Friends and Colleagues Celebrate John Wooden and His Extraordinary Career

Athletes, coaches, journalists and more recommend the new book 'John Wooden: An American Treasure'

Nashville, TN (Vocus/PRWeb) November 11, 2008 -- Thirty-three years after retiring from coaching basketball at UCLA, John Wooden still remains "America's Coach". From his Pyramid of Success to his "Be quick, but don't hurry" slogan, Wooden is an iconic figure in college basketball and remains unmatched in his 10 national championships at UCLA. But there is more to Wooden than his basketball career. Award-winning columnist Steve Bisheff details both the public and private life of this great man in 'John Wooden: An American Treasure' (ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-665-4, $16.95, Paperback, November 2008).

John Wooden: An American Treasure

Bisheff's book…is not just about a successful coach but the story of a great American.

"Bisheff's book…is not just about a successful coach but the story of a great American."
                                 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, UCLA and NBA legend

"This is the best and most accurate book on John Wooden I've ever read."
                        - Eddie Sheldrake, Wooden's first point guard at UCLA

'John Wooden: An American Treasure' is an intimately personal look into Wooden's life and career, molded from several interviews with John Wooden himself. Bisheff discusses Wooden's relationship with his late wife, Nell: their love affair for the ages, his deep depression after her death in 1985, and how his faith and family provided him with the reason to embrace life again. Bisheff also explores the events that led to Wooden's decision to walk away from coaching at the pinnacle of his success in 1975, and reveals the real secret behind why Wooden's UCLA teams were able to win more consistently than any other collegiate team ever.

"John Wooden: An American Treausure provides insight and depth from so many people around Coach Wooden who knew him and experiences his influence firsthand. It's a fascinating look into a very special man."
             - Pat Summitt, head basketball coach of the eight-time NCAA champion Tennessee Lady Vols

'John Wooden: An American Treasure' reveals why this kind and endearing coaching legend, even at age ninety-eight, remains one of the more fascinating, yet humble men of this, or any, generation. Former players, fellow coaches, UCLA chancellor Gene D. Block, and journalists from such esteemed publications as Sports Illustrated, and the San Diego Union-Tribune just can't get enough.

Steve Bisheff has covered John Wooden longer and more extensively than any other journalist. He spent forty-two years as a newspaperman, working for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, the San Diego Tribune, and the Orange County Register. An award-winning columnist, he has written four books, appears on 710 ESPN Radio in Los Angeles and serves as a correspondent for Athlon Sports College Basketball magazine. He and his wife, Marsha, live in Irvine, California.

For more information about the author, interviews or review copies, please contact
Jennifer Behar at jennifer@cumberlandhouse.com, P: 615.832.1171 ext.18, F: 615.832.0633

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