Blog Archives
We Lived Every Kid’s Dream
A ball with no points tells the true story of your high school basketball team and the remarkable victory they achieved. Why was this an important book for you to write?
As I explained in book’s Prologue, this story was too special to let it just fade away and be forgotten forever. Our recent team reunion after 46 years made it clear how special those memories still were amongst all of us who made it happen. We lived every kid’s dream…and it was time to share the dream with everyone else.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
It was describing some of the hardships that many of my teammates endured later in life, and that needed to part of the story. Life is hard, but despite those hardships, our friendships and bonds have remained stronger than ever.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
“You can’t be afraid of what other people might think of you.” – Jim Valvano
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Believe in yourself, and then go chase your dreams.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
For decades Westfield, NJ has been the idyllic suburban town known for its distinctive homes along tree-lined streets, its classic downtown area, and for having a school system that was the envy of many neighboring towns. During the ’60s and ’70s, the town proudly witnessed the most dominant high school football program in the state under the leadership of head coach Gary Kehler, highlighted by a state record 48 straight games without a loss. Yet in the midst of that streak, the 1971-72 varsity boys basketball team briefly stole the spotlight from their football classmates while accomplishing something that no other WHS hoops team has ever done, either before or since. In a ball with no points, a member of that team recalls a basketball journey, life lessons learned along the way, and one very special season a half century ago.
For anyone who has ever stepped onto a basketball court, played high school sports, or dreamed of being a champion, there is something in this book for you. A ball with no points examines the many facets of basketball familiar to many, as well as a fairy tale season enjoyed by precious few.
a ball with no points
Join Stephen D. Reddy on an underdog’s journey in a ball with no points. In the football town of Westfield, NJ, no one thought that the Westfield High School boys basketball team would conquer a state championship between 1971-1972. But they did, unknowingly becoming inspirations to the people of Westfield. Now, 50 years after that magical season, Stephen D. Reddy, the starting guard of the “Westfield High’s Faceless Five,” recounts the story of what has been heralded as “one of the most remarkable Cinderella Stories ever written,” and in so doing, makes their inspirational story available to the whole world.
In line with his underdog roots, Reddy chose to tell this uplifting story in a conversational tone. There are some passages that feel as though you’re in a bar sharing a beer with Reddy as he recounts what happened. As you follow the long winding narrative to its climax, it even feels like you were there as it happened. This gives the book an intimacy that makes you want to stay and hear the whole story.
This inspiring book is centered around basketball, but at the core, it is a story about underdogs. Anyone who has ever needed to rise up to an occasion despite difficult circumstances will know the feeling that Reddy and his team went through, whether or not you have ever stepped foot on a basketball court.
There are passages where Reddy dives deep into the sport, explaining the game to those that may not know the ins and outs of basketball. There are even a couple of paragraphs where he describes, in detail, an exercise or drill that helps him master his dribbling. Die-hard basketball fans will enjoy reading this, and those new to the sport will find it educational.
A ball with no points is a well written sport-themed memoir. Readers who are deep within its world, especially those who witnessed the season, will find great nostalgia in reading this book. Those that enjoy reading about the history of sports and basketball will find this to be an engaging story.
Pages: 388 | ASIN : B09QD5G7CS
LITERARY TITAN 