PDF From the Outside My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love Ray Allen Michael Arkush Spike Lee 9780062675484 Books
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From the Outside My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love Ray Allen Michael Arkush Spike Lee 9780062675484 Books Reviews
- As a career long admirer of eighteen-year NBA veteran … and two-time NBA Champion… and portrayer of Jesus Shuttlesworth… in Hollywood… Ray Allen… this autobiography… has been a long time coming. The author’s writing style… is straight forward… and lean… in the area of “pomp-and-circumstanceâ€â€¦ not unlike the author’s ball playing persona.
Ray was an Air Force “bratâ€â€¦ which meant… home was here… home was there. This added to Allen’s inability to fit in and feel accepted. This is one of the two main perspectives… or mantras… that are the ongoing cores of his story. The author felt… unaccepted… for many reasons. Being far from rich… and having a very limited wardrobe… being black… and even “criticizedâ€â€¦ for sounding “whiteâ€â€¦ when he talked. Additionally… whenever I hear or read about someone who says “My Father never told me he loved meâ€â€¦ I get a feeling that is deeper than being sad. Even all these years since my childhood… and being a Father and Grandfather… and always being open with my love… it strikes me… as almost a sin against humanity. Ray… states he was such a deprived child.
The second repetitive mantra… is probably the biggest reason… Ray was almost like a machine at the three-point-line…
Ray never took any basketball accomplishment for granted… he was ready for every challenge to be a success… when he states words that should be chiseled in the walls of eternal success… “IT REQUIRES WHAT SUCCESS HAS ALWAYS REQUIRED COMMITMENT, DAY AFTER DAY. YEAR AFTER YEAR.†Ray came to practice earlier… and left later… than just about everyone else. From day one… he never took success for granted… he put in the sweat AND time AND unrelenting effort! Ray admits mistakes made along the way… from recounting his college recruiting trips… where he found he was more immature than he had originally admitted. From being slighted by Rick Pitino… on a visit to Kentucky… to making a premature commitment to Alabama. After committing to UConn… (Decency… Integrity… Honesty)… the enormous personal growth under Coach Calhoun… and his unwavering dedication to getting better… even if it meant sitting in his room alone… while his less dedicated teammates went out and partied.
Ray’s long NBA career included many accolades and awards… but perhaps… the most meaningful… didn’t appear in the newspapers… or on plaques… or trophies. They were the private words of awe and respect… and understanding… by competing teams owners… coaches… players… trainers… and teammates… when they years later would tell Ray… that unbeknownst to him… they were watching him… in awe… from the shadows… while he day by day… year by year… pushed… AND… demanded… to put himself… through hundreds of extra shots… extra exercises… so it would be… second-nature… when it was all on the line… like it was in game six of the 2013 NBA Championship series for the Miami Heat… against the San Antonio Spurs. One of the greatest… most clutch shots in NBA history… led to the Heat being able to survive for a seventh game and a Back-To-Back-Championship. Ray reminds the world in this book… that he was getting ready for that moment… that second in time… ever since he was a youngster and saw Michael Jordan on TV. (Though his favorite player was Michael Cooooooppppeeeerrrr on the Showtime Lakers)
Note The Foreword to this book by Spike Lee… is perhaps the “weakest†forward to a book I’ve ever read. Spike comes across like a sixty-one-year old man… trying to act like he’s a cool young hipster. Luckily… he doesn’t waste too much space in the book… since the forward is about ¾ of a page long… and even in such limited space… Spike uses the word “Daâ€â€¦ six times! - I think some times you need to pick up peace of literature that seems simple at first glance but you need to remember in order to create something simple and inspiring you need to work much harder.
If you want to learn what makes people greats at sports they play or life they live, seek some life advice or at the tough spot and need some inspiration this book is worth your time! - Ray details the ups and downs of his life and career in a very candid and insightful book. Would recommend to anyone who loves sports. Highlights are his time growing up in South Carolina, his tenure as a Buck and of course those glory years in Boston.
- It was good I was glad that I read about Ray Ray it was good thanks Ray Allen or was good
- Decent book but seemed a little too self-serving
- Great condition and awesome book! Love Ray Allen!
- My husband doesn't normally read but he he said the book was great
- First hand account by the man himself that comes across as he did on the floor smooth and classy!
