Rating: 
Summary: Pure basketball, pure joy to read
Review: Most people assume 'big time' college coaches were great players 'in their day.' Not true. Louie Carnesecca couldn't play a lick. Phog Allen didn't give Dean Smith many minutes. Roy Williams never went beyond the UNC JV (coached by Bill Guthridge at the time). Majerus never played high school ball at Marquette High in Milwaukee. Not because he didn't want to . . . man did he want to . . . he just didn't have the tools (or so the coach thought). This book shows that playing and coaching are two distinct endeavors. Wanna list the great players who flopped as coaches . . . me neither . . . it would take too long. From his earliest years Majerus was coaching, and he didn't even know it. He was putting together teams in Milwaukee so he could get a game. He was learningd how to 'put the pieces together', not to win a national championship, but to 'keep the court' for the next game . . . and the next . . . Majerus' Utes 'kept the court' for six marvelous games in 1998. It wasn't until Kentucky showed that 'sometimes the other team wins because they have better players' (al mcguire) that Majerus' Utes had to leave the court defeated. This book shows how a life's work, a life's passion, can culminate in a short span of time. It's a great read because Majerus made it happen himself. He was handed nothing. But he learned from everyone:McGuire, Raymonds, Nelson, Harris . . . probably even Butch Lee, Bo Ellis, and Lloyd Walton. Read the book. Majerus' tale is one of a kind.
Rating:
Summary: Majerus' Unique Road to the 'Bigtime'
Review: Most people assume 'big time' college coaches were great players 'in their day.' Not true. Louie Carnesecca couldn't play a lick. Phog Allen didn't give Dean Smith many minutes. Roy Williams never went beyond the UNC JV (coached by Bill Guthridge at the time). Majerus never played high school ball at Marquette High in Milwaukee. Not because he didn't want to . . . man did he want to . . . he just didn't have the tools (or so the coach thought). This book shows that playing and coaching are two distinct endeavors. Wanna list the great players who flopped as coaches . . . me neither . . . it would take too long. From his earliest years Majerus was coaching, and he didn't even know it. He was putting together teams in Milwaukee so he could get a game. He was learningd how to 'put the pieces together', not to win a national championship, but to 'keep the court' for the next game . . . and the next . . . Majerus' Utes 'kept the court' for six marvelous games in 1998. It wasn't until Kentucky showed that 'sometimes the other team wins because they have better players' (al mcguire) that Majerus' Utes had to leave the court defeated. This book shows how a life's work, a life's passion, can culminate in a short span of time. It's a great read because Majerus made it happen himself. He was handed nothing. But he learned from everyone:McGuire, Raymonds, Nelson, Harris . . . probably even Butch Lee, Bo Ellis, and Lloyd Walton. Read the book. Majerus' tale is one of a kind.
Rating:
Summary: Majerus does it again.
Review: Rick does a great job with his first book. The money that is raised from this book goes to find a cure for cancer. The book is just as funny as Rick is and includes real insight into his life as well as the #1 Runnin Utes. I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: He has so much passion for the game.
Review: Rick Majerus wasn't a superstar basketball player when he was growing up but he did love the game. He loved the players that other people might not of liked. He was into the hard working, pick setting, "little things" type of player. This book tells about his chlidhood growing up and then goes into his coaching days. It is a wonderful book that shows what kind of great human being he is. It has quotes throughout the book of players, coaches, family, and others that just makes the story all more enjoyable. I hope my future in basketball will run into a coach like Rick Majerus. If it does I will be very very happy.
Rating:
Summary: He has so much passion for the game.
Review: Rick Majerus wasn't a superstar basketball player when he was growing up but he did love the game. He loved the players that other people might not of liked. He was into the hard working, pick setting, "little things" type of player. This book tells about his chlidhood growing up and then goes into his coaching days. It is a wonderful book that shows what kind of great human being he is. It has quotes throughout the book of players, coaches, family, and others that just makes the story all more enjoyable. I hope my future in basketball will run into a coach like Rick Majerus. If it does I will be very very happy.
Rating:
Summary: Too much class for Notre Dame
Review: Rick wrote this book for every 'blue collar' kid that ever loved the game. At Ball State, we lived the dream when Majerus worked his magic and took the Cards to the NCAA playoffs. With or without a tie or socks, he is a class act.
Rating:
Summary: Catching a Wonderful Coach at an Opportune Moment
Review: Sports books that attempt to cash in on the immediate popularity of the author often suffer in quality due to the desire to strike while the iron is hot. I am glad to say that My Life on a Napkin does not suffer from this flaw. Gene Wojciechowski, contributor on this book, did an extremely good on format and finding and maintaining Majerus' voice. His previous work on Nothing But Net (Bill Walton's autobiography) has served him well. The most interesting technique used in the book is the interjection of short anecdotes culled from Majerus' friends and family. The juxtaposition between his view and the view of his friend/family member/player is humorous at times. This is a technique I haven't seen used before in this type of book and I find that it seems to work better than simple paraphrasing would. In short, the only reason this book doesn't deserve four stars is because it falls far short of the high standards set by autobiographies/biographies of individuals whose careers have already ended. I feel this book focuses too much on the recent to the detriment of the early years. For example, A Coach's Life by Dean Smith has an entirely different perspective because in many ways his story is finished. This allows him to devote equal time to all portions of his life and career. Additionally, it would have been nice to have an appendix containing information on every player who had ever lettered for Coach Majerus. If we could see the tremendous legacy that he has had on the lives of all the students who have passed through his programs it would reinforce hsi commitment to his players' well-being. To me, that would be an even greater testimony to his legacy than the stories presented in the preceding chapters.
Rating:
Summary: Catching a Wonderful Coach at an Opportune Moment
Review: Sports books that attempt to cash in on the immediate popularity of the author often suffer in quality due to the desire to strike while the iron is hot. I am glad to say that My Life on a Napkin does not suffer from this flaw. Gene Wojciechowski, contributor on this book, did an extremely good on format and finding and maintaining Majerus' voice. His previous work on Nothing But Net (Bill Walton's autobiography) has served him well. The most interesting technique used in the book is the interjection of short anecdotes culled from Majerus' friends and family. The juxtaposition between his view and the view of his friend/family member/player is humorous at times. This is a technique I haven't seen used before in this type of book and I find that it seems to work better than simple paraphrasing would. In short, the only reason this book doesn't deserve four stars is because it falls far short of the high standards set by autobiographies/biographies of individuals whose careers have already ended. I feel this book focuses too much on the recent to the detriment of the early years. For example, A Coach's Life by Dean Smith has an entirely different perspective because in many ways his story is finished. This allows him to devote equal time to all portions of his life and career. Additionally, it would have been nice to have an appendix containing information on every player who had ever lettered for Coach Majerus. If we could see the tremendous legacy that he has had on the lives of all the students who have passed through his programs it would reinforce hsi commitment to his players' well-being. To me, that would be an even greater testimony to his legacy than the stories presented in the preceding chapters.
Rating:
Summary: Gym rat makes good.
Review: The depth and contradiction of Rick Majerus is astounding. He is the most single-minded, focused coach in the country yet he remains caring and inquisitive regarding friends, family, travel and learning. He makes you applaud his gym rat mentality and cheer his Utah basketball team.
Rating:
Summary: Majerus excels at another pastime.....Writing!
Review: This book is a must read for anyone who follows the college game, or followed the Utes on their march to the Final Four last year. Majerus is an inspiration, an "every man" that we can all relate to, and admire how far he has come. If you are a long-time Utes fan, like myself, the book is doubly rewarding as you get an intimate look at what has occured behind the scenes of Rick's amazing success at Utah. I rarely read sports books, but I'm glad I made an exception for this fine work.
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