in houses without electricity and indoor plumbing; they practiced outdoors and in the old gymnasium at little Cuba School. Suddenly, they were thrust into the spotlight, and, true to their humble roots, remained gentlemen all the way. (Many sports players of today certainly could learn a thing or two from their example!)"When Cuba Conquered Kentucky" is a finely drawn portrait of a simpler way of life when discipline (Coach Jack Story is not above paddling his boys when several of them play hooky) and pride and a sense of community provided young people with a firm foundation and an anchor from which they could begin their own lives ... while still having good, clean fun along the way.Unfortunately, that time is now "gone with the wind." But thanks to Walker, it can be recaptured and savored for a little while through a thoroughly enjoyable read.