A more pathetic example of one-sided storytelling hasn't beenscripted, yet. I'm no fan of UK, but this guy paints the image ofthem (Rupp especially) as nothing more than racist malcontents. I hope he makes all his money on this book, because he doesn't have the credibility with me to dupe into buying more of his drivel. END

Ironically, "And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: Kentucky, Texas Western, and the Game That Changed American Sports," preserves a stereotypical view of the game that presumably challenged a prevailing stereotype. The controversial figure in this story has always been Adolph Rupp, coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, whose "Rupp's Runts" were the last all-white team to play for the championship in the NCAA mens basketball title game. Fitzpatrick makes Rupp the iconic figure of white racism. Indeed, before the game, Rupp told the press that a team of five black players could not beat a team of five white players. However, certainly Rupp was not alone in that holding that stupid position. While it would not be surprising that Rupp, as a older Southern white man, would be a racist, his attempts to recruit future pros Wes Unseld and Butch Beard would seem to suggest he might have been something short of a card carrying member of the Klan. Yet Rupp is demonized throughout the book, while his players, most notably Pat Riley and Louie Dampier, are forced into the role of apologists. Unfortunately, Rupp's legacy pretty much ended with this game, while Riley and Dampier both got to prove their willingness to play not only against but with blacks in professional basketball.

I had spent years booing Don Haskins and the Miners in the Pit in Albuquerque for years before I found out that UTEP had once been Texas Western and how won the NCAA title in 1966. The final score was 72-65, but as they often say, the game was never really that close. Fitzpatrick does assemble all the stories and quotes needed to give you a sense for what happened and how it was seen as important. The collision course between the two teams, the programs, the two coaches, the two ways of thinking, is crystal clear from start to finish. However, despite its importance, primarily in opening up the SEC to black basketball players and other athletes, this game certainly did not impact on the national championships for the rest of the decade. After all, the argument could be made that the only reason Texas Western won in 1966 was because freshman were not eligible to play and two-time defending national champion U.C.L.A. had the best player in the country, Lew Alcindor, playing on their freshman team. U.C.L.A. would win the next seven NCAA titles and all of John Wooden's 10 title teams were won by integrated teams. I have to believe, that even if Texas Western had lost, that the value of black players would have been lost on the rest of the country.

As interesting as the story about this pivotal game happens to be, the story about the story is equally fascinating. While it was obvious to everyone who watched the game that a team of black players beat a team of white players, the sports media managed to cover the game without dealing with the racial aspects of the encounter. The aftermath of this story abounds with more irony. Kentucky did not recruit a black player until 1969, at which point Don Haskins was having trouble recruiting black players because of a Sports Illustrated story claiming he was exploiting black athletes by bringing them to Texas Western just to win the national championship (I know, think about it a bit and pretend it makes sense). When Rupp coached and lost his final game, it was again an instance of his five white players losing to a team of five black players. Ultimately, the picture of Rupp in this book makes him more of a pathetic figure than anything else. I guess when you have a larger than life figure like that it is impossible to put anything else in perspective because they overwhelm any story in which they are involved. But even though they are tearing down Cole Field House at Maryland, where this game took place, it is certainly a moment in sports history that needs to be recalled from time to time.

This book was very inspirational to me. Before 1966 there was a myth that five African-American couldn't play on the basketball court together without having one white person on the court to keep things in order. This championship game of 1966 with five African-American's starting as well as winning the game busted integration wide open. If minorities as a whole can apply the same techniques to academics that they apply athletics, we as a race will be able to tear down many racial barriers whether we have affirmative action or not. Just look at the blacks that are in big time positions that are not athletes. Kenneth Chenault/CEO American Express, Frankie Raines/CEO of Fannie Mae, etc.

I was required to read this book in my college english class. The whole class was repulsed by the nature of the book and most, including myself, found the characters shallow, flat and mechanical. The author does have an interesting style and, at times, paints a good picture. Unfortunatly the pictures that are painted are similar to a Maplethorpe exhibit. I wish there was a 0 star catagory so I could express just how lousy I thought this book was. However, I would strongly recommend it for fans of German pornography or members of NAMBLA (national association of man-boy love).

Overall an interesting book. The story is a good one, particularily the concept of looking back on life. The presentation I felt was poor, the strength of the novel was wanting as outlandish sexual exploits became the norm throughout the novel. The book does well in conveying the confusion of adolesence in an environment where all morals and values of decency and humanity have been skewed. Excellent story, betrayed by presentation. Reading this book may repulse some people, however I think that the story is a good read.

The story is funny and sad at the same time. The small boy is not too sure of why his parents left and also of his own sexual orientation. Growing up mostly with the help of his grandmother and his cousin Red, he is able to finally find himself and make sense of the absurdities that life throws in our path. A good combination of boy's adventures with a touch of emmigrant fiction, very good.

How can I review what I haven't read

Made all the difference in our family vacation. Saw things we otherwise would have missed. Very entertaining and informative.

what the hell? greasers? c'mon. it diminishes any credibility and realism this book had any chance of achieving. i can understand having a character use the word within the context of the story, but to use it in the book description . . . well, it's tasteless. like a bowl of caldo cooked with cardboard.

el paso, tx