ePub The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns; a Death; and America's Dilemma by Alex Kotlowitz in History

Description

The riveting inside story of college basketball's fiercest rivalry among three coaching legends—University of North Carolina's Dean Smith; Duke's Mike Krzyzewski; and North Carolina State's Jim Valvano—by the king of college basketball writers; #1 New York Times bestseller John FeinsteinOn March 18; 1980; the immensely powerful Duke basketball program announced the hiring of its new coach—the man who would resurrect the team; restore glory to Duke; and defeat the legendary Dean Smith; who coached down the road at UNC Chapel Hill and had turned UNC into a powerhouse. Duke's new man was Mike Krzyzewski. The only problem was; no one knew who Krzyzewski was; he had a so-so record in his short time as head coach of Army; and worst of all; no one could even pronounce his name. The announcement caused head scratches . . . if not immediate calls for his head . . . and on this note his career at Duke began. The table was set nine days later; when on March 27; 1980; Jim Valvano was hired by North Carolina State to be their new head coach. The hiring didn't raise as many eyebrows; but with the exuberant Valvano on board; two new coaches were now in place to challenge Dean Smith—and the most sensational competitive decade in history was about to unfold. In the skillful hands of John Feinstein; this extraordinary rivalry—and the men behind it—come to life in a unique; intimate way. The Legends Club is a sports book that captures an era in American sport and culture; documenting the inside view of a decade of absolutely incredible competition. Feinstein pulls back the curtain on the recruiting wars; the intensely personal competition that wasn't always friendly; the enormous pressure and national stakes; and the battle for the very soul of college basketball allegiance in a hot-bed area. Getting to the roots of the NCAA goliath that is followed religiously by millions of fans today; Feinstein uses his unprecedented access to all three coaches to paint a portrait only he could conjure. The Legends Club is destined to be one of Feinstein's biggest bestsellers.