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Rating: 
Summary: A keepsake for desert dwellers
Review: David Kniss, the author and former Butler player, readily admits that this book was somewhat rushed - 16 months in the making - considering Coach Butler's 32 year career. And while this is true, Kniss still delivers a cohesive timeline of Butler's life.
To anyone associated with the High Desert, Butler is an icon - a man who won more than 600 games throughout his career. Having played for Butler in the late '80s, I can truly say that he is one of the few men I admired growing up and I admire even more in posterity. Not only for the example that he set as an individual, but for his tireless effort in building a program that the entire community could rally behind.
And while it's admittedly a "regional" book, I feel its appeal would have been far greater if Mr. Kniss had asked tougher questions - particularly about Butler's feud with former principal Julian Weaver. Another component this book lacks is an assessment of the impact Butler has had on his players lives. Many of his former players, myself included, still communicate with him.
Despite its shortcomings, however, Kniss delivers a solid book on a legendary man. Now, hopefully Kniss will try his hand at documentary filmmaking.
Rating: 
Summary: From Ollie's Nephew
Review: This book is a great read.It reads like a research paper, but as family, I really enjoyed reading it. The first couple of chapters really kept me interested, since it had family history. I'm not much of a sports fan, but I felt Kniss' passion for the game and his respect and admiration for my uncle. I can tell that it took a lot of research and hours of work to put it together. I especially enjoyed getting in-depth accounts of stories that I have only heard in passing over the years. I never fully realized how much my Uncle O.J. went through to get to where he is today. And I probably wouldn't if it weren't for Mr. Kniss.
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